Things To Do In London This Week: 11-17 March 2019

Looks like this article is a bit old. Be aware that information may have changed since it was published.

Things to do this week is sponsored by StubHub.

All week

Excited about Disney On Ice? Of course we are

VAULT FESTIVAL: Theatre extravaganza Vault Festival ends this week after two months of comedy, theatre and cabaret in the arches underneath Waterloo station. Check out the schedule to catch some of the final shows. Various prices, book ahead, until 17 March

DISNEY ON ICE: Kids of all ages — and yes, we include ourselves in that — can watch their favourite characters live on stage at Disney On Ice. Classic faces including Mickey and Minnie take to the ice along with newer arrivals such as Nemo, Marlin and Dory, Olaf and Elsa, Rapunzel, Buzz and Woody. Not sure who they all are? Ask your kids. SSE Arena Wembley, from £24.50, book ahead, 13-17 March

LONDON DESIGN WEEK 2019: Good news, interior design lovers! London's ultimate design collective is giving you the chance to pick experts brains, meet the designers, and eye up the latest trends in home furnishings. Six days, 600 brands — and shedloads of inspiration. Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, free entry, book ahead, 10-15 March (sponsor)

Monday 11 March

Indonesian literature at British Library

WOMAN: This three-day exhibition showcases the work of Stephen Acosta, an artist who previously worked anonymously. He sheds his anonymity to illustrate the social injustices that he has witnessed on his recent world travels — little more will be revealed until the exhibition launch night. The Book Club (Shoreditch), £10-£15, book ahead, 11-13 March

INDONESIAN LITERATURE: Spend an evening in the company of some of Indonesia's finest modern day writers. Agustinus Wibowo, Dee Lestari and Seno Gumira Ajidarma discuss how they take inspiration from Indonesia's many islands and convert it into poems, novels and non-fiction works. British Library, £12/£8, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm

Tuesday 12 March

Neon Life Drawing in King's Cross

TRAVEL GEEKS: Fancy swapping the Big Smoke for Shanghai's neon skyline, or the mystical peaks of Wulingyuan? Start planning your Chinese adventure at National Geographic Traveller’s evening get-together. Drinks and nibbles are included, and Londonist readers get 20% off entry with the code LDN20. Wallacespace Clerkenwell, £8 with Londonist discount, book ahead, 6pm-8pm (sponsor)

BLACK BRITISH MEN: Writer, poet and host of podcast Mostly Lit Derek Owusu discusses the position of the Black male in Britain, based on some of the stories told in his anthology Safe: On Black British Men Reclaiming Space. Hear him talk about how a new generation of voices is forcing us to rethink what British identity means. Foyles Charing Cross Road, £20/£8/£5, book ahead, 7pm-8pm

GREAT DIARY PROJECT: More than 8500 diaries — all kept at Bishopsgate Institute — have been made public in The Great Diary Project. Tonight, the project's founders Polly North and Irving Finkel reveal some of the findings from the archive. British Library, £12/£8, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm

NEON LIFE DRAWING: Life drawing's become a lot more interesting since last we tried it. At tonight's class, the models are covered in neon body paints under UV lights, and the artists (that's you) are provided with neon reactive materials to create their masterpieces. Drink, Shop & Do (King's Cross), £22, book ahead, 7pm-9pm

FORENSIC SCIENCE: Professor Dame Sue Black is an expert in forensic science. As well as being one of the world’s leading anatomists and forensic anthropologists, she's written a book, All That Remains, on the topic, Tonight she discusses the taboo topic of death and talks through her own career. The Tabernacle (Notting Hill), £20, book ahead, 7.30pm-9pm


Sponsor message

Stubhub's guide to an unforgettable week in London

Fancy making your week in the capital extra special? You can't go wrong with a visit to the world's most popular entertainment venue. The O2 Arena hosts all three of StubHub's top picks of week and, including its score of the week: the London leg of hip hop queen Nicki Minaj's hotly anticipated world tour. There's nothing like an evening with a global superstar to banish those Monday blues — tickets from £36.45 on StubHub*.

On Thursday, multi-platinum rapper Post Malone closes his first European arena tour with one heck of a show. StubHub have tickets starting at £54.30*.

Finally, round off your week with an utterly awe-inspiring experience: Blue Planet II - Live in Concert. Soak up stunning visuals from the BAFTA award-winning documentary while a full symphony orchestra perform the show's score. Tickets from £45 on StubHub*.

*While tickets last


Wednesday 13 March

Visit 20th century buildings of Hoxton and Haggerston

HOXTON AND HAGGERSTON: Join Footprints of London guide Rob Smith for a wander past some of the stand-out 20th century buildings in Hoxton and Haggerston. There's plenty of variety in the architcture round these parts, from the Edwardian splendour of the former public baths, to a factory that made aircraft landing lights. Hoxton station, £12/£9, book ahead, 11am-1pm

LITERARY ANTO-HEROES: Novelist Kate Mosse and writer Viv Groskop discuss their top five anti-heroes and anti-heroines in literature, who they love and admire in spite of their flaws. Scarlett O’Hara, Becky Sharpe, and Patrick Bateman are all worthy candidates, but the final list is only revealed at the event. National Theatre, £7/£5, book ahead, 6pm

NIGHT SKY: Comedian Jon Culshaw swaps impressions of the stars to gazing at a whole other type of star in the night sky. In addition to his comedy work, he's also an astronomer, and tonight he offers up his own guide to the night sky. Royal Observatory (Greenwich), £10.30/£9.30/£8.20, book ahead, 6.30pm-7.30pm

THE GOOD IMMIGRANT: The Good Immigrant USA — a follow-up to 2016 book The Good Immigrant — is a collection of essays written by first and second generation immigrants about their experiences. Co-editors Nikesh Shukla and Chimene Suleyman host an evening with some of the writers and other performers to discuss current immigration tensions. Foyles Charing Cross Road, £20/£8, book ahead, 7pm-8pm

Thursday 14 March

Watch 1946 film Green For Danger

BOOKS FESTIVAL: Daunt Books in Marylebone hosts its annual book festival, celebrating all kinds of literature. Talks, walks and a children's afternoon tea are all on the programme . Highlights include a free walking book club, and novelists Tessa Hadley and Rachel Cusk discussing the work of Natalia Ginzburg. Daunt Books, various prices, book ahead, 14-15 March

GREEN FOR DANGER: British murder mystery film Green For Danger — set in a second world war operating theatre — is screened in the atmospheric surrounds of Europe's oldest surviving operating theatre. The 1946 film is the tale of a Scotland Yard inspector investigating a series of murders. Old Operating Theatre (London Bridge), £12, book ahead, 7pm

SEX TOYS: Samantha and Paul Evans, founders of online sex toy company Jo Divine, host a fun and informative evening about sex toys. It's aimed at novices and experts, and offers guidance on choosing the right one for you. New Cross House, £15, book ahead, 7.30pm-9pm

Friday 15 March

The Kin Selection Controversy at British Library

KIN SELECTION: Whether you understand the evolutionary theory of kin selection or not (we're a bit rusty on it, if we're being honest), all you need to know is that there's a bit of debate about who actually came up with it. The story of the dispute between scientists  William D Hamilton and John Maynard Smith is dramatised in this special production for British Science Week. British Library, £12/£8, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm

TANGO QUINTET: The London Tango Quintet performs an evening of Tango music, aimed both at those who want to dance along, and those who wish to just sit and enjoy the music. St Peter's Church (Chiswick), £18.21, book ahead, 7.30pm-11.15pm

LIVE COMEDY: Fresh off the final series of Catastrophe, writer and comedian Rob Delaney hosts an evening of comedy in east London. Joining him on stage are ventriloquist Nina Conti and stand-up comedian Ed Gamble. Hackney Empire, £22.50, book ahead, 8pm

Saturday 16 March

Beethoven's Ninth is performed at Southbank Centre

VAGESTIC EMBROIDERY: Always wanted to learn embroidery? This five-hour class teaches you all you need to know, as you create a vagestic tapestry. All materials and tuition are provided and Florence from the Vagina Museum offers a vagina-related quiz and answers your questions while you sew. Soho Theatre, £120, book ahead,12pm-5pm

BEETHOVEN'S NINTH: Settle yourself in for an evening of iconic classical music, as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra takes on work by Mendelssohn and Bruch, finishing off with Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. Southbank Centre, £16.50-£56, book ahead, 7.30pm

LIVE MUSIC: If folk music is more your bag, head to this gig where two local musicians show off their talents. Zoë Wren began her career busking in Camden, and has since performed at Cambridge Folk Festival and been played on BBC Radio 2 — although she's still spotted busking on the tube sometimes. East Londoner Geri Van Essen started off singing in children’s choirs in the Netherlands, before honing her style of folk songs accompanied by guitar or banjo. The Slaughtered Lamb (Clerkenwell), £10, book ahead, 7.30pm

POP-UP PAINTING: Always fancied yourself as a bit of a painter? Unleash your talents at this Pop-Up Painting session, and recreate Charlotte Ellinas' art deco Tower Bridge scene. Professional guidance and all materials are provided, and a playlist provides background noise to get your creative juices flowing. The Britannia (Kensington), £30.99, book ahead, 7.30pm-10pm

Sunday 17 March

Discuss the science of conversation

PALACE HALF: As half marathons go, the scenery of the Hampton Court Palace Half Marathon is pretty impressive. Begin in the Tudor courtyard, then follow a scenic route through the grounds, cross the River Thames twice, and finish up back at the Palace where you receive a Henry VIII themed medal. Hampton Court, £38, book ahead, 9am

AMERICANS IN MAYFAIR: The US Embassy has left Mayfair, but there's still plenty of American history to be seen in the area. Footprints of London tour guide Michael Duncan leads a walk past buildings where rock stars, Hollywood icons and presidents have all lived and stayed, including the church where Eisenhower worshipped. Stratton Street, £9-£35, book ahead, 10.30am-12pm

SCIENCE OF CONVERSATION: You have many conversations every day, but how much do you know about the science behind it? Based on 20 years of research across first dates, crisis negotiation, and other varied conversational settings, social psychologist Elizabeth Stokoe tells you what you don't know about your conversations — and how to improve them. Conway Hall (Holborn), £8/£4, book ahead, 3pm-4.30pm

DAVID GRAY: Singer David Gray — best-known for 1998 song Babylon — performs his new album Gold In A Brass Age live. His first new album in four years, it has a more electronic feel than his previous work. Southbank Centre, £35-£120, book ahead, 7.30pm