Things To Do In London This Week: 19-25 August 2019

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All week

It's the final week of the Michael Rakowitz exhibition. Photo John Nguyen/PA Wire. Courtesy Whitechapel Gallery

MICHAEL RAKOWITZ: It's the final week of Michael Rakowitz's exhibition focusing on cultural destruction in times of war. The Fourth Plinth artists focuses specifically on the loss of cultural artefacts in Iraq in a moving and fascinating exhibition. Whitechapel Gallery, £12.95, book ahead, until 25 August

MANGA: Time's also running out to see British Museum's blockbuster Manga exhibition. Learn all about the Japanese art form, from its early beginnings to modern subgenres, in a show suited to Manga experts and newbies alike. Plenty of interactive elements too.  British Museum, £19.50, book ahead, until 26 August

MAKING YOUR MARK: And finally, British Library's exhibition about the history of writing signs off this week. See very early examples of writing, and learn what it was first used for, witness how it's changed through the years, and ponder whether it has a future in the digital age. British Library, £14, book ahead, until 27 August

Outdoor cinema comes to Guildhall Yard.

FEATS OF CINEMA: All this week, Guildhall Yard hosts open-air film screenings, part of the Fantastic Feats series of events. Architecture, science and engineering is the focus of the films, which include Jurassic Park and WALL-E. Deckchairs are provided, and food and drink are available to buy. Guildhall Yard, £15, book ahead, 19-24 August

OPERA IN THE CITY: The third year of Opera in the City Festival begins this week, bringing performers from all over the world to the stage, and making the art form accessible to all. This year’s programme includes an opera with a touch of jazz which sets Othello in the world of rugby, and the UK Premiere of Caccia Lontana by rediscovered Croatian-Italian composer Antonio Smareglia. Bridewell Theatre (Fleet Street), various prices, book ahead, 20 August-5 September

Monday 19 August

Falling Man premieres at Wilton's

RESERVOIR DOGS: Quentin Tarantino's debut Reservoir Dogs is screened at Film4 Summer Screen. Watch the 1992 crime thriller, about six career criminals trying to pull off a diamond heist, in the lovely courtyard at dusk. Somerset House, £20.74, book ahead, 7pm

WINE AND VINYL: Enjoy a curated evening of music and wine, as the ghost writer of Grace Jones’ biography talks about the superstar's seminal album, Slave to the Rhythm. Enjoy the record in vinyl from start to finish, accompanied by wines curated by an expert. Flat Iron Square (London Bridge), £16.50, book ahead, 7pm

FALLING MAN: Theatre/dance show Falling Man is a direct response to the fact that 84 men commit suicide every week. It offers a no holds barred look at depression, suicide and meaning, tackling the topics of mental health and masculinity. Wilton's (Limehouse), £6.50-£16, book ahead, 7.30pm (repeated tomorrow)

Tuesday 20 August

Hear an organ concert at Alexandra Palace

A ROYAL PROGRESS: Take an evening tour of the Museum of the Order of St John, focusing on the royal history of the building. Find out about the Clerkenwell Priory, founded by Henry II, and the beginnings of the St John’s Ambulance service under Queen Victoria, all told through objects in the museum. Museum of the Order of St John (Clerkenwell), £10-£12, book ahead, 6pm

ORGAN CONCERT: Renowned concert organist Colin Walsh gives a performance on the Willis pipe organ in the Great Hall at Alexandra Palace. The instrument has undergone much restoration over a long and complicated history and tonight’s a chance to hear it as its best, with pieces by Bach, Mozart, Franck and Vierne on the programme. Alexandra Palace, £16.50, book ahead, 7pm

ROOTS FOR A CROWN: Head to Roundhouse for a screening of docufiction film, Roots of a Crown. Directed by poet Julianknxx, it focuses on hair, raising issues around the nature of hair, social issues, African-futurism, masculinity and history. Roundhouse (Camden), £8, book ahead, 7pm

Wednesday 21 August

Laugh Train Home comedy in Battersea

ABSOLUTELY 80S: Head to Wilton’s for a fundraising evening in aid of a specialist cancer clinician at Imperial College NHS Trust. A live band provides an 80s soundtrack, interspersed with other 80s classics, so you can spend the night dancing to the likes of Pet Shop Boys, Gary Newman and Pink Floyd. Wilton’s (Limehouse), £10-£40, book ahead, 7pm

HIDDEN FIGURES: Learn about the African-American women working at NASA who helped launch astronaut John Glenn into orbit in 1962. 2016 film Hidden Figures tells the true story of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, who all fought to defy stereotypes. Harris Academy South Norwood, £8.50/£7/£5, book ahead, 7.45pm-10pm

LAUGH TRAIN HOME: Fin Taylor, who’s appeared on Live at the Apollo and 8 Out of 10 Cats, and Tim Renkow headline tonight’s Laugh Train Home, a weekly comedy evening showcasing the work of established and up-and-coming performers. The Four Thieves (Battersea), £7, book ahead, 8.15pm-10.30pm

Thursday 22 August

Celebrate National Burger Day at Hawker House

BURGER FESTIVAL: Celebrate National Burger Day at the Bundance Burger Festival — apparently Europe’s biggest burger celebration. 16 burger specialists offer one-off dishes alongside their regular menus. Each burger is served slider size to give you a chance to try as many as possible, and several meats are available, as well as vegan options. Hawker House (Canada Water), £15 (includes a beer), book ahead, 4pm-11pm

STONEWALL: Mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots at a screening of a BBC drama-documentary about the run-up to the protests. It offers an insight into queer history, focusing on queer people of colour who were involved in the resistance. Barbican Cinema, £12, book ahead, 6.30pm

STARMAN: This month’s Science Fiction Theatre focuses on 1984 film Starman, about a space being who tries to contact mankind after receiving a message from NASA, until his spaceship is intercepted by an American missile. The Castle Cinema (Homerton), £10/£8, book ahead, 7pm

Friday 23 August

Sing along to Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again

THE MONSTER: The world’s largest inflatable obstacle course for adults pitches up for a 6-day stint at Ally Pally. Book your time slot and take part in a Nerf battle as you tackle the course. Finish up with (slightly) calmer activities include drag queen karaoke, mega beer pong and a glitter wheel. Alexandra Palace, £25, book ahead, 23-28 August

MAMMA MIA: Release your inner Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan or Lily James at this outdoor sing along screening of Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again. The Mamma Mia sequel picks up shortly after the last one left off, and is packed with just as many ABBA hits… and added Cher. Watermans (Brentford), £10/£9, book ahead, 8pm

Saturday 24 August

It's Notting Hill Carnival weekend. Image: Shutterstock

CARNIVAL: Europe’s biggest street festival takes over vast swathes of west London this weekend, with sound systems, parade routes, food stalls and portaloos popping up all over the place (not enough of the latter, in our experience). Read our guide to Notting Hill Carnival to get the lowdown on what’s happening. Notting Hill, free, just turn up, 24-26 August

FOOD FESTIVAL: If you’ve been meaning to visit Hampton Court Palace for a while, make it this weekend, as there’s the added bonus of a food festival. 100 artisan producers pitch stalls in the grounds of the Tudor palace, selling sausages, brownies, crepes, gin, cheese and much more. Michel Roux Jr, Nadiya Hussain and Rhiannon Lambert cook up a storm in the demo kitchen, and there’s a soundtrack of live music all weekend. Hampton Court Palace, included in admission, booking recommended, 24-26 August

HORSES IN HYDE PARK: The equine history of Hyde Park is revealed on this horse-themed walk. You probably already know about the Animals in War Memorial, but the walk also covers the Parade Ground, where aristocrats used to show off their horses and carriages, and ends with a trip to the Metropolitan Police Horse stables, where working horses are cared for. Age 18+. Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, £10, book ahead, 10.30am-12pm

Sunday 25 August

Go inside Fitzrovia Chapel on this tour of the area.

BOHEMIAN FITZROVIA: Find out about the actors, musicians, artists and literary figures who have lived and worked in Fitzrovia in years gone by, on this guided walk. Stories of George Orwell and Dylan Thomas feature, and the walk ends with a look inside the lovely Fitzrovia Chapel. Goodge Street station, £15, book ahead, 12.30pm-2pm

SMITHFIELD MARKET: Join a Museum of London guide for a walk around the Smithfield area — the museum’s future home. Visit sights such as the Charterhouse and St Bartholomew the Great, discovering the Medieval and Tudor history as you go, including tidbits about the plague, bodysnatching and executions. Smithfield Market, £12.50/£10, book ahead, 2pm

DANCING QUEEN: As it’s a bank holiday weekend, keep the party going into the early hours of Monday. Six Storeys hosts an evening of dancing and cocktails, with a chance to learn more about the work of LGBTQI charity. Six Storeys (Soho), £15, book ahead, 6pm-midnight