Things To Do This Week In London: 19-25 February 2018

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All week

Brave the cold and you might get more than a glass of bubbly, ie a phone number.

HOT TUB SPEED DATING: Get to know your potential new beau while sipping bubbles in a wood-fired hot tub. And remember to save all the mushy details for your grandkids. HotTug House, Islington Boat Club, £40, book ahead, until 21 February

CANARY WHARF ICE RINK: It's your last chance to get your skates on under a canopy of twinkly trees at Canary Wharf's pretty rink. Canary Wharf Ice Rink, £10, book ahead, until 24 February

LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO THE NIGHT: Mary Tyrone's fragile mental state lies at the heart of this production, driving the concern of her actor-husband James Tyrone (Jeremy Irons) and her two sons Edmund (Matthew Beard) and James Jr (Rory Keenan). We reckon it's the best acting you'll see at the West End this year. Read our four-star review here. Wyndham's Theatre, Charing Cross, £49-£98, book ahead, until 7 April

T-SHIRT EXHIBITION: Take a rapid tour through fashion, music, protest, art and popular culture through the humble tee. We've been there, got the t-shirt and we gave it four stars. Fashion and Textile Museum, £9.90, book ahead, until 6 May

MARK DION: Are we doing enough to preserve species? Is captivity ever justified? And should any kind of hunting be deemed acceptable? These are big questions tackled in a big way by Mark Dion, who recreates the struggle between us and the natural environment we inhabit. It's five stars from us! Whitechapel Gallery, £12.95, book ahead, until 13 May

Monday 19 February

Pure Expression present a new show revisiting the story of Frankenstein through an immersive journey across library spaces.

FRANKENSTEIN: The classic gothic novel is brought to life through theatre, music and installations, which play out across Kensington Library. Plug in your headphones and prepare to be spooked by the story’s haunting characters while you venture into the library’s hidden corners. Kensington Library, £6, book ahead, 5pm-6pm and 6.30pm-7.30pm, until 22 February

POLYAMORY: Whether you're a believer in monogamy, polyamory or both, this talk should be an eye-opener. The Old Queen's Head, Islington, £13, book ahead, 8pm

Tuesday 20 February

Celebrate the Year of the Dog with gourmet... hot dogs.

SUFFRAGETTE TALK: The suffragettes carried out arson attacks, window-smashing and bomb-planting for the cause. This talk debates whether they were justified in doing so. The National Archives, £8-£10, book ahead, 6pm-7.30pm

HELLO BAIJIU! MASTERCLASS: You might never have heard of it but that doesn't stop the Chinese baijiu being the world's most consumed spirit. Get in on the action about at this cocktail masterclass. China Exchange, £15, book ahead, 6.30pm-8pm

BUBBLE DOG POP-UP: Get in the mood for the Year of the Dog by getting your chops on gourmet hot dogs as well as other more traditional Chinese grub. Bubbledogs, £15, book ahead, 6pm-9pm

BIG MIND: Firmly rooted in the digital world or clinging on to your record player? If the former then you'll lap up this techy talk, which discusses how "collective intelligence can guide corporations, governments, universities, and societies to make the most of human brains and digital technologies." Royal Institution, £16, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm

SEX+ PRESENTS PHAT! Settle in for body-positive cabaret which shares the love for big bodies, fabulous fatties and curvilicious chubsters. The performance is followed by a talk about how being fat can provide fuel for art. Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen, £10, book ahead, 7pm

PERFECT LIARS CLUB: Welcome to the Liars Club, where four people tell an absurdly unbelievable story and you are tasked with turfing out the liar. Reckon you've got the sleuthing skills? Advance tickets are sold out but there's a small selection on the door. The Book Club, £10 on the door, just turn up, 7.30pm

Wednesday 21 February

Zina explores her sexual and inner life, she struggles to reconcile her emotions and her religious beliefs, while trying to figure out what will really bring her happiness and fulfillment.

PUPPY LOVE: Pooch lovers will be pleased to hear the Year of the Dog means you actually get to hang out with pups. At this CNY session you'll learn about the therapeutic benefits of pets. The China Exchange, £6, book ahead, 6.30pm-7.30pm

ART COLLECTING: Dream of filling a fancy house with fancy art? Join the art experts to find out how to sniff out original work and support contemporary artists and curators. MOO HQ, Library Space, Farringdon, £15-£27, just turn up, 6.30pm-9pm

WORKOUT TIME MACHINE: All we know about this exercise class is that you'll be getting your sweat on to number one hit music videos from the 70s, 80s then 90s and it's in Shoreditch, obvs. Secret venue, Shoreditch, £29, book ahead, 6.30pm-9.30pm

NERD NIGHT: Three nerdy speakers mouth off for 21 minutes on various themes. This time round love and all the anguish it brings is going under the microscope. The Backyard Comedy Club, Bethnal Green, £6, book ahead, 7pm-10.30pm

ZINA: In 2016 Zina placed a provocative and challenging personal ad on Craigslist, looking for well-endowed men. This play details what happened next while offering us an honest glimpse into life lived as a female artist, feminist and Muslim. The Vaults, £14.50, book ahead, 9.30pm, until 25 February

Thursday 22 February

With more than 175 breweries taking part the only problem will be deciding which pint to down first.

TATE TAP TAKEOVER: One way to get punters through the door to see some art is to tempt them with a takeover from the UK's top breweries. Siren Craft Brew is kicking things off plenty of samplings and beer chat. We're sold. Tate Modern, £15 for five thirds of beer, £20 for five thirds and a pint, £22 for a meal deal, 6.30pm-10.30pm

BIG BOOZY PUB QUIZ: Expect a blind drinks tasting, creative rounds, plenty of beverages and a bit of general knowledge thrown into this fundraiser quiz. Nothing like raising a pint for charity. The Water Poet, £25, book ahead, 7.15pm

LATE NIGHT JAZZ: Let the sultry sounds of vocalist Yvette Norwood-Tiger take you to a place where jazz was the most celebrated American music genre. Elgar Room, Royal Albert Hall, £15, book ahead, 9.30pm

CRAFT BEER RISING: Craft beer connoisseur or craft-curious? Then there are guaranteed good times to be had this weekend as more than 175 brewers take over the Old Truman Brewery. Once you're heavy with hops, hit up the food hall for grilled meat from Kansas City BBQ or vegan grub from Le Bao and stick around for the evening entertainment, which includes sets from Krafty Kuts and Don Letts on tomorrow night. Old Truman Brewery, £15 (includes a pint glass), book ahead, 22-24 February

Friday 23 February

Among the hundreds of books on offer at this book fair, many will be some of the most evocative reads and recognisable covers you could hope to find under one roof, a good number signed by the authors and illustrators.

LONDON BIKE SHOW: Whether you like to pootle around at the weekend or are a serious got-the-lycra kind of cyclist, there'll be something for you at this bike show, from the latest gear to special guests. Excel, £16, book ahead, 10am-5pm, until 25 February

CHILDREN'S BOOK FAIR: Flick through beautiful, rare and collectible books — the kind your little'uns will treasure forever and pass down to their kids. Hilton Olympia, free-£2, book ahead, 11am-5pm

TAP TAKEOVER: Looking for somewhere to get in the pints this weekend? Breweries from the South West are taking over Hackney Wick this weekend, offering tutored tastings until the kegs run dry. Various locations, Hackney, £11.37, book ahead, 23-25 February

SARA PASCOE: Testament to her, she's usually one of the few women on shows such as Mock the Week and Pascoe is headlining this night alongside 8 Out of 10 Cats regular oddball Joe Wilkinson, stand-up master John Kearns and the rising star Suzi Ruffell. Bush Hall, Shepherds Bush, £21.45, book ahead, 8pm

Saturday 24 February

The Mark Makers is a fun, informal London based pop up drawing workshop, run by working practitioner Alice Nyong.

SURVIVAL SKILLS: With all this nuclear war chat and one idiot in particular with his tiny fingers near the button, this crash course in survival skills such as building a fire could be just the thing we need. The LookOut, Hyde Park, £18, book ahead, 10am-noon

YONDER X CARAVAN: For the ultimate virtuous start to your weekend, tuck into a sustainably sourced three-course meal, followed by botanical cocktails and a talk from Know the Origin, an ethical clothing company. Caravan Fitzrovia, £75, book ahead, 6pm

PRINT JAM NIGHT: The arty party planners at Paint Jam are throwing a print special. Enjoy a prosecco on arrival to get the print juices flowing, get your blunders out on paper before flexing a steady hand on take-home items such as t-shirts, totes or cusion covers. Secret location, central London, £35, book ahead, 7pm-10pm

THE MODERN STILL LIFE CLASS: Forget bowls of fruit, Alice Nyong brings colour and dynamism to the drawing board: think disco balls and exotic flora. So you'll end up with a still life drawing that won't bore you to death when you look at it. The Barge House, £22, book ahead, 7.30pm-9.30pm

Sunday 25 February

That barnet is worth the ticket price, alone. © Samurai Cop

EXPLORE THE URBAN FOREST: Paul Wood returns with another tour of some of London's finest (and wonderfully named) street trees, such as the golden-blossomed Mimosa, the gingkos and bottlebrush trees. Pimlico station, £19.02, book ahead, 10.30am-12.30pm

BIG LONDON FLEA: Got a thing for second hand stuff or furnishing your place on a shoestring? More than 50 vintage traders and reformed hoarders having a clear out are flogging their furniture, records, lamps, prints, art and clothes today. Epic Dalston, free, just turn up, 11am-6pm

CRAP FILM CLUB: Crap Film Club reckons bad films have a bad rep and instead of never watching them again, we should revel more in their awfulness. Tonight share the disdain and cinema snacks over a screening of Samurai Cop and Miami Connection. Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen, Hoxton, £10, book ahead, noon-4pm

HANTASTIC! Get dolled up in traditional Chinese garb, known as han fu 汉服, plus learn about the history of Han clothing and how it is back in vogue. China Exchange, £24, book ahead, 1.30pm-3.20pm