Things To Do This Week In London: 28 January-3 February 2019

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Things to do this week is sponsored by the Imperial War Museum London.

All week

Get stuck into board games at the Museum of Brands

VAULTS: The theatre festival under Waterloo station continues apace. Highlights this week include a look at what it means to be Muslim in London, a London transfer of Edinburgh debut Just These, Please, and a work-in-progress show from comedian Ben Pope. Waterloo Vaults, various times and prices, book ahead, until 17 March

DARK HORSE: Nottingham-born comedian Sarah Keyworth follows up appearances on Comedy Central and BBC with an hour-long solo show about her life with an important little girl and her battle against every expectation of what being a girl means. Soho Theatre, from £13.50, book ahead, 28 January-2 February

TOMORROW'S TIGERS: Limited edition tiger design rugs go on display and are available to buy, raising funds and awareness of WWF's work protecting wild tigers. 1o artists including Anish Kapoor and Maya Lin have each designed a tiger-themed rug, with just 10 of each limited edition design being made. Sotheby's, free, just turn up, 29 January-4 February

BOARD GAMES: Last chance to settle down in Museum of Brands' board game corner and challenge your friends to the likes of Scrabble, Jenga and Dominoes. Food and drink is available to order from the museum cafe, so make an afternoon of it. Museum of Brands (Ladbroke Grove), included in museum admission, just turn up, until 31 January

STRONG ISLAND: A week-long wellness and fitness festival comes to Canary Wharf, with various classes and workshops about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. See the full programme here. Various prices and locations, book ahead, 28 January-3 February

PICTURE PERFECT: Got a special someone to impress this Valentine's Day? You can't go wrong with PortraitFlip. These guys turn your favourite photo of your beloved (or their pet) into a beautiful, handcrafted painting they'll cherish forever. (sponsor)

Monday 28 January

Tour the UK Supreme Court

COURT TOURS: Take a guided tour of the UK Supreme Court after hours. Visit three courtrooms and the Justices' Library, and find out how it all works. Supreme Court (Westminster), £15, book ahead 6pm (tickets here) or 6.15pm (tickets here)

BAND OF BURNS: Twelve folk artists unite as Band of Burns for a performance celebrating the life and work of Scottish poet Robert Burns, and  the values he championed — equality, social justice and the power of love. Scottish, English, Welsh, Irish and Turkish influences are evident in the music. Union Chapel (Islington), £25/£20, book ahead, 7pm

MINIATURE BOOKS: If you thought miniature books were just the same as regular books but on a smaller scale, think again. In this talk, author Simon Garfield reveals the secret history they contain, and the impressive capabilities of  typefaces and artistic binding. British Library, £12/£8, book ahead, 7pm-8pm

Tuesday 29 January

Look forward to the next ten years at Conway Hall

THE NEXT TEN YEARS: Cast your mind forward a decade for this debate about the key aspects of our lives which are expected to change radically. Experts cover topics including sustainability, terrorism, geopolitics, gender, religion, education and philosophy, and share their opinions on how we can prepare for these changes. Conway Hall (Holborn), £15/£10/£8, book ahead, 6pm-9.30pm

RUSSIA AND ROYALTY: Take a guided tour of the current exhibition, Russia, Royalty and the Romanovs, which looks at diplomatic and family ties between our Royal Family and the former Russian equivalent. The tour is led by a gallery guide, and lipspeaking support is available for the hard of hearing. The Queen's Gallery (Buckingham Palace), £6, book ahead, 6.30pm-8.30pm

STORYSLAM: Intentions is the theme of this month's Moth StorySLAM, which sees storytellers given five minutes each to share their work. Judges award each performer a score, and announce a winner at then end of the night. Sign up to tell a story, or just enjoy the show. Rich Mix (Shoreditch), £12, book ahead, 7.30pm

LA BOHEME: Let the English National Opera transport you to 1840s Paris — a world of romance, tragedy and bohemian living — as imagined by the great Puccini. Thanks to StubHub, you can experience this operatic masterpiece for as little as £39 in one of London's most opulent theatres. London Coliseum (Covent Garden), from £39 on StubHub while tickets last, book ahead, 7.30pm (sponsor)


Sponsor message

Remembrance, resilience and renewal at Imperial War Museum London

The end of the first world war marked the dawn of a whole new world. Explore the societal impact of this watershed conflict through art, film, live music, and conversation at Imperial War Museum London. The museum's immersive Making a New World season features four free exhibitions, each dedicated to a different aspect of the impact of the war.

John Akomfrah's multi-screen installation commemorates the contributions of millions of African and colonial soldiers. Tony and Olivier Award-winning artists 59 Productions use the sound of silence to reflect on rituals of remembrance. Human resilience is celebrated in a poignant collection of post-war photographs. And you can hear first-person accounts of the Armistice from those who lived through it, thanks to a sound installation comprised of never-before-exhibited recordings from the IWM archive.

Discover them all at Imperial War Museum London until 31 March. This Thursday, you can also catch a one-off performance from Mercury Prize-nominated Field Music, who bring song, sound and animation inspired by the moment the guns fell silent in 1918 to the museum's iconic atrium.


Wednesday 30 January

The Earth and evolution are under discussion at the Royal Institution

DIY TEA: Get the lowdown on culinary and medicinal wild herbs and learn how to use them in a tea blend at this workshop with Hackney Herbal. Have a go at making your own blend, and take home your own set of herbal tea bags. The Hoxton (Shoreditch), £25, book ahead, 6.30pm-8.30pm

EARTH AND EVOLUTION: Professor Lewis Dartnell discusses how the structure of the Earth made the human race into what it is today, thanks to certain features of our planet which drove evolution. He also covers how lessons from the past can help us with challenges of the future. Royal Institution (Mayfair), £16/£10/£7, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm

THE WIFE: Watch Oscar-nominated film The Wife, starring Glenn Close as the wife of a successful author whose fame and fortune takes a toll on their relationship over several decades. Harris Academy South Norwood, £8.50/£7.50/£5, book ahead, 7.45pm

Thursday 31 January

Juggling mixed with fast-paced choreography at Sadlers Wells

SALVADOR DALÍ: Spend your afternoon watching a documentary about the life of surrealist artist Salvador Dalí and his work, as well as that of his muse, Gala. The film includes never-seen-before footage and interviews. Barbican, £10.50, book ahead, 2pm

LONDON ARCHIVES: Take a tour of Bishopsgate Institute's London Collection and get an insight into the history of the city. Hear about London's celebrity detectives and gangsters, and the story of a rowdy group of builders drinking on a rooftop in 1806, aided by books, maps and photographs. Bishopsgate Institute (Liverpool Street), £7/£5, book ahead, 6.30pm-7.30pm

GANDINI JUGGLING: World-famous juggling troupe Gandini Juggling bring their new show to Sadlers Wells, mixing juggling with dance in a display of fun and fast-paced choreography. Sadlers Wells (Angel), £12-£30, book ahead, 31 January-2 February

Friday 1 February

Visit the Royal Mews

THE ROYAL MEWS: The Royal Mews opens for the season today, showcasing the coaches and carriages that belong to the Royal Family. There's some rather fancy bling in there, including the Gold State Coach, which has been used at every coronation since that of George IV in 1821. The Queen's Gallery (Buckingham Palace), £20.70, book ahead, 1 February-28 April

LONDON REMIXED: No need to wait until summer for music festivals here in the capital. London Remixed Festival brings together innovative musical performances across genres including Afrobeats, Latin grooves and Urban roots from 25 bands and DJs, without the mud or rain of a traditional festival.1-2 February

BOWIE EXPERIENCE: All of David Bowie's big hits are played at this concert celebrating the life and work of the Starman, from Space Oddity right up to Let's Dance. Hackney Empire, £23.50-£28.50, book ahead, 8pm

Saturday 2 February

Strike a pose at this voga class

MAKING MEMORY: Design Museum's new exhibition look at how a building can shape our perception of events. Celebrated architect Sir David Adjaye OBE demonstrates ways in which architecture and form can be used as storytelling devices. Design Museum (Kensington), £5.50-£21, book ahead, 2 February-5 May

VOGA: Strike a pose at this voga class, inspired by Madonna's vogue-ing antics (and the culture that preceded her). It combines the stress-relieving benefits of yoga with the cardiovascular benefits of dancing. The Hoxton (Shoreditch), £12, book ahead, 4pm-5pm

LONDON'S GOT TALENT: Celebrate the skills of north London's finest at this talent show. Singers, choirs and dancers perform, and proceeds from the evening go to North London Hospice. ArtsDepot (North Finchley), £15/£10, book ahead, 6.30pm

Sunday 3 February

Find somewhere to watch the Super Bowl

FAMILY RAVE: Show the kids how mum and dad used to party at this family-friendly mid-afternoon rave. The multi-sensory dancefloor has glitter cannons, bubbles and giant balloons, with craft tables for the tames party animals, and free glowsticks for all. Amersham Arms (New Cross), £10/£7, book ahead, 2pm-4.30pm

DOROTHY L SAYERS: Take a tour of some of the Bloomsbury locations linked to crime writer Dorothy L Sayers, including some which inspired her writing during her time in London in the 1920s. Holborn station, £12/£9, book ahead, 2pm-4pm

FRANK TURNER: Folk-punk favourite Frank Turner and his backing band, The Sleeping Souls, are back on the road. See him set the stage ablaze at Ally Pally with his unique acoustic stylings — StubHub's score of the week. Alexandra Palace, from £28 on StubHub while tickets last, book ahead, 7pm (sponsor)

SUPER BOWL: Places are selling out fast for these Super Bowl screenings and parties around town. Many have pre-match and half-time entertainment thrown in, and food and drinks packages are available at several venues. Best book Monday morning off work now.