Things to do this week is sponsored by Donmar Productions.
All week
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS: Want to keep the kids busy on a budget? Check out our helpful list of free things to do with kids in London. Worked your way through those? Get stuck into our guide to things to do in the summer holidays.
THE HORSE SHOW: A new two-person sketch comedy show with a twist: the sketches are only about horses and people who love them. And we thought we had seen everything here at Londonist... Camden People's Theatre (Camden), £10-£12, book ahead, 31 July-12 August
ILLUSTRATION AWARDS: 50 original illustration projects are on show at Somerset House — everything from drawings, to murals, to posters, to packaging — before the winner is announced at the World Illustration Awards. Somerset House, free, just turn up, 31 July - 28 August
LONDON RIVIERA: If the weather's looking decent, get yourself down to City Hall for the London Riviera festival. Every evening there's different entertainment, including film and sport screenings, dance classes, and live music. Best of all, it's free. Just turn up, until 31 August
Monday 31 July
SECRETS OF FLEET STREET: This Look Up London walking tour will unravel scandalous stories, both recent and ancient, as you walk the steps of activists, hacks, cabbies and lawyers along Fleet Street. Temple tube, £12, book ahead, 6.30pm-8pm
WINE TASTING: Taste 10 wines from five different South African wineries at wine haven Vivat Bacchus tonight. It might be Monday night, but you'll be drinking like it's the weekend. Vivat Bachhus (London Bridge), £15, book ahead, 7pm-10pm
CRAFT NIGHT: Join in a friendly night of making things, getting creative, and of course, having a drink with The Make Escape, all in aid of MIND. Soundtracked by the Attic's in-house DJ's. Hackney Attic, free, just turn up, 7.30pm-11pm
AI IMPROV: A loveable nerd and a dark humoured hacker team up to create an artificial friend (a robot whom they call A.L.Ex.) via transatlantic video link, in this improvised theatre show. Etcetera Theatre (Camden), £8, book ahead, 8.30pm, repeated tomorrow
Tuesday 1 August
MAGNIFICENT MINIBEASTS: Learn more about the creatures that call London's Royal Parks home, in this day of storytelling, bug trails, creative crafting and invertebrate missions. Richmond Park, free, just turn up, 11am-3pm
SCORCH: For those who don’t feel like they’re in the right life, online is a place to be yourself. This immersive piece of theatre explores how the human story often gets lost among the headlines. Soho Theatre, £10, book ahead, 7pm (until 12 August)
OUTDOOR CINEMA: Catch Danny Boyle's masterpiece, Slumdog Millionaire, under the stars and in the glorious surrounds of the Horniman Gardens. Horniman Museum (Forest Hill), £15, book ahead, 7.15pm-10.45pm
Sponsor message
Haunting play Knives In Hens receives a London revival
A captivating love triangle, a pre-industrial village and one couple’s struggle for language lie at the heart of David Harrower’s haunting play Knives In Hens, which receives its first major London revival at the Donmar Warehouse from 17 August.
Award-winning director Yaël Farber (Les Blancs, National Theatre; The Crucible, Old Vic) brings her distinctive, bold and impassioned style to the 1995 classic. The story follows a ploughman, played by Christian Cooke and his nameless, young wife (Judith Roddy), who on meeting the hated local miller (Matt Ryan), are drawn into a tumultuous tussle between power and desire.
A recognisable cast, reasonably priced tickets and a 251-seat capacity mean Knives In Hens is likely to sell out fast. Visit donmarwarehouse.com to book tickets from £10.
Wednesday 2 August
IN SEARCH OF CLERKENWELL: 800 years of history thread through Clerkenwell's streets. Follow the trail of the famous faces who have lived in the city's medieval suburb on this walking tour. London Metropolitan Archives, £10, book ahead, 11am-1pm
RADICAL KITCHEN: Community groups assemble to share their recipes for creating and sustaining meaningful social change in the city. Food served by pop-up restaurant Mazí Mas, run by migrant women. Serpentine Pavilion, free, just turn up, 1pm
LADY CHASTITY'S RESERVE: Enter rooms of ludicrously twisted mysteries and clue solving in this immersive experience. One review goes as far to call it 'The Crystal Maze on crystal meth'. Interesting. People's Park Tavern (Hackney), £22, book ahead, 5.30pm-10.30pm
RELIGIOUS REVOLUTION: The period between 1534 and 1559 was one of massive religious change. David Evans looks at some of the ways that people coped during the time. City of Westminster Archives Centre, free, book ahead, 6pm-7pm
NECKLACE WORKSHOP: Don't go and buy that gorgeous statement necklace, make it instead. All the materials you need are included, and you can even make a matching bracelet and earrings at no extra cost. Drink, Shop & Do, £30, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm
CRAP FILM CLUB: You know those crappy films that are so crap that they actually become a little bit good? 1988 horror flick Uninvited is one of those films, and you can catch a screening of it tonight. The Book Club (Shoreditch), £4, book ahead, 7pm-10pm
Thursday 3 August
MAKING FACES: 30 artists who have survived brain injury present their works exploring the face, the body, the self and the disjuncture between what is seen and what is felt. Royal Festival Hall, free, just turn up, 10am-11pm, until Wednesday 23 August
SUSTAINABLE SALAD: Learn how GrowUp is creating an efficient and sustainable system to produce food at an aquaponic farm, and have a taste of the salad being produced to see if it can match up. Museum of London (Barbican), free, just turn up, 1pm-2pm
TEMPTING FÊTE: The Wellcome Collection is hosting an evening of drop-in activities, cocktails and music. It's also the perfect opportunity to try the new Play, Push and Relax trails through the building. Wellcome Collection, free, just turn up, 6pm-10pm
SUMMER'S BIGGEST HIT: See Middlesex take on Hampshire at the home of cricket, in an action packed night — perfect for sports lovers or simply an after work jaunt with friends. Lord's Cricket Ground, £20 (kids £5), book ahead, 6.15pm
SIMPSONS QUIZ: Prepare for challenges harder than figuring out who killed Mr Burns, riddles only Jebus could solve and downright d'oh worthy diversions in this quiz centred on everyone's favourite cartoon family. Drink, Shop & Do (King's Cross), £5, book ahead, 7.30pm
Friday 4 August
KEW SCIENCE FESTIVAL: Don your lab coat and dig out your googles — it's time for three days of activities, workshops and tours celebrating the incredible discoveries and pioneering work of Kew scientists. Kew Gardens, free with entry to Kew, book ahead, 4-6 August
GEEKFEST: This festival really does cover everything geek — technology, media, comics, tastings... it's said to be the biggest multi-genre convention in the UK. Novotel London West, various prices, 4-6 August
CRAFT BEER: Hoppy days. The fifth annual London Craft Beer Festival is here — with over 300 beers — from 45 breweries — to slurp. Kicking off this afternoon (well, 11.30am actually), the festival runs in slots until Sunday afternoon. £42.50 per slot/£150 for all weekend sessions. All beer included in entry price, 4-6 August
LATE AT TATE: The perfect opportunity for the curiously minded to explore the gallery after hours. Have a drink, a bite to eat and enjoy the artworks, activities and intriguing discussion. Tate Britain, free, just turn up, 6pm-10pm
PROJECT MAYHEM: Are you a lover or a fighter? Choose carefully, because it'll matter in this immersive theatre experience, set in a dilapidated east London warehouse. Secret location (Dalston), £29.99, book ahead, 7pm
BLUE WHALE: If you haven't seen Hope yet, where have you been? Have a go at creating your own miniature blue whale at this crochet workshop — don't worry if you're a complete novice, there's an expert on hand to help. Natural History Museum, £45, book ahead, 7.30pm-9pm
YEEZY DOES IT: Love him or hate him, Kanye is undoubtedly one of the most creative, influential and controversial artists of our time. And that's the perfect excuse to throw a party in his honour. Trapeze Basement (Shoreditch), £5/£8, just turn up, 10pm-3.30am
Saturday 5 August
INDIA IN BLOOMSBURY: This guided walk around Bloomsbury will help you discover the people and places that reflect the presence of India in the area. A carefully-chosen 12 places tell the story. Russell Square station, free, book ahead, 11am-12.30pm
HACKNEY FLEA MARKET: Vintage lovers will be right at home among the 30 hand-picked stall holders, selling a mix of salvaged, one-of-a-kind, lost and found objects and handmade items. Abney Hall (Stoke Newington), free, just turn up, 11am-6pm (5-6 August)
EASTERN ELECTRICS: Back with their biggest line-up to date, Eastern Electrics day festival is a real treat for the ears. Evolved from its early roots in the warehouse clubbing scene, it's now hosting acts like Hot Since 82. Morden Park, various prices, book ahead, 11am-10pm
DETECTIVE FICTION: Dorothy Sayers, one of the 'golden age' of crime writers between the two world wars, lived and worked in Holborn. Discover the places that inspired the scenes and characters of her writing on this tour of the area. Holborn station, £10, book ahead, 2pm-4pm
FILM SCREENING: Catch science fiction flick Sunshine at the Royal Observatory. Will a brave crew successfully journey to the Sun to try and deliver a bomb, and reignite our dying star to save humanity? Royal Observatory Greenwich, £10, book ahead, 6.30pm-10pm
IMPROV DEATHMATCH: Two teams take the stage and battle to see who can make the audience laugh the hardest. The winner? That one's up to you. Aces & Eights Saloon Bar (Tufnell Park), £5, book ahead, 10.15pm-11.15pm
Sunday 6 August
CROYDON AIRPORT: Before Heathrow there was... Croydon. Get up close to the world's first air traffic control tower and explore the site's history at this historic airport's monthly open day. Croydon Airport, free (donations encouraged), just turn up, 11am-4pm
SEA MONSTER PUPPETS: Who knows what mysterious creatures lurk in the deep, dark sea? Kids are invited to put their imagination to the test, and design their very own sea monster in this art workshop underneath the ship's hull. Cutty Sark, free with admission to the ship, just turn up, 11.30am-1.30pm and 2pm-4pm
JAMAICAN INDEPENDENCE: Traditionally, this Jamaican national holiday calls for a vibrant mix of music and food. What better way to immerse yourself then, than this special dinner featuring the perfect line-up of drinks and national dishes. Rudie's (Dalston), £40, book ahead, 11.30am-10pm
BLOOMSBURY WALK: Follow the lives of seven extraordinary local women, from the first woman to qualify in England as a doctor, to a brilliant mathematician, and discover the places they lived, places they worked and the legacy they left behind. Goodge Street station, £10, book ahead, 2pm-4pm
MIND OVER MATTER: A great line up of spoken word and hip hop acts come together to host an evening of live entertainment, all in aid of mental health charity Mind. The Bedford (Balham), £5, book ahead, 7pm-10pm
FILM SCREENING: Catch a film under the stars in the glorious surrounds of the Horniman Gardens. This week, it's children's classic The Jungle Book, but big kids are allowed too... Horniman Museum, £15/£10, book ahead, 7.15pm-10.15pm
