Things to do
TOWERS PROJECT: London artist Jane Northcote's latest project has been sketching the tower blocks visible from her home, including buildings in Camden, Finsbury, Islington and the City of London. See some of her work, rendered in pen and watercolour, etchings and prints, at this exhibition. Barbican Library, free, just turn up, until 27 February
UNDER THE SKIN: Artists have been sketching the anatomy of the human body for centuries, but the hardest challenge is portraying the body's many layers in 3D. From woodcuts to MRI scans, see some of the techniques used to illustrate the inside of the body, and find out how these techniques were developed at this new exhibition. Royal College of Physicians (Regent's Park), free, just turn up, until 15 March
ROYAL MEWS: If your commute was particularly rough this morning, you'll be mighty envy of some of the Royal Family's wheels, on display from today. The Royal Mews — where the coaches and carriages are kept — opens to the public for a couple of months every year, for a chance to see glittering vehicles including the Gold State Coach, which has been used at every coronation since that of George IV in 1821. Buckingham Palace, £20.70, book ahead, until 28 April
THE KING'S SPEECH: The relationship between King George VI and his speech therapist was made famous in 2010 film The King's Speech. Today, Mark Logue, grandson of that royal speech therapist and co-author of The King's Speech, talks about how the relationship between the two men continued after the time where the film ended. National Army Museum (Chelsea), free, book ahead, 11.30am
OUTING THE PAST: Hear true stories of groundbreaking gay and trans rights activists of the 1950s who inspired change at this lunchtime presentation, part of LSE's OUTing the Past series. Learn about the work of Dr RD Reid, who made what may have been the first public call for a campaign to decriminalise homosexuality in the UK, and Christine Jorgensen, a former GI from New York, who had sex reassignment surgery in Denmark. LSE (Holborn), free, just turn up, 1pm-2pm
OBJECT HABIT: Drop by UCL's Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology to hear from a volunteer about their favourite object in the collection — it's on the theme of love and desire, just in time for Valentine's Day. Petrie Museum (UCL), free, just turn up, 1.15pm-2pm
SK8 FRY-DAY: Waterloo's House of Vans opens its doors for free access to its skate bowl and ramps, with free fried chicken and beer for anyone pulling off impressive tricks. Bring your own board/skates. House of Vans (Waterloo), free, book ahead, 6pm-10pm
SWING DEN: Want to have a go at Swing dance? Start off with a taster lesson to learn some of the moves, before taking part in an evening of social dance. It's aimed at beginners (although everyone's welcome) so don't worry if you forget the steps. Bishopsgate Institute (Liverpool Street), £8/£5, book ahead, 7pm
ALIEN: In space no one can hear you scream. Sigourney Weaver stars in this 1979 sci-fi classic in which the crew of a commercial spaceship investigate a call for help from an alien vessel... and that's when things start to go wrong. Never seen it? Here's your chance. Seen it before? Watch it again. Harris Academy South Norwood, £8.50/£7/£5, book ahead, 7.45pm
BOWIE EXPERIENCE: Begin your weekend by rocking out to some of David Bowie's best-known tunes from Space Oddity to Let's Dance at The Bowie Experience, a lively gig dedicated to all things Starman. Hackney Empire, £22.50-£27, book ahead, 8pm
COMEDY: Comedians Ciarán Dowd & Stevie Martin team up for a work in progress show, where they're each showcasing some of their new jokes — a great chance to see them on the cheap. Pleasance Theatre (Islington), £5, book ahead, 8pm
BRASS OFF: Toot toot! London Remixed Festival begins tonight with an epic battle of the brass. Two brass bands go head to head, each playing a full set before going head to head, punch to punch, track to track and horn to horn. Rich Mix (Shoreditch), £13, book ahead, 8pm
Good cause of the day
Between 31 January and 28 February, book yourself in for a five-course meal at M Victoria Street and help raise money and awareness for ‘Not For Sale’, a global organisation working to end human trafficking and exploitation through funding self-sustaining social projects. Find out more and book the pop-up dining experience.
What we're reading
- How Hampstead and Kilburn MP Tulip Siddiq made history.
- 50 years on from The Beatles' iconic London rooftop concert.
- Hear music performed inside a London Underground tunnel.
