Things to do
WOMEN OF THE WORLD: Southbank Centre's annual Women of the World Festival begins today, with three days of events looking at the state of gender equality across the globe today. Highlights include appearances by feminist activist and journalist Caroline Criado Perez, and anti-racism educator Layla Saad. Southbank Centre, various prices, book ahead, 6-8 March
WOMEN IN FOCUS: To coincide with International Women's Day, three-day festival Women In Focus comes to Poplar. Events include a musical evening by a line-up of all female-identifying artists, and a burlesque dance class led by the reigning Queen of Burlesque Idol UK 2019. Poplar Union, free, book ahead, 6-8 March
UNKNOWN FIELD MARSHAL:Ever heard of Sir Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd? He was Chief of Staff of the British Fourth Army from 1915 to 1918, and Chief of the Imperial General Staff between 1933-1935 — find out more about his military career and contributions at this free talk by author Rodney Atwood. National Army Museum (Chelsea), free, book ahead, 11.30am
WOMEN, QUEENS & GODDESSES: Look Up London continues its International Women's Day series with a look at the Women, Queens and Goddesses of The British Museum. With museums dominated by men, and women often under-represented, join the tour to hear about some of the women who came to read under the dome of the celebrated Reading Room. The British Museum, £15, book ahead, 2pm-3.30pm
AMERICAN CULTURE: Based on current NT production The Visit, Professor of American Studies Martin Halliwell offers an introduction to American culture in the 1950s. He uses examples of 1950s theatre, literature, film and the visual arts to demonstrate the politics of the decade. National Theatre, £9/£6, book ahead, 5.30pm
HUBBLE: Astronaut Kathryn Sullivan talks about the launch of the Hubble Telescope, recounting her experiences in launching and maintaining the powerful telescope which has greatly furthered our understanding of the universe. Royal Institution (Mayfair), £16/£10/£7, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm
HILARY MANTEL: As Hilary Mantel's anticipated new novel, The Mirror and the Light, is published, hear from the author herself about the historical trilogy, which also includes Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies. This third installation traces the final years of Thomas Cromwell. Southbank Centre, £28-£56, book ahead, 7.30pm
JUDY: Screen25 shows 2019 film Judy, which stars Renee Zellweger in the tale of the life of film star Judy Garland, from her childhood to later life. The screening is preceded by short film Life of Pie, about two pizza chefs who transform their town into a mountain biking hotspot. Harris Academy South Norwood, £9/£7/£5, book ahead, 7.40pm
ESSENTIALLY BLACK: Naomi Denny's debut play, Essentially Black, is a work in progress, and looks at the collision of race and elite universities. It follows Jess, and Oxford student who is leading a campaign to get a statue of Cecil Rhodes removed from campus. She is also mixed race. So, realistically, does she even have a right to protest? Pleasance Theatre (Islington), £5, book ahead, 7.45pm
London weather with Inclement Attlee
Our idiosyncratic weather forecaster returns, keeping you up to date on London's skies.
The clouds and the tarmac are likely to exchange further moisture today, although the transaction is decidedly in one direction, thanks to the persistence of gravity. Watch out for a downpour of milk in the Westbourne Park area, as a dairy lorry with unsecured doors passes over the Westway around lunchtime.
Contact Mr Attlee with any weather-related thoughts or pictures by emailing [email protected]; though, be warned, you're unlikely to get a coherent reply.
Tube ponderings with Barry Heck
Our resident tube fancier dishes out daily thoughts on the London Underground.
If you didn't already know that this Sunday marks International Women's Day, then a glance through the listings above will have made it clear. But did you know that several women have made a mark on the tube map. Victoria is the most obvious, with a tube station, tube line and Royal Victoria DLR station, as well as more covert references in Queensway, Lancaster Gate (namechecking her Royal Duchy), plus Walthamstow Queens Road and Queens Road Peckham Overground stations. She is the most abundant individual on the tube map.
Warren Street takes its name from Anne Warren, who married local landowner Charles Fitzroy. Gloucester Road can be linked to Maria, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh, who built a house on the street. Arnos Grove is probably named after Margery Arnold, whose family held land in that area in the 14th century. Marylebone recalls the saint. And finally, Seven Sisters commemorates seven local siblings who each planted a tree, giving the area and tube station its name.
Follow Barry on Twitter @HeckTube.
Good cause of the day
Local festival Brockley Max is fundraising to secure its future. Tonight, DJs Giles Frampton (aka mrTidy) and Dre (aka The Drezone) host a night of funk, soul, disco and house music, with all money raised going back to Brockley Max.
What we're reading
- Battersea Power Station shopping centre to create 17,000 jobs.
- A progress report on London's railway upgrades.
- Huge changes to Croydon's Westfield plans confirmed.
- Celebrating pubs, cafes, chicken shops and launderettes.
