Things To Do Today In London: Monday 15 January 2018

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Indian-inspired fast food concept Rola Wala is turning Blue Monday on its head by offering Londoners a free lunch.

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FREE HOXTON MINI PRESS BOOK: Instead of consigning its minorly blemished books to the bins, Hoxton Mini Press is handing out 1,500 copies of its top seller I’ve Lived in East London For 86.5 Years at Old Street, Farringdon, King’s Cross and Shoreditch High Street Overground from 7.30am onwards — be quick. Free, just turn up, from 7.30am

FREE CAKE: It's Blue Monday today, and because the most depressing of days can be turned around with free cake, Konditor & Cook's six London stores are handing out 5,000 free Skinny Cappuccino Cork (bite-sized) Cakes. They are butter free and low sugar – so you won't break whatever diet you're on this January. Konditor & Cook, free, just turn up, all day (while stocks last)

FREE LUNCH: There's nothing like a free lunch to blast away the blues on what's being described as the most depressing day of the year. Sign up for a code via the website, which you can exchange for Rola Wala's new black bean noodle spice bowl today. Rola Wala (Spitalfields), free, book ahead, 11am-2.30pm

CURATOR'S TALK: Hear the inspiring tale of Caroline Lucretia Herschel, who was denied an education but went on to become a professional singer and respected astronomer. Jewish Museum (Camden), free with museum entry, just turn up, 3pm-3.20pm

REGENT'S CANAL TALK: History and canal nerds will enjoy this illustrated presentation, dredging the murky waters of Regent's Canal to bring to the surface the juicy details of the 1817 Regency scandal. Guildhall Library, £5.98, book ahead, 6pm-8pm

*FREE CAKE KLAXON*

CHRISTIE'S LATE: Get serious interior design envy at the lifestyle edition of this Christie's Late. Join the agile yogis, pick up sportswear from OUTNET.COM and make a mental note of how you want your home to look once you've won the lottery. Christie's (South Kensington), free, just turn up, 6pm-8.30pm

SCI-FI SESSIONS: Looking for your next fantasy read? Hear three fantastic authors working in this sub-genre chat about its allure and the difficulties of creating a convincing world. Waterstones Gower Street, £6/£4, book ahead, 6.30pm

CALM DOWN DEAR: If you're sick of hearing that phrase then you'll adore this sass-filled feminist theatre festival headlined by Racheal Ofori’s So Many Reasons. This year, the festival's fifth, turns the spotlight on artists of colour. Camden People's Theatre, various prices, book ahead, 15 January-4 February

BOOKS USED AND ABUSED: Are you a page folder? Do you doodle in the margins? Or leave cryptic notes in the books you devour? Then you'll identify with this new exhibition on why books are customised, adorned and disguised. Guildhall Library, free, just turn up, 15 January-9 March

WINTER HAPPINESS FESTIVAL: Feeling glum? You're not alone, but Londoners are being cheered up with an adult ball pit, laughing yoga, 'gratitude bingo', a chocolate cafe and more at the Winter Happiness Festival. Tickets are on sale today — be quick, there's a lot of sad souls out there that could do with jumping into a giant ball pit. Museum of Happiness, £5, book ahead, 20 January-4 February

Good cause of the day: Turn Blue Monday into Brew Monday

It's pretty chilly, you're probably pretty broke and pretty bored if you're in the throes of Dry January but you can blast those blues away with a chat with the Samaritans over a cuppa in exchange for a donation in central London today. Kingly Court, free, just turn up, 8am-11am

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