Things To Do Today In London: Monday 18 November 2019

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Things To Do Today In London: Monday 18 November 2019
Free skating at the Tower of London for emergency workers

Things to do

FREE ICE SKATING: Members of the Emergency Services can skate for free at the Tower of London for three days this week. If you work for the NHS, Police, Fire Brigade or Military, take your ID badge along for a free session Tower of London, free, book in person at the box office, 18-20 November

AUSTENATIOUS: Improvised comedy play Austentatious is an unusual take on the work of novelist Jane Austen. At the beginning of the show, the audience suggests a title for a 'lost' Jane Austen book, and the cast go on to improvise a whole show on that premise, right in front of you. Fortune Theatre (Covent Garden), from £20, book ahead, 18 November-16 December

WINTER CINEMA: Southbank Centre's Winter Pop-Up Cinema is well and truly up and running, with family-friendly and adults-only screenings, including a few festive classics. Today's picks include The Jungle Book, Home Alone 2 and Bridget Jones's Diary, all shown in the riverside Circus Bar. Southbank Centre, various prices, book ahead, until 29 December

Treat the family to a trip to Southbank Centre's Winter Pop-Up Cinema

MATHS ALIVE: The RAF Museum opens its new Maths Alive! experience today, aimed at helping children aged 7+ to improve their maths skills. Sports, nature, robotics, design, dancing, film-making and more all feature in the 18+ exhibits, which are designed to be so fun that kids forget they're doing any maths at all. We quite like the sound of the live-action snowboard race ourselves... RAF Museum (Hendon), £7/£5, book ahead, 18 November-15 March

TERRY WAITE: For almost five years, Terry Waite was held captive in Lebanon, kept in solitary confinement for much of that time. Tonight, on the 28th anniversary of his release, he tells his story, including how it led to him founding his charity, Hostage International. Library London (Covent Garden), £10/£5, book ahead, 6pm-8pm

Watch Cabaret at Deptford Cinema

MICKEY MOUSE: Oh boy! It's Mickey Mouse's birthday today, apparently, and Drink, Shop & Do is celebrating the world's most famous cartoon rodent. Pop along to the cafe-bar after work and spend the evening fashioning your own Mickey Mouse ears over a drink or two. Materials are provided, and you'll be ready for your next fancy dress party. Drink, Shop & Do (King's Cross), £10, book ahead, from 6pm

CABARET: Film critic and historian Pamela Hutchinson introduces 1972 musical film Cabaret. The multi-Oscar winning film, set in Berlin before the second world war, is part of the venue's History of the American Musical series of events. Deptford Cinema, £6/£4.50, book ahead, 7pm

Will Pound performs live

CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY: Author and activist Dan Gretton and Canadian novelist and poet Anne Michael spend an evening discussing crimes against humanity, and the role of writing in the face of a crisis. The event coincides with the launch of Gretton’s  investigative writing I You We Them: Journeys Beyond Evil, The Desk Killers in History and Today. British Library, £11/£5.50, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm

CHARLES MANSON: Nikolas Schreck, author of The Manson File: Myth and Reality of an Outlaw Shaman, gives a talk about the cult leader and convicted murderer. Specifically, Schreck discusses recent revelations about the case which he believes challenge the 'official narrative' of events. Sway Bar (Covent Garden), £12, book ahead, 7.30pm-9.30pm (sponsor)

HARMONICA: Among London's active music scenes, harmonica players are a rare act — which is why we're pleased to see harmonica player Will Pound performing at a solo gig in Camden tonight. In the past, Pound has appeared on BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 2 and Radio 1xtra, to name but a few, so we're expecting great things. The Green Note (Camden), £12, book ahead, 8.30pm

Tube ponderings with Barry Heck

Our resident tube fancier dishes out daily thoughts on the London Underground.

My Roundel of the Week comes from Westminster. The station's 70 roundels have all been replaced by British Ghanaian artist Larry Achiampong. The eight designs use pan-African colours, and will be on show until February 2020.

Follow Barry on Twitter @HeckTube.

Good cause of the day

Book ahead for the Influencer Charity Boot Fair at St Martins Lane Hotel on 30 November. Influencers sell off clothes, shoes and other items, with 25% of proceeds between two charities, Support Dogs UK (an animal assistance charity) and The Connection (a homeless charity in central London). Find out more and book tickets.

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Last Updated 15 November 2019