What we're reading:
- Crossrail is running £600m over budget.
- One London steakhouse trolls another.
- DIY London: partying on the periphery.
- The story behind Heathrow's ghost flights.
- Here's what's lurking in the basements of London's super-rich.
Things to do:
SOUTH AFRICAN MOMENTS: Erina Abraham's inaugural London exhibition explores the vitality of the Rainbow Nation. Drawing inspiration from nature and working women, her paintings weave a story of labour and love. 54 The Gallery (Mayfair), free, just turn up, until 5 August
WOMEN OF THE WEST: Hear stories of famous queens, forgotten women workers, medieval business owners and 20th century heroines that made London what it is today on a guided stroll through the City. Meet at St Paul's Underground Station, free, just turn up, 11am-1pm
MYLONDON EXHIBITION: Back in June, 100 disposable cameras were handed out to people affected by homelesssness. They were asked to take photos of what London means to them, and from 225 returned photos, MyLondon selected 20 that really stood out. See them all, meet the artists and, if something catches your eye, purchase a print or two. Spitalfields Market, free, just turn up, until 5 August
GIN OFF: Avid followers of the Graphic Gin Off should know the deal by now — you sample four gin cocktails, vote for your favourite, and help the bar crown 2018's best gin. It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it. Graphic Bar (Soho), £10, book ahead, 6pm-10pm
LEGO ROBOT WARS: Be a big kid for the evening at Drink, Shop & Do. Gather your most creative mates and put your heads together to build the raddest Lego robot in the room while sipping on cocktails. Drink, Shop & Do (King's Cross), free when you buy a drink, just turn up, 6pm-10pm
CITY SOUNDS: Young & Serious presents a night of live music with rising stars from cities all over the UK. Performing tonight are Leeds-based electronic-soul quartet Noya Roa, Bristol's Solomon OB, and Sans Soucis Experience from London. They'll also be sharing stories of their home towns, so if you're planning to venture outside the M25, you may be able to pick up some recommendations. Rich Mix (Shoreditch), £9, book ahead, 6.30pm
CONSTANCE AND KELLY: Meet Constance Markievicz —- suffragette, socialist, soldier, and in the slammer for her role in the Easter Rising. Locked up in HMP Holloway, she meets Kelly McCoy who, in 2015, is serving a three month sentence for stealing baby milk. But is there more to her situation than meets the eye? Find out at this staged reading. Islington Museum, free, book ahead, 6.30pm-8pm
FLOW YOGA: Make the most of Hyde Park's oxygen-rich environment at an outdoor flow yoga class. Combining physical practice with meditation and breath work, it's a pretty great way to unwind after another manic Monday. Hyde Park, £15, book ahead, 6.30pm-8pm
LOVE ISLAND QUIZ: Who'd have thought all that ITV2 binging would one day pay off? Psyche yourself up for the finale of guilty pleasure TV's crowning glory with a Love Island pub quiz. There's also plenty of ridiculous challenges inspired by the show before settling in for the last episode of 2018, broadcast across six screens. The Crown and Shuttle (Shoreditch), free entry, just turn up, 7pm
SHOOT FROM THE HIP: If you crave spontaneity, surprise and the unexpected, Angel Comedy Club has the answer to your prayers. Join resident improv troupe Shoot From the Hip for some top notch on-the-spot skits. The Camden Head (Islington), free, just turn up, 8pm-10pm
Good cause of the day
If you're a keen cyclist who likes the seaside, this might just be the charity event for you. Sign up today for a charity bike ride from London to Brighton (the event itself is on 16 September, so you've got lots of time to strengthen those glutes). There are plenty of charities you can fundraise for, but if you're not sure who to choose, consider supporting one of the London to Brighton Cycle Ride's headline partners — Bike 4 Cancer and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
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