Things to do
MELTDOWN: Nile Rodger's Meltdown Festival continues all this week. Today's picks are performances by London-based Afrobeat band Kokoroko, neo-soul musical collective Jungle, and soul singer anaïs. Southbank Centre, various prices, book ahead, until 11 August
CAMDEN FRINGE: Performing arts festival Camden Fringe enters its second week, with comedy, cabaret, theatre and other shows. Today's picks include classical comedy duo The Feminazis, spoken word show Rap History of the World, and a Brexit comedy show. Various locations and prices, book ahead, until 25 August
TARGET PRACTICE: Children aged 5+ and their carers are invited to have a go at target practise, by dropping mini parachutes onto a target. The activity ties in with the current Abram Games exhibition, in which the war poster artist highlighted the importance of being careful with weapons. National Army Museum (Chelsea), free, just turn up, 5-6 August
THIS IS BLACK: New theatre season This Is Black kicks off today. It showcases the work of four up-and-coming black writers, with themes of identity, hate crimes and family relationships across a series of double bill shows. An accompanying art exhibition is open on Sundays only throughout the season. The Bunker Theatre (Southwark), £12/£10, book ahead, 5-25 August
A ROYAL PROGRESS: Take an hour-long tour of the Museum of the Order of St John, focusing on the role that royals have played in the organisation's history. The tour covers 900 years, from the founding of the Clerkenwell Priory under Henry II to the creation of the modern St John Ambulance organisation under Queen Victoria. Museum of the Order of St John (Clerkenwell), £6-£8, book ahead, 12pm
MASTERS OF SCIENCE: Hear from paleoanthropologist Chris Stringer about how palaeontologists’ views of human evolution have changed over the last 15 years, as the 'out of Africa' theory has been proved to be a lot more complicated than previously thought. He chats to Clive Cookson, Science Editor at the Financial Times. Royal Institution (Mayfair), £16/£10/£7, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm
OUTDOOR THEATRE: The Chapterhouse Theatre Company brings its interpretation of A Midsummer Night's Dream to a free, open-air theatre in Canary Wharf. Expect Elizabethan costumes, a live musical score, and plenty of enchanting romance. Westferry Circus (Canary Wharf), free, just turn up, 7pm
FLAT EARTH THEORIES: London Skeptics in the Pub take on Flat Earth theories in this month's meet-up. Hear from Michael Marshall of the Be Reasonable podcast, whose 2013 interview with the Vice President of the Flat Earth society brought the theory to light for many people. He's since attended the UK's first Flat Earth Convention to get an insight into the reasoning behind the idea. The Monarch (Camden), £3, just turn up, 7.30pm
SILENT MOVIELAND: All this week, Wilton's screens silent films with live musical accompaniment. Things kick off tonight with 1926 film The Adventures of Prince Achmed, apparently the world's oldest surviving animated feature film. Wilton's (Limehouse), £8.50-£13, book ahead, 7.30pm (until 9 August)
COMEDY: Comedian Abigoliah Schamaun performs her show Do You Know Who I Think I Am?! She claims it has no theme — unusual in the comedy world — but it focuses on her existence as a myriad of paradoxes. Soho Theatre, from £13, book ahead, 9pm (repeated tomorrow)
Tube ponderings with Barry Heck
Our resident tube fancier dishes out daily thoughts on the London Underground.
My Roundel of the Week is for the little-known station of Harrison's Crossing in west London. You'll find it at London Transport Museum's Acton Depot (open twice yearly), which has its own miniature railway. Follow Barry on Twitter @HeckTube.
Good cause of the day
Book ahead for tomorrow night's Love Island themed pub quiz, which raises money for The Centre For Better Health, an east London mental health charity. The quiz focuses entirely on the 2019 series of the reality TV show (it is what it is). Find out more and book tickets.
What we're reading
- There's a wet wipe reef in the Thames.
- Call for London to be car-free by 2030.
- Vintage clocks added to Chadwell Heath station.
- Brixton Prison restaurant serves up cut in reoffending.
