Things to do
WARHOL'S ORBIT: This new exhibition showcases shots by photojournalist Nat Finkelstein, focusing on people who moved in the same circles as pop artist Andy Warhol. His studio, the Silver Factory, had a reputation for being full of tension and hedonism, and Finkelstein spent three years capturing this through photos of the artists, producers and magicians who visited. Proud Galleries (Embankment), free, just turn up, 11 April-9 June
PSYCHOLOGY OF MAGIC: Wellcome Collection wants to unveil the truth about deception in this new exhibition, which brings together the worlds of entertainment and psychology for a closer look at magic. See artefacts including Tommy Cooper’s fez and Paul Daniels’s sawing-in-half box, and ponder questions such as whether our senses can be 'hacked'. Wellcome Collection (Euston), free, just turn up, 11 April-15 September
FREE ICE CREAM: Ice cream brand Halo Top celebrates the launch of its new flavours — strawberry cheesecake, sea salt caramel, peanut butter swirl and birthday cake — by giving away 5,000 free ice creams each day. Look out for the phone box that's been decorated to look like a birthday cake-ice cream hybrid to get yours. Russell Square, free, just turn up (first come first served), 11am-6pm, 11 & 12 April
SECRET AGENT: Noor Inayat Khan was a British secret agent who worked in France during the second world war. Her story of spying and superheroism is told in this family-friendly theatre show, aimed at children age 7+ and their carers.. RAF Museum (Hendon), free, book ahead, 11.30am
BEER GOGGLES: Author Cyril O'Brien recalls stories of London's history using some of the city's oldest pubs as a reference point. Hear tales of kings, queens, pirates and ghosts, all told through the lenses of beer goggles. Society of Genealogists (Islington), £8, book ahead, 2pm-3pm
ITALIAN ALLEY: New Italian food hotspot Italian Alley opens with a launch party this afternoon. It's situated across five railway arches in Camden, each arch offering a different, traditionally-cooked Italian dish, from focaccia to meatballs to pasta. Camden Market, free entry, just turn up, 4pm-9pm
MAJOR TOM'S WAR: Author Vee Walker talks about her debut novel Major Tom's War, the story of her grandparents Tom and Evie Winnington-Ingram during the first world war. Walker is the great-great-niece of former Bishop of London Arthur Foley Winnington-Ingram, so it's apt that the event takes place at the former home of the Bishops of London. Fulham Palace, £10/£8, book ahead, 6pm-8pm
PUNCH AND PUDDINGS: Visit the Dickens Museum after hours for a tasty evening with food historian and guest curator Pen Vogler. Learn about why food was so emotionally important for the author himself, as well as the characters in his novels, and sample Dickensian treats such as gingerbread cake, almond cake and punch. Dickens Museum (Bloomsbury), £20, book ahead, 6.30pm
ECOSEXUAL ADVENTURE: In documentary film Water Makes Us Wet: An Ecosexual Adventure, former sex worker Annie, professor Beth and their dog Butch travel around to explore the history and politics of water on Earth from an ecosexual perspective. They speak to water experts and activists, visit the remote site of Nestle's dubious water bottling racket, commune with elephant seals, consult an oracle, and plunge a toilet. Genesis Cinema (Mile End), £9/£5.50, book ahead, 6.30pm
WOMEN OF WESTMINSTER: MP Rachel Reeves discusses her new book, Women of Westminster: The MPs Who Changed Politics. It tells the stories of female MPs whose work and achievements have often been overlooked, dating back as far as 1919. LSE (Holborn), free, book ahead, 6.30pm-8pm
LOST GODS OF LONDON: South East London Folklore Society focuses on the Lost Gods of London at this month's gathering. Robert Kingham discusses London’s historical, mythical and contemporary pagan connections, many of which were already established before the Romans arrived and introduced their own Gods. The Old King's Head (Borough), £5/£2.50, book ahead, 8pm
JOSH WIDDICOMBE: Comedian Josh Widdicombe — best-known for co-hosting The Last Leg — headlines tonight's Plosive Comedy show, joined by Ed Gamble, Suzi Ruffell, Tez Ilyas and Olga Koch. Earth (Hackney), £17, book ahead, 8pm-11pm
Tube ponderings with Barry Heck
Our resident tube fancier dishes out daily thoughts on the London Underground.
Some of the roundels at Burnt Oak on the Northern line contain a peculiar addendum, ‘For Watling’. What can it mean? Watling is the name of a local park and, of course, Watling Street — the nearby Roman road that is more familiar today as Edgware Road. But just ‘Watling’? Theories on a postcard, or better yet a tweet to @HeckTube.
Good cause of the day
If your sign up now, you've plenty of time to train for the Race To The Top in October. It's a stair climb event in support of LandAid, a property industry charity working to end youth homelessness. It take place over the 33 floors (599 steps) of Chapter Spitalfields, London's tallest purpose built student accommodation building. Find out more and sign up.
What we're reading
- Why are so many new theatres opening in London in 2019?
- A certain London doughnut shop apparently refused to take Judy Murray's Scottish banknote.
- Part of this year's On Blackheath line-up has been revealed.
- Why London's craft beer hotel is the final nail in the craft beer fad coffin.
