Things to do
CLASSICAL VAUXHALL: Three venues, three concerts, three days. That's the crux of Classical Vauxhall, a series of events which aim to make people think differently about classical music, and do away with the ceremony of traditional concerts. The first concert, tonight, takes place in the gothic splendour of St Peter's Church, with a well-stocked bar and a casual vibe. Vauxhall venues, various prices, book ahead, 6-8 February
TERRARIUM WORKSHOP: Create your own terrarium at this workshop, led by an expert from Pointless Plants. The event celebrates the launch of furniture company Arlo & Jacob's new Islington showroom, and you can take your terrarium home with you at the end of the night, along with a goody bag. Islington Square, £35, book ahead, 5.30pm-6.45pm
ROGUES WITH RIFLES: Hear from author Robert Griffith about the first rifle battalion in the British Army, the 5/60th Rifles. He talks particularly about the battalion's actions during the Peninsular War between 1808 and 1814, and some of the particular people he found out about while researching for his book. National Army Museum (Chelsea), free, book ahead, 6pm
QUEEN OF THE SEAS: Learn about Queen Elizabeth 2 (or QE2), the longest serving Cunard liner in the company's history. In service from 1969 to 2008, the ship grew quite a fanbase, and tonight's a chance to hear about the history and design of the much-missed vessel. Guildhall Library (£8.14), book ahead, 6pm-8pm
ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM: Environmental racism is on the rise in the United States, but what does this mean? Hear from experts Dr Lucy Bond and Dr Jessica Rapson about their research in the American Gulf States (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas), which showed that minority and impoverished communities are much more likely to live near polluters and breathe polluted air, and that the tourist industry is helping to conceal this. The British Academy, £5, book ahead, 6.30pm-7.45pm
REGENT'S CANAL: This year sees 200 years since Regent's Canal opened. Mark the occasion at a talk by tour guide and historian Lester Hillman. Photos of the canal throughout its life illustrate the lecture. London Canal Museum (King's Cross), included in admission (£5), just turn up, 7.30pm
TRANSATLANTIC SESSIONS: Musical project Transatlantic Sessions brings together performers with Celtic and Americana roots. Nashville, Ireland and Scotland meet on stage for the project's tenth appearance at Southbank Centre, with Shetland fiddler legend Aly Bain and Grammy-winning Dobro master Jerry Douglas leading a house band. Southbank Centre, £27.50-£33, book ahead, 7.30pm
LIVE COMEDY: Sarah Keyworth is the latest comedian showing off her newest jokes in the work-in-progress season. For just a fiver, get a chance to see her new material as she tweaks it, no doubt ahead of this year's Edinburgh run. Pleasance Theatre (Islington), £5, book ahead, 7.45pm
CUNNING FILM CLUB: Cunning Folk Film Club kicks off 2020 with a screening of 1975 film Requiem for a Village. The idyllic, rural past of a Suffolk village comes to life through the memories of an old man who tends a country graveyard. Balham Bowls Club, £5, book ahead, 8pm
LATE NIGHT JAZZ: British jazz trumpeter Laura Jurd headlines an intimate late night concert in the Elgar Room. She's joined by Ruth Goller on bass and Corrie Dick on drums for a performance of music from across the centuries.Royal Albert Hall, £12-£16.50, book ahead, 9.30pm
London weather with Inclement Attlee
Our idiosyncratic weather forecaster returns, keeping you up to date on London's skies.
A really boring run of clouds is approaching from the west. I've seen them on the radar and they look truly, wretchedly uninteresting. Their appearance will lead to a 72% drop in smalltalk, as Londoners struggle to find any exclamation to describe the commonplace weather outside. In summery: meh.
Contact Mr Attlee with any weather-related thoughts by emailing [email protected]; subject line "For Mr Attlee".
Tube ponderings with Barry Heck
Our resident tube fancier dishes out daily thoughts on the London Underground.
Have you been to see the Hidden London exhibition at London Transport Museum yet? It's packed with information and exhibits from London's many 'ghost stations', from Aldwych to Clapham Common deep level shelter. My favourite object is this sign for the Northern line, designed to guide passengers along an extension to Elstree and Bushey that was part-built but never completed.
Follow Barry on Twitter @HeckTube.
Good cause of the day
Explorer and writer Levison Wood gives a talk about his recent experience trekking across Botswana with a herd of migrating elephants, sharing stories and anecdotes. The event raises money for elephant conservation charity TUSK. The Emmanuel Centre (Westminster), £20, book ahead, 7pm-10pm
What we're reading
- UCL is building a lab full of old tube trains and planes.
- The original 'ferry 'cross the Mersey' is lying derelict in Woolwich.
- Henry VIII's great warship was built in London.
- "On the site of the Old Scotland Yard building, some of the prices feel like daylight robbery".
