Things to do
ST GEORGE'S DAY: 'Tis the day of our dragon slaying patron saint, and there's plenty going on round the capital to celebrate — take a look at the best St George's Day events in London.
WOMEN OF THE GULAG: Oscar-shortlisted documentary Women of the Gulag is a series of interviews with six women, all in their eighties and nineties now, who survived Stalin's campaign of political repression in the 1930s. This screening is followed by a discussion with director Marianna Yarovskaya and Professor Robert Service, hosted by Nick Sturdee. Barbican Cinema, £12, book ahead, 6.30pm
ABRAM GAMES: Naomi Games — daughter of graphic artist Abram Games — discusses her father's career, which included designing more than 100 posters for the second world war, in his role as Official War Poster Artist. He later designed works for London Transport, Guinness and the Financial Times. National Army Museum (Chelsea), £15/£12, book ahead, 6.30pm-8.30pm
DIET TRUTH: Did you know that the 'paleo diet' is a made up concept, bearing little resemblance to the diets of our ancestors? That's just one of the diet truths told at this event by genetics scientist Dr Giles Yeo, who aims to debunk myths about the way we eat. Conway Hall (Holborn), £30/£40, book ahead, 6.45pm-8pm
UNIVERSE: Are we alone in the universe? That's the question at the centre of this Royal Institution lecture by Professor Brad Gibson, who examines the evidence for and against the existence of extra-terrestrial life. Who knows... maybe someone somewhere will be listening in. Royal Institution (Mayfair), £16/£10/£7, book ahead, 7pm
QUEEN VICTORIA: Respected historian and chief Historic Royal Palaces curator Dr Lucy Worsley turns her attention to Queen Victoria in her latest book. There was more to the monarch than the miserable old woman dressed in black that we think of — she was a mother, a wife, a daughter, and a woman who carved out an extraordinary path for the monarchy, as Worsley explains at this event. Southwark Cathedral, £10/£8, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm
WHAT THE BUTLER SAW: Joe Orton's 1969 play What The Butler Saw follows a psychiatrist attempting to seduce his prospective secretary. 50 years after its first performance, Timothy West, John Tillinger, Nikolai Foster, Julia Foster and Hayward Morse look at its lasting impact and the contemporary issues it addresses. British Library, £12/£8, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm
LIVE MUSIC: American singer Hannah Aldridge launches her new live album at a special gig tonight. She teams up with The Goat Roper Rodeo Band for her own take on the Americana genre. Half Moon (Putney), £12, book ahead, 7.30pm
COCKNEY SINGALONG: Vintage pianist Tom Carradine knows his way around a Cockney tune or two. Let him lead you in a good old-fashioned Cockney singalong, with ditties from both world wars, the West End stage, and other popular tunes. Wiltons (Limehouse), £5-£16.50, book ahead, 7.45pm
CHRISTOPHER BLISS: Comedian Rob Carter revives his comedy character Christopher Bliss, who has written, directed and starred in his first ever play (keeping up?), the tongue-twisting I Spy With My Little Eye Something Beginning With Why Have You Been Sleeping With My Wife. Soho Theatre, from £11.50, book ahead, 8.30pm
Tube ponderings with Barry Heck
Our resident tube fancier dishes out daily thoughts on the London Underground.
Oh dear, oh dear. This poor fellow has no idea how to use an Oyster card. We tracked him across a stock images site, where we found images of him trying to present his card to buildings, walls and even fellow passengers.
Follow Barry Heck on Twitter @HeckTube.
Good cause of the day
Book ahead for Saturday's Dance for the Earth, a fundraising ceilidh for environmental group Friends of the Earth, which is currently running campaigns around plastic pollution and air quality. Find out more and book tickets.
