Things To Do Today In London: Thursday 21 June 2018
Looking for somewhere to watch the World Cup? Check out our full guide here.
GLOW UP: It's National Selfie Day, on the off chance you need an excuse to capture your glorious visage. In celebration, BECCA cosmetics is here to make sure you take your best selfie yet. Get make up tips from their Glow Gang of beauty advisors before experiencing the Own Your Glow installation that allows guests to capture their glowing new look in a range of lights. The Piazza (Covent Garden), free, just turn up, 9am-9pm
ROYAL ACADEMICIANS EXHIBITION: Have a gander at the recent work of members of the Royal Academy of Arts. This new exhibition features 'cowboy angel' woodcuts with fabric collage by Yinka Shonibare and Emma Stibbon's volcanic ash-infused drawings. Alan Cristea Gallery (St James's), free, just turn up, until 31 July
SUNSET SESSIONS: Join The Modern Strangers for an evening of alfresco tunes, part of Merchant Square's Sunset Sessions. Don't worry if you don't have time to pack a picnic — Epicurean's pop up market has enough street food to tide you over until night fall. Merchant Square (Paddington Basin), free, just turn up, 5.30pm-8pm
MIGRATION MUSEUM LATE: As part of Refugee Week, the Migration Museum is putting on a night of food, performances, and presentations. Highlights include a welcome sign-making work and tragic-comedy play Lina. Migration Museum at the Workshop (Lambeth), free, just turn up, 6pm-9pm
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Sounds Like London: our picks todayJune brings the Mayor of London's Sounds Like London campaign to the capital — a month-long celebration of both women in music and London's grassroots music scene. Here's our pick of today's Sounds Like London events:
MAKE MUSIC DAY: 750 cities worldwide celebrate Make Music Day, and London is no different. There are concerts throughout the city, and it all culminates at the amphitheatre in City Hall, The Scoop, for a brass band party. The Scoop, free, 6pm
FERRIS & SYLVESTER: A London-based union of folk and blues, currently working on their debut EP titled Made In Streatham. They're playing in Ziferblat, which someone described as a treehouse for adults. Ziferblat, 7pm-10pm
EMBERS COLLECTIVE: Campfire Club search for the best green spaces across the capital for their authentic, acoustic shows. The team have uncovered a real gem in Brockley, a space that complements musical storytellers The Embers Collective. Secret location in Brockley, £9-£13, 7pm-10pm
DEAF RAVE: An eclectic mix of deaf and female DJs take the decks at Fabric, along with MCs who get their music across using sign language. This is completely unlike the regular house and techno played in Fabric, so it's a rare chance to see the beloved venue in a fresh light. Fabric, free, 8pm-midnight
DUSK: On the shortest day of 2017, 46 stories and poems celebrating the magic of dusk were read across twelve sites from Aberdeenshire all the way to Cornwall, as darkness spread across the nation. These odes to the cusp of the day were collected into an anthology — and exactly six months later, on the summer solstice, Arachne Press is headed to south London to launch the collection. Stephen Lawrence Gallery (Greenwich), free, just turn up, 7pm
A TASTE OF SHAKESPEARE: Unquiet meals make for ill digestions, according to William Shakespeare — but hey, what does he know? Indulge in a six course Bard-themed banquet, where the dishes pair perfectly with scenes from his best loved works and lesser known gems. The Crypt at St Etheldreda's (Holborn), from £75, book ahead, 7pm, until 29 June
WINDOWS OF DISPLACEMENT: Drawing on contexts of imperialism, colonialism and displacement, Jamaican-born dancer Akeim Toussaint Buck has created a stirring story of the past, present, and future of humanity. Poplar Union (Tower Hamlets), £9/£10, book ahead, 7.30pm-8.30pm
SOLOMONS GARDENS: Having been picked for “Record Of The Week” by BBC Introducing, neo-soul sensation Solomons Gardens bring their rich vocals, distinctive chord progressions and frank lyrics to Hideaway Jazz Club. Streatham, £10, book ahead, 8.30pm
Good cause of the dayWildflower, Ghost Notes, So Vegan and Help Refugees are teaming up to create a Middle Eastern-inspired vegan banquet, alongside performances from talented local musicians. It's all in aid of Help Refugees — a charity that provides displaced people with emergency aid and longer term help such as housing, education and psychosocial support.
Fun things to do with our friends and sponsor Funzing...
A Secret London Tour
How well do you really know London? Visit the streets that inspired Harry Potter locations and see London's most superstitious hotel. On Matt's tour you will explore hidden places and discover stories unknown to even the most knowledgeable of Londoners. Get tickets
Lost London Walking Tour
London is a city of incredible transformation. With structural remains that date back to ancient history still in existence, this unique walking tour takes in Lost London in all its former glory. From the Titanic booking office to the graveyards of man's best friend, you'll discover the weird and wonderful places that used to exist in the capital but are now only committed to memory. Using old photographs, newspaper cuttings and stories from the past, you'll be amazed at what has largely been written out of our history books... Get tickets
Hidden London Tour
Visit old pubs, even older churches, hidden rivers, mysterious tunnels and more on this tour of hidden Londo. You'll hear tales of the myths and legends which made the City of London what it is today, and find out the area's links to nursery rhymes and literary figures. Get tickets
Forgotten Old London
Have you visited London's Roman ampitheatre? What about London's Medieval market places? Hear weird and wonderful tales of our beautiful city as you take a walking tour, seeing everything from centuries-old churches to the hanging place of William Wallace. Whether you've lived here all your life or are visiting for a few days, you're sure to learn something new about London. Get tickets
