Things To Do Today In London: Tuesday 12 June 2018
CLAUDETTE JOHNSON: Pop into Swiss Cottage Library for a peek at Claudette Johnson's artistic tributes to two fearless black woman activists. Her posters of Olive Morris and Claudia Jones are part of a Camden VOX commission that explores equality, place, power and identity through a female lens. Swiss Cottage Library, free, just turn up, 10am-8pm, until 4 August
THE HOLLAND PARK CIRCLE: Back in the day (the latter half of the 19th century, to be precise), successful London artists could afford to shack up in a shiny new Kensington district. Learn how the likes of G.F Watts, William Holmant Hunt, and Lord Leighton built up a vibrant creative community in Holland Park, and then have a go painting some of their studio houses with artist Ann Witheridge. House Museum (Holland Park), £35, book ahead, 10am-1pm
GHOST SIGNS: Go on a different kind of ghost hunt, where you'll track down the faded relics of long gone products and businesses that haunt Holloway's streets. Before the days of light boxes and multi-million pound marketing campaigns, ads were hand-painted directly onto bricks and mortar walls — and some of the signage can still be found today. Meet in Holloway, £12, book ahead, 11am-12.30pm
LUNCHTIME SCULPT CLASS: Wanna get ripped this summer? Get things started at an exclusive outdoor sculpt sesh with Psycle London. This strength class class combines resistance training with bursts of intensive cardio for a body-changing workout. Boxpark Shoreditch, £5, book ahead, 12pm-1.15pm
BEER GOGGLE HISTORY: Learn about London's secret past on a pub crawl around some of its oldest watering holes. From Shakespeare to Shrek, cock fighting to the famous Cock Lane ghost, there's plenty to discover. Guildhall Library (Aldermanbury), £7, book ahead, 6pm-8pm
COCKTAILS AND CHICAGO: Sip cocktails specially created for the latest West End staging of Chicago, at Waldorf Hilton, before strolling to the nearby Phoenix Theatre, to see the razzle-dazzle show, starring Cuba Gooding Jr. Waldorf Hilton/Phoenix Theatre, from £52.50, book ahead, show begins 8pm
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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:
ROYAL OPERA HOUSE BIG SCREENS: There is something quite magical about sitting in Trafalgar Square on a summer evening, watching Swan Lake unfold on a big screen. Don't miss this chance to see Tchaikovsky's iconic ballet. Trafalgar Square, free, 6.45pm-11pm
VOCES8: A capella octet VOCES8 are joined by Eastern Mennonite High School (EMHS) Touring Choir from the USA and the City of London Academy Shoreditch Choir for a concert certain to inspire. Gresham Centre, £10, 7pm-10pm
YOGA LIFE DRAWING: Unlock your inner creativity while a (fully clothed) life drawing model strikes a series of mind-bending yoga poses. Your ticket includes an evening tipple and all the art materials you'll need. Drink, Shop & Do (King's Cross), £20, book ahead, 6.30pm-9.30pm
MEERA SYAL SELECTS: The multi-talented Meera Syal drops into BAFTA to fan girl over rom-com classic When Harry Met Sally. Hear how the movie inspired her own career in film and TV as she chats to broadcaster and presenter Nikki Bedi. Princess Anne Theatre, BAFTA (Piccadilly), £7, book ahead, 7pm
NO ONE IS COMING TO SAVE YOU: This ominously-titled play follows two young people living in social, political and economic fear. Yet there's humour to be found in its exploration of what we're all waiting for and why. Bunker Theatre (London Bridge), £15, book ahead, 7pm, until 6 July
RON BRITTEN: As part of Freud Museum London's ongoing series of meditations on loss and creativity, author and psychoanalyst Ronald Britten examines the relationship between psychic reality and fictional writing. You'll gain insight into how belief and imagination are explored in the works of Wordsworth, Rilke, Milton and Blake. Freud Museum London (Hampstead), £10, 7pm-8.30pm
CASSANDRA: An ancient Greek tragedy is reimagined for the #MeToo era. A contemporary retelling of Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, Cassandra dramatises the tension between the expectations foisted on women and how they really feel. Blue Elephant Theatre (Camberwell), £10, book ahead, 8pm-9pm
Good cause of the dayJoin Sara Pascoe, Robin Ince, Rachel Parris, Phil Wang, Andy Zaltzman, & Evelyn Mok for Jokes and Spokes. This comedy night is raising money for The Bike Project, which fixes up second-hand bicycles and donates them to refugees.
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
