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Talented Art Fair Brings Over 90 Artists To Truman Brewery

This is a sponsored article on behalf of Talented Art Fair. For experienced art buyers and newbies alike, getting your hands on the next big thing in the art world can be a challenge. Head to the Talented Art Fair, though, and it gets a lot easier — they've done the searching for you, so only the most established and talented artists are exhibited. Running from 17-19 March at the Truman Brewery, the Talented Art Fair is the ultimate platform for new and already successful artists. The show will consist of over 90 insanely talented creatives from all over the world. From painters to sculptors, print-makers to ceramicists, there should be something for every art collector to add to their collection. Only the best artists are on show at the event — all exhibitors are either gallery-represented, have an MA, or are already consistent sellers of their work — so these artists mean business. Not a multi-millionaire? Don't worry. The Talented Art Fair is aimed at everyone, so prices range from just £100 to a more substantial £4000, which means you can start a collection no matter what your budget. An added bonus is that entry is free, so you can save those coins for your next masterpiece. If you just want to see the next big things in the art world without making any purchases, head down to the Truman Brewery for a leisurely view of some awesome artwork. Be inspired and see the National Gallery's future headline artists — book your free tickets for the Talented Art Fair here. The Talented Art Fair runs 12-6pm on 18 and 19 March. There is a private view on the evening of 17 March 6-9pm, when there is a charge for tickets.

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London's Coolest Afternoon Tea

The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-inspired afternoon tea at One Aldwych. We love classic afternoon tea but sometimes it's great to look a little more left field. From tea on wheels to cakes looking out over the London skyline, here are London's coolest afternoon teas.  One Aldwych Hotel See your favourite bits of Roald Dahl’s ‘Charlie and The Chocolate Factory’ come alive – in an edible sort of way – while celebrating the popular West End musical. On the enchanting menu here are golden chocolate eggs, home-made candy floss, blueberry brioches, sandwiches and tarts. Teas are supplied by Covent Garden’s Tea Palace.  One Aldwych, WC2B Source One Aldwych Hotel Source One Aldwych Hotel Sketch Sketch's brand of glamour isn't going to be to everybody's taste: the Gallery, where the afternoon tea is served, is very pink and pneumatic-looking, like being trapped inside a marshmallow. But it's distinctive, glossy and the walls are covered with David Shrigley artworks for you to feast your eyes on if the colour scheme gets to be too much to handle.  As for the afternoon tea, the sandwiches and scones are relatively trad, but the cakes are as high-design as the interior.  9 Conduit Street, W1S Source sketch Source sketch Sanderson Hotel It’s worth falling down the rabbit hole of your imagination to sample this high-concept tea curated by the design collective Luna & Curious. Surreal victuals include ‘tick tock’ Victoria sponge, a ‘jelly wonderland’ trolley of fruit jellies made in Victorian moulds, ‘drink me’ potion, sandwiches and scones. Much fun is to be had with menus hidden in vintage books, napkins wrapped in riddles, and crockery decorated with characters from the book. Curiouser and curiouser. 50 Berners Street, W1T Source secretescapes Source Morgans Hotel Group Teanamu Chaya Teahouse What Chinese tea master Pei Wang doesn’t know about tea isn’t worth knowing. Not only does he host extraordinarily educational (and delicious) tea tastings and master-classes in a secluded private home in Notting Hill, he also runs a weekends-only vegetarian tea-house with a tranquil Zen-like atmosphere. Two set menus are offered as part of the Chinese Gongfu Cha tea ceremony, encompassing home-made patisserie, brown bread wakame seaweed sandwiches and dim sum.  Take your time to enjoy such pretty delicacies as lo mai fan lotus leaf rice parcels, and snow skin marzipan with guava. The freshly-brewed teas are truly special — and often very rare. This is hands-down one of the best and most unique afternoon teas we’ve experienced in London. Coach House, 14A St Lukes Road, W11 Source teanamu chaya Source teanamu chaya The Ampersand Science is undeniably cool, so round up the geeks and head to The Amepersand for their science themed tea. After your sandwiches and scones you'll be enjoying a selection of sweet things shaped like planets, lab equipment and even dinosaurs. Yes, they've covered some ground with the theme. There's even chocolate dusted fossils (freshly discovered, obvs) which come with their own little brush.  10 Harrington Road, SW7 Source The Ampersand Hotel Source The Ampersand Hotel Aqua Aqua Restaurant Group is known for its restaurants up high, with flagship Aqua Hong Kong on floors 29 and 30 overlooking the city’s iconic skyline and famed harbour. Its London outpost -- Aqua Shard -- is set on level 31 of the highest building in western Europe and follows this formula to the tee, offering a dining room with a view.  So yeah, it's the view that makes this a super cool afternoon tea, but the goods are all present and correct. Expect riffs on the classic sandwiches, scones and a selection of classic British minatures such as apple and blackberry crumble.    Level 31 The Shard, SE1 Source aqua shard Source instagram Afternoon Tea @ BB Bakery - Covent Garden You can eat in at this bakery but why would you when there's an afternoon tea bus tour? Hop aboard the routemaster to enjoy your tea on vintage crockery while taking a tour of London's sights. Sandwiches, cakes and scones aren't the daintiest in town but will definitely satisfy, and there's some seriously impressive waiting skills to be admired (we'd be falling over left, right and centre). While the sights outside are British, the treats inside have a French themes.  6-7 Chandos Place, WC2N Source bbbakery Source instagram Mondrian London Inside Dandelyan, the cocktail bar at Mondrian London, you'll find a 1970's inspired afternoon tea. The cake stand is littered with botanical touches, and cucumber sandwiches come with a flourish of burnt herb cream (regular cream cheese is in no way cool enough), and there's a range of cocktails infused with floral or citrus flavours. Even the Battenberg boasts a twist of lemon verbena.  The 70's vibes carry through to the cakes too, with a mini baked Alaska, a rose blancmange and an earl grey chocolate mousse. C'mon, that's cool.  20 Upper Ground, SE1 Source thetimes Source thetimes

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Do Your Business Where Literary Greats Have Before

This is the back garden of Thomas and Jane Carlyle's house on Cheyne Row, Chelsea. They lived here from 1834 until the end of their lives — turning it into a literary salon for the great writers of the day. The house was pretty unremarkable back then, although would fetch a bomb now. It's not the house we're interested in here though, but the small outhouse to the right.   Let's take a closer look. It is indeed a privy — one dating back to the 18th century. You may wonder at this point why we're so interested in an outside toilet. Well, for one thing, visitors to Carlyle's House are encouraged to use it (something we've previously found to be a no-no everywhere from the Churchill War Rooms to Honeywood Museum in Carshalton). But it's the thought of who might have used this Crapper before now, that really gets us flushed with excitement. Among the frequent visitors to Carlyle's house were Tennyson, Thackeray, Forster and Dickens (whose blind admiration for Carlyle explains his penchant for rambling sentences). Even Charlotte Brontë may have parked her dainty derriere here. In fact, seeing as this was the only toilet in the house, it's likely that most, if not all, of the above actually did so. Who knows, perhaps some were struck with literary inspiration while on the job. We should point out that although the privy is original, the toilet itself is a reproduction, fitted relatively recently. Although this one's been manufactured in Warwickshire, Crapper built his empire round the corner in Chelsea — first at Robert Street (now Sydney Street), and later moving to 120 King's Road, which now looks like this: So it's plausible Carlyle's toilet would have been a Crapper too (though there's no evidence of this). You can read more about Crapper's legacy as you reach for the toilet paper... ...which, by the way, is genuine Crapper paper. There's more reading material on the other wall, detailing the mechanism of the flush you're about to put into action. You may wonder why the National Trust hasn't bunged a couple of Thomas Carlyle's own tomes in here for reading material. Well, Carlyle's books were LONG and DULL. His history of Frederick the Great took him 12 years to write, and by all accounts takes most people that long to read. Bill Bryson accuses Carlyle's History of the French Revolution as being "one of the most unreadable books ever to attract the esteem of its age." That's no good with a queue of visitors hopping about outside the door. Instead (if you're feeling daring) you can enjoy this view of the garden... ...this bush will protect your modesty. Carlyle's House is open Wednesday-Sunday from March-October. Entry £6.50 adults, £3.25 children.

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The Biggest Exhibitions In London To See (And Avoid) Right Now

Looking for a dose of culture? Want to know what's hot on London's exhibition scene? Read on. Post-Depression America Edward Hopper is just one of the brilliant painters in this exhibition. Photo (c) 2016. Digital image, The Museum of Modern Art, New York/Scala, Florence The 1930s were a tumultuous time for America, coming out of the Great Depression. The era resulted in some fantastic paintings and a collection of 45 of them are on display at the Royal Academy of Arts. There is the mysterious and always brilliant work of Edward Hopper, and the domestic snapshots by Grant Wood. Covering landscapes, abstract art and surrealism, this is a brilliant collection of paintings. America after the Fall: Painting from the 1930s at Royal Academy of Arts. Until 4 June, £13.50. ★★★★★ Abstract photography Wolfgang Tillmans' abstract photography feels far too loosely bound. Copyright the artist. Photographer Wolfgang Tillmans is often more interested in the the technique of taking a photo than the end result. He purposefully takes small shots, such as an arm or a car headlight, leaving the audience to figure out the wider context. Even when dealing with big issues such as Brexit and ‘fake news’, he can be very abstract. The fact that he’s hard to pin down has made him an art world darling, but in truth he’s often elusive and ineffective. Read this review for a different viewpoint. Wolfgang Tillmans: 2017 at Tate Modern. Until 11 June. ★★☆☆☆ Reject sin A stunning painting by Cagnacci. Copyright Norton Simon Art Foundation Mary Magdalene lies prone and barely clothed as her sister implores her to turn her back on sin, while in the background Virtue expels Vice from the scene. It’s a powerful scene by the relatively unknown Italian painter Cagnacci. It’s back in the UK for the first time in 30 years and has a great history to it. Cagnacci’s Repentant Magdalene at Room 1, The National Gallery. Until 21 May, free. ★★★★☆ War and refugees The thermographic camera makes it more real and surreal at the same time. Courtesy of the artist, Jack Shainman Gallery, New York and carlier|gebauer, Berlin. Richard Mosse has created a hard-hitting installation in the Barbican’s Curve gallery. Three screens show footage from military grade thermographic imaging technology. We see refugees being rescued from boats and footage from refugee camps, where a lone man prays. Seeing fighter jets taking off and strafing targets with a deafening roar of a soundtrack is shocking and brings home the reality of the world we’re often insulated from. Another brilliant exhibition from Mosse. Richard Mosse: Incoming at The Curve, Barbican. Until 23 April, free. ★★★★★ Rude sculptures These naked sculptures lack substance and thought. Tim Noble and Sue Webster are known for creating seemingly random sculptures that create fantastic shadows. But their latest project is to create wire sculptures with exaggerated genitalia, and make them large. It’s puerile and pointless, possibly a sign that their creative juices have dried up. Tim Noble & Sue Webster: Sticks with dicks and slits at Blain|Southern, 4 Hanover Square, W1s 1BP. Until 25 March, free. ★☆☆☆☆ (Monday-Saturday) Beautiful landscapes One of many sumptuous watercolours at The British Museum. George Price Boyce (1826-1897), View on the River Teme, Ludlow, Shropshire. © The Trustees of the British Museum This large collection of watercolours begins with the rolling green countryside of England, with paintings by the likes of Nash, Turner and Constable. Then it shows the change after the first world war as the images become more gritty with ruins and desert scenes. The paintings are spectacular throughout. Places of the Mind: British watercolour landscapes 1850-1950 at The British Museum, Room 90. Until 27 August, free. ★★★★☆ An electrifying exhibition History is electrifying. Nikola Tesla, 1901. Courtesy Wellcome Library, London The Wellcome Collection takes on the vital energy source we all rely on. Charting humanity’s history of believing God created lightning to the futuristic Masdar city in Abu Dhabi, via experiments with twitching frogs legs and the construction of the National Grid. This show is fascinating throughout and yet another success for the always brilliant Wellcome Collection. Electricity: The Spark of Life at Wellcome Collection. Until 25 June, free. ★★★★☆ (Tuesday-Sunday) Conceptual claptrap Burned out books are aptly hard to read as artworks. Copyright Luke Hayes. The Serpentine Galleries are split into the works of John Latham in one, and artists inspired by his work in the other. Latham’s conceptual art is hard to grasp at the best of times, and this exhibition doesn’t make even the slightest attempt to make the work digestible. To those steeped in art history, there may be something here, but anyone else will just be left baffled. It’s lazy to expect so much from visitors, and we expect better from the Serpentine. A World View: John Latham & Speak at Serpentine Galleries. Until 21 May, free. ★☆☆☆☆ (Tuesday - Sunday) Captivating photography Sophie Callen deals with grief and must be the front runner of the finalists. © Sophie Calle/courtesy of Galerie Perrotin We look forward to the Deutsche Prize for its diversity and artistry every year. This year is no different as Sophie Calle takes us on a personal and surreal journey through the grief of losing her mother, father and cat. Calle should win this year, though we also liked the minimal black and white landscapes by Awoiska van der Molen. Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize at The Photographers’ Gallery. Until 11 June, £4, free before midday. ★★★☆☆ Mirrors and stained glass A massive wall of shoemaker boxes towers over visitors. Josiah McElheny has created visually stunning mirror sculptures and a stained glass theatre for showcasing a rather dry film, but the exhibition can stand on visuals alone. In the other galleries, Ibrahim Mahama has created starker but equally overwhelming works — we’re dwarfed by stacks of shoemaker boxes and sacks from markets. Mundane items given new life and power. Josiah McElheny: The Crystal Land & Ibrahim Mahama: Fragments at White Cube, 144-152 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3TQ. Until 13 April, free. ★★★★☆ (Tuesday-Sunday)

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Vintage Selfridges Ads

One of the first ever adverts for Selfridges. The Bystander, 10 March 1909. Image © The British Library Board Lord forbid your chauffeur be shoddily dressed. Pall Mall Gazette, 12 March 1920 From that golden era of travel when you didn't get charged extra for taking a suitcase... even if it was the size of a wardrobe. The Globe, 18 May 1920 Or maybe you've already bought your own plane from Selfridges. The Tatler, 15 April 1931. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of The British Library Board When it rains it London, you don't need an umbrella, you need a military umbrella. The Globe, 14 August 1920 Shoe sales are nothing new. The Globe, 19 August 1920 Before there was the onesie there was the slumber suit. Pall Mall Gazette, 14 April 1920 The 're-covered golf balls' do seem particularly un-Selfridges. The Globe, 22 May 1920 Even Edwardian Londoners were doing brunch. London Daily News, 7 December 1909. Image © The British Library Board A delicious advertisement for various 'holiday hampers'. It is some picnic party that gets through two tins of roquefort. The Globe, 26 July 1920 A somewhat hyperbolic joint ad, in which Selfridges hints that not having British Goodrich tyres — like its own fleets of vans — motorists face probable death. Yorkshire Evening Post, 20 May 1930 Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of The British Library Board You'd have thought discussing undergarments in a 1920s newspaper would have been considered unseemly. Not according to this advert. The Globe, 30 July 1920 This one proves it was OK to discuss ladies' underwear too (unless this was Selfridges' idea of a shock ad campaign). Our favourite line from the good few hundred words of text: "Washed in the snowy foam of LUX your dainty underthings will give the maximum of service and look fresh and pretty all the while." Derby Daily Telegraph, 13 December 1927. Image © Local World Limited/Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of The British Library Board Selfridges did indeed invent the phrase 'xxx days till Christmas'. Alas, the idea of buying blankets as presents was not such a tenacious idea. The Globe, 16 December 1920 A friendly warning from Santa. The Globe, 23 December 1920 Santa's short-lived middle man. The Sketch, 23 November 1949 Image © Illustrated London News Group In case they sell out of blankets. The Tatler, 10 December 1919 Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of The British Library Board You'd be short sighted not to buy these. Pall Mall Gazette, 14 October 1912 London Zoo might have a thing or two to say about this now. The Sketch, 1 May 1946. Image © Illustrated London News Group Spending advice from a squirrel? You must be nuts. The Tatler, 16 February 1944. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of The British Library Board Things just got shooty shooty gun gun. The Tatler, 27 July 1927. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of The British Library Board Sometimes the simplest ads are the best. The Tatler, 20 August 1947. Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of The British Library Board

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London's Best Bars For A Monday Night

Ain't Nothing But the Blues Bar, for your Monday night jam session needs. Monday... it's got a bad rap, but we think you can still make something pretty good of it. From quiz nights to blues nights, and from arthouse films to double pizza, gathered up here are the best places, ways and means to start the week like you mean to go on.  Bar Italia For a place to pretend it's not Monday:  This Italian coffeeshop-bar in Soho is an institution, open 22 hours a day and somewhere between nicely busy and totally packed for most of those hours. While some bars have a forlorn, desolate look at the start of the week, there'll be enough people and drinking at Bar Italia to make it feel a lot less like Monday.  22 Frith Street, W1D Source The Bar Italia Soho Source The Bar Italia Soho Ain't Nothin But... The Blues Bar For catching a Monday night blues gig:  There's live music every night at this small, crowded bar, and it's some of the best live blues, bluegrass and jazz in London. You can be confident of finding great music and a friendly feel any night of the week, without the rigidity of the booking system at Ronnie Scott's, but on a Monday night they host one of London's most famous jam sessions. If you want to wash away your Monday blues with some actual, legit blues, and a smoky, warming bourbon, this is the place for you. 20 Kingly Street, W1B Source Ain't Nothin But... Anglesea Arms For BYO wine:  This part of London isn't short of a good local pub, but there can't be many lovelier than this candelit corner of W6, with an open fireplace, leather armchairs and other people's dogs curled up all over the place. On Monday nights, it's BYO wine for a small corkage charge, making it much more affordable to spend a night ordering dishes from the locally produced, British-inspired food menu.  35 Wingate Road, W6 Source mr.anglesea Source mr.anglesea The Gate Picturehouse For a beer and a film:  Monday means cheap tickets at all of the Picturehouse cinemas in London, though what 'cheap' means varies across locations, and the prices at Picturehouse Central still feel relatively steep to us. But at their small W11 cinema, tickets are £7 all Monday. That means you can have a couple of drinks in their tiny bar facing the street, then a film -- the Gate's programming usually sits at the arthouse side of mainstream -- all for less than a central London cinema ticket might set you back. 87 Notting Hill Gate, W11 Source picturehouses Source picturehouses The Scolt Head For a pub quiz:  This De Beauvoir pub was voted by our readers as one of the best in Dalston. See the full list of winners here.  It might be that's down to the welcoming interior, spacious but studded with enough armchairs and alcoves to feel cosy. As the owners say, good food is served but it remains a pub, first-and-foremost. That's not to say the food is an afterthought -- it's good from the larger mains to the superior scotch eggs. As well as the main bar and restaurant, a sizeable side room is geared up for live sport, which is also where the Monday night quiz is held. It's been running for long enough that you can expect a full room, with decent competition from a mix of locals and people who've treated this as a destination quiz.  107a Culford Road, N1 Source thescolthead Tufnell Park Tavern For a pub quiz:  Londonist's Harry Rosehill recommends the quiz at this N7 pub: "This might sound like heresy to the hardcore quizzer, but not everyone is truly 'in it to win it'. Some people just want a friendly night to catch up with their mates, occasionally peeking into the crevices of their brain for the odd answer. If that's what you're looking for, The Tufnell Park Tavern will be your bag... The website promises a quiz for 'anyone looking for enjoyment, not bafflement'." The quiz starts every Monday at 8pm and entry is £2 each.  162 Tufnell Park Road, N7 Source Tufnell Park Tavern London Cocktail Club For happy hour:  The happy hour offers at the London Cocktail Club chain are good throughout the week, with many of their venues offering two-for-one cocktails for two hour stretches on most nights. But on Monday night at this Goodge Street bar -- along with others in their group, check the website for up-to-date offer details -- it's two-for-one on all cocktails. And that's Lionel Richie style. All night long.  And yeah, these are the guys behind the bacon and egg martini -- see a video about it here -- but if that's a bit intense for a Monday don't be deterred; they'll shake, stir or mix up one of the classics for you on request. 61 Goodge Street, W1T Source LondonCocktailClub Source LondonCocktailClub The North by Northwest  For good-value pizza:  This Hitchcock-themed pub is good for an after-work drink on any day of the week, with a great rotation of beer on draft and film noir paraphernalia crammed all over the walls. And Monday to Wednesday they do two-for-one on their pizzas, stone-baked and not that expensive to start with. Meaning you can get two margheritas and one of their old-school desserts like sticky toffee pudding for less than £15. Aim for Monday as it's slightly quieter, meaning more candlelight and theatre seats to yourselves, and less competition if you want to get a photo with the big Hitchcock statue leaning by the beer taps -- the bartenders will let you behind the bar for long enough to grab a quick selfie with the big man.  188-190 New N Road, N1 Source No®thByN??rthwestPub Source No®thByN??rthwestPub

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Things To Do Today In London: Monday 6 March 2017

Things I Like In Bethnal Green at Oxford House What we're reading Leyton Orient fans raise money for a 'disaster recovery' fund. Driverless car has its first major trials on London's roads. Uber says thousands of its London drivers threatened by English language test. Research shows that London house prices have risen by £105 a day for the past five years. Things to do today DANCE WITH ME: Things I Like In Bethnal Green (Dance With Me), is an exhibition of eight short films that show the passing of time in Bethnal Green. Oxford House, free, just turn up, 9am-10pm, 6-12 March LAST CHANCE FOR UNDERWEAR: This week's your last chance to check out the V&A's comprehensive history of underwear exhibition, which we loved. Victoria & Albert Museum, £12, book ahead, until 12 March PIZZA OPENING: Pizza Pilgrims' conquest of London continues at a pace hotter than the ovens that fire the doughy delights; this time they've come to Shoreditch. It's BYOB and if you bring a chocolate bar they'll calzonify it for you. Monday's their first day, so to celebrate it's 'pay what you like'; with all proceeds going to the Samaritans. Pizza Pilgrims Shoreditch High Street, pay what you like, just turn up, 11.30am-11pm GLOBAL (LUKE)WARMING: Between the two polarised opinions on global warming, a third approach has appeared. It states the world's getting warmer but it's not so bad. Professor Tim Palmer investigates this viewpoint from a rigidly scientific perspective. The Royal Society, free, just turn up, 6pm CRIME FICTION: A panel featuring some of the best crime writers in the business will be talking about their books which keep readers up late into the night. Browns - The Judges Courts, £7, book ahead, 6.30pm-7.30pm Pizza Pilgrims in Shoreditch SPELLING BEE: Ever looked at a children's spelling bee and thought you could do so much better? Well now it's time to put your money where your mouth is with the London adult spelling bee. Take part, or just watch the madness unfold. Drink, Shop & Do, £5, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm UKULELE HOOTENANNY: Whether you're a beginner or an expert ukulele player, you're welcome at this ukulele hootenanny. Borrow an instrument or bring your own and take part in renditions of old classics and modern pop songs on the ukulele. Queen of Hoxton. Free (£20 refundable deposit), 7pm-12am COMEDY DOCTOR: Is it possible for a doctor to diagnose and save the NHS in one comedy show? Well Dr Phil Hammond is giving it a shot. Leicester Square Theatre, £15/£12, book ahead, 7.15pm GIANT NIGHT OUT: The latest in the superb Milestones series sees John Coltrane's masterpiece Giant Steps performed in its entirety. Opportunities to hear such genre-defining music played live are rare; don't miss this one. The Jazz Cafe, £10, book ahead, doors 7.30pm Art review: a water contraption Courtesy White Rainbow Tokyo's subway is state of the art, but often fixes for leaks are very makeshift, such as a piece of plastic sheeting. Yuko Mohri has used this to inspire her creation where water moves throughout the installation and interacts with everyday items in a fascinating flow. Yuko Mohri: More More [Leaky] at White Rainbow, 47 Mortimer Street, W1W 8HJ, free Until 11 March ★★★☆☆ (Monday-Saturday) Theatre review: Danish modern If you can get a ticket, we think you'd love the Almeida Hamlet, even if you're not specifically lusting after Andrew Scott (Moriarty from Sherlock) pitching to rival Cumberbatch's star turn in the same role. It's Shakespeare for the 'Borgen' generation; a slick and surveillance-heavy visual on a cool penthouse set where Juliet Stevenson's splendid dirty dancing Gertrude can shag Claudius on a couch while the Norwegian ambassador paces the corridor. Enjoy cute turns of Amaka Okafor and Calum Finlay as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern or Jessica Brown Findlay's bathtub-dunking Ophelia, but even though you could ice a cake during some of his pauses, it's Scott's softly spoken, vulnerable and charming Dubliner Dane that holds your gaze and speaks the famous lines completely afresh, and as if to only you. Hamlet, Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street, N1 1TA £10-38 28 February-15 April ★★★★★ Johnny Fox Good cause for the day PAINFUL COMEDY: Laugh Till It Hurts brings together a fantastic collection of comics (including the reliably excellent Ed Byrne) in aid of the children's charity Barnardo's. The Hippodrome Theatre, £22, book ahead, 29 March, 7.30pm Funzing Fun things to do with our friends and sponsor Funzing. Forgotten Old London Tales of torture and plagues await you on a historical walk around London -- see bombed out ruins, discover Medieval markets and even visit a Roman ampitheatre. £12 Get tickets Hidden London Tour Dive deep into the history of ancient London down forgotten alleyways and mysterious tunnels. Untangle the truth from myths and legends, as you explore the history of figures from Sweeney Todd to the Knights Templar.  Get tickets A Secret London Tour Cross gas lit alleyways and stroll by ancient pubs as you discover forgotten parts of London. See the world's smallest police station and visit London's most superstitious hotel on a walking tour covering everything weird, wonderful and London. £12 Get tickets

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Best Of Londonist: 5 March 2017

Your Sunday morning best of Londonist weekly round-up. London's Coolest Brunch Fascinating The Shard: The Uk's 10th Tallest Structure Nor is it the tallest building in Europe. The Best New London Restaurants To Try In March 2017 The hottest tables. 10 Of London's Best Sushi Joints That Deliver Sushi lovers, rejoice! Did You Know About Euston Station's Ancient Benches? Properly old. London's Food Markets In Pictures A growing London fad. London's Most Under Appreciated Afternoon Tea These teas deserve to be eaten! Underappreciated Exhibits At The Museum Of London Victorian space invaders? Beautiful Examples Of Brutalist Architecture In London Brutal? Or raw? In Pictures: London's Best Neon Art Beautiful. Beautiful Examples Of Art Deco In London Lovely. Where Did Shakespeare Live? Turns out he was a City boy Eat At Some Of London's Oldest Restaurants And Markets Including a chippie that's over 100 years old. Your Guide To London Beet Festivals This Month We'll drink to that How An Iconic Crisp Brand Was Invented In North London Frank Smith's to blame for getting us hooked. 10 Exhibitions To Look Forward To This Month Japanese living, ghostly voyages and selfies London's Crappiest Road Markings From the slapdash to the puzzling Secrets Of The Churchill War Rooms Why are there so many holes in the maps? Learn How London Is Protecting Itself From Terrorist Threats Hear from Londdon's cyber experts Video: The Biggest Explosion London Ever Saw 60,000 buildings were damaged In Photos: Victoria All too often we find ourselves rushing through this place Heygreengo: A Social Media App That Actually Makes You More Social The way forward. How To Get A Memorial Bench In London What's so special about Bexley? Video: Memories Of London's Zeppelin Bombing Raids Tragedy and terror. Banned 1930s Queer-friendly Club 'reopens' Described itself as "the most unconventional place in town”. What's The Optimum People-to-rent Ratio? The results might surprise you. Where To See Parakeets Close-up There's a place in zone 1 where parakeets will land on your hand Review: Andrew Scott Is Vulnerable And Charming Hamlet One of the hottest tickets of 2017. These Vegan Cakes Are Scrummy We guess this means you can eat three times as much? See Superheroes Made From Lego Including a surreal looking Wonder Woman Charles Dickens Had Nothing To Do With The Phrase 'what The Dickens?' Nothing to do with the novelist. Meet The Justice Lego In This Constructed Exhibition Brick building innovation from posters to life sized figures. Video: You Can Now Go Skiing In Chelsea You don't have to wrap up warm. A London Blacksmith In need of a lucky horseshoe? This guy will sort you out. Explore London's Roman Amphitheatre In This Great Video Travel through time. The Shard Developer Irvine Sellar Dies, Aged 82 Son James will become the head of Sellar Group. Want to get this as an email? Sign up for Sunday Best here.

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Free And Cheap London Events: 6-12 March 2017

Things to do in London for £5 or less this week. London Fly Fishing Fair All week SPRING POP-UP: A collective of three London based designers host an Urban Spring Pop Up at Craft Central in Clerkenwell. Get that Mother's Day gift sorted, or treat yourself to jewellery, homewares and more. Craft Central, free, just turn up, until 12 March DANCE WITH ME: Things I Like In Bethnal Green (Dance With Me), is an exhibition of eight short films that show the passing of time in Bethnal Green. Oxford House, free, just turn up, 6-12 March THE F WORD: No, not that F word. The Oxo Gallery is talking about forgiveness, with The Forgiveness Project, an exhibition with talks and storytelling events. Oxo Gallery, free, just turn up, 11am-6pm, 8-12 March Monday 6 March GLOBAL (LUKE)WARMING: Between the two polarised opinions on global warming a third approach has appeared. It states the world's getting warmer but it's not so bad. Professor Tim Palmer investigates this viewpoint from a rigidly scientific perspective. The Royal Society, free, just turn up, 6pm SPELLING BEE: Ever looked at a children's spelling bee and thought you could do so much better? Well now it's time to put your money where your mouth is with the London adult spelling bee. Take part, or just watch the madness unfold. Drink, Shop & Do, £5, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm UnApollogetic at Hackney Attic Tuesday 7 March ROMAN BRITAIN: Travel along with Katharine Hoare, who transports you back over a thousand years, showing you what it was like to go out and about in Roman Britain. British Museum, free, just turn up, 1.15pm-2pm OPEN MIC: Apollo is the Greek god of poetry and he's kindly lent his name to the poetry collective UnApollogetic, who host a spoken word and open mic night. Hackney Attic, free, book ahead, 7.30pm JOHN SOANE'S MUSEUM: The Sir John Soane's Museum has an evening opening, where the public can explore it by candlelight. Get there early to make sure you get in — there are normally queues for this one, with only the first 200 people guaranteed entry. Sir John Soane's Museum, free, just turn up, 5.30pm-9pm Wednesday 8 March SCULPTURE WALK: Wander through Broadgate, a veritable hub of contemporary sculpture in the heart of the City on this guided lunchtime walk. Meet at Barclays bank on Moorgate, £5, book in advance, 1pm-1.50pm THE VALUE OF HERITAGE: Old places used to be valued for their beauty and interest, but this isn't always the case anymore. Simon Thurley explores whether we need to develop a new argument as to why we should care for our historic environment. Museum of London, free, just turn up, 6pm-7pm 1000 LONDONERS: On International Women's Day, Hackney Attic presents 10 Women x 10 Decades, a series of short films celebrating unsung female Londoners. Hackney Attic, £5, book ahead, 7.30pm Lunchtime Sculpture Walk in Broadgate Thursday 9 March CHRISTIAN THIRD REICH: Naziism was not a Christian movement, but Christian Germans voted disproportionately for the Nazi party. This talk looks at why the movement was so popular with Christian Germans. Barnard's Inn Hall, free, just turn up, 1pm-2pm WHO RUN THE WORLD: It's the last Open Arts Café event and they're going out in a blaze of glory, dedicating the night to women of the past, present and future with music, theatre, comedy and short films. Open Arts Cafe, donation, just turn up, 7.15pm Friday 10 March WOMEN IN ADVERTISING: The Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising is hosting a talk on the role of women in advertising today. The Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising, free, book ahead, 2pm-3pm RUGBY NIGHT MARKET: There's a ballsy night out in Spitalfields; a rugby themed night market in honour of the Six Nations. The perfect spot to kick back and watch the Ireland vs Wales game, or take part in rugby competitions and coaching. Old Spitalfields Market, free, just turn up 5.30pm-9.30pm LE GRAND VOYAGE: The Maghreb Ciné film club is screening Le Grand Voyage. It shows a father and son who travel on a religious pilgrimage in a claustrophobic car. Rabbits Road Institute, £5/£4, book ahead, 6.30pm-9.15pm Le Grand Voyage Saturday 11 March GHANAIAN INDEPENDENCE: Young Africa Centre is celebrating 60 years of Ghanaian independence, with a pop up food market, music, poetry and much more. Young Africa Centre, free, book ahead, 2pm-10pm Swish and Style Sunday 12 March DESIGN MARKET: The London Artisan is a showcase of over 50 curated designers, and functions as a diverse shopping experience. Old Truman Brewery, free, just turn up, 10am-5pm SWISH AND STYLE: Tired of your old wardrobe, but don't have the cash to change things up? Swap your old clothes in at Swish and Style, and leave with a whole new outfit. Johnston Hall in Islington, free, just turn up, 12.30pm-3pm

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Gorgeous Timelapse Of Canary Wharf

The lights of Canary Wharf blink on as day gives way to night. A mesmerising scene from Timelapse London.

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TV Show Goes Behind The Scenes Of London's King's Cross Station

Inside King's Cross: The Railway follows the various employees responsible for keeping one of London's busiest railway hubs running — from the customer service teams trying to keep passengers happy, to the engineers who work through the night maintaining the fleet of trains. There are some excruciating moments too: huge delays, passengers stuck in lifts, and some particularly charming members of the public reacting to the unbearable stress of trying to catch a train. Anyone who enjoyed Channel 5's The Tube should set a date for watching Inside King's Cross. Here's a preview:

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'Recreating LGBT Club Reminds Us Of Prejudice Suffered By Many'

Bucolic country estates, stretches of dramatic coastline, and award-winning cream teas are the usual associations conjured up by the words 'National Trust'. So it may come as something of a surprise to learn that it's partnered with The National Archives to re-create The Caravan, a 1930s queer-friendly club on the fringes of Soho. London creative director for the National Trust, Joe Watson explains why it's important. Inside the recreated Caravan club. Photo: Sophia Schorr-Kon Along with other 'establishment' institutions, the National Trust has taken the opportunity presented by the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Sexual Offences Act to scrutinise its own LGBTQ+ histories, and explore some other histories beyond our own walls that have lain otherwise hidden. The 1967 Act led to the partial decriminalisation of homosexual acts between men but, for us, this anniversary year is about casting the net as far as possible to uncover the lives of those who challenged conventional notions of gender and sexuality. If anywhere in Britain tells the story of LGBTQ+ communities and identities, and the fight for recognition, it is London. And if anywhere in London stands as a focal point for much of that story, it is Soho. So it was inevitable we turned to the area in order to tell the history of the places that have allowed people to explore and express their own identities. As a love letter from Cyril to Billy, regulars at The Caravan, expressed: "I have only been queer since I came to London about two years ago, before then I knew nothing about it." The club will be the focal point of LGBT history tours, but will also host talks and cabaret. Photo: Sophia Schorr-Kon Our recreation would not have been remotely possible without the rich holdings at The National Archives. There, photographs, court reports, police papers and witness statements all build up a picture of life in The Caravan for the short number of weeks in 1934 that it existed. The great irony is that were it not for the police observation and raid on the club, we would have none of the documents that now reveal its history and have informed its recreation. These not only tell the story of a wider club culture, of private places where people could socialise with like-minded people, but also of the everyday prejudices facing the homosexual community at the time. Photo: Sophia Schorr-Kon Just one of many such places, the re-created Caravan stands as a focal point for our series of daytime tours of the Soho area that focus on LGBTQ+ heritage. The smoky atmosphere of the re-created club recalls the sounds, smells and sights of other such places of the era. That will be most obvious in the evenings, when ticket holders can become a club 'member' and enjoy entertainment by some of the finest names on the cabaret circuit. Drinks drawn from clubs of the era will be provided by Freud Café-Bar. Meanwhile, a wider programme of talks and performances will see Christopher Green bring legendary music hall artiste Fred Barnes back to life, while Dan Glass and Tom Cordell host events that commemorate 1967 and those lives lost to oppression. While the whole project is an opportunity to celebrate the partial decriminalisation of same sex relationships, it will also confront the realities of those lives that were fettered, destroyed, or worse, by prejudice of that era. It provides a timely reminder of the important role that often sidelined cultures have played in our national heritage. Joe Watson, London creative director at the National Trust. Photo: Josh Jones

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9 Great London Immigrants

Around 41% of inner London's population is made up of foreign-born people. As they continue to contribute to, and shape, our city, here's a list of nine immigrants who really made their mark during their time here. William the Conqueror, France Photo: Dun.can OK, OK, the Duke of Normandy's passage into London was unlike any other immigrant's (and one you'd struggle to get away with these days). But his impression on the evolution of London is unquestionable — notably with one landmark. As HV Morton puts it, "All we know for certain of the Tower's origin is that William the Conqueror gave a charter of independence to London with one hand, while with the other he built the Tower to show his "beloved subjects" that, in spite of their liberties, he was their master." The Tower of London remains a jewel in the city's crown, not to mention a surefire source of income. George Frideric Handel, Germany Moving to London in 1712, the bewigged composer came to be adored by the city so much that 15 years later, he was naturalised as a British citizen. Handel was not just a soundtrack for the royal family, but for London itself — his Water Music is synonymous with the Thames. As George Bernard Shaw later said, "Every Englishman believes that Handel now occupies an important position in heaven." Handel's Brook Street residence neighbours that of another great musician, Jimi Hendrix, with both now twinned as an unlikely museum. Olaudah Equiano, Nigeria or the Americas Although there's some doubt as to where Olaudah Equiano was born, there is none about the impact he made when he arrived on British shores. Pinged back and forth across the globe as a slave, Equiano eventually bought his own freedom, and poured his efforts into working towards the abolition of slavery. As the founder of the Sons of Africa, he lobbied Parliament for better conditions on slave ships. It was in London, at 67-73 Riding House Street, that Equiano finally sat down to write his autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the African — published in 1789. The harrowing tale — bookended with appeals to Parliament and the Queen — was a catalyst in ending slavery. It's commemorated in a green plaque. Mary Seacole, Jamaica For reasons right and wrong, Mary Seacole's statue stirs emotions in the 21st century Londoner. Photo: Matt Brown Much of Mary Seacole's good work happened on foreign shores, notably during the Crimean War, where she bankrupted herself by helping soldiers with her own funds. Her return to London — where she'd previously been denied a place in Florence Nightingale's nursing team — saw her lauded as a heroine by the British Army, royalty, and Britain as a whole. Seacole remains an important beacon for black Londoners and Brits; in 2016, when her statue was unveiled outside St Thomas' Hospital, it caused some rather ugly arguments to bubble to the surface. On the other hand, the fact the statue was unveiled showed that enough people cared about her legacy to ensure Seacole was immortalised. Karl Marx, Germany Photo: Max Nathan After Belgium and Paris decided they didn't want Karl Marx, London took him into its bosom — and he stayed here for the rest of his life. From safe havens such as the British Library and his flat on Dean Street, Marx wrote his magnum opus Das Kapital. London is also where he went on his infamous lamp-smashing pub crawl (he never did pay us back for that). Marx is commemorated across London; in the Marx Memorial Library, on walking tours, and, of course, by that left-leaning memorial in Highgate Cemetery. The Brunels, France* You can still don a top hat and pose next to some of these chains, in Millwall While Isambard Kingdom Brunel was born in Portsmouth, his father was born in Normandy, and both were educated in France. Everyone knows the photo of Brunel posturing by the hulking great chains of his ship the SS Eastern (above); what many don't realise is that you can still pose by some of those chains at the remains of the slipway in Millwall. It was working together on the Thames Tunnel, that the father-son team created their finest London legacy — it remains in use today, as part of the Overground network. Put simply, London would not function as it does today without these two great Frenchmen. Pay your tributes to both at Kensal Green Cemetery. Harry Gordon Selfridge, America Public domain The state of Oxford Street on a Saturday has much to do with Harry Gordon Selfridge. As the man who gave London its first 'democratic' department store and "x days till Christmas", the Wisconsin tycoon revolutionised consumerism in the city. He also may be guilty for getting us hooked on Coke — Selfridges once had an American soda room. As much as he gave to London, he also tried to get what he could out of it; he pleaded with London Underground bosses for a tunnel for shoppers leading from Bond Street station to his store. They said he could have it if he paid for it. Selfridge's answer was not recorded. Zaha Hadid, Iraq Hadid's marvellously swooshy Aquatics Centre. Photo: Fabio Dell'Anna Many of Zaha Hadid's early architectural designs on London never came to fruition; among her unrealised student projects were Malevich's Tektonik (a hotel on the Hungerford Bridge) and a regenerated Trafalgar Square. The Baghdad-born architect went on to make her mark on the capital, with the Serpentine Sackler Gallery, and most memorably, the spaceship-like London Aquatics Centre. Zaha Hadid Architects remains in Clerkenwell, although it's a shame Hadid's successor stands for a deregulated and privatised London. Monica Ali, Bangladesh By way of Bolton and Oxford, Bangladeshi-born Monica Ali has made London her home — and subject matter. Her 2003 debut novel Brick Lane opened thousands of Londoners' eyes to life for Bangladeshi people in the British capital — although the book and subsequent film adaptation weren't without controversy. The fictional Imperial Hotel in Piccadilly formed the backdrop for another of her books, In The Kitchen. Still living in London — and the only living figure on our list — Ali continues to speak out for the rights and advantages of, immigration. You're right, technically this is 10 Great London Immigrants.

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Video: Dreams Of Love In London

Sometimes you just want the world to stop, so you can lose yourself in a dreamy video of this beautiful city. If that sometimes is now, check out this film of London at Christmas time, accompanied by a Dumbledoreque narrator moodily opining on dreams and love, and dreams of love. The film takes you on a whistlestop tour through a day, from sunrise in and around Camden's canals, through Liverpool Street Station, onto the DLR and down to the Thames. As night falls, the slowmo vignettes are from around the West End: Regent's Street, Carnaby and Covent Garden, as well as Big Ben, the London Eye and Trafalgar Square. 'The soul comes joyful to the eye,' says our narrator. We reckon there's a certain amount of joy to be found here.  

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London's Most Interesting Gastropubs

The North by Northwest pub. Hitchcock game: strong. London's gastropubs are so many and varied you can have lunch in a repurposed 1930s cinema, dinner in an old gin palace and dessert presided over by Hitchcock. And empty your bladder to the sound of Blackadder. Visit the Londonist Best Pubs guide for more inspiration.  Duke of Cambridge Though the pub itself is nice in a really Highbury-ish way -- with big windows, hefty wooden tables and lots of family dining at a weekend -- it's their kitchen-model that sets it apart from nearby pubs. They're in partnership with Riverford, of fruit and vegetable box fame, but that's just the start of their organic credentials. Fish is sustainably-sourced in Cornwall, venison and game come from Rhug Estates, and 100% of the ingredients they work with are organic, making them the first entirely organic pub in London. If that conjures up images of limited cooking and a restricted menu, think again. As you'd guess with somewhere focused on the organic and seasonal, the menu changes regularly but at time of writing you could be sitting down to dishes of sriracha Cornish crab on toast, and braised wild rabbit leg with polenta. And the desserts are proof they aren't about to sacrifice indulgence -- they might be an almond brownie or orange-rich bread and butter pudding.  30 St Peter's Street, N1 Source Riverford @ The Duke Source Riverford @ The Duke The Angelic The decor might earn this pub a place in this article, with intense wallpaper, carved wood and guttering candles lighting the way to the bathrooms. It's friendly. It's spacious. It has a rococo bar upstairs. And we've never had less than great food there. But we've chosen it for one, important reason: they have the audio for Blackadder playing over speakers in the bathrooms. Every time. Different visits, different seasons of Blackadder, but the same joyous experience. We don't know why Rowan Atkinson chastising Baldrick over the soundwaves while you're in the toilet feels so right. It just does.  57 Liverpool Road, N1 Source The Angelic Source The Angelic The Warrington Swirls, whirls and organic curls decorate every millimetre of this outrageously gorgeous pub. Mosaics, stained glass, tiled columns... you'll want to lick the decor. A set of nubile nymphs, playfully lacking in wardrobe, gaze down from the bar canopy, perhaps a nod to the venue's former reported use as a brothel. According to their site, the word 'randy' was invented here, thanks to the pub's close proximity to Randolph Crescent. Today, it's a bustling place with plenty of room to spread out and an impressive range of beers. There's also a good food offering -- the place used to be owned by Gordon Ramsay, but the food focus has been continued (we think maybe improved on?) by current owners Faucet Inn. And they've recently relaunched the hotel rooms above the pub in show-stopping style. We stayed the night in the Gamekeeper's Room and can confirm it's got the four poster bed, ceramic deer head statues stuck to the wall and enormous copper freestanding bathtub in the middle of the bedroom to compete with the downstairs pub for strange splendour.  93 Warrington Cres, W9 Source faucetinn Source faucetinn Balham Bowls Club Affectionally known, and cheekily logo'd as the BBC, Balham Bowls Club is one of the most original pubs around. It was one of the first venues to get the Antic Pubs treatment: requisition a tired old building with some character -- this was an abandoned bowling club -- and turn it into something special.   On entering, a series of bar areas can be found to the left, a function room known as the Presidential Room sits to the right, and through the back lies a vast dining hall. The poor cleaner has his or her work cut out, for there's a capacious space known as The Ballroom upstairs — used for private hire (including weddings) and film screenings. There's even a beer garden should you need to stretch your legs out even further. No shortage of patrons keep the space full, and you'd be lucky to get a table if you arrive at 12.30 pm for their (great) Sunday lunch. It would be easy to assume that the BBC, with its ironic subverting of a traditional community space, might be populated with trendy young things, but this isn't so. The pub houses a mix of ages, with family diners crammed in among the couples and elderly gentlemen.  7-9 Ramsden Road, SW12 Source londonist Source londonist Princess Victoria This pub was a gin palace in another life and comes with all the gilt, carvings and chandeliers -- and gin -- you could ask for. After a while as an unkempt local, the Princess Victoria was recalled to its statelier roots a few years back as one of Shepherd's Bush's most handsome gastros. A stately island bar is offset with wood-panelled walls and a rounded skylight. To label it a gastropub is a bit unfair. There's a division between dining room proper and the wider pub, with plenty of space for those who just want to drink. It's so spacious, in fact, that this has become a firm favourite with families -- plenty of kids running about, even on our Monday night visit. If you want to escape it all, there's a diminutive beer garden through the back of the restaurant area. Deliveroo now from Shepherd's Bush 217 Uxbridge Road, W12 Source The PV Source princessvictoria The Ivy House The recent history of The Ivy House pub in Nunhead's a fascinating story of people power against the march of corporate-sponsored gentrification. London's first community-owned pub is Grade II listed, with original 1930s features. Despite that -- and also the venue’s clear cultural significance and the fact that CAMRA nominated it to be listed -- in 2012 the umbrella company that owned The Ivy House decided to give the tenants just five days’ notice to pack up their peanuts and get out. The pub was saved from developers when locals clubbed together and set the place up as a co-op, securing the future of the pub and getting it listed as an asset of community value. These days it's impossible to walk through the Ivy House without a massive grin on your face. It's so convivial, you'll want to take it home to meet your parents. Or maybe just enjoy one of their burgers as you watch an act on their small cabaret stage.  40 Stuart Road, SE15 Source The Ivy House The Churchill Arms This pub's instantly recognisable, the exterior a mass of hanging baskets and flowers almost entirely covering the front. Inside, too, there's little hint of the fabric of the building, with pots, pans, porcelain commodes, sporting gear, lamps, royal memorabilia, bunting and assorted Churchillian gimcracks hanging from the ceiling. The back room echoes the outside with more plants than Homebase. To awkwardly paraphrase Churchill, 'Never in the field of pub decoration has so much been displayed to so many, in such a tight space'.  It claims to be the very first London pub with a Thai restaurant -- over 25 years ago these trailblazers knew the city was ready to pair a pad Thai with an ice cold lager, and opened their conservatory -- complete with tiny waterfall and real fish -- in which to do it. For other secrets about this pub, read the full article here.  119 Kensington Church Street, W8 Source churchillarmskensington Source churchillarmskensington Well & Bucket There's a genuinely sinister edge to this pub's interior, including the crumbling glazed tiles rescued from the pub's previous incarnation, and huge skull portraits. The Well & Bucket is one of the East End's oldest pubs, but also one of its newest, pouring pints from 1818 till 1989. For the following quarter-century it traded as a restaurant and later a wholesale shop. Now it has reopened thanks to Barworks and it's tempting to declare this the best pub in this corner of London and be done with it. Let us count the reasons: - Great ale selection, with rotating casks and a big range of bottled beers- Exceptional food. Who'd have thought a spelt salad could be the dining highlight of one's week? More-ish sliders come highly recommended- A small beer garden- A candle-lit basement cocktail bar - from the 5cc bar group, with venues in the basement of the Singer Tavern and the attic at the Exmouth Arms  Needless to say, it can get very busy — but being a little further from the working population than nearby rivals, you should get a table if you get here early enough. 143 Bethnal Green Road, E2 Source londonist Source londonist Mirth, Marvel & Maud After decades of sad decline, we're pleased to see Walthamstow’s historic EMD Granada cinema opened up again, partially-restored and now serving as one of the most atmospheric pubs in East London. The Grade II listed picture house, frequented by Alfred Hitchcock as a young boy, dates back to 1930, while the site itself was screening all way the back in 1896, the year cinema was officially born. The hugely characterful building, with its chandeliers and William Morris inspired décor, has been renamed by new managers, the Antic pub chain. The head of the company Anthony Thomas explains the odd moniker: “We wanted to bring Mirth back to the Foyer, which is in itself a Walthamstow Marvel. My Great-Aunt Maud took me to a similar space as a child, hence our chosen name.” The vast entrance foyer opens into a three-storied drinking palace. The first of the two bars is an octagonal booth just inside the doors serving cocktails, the second a bustling basement where you can try beer from Wathamstow natives Wild Card Brewery. Vintage tables and benches contrast the faded but still gorgeous interiors. The double height ground floor features soaring mirrors and ornate Ionic pilasters in turquoise and gold. Then up the sweeping staircase you’ll find a long, low-slung barrel-vaulted upper level with freshly painted and papered walls and rich red carpets. Just watch out for the ghost rumoured to flit between the projectionist’s booth and the cinema upstairs -- said to resemble a rotund, bald man. 186 Hoe Street, E17 Source Mirth Marvel & Maud Source Mirth Marvel & Maud The North by Northwest Pub If you've ever visited The Alma in Canonbury, you're in for a similar experience at North by Northwest, under the same management. The pub opened in early 2016, replacing the North Pole. Despite enjoying a complete refit, the place feels comfortable, even lived-in. The long drinking space is punctuated with numerous tributes to Alfred Hitchcock. (The great director began his career just south of here at Gainsborough Studios, now turned to residential blocks surrounding a giant Hitchcock head.) The bar serves a good range of ales, they do decent, two for one pizzas from Monday to Wednesday -- and a small beer garden at the back gives al fresco options. Just watch out for the birds. 188-190 New N Road, N1 Source No®thByN??rthwestPub Source No®thByN??rthwestPub

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The Perks Of Being A Tower Of London Ravenmaster

I just wanted to share with you this incredible bit of video. Every time I stop stroking Merlina she nips at my hand for more attention. pic.twitter.com/9utpu7Okjm— Ravenmaster (@ravenmaster1) March 3, 2017 The Tower of London's Ravenmasters are often overlooked in favour of their better-known Beefeater colleagues, but as this video shows, looking after the Tower's feathered residents has its perks. One of the Ravenmasters shared this lovely video on Twitter of one of his demanding charges. It's worth listening with the sound on if you can — we'll be honest, that's not the noise we expected to come out of a raven. Follow @ravenmaster1 for more updates on life as a Tower of London Ravenmaster.

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A Successful Plot To Blow Up Parliament... In 1974

Think of an attempt to blow up Parliament, and you think back to 1605, Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot. In 1974, though, there was another attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament — and this one was relatively successful. "I looked through Westminster Hall and the whole hall was filled with dust. A few minutes later it was possible to see flames shooting up through the windows," then-Liberal chief whip David Steel told the BBC at the time. At around 8.22am on 17 June 1974, the Press Association had received a call — apparently from the IRA — informing them that a bomb was set to go off in Parliament. Six minutes later, there was an explosion near the ladies' toilets in Westminster Hall; a large fire broke out, and 11 people were injured. The following day, MPs and security chiefs discussed the bombing, and what could be done to foil future attempts — the upshot, apparently, was a combination of philosophical shoulder-shrugging and calls for the reinstatement of the death penalty. Though the hall obviously had to be restored, the bombing is rather snubbed by Parliament's official restoration and renewal timeline. Instead, 1974 is noted for "Underground car park beneath New Palace Yard completed" and "Reproduction Pugin wallpaper provided for the Moses Room under the guidance of the Victoria and Albert Museum". From the Manchester Evening News, 4 February 1939 Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of The British Library Board The IRA attack was, of course, not the first successful bombing of Parliament; it was bombarded during the second world war — hit, in fact, during 14 separate raids and suffering extensive damage, including the gutting of the Commons Chamber and broken glass on Big Ben's south face (Big Ben continued to chime throughout the war). On 10 May 1941, three people were killed. Second world war bombs continue to haunt Parliament; the latest to prompt a safety concern was in January 2017, when an explosive was dredged up from the Thames, and Westminster station was evacuated as a precaution. That leaves us with a total of 15 successful bombing attempts on the modern Palace of Westminster. But we have found evidence of at least one further explosion. On 29 June 1886 — just 16 years after the new Houses of Parliament was completed — Charles Morney descended into the sewers beneath the palace, with the intention of inspecting them. Unfortunately, he did this with the aid of a lamp, which ignited a build up of gas, and caused a great explosion. Said the Western Daily Press two days later, "Morney was severely scorched about the face, and his wrists and arms were badly burnt." Morney, ironically, suffered far greater injuries than the majority of those in the IRA bombing of 1974.

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