The ianVisits guide to June's unusual events, tours, lectures and exhibitions happening around London.
Thursday 1st June
William Alden MBE, Clerk of the Stationer's Company, will provide a brief synopsis of the Company from its origins in 1403 to its evolution and adaptation in 2017.
6pm to 8pm
City of London
Anne Summers of Birkbeck University will discuss how friendship and co-operation between Christian and Jewish women changed lives and even saved them in the 60 years up to 1940.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
Five actors, with all manner of musical instruments, present an inventive take on Shakespeare's comedy of old-fashioned trickery and mistaken identity.
7pm to 9pm
City of London
More London events on Thursday 1st June
Friday 2nd June
Monthly opening of the private gardens within Lambeth Palace in the heart of London.
12pm to 3pm
Southwark
£17.50
Adults only late nights at London Zoo each Friday in June.
Starts at 6pm
Camden
Peter Watts gives an illustrated talk on some of the many schemes proposed for the building.
Starts at 6:30pm
Battersea
Introduction by Jonathan Meades in conversation with Owen Hatherley, followed by screenings
7pm to 8:30pm
Regent Street
More London events on Friday 2nd June
Saturday 3rd June
New displays cover the prison’s 166 year history, telling the story of residents including Oscar Wilde, Ronnie Biggs, the Acid Bath Murderer, conscien
10am to 5pm
Wandsworth
Probably the most famous steam locomotive in the world, the Flying Scotsman will be visiting London
Starts at 10am
£4.00
Visit one of the Geffrye's 18th-century almshouses which has been fully restored to its original condition.
11am to 3pm
Bethnal Green
Discover the wonderful world of butterflies at this fun family event at Totteridge Fields.
11am to 4pm
Mill Hill
£3.00
Open day at a Japanese Buddhist garden with demonstrations and talks.
2pm to 5pm
Acton
Monthly open day at one of London's more curious and delightful museums, devoted to the history of the sewing machine.
2pm to 5pm
Tooting
£6.00
Nerd Nite London returns with myths, legends, spiders, corpses, and an explanation of the origins of the dollar sign.
Starts at 7:30pm
Stoke Newington
More London events on Saturday 3rd June
Sunday 4th June
The Lord Mayor’s personal hot air balloon, accompanied by up to 50 others are set to stage an early morning lift-off from London City Airport.
5am to 8am
Victoria Dock
New displays cover the prison’s 166 year history, telling the story of residents including Oscar Wilde, Ronnie Biggs, the Acid Bath Murderer, conscien
10am to 5pm
Wandsworth
Find out about the fascinating history of Crane Park and the Hounslow Gunpowder Mills, including their function during the First World War.
10:30am to 12:30pm
Whitton
Step back in history and visit the terminus building of London's original international airport - in Croydon.
11am to 4pm
Croydon
A talk and workshop at the Wandle Industrial Museum.
11:30am to 1pm
Mitcham
Once a year, this hidden alley in Peckham is opened to the public.
1pm to 6pm
Peckham
£3.00
Open day at a Japanese Buddhist garden with demonstrations and talks.
2pm to 5pm
Acton
More London events on Sunday 4th June
Monday 5th June
We will look at the mathematics of this diagram and how Escher used it. We will also see how Coxeter produced mathematical research based on aspects of Escher's work.
1pm to 2pm
Barbican
Join Paul Wood for a journey through the urban forest that is the astonishing multiplicity of trees lining the capital’s streets
6:30pm to 7:45pm
Covent Garden
More London events on Monday 5th June
Tuesday 6th June
This talk will explore how cities are integrating active travel within new and existing pieces of city.
8:30am to 10am
Euston
This talk and walking tour will look at the archaeology and heritage of the Olympic Park in Stratford.
2pm to 5pm
Euston
An evening in the Sir John Soane's Museum with the rooms lit by candles.
6pm to 9pm
A talk on the child experiments that took place in Nazi concentration camps.
6:30pm to 8pm
Russell Square
Mick Taylor of the Wandle Industrial Museum will explore the River Wandle’s long tradition of manufacturing and industry.
Starts at 6:30pm
Wandsworth
Is the historical association between extreme social change and violent revolution hampering opposition to the ballot-box extremism of the populist right?
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
Do space and time truly exist? What is reality made of? Can we understand its deep texture?
7pm to 8:30pm
Belgravia
More London events on Tuesday 6th June
Wednesday 7th June
The presentation will explore the origins, variety and some challenges for the future. The wider planning history offers insights into colourful individuals, dramatic events and some links to the very doorstep of Gresham College.
6pm to 7pm
Barbican
Railway historian Steven Taylor will explore the symbiotic relationship between the station and its immediate environs.
Starts at 6:30pm
Battersea
More London events on Wednesday 7th June
Thursday 8th June
A two hour guided walk of Walthamstow Reservoirs with Stephen Ayers and get an insight into the unique history of the site.
1pm to 3pm
Tottenham
Free
This panel session brings together researchers, authors and curators to reflect on recent exhibitions and displays in London that have taken LGBTQ identities, desires and histories as their focus.
5:15pm to 7:15pm
Euston
Join historical novelist, Tracey Warr, to hear about medieval literary sources she employs to construct the fictional worlds of her novels.
6pm to 8pm
City of London
Come and hear three renowned medieval historians discuss the battle of Lincoln, and some of the key people involved
6pm to 8pm
Richmond
Dr. Sue Demont will explore how the railways transformed and defined the borough.
Starts at 7:15pm
Battersea
More London events on Thursday 8th June
Friday 9th June
Free
Go pop with DJ sets from Gal Pals and wave your pompom at a cheerleading demonstration as the Great Court comes alive with craft, song and style.
Starts at 12am
Russell Square
Vew a selection of archive material relating to Wandsworth’s industrial history, which will be on display in the search room.
11am to 2pm
Battersea
Daniel Edmonds’ talk uses new research to examine his role in the Indian independence movement and the tensions created by his party allegiances.
Starts at 6pm
Battersea
£17.50
Adults only late nights at London Zoo each Friday in June.
Starts at 6pm
Camden
More London events on Friday 9th June
Saturday 10th June
These tours have been created to mark the 100th anniversary of the Johnston typeface.
Starts at 11am
Acton
The festival will involve lots of activities in Gordon Square and also in the Institute of Archaeology building for families and all members of the public.
12pm to 5pm
Euston
Discover the lost burial grounds of Southwark and the stories behind them.
1:30pm to 3pm
Southwark
Free
The event explores nocturnal London through Dickens’s eyes with readings, insights and performances.
6pm to 11pm
Clerkenwell
More London events on Saturday 10th June
Sunday 11th June
The Lord Mayor’s personal hot air balloon, accompanied by up to 50 others are set to stage an early morning lift-off from London City Airport.
5am to 8am
Victoria Dock
Darren Hughes of the Electoral Reform Society will do the easy job of critically appraising Westminster as is, and go on to suggest alternatives that would work a whole lot better.
Starts at 11am
Holborn
This talk will look at the links between climate, energy, food and water, with a particular focus on India.
Starts at 1pm
Holborn
More London events on Sunday 11th June
Monday 12th June
Historian James Delbourgo discusses his new biography of Hans Sloane, Collecting the World, the first in over 60 years.
Starts at 12am
Russell Square
A panel discussion bringing together artists, curators, researchers and museum experts to talk about the arts and creativity can be used to improve children's healthcare. Also featuring poets and authors in conversation, plus a performance from GOSH Staff and Parent Choir.Part of Creativity and Wellbeing Week 2017 led by LAHF.
6pm to 8pm
Clerkenwell
Spend an evening with award winning actor Richard E Grant as he discusses his insights into his 30 year career.
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Soho
More London events on Monday 12th June
Tuesday 13th June
Learn more about donating your body (after you dont need it anymore) to the forensic sciences.
9am to 12pm
Euston
Free
Drawing on official documents and eyewitness accounts, Ian Castle will discuss the impact of the first bomber raids on England and their lasting effect.
2pm to 3pm
Richmond
An evening with Sir Antony Gormley at China Exchange.
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Soho
A debate to explore the role transport plays, past, present and future, in memory making.
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Covent Garden
Michael Lynk, UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, in conversation with Sir Geoffrey Bindman QC
6:45pm to 10pm
Shoreditch
A panel will discuss some of the wider social and political issues associated with children’s food.
7pm to 9pm
Southwark
More London events on Tuesday 13th June
Wednesday 14th June
A single red rose will be paraded through London to the Lord Mayor in payment of an ancient fine.
Starts at 11am
City of London
Come join Matt Laessig, COO and co-founder of data.world, as he talks about the open data in government movement in the United States.
1pm to 2pm
Shoreditch
Meet the RSA Fellows trained as ‘Street Wizards’ as they show you how to use London’s streets as an invisible university.
2pm to 5pm
Trafalgar Square
In this talk, the concept of the 'good' doctor will be explored and how we can ensure that our doctors are 'good'.
6pm to 7pm
Barbican
£12.00
The Army Museum is exploring whether feminism has been good for the army.
6:30pm to 9:30pm
Chelsea
Chance to see the Oscar winning movie on a big screen.
Starts at 7pm
Barbican
Historians Daniel Beer and Anne Applebaum explore the history of punishment and repression in Russia and examine the contrasts and continuities between the tsarist and soviet regimes.
7pm to 8:30pm
Bloomsbury
More London events on Wednesday 14th June
Thursday 15th June
£5.90
This talk by former Inspector Peter Clarke will explore the sometimes surprising innovations introduced into the world of policing by one of the world’s smallest police forces.
6pm to 8pm
City of London
This talk by former Inspector Peter Clarke will explore the sometimes surprising innovations introduced into the world of policing by one of the world’s smallest police forces.
6pm to 8pm
City of London
Tech City UK is going to explore the possibilities for UK tech and how the digital economy could look in 2022, the lifetime of the next Government.
6pm to 9pm
Whitechapel
William Filmer-Sankey, architectural historian will share his knowledge as one of the built heritage consultants for Crossrail on the effects the works might have on the listed structures along the route.
Starts at 6:30pm
Clerkenwell
A talk in the tunnel shaft of the Brunel Museum about the Brunel family who dug the Thames tunnel.
6:30pm to 9pm
Rotherhithe
Sumit Paul-Choudhury, editor-in-chief of New Scientist, talks to Adam Roberts, author of Twenty Trillion Leagues under the Sea and a forthcoming biography of H.G. Wells, and Stephen Baxter, author of Wells sequels.
Starts at 7:30pm
Barbican
More London events on Thursday 15th June
Friday 16th June
£20.00
A fascinating new retelling of a traditional legend, YAGORI Romany/Gypsy Dance Troupe’s new show blends dramatic acting, fiery dancing and lyrical Gypsy songs
7:30am to 9:30am
Poplar
£17.50
Adults only late nights at London Zoo each Friday in June.
Starts at 6pm
Camden
More London events on Friday 16th June
Saturday 17th June
£20.00
A fascinating new retelling of a traditional legend, YAGORI Romany/Gypsy Dance Troupe’s new show blends dramatic acting, fiery dancing and lyrical Gypsy songs
7:30am to 9:30am
Poplar
CND hosts this one day national conference to discuss how renewable energy can and should replace nuclear energy production.
Starts at 9:45am
Holborn
Featuring fascinating talks, interactive workshops and the chance to peek behind the scenes at the Crick.
10am to 4pm
Camden
£26.00
Spend a day experiencing Underground trains from the driver’s cab, in a variety of static vehicles ranging from 1940 to 1983.
10:30am to 3pm
Acton
A monthly classic car show/meet in central London.
12pm to 4pm
Southwark
Free
This event brings together around 40 of the leading national and international antiquarian map dealers.
12pm to 7pm
South Kensington
Head along to the King's Cross Canal Festival, for a weekend of fun that celebrates the waterway.
12pm to 4pm
Kings Cross
A large formation of military aircraft will form Her Majesty the Queen's Birthday Flypast on 17 June 2017.
Starts at 1pm
Whitehall
This event examines the neglected history of these servicemen in the First World War.
2pm to 3:30pm
Richmond
Free
A free evening of readings and sound works exploring memory, place, materiality, and movement.
5pm to 7pm
Barbican
David McCandless will reveal the unseen and often hilarious stories lurking in data & information around us.
6:15pm to 8:30pm
Hanover Square
More London events on Saturday 17th June
Sunday 18th June
Free
GrandFest, a one day mini festival that celebrates the heritage skills of talented older people.
All Day
Whitechapel
The free bus service will feature a number of types of bus which have operated the route over the last 65 years.
All Day
The Lord Mayor’s personal hot air balloon, accompanied by up to 50 others are set to stage an early morning lift-off from London City Airport.
5am to 8am
Victoria Dock
£20.00
A fascinating new retelling of a traditional legend, YAGORI Romany/Gypsy Dance Troupe’s new show blends dramatic acting, fiery dancing and lyrical Gypsy songs
7:30am to 9:30am
Poplar
Free
This event brings together around 40 of the leading national and international antiquarian map dealers.
10am to 6pm
South Kensington
Head along to the King's Cross Canal Festival, for a weekend of fun that celebrates the waterway.
12pm to 4pm
Kings Cross
A rare opportunity to explore this tiny jewel of secret London, a 1719 Huguenot merchant's house.
2pm to 6pm
Whitechapel
A chance to see a classic of Eastern Bloc cinema on a big screen.
Starts at 4pm
Barbican
More London events on Sunday 18th June
Monday 19th June
A Gun Salute of 62 rounds will be fired from the Tower of London for the State Opening of Parliament.
Starts at 12pm
Tower Hill
More London events on Monday 19th June
Tuesday 20th June
An economic model for news that have existed for 200 years or more is disappearing. Are we facing the prospect of societies without 'news' as previously understood? And why does it matter?
6pm to 7pm
City of London
Semir Zeki, Professor of Neuroestetics searches for an understanding of the mysteries of the human brain.
6:10pm to 8pm
Barbican
£10.00
Hear from the experts behind the engineering of some of Britain's greatest rail projects.
Starts at 6:30pm
Poplar
Jamie Woodcock goes undercover in a call centre to reveal the plight of over a million workers employed in the UK’s least-loved service industry.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
More London events on Tuesday 20th June
Wednesday 21st June
Meet a therapy pet and find out about the role dogs play in health and social support.
6pm to 9pm
Harley Street
Skyscraping – everything you wanted to know about tall buildings but were afraid to ask.
Starts at 6pm
Euston
Post-truth is bigger than fake news and social media. This is the story of bullshit: what’s being spread, why it works – and how we can tackle it.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
More London events on Wednesday 21st June
Thursday 22nd June
Moor Park Mansion is a Grade I listed Palladian mansion set within over 300 hundred acres in Hertfordshire.
10am to 12pm
Rickmansworth
Find out about Bentham’s philosophical approach to the pressing issues of his day and the relevance of his ideas in the modern world.
2pm to 3pm
City of London
The annual Rent Ceremony is a weird and wonderful occasion when the Chairman and Trustees march around the Piazza, accompanied by the Town Crier.
Starts at 4:30pm
Trafalgar Square
Spend an evening hearing from arts luminary, Sir Nicholas Serota, the current Chairman of Arts Council England.
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Soho
The former Marketing Director of the London Underground, Dr Henry Fitzhugh will give a talk about tube posters.
6:30pm to 8pm
This lecture will discuss the present presumption that a parolee has to demonstrate they are not at risk of repeated offending and suggest that it should be the State to demonstrates the prisoner remains a risk.
7pm to 8:30pm
Holborn
More London events on Thursday 22nd June
Friday 23rd June
Brexit and how we can protect and ensure London's continued status as a global capital of built environment expert.
8:30am to 9:30am
Euston
Discover how they keep and maintain the record for future generations and explore some of the hidden gems in the collections.
11am to 12:30pm
Richmond
Free
An exhibition of works and proposals by the first graduating students of the London School of Architecture.
12pm to 6pm
Strand
£17.50
Adults only late nights at London Zoo each Friday in June.
Starts at 6pm
Camden
£10.55
Andrew Marr will join the Prudential Series and give the China Exchange audience the chance to turn the tables and ask him searching questions.
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Soho
A note that there will be a fireworks display in the Thames by Greenwich town centre.
Starts at 10:45pm
Greenwich
More London events on Friday 23rd June
Saturday 24th June
Visit the c.1397 Grade 2 listed ‘threshing’ barn, over 100ft x 40ft in size, with a fine crownpost roof.
Starts at 10:45am
Rickmansworth
Guided tours of the London Transport museum's archive of posters and artwork.
Starts at 11am
Acton
Free
An exhibition of works and proposals by the first graduating students of the London School of Architecture.
12pm to 6pm
Strand
Find out what weird and wonderful new species have been discovered on the island and how one of the Museum's scientists went about studying them.
Starts at 12:30pm
South Kensington
Join Sheldon and Sam from CemeteryClub.co.uk for a stroll amongst the stones to rediscover and learn about some of the amazing people that now call Hampstead Cemetery their permanent home.
1pm to 2:30pm
Kilburn
£25.00
Part of Hack it: a series of DIY workshops on living actively and sustainably in the city.
1:30pm to 4pm
Barbican
£5.00
Fairly rare chance to go inside a private garden within Regents Park.
2:30pm to 5:30pm
Camden
To celebrate the launch of the Peckham Toymaker installation and South London urban legends in general.
3pm to 4pm
War artists have depicted the work of nurses in conflict zones since at least the Crimean War. In this talk on Armed Forces Day, we explore very different ways of depicting war through art.
5pm to 8pm
Harley Street
A a series of scything workshops, talks, communal picnics culminating in a scything competition.
All Day
Leyton
More London events on Saturday 24th June
Sunday 25th June
£8.00
Occasional open day at the under-restoration Victorian steam pumping station.
10:30am to 4pm
Abbey Wood
Over 500 vintage/classic cars/motor bikes/ scooter/military vehicles/vintage bicycle on display.
11am to 4pm
Hampton
Free
An exhibition of works and proposals by the first graduating students of the London School of Architecture.
12pm to 6pm
Strand
A unique opportunity to explore one of the best known garden suburbs in England.
12pm to 5:30pm
A rare opportunity to explore this tiny jewel of secret London, a 1719 Huguenot merchant's house.
2pm to 6pm
Whitechapel
A talk on the 20 year anniversary of the worst collision in the history of spaceflight.
2pm to 4:30pm
Southwark
£5.00
Fairly rare chance to go inside a private garden within Regents Park.
2:30pm to 5:30pm
Camden
A a series of scything workshops, talks, communal picnics culminating in a scything competition.
All Day
Leyton
More London events on Sunday 25th June
Monday 26th June
A talk on the history of wireless technology, how special interests and regulators frequently hamstrung innovations from FM radio to cable TV to cellphones.
Starts at 6:30pm
Pimlico
Nicholas Parsons will appear at China Exchange as part of the Prudential Series.
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Soho
£12.00
Do video games have the solutions to some of our most complex scientific problems?
Starts at 7pm
Barbican
More London events on Monday 26th June
Tuesday 27th June
A talk aimed at academics, about the 800th anniversary of the Charter of the Forest.
6pm to 7pm
Richmond
An event where we ask enthusiasts, scientists, miscellaneous experts* and comedians to talk about whatever they want.
7:30pm to 10:30pm
Bethnal Green
More London events on Tuesday 27th June
Wednesday 28th June
Annual open day to see the local allotment plots.
All Day
Walthamstow
This talk will seek to explore how machine learning is currently being used, how it may be used in the future and what the legal implications could be
12:30pm to 1:30pm
Holborn
£15.00
An afternoon exploring recent responses to the complex and controversial American author of Moby-Dick
2pm to 5:30pm
Camden
Free
A drinks reception with Simon Henley to celebrate the launch of the new publication; Redefining Brutalism.
Starts at 6:30pm
Russell Square
Academy award winner Lord Fellowes is a British actor, producer, novelist, and screenwriter best known currently for creating and producing Downton Abbey.
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Soho
More London events on Wednesday 28th June
Thursday 29th June
Free
Edward Llewellyn, newly installed UK Ambassador in Paris and former Chief of Staff for David Cameron, will reflect on Anglo-French relations.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
This talk explores the background of the two economists, Walter Newlyn and Bill Phillips and how they built their famous hydraulic model of the economy.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
Shot and screened in 1916, The Battle of the Somme was the first feature length documentary about the First War to be filmed at the Front and depicts the preparation and first days of the Somme Campaign.
7pm to 9pm
Walthamstow
Come and ask the Mayor about his plans for your city at the State of London Debate.
7pm to 9pm
Greenwich
New Scientist culture editor Simon Ings talks to Matt Smith, editor-in-chief of 2000 AD, space-flight expert Piers Bizony, author of The Making of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey
Starts at 7:30pm
Barbican
More London events on Thursday 29th June
Friday 30th June
A weekend of events, tours and talks, all around the area's art galleries.
All Day
Kathrin Pieren brings to life the experiences of Jewish refugees who joined the British Army during the Second World War.
Starts at 11:30am
Chelsea
£17.50
Adults only late nights at London Zoo each Friday in June.
Starts at 6pm
Camden
An after dark behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum's zoology spirit collection.
Starts at 6:30pm
South Kensington
A talk by the artist who created the work for the revamped Tottenham Court Road tube station.
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Picadilly
A panel debate that brings together the leading thinkers in robotics, economics and politics.
7pm to 8:30pm
South Kensington
