The ianVisits guide to August's unusual events, tours, lectures and exhibitions happening around London.
Tuesday 1st August
Dr Emily Mayhew will take us through the development of medicine and injury in wartime, stretching from the First World War to the modern day.
2pm to 3pm
Richmond
An evening in the Sir John Soane's Museum with the rooms lit by candles.
6pm to 9pm
Performing his acclaimed original score to a screening of the film, pianist and composer Dmytro Morykit reveals a modern take on this classic of early cinema.
Starts at 7:30pm
Whitechapel
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Wednesday 2nd August
Professor Chris Given-Wilson (University of St Andrews) will look at allegations of a type rarely made before in England, aimed at individuals at the highest level of society: principally, the royal family.
5pm to 6:30pm
Richmond
Performing his acclaimed original score to a screening of the film, pianist and composer Dmytro Morykit reveals a modern take on this classic of early cinema.
Starts at 7:30pm
Whitechapel
More London events on Wednesday 2nd August
Thursday 3rd August
Investigate how our scientists are re-thinking research to help shape the future of human health by making your very own handmade zoetrope, a device that changes multiple still images into an animation.
2pm to 3:30pm
Camden
Performing his acclaimed original score to a screening of the film, pianist and composer Dmytro Morykit reveals a modern take on this classic of early cinema.
Starts at 7:30pm
Whitechapel
More London events on Thursday 3rd August
Friday 4th August
Monthly opening of the private gardens within Lambeth Palace in the heart of London.
12pm to 3pm
Southwark
£12.00
Fuel yourself with a delicious campfire snack whilst learning facts about the nocturnal wildlife that call Hyde Park home.
7pm to 9:30pm
Paddington
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Saturday 5th August
Come and play your part in history by restoring ancient bankside habitats at London’s last medieval water-filled moat.
10am to 3pm
Rayners Lane
£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
Chance to go inside a private garden inside Regents Park.
2pm to 5:30pm
Camden
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
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Sunday 6th August
Step back in history and visit the terminus building of London's original international airport - in Croydon.
11am to 4pm
Croydon
Chance to go inside a private garden inside Regents Park.
2pm to 5:30pm
Camden
More London events on Sunday 6th August
Monday 7th August
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Monday 7th August
Tuesday 8th August
A talk about the history of Sydenham Hill Wood & Cox's Walk at Dulwich Library in partnership with Southwark Council
2pm to 3:30pm
East Dulwich
Learn about the fascinating stories of the gay men who served in the armed forces during WW1 and WW2.
7pm to 8:30pm
Southwark
Free
A look at the bloody work of leeches from medieval times up until the modern age.
7pm to 8:15pm
Southwark
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Wednesday 9th August
Free
A pop-up exhibition curated by top archaeologists and handle objects used in the reconstruction of the Temple of Mithras.
12pm to 5pm
City of London
Professor Miri Rubin (Queen Mary University of London) will discuss a manuscript copied c.1200 – the sole source for the fateful and still intriguing events that led to the invention of the child murder accusation against Jews.
5pm to 6:30pm
Richmond
Discover the beautiful stained glass of Southwark Cathedral and the stories behind them.
6:15pm to 7:15pm
Southwark
An evening exploring artistic responses to India’s journey to independence from British rule.
Starts at 6:30pm
Chelsea
Warning from Space is a classic example of tokusatsu cinema, a special effects heavy subgenre of Japanese film.
Starts at 7:30pm
Barbican
More London events on Wednesday 9th August
Thursday 10th August
Seven late evening openings of the Cathedral, and photography will be permitted.
6:30pm to 9pm
City of London
From parks and canals to cemeteries and secret gardens, Cooke climbs across the city through the branches of its trees.
6:30pm to 7:45pm
Covent Garden
Explore the role that Holbein’s drawings play in the process of creating his portraits of the Tudor court.
Starts at 7pm
Soho
This talk is a journey through goatish manifestations by way of Snowdonia, Avebury and Crouch End.
Starts at 8pm
Southwark
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Friday 11th August
Explore the Blood Royal exhibition after hours, with live entertainment and a cash bar.
6pm to 9pm
Picadilly
£6.00
guerrilla film-maker and B film detective Andrew Leavold goes looking for the two-foot-nine James Bond of the Philippines
Starts at 7pm
Clerkenwell
Join London Wildlife Trust and learn to identify bats from their ultrasonic calls using bat detectors.
8:45pm to 10:15pm
Upper Norwood
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Saturday 12th August
Find somewhere with a view of the night sky and watch the brightest Perseid meteor showers in recent years.
3am to 5am
An exhibition that provides a glimpse of the challenges and joys of theatrical life since the days of Elizabeth I.
9:30am to 4:45pm
Clerkenwell
These tours have been created to mark the 100th anniversary of the Johnston typeface.
Starts at 11am
Acton
Watch the classic movie in the great hall of the museum.
Starts at 7:30pm
South Kensington
More London events on Saturday 12th August
Sunday 13th August
Open day at a private garden that is also home to a major plant collection.
2pm to 5:30pm
Muswell Hill
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Monday 14th August
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Monday 14th August
Tuesday 15th August
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Tuesday 15th August
Wednesday 16th August
In this talk, Dr Catherine Fletcher (Swansea University) will explore the exponential rise in the production, sale and ownership of handguns in the first half of the 16th century.
5pm to 6:30pm
Richmond
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Thursday 17th August
Lunchtime talk on the role of the London Virginia Company in the formation of Jamestown - the first permanent English settlement in the New World.
Starts at 1:15pm
Soho
An occasional evening opening of the Victorian museum of testing machines.
6pm to 8pm
Southwark
Seven late evening openings of the Cathedral, and photography will be permitted.
6:30pm to 9pm
City of London
Hear the story of the St Saviour's incident, and discover how the changing nature of medical education in the age of enlightenment led to a money making opportunity for many enterprising London grave diggers.
7pm to 8:30pm
Southwark
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Friday 18th August
Dr Cathy Coombs uncovers why the Partition of India took place and its legacy in the subcontinent today.
Starts at 11:30am
Chelsea
In this talk, Nina Hadaway explores the relationship between Hendon and the development of military aviation during the First World War.
Starts at 12:30pm
Colindale
An evening celebrating Tibetan culture, showcasing a unique series of short films made by Tibetan film-makers
Starts at 7:30pm
Hackney
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Saturday 19th August
A monthly classic car show/meet in central London.
12pm to 4pm
Southwark
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Sunday 20th August
A monthly guided history and heritage walk around the City of London's Cemetery & Crematorium.
tba
Manor Park
Free
A talk about flies, by a biologist who is passionate about how mother nature navigates the problems and limitations of life.
11am to 1pm
Holborn
Occasional open day at one of the largest surviving historic estates in Surrey.
1pm to 5pm
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Monday 21st August
More London events on Monday 21st August
Tuesday 22nd August
£6.00
An evening in celebration of British Spy Fiction’s golden era from Casino Royale to The Eagle Has Landed!
Starts at 6:30pm
Euston
More London events on Tuesday 22nd August
Wednesday 23rd August
Dr Paul Carter (The National Archives) will look at welfare in the Victorian period. Most accounts from the time were written from the standpoint of the legislators.
5pm to 6:30pm
Richmond
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Thursday 24th August
Moor Park Mansion is a Grade I listed Palladian mansion set within over 300 hundred acres in Hertfordshire.
10am to 12pm
Rickmansworth
Drink like a Roman at this tasting event exploring the history of Roman wines.
6pm to 8pm
City of London
Seven late evening openings of the Cathedral, and photography will be permitted.
6:30pm to 9pm
City of London
More London events on Thursday 24th August
Friday 25th August
Open days at the gothic inspired building opposite Parliament that is now home to the UK's Supreme Court
9:30am to 4:30pm
Pimlico
Seven late evening openings of the Cathedral, and photography will be permitted.
6:30pm to 9pm
City of London
£12.00
Discover the wild wonders of Hyde Park at night - bats, moths and a campfire!
7pm to 9:30pm
Paddington
More London events on Friday 25th August
Saturday 26th August
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
Fishmongers will battle it out in a range of competitions that will test their traditional fish and poultry craft skills.
12pm to 5pm
Poplar
More London events on Saturday 26th August
Sunday 27th August
Forming part of the Forest Hill to New Cross Gate railway cutting, this is a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation.
1pm to 5pm
Forest Hill
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Monday 28th August
Join the celebrations for the restoration of Carpenters Road Lock over August Bank Holiday weekend.
All Day
Olympic Park
Over 150 stalls, children's activities, local craft, interactive demonstrations, farmers' market, etc.
10:30am to 8pm
Carshalton
The restored pumping engine will be in steam on the day.
12:30pm to 4:15pm
South Tottenham
A guided tour of Hampstead Cemetery and hear the life stories of the long gone.
1pm to 2:30pm
Kilburn
Help clear litter from the canals, both on the pathways, but also padding in a canoe along the water.
Starts at 6:30pm
Poplar
Seven late evening openings of the Cathedral, and photography will be permitted.
6:30pm to 9pm
City of London
More London events on Monday 28th August
Tuesday 29th August
Open days at the gothic inspired building opposite Parliament that is now home to the UK's Supreme Court
9:30am to 4:30pm
Pimlico
More London events on Tuesday 29th August
Wednesday 30th August
This lecture, by Professor Sir Richard Evans (University of Cambridge), will explore the rumours of Hitler’s survival that have persisted since his suicide in the Berlin bunker on 30 April 1945.
5pm to 6:30pm
Richmond
This month the Science Museum is looking to the stars for a very special space-themed Lates in partnership with BBC Tomorrow’s World.
6:45pm to 10pm
South Kensington
More London events on Wednesday 30th August
Thursday 31st August
Seven late evening openings of the Cathedral, and photography will be permitted.
6:30pm to 9pm
City of London
