The ianVisits guide to August's unusual events, tours, lectures and exhibitions happening around London.
Wednesday 1st August
£5.00
In this talk, the project team will ask the fundamental question, ‘what is a playhouse?’, and explore surviving documents that tell us what we know about these spaces.
2pm to 3pm
Richmond
Join George Hoyle in Southwark Cathedral and learn about brewing, it’s history in Southwark, and the links with the Cathedral.
7pm to 8pm
Southwark
Alternative religions author Dr David V Barrett looks at prophecies of the end of the world and at how prophets cover their embarrassment when nothing happens... again.
Starts at 7:30pm
Greenwich
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Thursday 2nd August
How, when, and where did our ancestors marry, and what happened if those marriages didn’t work out?
2pm to 3pm
Richmond
Discover truly remarkable – but surprisingly little known – collections, featuring everything from artworks to scarce anatomical preparations and ext
5pm to 8pm
Camden
An evening exploring one of the world’s most ambitious scientific and engineering projects – CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC).
Starts at 6:30pm
Euston
£10.00
This hour and a half tour takes place at dusk, as London's bats are coming out to play.
8:45pm to 10:15pm
Paddington
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Friday 3rd August
This talk will hear from the team who designed and built London Bridge Station, this years overall winner of the New London Awards 2018.
8:30am to 9:30am
Euston
Engineering Open House Day aims to help young people and their parents understand what it’s like to work as an engineer by giving behind-the-scenes access to a wide variety of organisations to demonstrate how creative and innovative these careers can be
10am to 3:30pm
Strand
Tim Newark discusses the history of military camouflage, with particular reference to the First World War.
11:30am to 12:30pm
Chelsea
The large private garden of the Archbishop of Canterbury is open once a month in the summer.
12pm to 3pm
Southwark
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Saturday 4th August
Classic local fete taking place in Docklands on the city farm's large fields.
10am to 4pm
Poplar
A wondrous old barn now filled with random heritage clutter -- go for the atmosphere than the objects themselves.
10:30am to 4pm
Upminster
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
Architect Geoff Shearcroft hosts a conversation which explores the legacy of postmodernism in contemporary architecture.
3pm to 4pm
Holborn
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Sunday 5th August
Classic local fete taking place in Docklands on the city farm's large fields.
10am to 4pm
Poplar
A monthly opening of the Victorian museum of industrial testing equipment.
11am to 5pm
Southwark
Step back in history and visit the terminus building of London's original international airport - in Croydon.
11am to 4pm
Croydon
Occasional open days at Capability Brown's Gatton Park landscaped 600 acres.
1pm to 5pm
Reigate
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Monday 6th August
Learn about All Saints, the Parish Church of Fulham, and its fascinating connections with Fulham Palace.
2pm to 3pm
Fulham
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Tuesday 7th August
This short talk explores eighteenth and nineteenth century infirmary and dietary records, providing insights into the challenges faced every day.
2pm to 3pm
Clerkenwell
A talk about the suffragettes sent to Holloway Prison.
6:30pm to 7:45pm
Clerkenwell
Mars by 1980 is a tale of the mavericks and future dreamers, malfunctioning devices and sonic mayhem that launched the electronic music revolution.
7pm to 8pm
Soho
More London events on Tuesday 7th August
Wednesday 8th August
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
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Thursday 9th August
Moor Park Mansion is a Grade I listed Palladian mansion set within over 300 hundred acres in Hertfordshire.
Starts at 10am
Rickmansworth
Come learn about how to find graffiti and what sort of stories they could be telling.
Starts at 8pm
Southwark
More London events on Thursday 9th August
Friday 10th August
Join Dr Peter Johnston to discover how the First World War transformed the British Army beyond all recognition.
11:30am to 12:30pm
Chelsea
£5.00
A late night event focussing on our only flying mammal – the bat.
7:30pm to 9:30pm
Forest Hill
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Saturday 11th August
Free
London's lost buildings – from coaching inns and horse markets to riverside mansions and gin palaces – are the focus of a this exhibition.
9:30am to 4:45pm
Clerkenwell
Tours of the the only surviving windmill in inner London
1pm to 2pm
Brixton
More London events on Saturday 11th August
Sunday 12th August
The Perseid meteor shower is one of the brightest and most active meteor showers in the year.
3am to 5am
Lost since the 1960s, the correct location for William Blake’s grave has been rediscovered, and there will be a rededication ceremony.
Starts at 3pm
Moorgate
More London events on Sunday 12th August
Monday 13th August
The Perseid meteor shower is one of the brightest and most active meteor showers in the year.
3am to 5am
Free
Hear from Corinne Pearlman, Creative Director of Myriad Editions, speaking about their latest publication, ‘The Inking Woman’, celebrating 250 years of the work of women cartoonists in Britain.
7pm to 9:15pm
Camden
£17.00
The film director and screenwriter Mike Leigh will give a talk about his career.
Starts at 7:45pm
Stoke Newington
More London events on Monday 13th August
Tuesday 14th August
£12.00
Explore the brand new telescope facility at the Royal Observatory and see some of the spectacular images taken.
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Greenwich
More London events on Tuesday 14th August
Wednesday 15th August
£10.30
This walk will also give you a chance to see remains on the foreshore and our Foreshore Recording and Observation Group at work.
11am to 1pm
Greenwich
This summer Southwark Cathedral would like to invite all amateur and professional photographers to spend an evening taking photos of the Cathedral lit by candlelight.
7pm to 9pm
Southwark
More London events on Wednesday 15th August
Thursday 16th August
Come visit the Great Equatorial Telescope in the daytime to find out more about this amazing 1893 Victorian instrument
Starts at 12am
Greenwich
Sign and lettering expo featuring an exhibition, live demonstrations, screenings and tours.
11am to 6pm
Southwark
12pm to 4pm
Barbican
The impact epidemics have continues well beyond the crisis itself: social, psychological and political.
5:30pm to 7:30pm
Harley Street
Explore the amazing world of rum and improve your rum knowledge with the help of experts at the event.
6:30pm to 9pm
Southwark
An expert horologist and historian of automata, Michael is known as the clockwork guru as a result of his award-winning mechanics.
Starts at 7pm
Pinner
Discover the hidden secrets of the intriguing Kew Palace on an out-of-hours tour.
7pm to 9pm
Richmond
£10.00
This hour and a half tour takes place at dusk, as London's bats are coming out to play.
8pm to 9:30pm
Paddington
More London events on Thursday 16th August
Friday 17th August
Sign and lettering expo featuring an exhibition, live demonstrations, screenings and tours.
11am to 6pm
Southwark
Join historian Philip Walker to explore the Arab Revolt of 1916-18.
11:30am to 12:30pm
Chelsea
£5.50
Join Lee Valley Regional Park staff and the Essex Bat Group for an evening dedicated to these fascinating animals.
7:30pm to 10pm
Waltham Abbey
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Saturday 18th August
A note that the very distinctive A4 class steam locomotive will be hauling a train out of Paddington in the morning, and returning in the evening.
All Day
£27.52
A hands-on workshop where you will learn how to turn your outdoor space into a botanical cocktail garden.
9am to 12pm
Whitechapel
Sign and lettering expo featuring an exhibition, live demonstrations, screenings and tours.
11am to 6pm
Southwark
More London events on Saturday 18th August
Sunday 19th August
The cemetery runs guided history and heritage walks every month throughout the summer.
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Sign and lettering expo featuring an exhibition, live demonstrations, screenings and tours.
11am to 4pm
Southwark
More London events on Sunday 19th August
Monday 20th August
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
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Tuesday 21st August
How three delicate glass springs revealed the global extension of nineteenth century capitalism through the repeal of the Corn Laws.
1pm to 2pm
Picadilly
Free
A one-night only exhibition of images exploring the state of undress.
6pm to 9pm
Hackney
Sir Peter Crane will give an overview of the evolution of flowers in the age of the dinosaurs and Louise Yates will talk about how we are bringing this story to life.
7:30pm to 9:30pm
Upper Norwood
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Wednesday 22nd August
Free
Discover fascinating stories of the brewing, selling and drinking of beer in London.
2pm to 3pm
Clerkenwell
More London events on Wednesday 22nd August
Thursday 23rd August
£12.00
Explore the brand new telescope facility at the Royal Observatory and see some of the spectacular images taken.
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Greenwich
This talk will assess the role played by Lord Fairfax, the commander-in-chief of the New Model Army, in securing victory for Parliament in the South-East of England during the Second Civil War.
2pm to 3pm
Richmond
In this talk Adam Tooze will talk about his new book, Crashed: How a Decade of Financial Crises Changed the World.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
£12.00
This talk features the stories of three surprising historic operations on the chest, kidneys and ovaries from the pre-antiseptic age
Starts at 7pm
Southwark
Join Nathen Amin, author of The House of Beaufort, to find out more about this incredible chapter of England’s tumultuous history.
7pm to 8:30pm
Southwark
More London events on Thursday 23rd August
Friday 24th August
Andrew Breer will discuss the development of British artillery in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
11:30am to 12:30pm
Chelsea
More London events on Friday 24th August
Saturday 25th August
£25.50
Each day features a 5 hour airshow, 2 hours of motoring demonstrations, car club displays and a Military Zone
9am to 9pm
Weybridge
Each open day will be individual to the station, but there will a fire engine on display for everyone to have a good look at, and may be even get in.
Starts at 1pm
Whitechapel
Free
A two day festival to mark the 150th anniversary of Smithfield Markets.
6pm to 7pm
Barbican
More London events on Saturday 25th August
Sunday 26th August
£25.50
Each day features a 5 hour airshow, 2 hours of motoring demonstrations, car club displays and a Military Zone
9am to 9pm
Weybridge
Are you a big Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings fan? Maybe you like the idea of owning your own hand carved walking stick or staff?
9am to 4pm
Broxbourne
Take a Routemaster bus for a tour around the capital, following in the footsteps of some of the major players in the suffrage movement.
10am to 1:30pm
Barbican
£5.00
A two-day celebration of the food and drink produced in and around Enfield and the people that make it.
11am to 5pm
Enfield Town
Free
A two day festival to mark the 150th anniversary of Smithfield Markets.
6pm to 7pm
Barbican
More London events on Sunday 26th August
Monday 27th August
£5.00
A two-day celebration of the food and drink produced in and around Enfield and the people that make it.
11am to 5pm
Enfield Town
Allotment tours, food for sale, honey, and perennial flowers.
1:30pm to 5pm
Finchley
More London events on Monday 27th August
Tuesday 28th August
Free copies of the Mr Men books will be handed out to encourage more reading opportunities for children of all backgrounds.
Starts at 10am
Southwark
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Wednesday 29th August
Part of The Wiener Library’s London 1938 exhibition series.
6:30pm to 8pm
Russell Square
Meet unicyclists, magicians, clowns, stilt walkers and mime artists as you go behind the scenes to uncover the technical skill and scientific know-how that creates the thrill of a day at the circus.
6:45pm to 10pm
South Kensington
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Thursday 30th August
A comic book themed late opening, featuring live artist demos, workshops and a prize for the best dressed.
6pm to 9pm
Camden
Dr Barbara Bond will draw on The National Archives’ collection revealing the methods used to get maps to prisoners, the human stories behind these maps and the significance of this collection on historical military mapping.
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Richmond
A suitably 18th-century evening sampling a range of 6 premium gins.
Starts at 7pm
Holborn
More London events on Thursday 30th August
Friday 31st August
Author Gavin Mortimer discusses the history of the Special Boat Squadron.
11:30am to 12:30pm
Chelsea
£8.00
A rare chance to go for a swim in the River Thames.
Starts at 6pm
Hammersmith
Black and Asian histories are a vital part of Britain’s fabric, and they will be celebrated in this late opening of the V&A.
6:30pm to 10pm
South Kensington
George Hoyle who is a folk performer, storyteller & music promoter will through song and storytelling bring to life these urban legends of Thames rituals, sacred rites, magic, myths and votive offerings to Father Thames.
7pm to 8:30pm
Southwark
