The ianVisits guide to November's unusual events, tours, lectures and exhibitions happening around London.
Wednesday 1st November
A discussion about Jasanoff's new book The Dawn Watch: Joseph Conrad in a Global World, and how Conrad's work resonates today.
7pm to 8:45pm
South Kensington
Writer and social historian Rachel Lichtenstein discusses the story of London’s oldest functioning Ashkenazi synagogue, situated in the heart of the former Jewish East End.
Starts at 7pm
City of London
More London events on Wednesday 1st November
Thursday 2nd November
In this lecture Simon Elliott will narrate a day in the life of a wide variety of Roman Londoners in the mid 2nd century AD when the city was at its height during the Roman occupation.
6pm to 8pm
City of London
A lecture exploring the impact of Charles Le Brun – King Louis XIV on mural painters in Britain. Held in the Painted Hall.
6:30pm to 8pm
Greenwich
Discover the destruction of the Classical world revealed by historian Catherine Nixey.
7pm to 8:30pm
Southwark
More London events on Thursday 2nd November
Friday 3rd November
Come and enjoy an evening at The National Archives with historian, broadcaster and award-winning academic Dr Suzannah Lipscomb, as she explores one of the fundamental turning points of the 16th century Reformation
6pm to 8pm
Richmond
More London events on Friday 3rd November
Saturday 4th November
A transport fair - basically lots of transport books & collectables for sale.
10am to 4pm
Elstree
The Regent Street Motor Show is the largest free-to-view motor show in the UK.
10:30am to 4pm
Regent Street
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
What is behind recent controversies around wearing or not wearing the symbol? And how have the politics of the poppy evolved?
Starts at 3pm
Southwark
Free
A walk where you will be accompanied by an array of LED drummers, poi artists, jugglers and stilt walkers.
5:30pm to 8pm
Olympic Park
More London events on Saturday 4th November
Sunday 5th November
Step back in history and visit the terminus building of London's original international airport - in Croydon.
11am to 4pm
Croydon
More London events on Sunday 5th November
Monday 6th November
£3.00
Save the Honeybee stories are never far from the news, but is the species really under threat?
Starts at 7:30pm
Camden
More London events on Monday 6th November
Tuesday 7th November
Katherine Connelly will examine Pankhurst’s role at the forefront of significant developments in the history of radical politics.
2pm to 3pm
Richmond
A free evening of talks, workshops, live drawing, film and music to celebrate RIBA’s two latest exhibitions.
6pm to 10pm
Regent Street
Centre of the Cell’s Big Question Lecture series gives you a chance to hear biology experts discuss their work and question them about it.
6pm to 7:30pm
Whitechapel
Free
In this lecture, Dr Gilly Carr will explore the campaign by former political prisoner Frank Falla to obtain compensation for Nazi persecution.
6:30pm to 8pm
Russell Square
See 12 people dressed as they would like to be buried or burnt after death, discussing their own relationship with the world of death professionally and personally
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Barbican
Aliens are found when the London Underground is being extended -- with dire consequences.
Starts at 8:45pm
Soho
More London events on Tuesday 7th November
Wednesday 8th November
A notice that the emergency services will be conducting two exercises between Lambeth Bridge and Millbank Pier.
9:25am to 9:50am
Pimlico
A lecture about the overthrow of the idea of London as a "New Troy" and its origins as Roman.
2pm to 3pm
City of London
A talk about how the relationship between Number 10 and the Security Services evolved, using records from The National Archives’ collection.
6:30pm to 8pm
Richmond
There were two revolutions in Russia in 1917, hear about the second one.
Starts at 7pm
City of London
More London events on Wednesday 8th November
Thursday 9th November
Antonio Verrio’s arrival in England in 1672 brought shock waves that would transform British mural painting. The second of our autumn lecture series, held in the Painted Hall.
6:30pm to 8pm
Greenwich
Helen will be talking about interviewing lecturers including David Attenborough and Richard Dawkins, accessing the RI's amazing archives and finding out about the most unusual creatures.
6:30pm to 7:45pm
Covent Garden
Gemma Smith, Education Manager, will explore how one of Franklin’s most iconic inventions, the Lightning Rod.
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Trafalgar Square
The Speaker of the House of Commons in conversation with Professor of Politics at QMUL.
6:30pm to 8pm
Whitechapel
This special presentation, with live demonstrations, tells the whole story from a unique perspective.
7:30pm to 9pm
Holborn
More London events on Thursday 9th November
Friday 10th November
Free
A weekend of performances, talks, screenings and workshops to coincide with the Opera exhibition.
All Day
South Kensington
Join historian Peter Doyle to discover the geology of trench warfare in the First World War.
Starts at 11:30am
Chelsea
Professor Emma Smith revisits the fascinating question of Shakespeare’s own religious allegiances in the doctrinal ferment of post-Reformation England.
7pm to 8:30pm
Southwark
Annual commemoration and wreath laying in Victoria Station, where the coffin of the Unknown Warrior rested before being laid in Westminster Abbey.
Starts at 8pm
Victoria
More London events on Friday 10th November
Saturday 11th November
Massive annual parade through the streets of the City of London to welcome the new Lord Mayor.
All Day
Free
A weekend of performances, talks, screenings and workshops to coincide with the Opera exhibition.
All Day
South Kensington
On the day of the Lord Mayor's Show, there is free entry into the Cathedral.
Starts at 11am
City of London
These tours have been created to mark the 100th anniversary of the Johnston typeface.
Starts at 11am
Acton
There will be a flypast over the City of London in the morning, as part of the Lord Mayor's Show.
11:10am to 11:20am
City of London
£8.00
Multi-arts remembrance event in the iconic Crystal Palace Subway
2pm to 4pm
Upper Norwood
More London events on Saturday 11th November
Sunday 12th November
Free
A weekend of performances, talks, screenings and workshops to coincide with the Opera exhibition.
All Day
South Kensington
More London events on Sunday 12th November
Monday 13th November
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Monday 13th November
Tuesday 14th November
Dr. Louise Willmot examines the activities and motives of those local people who sought to protect the victims, risking their own lives to do so.
6:30pm to 8pm
Russell Square
More London events on Tuesday 14th November
Wednesday 15th November
Join the Royal College of Physicians for a free evening event devoted to the remarkable Sir Thomas Browne. Take a final opportunity for a late view of the acclaimed exhibition, and hear a talk on the 17th century polymath by Dr Kevin Killeen.
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Camden
This talk will range from war memorials to the most intimate of family burial places, and reveal some work of great power and poignant beauty.
Starts at 6:30pm
Clerkenwell
A talk that explores the science behind Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Is there any science fact behind the science fiction?
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Barbican
More London events on Wednesday 15th November
Thursday 16th November
Free
Stuart Harvey continues with another of his illustrated talks this time visiting the origins of the Science and Arts park in SW7 and a few of the people associated with this area,
2pm to 3pm
City of London
Talk by author and Guardian contributor David Bolchover on Holocaust survivor and Benfica coach Bela Guttmann.
6:30pm to 8pm
Russell Square
£10.00
An evening of talks marking the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution.
6:30pm to 9pm
Bethnal Green
Horatio Clare talks about his new book Icebreaker: A Voyage Far North.
6:30pm to 7:45pm
Covent Garden
John Bennett introduces us to some of the villains, anti-heroes and peculiar criminal characters associated with this unique part of the Capital across several centuries.
7:45pm to 9:30pm
Whitechapel
More London events on Thursday 16th November
Friday 17th November
Changing demands from international visitors and a potential increase in domestic ‘staycations’ are forcing London’s hotel sector to respond to future-proof its supply.
8:30am to 9:30am
Euston
Experience the Painted Hall after dark with live music, art and performance.
7pm to 10pm
Greenwich
More London events on Friday 17th November
Saturday 18th November
A note that a steam train will be looping around South London today - something to watch from the sidelines.
All Day
Southwark Cathedral presents a day of talks about London, looking at its stories, old and new.
10am to 5pm
Southwark
As the year darken the London Fortean Society once again explores the folklore, ghosts and curses of the British Isles with the one-day symposium The Haunted Landscape 2017.
10am to 5pm
Holborn
Free
Get advice about your films, or a view of family history and past life in London, inc a recently discovered 8mm home movie featuring The Beatles
11am to 4pm
Kennington
A monthly classic car show/meet in central London.
12pm to 4pm
Southwark
Free
The team from the Centre for the Study of the Senses will guide you through the world of sensory experience with hands-on demonstrations.
2pm to 5:30pm
Euston
More London events on Saturday 18th November
Sunday 19th November
Free
Hamleys annual parade will give families a chance to see their favourite toy characters in the Parade.
11am to 4:30pm
Regent Street
More London events on Sunday 19th November
Monday 20th November
Join a discussion on fashion, activism and identity. Learn how people used fashion to speak out in politics.
6:15pm to 7:45pm
Kensington
This event brings the wonders of the museum into the comfort of the pub.
7pm to 9pm
New Cross
More London events on Monday 20th November
Tuesday 21st November
Visit the beautifully preserved 1924 LB5 Chocolate Express and discover its intriguing past in service for a pirate bus operator,
Starts at 12am
Covent Garden
This talk will be an insider’s view of the DLR’s signalling system covering its day to day operational challenges.
7:15pm to 9:30pm
Hammersmith
This month we’ll be learning about the Japafication of food, why mobiles have changed everything but the movies, and LGBTQ etymology.
7:30pm to 5pm
Bethnal Green
More London events on Tuesday 21st November
Wednesday 22nd November
Rediscover how people in the early modern era understood science.
4:30pm to 6pm
Camden
This multimedia event looks at the many ways in which the Graeco-Egyptian past has been recovered.
5:30pm to 7:30pm
Euston
A free evening of fun science....and this time our theme is all about Wellbeing.
5:30pm to 10pm
Camden
A tasting of three rare, classic cocktails from 19th century America that Dickens enjoyed on his visits
Starts at 6pm
Clerkenwell
The lecture will explore what we know (and don’t know) about sexual violence from a global perspective.
6pm to 7pm
Barbican
Projects will be presented by their architect and other key collaborators, sharing design development and construction experiences to create fine examples of contemporary concrete architecture.
6:30pm to 8:45pm
Euston
A talk by Jeremy Hunter, detailing his journey to one of the most secretive countries in the world, North Korea.
6:30pm to 8pm
Soho North
Tom Holland explores the case of Piltdown Man, one of history’s greatest hoaxes.
7pm to 8:30pm
Euston
A panel of leading journalists, filmmakers and academics will discuss how conflicts and acts of terror have affected how media is produced.
Starts at 7pm
Southwark
More London events on Wednesday 22nd November
Thursday 23rd November
One day display of items from the Sainsbury's archive.
11am to 4pm
Poplar
Who were the first special correspondents and artists and what made them ‘special’?
6pm to 8pm
Camden
Martin Sugarman and Stephanie Maltman will be discussing the challenges they faced and telling stories, including one about the only George Cross won in the London Fire Brigade by a Jewish man.
6pm to 8pm
City of London
This is the never-before-told story of the world’s most comprehensive mapping endeavour and, arguably, the world’s most intriguing maps.
6:30pm to 7:45pm
Covent Garden
Introduction and screening of The Abominable Dr Phibes (1971).
Starts at 7pm
Southwark
Dr Bettany Hughes will deliver this year's Candida Lycett Green Lecture, on the city with three names - Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul
Starts at 7pm
City of London
A talk about the making of old death masks of the faces of people who have just died.
Starts at 7pm
Highgate
More London events on Thursday 23rd November
Friday 24th November
Architect Amanda Levete opens the conference with her impressive and widely acclaimed new scheme for Exhibition Road
All Day
South Kensington
The annual Scandinavian Christmas Market on a street between the Finnish and Norwegian churches.
12pm to 7pm
Rotherhithe
Flesh and Blood is the story of McGann’s family as told through seven maladies – diseases, wounds or ailments that have afflicted Stephen McGann’s relatives over the last 150 years,
6pm to 8pm
Richmond
More London events on Friday 24th November
Saturday 25th November
The annual Scandinavian Christmas Market on a street between the Finnish and Norwegian churches.
10am to 6pm
Rotherhithe
Guided tours of the London Transport museum's archive of posters and artwork.
Starts at 11am
Acton
This pop-up exhibition uses creative work to reflect on what it means to live within urban spaces affected by constant design, dereliction, and rejuvenation.
12pm to 5pm
Euston
Art Historian Suzannah Biernoff explores the artistic and medical responses to facial injury in WW1.
Starts at 2pm
Beckenham
More London events on Saturday 25th November
Sunday 26th November
The annual Scandinavian Christmas Market on a street between the Finnish and Norwegian churches.
10am to 5pm
Rotherhithe
The annual Christmas Fair at the College has become a regular one-stop Christmas shopping day.
11:30am to 4pm
Dulwich
More London events on Sunday 26th November
Monday 27th November
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Monday 27th November
Tuesday 28th November
Professor Dame Wendy Hall will discuss how to grow artificial intelligence industry in the UK, in the context of the recent Government report which she co-authored with Jérôme Pesenti.
1:30pm to 4:30pm
Camden
£5.00
Stephen Bourne will present an illustrated talk about some of the gay men who feature in his latest book, Fighting Proud – The Untold Story of the Gay Men Who Served in Two World Wars.
2pm to 3pm
Richmond
Free
In this lecture, Jonathan Bate will show how Shakespeare’s idea of the hero was shaped by the classical tradition.
6pm to 7pm
Barbican
Marking the first anniversary of the museum’s move to Kensington, hear from the designer who led the transformation project.
6:18pm to 8pm
Kensington
A panel discussion on Entrepreneurship vs Intrapreneurship and an opportunity to network with the Girls in Tech community over drinks and nibbles!
6:30pm to 9:30pm
City of London
Part of the City Conversations series, this event will discuss whether we are entering an era of passive design and environmental engineering and, if this is the case, how we should prepare for it.
6:30pm to 8pm
Euston
Explore current trends in graphic novels at home and abroad with cartoonist Tom Gauld and international comics expert Paul Gravett.
7:15pm to 8:30pm
Camden
More London events on Tuesday 28th November
Wednesday 29th November
This week marks the 50th anniversary of the first human heart transplant. This talk will celebrate that achievement and consider what we have learned over those 50 years and what is to happen in the future.
6pm to 7pm
Barbican
A talk about the Maritime Museum's collection of marine chronometers.
Starts at 6:30pm
Clerkenwell
An anniversary talk about Sir Patrick Abercrombie and plans to rebuild post-war London.
6:30pm to 9pm
Euston
£10.00
Come and explore over 900 years of history on this candlelit tour of Southwark Cathedral.
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Southwark
A celebration of India’s contribution to science, technology and mathematics at November’s Science Museum Lates,
6:45pm to 10pm
South Kensington
From driverless cars and delivery drones to apps, maps and virtual reality – will technology evolve to better suit our needs or advance faster than our human capabilities?
6:45pm to 10pm
Covent Garden
Ian and Laura will systematically and theoretically analyse the use and representation of individual body parts in Gothic fiction.
7pm to 9pm
Barbican
Who links James Bond, Sherlock Holmes, Little Britain and Godzilla?David Arnold is Britain’s leading film and TV composer. He’s the man behind the music for the hit Sherlock Holmes TV series and five classic Bond films.
7pm to 10pm
Finsbury Park
Moumita Dutta will be discussing exactly how the ISRO managed to send a probe 33.9 million miles across the solar system to Mars for less than it cost to make the film Gravity.
Starts at 7:30pm
South Kensington
More London events on Wednesday 29th November
Thursday 30th November
Historian Miranda Kaufmann tells the intriguing tales of three Africans.
6pm to 8pm
City of London
£14.00
Short talks by 10 speakers on their favourite London topics.
Starts at 6:30pm
Soho
Director of Conservation, Will Palin, will talk alongside leading experts about Greenwich's Painted Hall.
6:30pm to 8pm
Greenwich
This talk will present the disparities apparent in Garrick’s response to Shakespeare, which veered significantly between hero worship and textual butchery.
Starts at 7pm
Holborn
A talk about the trial of the spirit medium and how it lead to the repeal of the Witchcraft Act.
Starts at 7:45pm
Whitechapel
