The ianVisits guide to August's unusual events, tours, lectures and exhibitions happening around London.
Thursday 1st August
Monthly late night opening at the modernist HQ of the ancient Royal College Of Physicians.
5:30pm to 8pm
Camden
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Friday 2nd August
This talk will present the team who designed and built Agar Grove Phase 1a, this year’s Overall Winner of the New London Awards 2019.
8:30am to 9:30am
The Archbishop's garden is open for a few hours each month between April and September.
12pm to 3pm
Southwark
Explore American nuclear testing and protest, and the meanings of the Mayflower, 1620-2020
12:30pm to 1:30pm
Camden
Ruth Selman, Principal Early Modern Records Specialist, will explore the wills left by musical luminaries including Henry Purcell and George Frideric Handel, between the 16th and 18th centuries.
2pm to 3:30pm
Richmond
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Saturday 3rd August
A delightful old barn now packed full of "clutter" that's oddly enjoyable to visit.
10:30am to 4pm
Upminster
Come along and meet the firefighters at our open day.
11am to 3pm
Bethnal Green
This guided walk will tell the story of these lost and often long-forgotten graveyards, taking in a circular route around Southwark and finishing up back at Southwark Cathedral.
1pm to 2:30pm
Southwark
Talk by Carmine Pariante on connecting to modern day mechanisms of disease, and understanding the advances being made today.
2pm to 3pm
Beckenham
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 4th August
A monthly opening of the Victorian museum of industrial testing equipment.
11am to 5pm
Southwark
Occasional open day at the heritage windmill in Croydon.
12pm to 5pm
Croydon
Monthly(ish) open days at 250 acres of the estate originally laid out by Capability Brown.
1pm to 5pm
Reigate
More London events on Sunday 4th August
Monday 5th August
In this talk, Marshall will talk through his experiences of the Flat Earth movement, take a look at the leaders and some of their reasoning, and report back from the weekend he spent at the UK’s first ever Flat Earth convention.
Starts at 7:30pm
Camden
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Tuesday 6th August
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Tuesday 6th August
Wednesday 7th August
Author Chris Naunton describes the quest for the great ‘missing’ tombs – those we know existed, but which have not yet been identified
Starts at 6:30pm
Hampstead
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Thursday 8th August
This Thursday, at around 11:35am marks the 50th anniversary of the famous photo session of the Beetles walking over the zebra crossing.
Starts at 11:35am
St John's Wood
Four late night openings of the Cathedral for visitors.
5pm to 6pm
City of London
£3.00
This talk will explore folkloric plant concepts, a tale or two will be told & there may well be some singing.
8pm to 10pm
Southwark
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Friday 9th August
This talk by Overseas Records Specialist Dr Juliette Desplat will look beyond hero worship, at lesser known aspects of Lawrence’s war – and some of his failures.
2pm to 3:30pm
Richmond
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Saturday 10th August
£16.00
See a collection of steam traction engines big and small on display and moving around North Weald station. Steam and Diesel train services too
All Day
Monthly opening of the only surviving windmill in inner London.
10am to 4pm
Brixton
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Sunday 11th August
£16.00
See a collection of steam traction engines big and small on display and moving around North Weald station. Steam and Diesel train services too
All Day
Monthly opening of the only surviving windmill in inner London.
10am to 4pm
Brixton
£16.00
Capturing the atmosphere of a Brooklands race day, the new style Brooklands Relived sees us take a step back in time to the heyday of the track.
11am to 5pm
Weybridge
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Monday 12th August
The Perseid meteor shower is one of the brightest and most active meteor showers in the year.
tba
Annual inspection of a mausoleum in Sutton as part of an ancient bequest.
1pm to 2pm
Sutton
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Tuesday 13th August
The Perseid meteor shower is one of the brightest and most active meteor showers in the year.
tba
Lisa Drewe, author of Islandeering, will take us on a unique adventure around the outer edge of the UK's 50 most spectacular islands.
7pm to 8:15pm
Soho
£15.00
Speakers include Jacqueline Riding, historian for Mike Leigh’s film Peterloo, and George Hay, records specialist at The National Archives.
7:30pm to 9pm
Richmond
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Wednesday 14th August
Join Olivia Squire and India Dowley of Suitcase Magazine as they share their expertise in travel writing through an editorial lens.
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Southwark
Paul Wood (author of the bestselling London’s Street Trees) takes us on six forest trails that lead from London’s edgelands to the centre.
Starts at 6:30pm
Hampstead
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Thursday 15th August
Four late night openings of the Cathedral for visitors.
5pm to 6pm
City of London
A chance to go into the normally private gardens in the medieval monastery by the Barbican
5:30pm to 8:30pm
Clerkenwell
£13.00
Do you know the connection between Polari and Southbank Centre? Or how 6,000 people celebrated the Marriage Act here in 2014?
6pm to 7pm
Southwark
William and Jonathan will be discussing all things shooting – from what to take with you on your first shoot and the etiquette and history of the sport to what food best to keep you fuelled throughout the day.
6:30pm to 8:30pm
New Oxford Street
A talk by the author on a book about the UK's lighthouses
Starts at 6:30pm
Hampstead
Join Professor Curry as she demonstrates the fascinating insights revealed by a project, now on the verge of completion, to create an online calendar of the rolls.
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Richmond
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Friday 16th August
Dagmar Hovestädt – Head of Press at the Stasi Records Archive – explores this controversial corner of history and just how the Stasi Archive manages its wealth of top secret material never meant for public eyes.
2pm to 3:30pm
Richmond
£22.15
A range of at least 15 different rums to taste on board the replica Golden Hinde ship.
6:30pm to 9pm
Southwark
Dani Trew will speak about her role as Assistant Curator in the Furniture, Textiles and Fashion Department at the V&A, with particular responsibility for the Fashion Gallery.
6:30pm to 8pm
South Kensington
Join us in The Regent’s Park for a moth talk and trapping session with expert Tim Freed.
Starts at 8:45pm
Camden
More London events on Friday 16th August
Saturday 17th August
Join us in The Regent’s Park for a moth talk and trapping session with expert Tim Freed.
10am to 12pm
Camden
A delightful old barn now packed full of "clutter" that's oddly enjoyable to visit.
10:30am to 4pm
Upminster
Waterloo Classics is a monthly classic car show/meet in central London.
12pm to 4pm
Southwark
More London events on Saturday 17th August
Sunday 18th August
Monthly tours of the City of London Cemetery & Crematorium
Starts at 10am
Manor Park
Open day at one of the largest surviving historic estates in Surrey.
1pm to 5pm
A note that a steam train will leave King's Cross station in the morning, returning in the evening.
4pm to 5pm
More London events on Sunday 18th August
Monday 19th August
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Monday 19th August
Tuesday 20th August
Do you know the name of the – UK's highest mountain? Or in what year the euro was introduced as legal l tender? Pit your wits against the toughest travel quiz to date.
6pm to 7:30pm
Soho
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Wednesday 21st August
How close are we to swapping our GPs for AI's? Join our panel discussion that looks at the ethics of AI-driven healthcare.
Starts at 7:45pm
Barbican
Let’s do the Time Warp again at an outdoor screening of the cult musical film starring Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon.
Starts at 8:30pm
Southwark
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Thursday 22nd August
Four late night openings of the Cathedral for visitors.
5pm to 6pm
City of London
A screening, marking the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, of the BBC drama-documentary about the run-up to the night of queer protest.
Starts at 6:30pm
Barbican
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Friday 23rd August
£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
More London events on Friday 23rd August
Saturday 24th August
The Festival offers fun to all who love spending time by the water and over 100 boats are expected to attend the event.
10am to 6pm
Waltham Abbey
Free
Rummage through a selection of salvaged treasures from over 30 handpicked vintage traders.
11am to 6pm
Stoke Newington
Free
The free day out will feature all the fun and games usually found back in the 19th century – including tightrope walkers, strong men and stilt walkers.
2pm to 7pm
Kennington
More London events on Saturday 24th August
Sunday 25th August
A note that the famous Flying Scotsman steam train will be passing through West London.
All Day
The Festival offers fun to all who love spending time by the water and over 100 boats are expected to attend the event.
10am to 6pm
Waltham Abbey
A monthly open day at a quirky transport museum housed in an old water pumping building.
10am to 4pm
Enfield Town
An opportunity to have a look at the buildings and engines, to take in the exhibition and learn something of the Victorian sewer system.
10:30am to 4pm
Abbey Wood
Free
Rummage through a selection of salvaged treasures from over 30 handpicked vintage traders.
11am to 6pm
Stoke Newington
£10.50
A rare opportunity to visit the Claremont's island by boat, full of mysterious hideaways and historical importance.
11am to 4pm
Esher
Monthly open day at a site of an important railway wildlife reserve.
1pm to 5pm
Forest Hill
Discover the history of the building and climb the 135 stairs for the best view of Hackney.
2pm to 4:30pm
Hackney
More London events on Sunday 25th August
Monday 26th August
The Festival offers fun to all who love spending time by the water and over 100 boats are expected to attend the event.
10am to 3pm
Waltham Abbey
Over 150 stalls, children's activities, local craft, interactive demonstrations, farmers' market, etc.
10:30am to 8pm
Carshalton
Semi-regular days where they fire up a Victorian steam engine.
12:30pm to 4:30pm
South Tottenham
£5.00
17th Century Renaissance walled gardens on the outskirts of Harefield Village, next to the beautiful medieval church of St Mary's and Anzac war cemetery.
2pm to 5pm
Denham
More London events on Monday 26th August
Tuesday 27th August
Visit three beautiful courtrooms and explore the building's extensive artwork collection.
9:30am to 4:30pm
Pimlico
£10.00
To celebrate Prince Albert’s 200th birthday at the end of August, join a tour of the Albert Memorial which will take you beyond the railings.
Starts at 10:30am
Paddington
More London events on Tuesday 27th August
Wednesday 28th August
Visit three beautiful courtrooms and explore the building's extensive artwork collection.
9:30am to 4:30pm
Pimlico
The celebrated panel of gardening experts tackle questions put to them by local gardening enthusiasts
5:30pm to 8:30pm
Camden
At the Science Museum’s August Lates, visitors can catch a unique glimpse into the AI-driven tech that could shape the habits, behaviour and society of tomorrow.
6:45pm to 10pm
South Kensington
A panel of authors and journalists come together to discuss the disturbing re-emergence of scientific research into racial differences.
7:30pm to 9pm
South Kensington
An illustrated talk by John Phillips exploring the life of John, Lord Lumley, a remarkable and largely forgotten Elizabethan.
7:30pm to 8:30pm
Cheam
More London events on Wednesday 28th August
Thursday 29th August
Four late night openings of the Cathedral for visitors.
5pm to 6pm
City of London
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Friday 30th August
Late night opening at the Natural History Museum, with events and tours.
6pm to 10pm
South Kensington
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Saturday 31st August
Visit the c.1397 Grade 2 listed ‘threshing’ barn, over 100ft x 40ft in size, with a fine crownpost roof.
10:45am to 1pm
Rickmansworth
Each open day will be individual to the station, but there will be a fire engine on display for everyone to have a good look at, and may be even get in!
11am to 4pm
Barkingside
Free
Screening of 1986 BBC documentary ‘The Beyond Within’ which explores the mystical drug, LSD.
2pm to 3pm
Beckenham
