Things to do
HALF TERM: As the school holidays rumble on, take a look at our guide to things to do in half term to keep the cries of "I'm boooooored" at bay.
CLASSIC CAR SHOW: Vroom vroom. For the first time, the London Classic Car Show takes place at Olympia London, with what claims to be one of the UK's widest collections of classic cars on show. Over 500 motors are there for the ogling, plus there's a special Car Stories stage hosted bymotoring expert Max Girardo. Olympia London, from £25, book ahead,20-23 February
TREASURE CHEST: Aimed at ages 5+, The Quest For The Treasure Chest is an interactive performance hosted by non-binary drag artist ShayShay. Joined by fellow drag performers Sophie Brain and Mahatma Khandi, ShayShay leads singing, dancing and riddle-solving, all inspired by Pippi Longstocking. Southbank Centre, free, just turn up, 11am/1.30pm
GOTHIC ROMANCE: Gothic mansion Strawberry Hill House stays open late for evening tours. Begin with a glass of fizz, before taking a romance themed tour. The cafe and bar are open all evening. Strawberry Hill House (Twickenham), £20, book ahead, 5.30pm
CATO STREET: Find out about a group of conspirators who assembled in a stable to hatch a plot to assassinate the entire British cabinet. This free lecture, which marks 200 years since the Cato Street Conspiracy, looks at who the people were, their motives, and what would have happened if they'd succeeded. Museum of London, free, just turn up, 6pm-7pm
POETRY AND CONSUMPTION: Keats scholar Professor Damian Walford Davies gives a talk about pulmonary tuberculosis — the disease which killed the poet — and the effect it had on his life. Using writing and letters by Keats, we can get an insight into what he knew about the disease, and the contemporary theories about tuberculosis which were around at the time. Keats House (Hampstead), £4.50, book ahead, 6.30pm-8pm
DAN CRUICKSHACK: TV presenter and historian Dan Cruickshank gives an illustrated talk about the architecture districts and people who made London, London. He covers the Anglo Saxon origins of Hampstead Heath, Christopher Wren’s magisterial City churches, and the industrial bustle of Victorian Bermondsey. Conway Hall (Holborn), £30-£45, book ahead, 6.45pm-8pm
FUTURE OF FOOD: What will the food on our plates look like in the future? Hear from an expert panel about how we can eat more sustainably, and the role that technology could soon play in producing our food. Royal Geographical Society (Kensington Gore), £10/£8, book ahead, 7pm-9pm
WHITNEY HOUSTON: Eight years after her death, tribute show Whitney: Queen of the Night celebrates the life and work of singer Whitney Houston. A live cast and band perform her best-known tracks including I'm Every Woman, I Wanna Dance With Somebody and How Will I Know. Alexandra Palace Theatre, from £16.65, book ahead, 7.30pm
HIDDEN LOVE: The National Archives hosts a talk and document display focusing on how the government has interacted with LGBT+ communities in the past. See photos, court reports and witness statements which highlight the criminalisation of homosexuality, as well as brave acts of defiance. National Archives (Kew), £12/£9.60, book ahead, 7.30pm-9pm
London weather with Inclement Attlee
Our idiosyncratic weather forecaster returns, keeping you up to date on London's skies.
Today's weather profile is like wringing out a chamois leather — damp at both ends, with the heaviest downpour in the middle. Look out for a brief solar cameo at day's end, leading to clear skies for a fingernail moon.
Contact Mr Attlee with any weather-related thoughts or pictures by emailing hello@londonist.com; subject line "For Mr Attlee".
Tube ponderings with Barry Heck
Our resident tube fancier dishes out daily thoughts on the London Underground.
Today marks the First Annual 'Turn A Tube Station Into A Classic Album Day'. In my head, at least. Here are some examples:
Acton Baby
Exile on Bond Street
London Bridge Calling
Royal OaK Computer
Brothers in Amersham
A Hard Day's Knightsbridge
You can definitely do better, I'm sure. Send suggestions to @HeckTube on Twitter.
Good cause of the day
A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to illuminate selected historic buildings in Rotherhithe. £35,000 is needed for the project, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of The Mayflower. Find out more and make a donation.
What we're reading
- Airbnb has devoured London — here's the data to prove it.
- South Western Railway offers compensation after December's strikes.
- Kebab restaurant opens on board London double decker bus.
- That Life: nostalgia for a London now lost.
