Things To Do Today In London: Thursday 16 August 2018

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Shiver me timbers, The Pirates of Penzance is coming to Fulham Palace

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KIDS IN THE CATHEDRAL: Take your tots to explore the wonders of St Paul's Cathedral at this morning session for the under 5s. There are plenty of interactive bits to keep them occupied, including music making and dressing up. St Paul's Cathedral, £12 for 1 adult and 1 child, book ahead, 10.15am-11.30am

LONDON LETTERHEADS: Seize the rare chance to see beautiful sign writing and lettering work from around the world at Letterheads 2018: London Calling. As well as a revival of an 18th century exhibition, there'll be behind-the-scenes tours, short films, and a glowing alphabet peep show. The Bargehouse (Oxo Tower Wharf), free, just turn up, 11am-6pm, until 19 August

GREAT EQUATORIAL ENCOUNTER: Take a peek through the Royal Observatory's largest Victorian telescope and experience the majesty of the night sky while the sun shines around you. Combining telescope footage and a VR experience, you'll be able to see what the night observing sessions are like without having to stay up past your bedtime. Royal Observatory (Greenwich), £6, book ahead, 12.30pm-2.30pm

KOPPARMOUNTAIN: For its latest wacky immersive experience, Kopparberg invites you to scale KopparMountain. At 50ft tall, it boasts glistening streams, summer meadows, and even a rocky mountain tundra and summit complete with real snow. Once you've made it to the top, you'll slide into the heart of the party, with DJs like Greg Wilson, Madame X, and a mystery headliner, and a chance to sample brand new Kopparberg Black. Mudchute Park and Farm (Docklands), £9.60, book ahead, 2pm/4.30pm/7.45pm

THE OLD HOUSE: Memory loss, mother-daughter bonding and the hokey cokey all feature in writer-performer Kate Maravan's The Old House. Inspired by her mother, this play blurs the lines between wellness and illness, youth and old age to explore the creative potential of Alzheimer's. Hen and Chickens Theatre (Camden), £10, book ahead, 6pm, until 19 August


An invitation to the Londonist beer launch party

Love London? Love beer? Then we've got some very exciting news to share. Londonist has teamed up with the talented folk at Fourpure Brewery to create our own unique, Londony brew. And we want to you to celebrate its launch with us. So go on, join us for an epic party at the Fourpure brewery on Sunday 16 September. There'll be live music, the chance to win some Londonist swag and, naturally, lots and lots of beer. More deets and booking info can be found here.


SUMMER EVENING SCREENINGS: Soak up that sunshine on the Brunel Museum roof garden — complete with delicious street food and cocktails — before descending into the world’s oldest railway tunnel shaft for a film screening. Just like Brunel would have wanted it. Brunel Museum (Rotherhithe), £25, book ahead, 6.30pm-10pm (partner)

FILM SCREENING: The London Feminist Film Festival opens tonight with a screening of Fatma, the 1975 feminist film which explores strong female figures from Tunisia's history. The film will be followed by a Q&A with academic Dora Carpenter-Latiri and a drinks reception where you can get your hand on free LFFF cocktails. Genesis Cinema (Stepney Green), £7, book ahead, 6.40pm

Kid-friendly fun at St Paul's Cathedral

QUARTER LIFE CRISIS: When it comes to trials and tribulations of growing up, getting too old for your 16-25 railcard is only the half of it. Join Londoner and hot mess Alicia as she tries her best to press pause on the unforgiving passage of time in Yolanda Mercy's hit theatre show Quarter Life Crisis. Soho Theatre (Dean Street), from £11, book ahead, 7pm, until 18 August

LIKE CLOCKWORK: Michael Start is a expert horologist and historian of automata — but if that's all Greek to you, you can just think of him as the clockwork guru. He's coming to Heath Robinson Museum for an expert talk on antique autonoma, after which you'll be free to explore everything he's been chatting about at the exhibition, A Curious Turn. Heath Robinson Museum (Pinner), £12, book ahead, 6.30pm

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE: Arthur Sullivan's classic comic opera comes to Fulham Palace for an evening of hilarious melodrama, biting satire, and swashbuckling adventure. It's an outdoor performance, so considering the fickle weather we've been having lately, you should probably pack a brolly along with your sun cream. Fulham Palace Gardens, £15, book ahead, 7pm-10pm

SKETCHY NIGHTS: An art exhibition comes to life tonight at Stour Space through a series of theatrical responses to the work on show. There'll be heartbreak, hilarity, and maybe some live music. Stour Space (Hackney), £8, book ahead, 7.30pm-10pm

Good cause of the day

The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), is celebrating its recent successes in making a positive case for migration with a summer party in the beautiful Calthorpe Community Gardens. There's free food, live jazz and a raffle with some genuinely decent prizes up for grabs — including free meals at Dishoom and the Fat Bear. All profits from the evening will support the JCWI's work protecting the legal rights of migrants and advocating for a fair immigration system.