What we’re reading
- Beer-battered 'tofish': welcome to London's first all-vegan pub.
- London's low-emission bus zones hailed for 'improving toxic air levels overnight'.
- Demand for co-working spaces expands beyond London.
- 'It's great to power a world city like London'.
Things to do
FREE HEALTH MOT: Feeling a bit fragile after all the festive indulgence? Start to put the damage right with a free blood test from Medichecks, who are testing Londoners' cholesterol and blood sugar levels today. You won't need to hang around long as they are providing the results instantly. Liverpool Street Station, free, just turn up, 9am-8pm
LUMIERE LONDON: Finally, Lumiere London is back to blast the January blues away with a wall of blinking lightbulbs pulsating to a soundtrack, a neon sign by Tracey Emin and plenty of illuminated, interactive sculptures — we'll be making a beeline for those luminescent seesaws. Here's what you need to know. Various locations, free, just turn up, 4.30pm-11pm, until 21 January
REVIVAL RETRO: Check out the work of fashion photographer Dahl-Wolfe whose career spanned the 30s, 40s and 50s then shop the look at pop-up boutique, Revival Retro. Fashion and Textile Museum (Bermondsey), various prices, book ahead, 6pm-8pm
LONDON COLLECTIONS: Bishopsgate Institute has been filling shelves with books, maps, photographs and other London material since 1895. But rather than attempting to wade through it all, just take this tour, led by Stefan Dickers, the Library and Archives Manager, who has picked out all the interesting bits for you. Bishopsgate Institute, £7/£5, book ahead, 6.30pm
MOTHER TONGUES: The first of a series of English Pen events examines how being multilingual shapes identity and the creative process. Award-winning poet Vahni Capildeo and author Burhan Sönmez discuss the influence of their mother tongues on their life and work. Waterstones Gower Street, £6/£4, book ahead, 6.30pm-8pm
WORLD'S BEST MARTINI CHALLENGE: Forget Dry January, tonight is all about Ginuary. Hear what makes an excellent gin from those in the know, see the maker of 2018's best martini crowned, and most importantly, sip a sample martini from each of the contenders paired with luxury canapes. Oslo (Hackney), £22, book ahead, 6.30pm-11pm
THE SCIENCE OF CHOICE: From your office-ready outfit to your evening meal, we make decisions all the time and tonight Chia-Jung Tsay, Suzy Moat and Peter Ayton unpack the science behind the choices we make. The Royal Institution, £16, book ahead, 7pm-8.15pm
JAZZ HERSTORY: Jazz Herstory aims the spotlight at talented female jazz artists. Tonight listen to the soulful tunes of Nérija, a London-based collective playing original music inspired by Jazz, Hip Hop, Afrobeat and South African Township. Poplar Union, £7/£5, book ahead, 7pm-9pm
FOLK HORROR: Superfans of Witchfinder General, Blood on Satan’s Claw or The Wicker Man will lap up this talk examining how folk horror tropes have invaded popular culture. The Horse Hospital, £8-£11, book ahead, 7pm-11pm
FEATURED IN: 15: This female-centric night sees artists, explorers and cultural curators share powerful, personal stories in 15 minutes. Hear about a battle with cancer, the charity tackling period poverty, a women's swimming collective and more. The Signal Pub, (Forest Hill), £10, book ahead, 7pm-11pm
Good cause of the day: Charity comedy night
Win raffle prizes and laugh your socks off at this comedy fundraiser for Dig Deep Charity, which carries out work in rural Kenya, supplying access to clean drinking water and free education to impoverished people. Savoy Tup, £5.82, book ahead, 6.30pm-10pm
