An example of a past giant paper based installation by David Mach. Image courtesy the artist.

Works like Constable's Hay Wain are part of the agricultural inspiration for Middleton. Image courtesy ICA.

A MODERN LANDSCAPE: Agriculture serves as the inspiration for Stuart Middleton's exhibition, which will transform the ICA lower galleries. The ceiling and walls aren't safe as he creates a new installation and populates it with his video works. Stuart Middleton: Beat at ICA. 6 May-2 July, £1.

A typical Giacometti sculpture. © Alberto Giacometti Estate, ACS/DACS, 2017

The Dark Side of the Moon is Pink Floyd's most successful albums so we're expecting plenty of prisms in this blockbuster show. © Pink Floyd Music Ltd

DARK SIDE OF THE MOON: After the musical Bowie and 1960s exhibitions, the V&A is taking on rockers Pink Floyd in its big exhibition for the summer. The V&A is a master of locational audio so we're expecting an immersive exhibition of music, memorabilia and design. Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains at V&A. 13 May-1 October, £20-£24

The master painter of Venice. Image courtesy Royal Collection.

VENETIAN CANALS: Canaletto was the master of capturing detailed daily life on the canals of 18th century Venice. An added bonus is that many of his paintings are in the UK within the Royal Collection. This will be a collection of fantastic paintings of Venetian waterways by Canaletto and his peers. Canaletto & the Art of Venice at The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace. 19 May-12 November, £11.

Flowers underwater resemble abstract paintings. Copyright Alexander James.

FLOWERS UNDERWATER: Alexander James specialises in taking the existing genres of still life and vanitas and recreating them underwater. We loved his last major UK show and now he's taking on the subject of flowers. They will be distorted by the water so they look like abstract paintings. Alexander James: All Icons Are False at D-contemporary, 23 Grafton street, W1S 4EY. 19-30 May, free.

Shepard Fairey's art is part of the California exhibition. Copyright the artist.

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN': Designed in California is what it says on the side of every iPhone box. It's a stamp of authority that suggests what modern design is all about. This show will look back at what California has contributed to the world of design from skateboards through to Apple products. California: Designing Freedom at Design Museum. 24 May-15 October, £16.

Hokusai's famous Great Wave. © The Trustees of the British Museum

A TSUNAMI OF ART: Hokusai's Great Wave is one of the most recognisable works of art. This major exhibition will look at the last 30 years of this influential artist's life. There will be plenty of his renowned prints and an exploration of the spirituality within his work. Hokusai: Beyond the Great Wave at The British Museum. 25 May-13 August, £12.

The futuristic background from Ghost in the Shell. Image courtesy House of Illustration.

SCI-FI ANIME: The architecture in anime can have just as much impact as the character design, a perfect example being the futuristic cityscape from Ghost in the Shell which is included in this show. We loved House of Illustration's last anime exhibition, so we have high hopes for this one as well. Anime Architecture: Backgrounds of Japan at House of Illustration. 26 May-10 September, £7.50.

A centenary of style for Balenciaga. © Hiro 1967

ELEGANT FASHION: This year marks the centenary of French luxury fashion house Balenciaga. To mark the occasion, the V&A will be examining the brand's evolution, featuring many of its designs and delving into how the clothing lines are made. One for the fashion fans. Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion at V&A. 27 May-18 February, £12.

Art Fairs & Festivals

It's not just major exhibitions opening this month, as there are plenty of short run events too.

Its All There II, Joshua Jensen Nagle (Joshua Jensen Nagle/BAU-XI Gallery/Photo London)

Photo London (18-21 May) returns to Somerset House for its third year. It's a must for photography fans — a massive fair that sprawls across all wings of the building. For photography by emerging artists, South Bank is the place to be. FIX photo festival (12-21 May) will be taking over the Oxo Bargehouse for just over a week.

Affordable Art Fair (11-14 May) is back with its Hampstead edition, a perfect starting point for budding collectors with many reasonably priced artworks.  Prefer to deal with artists directly? Then head over to Wimbledon Art Studios (11-14 May) and explore artist's studios with a chance to buy directly from them.

Finally if performance art is more to your liking, you'll want to check out Block Universe (29 May-4 June). Performances will be carried out all across the city, including in esteemed venues such as the Royal Academy of Arts and Somerset House.

In 1990, Canary Wharf was still being built, a new official portrait of the Queen was unveiled, and the poll tax riots took place in Trafalgar Square (and plenty of places across the country). Find out what else was going on in London in 1990.

Thames, 1990
Source Panoramio

Trafalgar Square
Source Panoramio

Canary Wharf under construction, 1990
Source Londondocklands

Piccadilly Circus, 1990
Source Iamtypecast

Martina Navratilova won her record breaking ninth Wimbledon Singles Championship, 1990
Source Imagesofperfection

Victoria bus station
Source Wikimedia

Covent Garden
Source Iamtypecast

London
Source Smugmug

People used these in 1990
Source Steam156

Chelsea FC, 1990
Source The League Magazine

Pet Shop Boys, book signing, 1990
Source Electric Pet Shop Boys

Whitechapel station, 1990
Source Philmaxwell

The Times front page, 12 February 1990
Source The Times Of London

Poll tax riots, 1990
Source Dorian Cope

New official portrait of Queen Elizabeht by Terry O'Neill, 1990
Source Oneillaward

Tate Gallery, 1990
Source Gemma Louise. K

Outside Buckingham Palace, 1990
Source Panoramio

Elm Park Gardens, 1990
Source Instagram

London Bridge
Source Smugmug

Oxford Street
Source Panoramio

Hard Rock Cafe, 1990
Source Iamtypecast

Poll Tax riots, 1990
Source Gagdaily

British Vogue, 1990
Source Culturewhisper

London, 1990
Source Blitzlondon

Poll Tax riots, 1990
Source Gagdaily

Poll Tax riots, 31 March 1990. 200,000 people protested
Source Prof.Frank Mc Donough

M.F Husain sketching in the Cast Courts of the V and A, 1990
Source Edward Anderson

Whitechapel station, 1990
Source Philmaxwell

Canary Wharf, 1990
Source Londonhistorian

Poll tax riots, 1990
Source Socialistworker

Underground, 1990
Source Aucharbon

Battle of Trafalgar Square, 1990
Source Gagdaily

Millwall FC, 1990
Source Old London

Tower Hill, 1990
Source Philmaxwell

Hyde Park Corner, London to Peking Motor Challenge, 1990
Source Returntickethome

Princess Diana, 30 January 1990
Source All Princess Diana

There's a standard route to getting yourself a statue in London. Do something worthwhile with your life, then kick the bucket. You're sure to be honoured posthumously. Logic probably dictates that it's a little too much for one's ego if you had a statue of oneself unveiled while living. Except for this select group who were deemed worthy enough that sculptors just couldn't wait for their death.

Thierry Henry statue at the Emirates. Photo: The Light Cavalry

Arsenal players

Arsenal's stadium The Emirates hasn't exactly been a rip-roaring success. Maybe that's why they decided to garner some more enthusiasm about it by honouring some club legends with statues. In 2011 they unveiled statues of Tony Adams, Thierry Henry and Herbert Chapman outside the stadium. In the years following they added Dennis Bergkamp and Ken Friar. All bar Chapman are still alive.

Even if you're not an Arsenal fan, we'd recommend taking a look at Friar's statue if you're in the area. It has him as a schoolboy kicking a football and inspires just the right amount of childhood nostalgia.

World Cup Heroes. Photo: Matt Brown

World cup winners

It really seems like a sure fire way to get yourself a statue in your own lifetime is by becoming a top tier footballer. The nation's pastime was — shockingly — once a point of national pride, when England won the World Cup in 1966.

Three members of the cup winning team played for West Ham, so in 2003 the club unveiled a statue of them (and one more player). The talented men in question are Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and Ray Wilson. All the men except Moore were alive, to see the statue take its place outside Upton Park.

When West Ham made the fateful move from the Boleyn to the Olympic Stadium there were plans for the statue to come with them. However, Newham council weren't thrilled at the prospect of losing the statue, so plans have stalled. It might still move, if someone coughs up some money for improving the road junction it sits on, or a piece of art to replace it. Perhaps it could be another statue of a living person?

Michael Bond with Paddington. Photo: Matt Brown

Michael Bond and a few other laser cut sculptures

Michael Bond stands proudly holding his most famous creation, Paddington Bear. Where's the statue you ask? Why next to the Paddington Basin of course.

This is part of the Sustrans' Portrait bench series, a self-described national social-history project. Communities nominated people who'd made a worthwhile contribution to local life to be honoured with a laser cut statue. They're somehow supposed to promote cycling but what's important to us is that a few of them are living, so let's rattle them off.

Ledley King with his mate Sylvia Pankhurst in the background. Photo: James Mitchell

Master cockney actor Michael Caine is out on Brunswick quay in Rotherhithe. Then there's brilliant Tottenham centre-back — yes, another footballer — Ledley King in Mile End Park. Curiously he stands next to Sylvia Pankhurst. Now there's a buddy cop movie we'd like to see.

Then outside Finsbury Park station there's the soul and funk master Jazzie B, the founder of Soul II Soul. A touch further north in Downhills Park, London 2012 boxing gold medalist Nicola Adams stands proud.

A Gormley admiring himself. Photo: Matt Brown

Antony Gormley

Antony Gormley has countless sculptures dotted around London and many of them are of himself. Perhaps it's a tad egotistical — no one else on this list made their own sculptures — but he's guaranteed himself a place on this list, so clearly it's worth it. Here's a guide to spotting him across the capital.

Alison Lapper on the Fourth Plinth. Photo: Wally Gobetz

Alison Lapper

We hear your indignant cries. Don't worry we haven't lost control of our senses. We know that Marc Quinn's statue of Allison Lapper is long gone from the Fourth Plinth, but what's a listicle without a sneaky bonus one.

It was the longest resident in the plinth's history, and is so well known we felt it worthy of inclusion. And Alison is very much alive today.

And those unveiled in people's lifetimes but they're now dead

The above aren't the only people to have a statue in London unveiled during their lifetime. However everyone else who received the honour is now dead. Our friends at London Remembers compiled a handy list. They've missed two royals out by our count — but we'll forgive them — Queen Anne at Queen Anne's Gate and Queen Victoria outside Kensington Palace. It's also worth pointing out that Nelson Mandela got not one, but two statues in London before his death.

If you think we've missed any out, let us know in the comments.

Ever wished you could whip up cocktails like the pros? TT Liquor has launched cocktail classes where their experts teach you how to make zombies, lychee martinis, mint juleps and whisky sours. Best of all, sipping as you shake is very much encouraged. Take a look at how we got on.

TT Liquor, 17b Kingsland Road, E2 8AA

Image by Gerard McNamara

The ROXY club on Neal Street, Covent Garden is long gone, but its memory lives on thanks to a newly installed plaque from the Seven Dials Trust.

From 1976 to 1978, the ROXY was synonymous with the punk scene. The Clash, The Damned, Generation X, Siouxsie & the Banshees, The Slits, Adam & the Ants... all played early gigs at the venue.

Gaye Black (The Adverts), Pauline Murray (Penetration), Jordan Mooney, Tessa Politt (The Slits). Image by Gerard McNamara

40 years on, and the venue has been honoured with its own plaque. A gathering of punk notables assembled on 25 April 2017 for the occasion.

Gaye Black, Pauline Murray, Susan Carrington & Andrew Czezowski (Roxy Creators), Jordon Mooney, Tessa Pollitt. Image by Gerard McNamara

The plaque unveiling coincides with a photographic exhibition on the early days of punk. Fear and Loathing at the ROXY, curated by Jane Palm-Gold, collects together some of the era-defining work of Derek Ridgers, Ray Stevenson, Jeremy Gibbs and Rebecca Hale.

The Damned - © Jeremy Gibbs 1977

The plaque can be seen on the former site of the ROXY at 41-43 Neal Street. The photographic exhibition is at 35 Neal Street and runs till 10 May 2017.

Paint it black: the charcoal Old Fashioned at Bull in a China Shop

A hot night in with a bottle of bargain booze and a splash of Ting will only keep you warm so long. Luckily, wherever you are in London the capital's mixologists have you covered when it comes to the most classic of classics, the old fashioned. 

Old Fashioned, No.11 Cadogan Gardens

The bar at this upmarket boutique hotel is dark and dramatic, catering to the expectations of the sort of traveller who picks Knightsbridge as their holiday base. The barkeeps will whip you up the kind of stiff and faultless Old Fashioned you'd expect from a hotel like this, but what really stands out is the selection of bitters - if you want to depart from Angostura and skip over Peychauds and the like, the gents here will be able to surprise you with something that you didn't even know could be refined into a liquid. You'll pay for the privilege but hey, why else are you drinking in Knightsbridge?

Viceroy Old Fashioned, Dishoom

Any Dishoom devotee will become intimately familiar with its bar menu through the hours you'll spend queuing, waiting feverishly for your buzzer to ring, daydreaming about chilli cheese toast. Time will pass by much faster if you partake of the Viceroy Old Fashioned, a silky number built on Woodford Reserve, bay leaf reduction and green tea. Such is the volume game at Dishoom that they prepare them in little bottles - OK, maybe that's cheating, but you'll still fit in three before sitting down to eat.

Source tripadvisor

The not-quite-an-Old-Fashioned Inquisition, Worship Street Whistling Shop

The yeast-lovers that man the Worship Street Whistling Shop recently refreshed the menu with 36 'historically inspired' drinks. This one might not be called an old fashioned but whiskey cocktail devotees will recognise it as a counterattack to the Hawksmoor's Full Fat Old Fashioned with its butter-infused bourbon (an abomination to some, but it has its fans). The WSWS call their version the Inquisition, and it throws cocoa butter fat washed bourbon, sticky fig moscatel, branca menta and an emulsion made from aberquina (basically olive oil) into your face. It sounds insane; maybe it is. But it's a sublime kind of madness.

Source thenudge

Source Worship St. WS

Piña Tequila Fashioned, Call Me Mr Lucky

It's a misnomer to call the Breakfast Club's hideaways 'secret bars' these days - that fridge door near Liverpool Street is open so much it's a mystery how the food stays cold - but it's worth navigating the complex entry system at the Southwark bar to try this fruity number. Coconut tequila and falernum are the main ingredients, with Angostura and pineapple bitters sitting under the lime zest. Okay, it's not whisky, but it'll get you where you're going in some considerable style. If you prefer an earthier after-Breakfast Club stiffener then the Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town's Olive In Your old fashioned is an oilier, sweeter take on the Viceroy old fashioned at Dishoom. 

Source designmynight

New Fashioned, Tredwell's

If you can't get into Dishoom in Covent Garden - more than likely - you'd be wise to bounce across the road to Tredwell's, recent winner of Restaurant of the Year. They like to whip up a New Fashioned, which invites orange marmalade into the mix with the bitters and Bulleit. It comes out light and sweet, and is a good way to introduce newcomers to the classic that ends up dominating your ordering wherever you go. No queue either.

Old Fashioned Bar's Mysterious Beast, The World's End Market

This plush upstairs hideaway has real strength on the bench when it comes to whisk(e)y cocktails, with wall-to-wall old fashioneds ageing in barrels above the bar. But the real standout is the Mysterious Beast; it takes a brave soul to try and wrestle the complexity of Ardbeg's Uigeadail - a previous World Whisky of the Year - into a cocktail. The OF Bar crew are game for it, literally lashing its glass to a plinth with metal chains, and priming the drink with fresh chilli, pimento infused sugar, orange and cardamom bitters. It might look a little gimmicky but you won't be laughing (or walking straight) after facing down a couple of these fiery monsters. 

The Old Fashioned Bar, The World's End Market, 459 King's Road, SW10 0LR. Website. 

Source marieclaire

Camomile and Charcoal Old Fashioned, Bull In A China Shop

What kind of monster puts charcoal in an old fashioned, you're thinking? Well who are you to judge the good people at Bull in a China Shop, with their singular devotion to chicken wings and Japanese whisky? If they want to put coconut charcoal in your cocktail, you'll drink it and you'll enjoy it, because it's alongside Nikka's Yoichi (!) and a touch of camomile syrup. Just trust them. It's not their first time. They've got this.

Source instagram

Smoked Demerara Old Fashioned, London Cocktail Club

The old fashioned is already punchy for a lot of cocktail drinkers; they certainly aren't sipping it and thinking 'Hmm, if only this was made with heavily peated Ardbeg instead of sweet bourbon'. Thankfully there are options for the enlightened minority who embrace the dank, dark smoke of Islay rather than running screaming in the other direction. The London Cocktail Club's den of sin on Paradise Row is such a place, with salty Ardbeg swimming next to Woodford Reserve in a drink that's complex to drink but hard to resist.

Source londoncocktailclub

Espresso Old Fashioned, Exmouth Market Grind

Londonist writer Lydia Manch recommends the Espresso Old Fashioned at this EC1R bar: 

'The Exmouth Market outpost of Grind does a smoky marriage of coffee bean and bourbon. Single origin infused bourbon, sugar syrup and bitters come with a twist of orange peel and tasting slightly caramelised. Subtle and startling at the same time...'

Source instagram

If you want to make a night of it you could try several, in any order - any mix of these classics or eclectic twists would be a worthy way to crawl round the capital. 

These days, Carnaby's know as one of London's most diverse shopping districts, but it's always been a hip place to be seen. Take a look at these photos of celebs (and a cheetah) strolling down the street, Mods descending on the area, and some of the boutiques of yesteryear.

2015
Source Trendlifemagazine

Carnaby Street, 1978
Source Pinterest

Tom Jones on Carnaby Street, 1966
Source Ultravie

1966
Source Rob Baker

Ravel, Carnaby Street, 1966
Source Astrocruise

1960s
Source Paulinafinalproject

Carnaby Street, 1969
Source Are Me

1960s
Source Mintagevintage

John Stephen, Tailor of Carnaby Street, 1964
Source Languagethatiuse

1966
Source Old Pics Archive

August 1961
Source Buzzfeed

John Stephen, tailor of Carnaby Street, February 1964
Source Buzzfeed

Carnaby Street during the Swinging 60s
Source Museumoflondonprints

Free ride to Carnaby Street, 1960s
Source Old London

Carnaby Street, 1978
Source Melanddi

A girl checking out her reflection in the grill of a Rolls Royce on Carnaby Street, 1968
Source History In Pictures

Two young men in Carnaby Street in 1967
Source Museumoflondonprints

Lady Jane boutique, 1966
Source Old Pics Archive

Francoise Hardy in Carnaby Street, 1967
Source Flashbak.Com

Twiggy in Carnaby Street, 1960s
Source Lost In History

1960s
Source Bestdressedginger

Carnaby Street, 1970
Source Typepad

Cat Stevens in Carnaby Street, January 1967
Source Buzzfeed

Young Mods near Carnaby Street, 1984
Source Pinterest

Jimi Hendrix on Carnaby Street, June 1967
Source Imgur

1969
Source Wikimedia

Mates Boutique, 1966
Source Buzzfeed

Smash Hits magazine office, 1983
Source Pinterest

1969
Source Rob Baker

Mods in Carnaby Street area, 1979
Source Pinterest

Mods, 1985
Source Modshoes

Mods, 1960s
Source Northern Soul & Mod

1977
Source Pu Nk And Stuff

Carnaby Street, 1960s
Source 89302809@N05

The Victorians didn't have camera phones, making these snaps below all the more special. Some areas still look familiar to Londoners today, while other aspects are so alien, they look like a film set. See the first ever West Ham football team, horse-drawn buses, and a Victorian cabman's shelter.

Views of Regent Street
Source Amateur Casual

Wellington Arms, Shepherd's Bush
Source Old London

A sightseeing coach tour, 1900
Source Discovering London

Waterloo Station, 1900
Source David Turner

A London street, c.1900
Source Amateur Casual

Newsagent advertising the Sunday editions of Lloyds newspaper
Source Old London

Prospect of Whitby pub, Wapping
Source Old London

The Royal Alhambra Theatre, Leicester Square (now the Odeon)
Source Sir William Davenant

Tower Bridge, c 1900, shortly after the bridge's completion
Source Londoninsight

A rare colour photograph of a London street, 1900
Source History Pics

Woodman Tavern, Battersea
Source Old London

A Victorian cabmens' shelter, c.1900
Source Michelle Higgs

London buses, 1900
Source Histi Pics

London, 1900
Source On This Day & Facts

One of the first London motor buses, c 1900
Source Sir William Davenant

261 - 265 Brick Lane
Source The Ripper

The Old Curiosity Shop, Portsmouth Street
Source Sir William Davenant

Sunday morning, Petticoat Lane, 1900
Source London Life

Tottenham Court Road
Source Londonhistorian

London Zoo, 1900
Source Old London

The Royal Standard, Greenwich
Source Yesteryear

Zebra-drawn carriage parked outside The Royal Albert Hall, London, 1900.
Source Historyphotographed

London, 1900
Source Historical Pics

London Bridge, when traffic jams were caused by horse-drawn carts
Source City Of London

Waterloo Place, Richmond
Source Old London

St. Paul's and St. Martin's within Ludgate
Source Londonhistorian

Piccadilly, 1900
Source Old Pics Archive

The Strand
Source Old Pics Archive

Victorian horse-drawn omnibuses at London Bridge, 1900
Source Michelle Higgs

Things to do for £5 or less in London this week.

All week

See Paul Catherall's renderings of the London skyline. Copyright the artist.

NEW EXHIBITION: The UK Colour Pencil Society is showcasing work by established and emerging artists. Menier Gallery (Southwark), free, just turn up, until 6 May

FLORAL DISPLAY: Rebecca Louise Law has suspended 10,000 irises from the ceiling of this gallery, creating a somewhat magical environment to enjoy. NOW Gallery (Greenwich Peninsula), free, just turn up, until 7 May

LONDON ARTWORKS: We love these renderings of London by artist Paul Catherall — they've even been used by TfL. Now a collection of his works in the capital are on display in an exhibition. For Arts Sake (Ealing), free, just turn up, until 21 May

FREE FILM FESTIVAL: Herne Hill Free Film Festival has a great line up, including Victoria, Easy Rider, and The Big Lebowski. Various locations, free, book ahead, until 29 May

SYRIAN CONFLICT: This Imperial War Museum exhibition highlights the origins and human impact of the current Syrian conflict through photos and personal objects and stories. Imperial War Museum (Lambeth), free entry, just turn up, until 3 September

Monday 1 May

Canalway Cavalcade. Photo: Inland Waterways Association

BANK HOLIDAY: Looking for things to do in London over the long weekend? Check out our guide to spending the bank holiday in the city, whatever the weather and whatever your budget.

MAY DAY FESTIVAL: Kentish Town City Farm hosts a Mayday Festival with games, arts and crafts, pony rides, and a treasure hunt. £1 (adult)/50p (child), just turn up, 1pm-4pm

CANALWAY CAVALCADE: It's the final day of the Canalway Cavalcade in Little Venice, a pageant of boats, trade shows, stalls, live music, activities for kids, morris dancers and a procession of illuminated boats on Sunday night. Little Venice, free, just turn up, 10am-6pm

Tuesday 2 May

BANK'S INDEPENDENCE: A new display opens today marking the 20th anniversary of the Bank's independence to make decisions on interest rates. Bank of England Museum, free entry, just turn up, ongoing

100 DAYS OF TRUMP: The work of political cartoonists Peter Brookes of the Times and Matt (Matthew Pritchett) of the Telegraph goes on display today, covering topics such as Trump, Brexit and Boris. Chris Beetles Gallery (St James's), free entry, just turn up, until 20 May

LUNCH MARKET: Fancy something different for lunch? Spicy patties, empanadas, noodle salads, haggis toasties and zingy ceviche are just some of the foods on offer at this lunch market. Canary Wharf, free entry, just turn up, 11am-3pm

Get stuck into the Lunch Market at Canary Wharf

CHRISTIE'S LATES: Auction house Christie's stays open late for an evening inspired by the art and culture of Asia, with talks by experts, tea sampling, and a crash course in Mandarin. Christie's (South Kensington), free entry, book ahead, 6pm-8.30pm

MUSEUM BY CANDLELIGHT: Explore Sir John Soane's Museum after hours by candlelight. The house's collection includes antiquities and other curiosities, as well as paintings by the likes of Turner and Hogarth. Sir John Soane's Museum (Lincoln's Inn Fields), free, just turn up (worth getting there early to avoid disappointment), 6pm-9pm

Wednesday 3 May

THIS IS HULL!: This new exhibition focuses on one community's fight against racism, featuring Richard Lees' 1979 silkscreen posters for Hull Rock Against Racism. Rich Mix (Shoreditch), free, just turn up, until 26 May

CRICK LATE: The new Francis Crick Institute holds its first late opening, an evening of pop-up science with talks, demonstrations, live music, food and drink. Francis Crick Institute (King's Cross), free, book ahead, 6pm-9.30pm

CYPRIOT POETS: Five Cypriot poets talk about and tell the story of their divided community through poetry. Southbank Centre, free, just turn up, 8pm

Thursday 4 May

May the force be with you at Drink, Shop & Do.

MAYDAY TALK: Find out about the history of the Mayday holiday in this country — why it started, and how its meaning changed through the years. Guildhall Library, free, book ahead, 2pm-3pm

STYLE NIGHT: Register for a free ticket to Carnaby's Style Night, and get discounts in plenty of the shops, bars and restaurants in the area on the night, plus live music and free entertainment while you shop. Carnaby, free, book ahead, 5pm-9pm

STAR WARS: Mark Star Wars Day (May the fourth...) with a Star Wars themed quiz. Do you know your Jedi from your Sith? Prove it with questions, craft challenges and more. Drink, Shop & Do (King's Cross), £5, book ahead, 7.30pm

Friday 5 May

PHOTOGRAPHY: As House of Vans relaunches after a spruce up, the Independent Photography Festival opens at the venue, featuring photos from all over the world. House of Vans (Waterloo), free entry, just turn up, until 27 May

AFRICAN WOMEN: Find out about the different roles African women played in the first world war, including labourers, spies and snipers, at this talk. National Army Museum (Chelsea), free, book ahead, 11.30am

OPEN GARDEN: The monthly public opening of Lambeth Palace Gardens takes places today. Visit the oldest continuously cultivated garden in London. Lambeth Palace Gardens, £5, just turn up, noon-3pm

NORFOLK BROADS: Enjoy some traditional folk songs courtesy of all-female vocal quartet The Norfolk Broads. Southbank Centre, free, just turn up, 1pm

Saturday 6 May

Bag a bargain at Peckham Salvage Yard.

IMPERIAL FESTIVAL: Land a virtual reality plane, battle superbugs and learn how scientists are trying to make cheese creamier at Imperial Festival, a free, family-friendly science festival which gives the public an insight into the work of Imperial's scientists. Imperial College, free, book ahead, 6-7 May

PECKHAM SALVAGE YARD: The team behind Hackney Flea Market head south for Peckham Salvage Yard, a vintage market with 50 traders selling furniture, ceramics, clothes, textiles and more. Bussey Building, free entry, just turn up, 6-7 May, 11am-6pm

MOANA: Take the kids to see animated Disney film Moana at Little Rippers Film Club — and wear them out with an hour-long skate session first. House of Vans, free, just turn up, 10.30am/12.15pm

CRAFTY FOX MARKET: Over 75 artists, designers and makers are selling their jewellery, prints, ceramics, gifts and more at Crafty Fox Market. Oval Space (Bethnal Green), free entry, just turn up, 11am-5pm

SEWING MACHINES: It's the monthly opening of London's sewing machine museum. See a machine which was given to Queen Victoria's eldest daughter as a wedding present, among 600 other objects. Sewing Machine Museum (Balham High Road), free (donations welcome), just turn up, 2pm-5pm

Sunday 7 May

Minions is today's film at House of Vans.

CROYDON AIRPORT: See the world's oldest air traffic control tower and take a free tour around the micro museum at Croydon Airport's monthly open day. Croydon Airport, free (donations welcome), just turn up, 11am-4pm

MINIONS: Minions is the film of choice at Little Rippers Film Club. Wear the little ones out with an hour of skating first, before settling them in front of the film. Not a Minions fan? No problem — adults can refuel in the cafe while kids watch the screening. House of Vans, free, just turn up, 12.15pm

DESIGNERS' MARKET: Stock up on gifts or treat yourself at E17 Designer's Market. Clothes, glassware, stationery, jewellery and prints are just some of the items on sale from local designers and makers. Waltham Forest Community Hub, free, just turn up, 2.30pm-5.30pm

Recreate Dr Watson's stag party, minus the assassins: at Wilton's Music Hall

London's a splendid place to reenact your favourite action movies, whether fighting Russians in your birthday suit at Ironmonger Baths, a la Viggo Mortensen, or running in a panic through Waterloo like Paddy Considine. But where are the best spots to drink like they do in the action movies? We reckon here.

Take the edge off like Bond at The Fox and Anchor

In Skyfall, MI6 reveals to Bond that they've been running an off-the-books spy station underneath Smithfield Market. The creaking Bond is put through his physical paces while he pulls bits of shrapnel out of his shoulder. It looks exhausting.

The time was, James could've skipped out and recovered in the Cock Tavern, which was actually underneath Smithfield Market itself, but its meat-only Butcher's Breakfast disappeared in 2010 when the pub closed. However the nearby Fox and Anchor still maintains exceptional licensing hours - spies in need of a stiffener or butchers wanting a pint can whip into the Fox for fine ale and homemade pork scratchings from 7am.

Source charlotte_is_living

Source poppy_loves_london

Foil Russian assassins Sherlock-style at Wilton's Music Hall

It's a mixed bag for Robert Downey Jr's Holmes when he visits Wilton's Music Hall for Watson's stag party in 2011's A Game of Shadows. He meets the delightful Simza (Noomi Rapace), but is set upon by an exceptionally acrobatic assassin, 'The Cossack', for his troubles. Wilton's itself is an institution, with two gorgeous bars and 300 years of history behind it. We certainly wouldn't recommend fighting assassins there, but it's worth wrestling with the bar queues for their Pizza Thursdays, where you get two beers for £6 to boot. 

Source Wilton's Music Hall

Source collider

Stop in for shots at The Royal Oak

In 1966, Ronnie Kray walked into the Blind Beggar on Whitechapel Road after hearing that rival gangster George Cornell had stopped in for a pint. 'Well, look who's here,' Cornell said, before Kray shot him dead in full view of several witnesses. Witness intimidation saw Kray walk free for the murder. When Tom Hardy filmed the scene for 2015's Legend, the production company opted for the Royal Oak in Columbia Road to play the Blind Beggar - Columbia Road is a little easier to close for filming.

Source royaloaklondon

Romance a nun like Jason Statham at Roast

Jason Statham's oeuvre as evergreen henchman-puncher-in-chief took him to Borough in 2013's Hummingbird. Statham plays a homeless veteran who spends a summer masquerading as an out-of-work model in Soho whilst secretly working for the Chinese mob, solving a murder and romancing a nun. Don't laugh! Being the embodiment of British masculinity, he literally pops a bottle of claret and barbecues steaks for his nun friend in the middle of Borough Market. You might struggle to get that together for a Tinder date, but the wine list at Roast, overlooking the market from the mezzanine, is heavy on British-origin wines - perfect to melt the heart of any companion. 

Source roast-restaurant

Source roast-restaurant

Practise your espionage at The Black Prince

Kingsman: The Secret Service isn't short of fight scenes. Colin Firth's Harry Hart first announces himself as a master of fisticuffs at the Black Prince in Kennington, where he duffs up a local crew of ruffians, much to the amusement of his protege Eggsy (Taron Egerton). Try that in the Black Prince and you'll be thrown out; instead, try the gargantuan Sunday roasts, with meat sourced from Smithfield Market. Bulletproof umbrellas are probably not necessary.

Source alchetron

Have a less stressful sunset than Ethan Hunt's at Perkin Reveller

In Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) comes face to face with the evil Solomon Lane (Sean Harris). Lane's strapped a bomb to Benji (Simon Pegg), trying to force Hunt to give up a data file worth billions. Meeting in the shadow of Tower Bridge, it turns out Hunt has memorised the lot and destroyed it. This sounds like a lot of work. If you're in the same spot, watching the sun set down by the Thames, we'd suggest one of Perkin's signature cocktails instead. 

Source perkinreveller

Wait out the apocalypse at The Windsor

"Where's safe... where's familiar... where can I smoke?"

In Shaun of the Dead the answer's the Winchester Tavern, where Simon Pegg and co. intend to have a nice cold pint and wait for all this apocalypse-stuff to blow over. The Winchester was in fact the Duke of Albany in New Cross; unfortunately the Duke closed a few years ago but The Windsor, just around the corner, fits the bill. It tilts more towards locals than Goldsmiths students and has the kind of hunker-down-in-the-beer-garden laid back mood you'll be thankful for when the zombie apocalypse finally comes.

The Windsor, 888 Old Kent Road, SE15 1NQ.

The most memorable event in the capital in 1928 was the great flood of London. The Tower of London moat flooded, along with many other parts of central London. Elsewhere, sheep were on the loose in Aldwych, the world's first air traffic control tower was in use in Croydon, and the escalators were turned on at Piccadilly Circus tube station. Take a look.

LCC Tramways Christmas poster, 1928
Source Ldn Met Archives

A double-decker bus stops to allow people aboard, 1928
Source Mashable

Mayor of Westminster turns on the escalators at Piccadilly Circus, 1928
Source Buzzfeed

The city around the Central Market and St Paul's Cathedral, London from the northwest, 1928
Source Buzzfeed

A bus and a car
Source Old London

London Underground poster for Smithfield Market, 1928
Source Tim Dunn

A fascinating 1928 breakdown of when people travelled
Source Jack Riley

A London bus, 1928
Source History Pics

London Winter, Christopher Nevinson, 1928
Source Hilary Chaplin

Construction work on ticketing area at new Piccadilly tube station, 1928
Source Buzzfeed

Spitalfields Market, 1928
Source Old London

London Underground poster advertising Molesey Regatta, 1928
Source Buzzfeed

The world's first Air Traffic Control centre at London's historic Croydon Airport, c 1928
Source Croydon Airport

The lights of Piccadilly Circus
Source Historyphotographed

Tower Bridge, 1928
Source Old London

Highbury, 1928
Source Old London

The Regal Cinema, Marble Arch, London, c.1928
Source Old Pics Archive

A policeman directs buses in the intersection of Trafalgar Square
Source Mashable

Flooded Tower of London moat, 1928
Source Londonhistorian

Thames flood, 1928. The Thames flood was a disastrous flood of the River Thames that affected much of riverside London on 7 January 1928, as well as places further downriver. 14 people were drowned in London and thousands were made homeless when flood waters poured over the top of the Thames Embankment and part of the Chelsea Embankment collapsed. It was the last major flood to affect central London. Source Wikipedia

Sotheby's auction house on New Bond Street proudly counts the 1928 sale of the original Alice's Adventures Underground (an early incarnation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) manuscript as an important part of its history. Passed to Alice Liddell on Carroll's death, Alice was forced to sell it due to financial difficulties on the death of her husband and an American collector bought it for £15,400. Source Londonist

QPR's Loftus Road, 1928
Source Tony Incenzo Talk Sport

London rain, 1928
Source Fe Sa

Piccadilly Circus Underground station like you've never seen it before, in an amazing sectional drawing from 1928
Source London Underground

1928
Source Tower Of London

Westminster, 1928
Source Old London

Camden Station, 1928
Source Old Photos Of London And The East End

No, not that. Photo: Sophie Garrett

Great though Soho is, it's really more of an evening district, when the pubs, bars, restaurants and theatres really come alive. But if you find yourself with a couple of daylight hours to kill, there's still plenty to do.

Note: For the purposes of this article we're counting Soho as the area enclosed in the circle of Regent Street to the west, Oxford Street to the north, Shaftesbury Avenue to the south and Charing Cross Road in the east.

House of MinaLima

In 2016, people were queuing round the block to get into this little-known gallery. The reason? Harry Potter.

House of MinaLima's ongoing exhibition about the Boy Wizard features artwork from the film sets. See copies of the Daily Prophet newspaper and Hogwarts textbooks — and of course, buy your own in the shop downstairs. The closing date has been extended indefinitely, and it's so popular, we can't imagine it going anywhere anytime soon.

The Photographers' Gallery

Harry Potter not your thing? Get a dose of culture at The Photographers' Gallery instead. It's the largest gallery in London dedicated solely to photography, with a constant rotation of temporary exhibitions, plus talks, events, takeovers and more.

Go hunting for the Seven Noses

One down, six to go. Photo: Matt Brown

Dotted around the walls of Soho are seven noses, and legend has it that if you manage to track down all of them, you'll have infinite wealth (we're pretty sure the legend pre-dates Google, so armchair searching doesn't count).

The noses were part of a wider set, affixed to London landmarks by artist Rick Buckley in the 1990s. Many have since been removed, but seven remain in the Soho area, plus three others elsewhere in London.

Struggling to find them all, or want to know more about them? Sign up for one of Peter Berthoud's Seven Noses of Soho walks.

Visit a members' club - no membership required

Image: Lights of Soho

You might want your sunnies for this one — Lights of Soho certainly lives up to its name. The light art gallery doubles up as a coffee shop and cocktail bar, as well as a members' club.  After 6pm it's members only, but before that it's open to the public from 10am daily — why not grab a coffee and while away a morning, or browse one of the regularly changing exhibitions.

Go for a swim

If you know you're going to have a bit of time to kill, bring your swimming gear and do a few lengths of the pool in the Grade II listed Marshall Street Leisure Centre. It's an impressive one — marble-lined floor, barrel vaulted ceiling — and plenty of places to undo that good work with a cake (or a curry) nearby.

Tee off

We wouldn't recommend driving golf balls down Old Compton Street. Instead, check yourself into Urban Golf, a virtual reality golf course. Hone your technique or battle your friends in front of a simulator. It's not cheap (starting at £40 per hour) and it's no Muirfield, but we reckon it counts as exercise... it certainly beats going for a run in your lunch break.

Visit a temple

It may not be as glamorous as Neasden Temple, but Soho has its very own temple — thanks, in part, to one of The Beatles. George Harrison became interested in the work of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness when representatives arrived in the UK in the 1960s. This temple opened in Soho Square in 1979.

Today, it's open to the public — although be aware that it's a functioning place of worship so there are certain rules — as is Govinda's vegetarian restaurant next door, run by the temple.

Check out what's on at Foyles

Photo: raghavvidya

On Soho's borderlands (Charing Cross Road, to be precise), sits a bibliophile's paradise; Foyles. If four miles of bookshelves spread over four floors isn't enough for you, the events programme is worth checking out. Author talks, book launches, reading groups and exhibitions are just some of what's on offer. The live jazz events are worth checking out too, although they mainly take place in the evening, after daytime explorers are tucked up at home.

Looking for places to eat and drink in Soho? We've got that covered too, but if you've drunk your way through all of those, why not visit a pub owned by Shakespeare's relatives? See also: how did Soho get its name?

Demain (Tomorrow) at Elmgreen School

What we're reading

• Tate staff rage, as they're asked to contribute towards a boat for leaving director.
• London's Harry Potter exhibition is hiring muggles.
• Which parts of Greenwich does Tall Ships actually help?
• Illustrations of Spitalfields' birds.

Things to do

BANK'S INDEPENDENCE: A new display opens today marking the 20th anniversary of the Bank's independence to make decisions on interest rates. Bank of England Museum, free entry, just turn up, ongoing

CRAFT FILM FESTIVAL: The UK's first film festival dedicated to crafting and making begins today. Over 40 films of varying lengths will be screened over three days of Reel to Reel, covering topics as diverse as knitting and pottery, to painting lines on the streets. Picturehouse Central, various prices, book ahead, 2-4 May

100 DAYS OF TRUMP: The work of political cartoonists Peter Brookes of the Times and Matt (Matthew Pritchett) of the Telegraph goes on display today, covering topics such as Trump, Brexit and Boris. Chris Beetles Gallery (St James's), free entry, just turn up, until 20 May

LUNCH MARKET:Fancy something different for lunch? Spicy patties, empanadas, noodle salads, haggis toasties and zingy ceviche are just some of the foods on offer at this lunch market. Canary Wharf, free entry, just turn up, 11am-3pm

CHRISTIE'S LATES: Auction house Christie's stays open late for an evening inspired by the art and culture of Asia, with talks by experts, tea sampling, a crash course in Mandarin, and more. Christie's (South Kensington), free entry, book ahead, 6pm-8.30pm

Christie's Lates

MUSEUM BY CANDLELIGHT: Explore Sir John Soane's Museum after hours by candlelight. The house's collection includes antiquities and other curiosities, as well as paintings by the likes of Turner and Hogarth. Sir John Soane's Museum (Lincoln's Inn Fields), free, just turn up (worth getting there early to avoid disappointment), 6pm-9pm

JAPAN INSIGHT: Thinking of travelling to Japan? Travel company Intrepid holds a panel discussion with some experts in the region, including Kylie Clark of Japan House, and travel journalist Nicola Trup. Intrepid UK (Brixton), £10 (including glass of wine), book ahead, 6.30pm-7.30pm

EXPLORING THE EXTREMES: Spend an evening with a scientific adventurer and a mountaineering medic, who will be talking about their work on Earth's highest mountains and in the deepest oceans. Royal Institution, £14/£10/£7, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm

FREE FILM: Today's offering from the Herne Hill Free Film Festival is Demain (Tomorrow), a documentary showcasing projects from around the globe which are making the world greener and more sustainable. Elmgreen School, free, just turn up (first come first served), 7pm (doors 6.30pm)

A.C. GRAYLING ON WAR: Philosopher A.C. Grayling is at Dulwich Books to talk about his new book War: An Enquiry. It covers the concept of war, and whether anything can be done to reduce the number and frequency of wars taking place in the future. Dulwich Books, £10-£25 (including a glass of wine), book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm

Art review: a dancing polar bear

Image courtesy Massimo de Carlo

A polar bear appears to be dancing in the window, while one sits at a desk upstairs. The main gallery is taken up by bicycle wheels of spinning feathers. A whimsical, playful exhibition that'll make kids and adults beam. Paola Pivi: You don't have to believe me at Massimo de Carlo, 55 South Audley Street, W1K 2QH, until 27 May, free ★★★★☆ (Monday-Saturday) Tabish Khan

Theatre review: no place like home

In this powerful story by Benjamin Zephaniah, adapted by Lemn Sissay, A 14-year-old is forced to leave his home, and separated from his family, when war descends on his country. The young asylum seeker encounters British government officials, local gangs, and a well-meaning but overwhelmed foster family — as he forges a life for himself in a foreign land. The show kept a large teenage school group utterly spellbound on the night we visited. Refugee Boy, Chickenshed Theatre, Chase Side, Southgate, N14 4PE, £5-£15, 20 April- 13 May ★★★★☆ Alice Grahame

Good cause for the day

COLOURING THE STREETS: Back in 2014, Londonist teamed up with mural specialists Global Street Art asking Londoners to nominate their neighbourhood for a street art festival. Brockley won with 873 votes. Since then, the festival has livened up some underwhelming walls and unsightly shutters with incredible art including the iconic Bob Marley, endangered tigers, flying toast and even whole houses.

Now in their 3rd year, they want to do more than create their annual showcase of stunning murals, with plans afoot to host free guided street art tours, workshops, talks and live painting events. The whole thing is still run completely by volunteers, and relies on the generosity of local businesses and the community to make things happen. If you're not local and still want to get involved, you can donate to the cause and you'll be rewarded with anything from limited edition artist prints to beers from Brockley Brewery.

Funzing

Fun things to do with our friends and sponsor Funzing.

Anyone can travel the world in style for next to nothing. You just need to know how! Our friends at Funzing UK are organising a unique talk with Nicky, aka The Miles Mogul. He's a music lawyer, photographer, traveller and most importantly air miles Guru. Come along and hear stories from Nicky's first class adventures and leave knowing how to do it yourself on a shoestring. This is a unique chance to learn the secret hacks and tips he's gathered over the years on how to travel in the ultimate style without breaking the bank. Get tickets

Watch the world go by: the Wolesley.

London is rich in opportunities for people watching, and the good news is you don't just have to slum it on a bench in Trafalgar Square. Some of the best nosying to be done is in a few choice restaurants, where the clientele is just as much of a draw as the food. So, bag yourself a table at the right buzzy brasserie to watch the great and good dine next door, or get right among it all at some of London's biggest tourist hotspots without having to battle the crowds. Here are a few of our top picks:

The Wolseley

Home to one of the grandest and most iconic dining rooms in town, The Wolseley offers some excellent people watching. Ask to be seated in the main deco style atrium - not in the more private side rooms or booths - and lap up the atmosphere, which is abuzz from dawn to after dark. Breakfasts here are legendary, of course, and the a la carte lunch and dinners are of a high standard too. Last time we were here we spied Fergie (the ex-royal, not the Black Eyed Pea) holding court as we munched on a platter of crevettes and marie rose. 

Source The Wolseley

Source thewolseley

Bluebird

This Chelsea stalwart is popular for a reason - and not just with the more-money-than-sense MiC crew. A restaurant, bar, cafe, food and wine shop, Bluebird offers great views of the King's Road. It's beautifully designed, staff are friendly and the modern, healthy(ish) food is ideal fare for a reviving pitstop mid-shop (try their two courses for £22 lunch Monday-Friday) . Cocktails are good too, and it's easy to to let a long lunch go on and on here as you soak up the SW3 vibes in the sunny courtyard.  

Source instagram

Source instagram

The Ivy Restaurant

One of the original London restaurants to see and be seen, the sort of clientele at the first West Street Ivy Restaurant has remained constant for the last 100 years or so. Recently refurbished, the large dining room hosts a central bar where the best celeb spotting can be achieved. The cooking is consistently good, mostly British, and the shepherd's pie is the star of the show - at surprisingly accessible prices too. Even starrier spots can usually be found at the upstairs Ivy Club if you've got a friend on the door. 

Source The Ivy

Roast

Borough Market is prime people watching territory and the views from Roast offer a considerably different perspective from the ground level hubub. Smart, British breakfasts, lunches and dinners are served up using produce from the market below, otherwise just sit up at the bar and watch the market punters and tourists go by. Window seat required. 

Source roast-restaurant

Source roast-restaurant

Dean Street Townhouse Dining Room

As soon as the mercury rises above 20 degrees, the handful of al fresco tables on the Dean Street Townhouse's miniature terrace become some of the hottest property in Soho. Always packed with media types, luvvies and celebs, if you can bag a seat here - inside or out - then the people watching  reads like a who's who of London's great and good. In winter, cosy up into a dinnertime booth for the signature mince and potatoes and in summer have your elbows at the ready for an outside table, and watch Soho go by with a glass of rose and seasonal salad. 

Source DeanStTownhouse

Source DeanStTownhouse

Dumplings' Legend

A completely different people watching opportunity awaits at this W1 restaurant. Here, the dim sum you can watch being prepared may divide crowds, but no one can argue about the spying potential. Huge windows face right onto bustling Gerrard Street, affording you an unparalleled view of Chinatown. Bonus: it's also opposite the China Exchange which has an interesting quota of guest speakers (lately, Judi Dench), so who knows who you might spot. 

Heliot Restaurant, Lounge & Bar

It's not cheap here but we promise the people watching is worth the price tag and the OTT decor. Slap bang in the middle of the West End - well, it is the Hippodrome after all - you'll see all sorts here. Settle into their award-winning restaurant and enjoy a rare view looking into the casino's three gaming floors for some extreme people peeping. Follow it up with a show and cabaret or a drink in one of their six bars. Not for the faint hearted. 

Source londonist

Source londonist

D Stock put out to pasture. Image: TfL

Tube stock is like an old warhorse. Some of the trains we're still riding beneath the streets of London were in operation while US troops were being withdrawn from Vietnam.

But there comes the time in the life of every tube train when it must be put out to pasture. So where do they go? The good news is that there's light at the end of the tunnel for many.

A limited supply of decommissioned stock ends up in the hands of private buyers; most Londoners are familiar with the Jubilee line cabs and carriages perched on the roof of Village Underground in Shoreditch. Used as spaces for freelance creatives, this is surely the tube stock that offers the best views in London.

A handful of stock has finds its way to museums; London Transport Museum and their Acton depot are the obvious ones — and thank goodness they had the foresight to preserve some of the unctuous oxblood coloured 1938 stock — but there's also a 1968 Victoria Line tube car at Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum. When you see a tube carriage in a film or TV show, it may well have been shot here. The same carriage is also used to host a monthly supper club (this is one carriage on which you won't be scowled at for consuming hot food).

1930s tube stock now in operation on the Isle of Wight

Many trains keep on rolling, albeit elsewhere in the UK. When holidaying in the Isle of Wight, we found you could ride 1938 tube stock to the coast — something you can only dream of doing in London. It's not the only island that's snapped up TfL's leftovers; go to Alderney in the Channel Islands, and you'll discover more of the same 1930s stock — pulled in this case by an old diesel train. It sends a shiver down the spine to know that when these trains were still new, Londoners on board them would have been reading the headlines about Hitler's latest evildoing.

Vivarail does more than give old tube stock a lick of paint. Image: Vivarail

As for the 1980s D Stock that was decommissioned from the District line in April 2017 — much of that was sold onto Vivarail, who'll put the trains back into action on the National Grid. Says Sean Colfer from TfL, "that involves changing some of the bodywork and installing motors (either diesel or battery powered) so that they can operate on non-electrified rails."

A couple of the old D Stock, however, refuse to leave the Underground point blank. These will become rail adhesion trains, spreading sandite on the Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines, to help avoid any train wheel issues. They are, almost literally, paving the way for the new S Stock — a rather fitting semi-retirement.

Tate Modern. Photo by Sam Carpenter.

So, most Londoners have probably visited Tate Modern dozens of times.

Here are some new ways to look at London's most popular gallery of modern art.

1. Take a moment to admire that building

The Bankside Power Station, that now houses Tate Modern might look like a pretty permanent piece of London's skyline, but we nearly lost it once.

In the late 1980s, the proposed route for the Eurostar was quite different, with plans to knock down part of Peckham for the project. One of the ventilation shafts for the tunnel in these plans was to be located by the then-disused power station on the banks of the Thames.

Then there's the architect (David Chipperfield) who proposed taking down the power station's chimney when it was converted to an art gallery. Luckily, Nicholas Serota didn't agree to that one.

Tate Modern. Photo by Matt Brown.

Take a moment to admire the 4.2million bricks that make up the old power station; and the 99m (325 ft) high chimney, specifically built to be lower than the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral at 114m (375 ft).

2. Pontificate about the non-chronological displays

When Tate Modern opened in May 2000, its non-chronological display of art was considered something of a challenge. Not many art galleries were showing their collections in this way at the time.

Obviously, with Tate Modern's success, this has all now changed.

But it's still something to reflect on. Is this non-linear display because showing the art 'in order' would've shown off the weaknesses in the Tate's collection? Nicholas Serota seems to think so (£)...

But there are other arguments you can steal borrow from Nick S and declaim loudly as you potter around the place trying to sound clever. Here's an idea:

It was about establishing the relationship between the contemporary and the past that really motivated us to try and think of a new way of showing the collection.

Or, alternatively,

the fundamental reason was because we wanted to explore the new relationships between the present and the past.

3. Trace the crack of Shibboleth

Shibboleth was a temporary art installation placed by the Colombian artist Doris Salcedo in Tate's Turbine Hall in 2007.

Shibboleth. Photo by Edward Kimber.

The work, which was one long crack in the gallery's concrete floor, made something of an impression on most people that saw it.

In fact, it made even more of an impression on the gallery's floor, as if you look carefully, you can still see traces of the artwork (now filled in with cement) more than a decade later.

Can you see it? Photo, called 'Scarred' by Helen2006.

4. Spot Peregrine Falcons

Tate Modern's chimney has been a favourite perch for peregrine falcons since at least 2004.

The current pair, christened Amy and Sheldon by RSPB viewing site visitors in 2005 (fans of The Big Bang Theory, we're guessing), successfully raised three chicks in 2016.

You can spot the birds with help from experts from the RSPB near the Millennium Bridge throughout the summer months (daily from 14 July until 3 September, between 11am and 6pm or 7pm, depending on the birds, and the weather).

5. Download the Tate App

Take your art enjoyment to another level with the Tate app.

It's a fun, easy-to-use tool that uses your location in the gallery to enhance your experience in the gallery.

Tate's app.

We particularly like the additional artist and curator interviews available: you can either indulge while in the gallery itself, or extend your art appreciation on the bus home.

6. Munch on Tate chocolate

Did you know the Tate makes chocolate? And very nice it is too.

Tate chocolate.

Head to the Chocolate Shop on level 1 of the Boiler House, and you can indulge in hot chocolate, chocolate bars and gifts, all made in collaboration with Cacao Barry.

More Tate chocolate.

You can read more about the chocolatier responsible for making these gorgeous treats, Jack Bowden, here.

7. Indulge in some aural art

If you're exploring Tate with someone who loves music and sound / a teenager, why not try a Sonic Trail?

Tate Sonic Trail © Olivia Hemminway

Tate Modern's Sonic Trails have been designed by sound artists to offer a different kind of art inside the Tate's idiosyncratic building. There are two to choose from: Trace by Caleb Madden and A Wild Chase by Emiliano Zelada.

8. Take a Tour for Two

Dating an art lover?

These Tate Modern tours for two would make a great gift. You can choose between seeing highlights from the collection, or a special exhibition, and have an expert Tate Guide show you around the art. Lovely.

9. Put YOUR art on the wall

Ever looked at some of the more, er, abstract art in Tate Modern and thought 'I could do that'? Well, here's your chance.

Bloomberg Connects Drawing Bar © Tate Photography

Head to the Drawing Bar at Tate Modern, and doodle on the digital sketch pad. Perfect your masterpiece, and then project it onto the wall in the gallery. Fame and recognition, at last!

Westminster's Jewel Tower is a hidden gem by name and nature. The 14th century tower stands directly opposite the Houses of Parliament, but gets nowhere near the footfall it deserves.

Plan showing the location of the Jewel Tower and its moat relative to the Thames and Westminster Abbey, in Medieval times.

The Jewel Tower is one of the few surviving parts of the ancient Palace of Westminster, much of which has been destroyed in fires. It's a sturdy little thing, made of Kentish ragstone and still surrounded by a medieval moat. This once ran into the Thames, as shown below, and was used as a source of fish.

Remains of the moat, now drained.

The tower's remarkable story is told over three floors, accessed by a spiral staircase. The top floor reveals the tower's connections to royalty. It was built as a storehouse for Edward III's treasures — mostly jewels and silver plate — in 1366, and continued as a royal blingery until 1512. Thereafter, it was mainly used for regal bric-a-brac, but nothing too lustrous.

Original wooden foundations of the Jewel Tower.

The middle floor reveals how the Jewel Tower was later converted to store the records of the House of Lords (including the execution order of Charles I). The Great Fire of Westminster in 1834 destroyed many of the Palace's records, but the comings-and-goings of the Lords were preserved thanks to their safekeeping in this tower.

A fireproof chamber, whose door carries the date 1621 and the mark of James I.

In 1869, the tower passed to the Standard Weights and Measures Department. Its thick medieval walls made it ideal for making precise measurements. Displays show some of the standard weights and capacity measurements that were devised in this building.

Two towers used to store official documents — the Jewel Tower (foreground) and Victoria Tower, still home to the Parliamentary Archive.

The ground floor is mostly given over to a cafe and English Heritage gift shop, but be sure to take in the vaulted ceiling and the cabinet of standard volumes.

The Jewel Tower really is a hidden gem, hiding in plain sight from the millions of tourists who pour into Westminster annually. Give it a look-see next time you're in the area.

The Jewel Tower is open every day. See the English Heritage website for times and prices.

Things to do this weekend is sponsored by The British Museum.

All weekend

Peckham Salvage Yard

IMPERIAL FESTIVAL: Land a virtual reality plane, battle superbugs and learn how scientists are trying to make cheese creamier at Imperial Festival, a free, family-friendly science festival which gives the public an insight into the work of Imperial's scientists. Imperial College, free, book ahead, 6-7 May

PECKHAM SALVAGE YARD: The team behind Hackney Flea Market heads south for Peckham Salvage Yard, a vintage market with 50 traders selling furniture, ceramics, clothes, textiles and more. Bussey Building, free entry, just turn up, 6-7 May, 11am-6pm

FAMILY POP-UP: It's time to get the little ones looking stylish at this pop-up market. ShopUp invites the hippest boutique children's designers to Shoreditch, alongside some activities to keep the kids entertained. Old Truman Brewery, free entry, just turn up, 6-7 May

Saturday 6 May

Basement Orchestra at The Grand

MOANA: Take the kids to see animated Disney film Moana at Little Rippers Film Club — and wear them out with an hour-long skate session first. House of Vans, free, just turn up, 10.30am/12.15pm

THEATRELAND: Calling all theatre-lovers; take a tour around London's star-studded West End to discover its secrets and history. Tkts booth, £12/£9, book ahead, 11am-12.30pm

SEWING MACHINES: It's the monthly opening of London's sewing machine museum. See a machine which was given to Queen Victoria's eldest daughter as a wedding present, among 600 other objects. Sewing Machine Museum (Balham High Road), free (donations welcome), just turn up, 2pm-5pm

GUIDED WALK: Head east for a riverside walk exploring chimneys and tunnels along the Thames. Greenwich Pier, £15/£12, book ahead, 2.15pm-5pm

WOMEN SOLDIERS: Explore 100 years of women in the army at the National Army Museum. The tour takes you all the way up to last year's lifting on the ban of women in combat roles. National Army Museum, free, book ahead, 2.30pm-3pm

MIDNIGHT APOTHECARY: It's the opening weekend of the 2017 season of enchanting summer bar, the Midnight Apothecary. Located in a rooftop garden atop the Brunel Museum, sup seasonal botanical cocktails by the excellent Cocktail Gardener, sitting alongside an open firepit. Brunel Museum (Rotherhithe), £5 entry (food and drink charged on top), book ahead, 5.30pm-10.30pm (and every Friday and Saturday night until September)

BASEMENT ORCHESTRA: Hear classical music, but not as you know it. Basement Orchestra transforms the music hall into a dance hall, alongside tasty finger food and a tempting bar. The Grand (Clapham), £12.50, book ahead, 7.15pm-9.30pm

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Sunday 7 May

Such Is Life at the Barbican

CRICKET: It's the beginning of the new cricket season and to kick it off, Lord's is hosting the first ever one day international between England and Ireland on British soil. Lord's Cricket Ground, Adults from £25/under 16s from £5, book ahead, 10.30am

CROYDON AIRPORT: See the world's oldest air traffic control tower and take a free tour around the micro museum at Croydon Airport's monthly open day. Croydon Airport, free (donations welcome), just turn up, 11am-4pm

MINIONS: Minions is the film of choice at Little Rippers Film Club. Wear the little ones out with an hour of skating first, before settling them in front of the film. Not a Minions fan? No problem — adults can refuel in the cafe while kids watch the screening. House of Vans, free, just turn up, 12.15pm

NON-SILENT FILM: The Barbican take the classic Czechoslovakian silent film Such Is Life, and provides sound through a live musical accompaniment by Milos Orson Stedron. Barbican, £5-£12.50, book ahead, 4pm

CHARITY FOOTBALL: Football Beyond Borders present the Community Cup, bringing together ex-pros and celebrities to raise funds for the charity that helps provide free football classes for kids across Britain.

ED BALLS: Perhaps the most popular and charismatic politician this nation has ever seen, and coming hot on the heels of his own national day, hear Ed Balls chat to Dan Jones about his life in politics, why history matters and most importantly Strictly. Hackney House, £20, book ahead, 6pm-8pm

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The quaint village of Monken Hadley. Photo: Matt Brown

London's fringe villages aren't always the liveliest places. Take Monken Hadley and Hadley Green at the top of Barnet. The area's not brimming with tourist attractions, but maybe people should take more notice of it. There's very little to suggest it once hosted a battle of massive importance in the War of the Roses. However, on 14 April 1471, it did just that.

The Battle of Barnet is of historic significance for a couple of reasons. Most famously, it was a pivotal moment in a protracted war that helped secure Edward IV the throne. Secondly, it's the first recorded instance of friendly fire in history. For the uninitiated in the tactics of war, friendly fire is when weapons from one's own side accidentally causes injuries to that same side's forces.

So let's set the scene. It's a foggy morning. The Barnet — or, more specifically, Hadley — of today might look suburban and green, but it's nothing in comparison with the rolling fields that blanketed it in the 15th century. The battle sounds like something out of a Hollywood film, a former protege battling his disillusioned master.

Someone is really going for it with his spear. Lithograph of the battle from Wikimedia Commons

Richard Neville was the Earl of Warwick and had earned himself the name 'the Kingmaker', when he helped Edward win the throne ten years earlier. Since then, he'd grown discontent with his ally — particularly his choice of wife — and switched to the Lancastrian side, helping Henry VI back to the throne temporarily.

So it all came down to this battle for Edward. At the start, the Lancastrians were enjoying some success, before they defeated themselves. Warwick's men confused the star emblem worn by the followers of their ally the Earl of Oxford, with the sun badge representing the Yorkists.

Contemporary picture of the battle. Wikimedia Commons

So they did what any savvy medieval soldier would do. Shot arrows at them. Oxford and his men cried treachery, fighting back and sending the Lancastrian ranks into a disarray of anger and panic. Edward saw the chaos in the enemy ranks and did what any good commander would; he went in for the kill.

And kill he did. The battle was the death of Warwick and afterwards, Edward is reported to have ridden all the way to St Paul's, melodramatically interrupting a service to lay the dead Earl's banner on the altar.

So maybe take a stroll up to Hadley Green one misty morning and visit a place that saw a milestone in military history. Whatever you do, be sure not to mistake the sun for the stars.

If you're interested in the Battle of Barnet you can find out more at Barnet Museum.

Courtyard Festival. Photo: Dan Harris / Green Man

There’s a heavy CAMRA presence amongst this month’s beer festivals, which is good news for those who like their ale cask-conditioned and their entry fees modest. Most of the action takes place south of the river, with a notable exception of Courtyard in King's Cross, which should provide a big beer fix for any north Londoners who don’t want to venture too far.

4-6 May: Bexley Beer Festival

The annual Bexley Beer Festival returns for its 12th year with a new organiser and “a bigger marquee”. As with last year, the provisional drinks list (Excel), detailing 85 beers and 24 ciders, indicates a wide variety of beers from some less commonly seen UK brewers. Entrance to one of the six-hour sessions (or all day Saturday) costs a mere £2.50, with a discount for CAMRA members, and completely free entry for those who can prove that they’re less than 26 years old.

11-13 May: Kingston Beer & Cider Festival

The organisers of Kingston Beer & Cider Festival seem to like their anniversaries. Last year’s festival celebrated “the 100th anniversary of the first electric trains to Kingston”; this year it’s the turn of a First World War biplane to be commemorated, for some reason. Moving past the centenary celebrations, the beer list (Excel) contains more than 60 real ales, many from London or Home Counties brewers. Again, entrance fees are modest: £2 or £3 for sessions on the Thursday or Friday (and CAMRA discounts), and free entry on the Saturday.

13 May: Marvellous May Cider Festival

Yes, once again we’ve sneaked a cider festival into an article about beer festivals. However we like to think that our ale-aficionado readers are an open-minded bunch with varied tastes in fermented beverages, and Bromley CAMRA’s Marvellous May Cider Festival does promise a real ale bar to supplement the 20 real ciders and perries promised. As before, the festival takes place in the H. G. Wells Centre (named after the author who was born in, but retained little love for, Bromley), and takes place from 11.30am until 11pm on one day only. Entrance costs just £2 (or £1 for CAMRA members).

25-27 May: Kidbrooke Beer & Cider Festival

Charlton Park Rugby Club plays host to the 18th annual instalment of the Kidbrooke Beer & Cider Festival. In addition to 50 real ales and more than 20 ciders and perries, attractions include some promising food options (wood-fired pizza, hog roast, pies), live music from a couple of bands, and tutored tastings from Brockley’s waterintobeer shop. The festival runs from 12pm-10.30pm each day, and entry costs just £2 (£1 for CAMRA members).

25-29 May: Green Man Presents Courtyard

As a contrast to the aforementioned CAMRA-organised festivals, Welsh music festival organisers Green Man present the Courtyard Festival in Lewis Cubitt Square near King’s Cross, taking place over the spring bank holiday weekend. More than 100 beers and ciders from 30+ Welsh brewers is promised, providing the opportunity to try numerous brews that are not easily found in London. Food offerings, predictably enough, are styled as ‘street food’, and include burgers, tortillas, and stone-baked pizza.

When we last saw a Courtyard festival in London, in November 2015, entry was more-or-less free (although we thought that the beer prices were a bit steep). The formula has changed significantly for this latest instalment, with tickets for entry costing between £15 and £20 (probably in part reflecting the variety of live music performances throughout the festival).

Also…

• London Brewers’ Market will be setting up for an evening session at Greenwich Market on Friday 5 May, from 6.30pm until 10.30pm. As usual entrance is free, and beer from 10 London brewers will be on sale, accompanied by music from Independent Label Market.

• The annual Surbiton Food Festival includes a dry-hopped beer festival, as part of the Village Fete over the weekend of 13-14 May. Festivities run from 12pm to 6pm in St. Andrew’s Square.

• Those at the Hope pub in Carshalton seem obsessed with obscure wordplay when it comes to naming their beer festivals. This month’s Drinker, Drayman, Cellarman, Spile festival, taking place 25-27 May, demonstrates a real dedication to shoehorning cask ale terminology into a title that only slightly resembles the name of a John le Carré novel. Groan if you must.

• Between 12pm and 7pm on 27 May, Selhurst Park Stadium will host the annual Crystal Palace F.C. Beer Festival. It could be big: 3000 tickets are on sale for £10 in advance (or £15 on the day), and more than 200 beers and ciders are promised.

If you’re a lover of beer or pubs, check out our ever-expanding database of the best pubs in London.