The ianVisits guide to March's unusual events, tours, lectures and exhibitions happening around London.
Tuesday 1st March
Ian will be presenting and discussing a selection of recordings to take the listener back into London's lost worlds of sound.
Starts at 7am
Peckham
Free
Professor Lord King will discuss with Professor Lord Stern his new book, which suggests original ways to end the alchemy of our current monetary and banking system.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
More London events on Tuesday 1st March
Wednesday 2nd March
The discovery of exoplanets and of Earth twins will be described, with a review of attempts to estimate the probability of finding life in the universe.
Starts at 1pm
Barbican
More London events on Wednesday 2nd March
Thursday 3rd March
This talk will examine the processes by which artists such as Michelangelo, Sofonisba Anguissola and Titian became early modern celebrities.
1:15pm to 1:55pm
5:30pm to 6:30pm
Holborn
This talk explores the development and, ultimately, the demise of decorated stationery.
6pm to 8pm
City of London
Caroline Lucas will explore the role of the EU as a force for progress; the likely impact ofthe EU referendum campaign and what green progress means in the EU context.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
Professor Maggie Andrews will discuss some of the key campaigns and concerns of the Women’s Institute, from its origins in the First World War to the 1950s
7pm to 8pm
Richmond
More London events on Thursday 3rd March
Friday 4th March
£5.00
This panel discussion, chaired by Dame Liz Forgan, will explore in depth how the British Museum works in partnership with 250 UK museums and galleries,
Starts at 12am
Russell Square
Once a month, the private gardens of Lambeth Palace are open for a few hours in the afternoon.
12pm to 3pm
Southwark
Free
A talk about the young female pilots of Air Transport Auxiliary who flew thousands of perilous missions in service of Britain’s war effort.
2pm to 3pm
Richmond
Watch a 3D video projection on the walls of the City's Guildhall, accompanied by a new music composition.
6:45pm to 8:45pm
More London events on Friday 4th March
Saturday 5th March
£9.00
Explore archaeological secrets from beneath some of London’s most iconic buildings.
tba
Come help the rangers to plant native trees and shrubs at Leyton Marsh this Spring.
10am to 3:30pm
Leyton
An investigation in how women’s rights developed and the influence on government policy, literature and moral codes of conduct.
Starts at 11am
Kensington
Free
A chance to see inside a Spitfire cockpit on the 80th anniversary of their first flight.
11:30am to 2:30pm
£5.00
This moderate walk of just under two hours will take you to see prefab locations past and present, derelict and inhabited.
Starts at 12pm
Brockley
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
Watch a 3D video projection on the walls of the City's Guildhall, accompanied by a new music composition.
6:45pm to 8:45pm
More London events on Saturday 5th March
Sunday 6th March
Derek Bates will argue that we should be able to properly engage with our elected representatives using modern communication and internet technology,
Starts at 11am
Holborn
A collection of Fairground Organs on display and performing for the audience.
11am to 5pm
Amersham
More London events on Sunday 6th March
Monday 7th March
£15.00
Curators Dirk Booms and Peter Higgs, British Museum introduce the forthcoming special exhibition Sicily: culture and conquest.
Starts at 12am
Russell Square
How do forensic experts really consult on real life investigations? What has changed about forensic investigation in recent years?
7pm to 9:45pm
More London events on Monday 7th March
Tuesday 8th March
Inspired by the idea of creating something from ‘nothing’ and starting from scratch, RIBA presents a evening exploring big urban thinking.
6pm to 10pm
Panel discussion exploring how we can ensure that Shakespeare remains relevant for a new generation of young people.
6:30pm to 8pm
Picadilly
A talk by Andy Savage, Executive Director, Railway Heritage Trust.
6:30pm to 8pm
What gives a territory the right to become an independent country, and under what conditions can a state prevent it from doing so?
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
In this lecture the scholar, Sander Gilman asks what happens when religion and medicine compete or are allied.
6:30pm to 8pm
More London events on Tuesday 8th March
Wednesday 9th March
his lecture follows the architectural journey of the medical profession in the capital from a closed shop to a nationalised democratic institution.
Starts at 6pm
Barbican
In conversation with Laura Bates, founder of the "Everyday Sexism Project" and comedians Luisa Omielan & Cally Beaton discussing how comedy masks as well as exposes everyday sexism.
6pm to 8pm
A fun evening of science, jokes, stories and laughter! Come discover more about the animal kingdom from some of the its biggest fans.
6:30pm to 9:30pm
A chance to sketch and explore a unique piece of London history in a Victorian workshop behind Tate Modern.
7pm to 9pm
More London events on Wednesday 9th March
Thursday 10th March
A call for ecological conversion, the Laudato Si’ by Pope Francis examines environmental issues in the light of faith.
4:15pm to 6pm
Holborn
A special late opening of the exhibition, ‘Scholar, courtier, magician: the lost library of John Dee’.
6pm to 10pm
In an introductory talk, Amanda Potter explores the myth of the Furies and representations of these female monsters in art, film and TV.
6pm to 8:30pm
More London events on Thursday 10th March
Friday 11th March
In this lecture numismatist Philip de Jersey, former keeper of the Oxford University Celtic Coin Index, will describe the exciting story of the excavation and the hoard’s subsequent analysis.
Starts at 12am
Russell Square
Two of Britain’s learning cartoonists Steve Bell and Martin Rowson discuss their work in relation to freedom of speech and recent attacks on satirical magazines.
6:30pm to 7:30pm
South Kensington
More London events on Friday 11th March
Saturday 12th March
As the Cosmonauts exhibition comes to a close, the Science Museum will hold one last late night opening.
10am to 10:45pm
A fairly rare chance to climb up to the top of the disused Caledonian Park clock tower with excellent views across North London.
10am to 3pm
Holloway
Occasional tours of the backstage areas of the Southbank Centre
Starts at 11am
More London events on Saturday 12th March
Sunday 13th March
Occasional open day at a 3 acre wildlife friendly private garden
2pm to 5pm
Denham
More London events on Sunday 13th March
Monday 14th March
Hear about the challenges of selecting the themes, criminal cases and objects from the original museum.
7pm to 9:30pm
More London events on Monday 14th March
Tuesday 15th March
Through images and stories from the dark days of 1939 to 1945, Second World War researcher and author, Neil Bright will take you on a virtual guided tour of Old Southwark in the Blitz.
6:30pm to 7:30pm
More London events on Tuesday 15th March
Wednesday 16th March
2pm to 3pm
City of London
More London events on Wednesday 16th March
Thursday 17th March
A talk about the Victorian woman who set to record the lost graveyards of London.
2pm to 3pm
City of London
You are invited to a free evening of fun science ....and this time our theme is all about Animal Athletes!
5:30pm to 10pm
Camden
More London events on Thursday 17th March
Friday 18th March
Free
Discover the secret history and living culture of Crossbones; the outcasts' burial ground,
tba
Southwark
£5.00
Tour the remains of the western gate of London’s Roman military fort, located beneath the streets next to the museum.
2pm to 2:30pm
Chaotic science cabaret in the pub a line up of experts, including computer scientists, psychologists and social scientists delve into the weird and wonderful side of science.
Starts at 6:30pm
New Cross
More London events on Friday 18th March
Saturday 19th March
Over 40 hand-picked layouts from around the globe on display, for all railway enthusiasts.
All Day
Free
Discover the secret history and living culture of Crossbones; the outcasts' burial ground,
tba
Southwark
Occasional open day to see the remains of the Priory ruins - now to be found underneath a major roadway.
10am to 5pm
Wimbledon
A unique opportunity to explore behind the scenes of the Royal Society.
10am to 4pm
Kenley is the most complete surviving Battle of Britain fighter airfield as well as being home to some rare flora and fauna.
12pm to 4pm
Caterham
More London events on Saturday 19th March
Sunday 20th March
Over 40 hand-picked layouts from around the globe on display, for all railway enthusiasts.
All Day
Free
Discover the secret history and living culture of Crossbones; the outcasts' burial ground,
tba
Southwark
Occasional open day to see the remains of the Priory ruins - now to be found underneath a major roadway.
10am to 5pm
Wimbledon
In our society, we hold a common view about what Oxbridge is, but are not so clear about what Oxbridge does.
Starts at 11am
Holborn
First ever public opening of this otherwise off-limits nature reserve on the site of a former manor house.
1:30pm to 4pm
Worcester Park
A talk about artist’s interpretations of buildings, spaces, places and homes.
2:45pm to 4pm
St James
More London events on Sunday 20th March
Monday 21st March
Ken Livingstone discusses his new book ‘Being Red’ with author and Left Book Club founder, Anna Minton.
Starts at 2pm
Picadilly
Join Dr Jenny Bizley to explore the neuroscience of our hearing and the crossover of our senses.
6:30pm to 8pm
Joe Cerrell of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will consider the impact aid is having around the world,
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
More London events on Monday 21st March
Tuesday 22nd March
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Tuesday 22nd March
Wednesday 23rd March
Pete Smith traces the history of London Bridge from Roman times to the present day.
2pm to 3pm
City of London
Johnston’s grandson tells how a trip to the Wild West of North America in 1898 helped his grandfather become a calligrapher.
Starts at 7pm
More London events on Wednesday 23rd March
Thursday 24th March
Join our expert panel to analyse the film’s key moments and characters, and investigate the belief system and ethics of Star Wars.
Starts at 7:30pm
Holborn
More London events on Thursday 24th March
Friday 25th March
Free
Each year a fresh hot-cross bun is ceremonially presented by sailors in memory of a tradition.
tba
Bow
Revisit one of the best-loved films of the 1990s with this special screening at the Natural History Museum.
6:30pm to 9:45pm
South Kensington
More London events on Friday 25th March
Saturday 26th March
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Saturday 26th March
Sunday 27th March
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Sunday 27th March
Monday 28th March
Free
The Blackheath Morris Men once more carry out the ancient tradition of heaving a lady into the air on a decorated chair.
12pm to 9pm
Greenwich
More London events on Monday 28th March
Tuesday 29th March
Free
Generation Rent, PricedOut and Renters’ Rights London are organising a hustings for the five main parties.
Starts at 6:30pm
Holborn
More London events on Tuesday 29th March
Wednesday 30th March
Occasional tours of the remains of Croydon Palace - which is now largely used by a girls school.
Starts at 1:30pm
Rooms evocatively lit with an array of candles will transport guests back into the Victorian era at these evening openings.
Starts at 6:20pm
More London events on Wednesday 30th March
Thursday 31st March
Occasional tours of the remains of Croydon Palace - which is now largely used by a girls school.
Starts at 1:30pm
Leading Peterloo experts, Dr Robert Poole and Dr Katrina Navickas, will be talking about the events of the massacre,
2pm to 4pm
Richmond
This Gender Equity Network lecture will review how men and boys’ issues are, in general, addressed neither by Westminster politicians nor ‘Whitehall’ organisations.
6:15pm to 7:15pm
A talk about why Lovecraft's creations have struck such a significant chord within both modern esoteric thought and popular culture.
Starts at 7:45pm
Whitechapel
