London Diary: The best of what's on in London this week, Jan 28 - Feb 3

Leyshon Brothers Victorian Pop-up

The Leyshon Brothers’ fantastic Victorian-themed pop-up has one week left, so get down and soak up some vintage arts, culture and debauchery.

On Jan 29, Victor’s Homecoming will feature top music hall artists including steampunk mentalist Professor Elemental and The Baron, and there’ll be a Victorian quiz night, too.

A Right Cockney Knees Up on Jan 31 features domestic dance masters Pearly Kings, Pie and Liquor and, cor blimey, a cockney rhyming slang class.

Tickets are selling fast, though, so be quick.

£10+, Jan 26-Feb 2,
times vary TBC
Tube | London Bridge  
leyshonbrothers.com 

Saturday Sewing Session

Kick back, put that ‘learn a new skill’ resolution into practice and embrace your inner seamstress this week with a relaxing sewing class.

Catering for all levels, classes on offer have fun names including Naughty Knickers, Pajama-rama PJ Bottoms, Pantry Parlour Pinnies and more. 

£30+, Various days and times 
Studio 6 Fairbank Studios,
SW10 0NS  
Tube | Fulham Broadway 
saturdaysewingsession.co.uk

Brim oop north real ale fest

London gets a little taste of the north with this real ale fest.

As well as the booze, there will be matching grub, a talk from Barnsley-born author Pete Brown about his latest book, Shakespeare’s Local, and DJs spinning the finest northern soul, Motown and rock ‘n’ roll.  

Free, Jan 31-Feb 3. Thurs, 3pm-11pm;
Fri, 3pm-1am; Sat, 12pm-1am;
Sun, 12pm-11pm  
The Snooty Fox, N5 2NN  
Tube | Canonbury  
snootyfoxlondon.co.uk

Drop-in life drawing class

Fancy putting your artistic skills to the test? Then get down to this drop-in life drawing class.

There are two models to choose from – one poses for an hour, the other strikes four poses in the same time – and there’s a tutor on hand to give you tips, too.

You’ll be drawing like Jack from Titanic in no time.  

£9+, Feb 1, 10am-1pm 
Lauderdale House,
Highgate Hill, N6 5HG  
Tube | Archway  
lauderdalehouse.co.uk

Cinema & skate Aussie party

What could be more of a reminder of Oz than Rolf Harris and ice skating?

OK, so activities that require things freezing don’t immediately make us think of the land Down Under, but this bash in honour of Australia Day at Broadgate Ice Rink gets bloody close – there will be Crocodile Dundee on the big screen, surf boards, kangaroos and Kylie tunes at this fun- and bruise-filled winter spectacular.

£9, January 28, 7.30pm-9pm 
Broadgate Circle, EC2M 2QS  
Tube | Liverpool Street  
broadgate.co.uk 

Super Bowl XLVII Sunday Party

The Baltimore Ravens take on the San Francisco 49ers at the Louisiana Superdome in this year’s NFL Super Bowl, and The Clapham North pub is throwing a US-themed bash for the occasion with an American Diner-inspired menu of hot dogs, burgers and beer.

Should be Yankee doodle dandy. 

Free, Feb 3, from 10pm 
The Clapham North, SW9 9BT
Tube | Clapham North 
theclaphamnorth.co.uk

The View from The Shard

At a towering 800ft, London Bridge’s glass spike, The Shard, is Western Europe’s highest viewing platform, offering panoramic views of London from a vantage point twice as high as any other in the city.

From Feb 1 onwards the public can go up and see more than 60km away, taking in the capital’s majesty and mystery. 

£24.95+, Daily, 9am-10pm SE1  
Tube | London Bridge 
theviewfromtheshard.com

Photos: TNT, Getty