What to do this week in London, 27 November – 3 December

By Eloise Barker on 29/11/2017

What to do this week in London: it's time to enjoy London's winter delights.

Bettany Hughes on Istanbul: The World's Desire

Monday: Istanbul, not Constantinople

Have an inspirational start to your week with a talk by Bettany Hughes on the greatest ancient city of the world. Titled Istanbul: The World's Desire, let historian, broadcaster and author Hughes introduce you to the intoxicating city of Istanbul with a story that spans 8,000 years of history.

WHEN

On 27 Nov 2017, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

WHERE

Royal Institution
21 Albemarle Street, London, W1S 4BS

Tuesday: Find fabulous faux fur at Shrimps

Shrimps burst onto the London fashion scene in 2013. The fun, furry brand by London based designer Hannah Weiland takes its curious name from her childhood nickname. This Tuesday, hit up the Shrimps sample sale. Look out for chunky fur coats in uproarious colours, key rings that hang like fuzzy caterpillars and sumptuous faux fur stoles.

WHEN

28 Nov 2017 – 29 Nov 2017, 1pm - 8pm Tuesday; 7am -5pm Wednesday

Rose Wylie, Pink Skater, (Will I Win, Will I Win), 2015, Oil on canvas, 208 x 329 cm, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Soonhak Kwon

Wednesday: Don your rose-tinted spectacles

Octogenarian British painter Rose Wylie's solo show at the Serpentine Sackler Gallery opens this week. Enjoy the Senior Royal Academician's loose, colourful style across a collection of canvases. Her playful show, entitled 'QUACK QUACK', and featuring the work 'Pink Skater' (above), might be just the thing to banish your winter blues.

WHEN

29 Nov 2017 – 04 Feb 2018, Tuesday-Sunday, plus bank holidays

WHERE

Serpentine Sackler Gallery
West Carriage Drive , Kensington Gardens, London , W2 2AR

Michael Keegan-Dolan Swan Lake photo Colm Hogan

Thursday: Buy ballet tickets

See brand new ballet this week. For choreographer and director Michael Keegan-Dolan, the traditional Swan Lake isn't frozen in time. His ballet adaptation for Sadler's Wells has a folk music score and a gritty, modern-day story. With a new Irish title, Loch na hEala, it's on for just a few days this week, but there are still tickets available.

WHEN

30 Nov 2017 – 02 Dec 2017, 19:30

WHERE

Sadler's Wells
Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4TN

Friday: Portuguese plates

Open every day except Monday, newly-launched restaurant Londrino in Southwark serves dishes with Portuguese flair. A far cry from Nando's, it's the first solo restaurant in the capital by Portuguese chef Leandro Carriera, who used to work at double-Michelin-starred Mugaritz in Spain. Get it whilst it's hot.

WHEN

01 Dec 2017 – 02 Jan 2019, Exact opening hours tbc

WHERE

36 Snowsfields Yard
London Bridge, London, SE1 3QQ

How to Win Against History via Young Vic

Saturday: Try to score a £10 return

Tickets are sold out for the latest play at the Young Vic, How to Win Against History. However, ring up the theatre to see if you can chase down a return for the previews, which start this week, as it's bound to be a whole heap of fun. Seiriol Davies' musical follows the tragicomic rise and fall of a cross-dressing aristocrat.

WHEN

30 Nov 2017 – 23 Dec 2017, 7:45 PM – 9:45 PM

WHERE

The Young Vic
66 The Cut , Waterloo, London, SE1 8LZ

André de Ridder takes music to unexpected places as artistic curator of Spitalfields Music Festival

Sunday: Be serenaded at Spitalfields

Have a melodious start to the month of December with Spitalfields Music Festival. There are a variety of different performances on offer, starting with The House of Monteverdi, on Sunday. Held at Shoreditch church, enjoy a series of performances, including several world premieres, and celebrate the music of the Renaissance composer Claudio Monteverdi.

WHEN

02 Dec 2017 – 10 Dec 2017, 11 events, some with several performances; times and locations vary