BBC Nature - Nature's big picture: 'Pests' preserved

BBC Nature - Nature's big picture: 'Pests' preserved: "A preserved locust eating a mouse is one of the unusual exhibits on display at the Natural History Museum, London as part of the Europe-wide Researchers Night initiative, which aims to encourage an interest in scientific research. The specimen is more than 100 years old and was collected by Reverend M H Reid in the Congo. Dr Erica McAlister, curator of entomology at the museum, said she thought the mouse was already dead before the locust found it. The African species Ornithacris pictula pictula is known as an opportunistic hunter. The discovery is included in a session focusing on pests and parasites. Science Uncovered takes place at the museum from 1600 BST, Friday 28 September."

London Zoo

Lion cubs celebrate first birthday

It's a big week for the Asian lion cubs at ZSL London Zoo as they celebrate their first birthday.

© ZSL

One year old lion cubs Indi and Heidi enjoyed colourful birthday presents this week courtesy of their keepers.

The painted boxes were filled with treats and toys to spark Heidi and Indi's natural curiosity and playful nature, including meat and boomer balls. The cubs were curious of the new items in their enclosure and soon started investigating them after mum Abi started to "unwrap" the boxes for them.

The female cubs were the second pair to be born to the Zoo’s love-cats Abi and Lucifer in two years.

Watch the video of the cubs investigating their presents and playing with their boomer balls:

Play this video

Mum, Abi, helped "unwrap" the birthday presents for her cubs.

Asian lion cub Heidi approaches her birthday present

Indi plays with a boomer ball on her first birthday

BOO at the ZOO

Boo at the Zoo this Halloween half term From Saturday 27 October to Sunday 4 November, ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos will come creeping to life with Halloween-themed special events, creepy crafts, animal demonstrations and hands-on activities. Boo at ZSL London Zoo Boo at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

Museum of London What's On October

What's on this October at the Museum of London New exhibition opens  © Wellcome Library, London  19 October 2012 – 14 April 2013 Adults £9, concs £7 In 2006, archaeologists excavated burial ground at the Royal London Hospital. What they found was both extraordinary and unexpected, offering fresh insight into early 19th century dissection and the trade in dead bodies. Uncover this intriguing story in Doctors,Dissection and Resurrection Men, which opens on 19 October. > Find out more > Book exhibition tickets  Halloween late Wed 31 Oct, 7-9.45pm Book in advance £10 (concs £9, Friends FREE) Join us for an adult-only late event at the Museum of London this Halloween, in celebration of our latest exhibition Doctors, Dissection and Resurrection Men. Take part in gruesome activities including body part wax modelling workshops, macabre design sessions and grisly object tours. > Book tickets Docklands Cinema Club © NFFC/Chrysalis/The Kobal Collection  Fri 12 Oct, 7-9pm Book in advance £7 (concs £5) To mark black history month, join us for a film which is a potent mix of music and social commentary about the young black community in 1980s South London. Introduced by journalist and blogger Miguel Cullen. > Book tickets Behind the blog Wed 17 Oct, 7-8.30pm Book in advance £7 (concs £6, Friends £5)  Find out what makes a successful blog from some of London's most influential bloggers. Join Dave Hill (Guardian Online), Sonya Barber (Time Out), Michael Pollitt (Snipe London), Chloe McCloskey (le cool) and Ian Mansfield (Ianvisits) as they talk about the best of blogging and discuss how blogs have transformed the way people experience the capital. > Book tickets Lomography workshops 27 Oct & 24 Nov, 1.30-3.30pm Book in advance £12 (concs £10, Friends £9), including camera hire, one roll of film and 10% discount on film processing.  Discover the thriving world of analogue photography! Lomography experts will show you how to achieve vibrant results with old school cameras and film, just like those in our LomoWall. > Book tickets Half term family activities October half term FREE Spend the day together as a family! If you’re looking for something fun and free for all the family then come along to the Museum of London or to the Museum of London Docklands for a great day out that everyone can enjoy, from under 5s to over 60s. Meet Sir Isaac Newton, create a digital book or take part in a spooky storytelling session. > Find out more Meet the expert Creating Canary Wharf Wed 24 Oct, 1-2pm FREE Join author Kevin d’Arcy at the Museum of London Docklands as he talks about his latest book London’s Second City, which explores the origins of the new financial centre of the world. > Find out more Anglo-Saxon cookery Sat 27 or Sun 28 Oct, 12-4pm Book in advance £28 (Friends, £22)  Using archaeological, documentary and pictorial evidence, from such glories as the Bayeux tapestry, participants will learn about the cuisine and cooking techniques of a period of British history known as the Dark Ages. Led by TV chef and expert food historian Sally Grainger. > Find out more and book tickets  Medicine, the media and me © Science Museum, Science and Society Picture Library  Starts Wed 17 Oct, 2-4.30pm Book in advance £75 (concs FREE) Put your responses to medical developments under the microscope in this 8 week course exploring how the media influence our understanding of medical practice, past and present. Includes entry to our latest exhibition Doctors, Dissection and Resurrection Men. > Find out more Go behind the scenes 5, 6, 19, 20 Oct 11am – 12.30pm & 2-3.30pm Visit the London Archaeological Archive and Research Centre to see and handle some of the thousands of finds not yet in the Museum’s galleries. > More information and book tickets  Visit the Roman fort Fri 19 Oct 2-2.30pm & 3-3.30pm Tour the remains of the western gate of London’s Roman military fort, located beneath the streets next to the Museum. FREE but tickets allocated on arrival. > More information Guided London walks Throughout October Tickets £10 (conc £8, Friends £7) Join experts from the Museum of London and theMuseum of London Docklands as they lead all kinds of special walks. This October explore the pubs and breweries of Clerkenwell and take a spine-tingling evening stroll through the darker side of London. > More information

Experiences Fortnight

Experiences Fortnight: "22
Experiences Fortnight experiences"

'via Blog this'

Whitechapel Gallery Talks and Events October

Talks and Events

Talk & Book Launch: Art on the Underground Wednesday 3 October, 7pm Evolutionary biologist and author ofWired for Culture Mark Pageldiscusses language, communication and exchange on the London tube. More Talk: Matt Stokes Thursday 4 October, 7pm The artist talks about his new film with special guests. More Prix Pictet Conversations on Photography Sunday 7 October, 3pmWith art historian and criticMichael Fried, Photography Critic for The Financial TimesFrancis Hodgson, sustainability expert Leo Johnson and artistJohn Riddy. More

October: Seminar on Art Writing Tuesday 9 October, 3pmPresenting and debating contemporary issues in art writing with staff and students from Goldsmiths MFA Art Writing course and invited guest speakers. The first session features artist Mel Bochner.More Talk: Gwen Allen on Artists’ Magazines Wednesday 10 October, 7pmArt Historian Gwen Allen surveys the history of the artist’s magazine – from radical publications of the 60s and 70s to DIY zine culture, that challenged the conventions of mainstream media. More In Conversation: Mel Bochner and Achim Borchardt-Hume Friday 12 October, 3pm The artist discusses his work with the Gallery’s Chief Curator. More

Thursday 18 October, 7pm Discussion: The Real World: Artist as Researcher Exploring the role of specialist and generalist research in contemporary artists’ work. Chaired by Nick Kaplony with guests. More Sunday 21 October, 2pm Walking Tour: Resting Places Archivist Gary Haines traces the history of Lascars, sailors from the Indian Subcontinent who settled in east London. More Thursday 25 October, 7pm To Make a Tree: Gustav MetzgerA new series of artist-led talks addressing the expanded significance of the tree in contemporary art. More

London: One, Two, Three, Five or Seven Night Stay For Two

London: One, Two, Three, Five or Seven Night Stay For Two: "London: One, Two, Three, Five or Seven Night Stay For Two
With Breakfast and Gym Passes Plus Late Check Out from £99 at Think Apartments (Up to 61% Off)"

Coach Tour of Warwick, Stratford and Oxford

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For One (£34) or Two (£68) with Premium Tours (51% Off)"

Golf For Two £15

Golf For Two £15: "18 Holes of Golf For Two (£15) or Four (£28) at The Kent and Surrey Golf Club (Up to 76% Off)"

Clay Pigeon Shooting For Two

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Dinner on the Thames

Dinner on the Thames: "London Showboat River Thames Cruise For Two With Three-Course Meal, Wine and Entertainment: £75 at City Cruises (50% Off)"

LyncMeUp | Deal - 5 pairs of Mens Cufflinks for only £10 (usually £39.99)

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Tapas and Sangria For Two £17

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