Counterfeiting and forgery implements from the Crime Museum

The Crime Museum was established by the Metropolitan Police in 1875, with items collected from crimes kept as a means of instructing police officers how to solve crimes.  The museum has never been open to the public, but for the first time some of the artefacts will be on display at the Museum of London.  Eyes peeled for items from Dr Crippen to the Krays, the Great Train Robbery to the Millennium Dome diamond heist.

Crime Museum Uncovered 9 October 2015 – 10 April 2016
Museum of London

Night and the City, 1950

Currently underway at the BFI Southbank is a celebration of films shot in London over the last 120 years.  Over 4 months the season will feature everything from classic feature films to home movies, divided into three parts: ‘The Changing Face of London’ in July, ‘Londoners’ in August and ‘The City Reimagined’ in September.

London on Film, BFI Southbank.

Michele Whitby, co-author of Eel Pie Island and The British Beat Explosion has opened a pop-up museum dedicated to the history of Eel Pie Island.  Located in Twickenham Library, the museum will be open until the end of October.  There is a beautifully displayed archive of material, and you can, of course, watch ‘Eel Pie and Blues’ there, as well as buy a copy of the DVD!

Eel Pie Island Museum, Upstairs at Twickenham Library, Garfield Road, Twickenham TW1 3JT

A sad day for many when Covent Garden institution Food For Thought closes its doors for good on Sunday 21st June.  A former banana warehouse was turned into a favourite vegetarian restaurant, which managed to survive the changing fortunes of Neal Street for over 40 years.  It was always busy and always a mystery how the staff kept so calm, and served so many so quickly in such a tiny space!  It will be missed.

If you love a London mystery, there’s none greater than this one – a mystery story written by Charles Dickens which was left unfinished at this death, with no clue as to ‘whodunnit’.

There’s a new version of the book coming out at the end of June which solves the mystery for us, with an ending written by children’s author Leon Garfield.  But you can also explore all the other theories and come up with your own at the Charles Dickens Museum with a new exhibition about the book, as well as a new website about the case.

Solving the Mystery of Edwin Drood, until Nov 22nd 2015
Charles Dickens Museum

The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens and Leon Garfield