With thanks to Country and Townhouse, here are ideas of five things to do in London this week:

The Goring's strangest housekeeping requests – and your chance to win a night there – plus what to see at digital London Fashion Week

Everyone has a favourite Roald Dahl book. I have a rather chocolatey-stained signed copy of George’s Marvellous Medicine, which I must have read at least 27 times – my favourite phrase being ‘she had pale brown teeth and a small puckered-up mouth like a dog's bottom’, a more vivid, evocative description of the revolting grandmother you couldn’t ask for. Now, our favourite children’s author is coming to the big screen, as played by none other than the gorgeous Hugh Bonneville, who talks to Ed Vaizey and Charlotte Metcalf on our Break Out Culture podcast this week. Tune in now.

Have a great week.

Lucy

Header image: ‘Grandiflora Rose’ wallpaper design by Designers Guild

FIVE THINGS YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS

Choose The World You Want Festival

A new festival dedicated to the planet launches tomorrow as part of Fairtrade Fortnight, a campaign designed to highlight the harmful effect of the climate crisis on farmers. Tune in for panel discussions, Q&As, quizzes and cooking classes with chefs including Melissa Hemsley and Rosie Birkett.

London Fashion Week

We can all have a front row seat at this year’s London Fashion Week, thanks to an all-digital new format. Thea Bregazzi and Justin Thornton are presenting their show at midday today, while Burberry is showcasing its newest men’s collection via an independent digital presentation tomorrow (22 Feb) at 1pm.

National Margarita Day

If you’re looking for an excuse to drink cocktails on a Monday night, tomorrow is National Margarita Day. To celebrate, Cointreau is bringing the energy of Acapulco to London households with its new doorstop delivery service. Alternatively, have a go at mixing up your own with one of these recipes.

Dulwich Picture Gallery’s Digital Season

Fancy getting crafty this week? Learn how to brew your own natural inks and dyes with regular household items at Dulwich Picture Gallery’s workshop on 22 February, led by artist Nikki Gardham. It’s part of a new season of digital events from the gallery, inspired by its major exhibition Unearthed: Photography’s Roots.

Raven Leilani at the Southbank Centre

Debut novel Luster has won plaudits across the board since being published earlier this year. Hear the author, New Yorker Raven Leilani, in conversation with novelist Diana Evans as part of the Southbank Centre’s online arts series Inside Out.

TUNE IN

On this week’s episode of Break Out Culture, Hugh Bonneville tells Ed Vaizey and Charlotte Metcalf about his role in new Roald Dahl biopic To Olivia.

Enter our competition for the chance to win a romantic overnight stay for two at The Goring, including breakfast and dinner in The Dining Room and two exquisite cocktails in The Goring Bar.

WHAT’S KEEPING MY SPIRITS UP

Crime Thrillers

It was listening to Jenny Murray, erstwhile presenter of Woman’s Hour, on Andy Coulsen’s podcast Crisis what Crisis? that had me download my first Val McDermid thriller on Audible (she’s a massive fan). Gripped by the agonising tale of four St Andrew’s university students coming across the dead body of the local barmaid in The Distant Echo had me making any excuse to spend hours digging out the vegetable patch with my earpods plugged in. There’s been a lot of press about why women in particular love a crime drama. Is it about confronting our own deep-rooted fears head on or do we love the forensic approach to solving the crime? Here are six great long audio reads with a criminal edge to keep you occupied. Image: Getty Images

In The Pink

I’ve just chosen Little Greene’s hot pink colour ‘Leather’ for our hallway. It will be like the biggest, smile-inducing welcome when it’s all done. Now I have to choose the wallpaper to go below the dado rail which has had me on the hunt for complementary pink papers, but which shall I choose?

Eating Meat

I do acknowledge the importance of the vegan movement – and am fully on board with eating much less meat, but meat-eating shouldn’t be off the menu entirely. Grazing animals – that’s you, cows – are really important when it comes to the health of our soil. Like with clothes-buying, it’s how you do it that has the biggest impact on the environment. Know where your meat comes from – are they reared organically, grass fed, treated well in terms of animal welfare, not stuffed full of antibiotics? If yes, then I’ll happily enjoy my steak, guilt-free. Image: Getty Images