There’s Night at the Museum, and then there’s Night at the V&A. The Victoria and Albert Museum is known for its spectacular mish-mash of collections, and at night it’s no different. Each month the museum throws a themed Friday night party, full of music, wacky activities and drinks, and this time it was all about quilts.

Grand beginnings for a gigantic patchwork piece of art. Photo Credit: Quentin Leboucher

Not the most thrilling theme, you might think. But the creative team of Tea and Make managed to make the event, appropriately titled Stitched Up, a colourful success.

Set to a soundtrack of ’40s jazz standards and folk music from Finders Keepers Records, the evening’s war-era ‘stitch surgery’ featured activities for all kinds. Dreamers could write down their wishes and send them off in tiny paper boats; those unafraid of needles could make patchwork pieces, brooches and pincushions; the competitive types could race one another on sewing machines; the eccentric could create paper monsters to defend the city of London; and the hungry could devour all the cake. And everyone, old and young alike, could swing to likes of Frank Sinatra and Henry Mancini in the grand foyer. The museum was packed till closing time, at which point the night’s amateur seamstresses pocketed their creations and saved some fabric scraps for later, leaving the V&A to become a normal museum again—until next time.

Stitched Up: Late Night at the V&A was on 30 April. The next late night event, Dress Sense, will be on 28 May from 6:30 to 10 pm.

Read more from The First Pint, the international's guide to all that London offers.

You may have noticed that central London has been invaded by big, colourful mammals this week. Over 250 elephant statues, all painted by different artists, have been put up around London by the charity Elephant Family to shine a light on the crises facing the Asian elephant. We recommend heading to Green Park for some really spectacular ones. Or get a map of the statues and go elephant hunting across town.

The elephants are all unique. Photo credit: Quentin Leboucher

The elephants are for sale at the highest bid, and all proceeds go to elephant conservation. If you can’t fit your favourite elephant statue into your bedroom, you can buy a smaller version and still support the cause. Elephantastic!

Read more from The First Pint, the international's guide to all that London offers.

A warehouse concert in London. Photo Credit: Indu Chandrasekhar

A good night out in London usually starts with a few pints at the pub, and then who knows? The options are endless. London’s nightlife has gained a smoking hot reputation in the past few years, and isn’t slowing down. Even those persnickety French are choosing London over Paris for big nights out.

Quentin Leboucher reports:

Read more from The First Pint, the international's guide to all that London offers.