The flipside to London
If Shrove Tuesday normally ends with you scraping batter off the kitchen ceiling and then phoning for a takeaway, head to Spitalfields in East London. Their annual pancake race, a fundraiser for London's Air Ambulance, sees teams of four wobble up and down the street in their best fancy dress, frantically tossing pancakes as they go. The heats are fiercely contested, and no wonder with a much-coveted engraved frying pan up for grabs in the final. Spectactors can enjoy the occasion in a much more sensible manner, by eating pancakes by the stack-load. Drama over, there is much to distract in the area, from the market stalls of Spitalfields market; the splendour of the Hawksmoor-designed Christ Church and the Georgian townhouses of the surrounding streets; and the curry houses of Brick Lane.
10 Fun and frolics on pancake Day in London's Spitalfields
MAKE IT HAPPEN
The Great Spitalfields Pancake Race takes place at 12.30pm on 17 February, setting off from the Old Truman Brewery. Entry and admission are both free; teams are advised to sign up in advance, though they can enter for a donation on the day (find details at alternativearts.co.uk)