On the agenda: Little Dorrit's Amy is coming up big; plus, 'The Little Mermaid' gets an Italian twist

Art

There are a lot of reasons to visit a hotel: a comfy bed, good food... but it's not often you'll find yourself wandering through a five-star hotel in the name of art. But now the Hyatt Regency Churchill in London's West End is staging an exhibition that explores ideas of expectation and visual illusion. The Perspectives series, put on in collaboration with Candlestar, comprises pieces by five artists – two photographers, two painters (Camera by Patrick Hughes, top right) and an installation artist; their work includes an angel image that, on closer inspection, is a bomb-swept city, and a seemingly abstract photograph that is actually a toxic lake. Think Magic Eye with intellectual resonance. From Monday, london.churchill.hyatt.com

Adam Jacques

Television & film

Get ready to see a lot more of Little Dorrit star Claire Foy. The actor, who received widespread acclaim for her kind-hearted Amy in the lavish BBC costume drama, is set to appear in Sky One's adaptation of Terry Pratchett's 33rd Discworld novel, Going Postal, in May (above right), before gallivanting around alongside Nicolas Cage in supernatural thriller Season of the Witch later this year. And away from fantasy-land, the versatile actor has also signed up to Homeland – a political Middle East thriller. It's all a long way from bonnets and ribbons.

AJ

Fashion

The vogue for boat shoes and plimsolls seems to have passed, thank goodness, and a return to more gentlemanly apparel is imminent. Witness the brogues and desert boots at the menswear shows this year – in particular those created for A Child of the Jago's London show by heritage footwear brand Grenson. With jovial white stitching, its navy desert boot (left) is just the ticket for spring, while its unlined grey suede brogues are soft enough to wear sockless. Comfort and style, as seen on the likes of Jefferson Hack and Clive Owen. From £155, grenson.co.uk

Harriet Walker

Theatre

Italian theatre outfit Teatro Kismet has been on a roll of late with its ongoing vivid adaptations of Hans Christian Andersen classics. Last year's The Snow Queen was well received by the critics, so it's a good bet that its follow-up production, based on 'The Little Mermaid' (inset left), will be an equally enjoyably dark take on a classic fairy-tale. Tour from 24 March at the Curve, Leicester; warwickartscentre.co.uk

AJ

Food

The days of clammy, cling-filmed sandwiches and a juice carton are over now that the Benugo food people have taken over the restaurant at London's Natural History Museum (left). The menu includes authentic, chewy pizzas, sharing boards of deli favourites, chunky stews and – at weekends – a family-sized roast. With the museum's dinosaurs and bugs a perennial favourite, it's worth heading to South Kensington for a stress-free cultural and culinary outing. nhm.ac.uk

LM

Books

Fans of short-story collection Ox-Tales – a compilation of works published last year in aid of Oxfam – are in for a treat. The series of four short-story books, penned by 38 authors from Sebastian Faulks to Helen Fielding, are being re-released in a series of 14 limited- edition hardback collections, signed by all the authors. But that's not all: each boxset, to be sold at a charity auction, has also been adorned with a unique artwork by one of 14 leading artists, including Sir Peter Blake and Gavin Turk. The auction is to be held at the Saatchi Gallery on Tuesday; oxfam.org.uk/artboxes

AJ