Things To Do This Week In London: 10-16 June 2024

All week

HOMETOWN: The Old Waiting Room at Peckham Rye Station displays artist Pavel Otdelnov's current exhibition, Hometown, which reflects on his birthplace, the Soviet city of Dzerzhinsk. His paintings uncover the lives of those who have worked in the area, once a chemical capital, now one of Russia’s largest munitions hubs. FREE, until 14 June

FLAMENCO FESTIVAL: Things stay lively at Sadler's Well, with the Flamenco Festival continuing until Saturday. Catch ¡Fandango!, a combined performance by choreographer David Coria and singer David Lagos on Monday, and performances by the 38 dancers of the Ballet Nacional de España on several days, among other events. Until 15 June

POWER AND POLITICS: The LSE Festival is a week of free public lectures, exhibitions and performances, exploring how the complex dynamic between power and politics shapes our world. Expert speakers from academia, policy and beyond take part, including Prospect magazine editor Alan Rusbridger heading up a debate about the disconcerting dynamic between authoritarian populism and public service media. The festival concludes with a Family Day on Saturday. Events are open to all and take place in-person at LSE and online, booking required. FREE, 10-15 June (sponsor)

MUSIC IN CHURCHES: St Giles Cripplegate (the church within the Barbican estate) hosts several concerts, for the Summer Music in City Churches programme. Love, romance and Shakespeare are the themes this year, with performances ranging from works by Mendelssohn and Dvořák, to songs from the Great American Songbook. Until 15 June

CAMBERWELL ARTS FESTIVAL: This year is the 30th anniversary of Camberwell Arts Festival, an event consisting of open studios, an art market and a fringe festival. Highlights this week include a supper club at South London Gallery, a Camberwell Food Walk, and a summer fete in Ruskin Park. Check the programme for the full list of events. Until 16 June

WANDSWORTH ARTS FRINGE: It's all going on in Wandsworth, which this week hosts new shows from comedians Celya AB and Sophie Duker, an exhibition of work by Asian artists, a concert of music written entirely by women, a bisexual cabaret night, and a jazz festival fundraiser, among many more events — all part of the Wandsworth Arts Fringe programme. Until 23 June

ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL: Also ongoing is London Festival of Architecture, a citywide celebration of the built environment. The programme is extensive — overwhelmingly so — but our picks for this week include a 'walkshop' around South Kensington focusing on environmental aspects, an art and architecture walk around Battersea and Nine Elms, tours of the Balfron Tower, and an open day at Orpington Priory. Until 30 June

HUMMINGBIRD BAKERY: Just like Londonist, Hummingbird Bakery turns 20 this year. To celebrate, they're hosting a month-long Birthday Carnival. Show up at their Soho store to drool over limited edition carnival cakes (flavours include coke float, candy apple, and popcorn), giant cupcakes and cotton candy. Purchase any bake, and you get a go on the old-school Zoltar fortune-telling machine. Plus, Hummingbird's much-loved raspberry cheesecake brownie makes a return. Delish! Until 7 July

BOOK OF THE WEEK: Artist, author and Soho doyen Darren Coffield has a new book out. Queens of Bohemia and Other Miss-Fits throws light on the many remarkable women — landladies, artists, strongwomen, spies — who made 20th century bohemian London the thrilling place it was.

DRINK OF THE WEEK: A new cocktail bar opens below Leicester Square on Thursday: helmed by Laurie Howells, Archive & Myth lures in lovers of liquor with libations like the Soixante Quinze, made with elderflower, white chocolate, gin and lemon oils. From 13 June

DAY TRIP OF THE WEEK: A country house with links to Harry Potter and Henry VIII, set in beautiful grounds (the roses look fantastic at this time of year) in a quaint countryside village. That'd be Penshurst Place, a manor house in Kent. It's also next door to the original Leicester Square, a predecessor to the London tourist hotspot.

Monday 10 June

CHARITY PIZZA MENU: A 6-course Italian dinner with all proceeds going to Refettorio Felix — a charity combating social isolation and food poverty — comes to Napoli on the Road in Chiswick. The event's the joint project of pizzaiolo powerhouses Michele Pascarella and Diego Vitagliano, so expect a lot of pizza artistry on the menu. 6pm-11pm

BOOK SALON: Author Lucy Foley introduces her new novel at a special Book Salon event at the Charlotte Street Hotel in Fitzrovia. Foley chats to journalist and author Kate Maxwell about the book, The Midnight Feast — a murder mystery set in a luxury hotel in Dorset. 6.30pm-8pm

SAVING BOTANY: Ever heard of the Rafflesia? Find out all about it — the world's largest flower — from Chris Thorogood, a botanist at the University of Oxford’s Botanic Garden. He's spent his life studying and protecting the blooms, from crafting life-size replicas in an abandoned cemetery to seeking them out in their native south-east Asia. Hear all about it at the Royal Institution. 7pm-8.30pm

WINE SUPPER CLUB: Mark and Sarah Driver, founders of the Rathfinny Wine Estate in Sussex, are the special guests at tonight's wine supper club at the Haymarket Hotel. Start with a glass of 2017 Classic Cuvée along with canapes, before tucking into a four-course dinner, paired with Rathfinny’s portfolio of newly-released 2019 vintages, as you learn more about the vineyard's tipples. 7pm-10pm

Tuesday 11 June

THE SORCERER: Catch one of Gilbert & Sullivan's first operas, The Sorcerer, at Wilton's Music Hall in Limehouse. It's the comic story of a man obsessed with the idea of falling in love, who enlists a ‘Family Sorcerer’ to administer a love potion to the entire village, causing all manner of mayhem. 11-15 June

HAMPTON COURT PALACE FESTIVAL: It's a music festival, but not as you know it. Hampton Court Palace Festival is an altogether civilised affair, taking place in the palace grounds, with the option of enjoying a picnic before the music starts. General tickets for tonight's Tom Jones concert have sold out (VIP still available at time of writing), but there's still a chance to see the likes of Sam Ryder, Paloma Faith and Jessie J this week and next. 11-21 June

QUEER BLOOMSBURY: Today's Gresham College lecture focuses on the second Bloomsbury generation, including artists and intellectuals such as Eddy Sackville-West, Stephen Tomlin and Julia Strachey. Author and historian Nino Strachey talks about how they pushed gender boundaries and social conventions, and explored gender fluidity and pansexuality. Takes place at Barnard's Inn Hall — watch in person or via livestream. FREE, 6pm

EVEREST: Sir Michael Palin, Brian Blessed, author Mick Conefrey, Professor Julie Brown and journalist and broadcaster Evan Davis are all at the Royal Geographical Society for a conversation about Everest, Captain John Noel and Tibetan monks. Noel released a film depicting the 1924 attempt to climb Everest, along with some of the first film footage of Tibet, and presented it across Europe, accompanied by a group of dancing Tibetan monks. This became known as 'The Affair of the Dancing Lamas' controversy, and resulted in future expeditions to Everest being refused for nearly a decade. 6.30pm-9pm

COMEDY NIGHT: Chloe Petts, Sikisa, Will Owen, Sarah Roberts and Dane Buckley are all on the bill at tonight's Pride Month comedy show at Mama Shelter in Bethnal Green. 7pm-10pm

CHARITY COMEDY: Alternatively, get your laughs at The Comedy Store, which hosts Laugh Til It Hurts, a fundraising comedy night in aid of mental health charity Mind. Olga Koch, Andrew Bird, Angela Barnes and Glenn Moore are among the performers. 7.30pm

Wednesday 12 June

TASTE OF LONDON: Foodies will want to head to Regent's Park for Taste of London, the huge, food-based festival which brings dozens of London's best-known restaurants together to feed hungry visitors. It's also a chance to discover up-and-coming London chefs and food businesses, take part in tastings and watch masterclasses. 12-16 June

LONDONIST BIRTHDAY PARTY: You may have heard... Londonist turns 20 this year, and we're having a party to celebrate. Join us at Five Points brewery taproom in Hackney for live music from guitarist William Poyer, BBQ courtesy of From The Ashes, and a few drinks — we look forward to meeting loads of our lovely readers and followers in person. 6pm-11pm

QUEER HISTORIES: Writer and journalist Luke Turner and author Wendy Moore are at Conway Hall to discuss the stories of overlooked LGBTQ+ figures, particularly those on the fringes of society. 6.30pm

BEADING AND BOOZING: Ahead of the Eras Tour coming to London, Page 8 hotel near Trafalgar Square hosts a Taylor Swift friendship bracelet workshop, led by jewellery maker Daisy Lily. Spend two hours making unlimited bracelets, necklaces, phone charms and the like, while enjoying a drink or two. 7pm

COMEDY AND CURRY: Tuck into a two-course Indian buffet at Sai Restaurant Raynes Park, as comedians Robert White, Fiona Allen, Shruti Sharma & MC Sion James take to the stage to entertain you. Much like the food, the comedy gets spicy, so this one's strictly for adults. 7.15pm

Thursday 13 June

GARDEN OF TOMORROW: Popping up at Leonard Street in Shoreditch, The Garden of Tomorrow Festival brings together activists, artists and positive disruptors to demand change in the face of the climate crisis. Across three days, talks, panel discussions and film screenings tackle topics including corporate responsibility, nature as a human right, as well as a banner-making workshop. 13-15 June

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE WALK: Take part in a guided walk by the Florence Nightingale Museum, following in the nurse's footsteps. Meet at Park Lane, and see sights including the hotel where she wrote her book, Notes on Nursing, and the house where she spent her final days, before ending at the Florence Nightingale statue on Waterloo Place. 11am

TONGUES UNTIED: As part of the ongoing Queer 80s film festival, Barbican Cinema screens Tongues Untied, a 1989 essay film by director Marlon Riggs, which combines documentary and performance. The films shows homophobia (including a notorious routine from Eddie Murphy’s stand-up), racism in the gay community, and the devastation of the AIDS crisis. 6.20pm

WINE AND WALK: Spend your Thursday evening at the London Wetland Centre in Barnes, combining a leisurely meander with a wine tasting session. Sample five wines, led by experts, each paired with your surroundings, learning about the ecological importance of wetlands as you go. 6.30pm

AL FRESCO THEATRE: Catch an outdoor performance of All's Well That Ends Well in the garden of The Charterhouse in Clerkenwell, part of this year's Shakespeare in the Squares series of events. Shakespeare's play has been enhanced with gypsy swing music and a fairytale twist — pack a picnic, dress for the weather and enjoy the show. 7pm

Friday 14 June

CHAKA KHAN’S MELTDOWN: The Southbank Centre’s annual artist-curated music festival is back, with living legend Chaka Khan bringing together an eclectic mix of established and up-and-coming artists. It all kicks off tonight with a performance by the Queen of Funk herself, followed by nine more marvellous days (and nights!) of gigs, parties, and free fun. Until 23 June (sponsor)

EURO MATCHES: Could football be coming home again this summer? UEFA Euro 2024 takes place in Germany from today, but places across London are screening the matches, including at bars, outdoor screens and special fan zones. Plan ahead for England matches (the first one is this Sunday!). 14 June-14 July

MEDITATIONS ON LOVE: The Photographer's Gallery opens new exhibition Meditations on Love, examining how love is represented, preserved and remembered through an archive of photobooks, novels and nonfiction works. Also opening today is a display of the black and white work of Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide, and South African photographer Ernest Cole’s ground-breaking 20th-century photobook House of Bondage. 14 June-22 September

WOMEN IN MEDICINE: Join guide Sylvia McNamara for a tour of the Euston and Fitzrovia area, exploring the lives of women — such as Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Louisa Aldrich-Blake — who made important contributions to the development of medicine. 12.30pm

ZOO NIGHTS: London Zoo stays open later than usual almost every Friday in June and July for Zoo Nights, an adults-only event, with tours, games, street food tours, and a chance to see the animals at a time when the zoo is usually closed. 6pm-10pm

BOAT PARTY: Over-30s party Age Against The Machine takes to the water with a summer boat party, departing from and returning to Tower Millennium Pier. Step on board for a night of pop, indie, rock, disco, Motown, rock ‘n’ roll, power ballads, soul, punk, ska, northern soul and funk tunes as you glide up and down the Thames. Fear not, there's a bar on board. 6.30pm-11pm

PRIDE BINGO: The Vagina Museum in Bethnal Green hosts the Bajingo Bingo Pride Special, where you can play bingo and arm yourself with knowledge about the female anatomy at the same time. 7.30pm-9.30pm

ARABS ARE NOT FUNNY: Arabs Are Not Funny is a semi-regular comedy night featuring comedians with roots in the Arab world attempting to prove the naysayers wrong. Tonight it's at the Royal Albert Hall, with Talal Karkouti, Julie-Yara Atz, Joe Haddad, Prince Abdi, Mo Magaleo and Sami Abu Wardeh on the line-up. 9.30pm

Saturday 15 June

GEORGE MICHAEL PARTY: Wham!The eighth annual George Michael Sexual Freedom Party takes place today — an all-singing, all-dancing celebration of queer culture — plus an explicitly anti-war theme for this year. Times and locations are being kept hush-hush till the night before, when the @thisismyculture8 Instagram account will reveal all.

LONDON PETANQUE CHAMPIONSHIP: You can find anything in London if you know where to look, and that includes petanque. The London Petanque Championships are held in Crystal Palace, with international champions and UK club-level players going head-to-head over the course of one weekend. 15-16 June

GREAT EXHIBITION ROAD FESTIVAL: South Kensington institutions including the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Imperial College, Royal Geographical Society and V&A come together for the Great Exhibition Road Festival, a weekend celebrating science and the arts. In past years, we've been seriously impressed by how much there is to see and do. FREE, 15-16 June

WORLD JUGGLING DAY: Saturday is World Juggling Day, something being celebrated at the Dugdale Arts Centre in Enfield, which offers live demonstration of ball, clubs, and diabolo tricks, and a chance to hear about the different types of juggling and props used. 10.30am

EAST INDIA COMPANY: Part guided walk, part immersive theatre, A London Lark Rising tells the history of the East India Company while you roam among the streets of the City. See how a Company became the most powerful corporate organisation the world has ever seen. Hear how a Company drained wealthy Mughal India of its wealth. Jostle with the merchant adventurers of the day. Walk along London’s streets in the footsteps of corrupt Company. Repeated at further times today and tomorrow. 11am

BRUNCH: Another weekend, another brunch! This one's at Kachori in Elephant & Castle, where every Sat and Sun you can put away chia and coconut porridge, sticky tandoori chicken wings or the signature Club Kachori sandwich, piled with smoked chicken, spiced cheese and a fried egg. 11am-3.30pm, also on Sundays

ABOLITION WALK: Join guide Laura Agustin on a walk around key London sites in the campaigns against slavery and slave-trading. Hear about fugitive and former slaves, white lawyers and activists, black activists, orators, authors and musicians in this walk from Chancery Lane to Fleet Street, Lincoln’s Inn and Covent Garden, ending at Embankment Gardens. 1pm-3.30pm

AERIAL THEATRE: Eyes to the skies in the garden at Brixton Windmill. Theatre troupe the Dot Collective perform brand new production The Dream Sequence, inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in an aerial theatre show. It's family-friendly, set on a paradise island where three local clowns will show you the ropes on an adventure through the clouds. 2pm/6pm

DAYTIMERS FESTIVAL: South Asian music, food, culture and art is celebrated at Daytimers Festival, taking place in the gardens at Horniman Museum in Forest Hill. Take part in art and craft workshops, watch live bands and DJs performing in the bandstand, attend a chai tasting session, and buy food and drink from the pop-up stalls. 2pm-7pm

D-DAY DANCE: The National Army Museum in Chelsea stays open late for a special 1940s-themed D-Day dance. It's open to beginners and experienced dancers, with SwingdanceUK on hand to teach you the steps to the Lindy Hop and Jitterbug. There's also live music from South London Jazz Orchestra and cabaret from the Diamond Girls, as well as hair and make-up artists on hand to help you with the '40s look. 6pm-10pm

Sunday 16 June

SUNDAYS IN LONDON: Think London slows down on a Sunday? Not a chance! We've put together a guide to how to spend a lovely Sunday in London — today, or any other week — featuring markets, museums, concerts, roast dinners and more.

FATHER'S DAY: Consider this your reminder to pick up a card, and maybe a box of chocolates or a new book, for your dad on Father's Day.

THE MOMENT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR: Shades ready as you prepare to be blinded by the talents of Razzamataz Theatre Schools students, performing This is The Moment You've Been Waiting For... — a show filled with all of your musical favourites, at Queen's Theatre Hornchurch. In fact, they're performing the show three times today, so take your pick. 10am, 2pm, 6pm

ALDWYCH WALKING TOUR: Footprints of London guide Michael Duncan leads a walking tour around the Aldwych vicinity, beginning at Temple station and visiting some of the area's hidden history and well-known landmarks. 10.30am-12pm

COOKERY MASTERCLASS: Chef Ceri Jones hosts a cookery masterclass with recipes from her debut cookbook, It Starts with Veg. Learn how to prepare four different veg-led vegetarian dishes, using seasonal ingredients, before sitting down with your classmates to enjoy the meal you've prepared. Takes place at the Garden Museum in Lambeth. 10.45am-2pm

SUNDAY PAPERS LIVE: Crash into an oversized Chesterfield with a mug of tea and slice of cake, thumb through the broadsheets, and tuck into a series of appearances from writers, poets, comedians and musicians: Sunday Papers Live sets up shop at One Marylebone today. 12.30pm-9pm

GEOFFREY FLETCHER'S LONDON: Join guide Jonathan Wober for a tour of some of the sites mentioned in Fletcher's much-loved book The London That Nobody Knows in the Square Mile. 2pm

BLACK HISTORY CRUISE: Take a canal boat cruise from Little Venice to King's Cross with Black History Walks, learning about the Black history of Britain's canal network as you go. Topics covered include Black scientists and inventors, racist statues, and Caribbean labour during the British Industrial Revolution. Pack a picnic to eat along the way. 2.30pm-4.30pm

QUEERA LYNN: Fancy flexing your grey matter at Queera Lynn's Big Quiz? Ye Olde Rose & Crown in Greenwich is the place for you tonight, in this free show that's part of Greenwich Pride. FREE, 6pm-10pm

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