All week

HALF TERM: Most London schools are closed for half term this week, which means that parents and carers will be looking for ways to keep tots and teens occupied. Browse our guide to spending half term in London for exhibitions, shows, and other family-friendly fun — including some activities which are completely free. Until 19 February

IMAGINE CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL: Coinciding with half term, but worthy of a mention in its own right, is Southbank Centre's Imagine Children's Festival, an 11-day celebration of all facets of children's literature — and some of the events and activities (though not all) are free. Monday is a day of live music and Wednesday offers a chance to hear about extinct animals from TV scientist Ben Garrod. Until 18 February

VALENTINE'S: If you've been anywhere near a shop recently, you won't have failed to notice that Valentine's Day is coming up. It's on Tuesday, and there are plenty of romantic events on around the capital. But we've selected a few love-themed events that you can enjoy on a date, with mates, or on your own, throughout this week — take a look.

VALENTINE'S AFTERNOON TEA: Among our pick of new afternoon teas to try in London right now is the Galentine's/Valentine's afternoon tea menu at Taj 51 Buckingham Gate, which features rose profiteroles, red velvet cake and raspberry macaroons — and it's only available until the end of this week, so get munching. Until 19 February

WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY: A group of talented Harrow artists with learning difficulties have put together an exhibition of their paintings, drawings and photographs at Harrow Arts Centre. As the name suggests, What Makes Me Happy is the kind of uplifting, inspiration-filled exhibition we need right now. FREE, until 12 March

PUB OF THE WEEK: Head way out east to find our idea of a perfect micropub: Upminster TapRoom is a pint-sized watering hole serving up delicious gravity ales, plus ciders from the box. There's a little beer garden out front, and they do wine tastings, live music sets and vinyl nights.

EAT OF THE WEEK: BBQ masters Hotbox have just opened up a restaurant in Croydon's Boxpark — and if slow-cooked, dry-rubbed short ribs; and banging buffalo chicken wings are up your street, you're going to love it. Some smashing cocktails too, including a pineapple old fashioned.

LAST CHANCE TO SEE: It's the final week of a few major exhibitions in London. Catch them while you can:

• ALEXANDER THE GREAT: Alexander the Great's life spurred countless legends that go well beyond fact, and this thorough exhibition at the British Library leans fully into such mythical stories, looking at who he really was, and why he continues to captivate today. Until 19 February
• TURNER ON TOUR: See two paintings by JMW Turner on display side by side for the first time in a century, at the National Gallery. They depict the harbours of Dieppe and Cologne, and have been in a private collection in the US since 1914. FREE, until 19 February
• HIEROGLYPHS: The British Museum takes a deep dive into how the Rosetta Stone was used to translate Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, giving us a better idea of life back then. Until 19 February
• THE HORROR SHOW!: Head to Somerset House for a look back at the horror genre over the past 50 years, and how it was influenced by events happening in the world around us. Until 19 February

ORCHIDS: Brighten up your February with a splash of colour, courtesy of the Orchids festival at Kew Gardens. Located in the toasty warm Princess of Wales Conservatory, the floral display celebrates orchid species native to Cameroon, as well as horticultural sculptures of the country's wildlife. Plus, if you haven't got Valentine's sorted yet, the Orchids After Hours event on Friday and Saturday this week makes for an unusual date night. Until 5 March

THE LOST RHINO: Only two northern white rhinos are still alive, both female. A new exhibition at the Natural History Museum examines our relationship with this endangered species through four artistic representations. Brought together by artist Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, the exhibition includes a digitally recreated, life-sized northern white rhino displayed alongside an historical drawing by Dürer, a taxidermy specimen and a film of beating rhino heart cells grown in a lab. This is a fascinating and thought-provoking look at conservation, extinction and human attitudes to the natural world. FREE, until 19 March 2023 (sponsor)

Monday 13 February

PARENT & BABY FILM: Parents and carers with babies in tow are invited to Walthamstow's Big Penny Social for a free screening of 2019 film Brittany Runs A Marathon. Treat yourself to lunch or a drink and watch the action on the large projector screen, without worrying about your little one disturbing others, as you might in a normal cinema. FREE, 12.30pm

RACE AROUND THE WORLD: Ever heard of Nellie Bly? In 1890, she travelled around the world alone in just 72 days — trumping Jules Verne's fictional Around The World In 80 Days, which was written a couple of decades previously. Today, hear from author Rosemary J Brown who has traced Bly's original journey, in a bid to make her achievements better known. Watch the talk in person at the Royal Geographical Society, or online. 2.30pm-3.45pm

SCATTERED ASHES: Abrasive Dublin four-piece Scattered Ashes get the week off to a frenetic start, at Shoreditch's Old Blue Last. If you're into the Editors, Interpol and Joy Division then this band's a shoo-in. 7.30pm

PUB QUIZ: Gather your brainiest chums and head to The White Horse in Wembley for the weekly pub quiz. Max six people per team, and it's £2 entry per person, with a £50 bar tab for the winners. 8pm

Tuesday 14 February

MACBETH: A new production of Macbeth opens at Wilton's Music Hall today, performed entirely by two actors, and told from the perspective of the Macbeths themselves. 14 February-8 March

LUNCHTIME CONCERT: Head to the rather lovely Old Royal Naval College Chapel in Greenwich this lunchtime for a free concert by Opera Asteria featuring Trinity Laban alum, Alicia Mallace-Goulbourne, Rhian Davies and Eleanor Strutt. FREE, 1.05pm

HOW TO SPEAK WHALE: Wildlife filmmaker Tom Mustill is at the Royal Institution to discuss whether we can use science and artificial intelligence to communicate with whales. Find out how AI, undersea robots, and animal spying devices are being used to decipher whale song in a lecture aimed at families and anyone age 11+. Watch in person or online. 2pm-3.15pm

FILM, BROUGHT TO LIFE: Celebrate one of the greatest love stories ever told this Valentine’s Day with a one-of-a-kind Backyard Cinema screening of Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 classic, Romeo + Juliet. For one night only, watch the iconic film inside Barbican Hall, accompanied by a live choir belting out tunes from the spellbinding movie soundtrack. 7.30pm (sponsor)

COMEDY SPECIAL: Regular show Happy Mondays Comedy switches things up this week, with a Valentine's special on a Tuesday. It's still at the Amersham Arms in New Cross, and still hosted by Sion James, with Flat & The Curves, Peter Rethinasamy, Jonny CT, Pearse Egan, and Rosie Francis — and free chocolate for the first 30 people to arrive. 8pm

HEART MYSTERIES: Also at the Royal Institution today is author Sian Harding, tackling the mysteries of the heart — scientific mysteries, that is. Find out how new scientific developments including ultrafast imaging, gene editing, stem cells, artificial intelligence, and advanced sub-light microscopy are allowing scientists to learn how the heart works.7pm-8.30pm

Wednesday 15 February

VICTORIAN PORTRAITS: Tonight's Gresham College lecture focuses on the portraits which were used to depict Queen Victoria throughout her reign. Historian Professor Jane Ridley looks at images which show her as a devoted wife, grief-stricken widow, grandmother of Europe and Empress of India, concluding that the strongest image is that of the black-dressed Queen alone. Watch in person at Barnard's Inn Hall or online. FREE, 6pm

CARLY RAE JEPSEN: Call Me Maybe singer Carly Rae Jepsen has made something of a comeback recently, and at time of writing there are still tickets available to see her performing live at Alexandra Palace, following the release of her new album back in October. Doors 6.30pm

OTHER LOVES: Asexual activist Yasmin Benoit and Dr Julia Shaw, author of Bi: The Hidden Culture, History and Science of Bisexuality, are at Conway Hall tonight, discussing aromantic, asexual and bisexual forms of love. 6.30pm

JAWDANCE: Spoken word event Jawdance is back at Rich Mix in Shoreditch for an evening of live music and storytelling. Enjoy a curated programme of specially chosen acts, followed by an open mic session. 7pm

CANDLELIT PHOTOGRAPHY EVENING: Southwark Cathedral hosts one of its Candlelit Photography Evenings, inviting amateur and professional photographers alike the chance to capture the building atmospherically lit by candles. It's not a workshop or tutorial session — just a chance for you to explore the church at your own pace, and get some snaps. 7pm

FERN BRADY: Comedian and writer Fern Brady launches her new book, Strong Female Character, at Southbank Centre. See her chatting to fellow comedian Katy Wix about the memoir, which covers the topics of sexism and neurodiversity. 8pm

Thursday 16 February

WHORLED: A new installation is unveiled in the courtyard at Somerset House today. Whorled (Here After Here After Here) by Jitish Kallat consists of two interconnected spirals designed to look like road signs, showing the distance from Somerset House to over 300 locations across the planet and beyond, including the Moon, Mars, and distant stars in the Milky Way. FREE, 16 February-23 April

STATUS QUO: Barbican Library opens a new, free exhibition Celebrating Seven Decades Of Quo. As rock band Status Quo reaches that milestone, get a glimpse through the band's history through photos, posters, memorabilia, and never-seen-before handwritten lyrics. FREE, 16 February-22 May

POLICE MUSEUM LATE: Covent Garden's Bow Street Police Museum teams up with the Old Operating Theatre Museum & Herb Garret for an evening opening at the former. Find out what happened to police officers injured in the line of duty in the 18th century and the surgery they often underwent. There's also a chance to handle objects including handcuffs, truncheons and surgeons' tools. 7pm-9pm

HIP HOP KARAOKE: Think you've got the potential to be a hip hop superstar? Get down to Hip Hop Karaoke at Queen of Hoxton and show off your skills on stage with tunes from the likes of Biggie, Missy,The Fugees, Drake, Kendrick Lamar or Kanye. It's a Valentine's special this week. 7pm

LATE NIGHT JAZZ: One for night owls, the Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall stays open for Late Night Jazz, a relaxed evening where the audience are welcome to dance, sing and move around. Singer-songwriter Bryony Jarman-Pinto performs this week. 9pm

Friday 17 February

FLAVOURSCAPES: Head to Regent Street and St James's this Friday and Saturday for Flavourscapes, an outdoor food market with some rather unusual concoctions available, including liquid nitrogen ice cream, glow in the dark bao buns, and candy floss burritos.17-18 February

LONDON BOOKSHOP CRAWL: London Bookshop Crawl encourages you to visit as many independent bookshops as possible over the course of one weekend — with events at different shops around the capital (as well as online) to foster a community of book lovers. The aim, of course, is to support London's independent bookshops, while treating yourself to a few new reads. 17-19 February

LONDON MOTORCYCLE SHOW: Start your engine for the London Motorcycle Show, wheeling into town for three days at ExCeL. See the latest bikes, kit and accessories, as well as a James Bond display. 17-19 February

BEYOND THE STREETS: Saatchi Gallery's huge new exhibition, Beyond The Streets London, claims to be the most comprehensive graffiti and street art exhibition ever to open in the UK, featuring work by more than 100 artists, from huge-scale murals to train taggers. It takes over all five of the gallery's floors, so pace yourself. 17 February-9 May

CLEVELAND STREET SCANDAL: The National Archives offers an online talk about the Cleveland Street Scandal of 1889-90, using original documents to explore the social context. It occurred when the police discovered a gay brothel, used by members of the aristocracy, at a time when sexual acts between men were illegal in this country. 2pm

Saturday 18 February

WANSTEAD VINTAGE: Jewellery, vinyl, old tube maps, retro board game... Wanstead Vintage is a quarterly Aladdin's cave of pre-loved treasures waiting to be explored, and it's happening today. 10.30am-4.30pm

CERAMICS MARKET: Browse and buy goods from over 60 ceramic artists at the Independent Ceramics Market, at Copeland Park and the Bussey Building in Peckham. Cups and sculptures are among the goods available from art students and graduates, and experienced artists. 11am-5pm

PEAKY BLINDERS: If you're missing your fix of TV show Peaky Blinders, join Footprints of London guide Rob Smith on a walking tour through the real London of Peaky Blinders. Hear the true story of the Sabini gang, and visit some of their haunts in what was London's Little Italy.2pm-4pm

NEW ORLEANS PARTY: Mardi Gras isn't until Tuesday, but there's a lively New Orleans-style bash at The Prince in West Brompton today. American whiskey brand Southern Comfort hosts, with cocktails and slushies available all night, and live DJs headlined by Nathan Dawe. 3pm-midnight

ROOPA PANESAR: Musician Roopa Panesar — a celebrated sitar player, performing Indian classical and Hindustani music — is at Barbican for a live show. Hear tracks from her upcoming album, ATMA, for which she collaborated with several Indian classical and jazz musicians. 8pm

LEO GREEN: Saxophonist supreme Leo Green is currently doing a residency at swanky Covent Garden hotel Middle Eight, which includes two shows every Saturday. For hands-in-the-air jazzed-up renditions of everything from Ed Sheeran to Beyonce to Elvis, this is where it's at. 8pm-9.15pm and 10pm-11.15pm

PATTI HARRISON: Tonight's your final chance to catch comedian Patti Harrison performing her current show — a work-in-progress, as it turns out — at Soho Theatre. We found it highly distasteful and riotously funny — here's our full review. 9.15pm

Sunday 19 February

CRICK CRACK CLUB: Fairytale-teller extraordinaire Ben Haggarty is at Gunnersbury Park & Museum, telling the story of Jack and the 12 Dancing Princesses. The 50-minute-long tale of broken shoes, strange disappearances and enchanted mirrors is suitable for anyone aged five to 100. 11am-11.50am

HOUSEPLANT MARKET: Got a gap in your house that needs filling? Yesterday's Independent Ceramics Market expands today to include houseplants too — so you can leave with a new green friend, and a jazzy pot to display it in. 11am-5pm

PECKHAM RECORD FAIR: And under the same roof as those pots and plants (above) is Peckham Record Fair. Basically, if you're looking to part with any money this weekend, while supporting independent traders, The Bussey Building is the place to head. 11am-5pm

CARNIVAL DO BRASIL: Over in Brazil, it's Carnival week this week, but if you can't make it to Rio, head to Wembley Park instead. Carnival Do Brasil at Boxpark is a party featuring Latin DJs and Samba dancers and bands. 3pm-11pm

POWER OF FOUR: Join not one, not two, but FOUR fabulous drag queens — including Mary Mac and Marsha Mallow — at Two Brewers in Clapham, for a party that, well, drags on from mid afternoon to the small hours of Monday morning. 4pm-2am

COMEDY GALA: Matthew Highton, Rosie Holt, Stewart Lee, Ania Magliano, Shazia Mirza, Simon Munnery and Bilal Zafar are among the comedians appearing at a comedy gala night at Bloomsbury Theatre, raising money for non-profit community radio station Resonance FM. 7pm

Urban oddity of the week

Here's one store you won't be able to visit on Friday's bookshop crawl... because it never existed. Henry Earlforward's bookshop features prominently in Arnold Bennet's novel Riceyman Steps, which celebrates its centenary this year. Find it on King's Cross Road, near the entrance to the sprawling brown-brick Travelodge. Under the arch, the stairs up to Granville Square are the eponymous Riceyman Steps.

Good cause of the week

A couple of weeks ago, a building collapse in Stoke Newington forced a dozen small businesses to close to enable repairs. These unplanned closures are a real threat to the livelihoods of some of these shops and businesses. An emergency appeal has been set up to crowdfund money to help these local independents survive.