Things to do this week is sponsored by City Cruises.
All week
BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL: Going on all week, Bloomsbury Festival is a celebration of arts and culture in the local area, with walks, talks, performances and exhibitions on the programme. Learn about the Bloomsbury Group, take part in a bookshop crawl, or see a brand new play, among many other options. Until 22 October
FRIEZE SCULPTURE: The work of 21 sculptors is dotted around Regent's Park for Frieze Sculpture, an art trail that's free and open to all. A tower of acrobats, and an uncannily realistic sleepwalker are among this year's highlights. FREE, until 29 October
GRIMFEST 2023: The hallowed walls of Angel's Old Red Lion pub will run red with blood (not literally) from 17 October, when horror-themed fringe festival Grimfest takes over. Catch 20 shows, from gory reimagined classics to scarily good new writing. Grimfest is dying to welcome you. 17 Oct-4 Nov (sponsor)
PUMPKIN PICKING: Get your fill of fresh air and pick up a gourd or two at these pumpkin patches and farms near London. Select your own pumpkin direct from the field, or pick from ready-plucked ones in farm shops. Many venues have other seasonal entertainment going on too, including pumpkin carving and Halloween mazes.
AUTUMN WALKS: From Richmond Park to Chelsea Embankment and Horse Guards Parade, London is full of places to get your fill of red and orange-hued leaves. Take a look at our guide to the best autumn walk routes in London, and get out there and enjoy it.
CURRENT EXHIBITIONS: Why not catch up on some of the best exhibitions open in London right now? Here are some of our picks:
- DISNEY: Classic characters, original costumes, the Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel universes and even the theme parks feature in the Disney100 exhibition at ExCel, a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company. Until 2024
- MYTHS TO MANGA: The first exhibition at the new Young V&A Museum in Bethnal Green (previously the Museum of Childhood) is now open. Japan: Myths to Manga is a complete celebration of Japanese culture, including art, design and technology, and is very family-friendly.
- LEGO DINOSAURS: You've only got a couple more weeks to catch Brick Dinos, an exhibition of dinosaur sculptures fashioned from Lego bricks, at Horniman Museum. Until 29 October
DRINK OF THE WEEK: Autumn may be kicking in, but Soho's just got itself a new aperitivo bar to keep the summer vibes going. Hidden beneath the well-loved Lina Stores, Bar Lina is serving up a lip-smacking cornucopia of Italian-inspired drinks — including five (!) variations on the negroni. Pair booze with cured meats, formaggi and antipasti, and pretend you're in some swanky bar in Florence.
EAT OF THE WEEK: Peckham Arches launches the first in its new supper club series on Wednesday (18 Oct), with Chrissy's Kitchen going Greek, with the likes of chicken souvlaki, harissa roast aubergine and flatbreads with dips. Otherwise get booking for a 'lots of butter' supper club on 26 October and a Bonfire Night one on 2 November — with others to be announced shortly.
Monday 16 October
EVOLUTIONARY THEORY: Professor Robin May gives a free Gresham College lecture on some of the biggest ideas about evolution, as well as some of the most ill-conceived. Watch in person at Barnard's Inn Hall or online. FREE, 6pm
CLASSIC FM LIVE: Alexander Armstrong and Myleene Klass host a special concert celebrating the Classic FM Hall of Fame at the Royal Albert Hall. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra play classics such as Jupiter from The Planets, the Dance of the Knights from the ballet Romeo and Juliet, and the theme from the Pirates of the Caribbean, with a lights and fireworks finale. 7.30pm
PUB QUIZ: The White Horse in Wembley hosts its weekly pub quiz. It's £2 entry per person, with prizes and a jackpot up for grabs. 8pm-10pm
THE SHINING: As part of its Horroctober series, the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square screens 1980 horror film The Shining, starring Jack Nicholson and Shellel Duvall. See other horror films being shown in London this Halloween. 9pm
MONDAYS IN LONDON: Looking for something else to do, today or any other week? Take a look at our guide to things to do in London on a Monday — we've gathered together live music venues, comedy and cabaret clubs which keep going on what is usually the quietest day of the week, along with guided walks and tours scheduled on a Monday, and a few special offers too.
Tuesday 17 October
PARENTS' PUB QUIZ: Parents/carers with a baby — head to The Plough in East Dulwich for the Bring Your Baby Pub Quiz. It's similar to a regular pub quiz , with themed trivia rounds and a picture round, but takes place at lunchtime, and at a slower pace than other quizzes to allow you to feed and change your baby as needed. 12pm-2.30pm
LUNCHTIME CONCERT: Lauderdale House in Highgate offers one of its regular free lunchtime concerts, with resident pianist Stephen Hose performing live. It takes place in the Long Gallery, with views over Waterlow Park to enjoy as you listen. FREE, 1.15pm
SIX DEGREES OF WREN: Guildhall Library offers a free online talk by City Guide Jill Finch, about the life and work of Christopher Wren. Follow his path from Wiltshire to Oxford and Cambridge to London, where he became a Professor at Gresham College, a founder of the Royal Society and the architect responsible for several buildings including St Paul’s Cathedral. FREE, 2pm-3pm
IRAN: Iran’s first revolution in 1906 provided the country with a constitution and parliament, laying the foundations for its political development over the next century. Although overshadowed by the later Islamic Revolution of 1979, it was the Constitutional Revolution that gave birth to the modern state. This Gresham lecture explores the ideas that shaped the revolution and its lasting legacy. FREE, 6pm
CLIMATE COUNTDOWN: Bloomsbury Theatre hosts TEDxLondon Countdown, a climate change event that moves away from shaming, doom and gloom, focusing instead on sharing powerful ideas from inspiring speakers to create meaningful change. Climate scientists, gamers, AI innovators, neuroscientists, activists and more are all on the programme. 6.30pm
SOCCER ASHES: Yep, you read that right — there's a Soccer Ashes, it takes places between Australia and New Zealand, and it's been played for a century. This year it's happening at the Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium, with adult tickets starting at £16. KO 7.45pm
Sponsor message
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Along the way, you'll enjoy unrivalled views of London's finest riverside landmarks, from Big Ben to the Shard, to St Paul's Cathedral. Each cruise includes live or recorded commentary to provide more insight into what you're seeing. There's a fully-stocked bar so you can really travel in style, and kids are welcome aboard — they can even travel for free, if you go for the Family River Pass option!
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T&Cs: Book and travel by 20/10/2023. Offer cannot be combined and can be withdrawn at any time.
Wednesday 18 October
POSTAL HISTORY: The Postal Museum in Clerkenwell always puts on a good show. Their new exhibition Dressed to Deliver opens today, exploring the clothes and accessories worn by British postal workers over the centuries. Exhibition is included in entry ticket. From 18 October
LONDON LITERATURE FESTIVAL: George the Poet, Yu Miri, Teju Cole, Sir Patrick Stewart, Jada Pinkett Smith, Kerry Washington and Jacqueline Wilson are among the faces on the programme at this year's London Literature Festival at Southbank Centre, which celebrates the written and spoken word in all its forms, and begins today. 18-29 October
THE CLAPHAM SECT: London Metropolitan Archives offers a guided walk around Clapham, focusing on what it as like as a village in the 18th century when it was home to a variety of wealthy individuals including those promoting British interests abroad and those trying to abolish the slave trade. 11am-1pm
HOUSEMAID'S TOUR: Spend the evening at the Charles Dickens Museum in Bloomsbury, on a guided tour of the author's former home led by someone in character as his own housemaid. Find out about life in Dickens' time, see the rooms in which he lived and wrote, and hear some gossip about his own family too. 5pm/6pm/7pm
BLACK ENGLAND: Author Gretchen Gerzina discusses the re-release of her influential book, Black England, in an online talk for the National Archives. She reveals that Britain was a mixed race country long before 1945, with a large Black community in Georgian England. 7.30pm
UKRAINIAN ORCHESTRA: Croydon's Fairfield Halls hosts some very special guests tonight, in the form of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. At 30 years old, the orchestra has released more than 100 critically acclaimed recordings; music tonight includes R. Strauss's Don Juan and Finlandia by Sibelius. 7.30pm
DELPHINE TRIO: Hear the Delphine Trio perform a programme of work by Beethoven, Zemlinksy and Seiber, in the elegant surrounds of Leighton House. It's part of the ongoing Kensington and Chelsea Music Society concert series. 7.30pm-9.30pm
Thursday 19 October
AFFORDABLE ART FAIR: Evolution London in Battersea Park hosts the Affordable Art Fair, with 100 galleries exhibiting contemporary works with prices starting from £50. There's also a recent graduates' display, a new exhibition celebrating Black History Month, and late-night openings with special events. 19-22 October
PLATO: Prof Melissa Lane gives today's Gresham lecture looking at Plato's thoughts on political office. FREE, 6pm
TURN IT UP: Just in time for October half term, the Science Museum opens new family-friendly exhibition Turn It Up: The Power of Music, which looks at the effect music has on our lives. It's interactive, with a musical playground, a musical robot, and a chance to see and play some rather unusual instruments. 19 October-6 May
MUSIC LATES: To celebrate the launch of Turn It Up (above), this month's Science Museum Lates has a musical theme. Hear talks about music and the brain, and the music industry, take part in karaoke, a pub quiz or a silent disco, or simply browse the usual displays without the daytime crowds. FREE, 6.30pm
CARIBBEAN SUPPER CLUB: Plant-based restaurant Mildreds continues its new supper club series with a Caribbean carnival themed menu in Dalston. Enjoy a cocktail on arrival, then eat your way through seven dishes including black eye pea callaloo fritters, toasted coconut sweetcorn, akee hard dough bruschetta, and ginger rum cake. 7.30pm
COMEDY CLUB: Juliet Meyers, Mike Cox and Ben Van der Velde perform at tonight's Mycenae Comedy Club at Mycenae House in Blackheath. 8pm
Friday 20 October
HANDEL'S WILL: The Foundling Museum opens a new exhibition, Handel's Will: Love & Legacy, focusing on what the two copies of the composer's will, and the changes made over the years, tells us about his personal and professional life. As well as the original will, the display includes portraits, documents and musical scores. 20 October-28 April
SKATEBOARD: The humble skateboard is the subject of a major new exhibition at the Design Museum, exploring how the board has evolved in design and performance since the 1950s, as well as how it has brought communities together. 20 October 2023-2 June 2024
SUBTITLED TALK: For deaf and hard of hearing visitors, the V&A offers a subtitled talk about the life and work of fashion designer Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel. The team of curators responsible for the current Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto exhibition offer an introduction. FREE, 6.30pm
SAKE MASTERCLASS: The Japan Centre in Westfield White City offers an introduction to the world of Ginjo sake, via a tasting masterclass. Sample three different types, paired with Japanese rice crackers, under the guidance of Hiroshi Kumagami, Japan Centre's Sake Sommelier. 6.30pm-7.30pm
ANNA PANCALDI: Inspired by Carole King, Jeff Buckley and Joni Mitchell, Anna Pancaldi is on at The Waiting Room in Stoke Newington tonight, promising a set of beautiful guitar-laden tracks. 7pm
Saturday 21 October
WINDRUSH FRONT ROOM: Horniman Museum recreates a Windrush-era living room, using music, clothes and objects that were familiar to Windrushers of the 1940s-50s. Step inside the exhibit, handle some of the objects, and hear from Tony Fairweather, author of Twenty-Eight Pounds Ten Shillings: A Windrush Story, and Aunty Vie, who shares stories of life on board the HMS Windrush, and in London in the 1950s-80s. FREE, 21-22 October
HALF TERM: The school break falls over the last week of October, meaning there will be plenty of family-friendly events taking place around London. Browse our half term events guide for theatre shows, exhibitions and other events and activities for all ages. 21-29 October
SKYDIVER: Performing arts festival Dance Umbrella continues, with multi-sensory, family-friendly dance experience Skydiver beginning today. It's set in the skies, and takes place at the Unicorn Theatre today, followed by various other locations around the capital in the coming week. 21-29 October
ICE RINK: With more than two months to go until Christmas, the first of London's seasonal ice rinks opens for business. Ice Rink Canary Wharf is located at the foot of east London's skyscrapers, below hundreds of fairy lights. Oh, and it has a roof, meaning rain won't stop play. Alternatively, try one of London's year-round ice rinks. 21 October-February 2024
DEAF RAVE: Rich Mix hosts two raves today, starring Deaf DJs and musicians including MC Geezer, SignKid and Sarah Adedeji. Deaf Rave Festival features sign songs, sign rap, Visual Vernacular and BSL storytelling. The earlier rave is suitable for kids, the evening one is adults only. 11am and 6pm
BARBIE BRUNCH: BoxPark Croydon holds a screening of this summer's blockbuster Barbie film, accompanied by a bottomless brunch. Tuck into a street food dish, bottomless prosecco for the duration of the film and a selection of cocktails, and then take part in games, singalongs and dance-offs. 1pm-4pm
WE ARE WINDRUSH: The Reggae choir promise to 'uplift, inspire, and bring people together' with their performance of We Are Windrush at Catford's Broadway theatre tonight. Music infused with the sounds of the Caribbean propels this story of the migrants who made Britain's culture all the richer for coming here. 7.30pm
IMPROV: The League of Improv is back at Soho's Century Club. Tonight's bill includes guest comedian Toussaint Douglass, and improvisers from Chicago's renowned Second City and IO Theatres, and from the 'FA' The Free Association of London. 8pm
Sunday 22 October
OVARIAN CANCER WALK|RUN: Sign up to take part in the Ovarian Cancer Walk|Run in Regent's Park and raise money for charity Target Ovarian Cancer. Choose either the 5km or 10km route, or go along to support those taking part. From 10am
VINTAGE FAIR: Head to Kensington Town Hall for Frock Me! Vintage Fair, and browse vintage clothing, accessories, jewellery and textiles from 100 different exhibitors. Vintage British labels such as Ossie Clark, Bill Gibb and Biba often turn up at the event, so keep your eyes open. 11am-5.30pm
ELEANNA TRIO: "Distinctive, haunting, magical, hypnotic" are all words that've been used to describe the voice of Eleanna; she appears at the Bulls Head in Barnes this afternoon, accompanied by guitar and bass. 3pm
STAR WARS MUSIC: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra presents John Williams’ musical scores written for the Star Wars films, performed at the Royal Albert Hall. Tunes includes Star Wars: Main Theme, Imperial March, The Force Awakens: Suite, The Return of the Jedi: Parade of the Ewoks, and Princess Leia’s Theme. 3pm/7.30pm
TRIFFIDS: It's the final day of Pumphouse Gallery's current exhibition, Triffids by Annie Trevorah, and Londonist art critic Tabish Khan is in conversation with Trevorah at the closing event. The exhibition is part of Chelsea Physic Garden's 350th anniversary celebrations, and takes inspiration from The Day of the Triffids, to look at a sci-fi future where plants become the colonising species, posing a threat to human survival. FREE, 4pm-7pm (talk at 5pm)
HALLOWEENCON: Heaven's Musical Theatre Rave — featuring live performances from West End stars, lip sync battles and lashings of songs from musical theatre — goes all Halloweeny this Sunday. If there's no Rocky Horror Show, we'll eat our hat. 9pm
Good cause of the week
Want to pick up a work of art by the likes of Zandra Rhodes or Grayson Perry for just £85? You're in with a chance if you visit A Letter in Mind, the National Brain Appeal’s big art fundraiser.
Hundreds of artists have created an original piece of art on an envelope, responding to the theme ‘Changing Perspectives’. Their creations will go on show at Gallery Different in Fitzrovia, London, from 24-28 October 2023, and will be sold via the charity’s online gallery from 25 October.
But here's the fun part: all the artworks will be exhibited anonymously, priced identically at £85. The identity of the artist is revealed at the end of the exhibition, once the artwork has sold. So you don't know if you're buying a household name or a talented newcomer.
All proceeds from sales will go towards supporting vital projects at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, a wonderful way to support the NHS.
