Things to do this week is sponsored by London Symphony Orchestra.
All week
STORIES OF ST JAMES'S: Last chance to catch Stories of St James's Burial Ground, a free exhibition about the archaeological discoveries made during HS2 excavations on the former St James’s Burial Ground near Euston. Dressmaker Elizabeth Mercer, and Charles Fortnum of Fortnum & Mason were among the 11,000 people buried there — find out more at the exhibition at St James's Piccadilly. FREE, until 23 April
CHINESE AND BRITISH: Also closing this week is the British Library's free exhibition about the culture of British Chinese communities. Chinese and British uses photos, interviews and manuscripts to explore what it means to be both Chinese and British. FREE, until 23 April
WHORLED: The courtyard at Somerset House has been taken over be a giant maze of road signs, until Sunday. It's an art installation, Whorled (Here After Here After Here) by Jitish Kallat, and consists of 336m of UK road signs, some pointing to legitimate destinations, and others to locations beyond our planet in the distant universe. FREE, until 23 April
POLISH FILM FESTIVAL: Now in its 21st year, the Kinoteka Polish Film Festival continues at venues across London, showcasing the best new and classic Polish films. The programme spans comedies, documentaries, and dramas, as well as classics. Until 27 April
BEAT THE STREET: It's the last full week to take part in Beat the Street: the borough of Merton has been turned into a giant game, with residents encouraged to walk, cycle, run, scoot and roll in order to get to locations on the map, complete challenges and be in with a chance of winning prizes. FREE, until 26 April
EAT OF THE WEEK: Cinnamon Bazaar in Covent Garden has launched a new Sunday brunch — scoff Bombay-style scrambled eggs, fish curry and pistachio kulfi, accompanied by beats from resident DJs. Make it bottomless by adding on beer, prosecco or mimosas. If you're really celebrating, you can upgrade to champagne. Every Sunday
CINEMA OF THE WEEK: Nestled in train arches by Loughborough Junction, the utterly charming Whirled Cinema is like no other movie theatre we know. World and arthouse pictures are the name of the game here, and this week, it's all about Tori and Lokita, the Cannes-winning Belgian film about two young African immigrants who find themselves in a cruel, uncaring exile.
Monday 17 April
A LOVE SONG: For its weekly Parent & Baby Film Club, Big Penny Social in Walthamstow screens 2022 film A Love Song. It's the story of Faye, a lone traveller at a rural Colorado campsite, awaiting the arrival of a figure from her past. Food and drink are available to order while you watch. Take a look at other regular parent and baby events in London. FREE ENTRY, 12.30pm-3pm
CHINESE AND BRITISH FOOD: In the final week of the Chinese and British exhibition (above), hear speakers from very different food backgrounds share their stories, and their passions for food within the Chinese British community. Ken Hom, Angela Hui, Jeremy Pang, Helen Tse and Andrew Wong are all on the panel. 7pm-8.30pm
KARAOKE SHOWDOWN: Saffron Slayer hosts Karaoke Showdown at Soho's Admiral Duncan tonight. Dare to flex your lungs in front of a crowd, or leave it to the others, and enjoy the drinks offer (£2.95 on selected bevvies!). 7pm-11.30pm
MADE UP GAMES: Regular listeners of Elis James and John Robins's radio segment will be familiar with Made Up Games — they quite literally go head to head in games made up by the audience. Catch the show live on stage at Bloomsbury Theatre tonight. 7.30pm (until 19 April)
HAPPY MONDAYS COMEDY: Shalaka Karup, Ania Magliano, Jamie Jackson and James Harding are among the guest performers at tonight's Happy Mondays Comedy at the Amersham Arms in New Cross, with Joshua Robertson headlining with his current work in progress show, and Siôn James as host. 8pm
Tuesday 18 April
LONDON BOOK FAIR: Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is the keynote speaker at this year's London Book Fair, in conversation with Young Vic Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah. Elsewhere at the publishing industry event, which starts today, catch author Kate Mosse in conversation with Louise Minchin, the International Booker Prize shortlist announcement, and panel discussions around ChatGPT, sustainability, TikTok, and more. 18-20 April
QUEER EAST: Taking place at venues across London, Queer East Festival is a celebration of LGBTQ+ cinema, live arts, and moving image work from East and Southeast Asia and its diaspora communities. It begins tonight with the UK premiere screening of I Love You, Beksman, a reverse coming out story from the Philippines, shown at BFI Southbank. 18-30 April
EAST OF THE CITY: Guildhall Library hosts a virtual tour of the areas of Spitalfields and Whitechapel, which are just beyond where the City walls once stood. Find out how the area went from medieval priory to haven for immigrants to infamous slum, before becoming the east London we know today.Watch in person at Guildhall Library or online. 2pm-3pm
GOLDFINCH COMEDY NIGHT: Head to The Goldfinch in Tooting for a night of comedy featuring Mark Thomas, Jenan Younis, Matthew McAloone, Paul Sweeney, Sonia Aste and Sarah Evans. Doors 7pm
NATURAL BORN STORYTELLERS: True storytelling show Natural Born Storytellers is back at Aces & Eights in Tufnell Park, and this month's theme is 'a good match'. Prepare to hear moving, life-affirming, shocking, captivating or just plain hilarious tales. 7.45pm-9.45pm
Sponsor message
California dreaming at London Symphony Orchestra's Half Six Fix
Here's a real treat for both concert hall regulars and newbies who are curious about orchestral music. This Wednesday, the London Symphony Orchestra is back at the Barbican to perform a glittering piece of music by one of America's greatest living composers: John Adams' Harmonielehre.
Inspired by a dream Adams had about a supertanker launching itself from the San Francisco Bay into the sky like a rocket, this film score-esque composition promises to transport you to a more peaceful plain. Ahead of that, conductor Sir Simon Rattle will introduce the piece - he's been friends with the composer for years, so he's sure to have some intriguing insights to share!
The concert is part of the LSO's Half Six Fix series. Each event is just an hour long, so it's easy to squeeze into your schedule, and the chilled out vibe makes it the perfect post-work treat (you can even grab a drink from the bar on your way in). Plus, our readers get 2-for-1 tickets with the code 241HSF04 — ideal for date night or a family evening out if you've got older kids! Flying solo? Look up the Wildcard ticket option for a another way to save.
Half Six Fix. 19 April, 6.30pm-7.30pm at the Barbican. Standard tickets cost £18-£35 and can be bought here.
Wednesday 19 April
ACID JAZZ: Pioneering record label Acid Jazz celebrates 35 years with a touring exhibition, coming to Camden Lock Market from today. The exhibition features rare video footage, magazine and radio interviews, photography, posters and flyers, record label artworks of the music and musicians from the archives. 19-24 April
SOMERSET HOUSE LATES: The whole Somerset House site stays open beyond normal hours for Morgan Stanley Lates, an evening of late-night culture and live performances. Current exhibitions are open to explore (including free exhibition entry for under-25s). 6pm-10pm
STAND-UP PADDLEBOARDING: Thinking about trying stand-up paddleboarding? How about easing yourself in gently with a talk about stand-up paddleboarding? Author Jo Moseley is at Stanfords in Covent Garden to discuss her debut book, Stand-Up Paddleboarding in Great Britain. It's a chance to find out how to get started in the watersport, and get some tips on the best places to try it here in Britain. 6.30pm-8pm
COMEDY AND CURRY: Sai Restaurant in Raynes Park hosts an evening of Comedy & Curry. Your ticket includes a two-course Indian buffet, accompanied by three courses of comedy by Nathan Caton, Rick Kieswetter and Runi Talwar, all overseen by MC Sonia Aste. Doors 6.45pm
SPARK STORYTELLING: 'Fools' is the theme of this month's Spark Storytelling at Catford Mews, where anyone's welcome to get up on stage and spin a yarn. Just make sure you know the rules; your story must be true, it must have happened to you, and it must be up to five minutes in length. 8pm
CLUB NIGHT FOR DEBT JUSTICE: DJs, participatory art, edutainment, and 'a night of collective joy' — all promised by Hackney collective Studio61's The Debt Down event, raising funds for Debt Justice, at The Jago in Dalston. 7.30pm-midnight
Thursday 20 April
SALON PRIVÉ: Into cars? Salon Privé pulls into the Royal Hospital Chelsea for three days, showcasing sets of wheels that you almost definitely can't afford. Still, it's a good chance to ogle the latest models from Aston Martin, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Maserati, Porsche, Rolls-Royce and the like, many of which get their UK debut at the show. Classic cars are on show at the Concours de Vente. 20-22 April
LONDON COFFEE FESTIVAL: Wake up and smell the coffee at the London Coffee Festival, a four-day programme of tastings, demos, competitions, shopping and more at The Truman Brewery on Brick Lane, kicking off today. 20-23 April
SICILY FEST: Food and drink from the Italian region of Sicily are centre stage at SicilyFest, a four-day event at the Business Design Centre. Browse and buy pasta, sauces, jams, cakes, desserts and wine, and learn how to put them to good use with live chef masterclasses. 20-23 April
BLUE: Opening at the London Coliseum is Blue, an opera about an African-American family where the father’s job as a policeman clashes with his activist son’s notions of equality and justice. It's performed by the English National Opera. 20 April-4 May
ROOF EAST: Stratford's 'adult playground' Roof East reopens its doors for the summer season, offering bars and street food vendors, games including Birdies Crazy Golf and Sluggers batting cages, and a rooftop open-air cinema, all offering views over east London and beyond. From 20 April
GEORGIAN BRITAIN: Author and historian Alex Loxton is at the Cartoon Museum to discuss her new book, UPROAR! It's a history of Georgian Britain through the eyes of the artists who recorded it, including satirists Thomas Rowlandson, James Gillray and Isaac Cruikshank. 6.30pm-8.30pm
Friday 21 April
THE BIG ONE: A reminder that environmental campaign group Extinction Rebellion has a huge ongoing 'action' planned, taking place outside the Houses of Parliament from 21 April. It will be a "nonviolent, direct action" with people sitting peacefully outside Parliament, hoping to apply pressure to those working inside who have the power to implement change. From 21 April
ANIMALS: The British Library opens a new exhibition, Animals: Art, Science and Sound, which looks at how the animal world has been documented through the ages. Sound recordings, manuscripts and artworks all feature to tell stories, including the first scientific description of a duck-billed platypus, which was so bizarre it was thought it must be a hoax. 21 April-28 August
OLD OPERATING THEATRE: Following a closure to allow for its skylight to be replaced, the Old Operating Theatre Museum in London Bridge reopens to the public — and to celebrate, there's free entry on opening day, today. The museum also launches a new exhibition, Every Body Has A Medical History, featuring 20 original artworks from local artists, displayed among the Museum's historical collection. FREE (today only), from 10.30am
MIDNIGHT APOTHECARY: London's botanical cocktail bar in a roof garden, The Midnight Apothecary, reopens for the summer season tonight. It's the work of Lottie Muir, who grows some of the ingredients for the cocktails in the garden, and is located at the Brunel Museum — your ticket includes an underground tour of Brunel's Grand Entrance Hall to the Thames Tunnel. 5pm-10pm
IVO GRAHAM: Live at the Apollo and Mock The Week star Ivo Graham headlines a night of comedy at Bush Hall in Shepherd's Bush, joined by several others, including BBC Radio 5 Live broadcaster John Robins, and star of Mock The Week Thanyia Moore. Doors 7pm
LEAGUE OF IMPROV: Fans of improv should get along to the League of Improv night at Soho's Century Club. The starting point is a one-word suggestion from the audience, from which improvisers weave a full-length story out of thin air. Two shows 7pm and 9pm
Saturday 22 April
AZTEC MASKS: Take the kids along to the British Museum for a free mask-making session, focusing on the Aztecs. Learn about Aztec masks, then work together as a family to create your own colourful design, which you can then print to take home. Age 5+. FREE, 10am-4pm
SPRING OPEN DAY: Today there's a rare chance to get free entry to London's oldest botanical garden, Chelsea Physic Garden, at its Spring Open Day. Browse and buy plants, botanical beauty items and homewares at the plant market, and pick up gardening tips at free drop-in demos, with food and drink available from the Café. FREE, 10am-5pm (sponsor)
RIVERSIDE VOGA: The Westminster Hotel hosts a Voga session (that's a blend of yoga and Vogueing, FYI), on its riverside terrace, with views of the Thames. After the workout, enjoy a brunch of smoothies, yoghurt, fresh fruit and Buck's Fizz. 11am-1pm
EMBRACE NATURE: Where the Leaves Fall magazine hosts an afternoon of talks, nature walks, an interactive fermentation demonstration, and film screening in Highgate. Here's a chance to escape the thrum of the city and embrace nature. There will be samosas and homemade chai too. 12pm-5pm
VAISAKHI FESTIVAL: Vaisakhi — the Sikh and Punjabi cultural festival — took place on 14 April, but London's main celebration returns to Trafalgar Square today. The free festival features live entertainment and performances, martial arts demonstrations, a showcase of Sikh art, plus food and drink stalls. FREE, 12pm-6pm
HISTORY TOUR: At time of writing, there are still a few tickets available for the ever-popular history tours of Wilton's Music Hall in Limehouse. Led by a researcher and historian, it's a chance to hear how the venue went from Victorian sailors' pub to music hall to Methodist Mission, to being completely forgotten, before being restored into the live performance venue it is today. 5pm
ARTIST TALK: Londonist's Visual Arts Editor Tabish Khan is at the J/M Gallery on Portobello Road, moderating an artist talk. Hear from contemporary artists Prachi Gothi and Tong Wu, who both have work in the gallery's Dreamscape spring exhibition. FREE, 6pm-7pm
T WITH THE MAGGIES: County Donegal foursome T with the Maggies are at Hammersmith's Irish Cultural Centre, with their brand of traditional Irish folk music, played with bouzouki, harp and the like. 7.30pm (also on Sunday at 7pm)
Sunday 23 April
LONDON MARATHON: For the first time since 2019, the London Marathon is being held in spring. Around 40,000 runners are expected to tackle 26.2 miles of the capital's streets, from Greenwich and Blackheath to the finish line on The Mall, via Rotherhithe, Bermondsey, Canary Wharf and the City. Read our guide to the London Marathon for info on timings, best places to watch and the like. Even if you're not planning to take part or watch yourself, be aware that road closures are in place across London throughout the weekend, which could affect bus routes. FREE to watch, from 8.30am
ANTIQUES FAIR: 120 exhibitors rock up at the Royal Horticultural Halls in Westminster for the regular Adams Antiques Fair, where you can browse and buy collectibles, jewellery, silverware, decorative items and more. 10am-4.30pm
BEATLES TOUR: Every Sunday (and Thursday in fact), Beatles fanatic Richard Porter runs a walking tour that takes in various former haunts of the Fab Four, including the site of the famous rooftop gig, and the studio where Hey Jude was recorded. Who knows, you might even spot Paul McCartney along the way... 11am
ST GEORGE'S DAY: Todayis St George's Day, a celebration of the patron saint of England (plus Catalonia, Ethiopia, and various other regions). London's free St George's Day Festival takes place in Trafalgar Square with live music and performers, family activities, and food and drink. FREE, 12pm-pm
SPRING WELLNESS: Laura Devonshire is at Oru Space in East Dulwich, leading a session on the Wood Element: Himalayan & crystal singing bowls, gong, koshi chimes and shamanic drum are all employed in this healing spring workshop. 2pm-4pm
SHAKESPEARE: Of course, St George's Day is also Shakespeare's birthday, and this year's is particularly special as it also marks the 400th anniversary of the First Folio (an early collection of the Bard's plays, which ensured their survival). To celebrate London on the Ground tours explores the locations in the Square Mile connected with Mr S. 2.30pm
MEZCALERIA: KOL Mezcaleria in Marylebone hosts La Punta Expendio de Agave, a pop-up showcasing a limited edition menu of Oaxaca-inspired cocktails. Tuck into six speical cocktails created by La Punta team and the KOL Mezcaleria team, using three different expressions of agave available from The Lost Explorer Mezcal (Espadín, Tobalá, Salmiana). It's accompanied by a unique antojitos menu by Chef Patron Santiago Lastra which includes Tunworth Buñuelos and Wagyu Empanadas. 6pm-11pm
Urban oddity of the week
Shakespeare's birthday (see Sunday) is a good excuse to show off this incredible Romeo and Juliet mural in Shoreditch. The building, just off Curtain Road in Shoreditch, is on the site of The Theatre, the long-vanished playhouse where the star-crossed lovers first graced the stage. The mural was painted in 2018 by the Global Street Art group.
Good cause of the week
The Vagina Museum lost its home in Bethnal Green at the start of the year. But you can't keep a good museum down. A fundraiser has started up to try and raise the cash needed to start afresh. At time of writing, it's about half way to its funding target of £30,000. To help bring its exhibitions and events back to a bricks-and-mortar venue, check out the GoFundMe page.
