Things To Do This Week In London: 20-26 February 2023

All week

CANARY WHARF ICE RINK: You may be surprised to learn that one of London's seasonal ice rinks is still going, but this week is your final chance to visit Ice Rink Canary Wharf before it packs away. It has a roof, so no need to worry about rain! Until 25 February

ART TRAIL: It's the last full week to see the Winter Warmers additions to the Wembley Park Art Trail. The seven temporary installations include digital pieces and light installations, and can be seen across Olympic Way, the Spanish Steps and Arena Square. FREE, until 28 February

VOGUE X SNAPCHAT: Coinciding with London Fashion Week, Vogue and Snapchat have teamed up for a free pop-up experience on Regent Street, curated by Vogue editor Edward Enniful. Vogue x Snapchat: Redefining the Body consists of six rooms, each inspired by a different designer, using AR technology to bring them to life — including a chance to virtually try on some of the outfits. FREE, until 5 March

BATTERSEA LIGHT FESTIVAL: Though the nights are gradually getting lighter (hurrah!), light festival season carries on in the form of Battersea Power Station Light Festival, a free trail of eight installations, in and around the newly reopened Power Station. Until 5 March

ORCHIDS: Over at Kew Gardens, Orchids is in full bloom. The annual flower festival brings colourful displays to the Princess of Wales Conservatory, and this year the focus is on the flora of Cameroon. Look out for giraffes, gorillas, hippos and lions sculpted from flowers too. While you're at Kew, check out this trippy, psychedelic installation — both exhibitions are included in general Kew Gardens admission. Until 5 March

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: A reminder that Cirque du Soleil's newest show, Kurios: Cabinet of Curiousities is still ongoing at the Royal Albert Hall. Think steampunk-inspired circus in a seriously impressive venue, and that's about the size of it. Until 5 March

VAULT FESTIVAL: We've just heard that 2023 will be the last time VAULT is hosted in the enchanting Waterloo Vaults — but right now, there is still time to catch comedy, drag, burlesque, drama and more. Until 19 March

KAKILANG FESTIVAL: Southeast and East Asian heritage in modern Britain is explored comprehensively with Kakilang Festival — a huge event spanning live music, drag, dance, theatre and more. Launching on 21 February, it plays out in various London venues, culminating in a show from Emmy the Great this spring. Until 22 April

KING'S STAMP: Fancy a sneak preview of the new Charles III stamps before they're officially released this April? The Postal Museum's current exhibition, The King's Stamp, gives you that chance, while exploring 180 years of stamps with monarchs on them. Until 3 September

SIX NATIONS: After a week's hiatus, the Six Nations competition picks up again this weekend, with Italy V Ireland and Wales V England on Saturday, and France V Scotland on Sunday. Whoever you're supporting, take a look at our guide to where to watch Six Nations in London.

EAT OF THE WEEK: If you've enjoyed a Black Bear Burger or five before now, you'll be gleeful to hear they've now spread their (chicken) wings, under the guise of 20ft Fried Chicken. Dig into their spiffing range of burgers, spring rolls, nuggets and wings (the latter doused in the finest buffalo sauce we've tasted) at Market Halls in Oxford Street.

CINEMA OF THE WEEK: Kensal Green's cute Lexi Cinema runs off volunteers and community spirit, making it a very special place to catch a film. On the programme this week are a slew of Oscar nominees including Women Talking, Tár and The Whale.

Monday 20 February

CREATIVE COFFEE MORNING: Crafty folk, get yourself over to Wembley Park for a creative coffee morning, where you can pick up a new art or craft skill under the guidance of qualified artist Jayshree Thacker. FREE, 10.30am-noon

CHANGING OF GUARDS TOUR: Have you ever actually seen the Changing of the Guards? It's often dismissed as "something tourists do" and not a sight most Londoners seek out. Guide Richard Atkinson thinks you're missing out, and so runs regular tours (most Mon, Wed, Fri) of both the Buckingham Palace and Horseguards guard changing. You'll get close to the action and learn about the history and traditions. Pay what you like, 10am

LINE DANCING: Anyone aged 50+ is invited to take part in a line dancing session at Poplar Union. No dancing experience is necessary and the class is for all fitness levels and abilities — and there's time for tea and biscuits at the end, too. 1pm-3pm

POETRY EVENING: Poet and writer Scarlett Sabet curates a poetry evening at Soho's The Social. The progamme includes appearances by 2022 Women Poets' Prize winner Prerana Kumar, Ruth Weiss Emerging Poet Award 2022 winner Oakley Flanagan, and UEA New Forms Award 2022 winner Vida Adamczewski. 7pm-10.30pm

LONDON'S FOOD FACTORIES: Get the lowdown on London's food factories, without leaving your home. Footprints of London offer a virtual tour of the places where golden syrup, gin, biscuits and vinegar were produced in London in the 19th century — and find out which factories remain today. 8pm-9pm

THE INDIA TAKEOVER: Four new Indian comedians take to the stage at Soho Theatre, having honed their talents through the venue's Labs artist development programme. Catch Joshua Bethania, Shruti Sharma, Rushali Paratey and Ashish Suri as part of Soho Rising festival. 8.30pm

EVERY MONDAY: Mondays can be tricky days to fill in London, as many venues close on a Monday. Fear not though, we've put together an evergreen guide to things to do in London on a Monday, so you can always find something to do on the quietest day of the week. Bookmark it now to liven up a future Monday.

Tuesday 21 February

PANCAKE DAY: Flippin' heck, it's that time of year again! It's Shrove Tuesday, aka Pancake Day, so it's time you reacquainted yourself with our guide to where to eat pancakes in London, and get yourself booked in for a feast. We've also got vegan and gluten-free pancakes covered, as well as special Pancake Day events such as races, special menus... and where to get free pancakes today.

DOM - THE PLAY: Political satire Dom - The Play transfers to The Other Palace, taking a deep-dive into the political career of Dominic Cummings. Chris Porter takes on the role of Cummings, covering topics including Brexit, Nigel Farage, and the truth about Barnard Castle. 21 February-5 March

LUNCHTIME CONCERT: The beautiful Old Royal Naval College Chapel in Greenwich is the venue for a free lunchtime concert courtesy of the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance. This time, alumni music students perform. FREE, 1.05pm

HOGARTH'S LONDON: Learn about the real-life London locations featured in paintings and engravings by Hogarth, and what they can tell us about 18th century London. Guildhall Library hosts a talk on the topic, covering spots in the City and the West End, and thought tickets to watch in person have sold out, you can still watch online. FREE, 2pm-3pm

NEVER SAY NEVER: Natural Born Storytellers invite members of the audience to come up on stage and share their own stories. Tonight's event, at Aces & Eights in Tufnell Park, has a theme of 'never say never', so prepare a tale about a time when the word 'never' featured in your life... or just sit back and enjoy others' performances. 7.45pm-9.45pm

Wednesday 22 February

EXTINCTION BECKONS: British artist Mike Nelson opens a new exhibition, Extinction Beckons, featuring immersive installations made from materials scavenged from salvage yards, junk shops, auctions and flea markets. They all focus on cultures and ways of living which have been lost as a result of an increasingly globalised world — see them at Hayward Gallery. 22 February-7 May

EXPERIMENTS IN FILM: Catch a screening of 2022 documentary film The Plains, which was filmed over the period of a year by a man on his commute in Melbourne. Recorded entirely through the car windscreen, it captures everyday suburban life. Director David Easteal gives a talk after the film. 6.30pm

OPERA AT THE PALACE: Not *the* Palace, sorry — but Fulham Palace is still a jolly good setting for a spot of opera. Enjoy classic arias and more modern pieces performed by up-and-coming stars from the National Opera Studio. 7pm-9pm

ARMENIAN STATE ORCHESTRA: Fairfield Halls in Croydon launches a new series of international concerts with a performance by the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, who showcase work by Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian. The concert also includes pieces by Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky. 7.30pm

PARANORMAL THEORIES: Ex-astrophysicist Dr Robert Radakovic and author Edward Parnell join forces for an online talk about how paranormal theories first came about in the early 19th century. Hear how scientists, academics, politicians, clergy and writers found science or religion alone were not enough to explain certain things, and the search for alternative explanations. 7.30pm-9pm

Thursday 23 February

UKRAINE ONE YEAR ON: 364 days since Russian forces invaded Ukraine, the National Army Museum hosts a panel of experts to discuss the current situation in Ukraine, and what might happen in the future. The panel includes former Kyiv correspondent for The Economist Anna Reid, and Anthony King, Chair of War Studies at the University of Warwick. You can attend in person or watch online. 6.30pm

THE SALON: Starting as an idea in the pub one night, the Salon has become a beloved part of London's cultural scene for a decade. At the Horse Hospital tonight, it celebrates its 100th show with a fiendish quiz, five fascinating speakers, a singalong — and special salon alumni, including Londonist's Matt Brown. 7pm (there's another show tomorrow)

BREAKUP MONOLOGUES: Attend a live recording of Rosie Wilby's podcast, The Breakup Monologues, in which she brings together special guests to discuss their best and worst romantic breakup stories. Ghosting and divorce parties are among the other topics likely to come up, in the event at Poplar Union. 7.30pm

OUT-SPOKEN: Monthly poetry and live performance event Out-Spoken is back at Southbank Centre, with poet Alycia Pirmohamed, Forward Prize winner Will Harris and TS Eliot Prize winner Sarah Howe taking to the stage, and Sam 'Junior' Bromfield DJing reggae, soul and R&B tracks. 7.45pm

LATEEF LOVEJOY: Woolwich Works hosts Lateef Lovejoy tonight; the award-winning London comic is doing a WIP of his latest one-hour show. Expect hilarious takes on his Muslim upbringing, and some random encounters. 8pm

LAUGHTER LOUNGE: Robert White, Phil Nichol, Patrick Casey, Dee Allum, and a special guest are on the line-up at Collywobblers Comedy in Peckham, with Siôn James as MC. 8.30pm-11pm

LATE NIGHT JAZZ: The Royal Albert Hall's late night jazz sessions continue, with London-based piano player David Kofi performing live in the Elgar Room this week. It's a relaxed event, with the audience welcome to sing, dance and move around during the performance. 9.30pm

Friday 24 February

CLASSIC CARS: If you know your Porsche 901s from your Porsche 911s, you'll appreciate the London Classic Car Show, purring into Olympia for three days from today. Ogle swish motors, and speak to dealers, manufacturers, restorers and car clubs. 24-26 February

WOMEN WHO FLEW FOR HITLER: Author Clare Mulley is at the National Army Museum to share the stories of two female aviators who flew for Nazi Germany during the second world war. Hanna Reitsch was a 'fanatical Nazi' and the first woman to fly a helicopter, and later tested rocket planes, while Melitta von Stauffenberg was an aeronautical engineer and test pilot, and secretly part Jewish. She was at the centre of an attempt on Hitler's life in 1944. FREE, 12pm

RUGBY TOUR: It's a great time to be a Rugby fan, what with the Six Nations, and the 200th anniversary of the origins of the game at Rugby school. You can explore the sport's history further on a guided walk through central London (including the Rugby Estate) with Rick Jones. The tour is repeated on upcoming Fridays. 1.45pm

GALLERY LATE: As its current exhibition, M.K. Čiurlionis: Between Worlds, nears its end, Dulwich Picture Gallery stays open late for an evening of interactive art performances, DJ sets, creative workshops, a pop-up bar and more. Have your fortune read by a tarot reader, or watch a performative lecture-workshop on the subject of levitation. FREE (tickets for the exhibition itself must be bought separately), 6pm-10pm

PERMISSION TO PLAY: London Transport Museum also stays open late, for an adults-only playtime. Permission To Play is the theme of the evening, with board games, a scavenger hunt, and a chance to 'drive' buses and trains. Plus the usual displays and exhibitions are open for you to peruse after hours. 6.45pm-10pm

SOUND HOUSE BAND: The Sound House Band are tonight's performers at live music venue 100 Wardour Street, playing a lively mix of soul, funk, Motown and pop all evening. Enjoy the show over drinks, or book yourself in for dinner. 7.45pm

Saturday 25 February

DAY OF CATS: Head to Southwark Cathedral for a 'day of cats', with various speakers giving short talks on feline topics. They include cat expert Dr Jo Lewis helping you to understand what your cat is thinking, and Tate editor Emilia Will giving an overview of cat highlights from the Tate Collection of Art. 10.30am-5pm

CATO STREET WALK: The so-called Cato Street Conspiracy was an 1820 plot to overthrow the government, which ended with the public executions of five men. Explore this infamous chapter in London's history with a guided walk through Marylebone from Westminster Guides Rosemary Barnes and Pernille Ahlström. 11am and 2.30pm

AFTERNOON TEA TALK: Tuck into afternoon tea at 116 Pall Mall, followed by a talk about the social history of afternoon tea. Writer and lecturer Gillian Warnes Perry covers the customs and etiquette of afternoon tea, and its rise in popularity. There's also a chance to tour the venue afterwards. 2pm

BAKE OFF MUSICAL: It's been a long time in the oven, but The Great British Bake Off Musical is finally ready for sampling. It opens at the Noel Coward Theatre, following the stories of six fictional contestants at they go head-to-head in the famous marquee. From 25 February

FREUD'S ANTIQUITY: Hampstead's Freud Museum opens a new exhibition which takes 25 objects from the densely packed collection in Freud’s study, and showcases what they tell us about Freud and his thoughts. Objects, ornaments, pictures and books all feature in Freud's Antiquity: Object, Idea, Desire. 25 February-16 July

JEWISH BOOK WEEK: Canine psychology, lost freedoms, and the future of Ukraine are among the topics covered in the 80+ events which make up Jewish Book Week, a celebration of Jewish authors and illustrators which starts today. It takes place at Kings Place, with 16 of the events also streamed online. 25 February-5 March

Sunday 26 February

ANTIQUES FAIR: 120 exhibitors rock up in Westminster for the Adams Antique Fair from across the UK, selling a range of collectible and second hand good including jewellery and silverware. 10am-4.30pm

VINTAGE FURNITURE FLEA: The Art Pavilion in Mile End Park is the place to head for the East London Vintage Furniture Flea, specialising in mid-century homewares from the 1950s onwards. Browse and buy tables, chairs, textiles, figurines, lampshades, mirrors and more. 10.30am-4pm

BEAR FESTIVAL: If you go down to the woods Kensington Town Hall today, you're in for a big surprise. Hugglets Winter BearFest is a celebration of all things teddy bear, with 5,000 cuddly ursines for sale across 80 stalls, with prices ranging from a few quid to more than £1,000. Clothing and other bear accessories are available too. 11.30am-4pm

BLIND BOOK DATE: A, ahem, novel idea for a book swap: SoLo Craft Fair Shop in Elephant & Castle invites you to choose a (free) wrapped book, take it home with you, and see how things turn out. Blind Date with a Book also encourages you to bring along a book of your own book that you no longer want, for someone else to try (although that's not mandatory). FREE, 2pm-4pm

GREAT NOVELS: Sticking with the bookish theme, over at Conway Hall, Josh Cohen — Professor of Modern Literary Theory at Goldsmiths — delves into some of the great novels, exploring how these seminal texts can change a reader's life. 3pm

PAINTING AND PROSECCO: Try your hand at recreating Gustav Klimt's Tree of Life painting, at a Painting & Prosecco event at London Art Bar in Holborn. All materials are supplied, and guidance from an artist is included, as is a glass of Prosecco to get your creative juices flowing. 3pm-5.30pm

WRESTLING NORSE EPIC: Odin and Loki struggle to overcome primeval giants in Mythos: Ragnarok, a dark comic adaption of Norse mythology, laced with professional wrestling. It's on at the Cockpit for one night only. 7.30pm

Urban oddity of the week

Speaking of cats (see Saturday), did you ever notice this topiary feline outside the Savoy? This isn't any old cat, but a representation of Kaspar, a black wooden cat who usually stands in the foyer. Since the 1920s, Kaspar has been deployed as a 14th guest at any dinner party of 13 people — one of London's greatest examples of Triskaidekaphobia.

Good cause of the week

We've just received details of a very grand charity sleepover... featuring City of London Lady Mayoress Felicity Lyons and Lord Mayor Alderman Nicholas Lyons. Join them for a Sleep Out at Guildhall Yard on Thursday 16 March 2023. This charity event highlights the high number of homeless people in the City, with 50% of the net proceeds going to The Pret Foundation. This initiative tackles hunger, poverty and homelessness in communities local to Pret shops around the world. The registration fee is £25 and minimum sponsorship target is £500 excluding Gift Aid. Hot drinks and breakfast rolls will be provided for all sleepers. Participants will need to bring their own sleeping bags, cardboard, waterproofs, water bottles etc.

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