Things to do this week is sponsored by Frameless.
All week
TRAIN STRIKES: At time of writing, severe and nationwide train strikes are due to take place on Wednesday and Saturday this week, with extremely restricted services, and some operators unlikely to run any trains at all. Disruption is likely to continue into the mornings following the strikes too — something to bear in mind when planning your week. 5 and 8 October
BLACK HISTORY MONTH: October is Black History Month, honouring the often unheralded accomplishments of Black Britons in all fields throughout history. It's a national event — and we've already highlighted some of the best London events — but we've picked a couple of others below, and it's worth planning ahead to see what's coming up the rest of the month. 1-31 October
MONTH OF THE DEAD: Halloween may not be until the end of October, but London Month of the Dead goes on all month. The annual festival aims to inform, entertain and provoke on the subject of death, through events including talks and workshops — cemetery tours are among this week's highlights. 1-31 October
ROUNDHOUSE RISING FESTIVAL: An impressive line-up of new and emerging artists comes to Roundhouse this week, for a festival that's all about supporting and showcasing the creative talent of tomorrow. This year, the iconic indie music venue has partnered with VICE UK — who curate Tuesday's opening night — to offer £1 tickets to those aged 30 and under. 4-8 October (sponsor)
DISNEY ART: Time's running out to see Inspiring Walt Disney at the Wallace Collection. The exhibition looks at how Disney animation teams took inspiration from 18th century art and furniture when creating their films, with particular focus on Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. Until 16 October
MEXICO: Kew Gardens' month-long celebration of Mexico and all things Mexican is underway within its Temperate House. Art and plant installations are dotted throughout the glass house, showcasing different aspects of Mexican culture. There are also special weekend and late-night events including live music from an all-female mariachi band, and a special Mexican menu at the gardens' Pavilion Bar and Grill. First Mexico After Hours event takes place this Friday. Until 31 October
LUCIAN FREUD: The National Gallery has just opened the first major exhibition of Lucian Freud's work in a decade, showing paintings spanning 70 years. Lucian Freud: New Perspectives includes his early and intimate works, his well-known, large-scale canvasses and his monumental naked portraits. Until January 2023
Monday 3 October
BEER FESTIVAL: Too early in the week for a beer festival? Nah. Chelsea's Cadogan Arms starts pouring for its six-day beer festival today, with 20 beers to choose from, including five cask. Your ticket gets you six half pints, a goody bag and a platter of posh bar snacks. Until 8 October
TWO MICHELIN STARS: Tonight sees the first of two very special foodie events, in which Mayfair Michelin-starred restaurants Benares and Hakkasan team up to serve an eight-course tasting menu with profits donated to charity. Tonight's event is at Benares and raises money for NHS Charities Together. 6.30pm-9.30pm
SEARCHING: As part of St-Martin-in-the-Fields' ongoing lecture series, hear from four journalists about their search for meaning in all they have witnessed as journalists, reporting on events from around the world. Mishal Husain, Aleem Maqbool, Jon Snow and Mike Wooldridge all take part, and you can choose between in-person or livestream tickets. 7pm-8.30pm
NEW ACT COMEDY: Keen to see some new comedy talent? Catch the fifth heat in this year's 2Northdown New Act Competition and watch up-and-coming comedians battle it out for a place in the next round. You can have your say too, with a wildcard slot for a performer that the audience believes deserves to progress to the next round. 7pm
THE LOL WORD: Queer women, trans and non-binary comedy collective The LOL Word returns to Soho Theatre for a stand-up show, featuring no cis-male comics and plenty of punching the patriarchy. 9.15pm
Tuesday 4 October
GO AFRICA: Head to Islington Town Hall for the Go Africa Festival of Arts, a chance for African and Caribbean communities to showcase their talents. Talks, workshops, art displays, African fashion and photography all feature, along with Caribbean jerk chicken, jollof rice and rum punch, across two days. 4-5 October
BADASS: "A love note the the NHS" is the official blurb of Badass, a one-woman comedy show starring Sarah Mills at Islington's Pleasance Theatre. She talks about her battle with bowel cancer, after a colonoscopy turns her life upside down. Age 16+. 4-7 October
DECORATIVE FAIR: 150 specialist dealers descend on Evolution in Battersea Park for the Decorative Fair. Browse and buy antiques, design and art pieces dating from the 1700s to the 1970s. 4-9 October
BOUQUET WORKSHOP: Learn how to make your own hand-tied bouquet at this workshop by Hackney-based independent florist Rebel Rebel. Get tips on choosing and preparing stems, and compiling them into a bouquet, which you'll take home with you. 6.30pm-8.30pm
SEAFOOD SUPPER: Notting Hill pub-restaurant The Princess Royal holds a one-off Mediterranean seafood feast — the work of the venue's own chef, Ben Tish, along with father and son duo Mitch and Ben Tonks. Your ticket includes a welcome drink and five-course seafood meal — nothing fishy about that. 7pm-10pm
OO7 IN CONCERT: 60 years since the world premiere of the first 007 film, Dr. No, the Royal Albert Hall puts on The Sound of 007 in Concert. Dame Shirley Bassey herself headlines, with Garbage and Celeste also performing iconic Bond tunes accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. 7.30pm
Sponsor message
Ticket alert! This jaw-dropping digital immersive art experience opens on Friday
Ever wished you could step inside your favourite painting? A major new multisensory attraction in Marble Arch is giving you the chance to do exactly that! Frameless, which launches this Friday, uses cutting-edge projection technology to plunge visitors into the fantastical worlds of 28 legendary artists.
This spectacular 30,000-square-foot space — the biggest of its kind in the UK — is split into four themed galleries, each with its own custom-designed soundtrack. Explore Hieronymus Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights and bathe in the golden light of Gustav Klimt's Tree of Life in the Beyond Reality gallery. Immerse yourself in Monet's Water Lily Pond: Green Harmony in the Colour in Motion gallery. Stroll down Cézanne's Avenue at Chantilly or the Piazza San Marco, as imagined by Canaletto, in The World Around Us gallery. And get lost in the maze of colour, shape and form that is The Art of Abstraction gallery.
As you might expect, the whole thing's supremely Instagrammable: we're talking floor-to-ceiling interactive artworks, with every brushstroke beautifully captured in high definition. There's a gift shop and a café bar onsite to help you really make a day of it, and the whole thing is family-friendly — with kids under five going free.
Find Frameless at 6 Marble Arch. Tickets start at £25 for adults and £15 for children. Get yours today.
Wednesday 5 October
LITTLE WING FILM FESTIVAL: Grassroots film festival Little Wing was born out of frustration at how out of touch the UK film industry is with most young creatives (we suspect the fact that the festival coincides with another film festival, below, isn't coincidental). This sixth edition consists of screenings at cinemas across London, with some events online too — opening night consists of new short films, live music and a launch party. 5-9 October
BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL: The 66th incarnation of the BFI London Film Festival takes place at various venues on the South Bank and the West End starting tonight, with some events also screened on BFI Player after the festival, for those who can't make it in person. The full programme includes red carpet nights, gala screenings and a special exhibition. 5-16 October
K-MUSIC FESTIVAL: There's so much more to Korea's music scene than K pop. Discover acclaimed artists like Jaram Lee, Park Jiha, Dongyang Gozupa and more at the K-Music Festival, which kicks off tonight at the Barbican. This opening performance sees Dal:um join forces with ReMidas to form a most unusual string quartet. See the full festival programme here. Until 24 November (sponsor)
DICKENS AND GHOSTS: Just in time for spooky season, the Charles Dickens Museum opens an exhibition about Dickens, ghosts and the supernatural. To Be Read at Dusk examines the author's interest in the paranormal, which resulted in him publishing more than 20 ghost tales. Items on display include a copy of The Chimes which he gifted to Hans Christian Andersen. 5 October-5 March
PREHISTORIC LONDON: As Museum of London prepares for its move to a new location, it hosts a series of after-hours curator talks. Tonight, Kate Sumnall talks about prehistoric London, from hunter-gatherers to Iron Age communities, and how the Thames was shaping London, even back then. 6.30pm
MICHAEL PALIN: At time of writing, a few tickets remain to see Michael Palin on stage in his current solo tour at Chelsea's Cadogan Hall. The comedy actor/travel presenter appears in From North Korea to Iraq, talking about his journeys into the two off-the-beaten-track destinations. 7.30pm
Thursday 6 October
KNITTING AND STITCHING SHOW: Needles at the ready for The Knitting & Stitching Show at Ally Pally this weekend, which has hundreds of exhibitors selling supplies including yarn, fabric, buttons, fat quarters, sewing machines and more. Get inspired in the galleries, displaying works by textile artists and groups. 6-9 October
SCIENCE FICTION: Science Museum goes immersive for new exhibition Science Fiction: Voyage To The Edge Of Imagination, which places visitors at the heart of a science fiction adventure, guided by an artificial intelligence of alien origin. See authentic objects from films, TV, books, paintings, artworks and photos, all related to the sci-fi genre. 6 October-May 2023
MUSEUM LATE: Not many people know about London's Museum of Freemasonry. If that's you, why not visit it while it's open late tonight? You'll find it in Freemasons' Hall, Covent Garden, and it's a chance to see some of the exhibits, including a 230-year-old throne, and the interior of an active lodge room. FREE, 5pm-8pm
TUBERCULOSIS HISTORY: 1.5 million people a year die from tuberculosis worldwide, and this Gresham College lecture gives some background on social perceptions of the disease throughout history, including why it was given different names including "consumption" and the "white plague". FREE, 6pm
MUMMIES AND MEDICINE: Dr Angela Stienne gives an online talk about her new book, Mummified, which focuses on the controversial cases of mummies held in some British and French museums, and the historical and cultural importance of these human remains. 6pm-7pm
Friday 7 October
BEEFEATER V LAKWENA: Beefeater Gin have teamed up with east London-based artist Lakwena, to create a vibrant new label. Sip a G&T while admiring the artwork, plus check out portraits of a collective of creatives who embody 'The Spirit of London', taken by Kiran Gidda. FREE, until 8 October
NEW SCIENTIST LIVE: Climate change, eugenics, tropical diseases, canine intelligence, black holes and the importance of wasps are just some of the topics covered at this year's New Scientist Live. Across three days, experts from all manner of fields give talks on their topics, at ExCel London. 7-9 October
POPPY CONCERT: Richmond's Poppy Factory hosts classical singer Carly Paoli for an afternoon concert to mark its centenary year. The venue — which we visited in 2019 — is where millions of Remembrance poppies are made each year to raise money for the Royal British Legion. 1pm
LIFE LINES: Learn both deep listening and drawing skills at this free, beginner-friendly workshop led by award-winning artist/poet Sophie Herxheimer and Laura Mitchison, oral historian at On The Record. Working in pairs, you'll create a collaborative artwork inspired by a significant relationship in your life. This Science Gallery London event draws on the latest research on "therapeutic community", a new form of mental health treatment. FREE, 2pm-4.30pm (sponsor)
HARRY POTTER IN CONCERT: The sixth film in the wizarding world franchise, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, gets the concert treatment at the Royal Albert Hall. Watch the film in high-definition on the large screen, while a symphony orchestra performs the soundtrack live in front of you.7.30pm (also Saturday and Sunday)
ARAB COMEDY: Comedy night Arabs Are Not Funny offers a line-up of comedians representing the Arab world and surrounding regions. Among those taking to the stage at Rich Mix are Hilal Kassem, Farah Sharp, Sezar Alkassab and Elie Maalouf. Age 16+. 7.30pm
Saturday 8 October
CLASSIC CAR BOOT SALE: If you're into vintage vehicles, or retro clothing and homewares, get yourself down to the Classic Car Boot Sale in Granary Square, King's Cross. All manner of classic cars park up, with vintage fashion sold from the boot, plus live DJ sets, street food trucks and a Routemaster bus bar. A repair shop and a charity market are among the new features this time round. 8-9 October
CONKERS: Ever heard of The Golden Nut? It's a 22 carat gold conker, and it could be yours if you win the Peckham Conker Championships. Taking place in a brewery (what could possibly go wrong...?) the competition has rounds for adults and kids, and you can take part as an individual or a group. FREE, 2pm
DULWICH HAMLET: Beloved south-east London football team Dulwich Hamlet take on Dartford at home today — and in current form, Dartford will be the favourites. Whatever the result, it's impossible to have a bad time at this top-notch community club. KO 3pm
CANDLELIGHT CLUB: Regular pop-up speakeasy The Candlelight Club celebrates its 12th birthday party. As usual, it's at a secret London location, with live jazz and swing music and vintage vinyl to dance to, and entertainment by cabaret host Champagne Charlie. 7pm
PURCELL SINGERS: Chamber Choir the Purcell Singers are at St Peter's Eaton Square, for a performance of music by Bach, Vaughan Williams, and Imogen Holst's beautiful Mass in A Minor. 7.30pm-9.30pm
SH!T-FACED MACBETH: "Is this a lager I see before me?" Macbeth gets the Sh!t-faced Shakespeare treatment at The Exchange in Twickenham tonight. If you've ever been to a professionally polished show at the Globe, then this is basically nothing that like. 8pm
STANLEY ACCRINGTON: We've a sneaking suspicion that Stanley Accrington is a pseudonym, compounded somewhat by the fact this folk musician plays silly, yet brilliantly funny poems, pastiches and parodies. He's playing the Cellar Upstairs Folk Club tonight. 8.15pm
Sunday 9 October
ROYAL PARKS HALF: The Royal Parks Half Marathon takes runners on a route through four of the eight Royal Parks (Hyde Park, Green Park, St James's Park, Kensington Gardens), and other closed roads around central London today. Even if you're not running, why not go along to support the runners? Many of them are running for charity — and the parks look gorgeous at this time of year. FREE, from 9am
BLACK NATIONAL GALLERY: Take a closer look at the Black figures in the artworks of the National Gallery — from African kings and queens, to servants and slaves — on this Black History Walks guided tour. 11am-1pm
RECORD FAIR: Hackney Record Fair pitches up at Abney Public Hall, selling mountains of lovely vinyl — including plenty of rare and independent grooves. DJs play throughout the day. 11am-5pm
CARMEN: Take a deeper dive into one of the great operas, Carmen, at Bishopsgate Institute. If you're a keen singer of any ability, you can join in a workshop, where you'll learn to belt out extracts from the Bizet masterpiece, in the venue's Great Hall. Think it's better if you just watch? You can do that too. 12pm-5pm
DIWALI: Although Diwali falls on 24 October this year, London's official celebrations in Trafalgar Square take place today, with live music, dancing and more. Take a look at our guide to other ways to celebrate Diwali in London throughout this month. FREE, 12.30pm-7pm
MORE CONKERS: Perhaps you were victorious at yesterday's conker championships, or perhaps you know you can do better. Either way, you've been granted another go in the form of the Hampstead Heath Conker Championships, taking place on Parliament Hill today. They make an afternoon of it up here, with live music and autumnal nature activities alongside the all-important competition. FREE, 1pm-4pm
Urban oddity of the week
As the James Bond movies are celebrating their 60th anniversary (see Tuesday), here's a neat little mural of Roger Moore in the role. The painting can be found on the side of the old deep level shelter in Stockwell, along with other scenes and portraits relating to the local area. As an infant, Moore lived at nearby 4 Aldebert Terrace.
Good cause of the week
Laugh out loud for St Mungo's. The homelessness charity is putting on a stellar evening of comedy to help raise funds for the increasingly pressing cause. Tickets are on sale now for the Laugh Out Loud event at Union Chapel, Islington on World Homelessness Day (Monday 10 October). The impressive line-up includes Tim Vine, Kerry Godliman, Stephen Bailey, Kae Kurd, Dane Baptiste with more to be announced.
