Things To Do This Weekend In London: 23-24 November 2024

All weekend

OPEN STUDIOS: The Bloomsbury branch of Cockpit Studios holds an open studios weekend, where the public are invited to meet some of London’s leading craftspeople, go behind the scenes in their studios to learn the details of their practice, and support independent businesses. Jewellery and ceramics are among the mediums represented, and next weekend it's the Deptford venue's turn. 21-24 November

HYDE PARK WINTER WONDERLAND: London's giant festive funfair returns to Hyde Park, with all the usual attractions; ice rink, giant wheel, funfair rides, ice kingdom, circus, Christmas market and food and drink stalls. Like last year, you'll need to book your entry slot in advance, and prices vary depending on peak and off-peak timings. 21 November-5 January

WRITE IDEA FESTIVAL: The WriteIdea reading festival is a weekend of free events at Tower Hamlets Town Hall. On the line-up are Olivia Laing (discussing her book about restoring a walled garden in Suffolk), Madeleine Pelling (whose book Writing on the Wall is a cultural history of the 18th century, told through the graffiti) and Tasneem Abdur-Rashid in conversation with Dr Fatima Rajina, about British Bangladeshis. FREE, 22-24 November

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: London's Christmas film screenings are now well underway, including at One Aldwych, which screens It's A Wonderful Life three times this weekend. Enjoy lunch or dinner at the Indigo restaurant before heading to the intimate cinema to watch the 1946 Christmas classic accompanied by popcorn and a glass of sparkling wine. 22-24 November 

SWEDISH CHRISTMAS FAIR: The Swedish Church in Marylebone holds a three-day Christmas fair selling gifts, food and decorations, with a pop-up cafe to keep you fed while you shop. Got loads of shopping to do? Check out our guide to Christmas markets and festive fairs in the capital this year. 22-24 November

IRISH WRITERS' WEEKEND: Over 30 of Ireland's most exciting writers pitch up at the British Library for the Irish Writers' Festival. Authors, poets, comedians, and musicians are among those talking about their work, including Lucy Caldwell, Sinéad Gleeson, Rónán Hession, Chloe Michelle Howarth, Caoilinn Hughes, Una Mannion, Mike McCormack, Paul Muldoon, Graham Norton and Dara Ó Briain. 22-24 November

FREE GARDEN ENTRY: Visit the Hampton Court Palace gardens for free this weekend, as the usual entry fee is dropped for an open weekend. The Great Fountain Garden, Kitchen Garden and Pond Garden are among the areas included, though you'll still need a paid admission ticket if you want to visit the palace itself, the Maze, or the Magic Garden Playground, as well as the ice rink, which opens this week. FREE, 23-24 November

LUKE JERRAM'S MARS: Instagram-famous installation Luke Jerram's Mars is on the move again, this time making itself at home in the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College. The 7m-wide artwork features detailed NASA imagery of the Martian surface recreated to scale, and rotates slowly on its axis. A programme of events takes place around the installation, including silent discos and yoga sessions. 23 November-28 January

CHRISTMAS TREE MARKET: Know where you're getting your Christmas tree from this year? You could welly up, pile into the car and head out to one of these Christmas tree farms near London... or you could just go to Walthamstow, where Big Penny Social opens its Christmas Tree Market on Saturday. Every weekend between now and Christmas, Nordmann firs are available to buy, with a free mulled wine with every tree purchase. From 23 November

ICE SKATING: The Hampton Court Palace ice rink opens on Friday, along with the Winter Wonderland rink on Thursday, joining the four festive ice skating spots that are already open for the season. Have a look at our guide to ice skating in London this Christmas for everything you need to know. The closer we get to Christmas, the busier the rinks become, so get your skates on.

THE 80S: The social and political change of the 1980s is the subject of a new photography exhibition at Tate Britain. View the work of a diverse community of photographers, collectives and publications, working against the backdrop of race uprisings, the miner strikes, section 28, the AIDS pandemic and gentrification. 21 November-5 May

Share

Saturday 23 November

SYON PARK CHRISTMAS MARKET: Sadly, the Enchanted Woodland light trail isn't happening at Syon Park this year, but the estate is hosting a festive market, in the rather fancy setting of the Great Conservatory. 40 small businesses sell artwork, food, drink, clothing and accessories, jewellery and candles. FREE entry, 10am-4pm

SEA SHANTY FESTIVAL: Warm up your vocal pipes and climb aboard Cutty Sark for the Sea Shanty Festival, celebrating the vessel's 155th birthday. Bands and singers from across the UK perform live including the HogEye Men and the London Sea Shanty Collective. 10am-4.30pm

NURSING UNIFORMS: The Fitzrovia Chapel and the Royal College of Nursing team up for a look at the history of nursing uniforms. Begin at the chapel, viewing current exhibition In Uniform: Stories of Nurses and their Clothing, followed by a short walk to the college for an insight into PPE and attempts to create reusable healthcare gowns. 11am

CHRISTMAS SORTING OFFICE: Complimentary workshops, a special post box for Father Christmas letters and an illustrator decorating handmade gift tags are all part of special event The Christmas Sorting Office at Islington Square today. The event is named after a former postal sorting office nearby, and local shops, bars and restaurants have special offers and events going on too. FREE entry, 12pm-5pm

CHRISTMAS WINE FEST: Thinking about your festive tipple already? The Big Christmas Wine Fest has vino experts Oz Clarke, Tim Atkin and Olly Smith on hand to help you pick the perfect wine to pair with your turkey. Over 600 vinos from all around the world are available for tasting, and ready to buy when you find one that floats your boat. Takes place at the Royal Horticultural Halls. 1pm

QUEER HISTORY WALK: Join a London Museum Docklands guide for a walking tour focusing on London's queer history, revealing hidden stories of queer people who have lived in the capital, since the city was founded. Age 18+. 3pm

ICE HOCKEY: It's a London derby and a cup game as women's ice hockey teams Haringey Greyhounds and Streatham Storm face off at the Alexandra Palace ice rink. Fancy taking to skates yourself? An ice disco begins immediately after the match. Doors 5.45pm

EXPLODING CINEMA: Regular event Exploding Cinema is back at the Cinema Museum in Kennington, showing a programme of independent shorts submitted from all over the world, spanning drama, documentary, animation, experimental, and more. Each film is less than 20 minutes. 7pm

EUROPE'S GREAT CATHEDRALS: Mont-Saint-Michel, Santiago de Compostela and the UK cathedrals of Durham and Ely are among the buildings which feature in a talk about the hidden science of Europe's great cathedrals. Head to the Royal Institution to hear from author Diana Darke about the history of medieval architecture and how elements of it can still be seen today. 7pm-8.30pm

LIVE MUSIC: Blues, folk and country musician Jack Browning and his band perform a headline show at The Grace on Highbury Corner, with recent singles from his debut album. Special guests at the show include Texas Radio & The Big Beat. 7pm

THE CANDLELIGHT CLUB: Regular speakeasy-themed event The Candlelight Club pops back up at a secret south London ballroom venue for a winter ball. Don your finest 1920s attire for an evening of live music, cabaret and cocktails, including tarot readings, with the option to add a three-course meal to your ticket. 7pm-1am

JOY DIVISION: Or rather, Joy Division tribute act, Transmission — who are at 229 in Great Portland Street tonight, playing Unknown Pleasures in its entirety plus other classics by Ian Curtis and co. 7pm

ZAINAB JOHNSON:  Zainab Johnson brings her unique comedy style to Soho Theatre, following her successful debut special on Amazon Prime. Johnson dives into her experiences as a Black female Muslim growing up in Harlem, and her toxic trait: optimism. 9.15pm

Sunday 24 November

MODELS: Love building/appreciating scale models? Today POSK in Ravenscourt Park shows off projects created by the International Plastic Modellers Society Harrow Club, with themes including sci-fi, military, civilian vehicles and dioramas. FREE, 10am-1pm

DULWICH COLLEGE: A rare chance for the public to see inside Dulwich College, as the Barry Buildings, cloisters and courtyards host 120 stalls for its annual Christmas fair. 10.30am-3.30pm

CLASSICAL COFFEE MORNING: London-based wind quintet Aeolian Winds are the performers at today's Classical Coffee Morning at the Royal Albert Hall. Take a seat in the Elgar Room and enjoy a hot drink and pastry (included in ticket price) while they perform works by Debussy, Rossini and Schumann as well as two pieces by contemporary composer and flutist Valerie Coleman. 11am

PECKHAM SALVAGE YARD: Vintage furniture, reclaimed industrial fixtures, unique lighting, salvaged electricals, quirky homewares, curiosities, and unexpected oddities await you at Peckham Salvage Yard, which takes place at the Bussey Building. 11am-5pm

FESTIVE BOOK SWAP: Everyone's welcome at the festive book swap at Battersea Bookshop. Take along any books you no longer want and swap them with other attendees, then learn how to make Christmas decorations out of old proofs and books that are no longer in readable condition. Recycling at its finest. 1pm-3pm

THE BIG EASY: The EFG London Jazz Festival runs until today, with various events and performances at locations all over town. Southbank Centre hosts free, family-friendly performance The Big Easy. It puts music from Louisiana in the spotlight, with jazz big bands, cajun dance music brass bands and carnival music. FREE, 1.15pm

ANIMATIONS FOR CHILDREN: As part of London International Animation Festival, Barbican Cinema screens a programme of nine films from seven different countries, aimed at 8-15 year olds. In under 90 minutes, watch stories of friendship, resilience, and self-discovery, set against stunning animated backdrops. 2pm

ST AUGUSTINE'S TOWER: Like to get up high and see London from different viewpoints? Ever scaled the tower of St Augustine's Church in Hackney? It's free to do so on the last Sunday of each month, which happens to be today. December's the only month they don't do this, so this is your last chance this year! FREE, 2pm-4.30pm

CHILDREN'S BOOK TALK: Children's authors Lauren Child and Cariad Lloyd join forces for a festive book event for readers aged 7+ and their families. At the Haymarket Hotel, they both talk about their Christmas books, and take part in readings and a Q&A session. Hot chocolate and cookies for children and mulled wine/hot drinks for adults are included in the ticket. 2.30pm-4pm

COUNTRY JAM: Mascara Bar in Stoke Newington hosts a free country jam this afternoon, with Maletta Jackson & The Reputations leading the way. There's an open mic, so if you've got a country/bluegrass/honky tonk etc song in your fingers/lungs, sign up to join in. 3pm

HISTORY OF WOMEN'S BODIES: The complex medical and religious history of women’s bodies is the subject of this month's Ethical Matters at Conway Hall. Helen King, Professor Emerita of Classical Studies at The Open University, takes us from classical Greece to the modern day looking at ways in which medicine and religion have played a gatekeeping role over women’s organs. 3pm-4.30pm

SILENT FILM SCREENING: Barbican Cinema screens 1926 silent film By The Law, adapted from a Jack London story, about two people trapped in a primitive wooden cabin with a murderer through a Canadian winter. It's accompanied by Stephen Horne on piano, and Martin Pyne on drums. 3pm

KIMCHI WORKSHOP AND DINNER: To celebrate National Kimchi Day (a couple of days late), the Hoxton Grill hosts a kimchi workshop and dinner where you can learn how to make the Korean fermented veg dish. An expert talks you through prepping and salting the veg to making your own kimchi paste and how to ferment and store your kimchi. That's followed by a sharing-style dinner. 3.15pm

KLEZMER-ISH: Instrumental quartet Klezmer-ish – featuring double bass, piano accordion, guitar, clarinet, violins, viola and woodwind  – give a performance at Artsdepot, exploring the music brought by immigrants from different cultural backgrounds who left their homelands in pursuit of a different life. 7.30pm