Things To Do This Weekend In London: 25-26 February 2023

All weekend

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

ART TRAIL: You're running out of time 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

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. Free, 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

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

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

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.

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 on Saturday, telling the story of six fictional contestants at they go head-to-head in the famous marquee. From 25 February

HERITAGE WEEKEND: Highgate's Lauderdale House hosts its annual Heritage Weekend, celebrating the history of the local area and the building itself.Swing by on Saturday for talks and a chance to meet local history group, or take the kids along on Sunday for a family day, with crafts and storytelling. FREE, 25-26 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 on Saturday. It takes place at Kings Place, with 16 of the events also streamed online. 25 February-5 March

Saturday 25 February

CANARY WHARF ICE RINK: You may be surprised to learn that one of London's seasonal ice rinks is still going, but today 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! 9.30am-10.15pm

BRITAIN'S GREATEST MONARCH: Who was Britain's greatest monarch? That's up for debate at Southwark Cathedral today, as several historians each give a 15-minute talk on the King or Queen they believe deserves the crown. At the end, the audience votes on a winner. King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II are all contenders. 10am-4pm

DAY OF CATS: Southwark Cathedral also hosts 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

PUBLIC ART: Join lecturer and artist Steve Smith for a walking tour of public art in the City of London. Across two hours, visit and learn about memorials, modernist sculptures and other artworks which have transformed public spaces. 11am-1pm

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

BLACK HOLES: Hear from physicist Ziri Younsi, who managed to capture the first ever photo of a black hole, back in 2017. Hear how he went about capturing the image, which had previously been thought impossible, in a talk at the Royal Institution. 2pm-3.15pm

SECRET CONCERT: We're not sure what's secret about tonight's Secret Concert at Shoreditch Treehouse, but never mind. Head to the fairy light decked loft space and treat yourself to sushi or gyoza from Apothecary East as resident pianist Sam Pena gets things started, followed by performances by other professional musicians. It's BYOB. 7pm-9.30pm

SE11 SESSIONS: From Treehouse to Teahouse, head to Vauxhall for the SE11 Sessions, a monthly live music night featuring jazz, soul and funk. A guest singer leads the house band, followed by an open jam session.8.30pm

Sunday 26 February

ANTIQUES FAIR: 120 exhibitors rock up in Westminster from across the UK, for the Adams Antique Fair, selling a range of collectible and second hand treasures 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

FEAST AND PODCASTING: Head to the greenhouse in Myatts Fields Park for a free feast and podcasting session. Tuck into a vegetarian Caribbean-influenced meal, as you discuss stories of the local area with other people from the community. Then, record your thoughts with help from oral historians On The Record, to be edited into a podcast for the Myatts Fields Project. Booking essential, and the event takes place indoors, so you'll be warm and dry whatever the weather. FREE, 12.30pm-4pm (sponsor)

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

CHARITY COMEDY: Ed Gamble hosts Channing Chuckles, a charity comedy night at Alexandra Palace, raising money for local charities LMK (Let Me Know), Little Village and St James Pre-School Muswell Hill. Russell Howard, Paul Chowdhry, Bella Hull, Vittorio Angelone, Annie McGrath, and Mark Maier are all scheduled to appear. Doors 7pm

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

JAMES BOND WOMEN: Deborah Lipp, author of The Ultimate James Bond Fan Book, gives an online talk about how women are portrayed in the novels of James Bond writer Ian Fleming, and how that portrayal changed in the films. 8pm-9pm

View email in browser | Unsubscribe | Update your profile | Forward to a friend

Alternatively, you can unsubscribe from all Londonist emails. Choosing this option will remove you from all our emails, including our listings and daily round-ups. We'll be sorry to see you go!

Copyright (C) 2023 Londonist Ltd All rights reserved.

You are receiving this email because you have signed up to Londonist mailing lists.