All weekend
WORLD CUP: There are eight World Cup matches this weekend, and though neither England nor Wales are playing, we expect plenty of venues around town will still be screening the games.
HACKNEY REVEALED: New illuminated arts festival Hackney Revealed is now underway in east London, showcasing the work of local artists and highlighting local landmarks. This weekend visit a paper wonderland filled with origami lanterns, or visit two free displays on the theme of palliative care, by patients and staff at St Joseph's Day Hospice. FREE, until 8 December
MIRACLE BAR: Ready to feel all kinds of festive? The Miracle at Henrietta pop-up bar is back at Covent Garden's Henrietta Hotel. Drink your way through a menu of festive cocktails (take it from us — the hot buttered rum is delish) served in delightfully kitsch receptacles, surrounded by more Christmas decs than you can shake a bauble at. Until 23 December
EXHIBITIONS: Looking for a dose of culture? Have a read of our guide to the biggest exhibitions to see in London this winter. They cover everything from Alexander the Great, to arcade machines, to the views from London's mosques.
EVER AFTER GARDEN: Once again, Mayfair's Grosvenor Square glows with the light of more than 20,000 illuminated roses as the Ever After Garden returns. Anyone can visit, and though there's no admission fee, the installation raises money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, so do consider donating if you can. Alternatively, dedicate a rose to a loved one (minimum donation £10). Daily 3pm-9pm, from 23 November
IDEAL HOME SHOW AT CHRISTMAS: Head to Olympia for the Ideal Home Show At Christmas. The focus is on getting your home ready for the festive period, with a plethora of decorations to browse — but there are also gift ideas, foodie items, festive theatre and live music performances — plus plenty of talks giving interior design inspo. The Eat & Drink Festival Christmas special is at the same venue on the same dates. 23-27 November 2022
FORTY HALL CHRISTMAS FAYRE: Forty Hall in Enfield hosts a three-day Christmas fayre — both inside the period rooms and out in the courtyard — showcasing local businesses. Mulled wine and mince pies are available to guzzle while you browse. 25-27 November 2022
OPEN STUDIOS: It's the first of two weekends of open studios at Cockpit — this time it's the Bloomsbury venue. Visit artist studios which are usually off-limits to the public, meet the artists, and browse and buy products from them directly. 25-27 November
CHRISTMAS BESTSELLERS: Get a huge dose of nostalgia at the Museum of Brands' new exhibition, Christmas Bestsellers of the 20th Century. See some of the most popular toys and Christmas gifts of the last century, including tamagotchis, Lego, Barbie... wow, we feel old now. 25 November-6 January
MUSEUM OF LONDON: The Museum of London closes next weekend ahead of its big move, and it's having two final hurrahs in the form of weekend-long festivals. This weekend is a family festival, with a huge table football competition, arts and craft workshops, face painting, interactive tours and performances, a baby rave and more. FREE, 26-27 November
IRISH WRITERS WEEKEND: The British Library hosts a two-day festival of words and ideas featuring some of Ireland’s best writers. The event — a collaboration with the Cúirt International Festival of Literature — is a chance to hear from novelists, poets, essayists and comedy writers at the top of their game, including Emma Donoghue, Audrey Magee, Robert Sheehan and Donal Ryan. 26-27 November
Saturday 26 November
ORLANDO: Fresh from playing Diana in The Crown, Emma Corrin takes to the stage at the Garrick Theatre, starring in an adaptation of Virginia Woolf's Orlando, premiering tonight. It's the tale of eponymous Orlando, born during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and going on to live through a few more centuries, switching gender in their quest of self-identity. 26 November 2022-5 February 2023
QUIET REVOLUTIONS: A Celebration of Radical Bookshops takes place at the Barbican. Quiet Revolutions features a book fair (runs 10am-4pm) with stalls from leading radical bookshops, publishers, archives and artists. Drop by on the day to buy books for all ages, make a bookshop badge, and pick up a bookshop print. At 5pm a talk (booking required) on Radical Bookshops Past will feature historian Sheila Rowbotham, writer and activist Farrukh Dhondy and others. 10am-6.30pm (sponsor)
ROYAL NEIGHBOURHOOD: Join tour guide Pete Smith on a guided walk around St James's Park and the Buckingham Palace area, focusing on the trivia of the Royal neighbourhood — like how Birdcage Walk got its name, and why Green Park is so green. 11am-1pm
SOLO CRAFT FAIR: Taking over St Barnabas Parish Hall, Solo Craft Fair brings more than 50 independent businesses and makers to Dulwich Village. Browse and buy art, homeware, fashion and beauty items. FREE entry, 11am-4pm
WAR GAMES LIVE: Head to the Imperial War Museum for War Games Live, a festival bringing together leading designers, podcasters, musicians and gaming enthusiasts for a series of talks, panels and music, looking at the phenomenon of conflict-based video games. Your ticket also gets you after-hours access to the War Games exhibition and retro game zone. 2pm-8pm
ICE HOCKEY: Head to Ally Pally to see home ice hockey team Haringey Huskies take on another London team, the Streatham Black Hawks. Expect a big crowd for this one. Doors 5pm
DISRUPTING THE NARRATIVE: As part of London International Animation Festival, Barbican Cinema hosts a screening of Disrupting the Narrative. It's a series of 10 short films which celebrate the cultural diversity of Black voices and British lives — and it's followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers. 6.10pm
JOOLS HOLLAND: Presenter, musician and recording artist Jools Holland performs at the Royal Albert Hall, accompanied by his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. Expect to hear a blend of ska, boogie woogie and blues music to get you up on your feet and dancing. 7.30pm
POETRY PARTY: Poetry and music jam night Veranda hosts BORN::FREE Poetry Party at the Culture Palace in Enfield. Split across two rooms are performances from writer and director Arnold Chukwu, poet Zena Edwards, and the Veranda house band, as well as a live DJ set by XANA. 7.30pm
CLUB DE FROMAGE: Cheesy club night Club de Fromage celebrates its 16th birthday with a special party at The O2 Academy Islington. Enjoy free cake and champagne along with the usual confetti cannons, balloons, and cheesy tracks to dance too. 10.30pm
Sunday 27 November
DINOSAUR DISCO: Take the kids along to a Dinosaur Disco at Poplar Union and spend the morning dancing along to music by a live band dressed as dinosaurs, as well as taking part in dinosaur-themed arts and crafts using recycled materials. 9.30am-10.30am
DULWICH CHRISTMAS FAIR: Another day, another Christmas fair, this time taking place at Dulwich College. It's spread across the site including the Great Hall, North and South Cloisters, so it's an opportunity to see inside what looks to be a fairly impressive building — and that's before we even get to the 110 stalls, street food market, Santa's grotto, raffle and other entertainment. 11.30am-4pm
AMERICAN IN LONDON: See out Thanksgiving week with a guided walk focusing on the links between London and the USA. Meet at Green Park and enjoy two hours of trivia including where Wallis Simpson was when Edward VIII was declared king, why NYC is so named, and what Eleanor Roosevelt felt about her wartime stay in Buckingham Palace. 12pm-2.30pm
FAMILY RAVE: Take the whole family along to Between the Bridges on South Bank for a Big Fish Little Fish family rave. It's like a regular rave, with a DJ playing acid and techno tracks, but made child-friendly with lower noise levels, glitter cannons, balloons, crafts and other entertainment — and everyone gets home in time for bed! 2pm-4pm
BARBICAN QUARTET: This week's Sunday Concert at Holborn's Conway Hall stars the Barbican Quartet — their debut at the venue. They perform a programme of works by Haydn, Bartók and Schumann, preceded by a talk from Robert Hugill about the history of the Viennese string quartet. 5.30pm
CUTTY SARK COMEDY: Alison Spittle headlines this month's Cutty Sark Comedy, supported by Tadiwa Mahlunge and Mark Cram. It takes place on board the famous tea clipper — in the Lower Hold, to be precise — with a bar available before the show and during the interval. 6.30pm-8.30pm
COWBOY JUNKIES: Canadian alternative country and folk rock band Cowboy Junkies (excellent name, BTW), play a gig at Royal Festival Hall. It marks the launch of their new album, Songs of the Recollection, so expect to hear a blend of folk, blues and rock. 7.30pm
LONDON SINFONIETTA: Another one for live music fans: London Sinfonietta continues its Turning Points series with a concert focusing on the works of Japanese composer Tōru Takemitsu at Kings Place. The pieces chosen demonstrate the composer's love of nature and the outdoors. 7.30pm
