Things To Do This Weekend is sponsored by BFI Imax.
All weekend
MUSEUM OF LONDON: This weekend is your LAST CHANCE EVER to visit Museum of London in its current London Wall home. It closes its doors for the final time on Sunday, ahead of a lengthy closure as it moves to its new home in Smithfield. Note that the Museum of London Docklands site remains open throughout its sibling's closure. There's a festival weekend taking place on Saturday and Sunday with live DJs and late-night film screenings — one last hurrah, as it were. FREE, until 4 December
DAVID ATTENBOROUGH: A new virtual reality experience is at Westfield London (White City), voiced by David Attenborough. Don a VR headset and experience flying dinosaurs, hummingbirds and butterflies above the clouds at Conquest of the Skies. FREE, until 4 December
SPARKLE IN THE PARK: Residents of the Royal Borough of Greenwich are invited to Sparkle in the Park, a free, family-friendly light festival through Well Hall Pleasaunce Park in Eltham. Wander through gardens and courtyards and around moats after dark, illuminated by fairy lights. Though it doesn't cost anything, you do need to book in advance. FREE, 1-4 December
FESTIVE FAYRE: Head to the Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre for Christmas food galore. Wander among the courtyards and grounds perusing artisan food stalls selling everything from Christmas pudding and brownies to chocolate, cheese, biltong, coffee, cakes, and a lot of booze. 2-4 December
VEGAN WEEKEND: There's a special vegan edition of Canopy Market in King's Cross. Browse traders selling completely vegan food and drink, skincare and candles, including plant-based cheese, kimchi, chocolate, and sushi. FREE ENTRY, 2-4 December
CHARITY EXHIBITION: Food for Thoughts is a group art exhibition at Mercato Metropolitano in Mayfair, raising money for food bank charity The Trussell Trust. Browse and buy contemporary, colourful, affordable, and fun artworks, and enjoy an evening of live music. Your ticket includes a glass of prosecco. 3-4 December
FULHAM PALACE FAIR: Swing by Fulham Palace to browse its annual Christmas fair, with 65+ stalls, a tombola, children's storytelling sessions, carols in the courtyard, and mulled wine and mince pies available to buy. 3-4 December
A VERY CAMLEY CHRISTMAS: Camley Street Nature Park near St Pancras hosts a festive celebration every weekend between now and Christmas. Browse a Christmas market, take part in wreath-making and tea-blending masterclasses, let the kids loose on craft projects, and attend winter wildlife workshops. 3-18 December
STORYTELLING WITH SANTA: He's a busy man, especially at this time of year, but Santa's found time to stop by Woodberry Wetlands during weekends until Christmas. While at the Walthamstow site, he hosts a wildlife-themed storytelling session, plus there's a chance to have a meet and greet session with him in his wooden cabin and receive a gift. 3-18 December
GINGERBREAD CITY: London's tastiest exhibition returns to Belgravia, showcasing model buildings, transport hubs and cityscapes, designed and created by teams of architects and engineers, and made from gingerbread and other sweet treats. This year's Gingerbread City consists of five miniature cities across five different climate zones: Polar, Continental, Temperate, Dry and Tropical. 3 December 2022-2 January 2023
INJECTING HOPE: The race to develop a vaccine against Covid-19 almost feels like a distant memory, but Science Museum opens a new exhibition detailing the process. Injecting Hope looks at the worldwide effort to develop vaccines during a pandemic, and the work done by scientists and researchers in a bid to keep us all safe. Artworks, interactive exhibits and personal objects all feature. FREE, 30 November 2022-January 2024
ICE SKATING: Feeling festive but can't face Christmas shopping? Get your skates on at one of the Christmas ice rinks now open in London — including two which are brand new for 2022.
WORLD CUP: Meanwhile in Qatar, the World Cup rumbles on — here's our guide to where to watch the World Cup in London.
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A hair-raising immersive sleepover for horror fans at BFI Imax
This Saturday, you're invited to a rather... unusual summer camp. Unusual not just because it's happening in December, in London, but because — in between the activities, games and oblivious counsellors — you'll dig into a marathon of cabin-themed horror films here. All while watching out for terrifying harbingers of doom. Welcome to BFI Fright Night.
Grab your backpack and cargo shorts and head to BFI IMAX for an all-night marathon of cult horror favourites. We're talking Friday the 13th, Cabin Fever, Evil Dead II and more — playing on the UK's biggest screen, from 9pm all the way to 7am on Sunday. It's a frightfully immersive affair, with a couple of surprises lined up, plus prizes for campers who manage to survive the entire night.
Tickets to BFI Fright Night cost £25 as standard, £27 for premium seats, and £20 for concessions. Not bad, considering you're getting five trips to the cinema in one!
BFI Fright Night, 9pm-7am, 3-4 December. Get tickets here.
Saturday 3 December
WEMBLEY FESTIVE MARKET: Head to Market Square in Wembley Park for a one-day festive market. Browse stalls from artisan traders selling items such as candles and homemade gifts — as well as mince pies and mulled wine. FREE ENTRY, 10am-5pm
MULTI-STORY ORCHESTRA: Beginning in the foyer, the Multi-Story Orchestra (which started out life playing in car parks, hence the name) takes the audience on A Musical Journey — a moving performance culminating in a seated concert in the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Age 7+. 10.30am/1pm
CRISIS ICEBREAKER: Homelessness charity Crisis is back at Brockwell Lido for its annual Icebreaker fundraising challenge, which involves brave members of the public taking a plunge in the chilly waters. At time of writing, there are still places available to take part this year — check here. 11am-12.30pm
LGBTQ+ HISTORY: The LGBTQ+ collection at London Metropolitan Archives turns 20 this year, and celebrates with a day of talks, workshops, presentations and film screenings, putting young people at the forefront. Hear from The Mosaic Trust, which supports, educates and inspires young LGBTQ+ people aged 13-19, Schools OUT UK, which aims make schools and educational institutions safe spaces for LGBTQ+ communities, and several other organisations.11am-4pm
LONDON MAKERS MARKET: House of Vans — located in the tunnels underneath Waterloo station — hosts London Makers Market, showcasing 35 independent businesses, with a focus on eco-conscious products. There's also a cafe inside, plus free live music and a photo booth. For an extra charge, you can take part in a Christmas wreath workshop. FREE ENTRY, 11am-5pm
HAMMERSMITH CHRISTMAS MARKET: King Street in Hammersmith goes traffic-free for the day for the Hammersmith Christmas Market, which also spreads into Lyric Square. Browse more than 100 stalls, watch an ABBA tribute band live on stage, and join in with Christmas carol singing. FREE ENTRY, 11am-6pm
CATO STREET CONSPIRACY: Westminster Guides, Rosemary Barnes and Pernille Ahlström lead a guided walk, offering an insight into the men behind the Cato Street Conspiracy, a plot to overthrow the government and create a radical parliament in 1820. Find out what prompted the conspiracy, and what happened next. 2.30pm-4pm
WEST END CHRISTMAS: There are still a few tickets remaining for West End Does: Christmas, a razzle-dazzle show of festive cheer at Cadogan Hall in Chelsea. West End performers past and present come together for a show of traditional and more modern Christmas carols and songs. 2.30pm/6.30pm
JAMES ACASTER: Comedian James Acaster headlines this month's Live At The Chapel comedy show at Islington's Union Chapel, supported by Fern Brady, Kyrah Gray and John Robins. Why not make an evening of it, and book for dinner at the on-site Margins Café before the show? Profits from the cafe go towards supporting people facing homelessness. 6.30pm
GUILTY FEMINIST: Deborah Frances-White of The Guilty Feminist podcast teams up with comedian Tom Allen to host festive celebration A Camp Christmas at Southbank Centre. Guests including Rosie Jones, Larry Dean, Kemah Bob, Suzi Ruffell, Sophie Duker, Rob Diament and Russell Tovey take part in a raucous evening of music, cheeky readings and stand-up comedy. 7.30pm
A CHRISTMAS GAEITY: Described as a 'queer orchestral extravaganza', A Christmas Gaiety at the Royal Albert Hall is hosted by drag artist Peaches Christ and conductor Edwin Outwater, accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra. Expect an evening of music and singalongs, with guests including bearded drag-icon Le Gateau Chocolat, stars of RuPaul's Drag Race UK Cheddar Gorgeous and Pixie Polite, and acclaimed organist Anna Lapwood, among others. 7.30pm
Sunday 4 December
CHRISTMAS MAKERS MARKET: Support local East End businesses at the Christmas Makers Market at Poplar Union. Browse and buy crafts, beauty products, cards, food and drink and more. FREE ENTRY, 10am
MINI RAILWAY EXHIBITION: The Model Railway Club holds a December mini exhibition at its HQ near King's Cross station. Wander round to see a number of different layouts by both club members and guest exhibitors, and purchase pre-owned models from the shop. 11am-4pm
KIDS' CRAFTS: The Kids' Table is a free arts and crafts session at Boxpark Wembley. Each time, there are different themed craft activities, including mask decorating, temporary tattoos and origami.It's open to Boxpark customers age 3+, and places are limited so getting there early is advised. There are plenty of food and drink options at Boxpark for lunch before the session. FREE, 12pm-4pm
FESTIVE FAMILY RAVE: Take the kids along to the Big Fish Little Fish family rave at Between the Bridges on South Bank. It's like a normal rave, with club classic tunes — except there's child-friendly entertainment thrown in, and everyone gets home in time for bed. Ideal for parents who aren't ready to give up the raving lifestyle just yet. 2pm-4pm
CHRISTMAS AT THE MOVIES: Hear the Philharmonia Orchestra playing music from the likes of Elf, Home Alone, ET, Love Actually and The Polar Express at a special Christmas at the Movies concert at Southbank Centre. Recommended age 7+. 2.30pm
BAD DATA: House of Commons Library statistician Georgina Sturge — author of new book, Bad Data — is at Conway Hall in Holborn to discuss the reliability (or otherwise) of official data. Find out how governments have been led astray by figures littered with inconsistency, guesswork and uncertainty, and how it's possible for two people to draw opposing conclusions based on the same set of data.3pm
CHRISTMAS COMEDY: Head to the Amersham Arms in New Cross for a Happy Sundays Comedy Christmas special. Hear jokes from the likes of Sara Barron and Stella Graham with some live music thrown in, and a post-show festive singlong, all hosted by MC Sion James. First 30 people to arrive get a free mince pie too. 7pm
HANDEL'S MESSIAH: The Philharmonia Orchestra teams up with soloists from around the world for a 350-strong performance of Handel's Messiah at Southbank Centre. 7.30pm There's also a performance of Handel's Messiah at Cadogan Hall at 6pm today
