Things to do this weekend is sponsored by The National Archives.
All weekend
FIREWORKS: It's Bonfire Night on Saturday, which means you'll be seeing and hearing whizzbangs galore over London this weekend. Properly organised displays are always safer than letting fireworks off in your garden, so have a peruse of our guide to where to watch fireworks in London this year, and get booking.
SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS: As Halloween came to London, so did the Spirit of Christmas Fair — and it's continuing until Sunday. If you're already focused on all things festive, head here to buy gifts, decorations, food and drink from more than 700 independent exhibitors. Not feeling it just yet? Fear not, there are plenty more Christmas markets and fairs in London closer to the big day. 31 October-6 November
IMPERMANENCE: Wildlife and environmental artist Sophie Green has an exhibition of her work at gallery@oxo. Impermanence features 14 hyper-realistic paintings of various endangered species from all over the globe, and raises money for conservation projects. FREE, 2-13 November
KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL: Cinemas across the capital host more than 35 screenings as part of the London Korean Film Festival, which includes critically acclaimed films, new talent, Korean box office hits, the latest K-Horror films, powerful female filmmakers and bold documentaries. Highlights this weekend include social documentary The 2nd Repatriation, and a selection of shorts from Seoul International Women's Film Festival. 3-17 November
WINTER MARKET: A sure sign that Christmas is coming is the opening of the festive markets and fairs. This is the first weekend of Southbank Centre's Winter Market, located alongside the Thames outside the cultural centre, and home to wooden chalets selling seasonal treats such as mulled wine, fondue and raclette. 3 November-26 December
TURNER ON TOUR: Two works by painter JMW Turner — known collectively as the 'Frick works' after the American industrialist who acquired them — are on display side by side at The National Gallery, their first time back in the UK in over a century. Turner on Tour sees 'Harbour of Dieppe: Changement de Domicile' and 'Cologne, the Arrival of a Packet-Boat: Evening' on show to the public. FREE, 3 November 2022-19 February 2023
TECHNICIANS: Technicians: The David Sainsbury Gallery is a new, free gallery at Science Museum, offering interactive exhibits and activities to show young people what it's like to work as a technician in different sectors. Marvel Studios, the NHS and the National Grid have all collaborated on it. FREE, from 3 November
WRITE IDEA FESTIVAL: Celebrate 100 years of Bethnal Green Library with WriteIdea reading festival, a weekend of 25 free events covering topics including mudlarking, The Rolling Stones, Yiddish tales, breakup stories, crime and historical fiction, and much more. Special guests include historian Dr Matthew Green, and authors Ben Aaronovitch, Siobhan MacGowan and Jean Fullerton. FREE, 4-6 November
FASHIONING MASCULINITIES: Last chance to see the V&A's men's fashion exhibition, Fashioning Masculinities. Our reviewer gave it a 4* review, impressed by the look at how men's fashion has changed over time, but slightly disappointed that it's dominated by western fashions. Until 6 November
A FAMILY AFFAIR: Barbican Music Library's latest exhibition is Black British Dynasties in Music: A Family Affair. Specially commissioned photos and interviews feature in the display, which celebrates the contribution that Black British musical families have made to music and culture. FREE, until 25 January 2023
HIEROGLYPHS: Seen the British Museum's Hieroglyphs exhibition yet? It's a fascinating look at how the Rosetta Stone came to be, and the work that went into cracking the code which allowed us to understand Ancient Egyptian symbols. Until February 2023
EXECUTIONS: Another current exhibition worth seeing is Executions at Museum of London Docklands. While its sister site is winding down ready to close, the east London museum is firing on all cylinders with a show about the history of capital punishment in London. Sensitive, sobering, and absolutely fascinating stuff. Until April 2023
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: If you're in central London after dark this weekend, head to Oxford Street to see the first of the capital's Christmas lights this year. FREE, from
WOOLWICH PRINT FAIR: Apparently Europe's largest fair dedicated to contemporary print, the Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair is back for a seventh edition, giving you the chance to buy collectible print works directly from independent artists. Head to Woolwich Works to browse art from all over the world, including a few big names (hello, David Shrigley). 3-6 November
TRAIN STRIKES: At time of writing, train strikes are expected to take place on Saturday 5 November this week (as well as Monday 7 and Wednesday 9 November next week — plus a separate strike on Thursday 10 November, set to disrupt London Underground and Overground services). Services will be limited on these days, and may be late in starting the following days — check with your train operating company for specifics. 5-10 November
Sponsor message
Treason returns to London this Bonfire Night
Remember, remember, the fifth of November — not just Bonfire Night, but also when The National Archives opens its free new exhibition, Treason: People, Power & Plot.
See important archival documents, including the anonymous Monteagle letter which tipped off Lord Monteagle and King James I about the Gunpowder Plot, thus preventing disaster, and hear personal stories of those prosecuted under the Treason Act. It's not just Guy Fawkes and co. though; the exhibition looks at people accused of treason throughout the ages, from Anne Boleyn to enslaved Baptist preacher Samuel Sharpe.
Treason: People, Power & Plot is a free exhibition, open 5 November 2022-6 April 2023. There's a special Sunday opening this weekend (The National Archives are only open one Sunday a month).
Saturday 5 November
GHOST SHOW: Last chance to keep the Halloween scares going at Peckham's Copeland Park. Ghost Show: The Haunted House is a free art exhibition based on the classic haunted house experience as a new way to exhibit art. 70 artists are involved, many from the local area. FREE, 10am-6pm
FAMILY FILM CLUB: 2020 animated film Wolfwalkers has been chosen for this week's Family Film Club at Barbican Cinema, which offers wallet-friendly screenings every week. Set in remote 17th century Ireland, it's the tale of a hunter and his daughter sent to deal with wolf attacks. Age 6+, and note that all kids must be accompanied by an adult, and all adults must be accompanied by a child. 11am
TEDDINGTON BEER FESTIVAL: If you've just about recovered from London's Oktoberfest celebrations, head to the Landmark Arts Centre for the final day of Teddington Beer Festival. Sample more than 60 real ales and 15 ciders, with live music thrown in, and food available to buy. 12pm/6pm
LONDON HOUSE CATS: Contemporary choir the London House Cats holds a free sing-along session at Poplar Union, so you can get a feel for what it's like to be in the group. It's open to those with some singing background — even if it was way back in your school days! Age 16+. Free, 1pm-3pm
LONDON'S BURNING: Delve into fire-related artefacts and documents within Bishopsgate Institute's collection, in a special Bonfire Night event. Books, pamphlets and illustrations are used to cover London's social history, including topics such as Victorian chimney sweeps, the Great Fire of Tooley Street, and the Bryant & May match factory in the interwar years. 2pm-5pm
BALLET TRIPLE BILL: Last chance to see The Birmingham Royal Ballet's autumn triple bill Into the Music at Sadler's Wells, featuring UK and World premieres and rarely seen work. Each piece is set to an orchestral score performed live by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia. 2.30pm/7.30pm
Sunday 6 November
ELIZABETH LINE: Today's the day! After Bond Street station finally opened in October, the next phase of the Elizabeth line opens today — meaning far less faffing around changing trains, a more regular service — plus the line will start running on Sundays too. Woohoo!
VETERAN CAR RUN: The Veteran Car Run sees more than 100 pre-1905 vehicles setting off from London to Brighton. You'll have to be up early to cheer them on though — they begin leaving Hyde Park around 7am, heading through Lambeth towards Croydon, and onto the coast. FREE, from 7am
MULTI-STORY ORCHESTRA: The foyer of Queen Elizabeth Hall at Southbank Centre is the starting point for a concert by the roaming Multi-Story Orchestra, which culminates in a seated performance inside the hall. They play two shows today, designed as an introduction to classical music for families with children aged 7+. 10.30am/1pm
INDONESIAN DAY: The Indonesian Embassy hosts a free day of Indonesian culture at Vinegar Yard near London Bridge. The event offers 'a glimpse of living as a native Indonesian', with live music and performing arts, and giveaways, including the chance to win a holiday to Bali and Labuan Bajo. Plus treat yourself to Indonesian dishes and crafts at the artisan market and food stalls. FREE, 11am-4pm
CATO STREET CONSPIRACY: Join Westminster Guides Rosemary Barnes and Pernille Ahlström for Guildhall Library's guided walk through Marylebone to Cato Street. As you go, learn more about the people behind the Cato Street Conspiracy, an 1820 plot to destroy Lord Liverpool's government and to establish a radical parliament, for which five men were executed. 2.30pm-4pm
PEOPLE ON SUNDAY: Barbican Cinema screens 1930 silent film, People On Sunday. The German film, about a double date to a swimming lake, offers an insight to how people spent their weekends when the concept was still relatively new. This screening is accompanied by a new live score by instrumental band Haiku Salut and pianist Meg Morley. 3pm
DOC 'N' ROLL: The Doc 'n' Roll Film Festival at Barbican is a chance to see music documentaries on the big screen, and today's the final day. Catch the UK premiere of Hargrove, a new documentary filmed in the final year of the life of American jazz musician Roy Hargrove. It features footage of live performances, as well as other musical icons such as Erykah Badu, Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Questlove, Sonny Rollins, and Yasiin Bey paying tribute. 5.30pm
JUBILEE QUARTET: The Jubilee Quartet take to the stage for this week's Sunday Concert at Conway Hall in Holborn, performing a programme of works by Haydn and Schubert. 6.30pm
