Things to do this weekend is sponsored by Yamaha Music London.
All weekend
DECORATIVE FAIR: 135 specialist dealers descend on Evolution in Battersea Park for the Decorative Fair. Browse and buy antiques, design and art pieces dating from the 1700s to the 1970s, with a particular focus on 20th century design. 3-8 October
GEORGIAN ILLUMINATIONS: Sir John Soane's Museum has a new exhibition, Georgian Illuminations, telling the history of the light shows of the Georgian era through surviving designs, drawings and prints. A new commission by artist Nayan Kulkarni will illuminate the front of the museum on Lincoln's Inn Fields each evening too. 4 October-7 January
BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL: The 67th incarnation of the BFI London Film Festival takes place at various venues on the South Bank and in the West End, with some events also screened on BFI Player after the festival, for those who can't make it in person. 4-15 October
KNITTING AND STITCHING SHOW: The Knitting & Stitching Show is at Ally Pally, with hundreds of exhibitors selling supplies including yarn, fabric, buttons, fat quarters, sewing machines and more. Get inspired in the galleries, which display works by textile artists and groups. 5-8 October
CITY HUNT: Fancy an adventure? Will Breaker is the brand new scavenger hunt/escape room crossover from TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice 2023 winners StreetHunt Games. You and your team will dash around the city in a race to unravel clues, decode puzzles, discover hidden London gems — and have a bunch of laughs along the way! Friends, family and colleagues will love Will Breaker, and at £16.50pp it's superb value too. Play any day of the week (sponsor)
FAMILY FUN WEEKEND: The monthly Family Fun Weekend takes place on board Cutty Sark in Greenwich, with workshops, songs and activities for all ages, in addition to the regular things to see and do. Warm up the pipes for a sing along with a sea shanty choir. 7-8 October
NEW SCIENTIST LIVE: Archaeology, solar power, telescopes, lab-grown meat and AI are just some of the topics covered at this year's New Scientist Live. Experts from all manner of fields give talks on their topics at ExCeL London, including BBC Strictly winner and wildlife photographer Hamza Yassin, and neurologist and author Suzanne O'Sullivan. 7-8 October
TEA EXHIBITION: Pour yourself a cuppa and have a read up about Horniman Museum's new exhibition, Chá, Chai, Tea, which tells the story of the much-loved drink, including its productions, and traditions around drinking it in different countries. Have a little swot up on the history of tea in London before you go, and swing by on Sunday for a free tea tasting. FREE, 7 October-7 July
CHINA'S HIDDEN CENTURY: This is the final weekend of the British Museum's exhibition, China's Hidden Century. It's about the violence and turmoil the country faced during the 19th century, at a time when the modern republic of China came into being. Until 8 October
FAKE ART: Also closing at the end of this weekend is Art and Artifice: Fakes from the Collection at the Courtauld. It showcases artworks including drawings, paintings and sculptures which are not what they seem, including plenty of forgeries. Until 8 October
RUGBY WORLD CUP: All four Home Nations play in the Rugby World Cup on Saturday — including Ireland vs Wales — and other matches take place throughout the week. Take a look at our guide to where to watch the Rugby World Cup in London and book your seat in advance. Until 28 October
MONTH OF THE DEAD: Ghoulishly good festival London Month of the Dead gets properly underway this week, with talks and tours focusing on the theme of death. Highlights over this weekend include a live seance in a cemetery, and an insight into what it's like to be a council funeral officer, among other events. Until 1 November
OKTOBERFEST: Dust off the lederhosen/dirndl — it's Oktoberfest season, and London has plenty of beer-centric parties to celebrate! Get booking from our pick of Oktoberfest events in the capital.
Sponsor message
Sax education! Free music lessons with Yamaha Music London
Fancy a free music lesson on guitar, piano, saxophone, trumpet, violin or drums? Want to start the kids on a musical journey that will last them a lifetime?
The new-look Yamaha Music London store in Soho is offering free lessons to all, as part of national Learn To Play Weekend (7-8 October 2023). The 30-minute, one-to-one lessons are open to all age groups and are aimed at new (or rusty) musicians. Perhaps you haven't played a note since your school days and need a bit of professional encouragement, or you could be a total beginner. It's a unique opportunity to start afresh with music learning, and a chance to play on Yamaha's award-winning instruments.
And if you get hooked? You'll find all the professional advice you need in-store.
Learn to Play Weekend is at Yamaha Music London, Wardour Street, Soho on Saturday 7 October 2023 from 10.30am to 4pm and Sunday 8 October 2023 from 11.30am to 4pm. Lessons are free on a first-come-first-served basis.
Saturday 7 October
NFL EXPERIENCE: No tickets to this year's NFL in London games? You can still get in on the American football action with the NFL Experience at Battersea Power Station today. The event includes performances by mascots and cheerleaders from the teams taking part in this year's NFL in London, plus a chance to show off your own skills, and NFL merch and vintage memorabilia for sale. FREE, 10am-6pm
BRITPOP BRUNCH: Party like it's 1995 at Prosecco Supernova, a Britpop-themed bottomless brunch at Between the Bridges. Sing along to forgotten tunes from the '90s, take part in a themed quiz, and enjoy an hour of bottomless prosecco. Food isn't included in your ticket, but there's a selection of food vendors on site. 11.30am-4pm
BLACK HISTORY BIKE RIDE: Hop onto two wheels for a guided bike ride around Tower Hamlets, focusing on Black history. It starts and ends at Oxford House in Bethnal Green, and is suitable for competent road cyclists aged 18+. 12pm-2pm
LA DISCOTHÈQUE: Drumsheds in Edmonton (until recently flogging flatpacks and meatballs in the guise of an IKEA) officially launches as a venue today — and they're doing it in style. Their La Discothèque all-dayer features world class global house and disco DJs including Norman Jay, Giles Peterson, Afrodeutche — and many, many more. 12pm-10.30pm
SEWING MACHINE MUSEUM: On the first Saturday of most months, Balham's little-known Sewing Machine Museum opens to the public, showing off a collection of 600+ machines, many of them rare models, one of which was owned by Queen Victoria's daughter. Read about our visit to the museum for an idea of what to expect. 2pm-5pm
TIM BURTON FILMS: Music written by film composer Danny Elfman, to feature in films by director Tim Burton, is played live at the Royal Albert Hall. The BBC Concert Orchestra and Crouch End Festival Chorus perform tunes from the likes of Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice and Alice in Wonderland, with a special guest appearance by Elfman himself. 2.30pm/7.30pm
CONKERS: The celebrated (and pretty ruddy brutal) Peckham Conker Championships is back. Last year over 300 (!) people took part, with Harry aka 'Harry Hard Nut' bathing in ultimate glory. If you think you and your conker have got what it takes to win, sign up — otherwise, just come along to see some serious conker conquering. 3pm-6pm
ICE HOCKEY: See South London ice hockey team Streatham face off against Oxford in a match on home turf ice. New to ice hockey, or need a bit of a refresher? Our guide to the sport in London has all the info you need, including teams, rules, and when and where to watch. 5.30pm-8.30pm
A LITTLE LIFE: Missed A Little Life at Savoy Theatre? A recording of the live show is screened at Barbican Cinema tonight. It's the story of four college friends in New York, and how they all revolve around one member of the group, lawyer Jude, and his secrets — it's a stage adaptation of the novel by Hanya Yanagihara. 7pm
UPBEAT BEATLES: Watch the career of the Fab Four flash before your eyes, courtesy of top tribute act, the Upbeat Beatles, who play songs from She Loves You right through to Come Together — at the Broadway in Barking this evening. 7.30pm-10pm
CLUB DE FROMAGE: Expect to hear everything from S Club and Madonna to Taylor Swift and The Killers at cheesy disco night Club de Fromage's 00s vs 10s party. Top tip: everyone in fancy dress gets to queue jump. 10.30pm
Sunday 8 October
ROYAL PARKS HALF: The Royal Parks Half Marathon takes runners on a route through four of the eight Royal Parks (Hyde Park, Green Park, St James's Park, Kensington Gardens), and closed-off roads around central London. You've missed your chance to take part this year, but why not turn up on the day to support the runners. From 9am
FAMILY RAVE: Take the kids along to Big Penny Social in Walthamstow for the Hotsy Totsy Family Rave, where the whole clan can dance together as a DJ spins tunes. There's also face painting, and a chance to reserve a table or Sunday lunch afterwards. Aimed at children aged 8 and under, and their families. 10am-1pm
LONDON MEMORY WALK: Sign up for this year's London Memory Walk, and walk either 2km or 5km through London, raising money for Alzheimer's Society. Starts and finishes at Potters Fields Park, next to Tower Bridge. From 11am
SEAHORSE AT TRULLO: The kitchen team from The Seahorse Dartmouth travel to London for a very special lunch at Trullo in Highbury. Begin with an aperitivo followed by a four-course meal with optional wine pairing. Dishes include pickled sardines, slow-cooked veal, and a cheese plate. 12pm
BLACK POETS: For Black History Month, Keats House in Hampstead hosts an afternoon of inspirational Black poets from Britain and America. The venue's Poetry Ambassadors read a selection of poems from pre-1950. FREE, 2.15pm-3.15pm
RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE: RuPaul's Drag Race: Werq The World sashays into The O2 as part of its UK and Ireland arena tour. Bimini Bon-Boulash is the only UK queen taking part in the show, which is described as the "largest drag show on Earth" and also stars Jaida Essence Hall, Aquaria, Vanessa Vanjie, Angeria, Bosco, Daya Betty, Kandy Muse and Ginger Minj. 7.30pm
PINK FLOYD EXPERIENCE: For one night only, the Dominion Theatre hosts the UK Pink Floyd Experience, a tribute to the legendary band, celebrating 50 years since The Dark Side of the Moon was released. 7.30pm
