Things To Do This Weekend In London: 9-10 September 2023

All weekend

CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL: All manner of vintage vessels moor up at St Katharine Docks (next to the Tower of London) for the Classic Boat Festival. Even if you don't know your port from your starboard, it's a fascinating spectacle, with around 40 preserved vessels on display, including Dunkirk Little Ships. FREE, 9-10 September

ZIPWIRE: If you find yourself in the City this weekend, don't be surprised if you hear a few screams from above. The London Landmarks Skyscraper Challenge has participants running up 42 floors of the Cheesegrater before making their way back down to earth either by abseiling, or by zipwiring to the neighbouring Gherkin. At time of writing, zipwiring places have sold out, but the stair run and abseil is still available. 9-10 September

PURLEY COMMUNITY FESTIVAL: As part of Croydon's tenure as London Borough of Culture, Purley Community Festival takes place at Rotary Field across two days. Music line-up includes local performers and tribute acts, alongside food and drink stalls, as well as bouncy castles, face painting and other activities for younger visitors. 9-10 September

GDIF: This year's Greenwich + Docklands International Festival wraps up at the end of this weekend, but there are still plenty of events to catch, including a catwalk-style show celebrating fluidity and self expression, and Dancing City — two days of free outdoor dance performances. Most events FREE, until 10 September

THE HOME OF FOOD: Lord's Cricket Ground launches a brand new food festival, The Home of Food Festival by Tommy Banks, with food trucks and well-known chefs serving up dishes all weekend. Richard Corrigan, Selin Kiazim, Gareth Ward, Lisa Goodwin Allen and Aktar Islam are among the chefs and restaurateurs taking part, and entertainment includes cricket taster session and cooking lessons for children — plus behind the scenes tours of the cricket ground by expert guides. 9-10 September

MARKFIELD ROAD FESTIVAL: Taking place in South Tottenham, Markfield Road Festival is a free arts and music festival for all ages. Visit open arts studios, watch short films screenings and live music performances, take part in workshops including life drawing, watch a carnival procession featuring local school children, and let your kids enjoy bouncy castles and face painting. FREE ENTRY, 8-10 September

ANDY WARHOL: We're huge fans of Andy Warhol: The Textiles at Fashion & Textile Museum, which shines a light on the pop artist's lesser-known work designing and printing textiles — and this weekend is your last chance to see it. Ogle some fantastic original items of clothing and pieces of fabric, dating back to the 1950s-60s. Until 10 September

MILK: Wellcome Collection has turned its gaze to how the science and marketing of milk is woven into our cultural history, from 'breast is best' to the advertising of milk's nutritional value, and whether milk moustaches will become a thing of the past — and it also ends on Sunday. FREE, until 10 September

BERTHE MORISOT: Time's also running out to see the first major UK exhibition of trailblazing Impressionist Berthe Morisot since 1950. Dulwich Picture Gallery brings together around 30 of her pieces to show Morisot as an influential figure of the Impressionist movement. Until 10 September

RUGBY WORLD CUP: Hosted in France, the Rugby World Cup gets under way on Friday, followed by seven more weeks of action. We've got a guide on where to watch the Rugby World Cup in London, featuring pubs and other venues screening the matches. FYI, England's first match is Saturday, against Argentina, with Ireland also playing Saturday, and Wales and Scotland taking part in separate matches on Sunday. 8 September-28 October

OPEN HOUSE LONDON: It's the most wonderful time of year! All manner of London buildings and structures, usually off-limits to the public, fling their doors open and welcome us in for Open House London. Our previous highlights include going inside the St Pancras clock tower, and on the roof of 55 Broadway — see what's on the programme this year. 6-17 September

LONDON PODCAST FESTIVAL: Headphones at the ready for London Podcast Festival at Kings Place, which sees both mainstream and niche podcasts filmed in front of a live audience, with some of the recordings streamed online too. The Empire Film Podcast, Nobody Panic, and FAME With Jo Elvin are some of the big name shows this weekend, along with offerings on comedy, food and politics. 7-17 September

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS: Free entry to the Golden Hinde, visits to the Crystal Palace dinosaurs, and a chance to tour Nunhead Reservoir feature as part of the first weekend of this year's Heritage Open Days. The programme of events opens up everything from lesser-known museums, to old factories, to music halls, showcasing a slew of cultural nooks and crannies that may have escaped your attention. 8-17 September

TOTALLY THAMES: The annual festival celebrating London's river goes on all month with walks, talks, exhibitions and other events. This weekend, catch Climate Cabaret in Kingston, a printmaking workshop, or a VR tour of Victorian London among many, many other events. Until 1 October

Saturday 9 September

CAMDEN MUSIC FESTIVAL: To celebrate the expansion of Camden's Music Walk of Fame with the addition of 11 more plaques, the inaugural Camden Music Festival takes place on Hawley Crescent and Camden High Street. It's an all-dayer featuring free performances from Jazzie B (Founder of Soul II Soul) and Rusty Egan (Blitz Music Machine). 9 September

JEWELLERY WORKSHOP: Feeling creative? Wire jewellery designer Abby Hook offers a workshop where you can make your own Tree of Life pendant, learning how to use the tools properly, with materials including copper or silver-plated wire and lapis, lazuli or rohodonite stones. Takes place at Forty Hall in Enfield. 10am

CHELSEA AT WAR: The National Army Museum offers a walking tour around Chelsea, led by guide Mike Armitage, focusing on the area's military heritage. Hear about unsung medical innovators and distinguished naval officers, as well as a little-known connection between Chelsea and the Tower of London. 11am

COCKTAILS IN THE CITY: For the final time this year, boozy festival Cocktails in the City pitches up at Bedford Square Gardens, for one last day of mixology masterclasses, live music, a silent disco and other entertainment, as well as plenty of cocktails to sup from London bars including Trailer Happiness, The Thin White Duke, and The Mayor of Scaredy Cat town. Oh, and if this sounds right up your street, you'll also want to know about London Cocktail Week, a completely separate event taking place in October. 12pm-10pm

FAMILY RAVE: Horniman Museum hosts one of its legendary Big Fish Little Fish family raves, for parents (and grandparents, aunts, uncles...) who aren't ready to give up their raving lifestyle yet, to share it with their children in a safe and friendly environment. Think dancing to live DJs, along with craft activities, face painting, and other child-friendly entertainment. Takes place outside, so dress appropriately. 2pm-6pm

COMEDY: Poster Comedy Club is very busy indeed — putting on free comedy shows every night of the week, including TWO on Saturdays. Head to Stoke Newington for laughs galore in the early or later show — we don't know who's on the bill at time of writing, but someone's bound to tickle your funny bone. FREE, 5pm and 7.30pm

HAWKSMOOR DINNER: Charity event The Hawksmoor Dinner takes place at the Guildhall branch of the steak restaurant. Tuck into a four-course meal and drinks by chefs including Michelin-starred Angela Hartnett, co-host of Dish podcast Skye Gyngell, and Mitch Tonks, founder and CEO of Rockfish — as well as the Hawksmoor team including Executive Chef Matt Brown. Celebrity TV chef Romy Gill MBE hosts the evening, including a silent auction, with all money raised going to Action Against Hunger. 6pm

GATTI'S MUSIC HALL: The London Canal Museum stays open late for a special concert performance in the style of Carlo Gatti's Music Hall Theatre — a venue which was run by the entrepreneur and ice importer and his family. See The New Players' Theatre Company in an evening of Victorian-style entertainment. The museum itself is also open late, so you can learn about the history of Carlo Gatti and the ice trade. 7.30pm

BASSET HORN TRIO: The basset horn was an instrument used in the late-18th and early-19th centuries predominantly in Austria and Germany — but tonight there's a chance to hear it in London, as The Vauxhall Band Basset Horn Trio perform at the Tea House Theatre. 7.30pm

Sunday 10 September

CONSERVATORY ART: Barbican’s Conservatory unveils a new site-specific commission by Indian sculptor Ranjani Shettar. Cloud songs on the horizon features large-scale suspended sculptures across the entirety of the Conservatory, made from wood, stainless steel, muslin and lacquer, using techniques that have been adapted from traditional Indian crafts. From 10 September

ANTIQUES FAIR: The regular Adams Antiques Fair returns to the Royal Horticultural Halls in Westminster, with over 120 exhibitors from all over the UK (and some beyond) selling jewellery, silverware, decorative pieces and other objects. 10am-4.30pm

CARNIVAL OF INVENTION: Station Road in South Norwood closes to traffic for the day, for the Carnival of Invention. Instead, the road is bustling with stalls — inviting you to make mosaics, build a bug hotel, create some eco art, watch street theatre and go-kart racing, or get a poetry takeaway. FREE, 11am-5pm

LONDON POLE CHAMPIONSHIPS: The London Pole Championships shimmies into Artsdepot in North Finchley. Watch shows of musicality, strength, stamina and flexibility, and see who will be crowned the winner in each category, including beginners and doubles. 2pm

SUNDAY CONCERT: Conway Hall's Sunday Concerts get under way for the autumn season with a performance by young string quartet the Salomé Quartet accompanied by pianist Jâms Coleman. The programmes features work by Mendelssohn, Haydn and Franck. 6.30pm

ICE HOCKEY: Ice hockey season is back! Catch Streatham Ice Hockey — one of London's four main teams — in action at home against Milton Keynes Thunder. New to the sport, need a refresher now the season's starting again, or want to know more about the four London teams? You'll be needing our guide to ice hockey in London. 6.45pm

THE MERSEY BEATLES: Penny Lane might be in your ears and in your eyes, but it's Fairfield Halls in Croydon you'll want to head for, to catch a performance by The Beatles tribute act The Mersey Beatles. They had a 10-year residency at Liverpool's Cavern Club, known at the birthplace of The Beatles, so we're expecting very good things from them. 7.30pm

UFO RELIGIONS: New religions expert Benjamin E. Zeller gives an online talk about the history of UFO religions and UFO spirituality, from the Roswell incident to the present day. Get the lowdown on contemporary ufology, conspiracism, and alternative religious practices. 8pm

ARLO PARKS: Mercury Prize-winning musician and poet Arlo Parks makes an appearance at Southbank Centre to launch her new book, The Magic Border. Parks reads extracts from the book, which contains 20 original poems and the lyrics from her second album My Soft Machine, and takes part in a Q&A session. 8pm

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