It's the Mayor's Thames Festival this weekend - photo by Mitul Vadgama
- The Mayor’s Thames Festival dominates with four zones of riverine free fun to occupy both Saturday and Sunday
- Kings Place Festival is a panoply of classical music, folk, comedy, jazz, poetry, puppets and arts and free stuff for all the family (concerts £4.50)
- Petrolheads go green at Ecovelocity: the Low-Carbon Motor Festival at Battersea Powerstation (tickets £10 adults/£5 kids)
- The first Lewisham Literary Festival begins tonight with a bookswap and parents note: there are lots of free kids events this weekend
- Balancing out the bookishness up north is Hampstead and Highgate Literary Festival with talks, discussions, walks and workshops (events £7)
- Peckham and Nunhead Free Film Festivals put on screenings in unusual local places
- Greenwich Comedy Festival still has Phill Jupitus, Adam Buxton, Milton Jones, Shappi Korsandi, Angelos Epithemiou, Stephen K Amos and Lucy Porter to make you laugh before it closes on Sunday plus visit the little top for free entertainment
- Portobello Film Festival has film feasts this weekend at the pop-up cinema on Acklam Road, W10 (free)
- Bernie Spain Gardens get a Korean takeover with Korea Calling (part of the Thames Festival) but don’t miss sampling a Taste of Korea with delicacies and street food from midday, Sat and Sun
- Madam Galina and Ida Barr are among the entertainers at Watch This Space this weekend (free)
- The amazing Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition is now open at the Royal Observatory (free)
- The Proms draws to a flag waving, singalong close in the Royal Albert Hall and Hyde Park but if you haven’t got tickets join in with live on BBC One or BBC Radio 3
Friday:
- Watch Pirates of the Caribbean outdoors at the Lee Valley White Water Centre – doors open for picnics and that around 7, film begins around 8pm (tickets £12 and Finding Nemo is screened on Saturday night)
- The Buzzin Fly boys are at the Nest, Stoke Newington 9pm-4am – support them, they lost all their stock in the PIAS warehouse fire (£6.50 adv)
Saturday:
- Mosey down Jermyn Street and find out about the Art of Being British, with fashion shows, tastings and a mini-fete in St James’ Church from midday till 5pm
- Over on Carnaby Street it’s all about the catwalk too with 3 fashion shows at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm plus instore promotions, live music, giveaways etc
- Jake and Dinos Chapman’s etchings have been released into the Museum of Childhood as of today – check them out, maybe without the children? (free)
- Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair at York Hall, Bethnal Green
- The Anti Anti Folk Autumn Festival will be a ‘total mash up’ at the Brixton Windmill from 7pm, £5.
Sunday:
- It’s Game On at Borough Market today with special Sunday trading focusing on game, quince, pears, mushrooms and all things seasonal between 11am-4pm
- 19 Princelet Street in Spitalfields is open (a rare happening) between noon and 5pm (free)
- Homegrown at Ham means autumn is definitely here. Head for the walled garden at Ham House, Richmond for an autumnal vegetable celebration, information, practical advice and fun stuff too between 11am-4pm.
- It’s David Lynch Film Day at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith from 2pm (tickets £10 a film, £25 all day)
- Scala Forever continues at Roxy Bar and Screen with an all dayer of Eastern Action, 3pm till late (tickets £15)
- Fancy a story before bed? Secret Story box by the Stokey Spinners takes place at LemonMonkey Cafe N16 from 6.30pm (tickets £12 includes glass of wine)
Other good stuff:
- Lit and spoken word from the Book Grocer
- Sci/tech/nerd stuff in Week in Geek
- Shows and exhibitions opening and closing in Arts Ahead
- Things to do in London on the Cheap
- What’s on at Museums and Galleries
- Where to find the zingiest cabaret
- What’s funny in stand up and sketch comedy
- New music gigs in Music Choice
You can also browse all latest arts and events features and salivate over our latest food and drink content for gastronomic inspiration.
