Things To Do In London This Weekend: 8-9 June

The weekend post is brought to you by Yamaha Music London - Chappell's in celebration of Silent June

All Weekend

VISIT PRIVATE GARDENS: Open Garden Squares weekend takes place on Saturday and Sunday, giving access to private garden squares, rooftops, prisons and barges as well as community gardens. Weekend tickets are £10 if you buy before Saturday, £12 during the weekend, and get you into all participating gardens (although some you have to book for). Oddly, quite a few of these gardens are free for you to look around anytime except on this special weekend, like Abney Park Cemetery, Phoenix Garden and church gardens.  Others are ones that are usually open to the public but charge individual admission (like Osterley House Gardens) and so good value to visit. But we'd recommend aiming for all those private, keyholder gardens in the swankier parts of town.

Alternatively, go and visit the new garden atop the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the Southbank, which is free entry and you'll find a bar up there too.

SIT IN A CLOUD: This year's summery Serpentine Pavilion opens to the public on Saturday and it resembles a cloud. It was resplendent when we got a preview - let us know what you think. NB. avoid Saturday afternoon, as the architect is giving a talk there and access is restricted.

ANTIQUE MAPS: Map nerds ahoy! London Map Fair brings together 40 of the leading national and international antiquarian map dealers - there's bound to plenty of Londony mappage on show at the Royal Geographical Society, South Kensington. Entry is free! Just turn up, open Saturday 12-7pm, Sunday 10am-5pm

FAR EAST FILM: The Terracotta Far East Film Festival kicks off with a horror all-nighter on Friday, hopefully not leaving you too traumatised to enjoy eight more films and a party over the rest of the weekend.

ALL THINGS ANATOLIAN: Experience Anatolian culture at the annual, week-long Anatolia Fest AKA Anadolu Kultur Festivali Londra in Clissold Park, N16. Expect cultural exhibits, food, crafts, live music, folk dancing and of course, the oil wrestling. Free, just turn up. Grand opening at 2pm on Saturday, then open daily till 17 June, 11am-7pm

WATCH IMPROV: Slapdash Improv Festival opens on Saturday ahead of a week of performers making it up as they go along at The Nursery Theatre, SE1.

GET LITERARY IN STOKEY:  The final few days of Stoke Newington Lit Fest are packed with local and London interest. Check the website for the full programme, tickets still available for most events.

ARTIST OPEN STUDIOS: Make Space Studios in SE1 (nr Lambeth North) invites you in to meet artists, view art, buy art, watch films and enjoy music. Free, just turn up, Saturday and Sunday, 11am-6pm

SHOREDITCH FASHION: Couture Fair showcases the work of young designers dealing in the luxury end of the rag trade. Browse and buy at Calvert 22 gallery, Shoreditch E2. Entry free, just turn up, 11am-6pm (5pm Sunday)

BEER & CHEESE: The Strongroom Beer Festival is served up with cheese (plus pies and sausages). Free entry, just turn up, on till Sunday, 12 till late

MUSIC IN SPITALFIELDS: Spitalfields Music Summer Festival begins on Friday and although there's not much going on over the weekend, there's loads to come until 22 June so check out the programme and book tickets now.

Saturday 8 June

SPRING FESTIVAL: Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park celebrates the arrival of spring (finally) and the 60th anniversary of the Queen's coronation with a day of exploration, have-a-go sessions, dressing up, crafts and pond dipping. Free, just turn up, between 11am-4pm

SILENT JUNE: Yamaha Music London present the first of three days highlighting their amazing silent instruments. Watch the Street-Nelms Jazz Quintet and the classical Abraxas Ensemble play at the same time in the same room and choose which one you want to listen to… then switch to the other one! Find the silent play-off happening on the hour between 12-4pm upstairs at Chappell's on Wardour Street. Downstairs, experts will be showcasing silent drum kits and guitars on the ground floor so don’t be shy, give them a try. It's all free, just turn up and drop in anytime between 12-4pm

NEW FARMERS MARKET: Canary Wharf's Wood Wharf gets a new weekly farmers market, starting today. If you're heading to Docklands to pick up your artisanal bread and cheese, then do make a detour and visit Estuary at Museum of London Docklands too. Entry to both is free, market open 10am-4pm

BIG NOISE: Make some noise for the grand one-day arts and music fest that is the Big Noise Festival, at the fantastic Bussey Building in Peckham. Enjoy live music, comedy, circus performers and art all while raising money for The Big Issue Foundation. Tickets are just £10 for a shedload of entertainment running from 2pm-late

MUSIC, ART & NATURE: Antara Festival combines all three in a one-day festival at Lumen in Bloomsbury. A drummers parade starts at 1pm from Brunswick Square, followed by DJs, poetry, live music, talks and art exhibitions. Tickets £8.50 advance, £10 on the door, from 1-9pm

HORNSEY CHURCH TOWER: The oldest building in Hornsey will be open for tours, trips to the roof and a tomb trail. Free, just turn up, between 2-5pm

NUDEY CYCLING: World Naked Bike Ride rolls through London, amusing tourists and keeping a large number of the capital's photographers busy for a few hours. Don't forget the sunscreen, participants! There are various start points, converging on central London and doing a loop round the landmarks, ending at Wellington Arch. Sets off 2.30/3pm

ATTIRED CYCLING: The London Nocturne competes with the naked cyclists, offering the commuter- attired folding bike race and a Penny Farthing race, as well as 'proper' lycra-clad races for men and women around historic Smithfield market. All the info is here, first race at 4pm

THE STONE ROSES: play Finsbury Park tonight. At the time of writing there are still tickets available at £59.95+ bkg. Support comes from Johnny Marr, Miles Kane and Public Image Ltd. From 4pm

Sunday 9 June

TWEETS: If you're up super early (2.45-5am), listen out for the dawn chorus and if you feel so inclined, join in the #dawnchorus Twitter project by following @NTlovesLondon

WOOFS: Dog lovers go walkies in Hyde Park today as the Mayhew Animal Home hosts Hyde Bark, a dog show fundraiser with celebrity dog owners, pet care advice, face painting and kids' activities. Free, (£3 to enter dogs into the competition) just turn up, 10am-5pm

PORTUGAL IN THE PARK: Kennington Park hosts the annual Portugal Day local festival with music and dance, food and drink. Free, just turn up, from 11am till late

CHARIOTS: The Hare Krishna Central London Rathayatra or Festival of Chariots returns to the streets of London with a colourful procession from Hyde Park Corner to Trafalgar Square, followed by activities in the Square. Dare we mention there's also free Indian vegetarian food? Free, just turn up, from 12-5pm

SOHO FOOD FEAST: At time of writing there are still tickets available for the fundraising Soho Food Feast in St Anne's Gardens, Wardour Street, for Sunday only. Cost £15, book online, open 12-6pm

KNIT IN PUBLIC: Arm yourself with yarn and pack those knitting needles for a day of knitting in public in Caledonian Park. Free, just turn up, 11am-5pm

ACOUSTIC AFTERNOON: There's free live music at Boxpark, Shoreditch with five up and coming acts to entertain you. Plus it falls in the midst of a special 20% off shopping weekend for people who've downloaded the Boxpark app if you feel like some low-key retail therapy.

LIVE WIND: City of London Symphonic Winds is a group of London based woodwind and brass players. Hear their summer concert of classical and lighter pieces at St Mary-at-Hill Church, EC3. Tickets £6 in advance, £8 on the door, starts 4.30pm

Other good stuff

Browse all latest arts and events features and  our latest food and drink content.

Photo of the Penny Farthing race at London Nocturne by McTumshie via Londonist Flickrpool.

The weekend post is brought to you by Yamaha Music London - Chappell's

Silent instruments have to be seen to be believed. Watch amazing pianist HJ Lim play extracts from Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.2 at dawn, on a boat on the Regent's Canal without disturbing the dawn chorus, or the waterside residents.

Drop by Yamaha Music London - Chappell's on Wardour Street this Saturday to see silent instruments in action and have a go!