Things To Do In London This Weekend: 14-15 September 2013

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All weekend

THAMES FESTIVAL: The final weekend of Thames Festival brings A Ships' Opera to the Pool of London on Saturday and LOADS of riverine stuff to see and do including a floating art fair, classic boats, dock history, rootling around on the foreshore, singing at the Scoop, market & festival village, barge races and cruises. Check out the full programme here.

KINGS PLACE: More than 100 music, spoken word, comedy and family events for £4.50 and free at King's Place Festival from Friday to Sunday. Book tickets or just turn up and see what's happening.

DESIGN IS EVERYWHERE: London Design Festival comprises over 300 events and exhibitions across London. Visit landmark projects like the endless stair at Tate Modern, take a look at what's going on at the V&A and other "design destinations" or pick a "design district" and wander till you find something interesting. The programme is enormous but you can pick up a free guide and map at any participating venue. Runs from Saturday 14 to Sunday 22 September.

TRIATHLON: Trafalgar Square becomes Triathlon Square as the Grand Final of the ITU World Triathlon Series arrives in London. Have a go on static bikes, treadmills or dip in the "endless pool" and watch the races live on the big screen. If you want to watch the live action, head for Hyde Park after you've read the Spectator Guide here. Watch out for road closures around St James's and Buck House too.

FASHION: London Fashion Week is in town and there are plenty of opportunities for high fashion and vintage shopping.

MUSIC: The first Hornsey Music Festival takes place at venues across the area, including three local pubs with loads of different bands and acts. There's a Village Green stage for the kids, poetry at St Mary's Tower, karaoke and an exhibition about 500 years of music and local history. Free entry.

DANCE: GOlive festival at Lion and Unicorn in Kentish Town is giving "stageless performers" a place to present their work. Mixed bills of new and upcoming dance and performance artists run until 29 September. Tickets £15/£12.

IPA: The Gun at Canary Wharf dedicates a weekend to India Pale Ale. The BBQ will be fired up, plus there'll be lawn games and on Sunday, a children's entertainer. Free entry, just turn up.

PARKER POSEY: The ICA hosts the Parker Posey Film Festival. Tickets £10/£8/£7.

ART BOOKS: Whitechapel Gallery hosts the weekend-long London Art Book Fair. Browse new artists’ books, catalogues, prints, rare publications and ‘zines from around the world and watch out for flash fiction readings. printing sessions and kids' book making sessions. Free, just turn up, 11am-6pm

Saturday 14 September

LOCK TO LOCK: Enjoy everything the River Lee has to offer with the Lock to Lock Festival, organised by Enfield Council and community partners, and featuring river boat rides, paddle-sports, live music, canal art workshops, sport taster sessions and more. Free, just turn up, 11am-7pm

CHOCOLATE: The Chocolate Museum in Brixton has a festival day of chocolate making and tasting. Free entry, just turn up, 11am-1pm

MODS: Lower Marsh hosts a celebration of Mod culture with MODern History SE1, including Scoot the Thames and 60s inspired market, food, music and fashion. Free, just turn up, 11am-7pm

BEER: Enjoy Beer by the River at Morden Park Hall with Sambrooks' festival of beer and food. Kids get in for a fiver (soft drink and ice cream included) and there are activities to entertain them in the afternoon, as well as live entertainment for everyone. Adult tickets £19 advance, £22 on the door, 12-11pm

HOSPITAL CELEBRATION: A parade and party to celebrate the saving of Lewisham Hospital, whose A&E and maternity units were threatened with closure, will start at Lewisham roundabout and finish in Ladywell Fields with a party. Free, just turn up, noon

GHOSTS: Why does London have so many ghosts (or ghost stories, at least)? A free talk by Sarah Sparkes delves into the spirit world at Senate House, Malet Street with a little help from London Fortean Society. Be warned, a film crew will be in attendance, filming as part of a ghost documentary. Free, just turn up, 1-2pm

SE LONDON: Dashwoodstock is a free music festival in Thamesmead providing a platform for South East London’s up and coming talent. Free, just turn up, 4-11pm

IMPROVISATION: i=u festival presents new music collaborations exploring the nature and process of improvisation. Tonight in Hackeny, music meets tap dance, a voilist meets electronica. Free, but reserve your place, 6.15pm

AMY WINEHOUSE: It would have been her 30th birthday. In remembrance, there are lots of Winehouse-related events going on, including a tribute night at the Phoenix Arts Club. Check out the #Amys30 listings online.

VIVA MEXICO: A party to celebrate Mexican Independence Day takes place at Brew Wharf, Vinopolis. Fuelling the party are top DJs, a mariachi band, folk dancers, a film screening and, of course, Mexican street food and tequila. Tickets £13.75+bkg (VIP package available), prebook, 8pm

MOONLIT WALK: Ladies can join a 10km women-only walk in Bexleyheath to help raise money for Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice. £10 or £20 on the night, register online, from 10pm

Sunday 15 September

LECTURES: Two cheap lectures take place at Conway Hall: the first considers robot ethics (11am) and the second sees a journalist discuss the truth behind Mexico’s drug war (2pm). £5 each, prebook

WIMBLEDON: It's Stables Open Day on Wimbledon Common and a chance to meet the keepers and their horses. There are lots of animal activities including a wacky dog show. Plus AFC Wimbledon have their Chariots of Fur Mascot Triathlon! Free, just turn up, 10.30am-5,30pm

HARVEST FESTIVAL: Godless congregation the Sunday Assembly is back with a Harvest Festival theme at Conway Hall. Free, just turn up, 11am

DISCO LOCO: Join the family party, Disco Loco in Springfield Park, Clapton. There'll be live music, cabaret, theatre and games, plus stalls and food and bar. Free, just turn up, 11am-6pm

WALK: Discover the Old Jewish East End on a guided walk round Spitalfields and surrounding area with two guides, Diane Burstein and Julian Romaine. Starts from Liverpool Street station at the Kindertransport Memorial . Tickets £10, just turn up, 11am

WANSTEAD: A community summer festival takes place on Christchurch Green, Wanstead E11 with live music, classic cars, community stalls, family entertainment  and more. Free, just turn up, 11am-5pm

GREENPEACE: Follow a three-ton polar bear marionette past the Houses of Parliament in Greenpeace's Arctic-inspired street parade from 12pm

CARNIVAL (EAST): There will be dancing in the streets as Hackney One Carnival procession leaves Ridley Road Market at 2pm and does a circuit of Hackney. There's an international food court at Ridley Road, youth music outside Hackney Town Hall and drumming, calypso and carnival costumes in Gillet Square. Free, just turn up, 12-8pm

FESTIVAL (WEST): The second annual White City Festival takes place today, with food, music, film and dance at White City Community Centre. Free, just turn up, 1-5pm

FESTIVAL (SOUTH): Join a community festival at Croydon Road Park in Beckenham, in memory of a 1969 free festival in the same area, which was compered by then local resident, David Bowie. There will be live music, refreshments and face painting. £5, just turn up, 2-6pm

FRISBEE: A day of spinning records and frisbees at Red Market on Rivington Street for Freestyle magazine's issue 4 launch party. Free, just turn up, 3-11pm

CANNIBALISM: Join Death Jam for a talk on Cannibalism In Context at Unity Unitarian Church in Islington. Free, just turn up, from 6.30pm

MUSIC NIGHT: Breathing Room, a monthly acoustic music night at The Antelope Pub in Tooting Broadway, celebrates its first birthday today. Pop along for chilled out music. £3, just turn up, 7.30pm

Other good stuff

Catch up on all latest features, see what we like in theatre and arts and browse more things to do in London.

Hackney One photo via Hackney Council Flickr.

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