Things To Do In London This Weekend: 7-8 September 2013

Want to receive the weekend listings as an email on Saturday morning? Subscribe here.

All weekend

THAMES FESTIVAL: It's all about the river this weekend and next with loads of events and exhibitions celebrating the Thames, including a colourful classic boat festival at St Katharine Docks + free historic walks and an exhibition celebrating the area, food and craft market, Carnival in Bernie Spain Gardens, opportunities to get on the river and the chance to watch the final chapter of Portrait of a River. Check out the full programme here.

STRATFORD RISING: Theatre Square, Stratford becomes a pop-up playground for fun-lovers of all ages. There will be a giant slide, family fun, retro gaming, classic films, brand new shows, installations, painting and dancing and it's all free. Just turn up, Saturday and Sunday, 12-7pm

ALL THINGS ANALOGUE: London Analogue Festival showcases analogue film, photography and sound art in Deptford. Ditch digital and seek out screenings, talks and exhibitions at Deptford Old Town Hall, the Amersham Arms and the Old Police Station. Follow them on Facebook for more info. Free, just turn up, 11am-10pm

FREE FILM: Peckham and Nunhead Free Film Festival presents bike-powered Edward Scissorhands and Skyfall among others - check out the full listings. Free, just turn up (early).

ENFIELD: Celebrating 60 years, Enfield Town Autumn Show brings local artists, performers and musicians to Enfield Town Park for a celebratory weekend of live entertainment. Check Facebook for updates. Adults £3, concession £2, just turn up, 12-6pm

STEAM TRAINS: Take a heritage train ride on the Metropolitan line with London Transport Museum. Tickets £15-£45. Check the website for timetable.

MOTORCYCLES: Alexandra Palace hosts the London Motorcycle Show showing off lots of - um - motorcycles! Also, motorcycle accessory shopping will be available. Tickets £11.25 advance, £15 on the door, open 9.30am-5pm

GUITARS: Olympia will be full of strummers for London Acoustic Guitar Show. As well as shopping for guitars and accessories there will be performances, masterclasses and workshops. TIckets £17.50 in advance, £20 on the door, 10am-6pm

CIRCUS: Gerry Cottle's famous Circus celebrates 50 years in the business with the Wow! Circus show, featuring 50 acts in 100 minutes. Find the big top on Tooting Bec this weekend. Tickets from £12 adults, £8 child (+bkg), shows at 2pm & 5pm

RETRO RETAIL: Immerse yourself in 1930s glamour with English Heritage's Art Deco Fair at Eltham Palace this weekend. £9.90/£8.90, prebook, 10am-5pm

KEW: Last chance to use a lazy afternoon half price to Kew. Gates are open till 7.30pm, offer ends on Sunday. £7 adults, under 16s free, just turn up from 3.30pm

EXHIBITIONS: A few fantastic London exhibitions are enjoying their final day this Sunday.Extinction and Sebastião Salgado at the Natural History Museum, Alien Revolution at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, Vermeer and Music at The National Gallery, and Creative Connections at the National Portrait Gallery. Until 8 September

Saturday 7 September

PARALYMPICS: It's National Paralympic Day at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, including the excellent Liberty Festival. Watch top Paralympians compete in Boccia, Sitting Volleyball and Wheelchair Basketball in the Copper Box. Around the park there'll be deaf and disability arts, street theatre, live music, kids activities, film and dance. Download the event programme here. Free, just turn up, 9.30am-6pm

CLASSIC CARS: Tickets will be available on the gate for Concours of Elegance at St James's Palace and Marlborough House. Classic cars aplenty plus a rare opportunity to wander the grounds of these royal palaces. Timetable here. (If you don't have a ticket but want to see the motors, they all leave St James's in a convoy at 5pm). Tickets £35, or £25 after 1pm, open (Friday and Saturday) 9.30am-5pm

CASSETTES: Never mind the vinyl, celebrate the beloved cassette tape today with gigs and special releases at Rough Trades East and West. Free, just turn up, all day

FAIR: The Bellevue Fair brings local businesses, stalls, games and family entertainment to Wandsworth Common today. Free, just turn up, 10am-6pm

MARKET: Head to Old Spitalfields Market for a retro goodies courtesy of Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair. Free, just turn up, 11am-5pm

SKATE: Skate King's Cross are celebrating the end of their eight-week summer residency with free skating sessions offered to all. Free, just turn up, midday-midnight

RIVER RACE: Watch 300 crews take part in the rowing marathon that is the Great River Race. It sets off from Docklands and races all the way out to Ham, Richmond - check out timings for viewing points here. Free to watch, just turn up, starting cannon 12.10pm

WORLD CUP: 32 international U-12 teams compete in the Danone Nations World Cup Final at Wembley. Half-time entertainment comes from street crew, Diversity. Cheer on England! Tickets just £5, starts 1.30pm

THE SEA INSIDE: Londonist M@ presents author Philip Hoare talking about Londoners' connection with the sea aboard HMS President. Tickets £7+bkg, starts 3pm

ECLECTIC MUSIC: London-based trio Metier Ensemble present an early evening concert at The Forge, Camden, playing a programme of 20th century French music for flute, cello and piano. Tickets £12/£10, 6-7pm

PING: Pop Up Ping Pong is popping up at 54 Russell Gardens tonight with food, drink, music and of course,a healthy dose of table tennis. £7, prebook, 6.30pm

PROMS: It's the Last Night of the Proms. Up to 1,400 promming tickets will be available on the day from the Royal Albert Hall but that's going to be on helluva queue. Proms in Hyde Park is sold out. You can stay in and watch it live on BBC Four, 7.30pm

COMEDY: Invisible Dot throws a post-Edinburgh bash at the Union Chapel, hosted by Alex Horne and featuring several guests nominated for this year's comedy awards: Daniel Rigby, Claudia O'Doherty, Mike Wozniak, Liam Williams, Jamie Demetriou and John Kearns, who went as far as actually winning Best Newcomer. Tickets £18 / £16, 7.45pm

Sunday 8 September

YHA DAY: London's Youth Hostels are putting on special events to mark YHA Day. There's a popup charity shop and auction at YHA St Paul's and over in Holland Park will be children's sport and art groups making merry. Free, just turn up, from 10am

PHILOSOPHY: If an event is listed on Londonist but no one reads it, does it .. er .. make any difference? The third Philosophy Now festival takes place at Conway Hall today, with talks, debates, workshops and philosophy games for all. Free, prebook, from 10am

CHRISP STREET FESTIVAL: Poplar's Chrisp Street celebrates its first annual community festival with a parade, great live music, classic cars, cookery demos, art workshops, crafting, a pop up cinema and street food. Free, just turn up, 11am-9.30pm

CALEDONIAN ROAD: Cally Festival pops up on Cally Road with a giant mechanical bird, community stalls, kids' zone, live music, stories, creative activities, dancing, theatre, a market and more. Free, just turn up, 12-6pm

PLOUGHMANS: Tottenham's artisan bread, cheese and beer producers are gathering at Down Hills Park Cafe to proffer the Tottenham Ploughmans lunch with an arrange of homemade pickles. Like a mini farmers market and festival the idea is to raise the profile of these local producers, there'll also be cakes for sale and some live music. High time the ploughman's had a revival, we say. Just turn up, 12-4pm

MUSWELL HILL: If you like donkeys then go to Cherry Tree Wood, opposite East Finchley tube station, and seek out Muswell Hill Festival which promises a donkey derby as well as dog show, children's rides, live music, steam train and monster vegetables. Free, just turn up, 12-6pm

MORE THAMES TALKS: Go behind the scenes of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant with Thames Festival director Adrian Evans (he was on board Gloriana) at Watermen's Hall or find out about The Navy Way aboard HQS Wellington. Tickets £7+bkg, both talks start at 4pm

AMERSHAM: Ok, strictly speaking it's Bucks, but it's on the tube map and heritage steam trains will be rolling out there today so you could have a look round Amersham Old Town Heritage Day, and Amersham-on-the-Hill, where the inaugural Amersham Town Show takes place, themed Metroland.

FILM: DocDays presents a screening of the compelling documentary film A Whisper To A Roar, at Dalston Social, which details the inspiring and dangerous work of democracy activists in five countries around the world – Egypt, Malaysia, Ukraine, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. Free, just turn up, 4pm