Things To Do In London This Weekend: 17-18 May 2014

City

All weekend

FASHION FILM: New fashion film Advanced Style has several preview screenings across London this weekend, with Q&A sessions with the cast and crew of the film. Various prices, prebook, until 18 May

FREE GUIDED WALKS: There are over 40 free guided walks taking place this weekend thanks to TfL. Free, just turn up, 17-18 May

TIGER ART: THRIVE is an exhibition of artwork inspired by tigers, in aid of charity Save Wild Tigers. The exhibition is at the Sanderson Hotel 14-18 May

WHISKY WEEKENDER: Head to Oval Space for the London Whisky Weekender, with workshops, whisky tasters, live music and more. From £25, prebook, until 18 May

OPEN STUDIOS: Second Floor Art Studios on Harrington Way in Woolwich has an Open Studios Weekend, with family activities and artworks for sale from as little as £20. 11am-6pm, 17 and 18 May

SPECIAL NEEDS: London Zoo is holding a Special Children's Weekend, with activities and facilities for children with special needs and their families. Activities include sensory storytelling and wildlife gardening. Prebooking essential, 17 and 18 May

WILDLIFE ART: The Spotlight on Sumatra exhibition is outside More London, accessible 24 hours a day. It portrays the species of Sumatra and the danger they are in. Free, just turn up, until 31 May

ROOF GARDEN: The John Lewis roof garden and Stories of a Shopkeeper exhibition on Oxford Street are still going strong. Both are free (pre booking required for some roof garden events), all weekend

MARKETS AND SHOPPING: We’ve created a round-up of shopping and market events for shop, browse and bargain-a-holics to enjoy this month.

ART EXHIBITIONS: Take a look at our May round up of London art openings too.

THEATRE: And yet another for theatre openings in May. Lots of shows are selling out fast, so hop to it. God we’re good to you.

Saturday 17 May

GOOD CAUSE: Miles for Missing People is a 10km long charity run taking place in Clapham Common, which benefits Missing People charity. Everyone is welcome and there's a shorter run for children and families. £20, just turn up and register on the day, from 9am

FISH AND CHIPS: Get Norwegian fish and chips for just 99p at participating restaurants across London. Find your nearest restaurant to celebrate Norwegian fishermen supplying fish to the UK.

#INSTAMEET: Today is worldwide Instameet Day, so if you're a fan of all things Instagram head to the meet-ups happening in London. The Barbican event has a photo walk, competition acoustic gig. Free, prebook, from 9am. Or head to the Tate for a photo walk. Free, prebook, 11am

GREEN SPACES WALK: Hammersmith & Fulham Urban Studies Centre has organised a free walk around the green spaces of Chiswick. Free, prebook, 10am

NATIONAL THEATRE: Get the chance to explore the later work of playwright Sean O’Casey with Abbey Theatre archivist Mairead Delaney, director Wayne Jordan, author James Moran, and readings by National Theatre actors. £5/£4, prebook, 10.30am

FREE WALK: CoolTan Arts have a free walk exploring the pagan traditions of the Bankside and Southwark areas. Meet at the main entrance of the Tate Modern. Free (donations welcome), just turn up, 11am

ARCHITECTURE WALK: Footprints Of London has a walk around the city, looking at how the past has formed the buildings we have today, and how architects have to allow for structures such as railways, sewers and graveyards when designing a new building. £10/£7.20, prebook, 11am

NEW DESIGNERS: DesignersMakers monthly market gives new designers a chance to increase their profile. Products include jewellery, accessories, greeting cards and artwork. Takes place at Spitalfields Market. Free, just turn up, 11am-5pm

T20 BLAST: T20 cricket is fast and fun for all the family. Watch Middlesex play Essex and Sussex in a special double-header at Lords. Tickets £30 on the gate for the whole day, first match 12pm, second at 4pm

SHOPPING FESTIVAL: Seven Dials shopping area in Covent Garden hosts a Spring Shopping Festival. Those who register will get 20% off in over 130 shops, restaurants and bars, and free drinks and popcorn will also be handed out. Free, register, 12pm-5pm

STREET CULTURE: Fresh Out The Box is a one-off event to celebrate 25 years of the brand Boxfresh. The event lasts the whole day and includes lectures from some of the hottest street wear designers, graffiti workshops, live dj set and street art tours. The event takes place between the Lyst Studios and the Hoxton Arches. See website for full programme of events. Free, just turn up, 12pm-11pm

GALLERY TOUR: Mosaic Rooms Gallery has a free Curator and Artist Led Exhibition Tour around the current exhibition,  Intervening Space:From The Intimate To The World. Free, prebook, 12pm

POP-UP FASHION: Fairground in Haggerston continues this weekend, and has paired up with The Stylist's Rail, to turn the first floor into a pop-up shopping event all day, with fashion stalls, street food and live DJs. 12pm-5pm (entry is £5 before 1pm, free after 1pm). The Stylist's Rail will be at Fairground every Saturday until 7 June. Prebook.

EDUCATION DEBATE: What Would C.S Lewis think of 21st Century schooling? That is the topic up for debate at Conway Hall. Free, just turn up, 2.3opm

FAMILY OPERA:  Enjoy opera for all the family with Operantics! at Rose Theatre, Kingston. TV's Laura Bacon and Riverside Opera - who will be performing Gounod's Romeo and Juliet at the theatre from Wednesday to Saturday - provide a fun musical and theatrical introduction to the genre. Singalong! Prebook, £10 adults, £5 children. Starts 3pm

POETRY: Serpentine Galleries hosts a poetry reading. Poets Eugene Ostashevsky, Holly Pester and Sophie Seita present readings in the gallery's Powder Room, within the exhibition curated by Martino Gamper. Free, just turn up, 3pm

FILM SCREENING: Artists’ Film Club at the Institute of Contemporary Arts discusses 2013 film Alexander, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. £5, prebook, 5pm

LIVE JAZZ: Head to the Brunel Museum for an evening of seasonal cocktails in the secret roof garden followed by live jazz music and dance classes. £5, prebook, 5.30pm

ANIMAL VERSE: Author John Hegley performs pieces from his new animal-themed volume of verse at the Bloomsbury Theatre. Suitable for kids aged 9 and over. £15/£10, prebook,7pm

POETRY OPEN MIC: Lipped Ink‘s monthly event at the Poetry Cafe has a featured poet and open mic slots. £5, prebook, 7.30pm

RICHMIX: The multi-functional centre in Shoreditch hosts two events today: Enig-Mas, a play that focuses on the relationship between women and men (free, just turn up, 1pm) and the dance-theatre performance Scary Shit by Rhiannon Faith (£5, prebook, 7.30pm)

FOOD POP-UP: The Dolls House in Hoxton Square has a food pop-up taking place. AmeriKorean foodies Busan BBQ will be offering a fixed menu across two sittings. £20, prebook, 6.30pm/9.30pm

FOLK MUSIC: Martin Simpson, folk singer-songwriter, performs two of his best known albums back-to-back at Cecil Sharp House. £15, prebook, 7.30pm

MUSIC NIGHT: Enjoy a night of music and dance at Powerlunches in Dalston. Line-up includes Loom, Love Buzzard, Dead Coast, Abjects and more. £5, prebook, from 8pm

PROHIBITION PARTY: The people behind the 1920s Prohibition Parties return to Bloomsbury Ballroom for an evening reminiscent of the Gatsby era, with flapper dresses and cocktails served in tea cups. Tickets are £25, or £30 including a dance class. Prebook, 8pm

FILM SCREENING: As part of Herne Hill Free Film Festival, the Prince Regent Pub hosts a screening of Cittaslow. The film is about a project born in Italy back in 1999, which aims to benefit and preserve historic and environment-concerned towns. Free, just turn up, 8pm

COMEDY: Moonlighting nightclub in Soho hosts Amused Moose, a comedy evening led by Mark Nolan with comedian Phil Nichol and Amused Moose semifinalists Brennan Reece, Tony Lyall and more. £10, prebook, 8.15pm

SOHO BURLESQUE: Cabaret and burlesque performers take over the Hippodrome Casino. We're promised a show with 'kink' — so it doesn't sound like one for the prudish. £10-£30, prebook, 11pm

Sunday 18 May

WINE FAIR: RAW, the artisan wine fair, takes place at Truman Brewery in Shoreditch, with over 1,000 artisan wines to sample. £30/£25, prebook, 10am-6pm

FARM WORKSHOP: Want to save money by growing funky exotic food plants at home? Do you know which flowers are edible? Join the workshop on summer balcony and garden growing at Surrey Docks Farm. £15/£10, prebook, 10am-3pm

FAMILY ART: Ben Uri Gallery is having a free family day, with a chance to make stained glass inspired art. Free, prebook, 11am-1pm

STREET ART: The theme of this week's Sunday Assembly at Conway Hall is Street Art, with Lee Bofkin.  Free, just turn up, 11am

INDEPENDENT TRADERS: The Village Green Market takes place in Hackney Downs with local traders, food stalls, free yoga, and kids activities. Free, just turn up, 11am-4pm

WAR DEBATE: The Conway Hall Ethical Society hosts a talk about The Ethics of Liberation Wars. £5/£2, prebook, 11am

NEW ART: London-based artist Paul Squire's  solo exhibition opens today at the Camden Image Gallery until 31 May. His work is a mixture of portraits (oil on canvas), landscapes and music compositions. Free, just turn up, 12pm-7pm

FAMILY DAY: Keats House has organised a family afternoon of arts and crafts inspired by forests, jungles and all things growing. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Free, just turn up, 1pm-4pm

HIDDEN SPITALFIELDS: Learn about the history of the alleyways and markets of Spitalfields, including an insight into the murders of Jack the Ripper, on this Footprints of London walk. £10/£7.50, prebook, 1pm

PICNIC: There are free snacks and drinks for the kids as well as a treasure hunt and puppet show at a Teddy Bears Picnic in Hither Green, plus meet a beekeeper. £5, prebook, 2-5pm

BOTANICAL DELIGHTS: Visit the Fete at South London Botanical Institute, Tulse Hill and see rare herbarium specimens and botanical books as well as enjoying the wonderful botanical garden (cake and ice cream available). Free, just turn up, 2-5pm

ROLLERSKATING: The Sunday Stroll is a relaxed slow paced skate open to all roller skaters and rollerbladers able to stop, turn and control their speed on hills. Meet at Serpentine Road in Hyde Park. Free, just turn up, 2pm

AFRICAN FAMILY: Rich Mix hosts a family event with an African theme. Mwalimu Express has music, poetry, market stalls and more. Free, just turn up, 2pm

JEWISH HISTORY: Dr Hilary Pomeroy talks at JW3 about the passionate love songs and tender lullabies taken from Spain and kept alive by Ladino-speaking Jews in Salonica - until the destruction of the Jewish community during the Holocaust. Free, prebook, 6pm

FOOD DRIVE: Hula Boogie returns to Kennington for an evening of 1940s and 1950s music. £7/£6, just turn up, 7pm

ACOUSTIC MUSIC: Folk musician Jez Lowe performs at Cecil Sharp House. £14, prebook, 7.30pm

TORRIANO POETS: At this week’s Torriano Poets meeting, Maggie Butt shares her work. £5/£4, just turn up, 7.30pm

LIVE MUSIC: The Old Blue Last pub in Shoreditch hosts an evening of free live music. On stage, I Like Go Go, Weak Nerves and Milk Teeth: expect a mix of music genres. Free, just turn up, from 8pm

Other good stuff

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