Things To Do In London This Weekend: 8-9 November 2014

All weekend

Winter Brew Festival is on for the whole weekend. Details below

PUB: Just want to kick back and relax with a pint and a packet of pork scratchings? Our pubs guide has information about all the best pubs in London, organised by area for your convenience. Find a boozer nearby, try a new place, or see if your favourite made the cut.

ICE SKATING: Slowly but surely, London's seasonal ice rinks are waking up for the season. See what's already open, or book ahead for the rest of the run-up to Christmas.

FIREWORKS: 5 November may have gone but there are still plenty of displays going on this weekend from Finchley to Hounslow and Sutton to Wandworth, and plenty of place in between. Take a look at our round-up to find your nearest display.

SOUTHBANK: World Press Photo of the Year 2014 is now open at Southbank Centre. See 143 selected pictures from over 130 countries that capture news, portrait and sports. Amazingly, this exhibition also costs nowt to get into. Free, until 26 November. For more openings this month, see our November art listing.

LAST CHANCE: Science Museum's Joan Fontcuberta: Stranger Than Fiction exhibition comes to a close. Fontcuberta uses taxidermied specimens, skilfully doctored photographs and mocked-up scientific reports to question the line between fiction and reality. Until 9 November

BEER FEST: Winter Brew Fest is a celebration of London's microbrewing scene, starring beers, bands, snacks and people, taking place at BL_NK in Old Street. Tickets £25 a session which include a souvenir glass and 12 tasting tokens, from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 November

LEST WE FORGET: The RAF Museum in Colindale has a weekend of remembrance themed activities for families. Write a personal message on a handmade poppy and stick it to the wall of remembrance, or take part in a museum trail. Free, just turn up, 8-9 November

COMEDY BOOKS: Britain's only comedy book festival takes place in Camden, with input from the likes of Jenny Eclair, Fergus Craig and Lucy Porter. See full line-up. Various prices, prebook, 7-14 November

Saturday 8 November

Catch a special screening of Interstellar at Science Museum

DYSLEXIC CULTURE: As part of Dyslexia Awareness Week, there's a Festival of Dyslexic Culture at London Metropolitan University featuring theatre, music, comedy, film, dance, art and more. The festival aims to raise awareness that people with dyslexia operate with cultural differences. Various prices, prebook, all day

FREE TOTE BAG: Head to Broadway to pick up a free limited edition cotton tote designed by Filip Pagowski, the graphic artist behind the Comme des Garçon PLAY line, thanks to new mobile app Proffer. Free, just turn up, 11am

ART TRAIL: Londonist's art critic Tabish Khan leads an art trail today, organised by ArtRabbit, to celebrate the launch of their new website. Join Tab through four newly-opened exhibitions to talk about art and curation, meeting point is The Proud Archivist in Haggerston. Free, just turn up, 11.30am

WALWORTH AT WAR: Cool Tan Arts runs a free public walk to reflect on the stories and experiences that war has had on the citizens of Walworth and nearby. Starts at Newington Temporary Library and finishes at Imperial War Museum. Free, just turn up, 12.30pm-3.30pm

OPEN DAY: Ilford Hospital Chapel, the oldest building in the borough of Redbridge, opens its doors to the public today. There will also be guided tours available during the day. Free, just turn up, 10am-2.30pm

WAR WALK: Take a guided war-themed walk around London, beginning at Embankment station and taking in Whitehall to learn about the causes of the war. See some of the buildings that played a historic role, and hear the key characters involved including Winston, Wilfred, Rupert, Isaac, David, Douglas and more. £12/£10/£8, prebook, 11am

LORD MAYOR'S SHOW: The Lord Mayor's Show is almost 800 years old. Take a look at our guide to the Show to see what happens when - there's a flotilla, parade and firework show throughout the day - and where to head for the best views. We also spoke to the family who, somewhat prestigiously, have three members leading the parade this year. Free, from 8.30am

GUIDE DOG FAIR: London Guide Dog Training School in Redbridge hosts a Christmas Market with craft stalls, food and drink, and Santa’s grotto. There’s also a chance to tour the kennels and see a guide dog demonstration. No pet dogs allowed. 12pm-4pm

PILLOW CINEMA: London's latest cinema experience begins in Shoreditch this week, and today there's a triple screening of three of the best Bill Murray and Wes Anderson collaborations — Rushmore, The Life Aquatic and Moonrise Kingdom. £15/£120, prebook, 1pm-10.30pm

CRAFTERNOON CABARET CLUB: The regular crafty afternoon at The Book Club in Shoreditch offers you a chance to make a set of drinks charms to show your liquor some love. £12, prebook, 2pm

BRIXTON MARKET: Walk around Brixton Market and learn more about its history on the guided walk organised by Brixton Society. Meeting point is at Brixton station, to book your place email [email protected]. £3, prebook, 2.30pm

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Duke of York Square in Chelsea has the switching on of the Christmas at 5,30pm, but prior to this, there are plenty of festive activities going on. Victorian carts serve roasted chestnuts, toffee apples, candy floss and popcorn, visitors can get their faces painted, and for an extra charge, there's a chance to visit Santa in his grotto (prebook). Free, just turn up, from 3pm

POETRY AFTERNOON: Some of the finest poetry ever produced came from the devastation and bravery witnessed during the First World War. This afternoon’s readings by the Keats House Poetry Ambassadors will focus on the unique perspective of women writers. Free, just turn up, 3-4pm

ROOFTOP WIGWAM: If you thought that Winter sees the closure of London's many rooftop bars, think again. The rooftop at the Queen of Hoxton is now open for the winter season, with a Woodlandia theme. Take shelter in the cosy, fairy light bedecked wigwam, get your dinner from the oversized barbecue (apricot and herb stuffed pork loin, anyone?)  or take a warming tipple, such as hot buttered rum. Open Monday- Saturday, until March. Free entry, charge for food and drinks, just turn up, from 4pm

CHARITY STREET ART: London-based street artist Nathan Bowen is putting on a charity street art event held in Fox Court, Holborn. There will be live painting, art exhibitions, activities, music, drink and loads of other fun stuff, all happening in this unused office space. Supporting the charity Uthink, this one day event aims to raise money for individuals who are at risk or disadvantaged. Free, just turn up, 4pm-11pm

INTERSTELLAR SCREENING: On the opening weekend of one of the most anticipated films of the year, the Science Museum’s IMAX Theatre hosts a special screening of Interstellar, preceded by an exclusive live Q&A with the film’s VFX Supervisor Paul Franklin. A regular collaborator of Christopher Nolan and co-founder of Double Negative visual effects, Franklin won an Academy Award for his work on 2010’s Inception. £16/£9, prebook, 7.30pm

BRAZILIAN MUSIC: Tonight's concert at St Ethelburga's Centre on Bishopsgate marks 50 years since the military coup which installed a dictatorship in Brazil. Brazilian singer Monica Vasconcelos and a group of musicians perform songs which were created by some of Brazil's greatest composers and lyricists in response to the dictatorship. £12, prebook, 7.30pm

FOLK MUSIC: Cunning Folk presents Folk on the Water. The event, on a boat in Deptford Creek, is hosted by Londonist friend Nigel of Bermondsey, and features music from folksinger Stuart Forester, fiddle player Carol Anderson and folksinger Tony Blackburn. £10, prebook by email, 8pm

DIGITAL DETOX: Head to Hackney for an evening of art and music...but leave technology behind. The digital detox has a line up of live music and an interactive art exhibition, including real life selfies, analogue instagram and retro tweeting. £10/£15, prebook, 8pm

CONEY ISLAND PARTY: Bethnal Green Working Men's Club is the venue for the Coney Island Party, complete with free fairground games, freakshow acts, great music and a hot dog eating contest. £6, prebook, 9pm

Sunday 9 November

Help Citrus Saturday fundraise for UCL learning programme worldwide

SUNDAY ROAST: Nothing says Sunday like a full roast dinner. Have a look at our choice of the best Sunday roasts in London, or check out your other food options.

WEST END SINGING: Learn to sing the hits from West End show Mamma Mia at Warble The West End, a monthly singing workshop taking place at Olympia Cinema in Barnes. Special guest is Charlotte Wakefield, who plays Sophie in Mamma Mia. £25, prebook, 10am-1pm

MAGIC SUNDAY: Couverture in Notting Hill hosts a day full of magic tricks. The store will be open from 10am until 4pm and activities will include decorating your own glowing globe — watch it light up and change colour — magical cartoons and a live magic show by Magic Mikey from 11am to 1pm. Free, just turn up, 10am-4pm

GOOD CAUSE: Join Citrus Saturday for its official launch in Camden Market today. This social enterprise lemonade business is run by UCL students and aims to raise money for distributing its educational programme around the world. Every (cheap) bottle of lemonade you get is for a good cause. 10am-5pm

PHOTOGRAPHY FAIR: The London Photograph Fair is at Holiday Inn in Bloomsbury, offering the public a chance to buy photographs and prints from the 19th-21st centuries. The extensive list of exhibitors includes Roland Belgrave Vintage Photography, Pump Park Photographs and more. £5, prebook, 11am-4pm

SILENT CINEMA: Stephen Horne, long considered one of the leading silent film accompanists, performs alongside a special screening of Pandora's Box at Phoenix Cinema. This classic of silent film will be screened as it was meant to be seen, in 35mm at 20 frames per second. £7, prebook, 1pm

CHILDREN'S PARTY: Big Fish Little Fish throws a supeheroes vs. super villains themed party at The Bedford in Balham, aimed at children aged 8 and under. There's face painting, cake decorating, a craft area, soft play area and more.£8/£4.50, prebook, 2pm

POLITICS WALK: Qualified guide, and former National Scrabble Champion, Philip Nelkon leads a walk around Clerkenwell and Islington entitled Paine, punch-ups and poo. Attendees will discover the huge amount of influence that radical events and personalities in Islington have had over British and international politics over the past 250 years. £9, prebook, 2pm

LUCHA LIBRE: See the stars of the growing World Lucha Libre Wrestling scene at Resistance Gallery in Bethnal Green. £7/£5, just turn up, 3.30pm

CINEMA FUNDRAISER: At the Cinema Museum in Kennington, Doug Shipton from the gem record label plays a DJ set, followed by a 35mm projection of Jacques Tourneur’s 1942 low budget horror classic Cat People, in which Simone Simon plays a troubled young woman with haunting feline charisma. The event is part of a fundraising programme for the Cinema Museum. £10/£7, prebook, 5pm

PAPRIKA: Balkan band Paprika perform melodies from Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and Macedonia on violin, two accordions, guitar, bass and percussion. At Omnibus Clapham. £12/£10, prebook, 7pm

YOGA DATING: Head to the Albany Club near Great Portland Street for a yoga dating class led by Richard Brook of Creative Yoga London, followed by a pub social. £15, prebook, 7pm

SHAKESPEARE SHOW: London based touring theatre company Two Gents Productions specialises in Shakespeare with a twist. Today its performance of The Taming Of The Shrew can be seen at the White Bear Theatre in Kennington. £12/£10, prebook, 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.

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