All weekend
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 local’s in there.
INDEPENDENT MUSIC VENUES: Independent Venue Week is a celebration of small music venues around the country that are often kept alive solely by the passion of the staff and management behind them. Take a look at the official list of venues and find a gig near you this weekend. 26 January-1 February
TRAVEL SHOW: Looking for somewhere new to go on holiday this year? Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show is at Olympia London all weekend, offering passionate travellers plenty of inspiration. The show features an array of top travel authors and speakers, over 350 exhibitors showcasing new destinations, travel photography masterclasses and more. £11, prebook, 29 January-1 February
CITY GUIDES PHOTOGRAPHY: Photographer Niki Gorick has photographed 26 City of London tour guides as they go about their daily jobs. See those photos at Guildhall Library. Free, just turn up, until 14 March
Saturday 31 January
SOHO WALK: Fancy a challenge? Walk every street of Soho (all 119+ of them) in a day with Discovering London guide Peter Berthoud. The 10 mile walk passes 50 pubs (and stops in a couple of them). Hear stories about the area that you won't find in any guidebooks. 18+. £35, prebook, 10am-5.30pm
OLD MAPS: Take a guided walk with old maps exploring how Thomas Cubitt transformed the Neat House Gardens in Pimlico. Follow the now buried River Tyburn to where it joins the Thames and trace fragments of a long forgotten industrial heritage. Amidst the Cubitt architecture there is Dolphin Square, whose story may surprise you, in particular what was there before. £10/£8, prebook by emailing [email protected], 11am
CHILDREN'S THEATRE: Variety Spectacular is Hackney Children’s Theatre’s annual show for the whole family, taking place at St John at Hackney church. £5, prebook, 11am/2pm
MARCH FOR HOMES: People from across London are marching on City Hall to demand solutions to the housing crisis and better housing for Londoners. The March for Homes has two assembly points - the East London ‘leg’ starts at 12 noonin Shoreditch; the South London ‘leg’ starts at 12 noon in Elephant & Castle. The two legs will meet with the short march at Potters Field and march together to protest at City Hall, where a rally will be held from 2pm. From 12pm
DAYLIGHT MUSIC: Daylight Music’s Saturday lunchtime gigs are back at Union Chapel with interesting and innovative artists performing every week. Today is the turn of Nick Pynn and Kate Daisy Grant. Suggested donation £3.50, just turn up, 12pm
BRUNCH CARNIVAL: Floripa in Shoreditch hosts a brunch party with a tropical twist. Brunch is at 12pm, followed by games and music. £15/£20, prebook, 12pm-6pm
COMEDY: Catch physical comedy from the Pajama Men twice in one night at the Soho Theatre, as they film the shows for a new comedy special. £15, prebook, 7.30pm & 10pm
IMAGINARY MENAGERIE: Head to the Grant Museum of Zoology for a family day of animal artwork, led by a Museum artist, focusing on some of the more unusual animals in the collection including the quagga. Free, just turn up, 1pm-4pm
SWISHING: Have a clear out and get rid of some old clothes while replacing them with something new at this clothes swap event at the Brownfield Cabin in Poplar. Bring up to 10 good quality items of clothing or shoes, and swap them for others. Free, prebook, 1pm-4pm
BABY LOVES DISCO: The afternoon dance party for parents and children is at DNA on St John's Hill in Clapham Junction. Pyjama Party (1pm-3pm) is for families with children aged 0-5 years old, while Pop Lock-In (4pm-6pm) is for primary school children and their families. £9-£12, prebook, from 1pm
CHARITY CONCERT: The Children Helping Children Concert at Cadogan Hall is a classical music event for children, performed by children, in aid of HemiHelp, the national charity for families affected by hemiplegia. Various prices, prebook, 6pm
Sunday 1 February
SUNDAY ROAST: We’ve updated our list of the best Sunday roasts in London, now with ratings and a map. Take your pick, or check out your other food options.
SUPERBOWL: Super Bowl XLIX takes place in the States tonight. If you're looking for somewhere to watch it, take a look at our list of London venues screening it.
LITTLE ITALY: Shared City, which offers Londoners the chance to travel the world without leaving London, takes on the Italian side of London. See the authentic side of Little Italy and find out more about this part of Clerkenwell. The tour includes the famous St Peter's church, Terroni's historic deli, a guided tour and starts with a magical early morning Mass (in English and Italian) in the hidden Italian church. Coffee and fresh Italian pastries included. £20, prebook, 9.15am
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 Mamma Mia! cast member Dylan Turner. £25, prebook, 10am-1pm
VINTAGE FAIRS: Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair celebrates 10 years in Bethnal Green with a selection of hand-picked stalls packed with affordable vintage fashion, accessories and homewares. £3 before 11am/£2 after, 10.30am-4.30pm. Frock Me! Vintage Fair is also back at Chelsea Old Town Hall with thousands of vintage items for sale and an old-fashioned tea room. £4, prebook, 11am-5.30pm
ROLLER SOCCER: Have a go at roller soccer — football on skates — at Queen Mother Sports Centre in Victoria. The weekly inline skating sessions are open to the public. £10, 12pm-1pm
DOG SHOW: The Gourmand and Ace Hotel are putting on a dog show to raise money for Blue Cross. Prizes will be awarded for outfits by a panel of fashion industry judges. RSVP to take part, from 1pm
COMEDY: It's the 10th anniversary of Sunday Special at Up The Creek in Greenwich. We're promised lots of special guests, all of whom are currently under wraps. £7/£4, prebook, 7.30pm
LIGHT DAY: Serpentine Gallery's Sackler Centre hosts a drop in family day around the theme of light. Join filmmaker James Holcombe and explore the properties of light in this creative workshop inspired by Julio Le Parc’s exhibition. Have a go at scratching, punching and drawing onto 16mm film to make moving images in the experimental projection room. Free, just turn up, 12pm-5pm
AFRICAN FOOD: South African foodies Woza pop-up at Howl at the Moon in Hackney selling South African food alongside craft beers. Free entry, just turn up, 12pm-6pm
POETRY READING: Head to Keats House in Hampstead for a poetry reading by two Waterloo Press poets, Simon Jenner and David Pollard. Free, just turn up, 3pm
CLOWNS IN CHURCH: Scores of professional clowns — some from as far afield as Japan — will attend a service in honour of Joseph Grimaldi at All Saints Church in East London this Sunday. It's an annual event. Free, just turn up, 3pm
SMILE ACOUSTIC: Three performers take to the stage at Rich Mix to perform sets in collaboration with local music groups, in a bid to make everyone smile. There's free cake too. Free, just turn up, 6pm
TWERK IT: The Book Club in Shoreditch is giving you the chance to master the art of twerking, in a dance lesson followed by a bit of freestyling. Miley Cyrus has a lot to answer for. £8/£10, prebook, 6.30pm
GEEKATORIUM: The monthly Geekatorium show is at The Phoenix in Cavendish Square. Special guest Jarred Christmas leads the pop culture comedy show, a mix of stand up, storytelling, sketches, games and improv. £5, prebook, 7pm
JOHN GRIFFITHS: Brentford-based actor John Griffiths brings his one-man show of backstage reminiscences, Forty Years Gone, to The Questors Theatre in Ealing for one night.£6.50, prebook, 7.45pm
Get free tickets for the Southern Home Show and create your dream home
The Southern Home Show is back at Alexandra Palace's Great Hall — and so successful was last year's outing, the show's now doubled in size. Covering all aspects of home improvement, from interior design to self-build, and from finance to energy efficiency, the show will help you source the perfect products and services to create that ideal abode you've always dreamed of. Whether you're considering an extension, a renovation, a new build or a home improvement project, the Southern Home Show offers a comprehensive one-stop shopping opportunity. There are free workshops and seminars too — teaching you to be more hands-on with your home. Claim 2 free tickets worth £16* now — time to start a new project.
This weekend’s Things To Do In London is sponsored by The Southern Home Show.
*Tickets £8 per adult on the door (kids under 16 go free)
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