All weekend
OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND:
Open House London sees hundreds of the capital's buildings open their doors to the public, some of which are usually closed off. Check out our gallery of some of those participating this year. We also recommend seeing the restored Fitzrovia Chapel. For kids science activities head to the Royal Astronomical Society. Open House London includes ticketed and non-ticketed events, see website for details. until 20 September
RUGBY SCREENINGS:
Crate Brewery in Hackney Wick will be screening the Rugby World Cup all weekend. As a bonus your ticket includes a choice of beer, wine, or spirit & mixer and posh popcorn. £5, prebook, until 20 September
LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL:
This year's festival is massive, with nearly 400 events, exhibitions, installations, workshops and talks taking place across the city. Highlights include a massive steel sculpture installation in Greenwich and Brixton Design Trail. If you haven't done so already, check out the balloon installation in Covent Garden and RIBA window displays on Regent Street. Most events free, some events require tickets.
ART DECO FAIR:
Eltham Palace hosts an Art Deco Fair where vintage-lovers can dig up antiques, jewellery, art and furniture both in the palace and its grounds. After browsing and shopping, visit the rest of the renovated house: a billiards basement, a luxury wartime bunker, hand-painted map rooms and 19 acres of gardens. £13.30/£12.10/£8, prebook, 10am-6pm
STOW FESTIVAL:
The fifth annual music bonanza returns to Walthamstow with over 100 performers doing their thing at 20 venues across E17. Mainly free, some ticketed events. Saturday noon-11pm, Sunday 1pm-8pm
DANCE PERFORMANCE:
Spend the evening at the Peacock Theatre in Holborn watching the award winning Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo — a company of professional male dancers who perform classical ballet. Have your breath taken away by performances of Swan Lake, Pas De Deux, Paquita and Esmeralda. £49, prebook, 7.30pm
FAWLTY TOWERS:
This year is the 40th anniversary of the popular tv series Fawlty Towers. Head to Torquay Suite Theatre in Charing Cross to celebrate this weekend with an interactive dining experience. £52, prebook, 7.30pm
19 September
ROUGH RUNNER OBSTACLE COURSE:
Think Takeshi's Castle mixed with Total Wipeout and you've got Rough Runner Obstacle Course. Clapham Common will be filled with adventurous souls trying their hardest to beat the course. £59, prebook, 9am
BREAKFAST BALLET:
Head to the new concourse at King's Cross Station where dancers will perform while you have your brekkie. The pop-up show is celebrating the Genée International Ballet Competition. Free, just turn up, 9.30am-11.15am
GREAT GORILLA RUN:
If you notice lots of hairy runners this morning — top-to-bottom type hairy — it's because there's an 8km gorilla run going on, to raise money for gorilla conservation. And you can still participate. Hairy suit obligatory, banana optional. £58, prebook, 10am
CITY HARVEST FESTIVAL:
Billing itself as an urban country fair, enjoy the great outdoors in the city at London's Farms and Gardens Show, spread over the 30 acres of Capel Manor Gardens in Enfield. It promises 'greens, gherkins, goats and guinea pigs galore' from plots in Newham, Lambeth, White City and and Kentish Town. Buy direct from growers, watch blacksmiths, woodworkers and potters show off their skills, and take part in a tug of war. £6.50/£5.50/£3.50, prebook, 10am-4.30pm
FREUDIAN FESTIVITIES:
Delve into the dark side of dreams at The Creative Unconscious - Psychoanalytic Poetry Festival with The Poetry Society at the Freud Museum. It's an all-day event with literary and psychology experts doing readings and talks on the likes of Yeats and Brainard. £60/£45, prebook, 10am-5.30pm
HUGUENOT WALK:
Meet at the Discover Centre before exploring the story of the Huguenots in Greenwich. £10, just turn up, 10.30am
SNAP LONDON:
Snap London photography workshops offer budding photographers the chance to perfect their DSLR skills before taking pictures of London's South Bank. £50, prebook, 10.30am
DALSTON TOUR:
Discover how Dalston, an ancient hamlet of Hackney developed from farm settlement to market gardening to brick fields to built-up suburbia by the 1860s. Walks last two hours. £8, prebook, 11am
WOOLWICH CARNIVAL:
Expect costumes, dancing, music, stalls, and all-round festivities as carnival comes to Woolwich. Local volunteers, residents and community groups introduce the first instalment of what is set to be an annual event with the cheery theme Feeling Good. The party will travel from the town centre to the main stage at General Gordon Square for steel pan bands, DJ collectives and more. The parade sets off from the Royal Arsenal site at 1.30pm, arriving in General Gordon Square at approximately 2.15pm. Free, just turn up, noon-5pm
DALAI LAMA:
The Dalai Lama will be emanating compassion and spirituality at the O2 in North Greenwich. Turn up to learn how a lifelong dedication to meditation might enrich your life. £57.25, prebook, 1pm
PUZZLE AND PUB CRAWL:
Thinker, Drinker, Solver, Spy is livening up the usual pub crawls with an espionage themed puzzle and pub crawl in central London. Meet near Tottenham Court Road before getting your problem solving skills on. Tours last up to three hours and drinks aren't included in the ticket price. £15, prebook, 4.30pm
BOOTLEG PROHIBITION PARTY:
Be transported back to the 1920s with a Prohibition party in an underground location in Wapping. Expect cocktails, live jazz and flamboyant floor shows. Ladies get out your flapper dresses, and gents go gangster with fedora hats and pinstriped suits. £20, prebook, 6pm
FILM SCREENING AND EXHIBITION TOUR:
The event screens Pierrick Mouton’s latest film commissioned by Bow Arts to create new work about some of the local faith communities as well as an opportunity to see his latest exhibition Correspondences, including work by Sister Germaine. Visitors can move between both Bow Church and the Nunnery Gallery to experience the human connections, dialogues and perspectives that are explored through Pierrick’s work and its placement within these spaces. Free, just turn up, 6.30pm-8.30pm
ART AND WINE:
Feeling arty? Join this painting workshop at Horniman at Hays in London Bridge, where you'll each have a canvas to transform into an artistic masterpiece. If you're lacking inspiration, a glass of wine or two may help get those creative juices flowing. £29, prebook, 7.3opm
JAZZ MUSIC:
At Cadogan Hall in Sloane Square you'll be transported back to the 1930s New York jazz scene through stunning performances of Billie Holliday, Louis Armstrong and other classic jazz tunes. £18, prebook, 7.30pm
CLASSICAL MUSIC:
Alternatively if you're a lover of classical music then you're in for a treat at St James's Church in Piccadilly. Ben Schoeman will be playing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata by candlelight alongside other well known pieces by Rachmaninov, Schumann, Chopin and Liszt. £13, prebook, 7.30pm
LUNA CINEMA:
Spend the evening watching everyone's favourite 1980s classic Ghostbusters in the picturesque surroundings of Hampton Court Palace. £17, prebook, 7.30pm
MAGNA CARTA SON ET LUMIÈRE:
Head to Guildhall for a sound and light show celebrating 800 years since the signing sealing of Magna Carta. The Great Hall's facade will be illuminated with 3D projection mapping of related images from its collection. Free, just turn up, 8pm
RANDE'S DERILICT FLAT DINNER:
A dinner with a difference, Rande's Derelict Flat Dinner takes place in a flat in Fulham decorated by graffiti artists. Expect giant octopus tentacles in toilets and a giant Frieda Khalo peering down from the wall. Plus it's BYOB. £35.75, prebook, 8pm-11pm
20 September
THAMES TIDEFEST:
Celebrate World Rivers Day with watersports, angling and foreshore walks. There'll be paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing, river-dipping, water-testing, birdwatching and fishing, plus live acoustic sets, food and drink and more activities for children. Tidefest has ticketed and non-ticketed events, see website for details. 10am-4pm
BREWERY OPEN DAY:
Head to Weird Beard Brew Co in west London to sample a selection of limited edition beers for you to drink-in or take away. Line your stomach with artisanal scotch eggs and sausage rolls from Pig and Hay. Learn more about the beer on informal tours with the brewers. Free, just turn up, noon-7pm
ROAST DINNER AND LIVE MUSIC:
Nothing beats a roast dinner on a Sunday except maybe one accompanied by live music. Head to the Lexington in Angel to sup on mouth-watering braised beef with caramelised onion, or slow cooked lamb with garlic and rosemary. Even the veggie option sounds delish — cashew nut roast with kale and mushroom. £14, prebook, 1pm and 3pm
BRUNCH AND LIVE MUSIC:
Get over your hangover at The Vaults in Waterloo who are laying on a mega brunch of eggs, bacon, grits and sausage, washed down with a Bloody Derby (whatever that might be) and accompanied by a soundtrack provided by Brixton Bluesman Errol Linton. £20, prebook, noon and 2.30pm
GREENWICH COMEDY FESTIVAL:
Laugh your heads off on the lawns of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich as comedians David O' Doherty, Tim Key and James Acaster try out their best lines. £18.50, prebook, 7.30pm
COMEDY:
See comedians Curtis Walker, Slim, Eddie Kadi and more at Jamaica vs the World at the O2 Empire in Shepherd’s Bush. £22.50-£39.37, prebook, 8pm
POP-UP SCREENS:
Head to Ravenscourt Park to see a screening of The Shawshank Redemption. Doors at 6.30pm. Bring a picnic and blankets to wrap up warm. £10, prebook, 8pm
VARIETY PERFORMANCE:
Graham Norton will be at Café de Paris in Soho hosting a night of burlesque and risqué performance to raise money for people living with HIV and AIDS. £33, prebook, 9.30pm
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