Things To Do In London This Weekend: 1-2 April 2017

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Things to do this weekend is sponsored by Cityread.

All weekend

Women in the army at the National Army Museum

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS: If you've got kids, you'll be well aware that it's the start of the Easter Holidays. Here's a guide to things to do in London over the break.

MUSEUM REOPENING: Atten-shun! After a mega redevelopment, the National Army Museum has reopened. This is its first weekend back on the scene so expect it to be rather rammed. But as our review says, it's worth it. National Army Museum, free, just turn up, 10am-5.30pm

WALKING FESTIVAL: Walking is a form of exercise and also a way of exploring a new area. Do both in this week long walking festival from CoolTan Arts. Various places and prices, book ahead, Until 2 April

HACKNEY FLEA MARKET: 30 individually chosen stalls rock up at Abney Hall selling vintage clothes and furniture, jewellery, textiles, antique luggage and more. Abney Hall, free, just turn up, 1-2 April, 11am-6pm

ART FAIR: The Other Art Fair is a great chance to see art from emerging artists. You may end up purchasing something by the next Damien Hirst. Victoria House, £8/£6.40, book ahead, Until 2 April

CHEESE AND WINE FESTIVAL: Two of the finest goods known to mankind come together for a heavenly weekend of cheese and wine, with 25 traders offering up their wares (full list of traders here). East Village, free entry (charge for some events), just turn up, 1-2 April, noon-6pm & 11am-4pm


Sponsor message

Help solve an Elizabethan mystery at the Charterhouse

Cecily Ashe has been murdered, her body lying at the Charterhouse. The Queen's spymaster suspects a plot to overthrow the crown. To uncover the truth, a band of spies is recruited... this is where you come in.

This immersive historical whodunnit is part of Cityread 2017 — a month-long series of events, based on one book. SJ Parris's spy thriller Prophecy — set in the London of 1538 — is this year's gripping read.

Help solve the mystery, while exploring the historic cloisters of the Charterhouse, at this night of Elizabethan intrigue.

Prophecy: Behind Closed Doors takes place every weekend in April.

For more information, tickets, and the rest of the Cityread 2017 programme visit cityread.london/events


Saturday 1 April

Found Footage Festival is at Soho Theatre

SEWING MACHINE MUSEUM: It's no April Fool, London has a whole museum dedicated to sewing machines. Take the opportunity to visit it on its monthly opening and see the exhibits, including a sewing machine which was given to Queen Victoria's eldest daughter as a wedding present. Balham High Road, free (donations welcome), just turn up, 2pm-5pm

WOMEN SOLDIERS: Explore 100 years of women in the army at the National Army Museum. The tour takes you all the way up to last year's lifting on the ban of women in combat roles. National Army Museum, free, book ahead, 2.30pm-3pm

NEW MUSIC: Enjoy an evening of alternative, indie, rock and metal music as Camden Rocks Festival showcases new music. Line-up includes alternative rock wizards Salt UK who, despite being relatively new, have recorded live sessions for BBC radio. Crowndale Club Camden, £7, book ahead, 7pm

GOAT FOOD: Gone with the Goat is a supper club by Women For Rwanda, which aims to help Rwandan women support themselves with goats. To aid this, eat a lot of delicious goat-based food. Stoke Newington, £25, book ahead, 7.30pm

NINETIES THEATRE: The Skriker is a theatre production telling the story of a shapeshifter tormenting two sisters and the underworld. Styx, £15, book ahead, 7.30pm

LADYKILLERS: Ms Wilberforce is a sweet but strict little old lady, who lives alone in a big home. She rents a room out to a group of amateur musicians, but they're not what they seem. See this theatrical adaptation of The Ladykillers — filmed in 1955 at Ealing Studios — performed just a few hundred metres down the road. The Questors, £18-£9, book ahead, 7.45pm

ARABIC MUSIC: Go on a journey through Arabic music, exploring the relationship between song and dance, with the Baladi Blues Ensemble. The Cockpit, £18/£14/£21, book ahead, 8pm

FOUND FOOTAGE: People have a lot of strange things lying about on an old VHS tape. You just never know what's going to turn up, but usually it's pretty hilarious at the Found Footage Festival. Soho Theatre, £15, book ahead, 9.30pm


Guided walk review: travel through the thin veil of London

In the London of folk-horror pioneer Arthur Machen, sinister ancient horrors — troglodyte races and malevolent fauns — lurk just beneath the surface; all that's required to see them is to 'lift the veil' and step into this magical world. On this fantastical dusk walk around Holborn and Bloomsbury, Rich Cochrane and Robert Kingham seamlessly entwine centuries of history, myth, philosophy and literature to weave a wholly engrossing journey (with a couple of pub stops) that will completely change how you see the city. Walk lasts approximately 2.5 hours with a 30-minute pub stop en route. Tickets £17.50, £12.50 concessions (next available date 2 April). ★★★★★ James Drury


Sunday 2 April

Strawberry Hill House reopens today. Photo: shadow_in_the_water

PLAYGROUND: Finchley's Artsdepot has created a geometric children's playground for the Easter holidays — it'll thrill children and adults alike. Artsdepot, free, just turn up, until 15 April, 10am-4pm

STRAWBERRY HILL HOUSE: Horace Walpole's stunning gothic castle went into hibernation for winter, but is back open from today. Strawberry Hill House, £14/£7, just turn up, 11am-5pm

AMERICANS IN MAYFAIR: Americans have had a special relationship with Mayfair since just after the War of Independence. Walk around and discover all the connections. Green Park, £10, book ahead, 11am-12.30pm

GUIDED TOUR: Discover interwar Islington — when the area was less chic — on this guided tour of the area. Angel station, £9, book ahead, 11.30am-1pm

CROYDON AIRPORT: Get up close to the world's first air traffic control tower at Croydon Airport's monthly open day. Take a guided tour of the exhibitions and displays, and swot up on the history of the first world war airfield. Croydon Airport, free (donations encouraged), just turn up, 11am-4pm

BOAT RACE: Today's the day of the annual Oxford-Cambridge river duel. If you're keen to see the action, we recommend settling yourself in somewhere along the course. Otherwise, The Crabtree in Fulham is having a bit of a do, as is the Chiswick Pier Trust. The first race begins at 2.45pm, but get there early for a good view.

FREE FILMS: It's the start of Camberwell Free Film Festival, which turns five this year. Today there's a choice: hit Disney offering Moana, or the slightly heavier documentary They Will Have To Kill Us First. Various locations, free, first come first served, until 10 April