Things to do
SICILY FEST: Bring back a small taste of summer at SicilyFest — the event's second London outing this year. All manner of food and drink from the Italian region is on offer at the three-day food market, including arancini, wine, cannoli, cheese and pasta. Tuck into street food dishes then and there, or pick up some supplies for your cupboards. Brick Lane, free entry, just turn up, 18-20 October
MOVING TO MARS: Design Museum launches a new blockbuster exhibition, Moving to Mars. Step into immersive recreations of environments on Mars, see a spacesuit designed to withstand conditions on the Red Planet, and ogle objects on loan from NASA — all with the aim of answering the question of whether we should be attempting to reach Mars at all. Design Museum (Kensington), from £16, book ahead, 18 October-23 February
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY: One of our favourite annual exhibitions, Wildlife Photographer of the Year opens today. See this year’s winning images alongside other shortlisted shots, taken by photographers all over the world. Standards are always exceptional, and the show offers cute animal snaps alongside more serious insights into environmental issues. Natural History Museum (South Kensington), £13.95, book ahead, 18 October-31 May
BLACK POPPIES: Historian Stephen Bourne tells the little-known stories of black British servicemen during the first world war. Hear about Arthur Roberts, 'Scotland's Black Tommy' and David Clemetson, an army officer who rose through the ranks after refusing to lie about his race. Bourne also shares wartime letters between Jamaican siblings Norman, Douglas and Vera Manley. National Army Museum (Chelsea), free, book ahead, 11.30am
BREWERY PARTY: Bermondsey-based craft brewery Anspach & Hobday throws a free party to celebrate the first birthday of The Pigeon, its Camberwell-based bar. Sample a range of A&H beers, with free pizza to soak it up. The Pigeon (Camberwell), free entry, just turn up, from 5pm
NIGHT MARKET: Bethnal Green's night market is back for an autumn outing. As the streets around The Oval gasholder and venue are closed to traffic, browse stalls by local makers, tuck into street food and drinks from the bar, and dance the night away to live DJs. The Oval (Bethnal Green), free entry, just turn up, 5pm-11pm (repeated tomorrow)
EASY MATHS: How many cats are there in the world? What's the chance of winning the lottery twice? Maths author Rob Eastaway offers an entertaining insight into how to do maths without the calculators that most of us have come to rely on. Refresh your estimation skills, and have a laugh at the same time. Royal Institution (Mayfair), £16/£10/£7, book ahead, 6pm-7.15pm
SOMALI WEEK: Somali Week Festival, which celebrates the Somali diaspora in the UK, Europe and the US, launches tonight. Witness a conversation about global change and how it affects the Somali diaspora, with speakers including new Islington Mayor Cllr Rakhia Ismail— the UK's first Somali-born female Mayor — and founder of the Somali Museum of Edmonton (Canada), Naima Haile. British Library, £9/£4.50, book ahead, 6pm-8.30pm
PAINT LONDON: Try your hand at recreating the London skyline in watercolours at this Pop-Up Painting class. All materials are provided, and a professional artist is on hand to offer advice if required. Otherwise, get yourself a drink from the bar, and get stuck in. Granger (Ealing), £29.99, book ahead, 7.30pm-9.30pm
SETTLING THE SCORE: The work of two screen composers, David Arnold and Michael Giacchino, is celebrated in this evening of live music which pits them against each other. The composers themselves host the evening as the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra perform 18 of their classic scores from the likes of Casino Royale, Up, Sherlock and The Incredibles. Royal Albert Hall, £26.50-£71, book ahead, 7.30pm
COCOA BUTTER CLUB: Performers of colour unite for a cabaret show boasting burlesque, voguing, circus, drag and dance. The Cocoa Butter Club celebrates feminine attitude in all its glory. Omnibus (Clapham), £13/£11, book ahead, 9.15pm
Tube ponderings with Barry Heck
Our resident tube fancier dishes out daily thoughts on the London Underground.
Do you enjoy spotting the different seat moquettes across London transport? Then here's the book for you. Andrew Martin's new tome celebrates the many woven patterns that have accommodated our backsides over the years. Get a taster of the book here, and find a copy here. Follow Barry on @HeckTube.
Good cause of the day
On Saturday night, The Lion King musical celebrates its 20th anniversary with a gala night, in support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Royal Academy of Music. Attend a special red carpet performance, and receive a special souvenir programme. Find out more and book tickets.
What we're reading
- Several arrests made after spate of muggings on Hampstead Heath.
- Local historians want the Regent's Canal gasholders to be turned in to a museum.
- Plans for Hollywood-style film studios in London halted due to Brexit concerns.
- CCTV catches police posing for Abbey Road photos at 2.30am.
