Things To Do In London This Weekend: 11-12 April 2015

This weekend's Things To Do In London, sponsored by thinking bob.

All weekend

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Take part in a graffiti workshop at London West Bank Gallery

FLOWER MARKET: Head to the Garden Museum in Lambeth for an exhibition about the New Covent Garden Flower Market. Listen to excerpts of interviews about the market, what it's like for people working there, the connection to the old Covent Garden Market and the changes that are happening now. Included in Museum admission (£7.50 adults), until 11 May

DISGUSTING SONGS: Jay Foreman sings disgusting songs for revolting children at the Udderbelly (yep, it's back on the South Bank!). If you want a Londony taster of his work, try his every tube station song. £11, prebook, 11-12 April 4.15pm

CRAFTY FOX: Crafty Fox Market is back at the Bussey Building in Peckham, with different hand-picked traders exhibiting their work, plus creative workshops, DJs and a full bar. 11am-5pm, 11-12 April

BLOODY MARY: Pick up a grilled cheese toastie and bloody Mary for just £6.50 this weekend (normally £10) from Morty and Bob's at Netil Market, London Fields between 11am-4pm

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CRAFT FAIR: The Renegade Craft Fair comes to Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane, showcasing a selection of the finest independent makers from the UK and beyond. Take part in a weekend of shopping, participating in DIY workshops, and exploring installations and activities with some of the best indie makers around. Free, 11am-6pm, 11-12 April

GRAFFITI WORKSHOP: Become a street artist extraordinaire. Head to London West Bank gallery to learn the art of can-control and more in this graffiti workshop. £25, 11am/1pm, 11-12 April

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RAF ARCHIVE: The RAF Museum in Hendon is opening its archives for one weekend only to give the public access to archive items that tell the story of the RAF's humanitarian work. Free, prebook, 11am-3pm, 11-12 April

CIRCUS: Watch the Moscow State Circus in action at Shepherd's Bush Green. The show, Zhelaniy, is based on a Russian folklore about a flower with seven colours. Expect jugglers, roller skaters, acrobats and more. 2pm-5pm, 11-12 April

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PIZZA MAKING: Learn about the history of pizza from the experts at Mayfair Pizza Company, before drawing on their wisdom and expertise and having a go at making your own. Ticket includes a glass of prosecco. £25, 11 and 12 April

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THE WHOSICAL: Last chance to see two Doctor Who superfans battle the BBC in a bid to put on a Doctor Who musical. I Need a Doctor: The Whosical is at Leicester Square Theatre until Sunday 12 April. Tickets £11, Saturday and Sunday at 4pm

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Saturday 11 April

Join in a family workshop at the Fleming Collection

COOKERY CLASS: Love dumplings but struggle to make your own? We hear you. Learn to make the dumpling skin, two types of filling, plus secrets to crimping and how to cook them properly at this cookery class at Mama Wangs near Old Street. 16+.  £53, 11am

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DRAGON BOATS: Typhoon Dragon Boat Club, based near the Royal Albert Dock, has an open day for everyone, including complete beginners. Hear from their team, get kitted up and take part in a light training exercise on the water. Free, just turn up, 11am

HEART OF HACKNEY: Trace Hackney’s heritage from Saxon settlement to city borough, with its rich diversity forged by 400 years of immigration from all over Britain and various parts of the world, on this guided walk. Learn how Hackney got its name. £8, prebook, 11am

FAMILY WORKSHOPS: The Fleming Collection in Mayfair runs monthly family art workshops. Today's is inspired by Victoria Crowe’s print The Shortest Day, currently on show. Design and print an artwork fit for your walls at home. Free, just turn up, 12pm-2pm

VAISAKHI: Join in with Vaisakhi, the celebration of Sikh heritage, history and culture, at City Hall and More London. Expect food and drink, poetry, dance, live music, martial arts and more. Free, 12pm-5pm

WILDLIFE CLUB: Join the Victoria Park Rangers in a Pond Dipping session.  All equipment is provided, any under 10s need to be supervised by an adult.  Meet at the Hub building. To book, email [email protected] or 0207 364 4504. 10am-12.30pm

THE GOAT RACE: The Boat Race's caprine cousin, The Oxford and Cambridge Goat Race, takes place at Spitalfields City Farm to raise money for the upkeep of all residents of the farm. It sells out quickly! £10, prebook, 1pm-6pm

MCQUEEN PHOTOS: The Gallery at Foyles on Charing Cross Road is displaying previously unseen, backstage photographs from Alexander McQueen’s seminal show Dante. To celebrate this, photographer Kent Baker will be in conversation with curator Olly Walker and fashion editor and journalist Melanie Rickey for an hour-long conversation on McQueen, the Dante show, and the photos. £5, prebook, 4pm

THE BOAT RACE: It's an annual event, but this year is the first time that you can see the women's race on the same day as the men's. Join the crowds lining the four-and-a-quarter mile course between Mortlake and Putney to cheer them on. Free, just turn up (we recommend early as it gets very busy), Women's Boat Race starts at 4.50pm and Men's Boat Race at 5.50pm

HOOK SCREENING: Head to Leicester Square Theatre for a screening of 1991 film Hook, starring Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman and Julia Roberts. Part of Leicester Square Theatre's Princesses and Pirates Easter film programme. Includes popcorn and a soft drink. £7.50, 5pm

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COCKTAIL NIGHT: Choose from a range of signature cocktails in the luxurious surrounding of Mews of Mayfair. Price includes 2 cocktails. 18+ £10, prebook, from 6pm

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BURLESQUE SPEAKEASY: The underground Sway Bar in Holborn to see burlesque performers in action, headed up by Miss Tempest Rose. Expect debauchery, a spritz of glitter and a nipple tassle or two. Standard Saturday night, then. 18+. £11, 6.30pm

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DUOLOGUE SLAM: Enjoy a night of night of music, poetry and acting, with actors competing in pairs over three rounds of Shakespeare duologues, contemporary duologues and an improvisation round. At the Tom Allen Centre in Stratford. £5, 7pm

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COMEDY: Fast rising YouTube and TV stars, Mandem on the Wall (regulars on E4's Youngers) debut their very first live stage show at Hackney Empire. £10-£8, prebook, 7.30pm

ROCK SOHO: Up and coming rock bands play the Spice of Life in Soho — The Last of Us, Nambuca and A Blessing in Disguise make up the triple bill. Tickets £6, from 7.30pm

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FILM NIGHT: FEAST Film Nights presents a screening of  We Are The Best! at Portico Gallery in West Norwood. Three girls in 1980s Stock­holm decide to form a punk band — des­pite not hav­ing any instru­ments and being told by every­one that punk is dead. £5, just turn up, 7.30pm

YOUTH ORCHESTRA: The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain debuts Unsuk Chin’s new work Mannequin, alongside renditions of Bartók’s  Concerto for Orchestra, and Percy Grainger’s The Warriors at Royal Festival Hall on Southbank. £16, 7.30pm

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COMEDY: Gina Yashere is back in the UK to perform her show Laugh Riot at the O2 Academy Brixton, plus Lara Lee from The Voice and a DJ to make it a proper party. £20.81/£28.12, prebook, 8pm

QUEER VEGAN DISCO: Fat Gay Vegan hosts the monthly Queer Vegan Disco at Kabaret in Wood Green. Everyone is welcome to the event at the 100% vegan bar. £5/£3, RSVP on Facebook, 8pm-2am

BOAT PARTY: Board a boat at Westminster Pier and party as the boat roams up and down the Thames, before getting entry to Fire club at midnight. Includes a welcome drink on entry to the club. £20, 8pm

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Sunday 12 April

Food gets curiouser and curiouser at the Mad Hatter's brunch

VINTAGE FAIR: Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair is back at York Hall in Bethnal Green with a selection of hand-picked stalls packed with affordable vintage fashion, accessories and homewares. £3/£2, 10.30am-4.30pm

MAD HATTER'S BRUNCH: Christabel's is hosting a Mad Hatter's brunch in a secret N1 location (revealed three days before the event). Enjoy crispy bacon and maple syrup, scones, pancakes and chocolate brownies. BYOB. £25, 12pm

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ROAST DINNER: Mews of Mayfair is offering a three-course roast dinner in 18th century converted mews houses. Wash it down with bottomless cocktails, available for two hours from your arrival. £40, 1pm

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CITY HIGHLIGHTS GUIDED WALK: Andrew, a qualified City of London guide will be leading a stroll through the City. Starting from near St Pauls, find out about the fascinating history behind the City of London’s top sites. Meet at City Information Centre, EC4M 8BX. £7, 2pm

SIGN LANGUAGE: The Design Museum provides a British Sign Language Tour of the Designs of the Year exhibition for deaf and hard of hearing visitors and their companions. Free, prebook, 2pm

MAGIC: A family-friendly illusion show sounds like the perfect way to round off you and your kids' Easter break. After lunch, head to the Magic Cavern above the Curtain's Up Pub in Baron's Court for London's longest running magic and illusion show, suitable for ages 6-106. Tickets £10, 3pm

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CORNETTO TRILOGY: Smiths of Spitalfields is screening the Cornetto Trilogy of films (AKA Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz and World's End). Today is the turn of Shaun of the Dead. Watch it with a cocktail (£10) or a roast dinner (£20). 4pm

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SUNDAY SERVICE: Head to COG Arts Space in Haggerston for The Bishop's Sunday Service, a comedy improv show. There will be guest spots from some of London's best improvisers and jokes from resident act The Bishop. 18+. £8.50, prebook, 6pm

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CINEMA ITALIA: Italian film club Cinema Italia screens the cinema premiere of The Great European Disaster Movie, by Annalisa Piras at Genesis Cinema in Mile End. Followed by a Q&A with the Italian film director and executive producer Bill Emmot (former editor of The Economist). £8.50/£7, prebook, 6.30pm

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This weekend’s Things To Do In London This Weekend is sponsored by thinking bob.


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