This weekend's Things To Do In London, sponsored by thinking bob.
All weekend
ZOMBIE GAME:
This team games sees up to 12 people trapped in a room with a zombie chained to the wall. Somewhere in the room is a key to freedom, and you have to solve clues and puzzles against the clock…while the zombie is released foot by foot. Prebook, £28.00 - £30.53, various times Saturday and Sunday
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FRENCH MARKET:
Fountain Island on Church Street in Enfield has a three day French Market. Goods on offer including cooked meat such as ham and pastrami, breads and pastries, cakes, cheeses, clothing and others. 16-18 April, 9am-5pm
LAST CHANCE CIRCUS:
It’s the last weekend to catch the Moscow State Circus at Shepherd’s Bush Green before it moves on. The show, Zhelaniy, is based on a Russian folklore story, expressed in the form of jugglers, roller skaters and acrobats. £14, Saturday 3pm/6pm, Sunday 2pm/5pm
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WINE FESTIVAL:
The Wine Parlour in Brixton hosts four days of wine-centric activities, including wine tastings, a quiz and a pop-up restaurant. On Saturday, there's a panel discussion featuring Londonist Food & Drink Editor, Ben Norum. See individual events for price and booking info. 16-19 April
CERAMIC ART:
Ceramic Art London, a showcase for contemporary ceramic art, takes place at the Royal College of Art. 80 leading contemporary ceramic artists will be showcasing their work and offering it for sale. £12, prebook, 17-19 April
HARRY POTTER:
Wizard fans of all ages can join this walking tour of the London locations associated with Harry Potter, starting in Leicester Square and visiting locations such as Platform 9¾ and the spot Diagon Alley was based on. A valid Zone 1 Travelcard / Oyster card is required for part of the tour. £10, Saturday and Sunday,12pm
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MUSIC IN THE DARK:
French-Mexican acoustic guitar duo JP & Leonardo perform their unique sound, a fusion of Arabic, Spanish and Gypsy music, at Blackhorse Lane Studios. The performance takes place in complete darkness. £6.60-£9, prebook, Saturday 8pm/Sunday 5pm
KNITTING MEDLEY:
The University Women's Club in Mayfair runs a weekend of knitting (PDF), with workshops on different knitting techniques and tours. £95 a day, 2 days £175, prebook, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-5pm
GRAFFITI WORKSHOP:
There's another chance to take part in the London West Bank Graffiti Workshop this weekend at West Bank Gallery in Notting Hill. If you've ever fancied yourself as a street artist, head to this two-hour workshop covering several aspects of street art. £25, Saturday and Sunday, 11am/1pm
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Saturday 18 April
RECORD STORE DAY:
Today is Record Store Day, celebrating the UK’s independent record shops. Plenty of stores have events going on, including free performances from local musicians. Find your nearest store.
PANCAKE BRUNCH:
Head to Square Root Soda Works in Hackney for a BYO Vinyl Pancake Brunch. Bring your own vinyls to play on the record deck while you tuck into American-style pancakes topped with anything from blueberries and green-tea cream, to bacon and smoked salmon. We’re dropping just thinking about it. £10, prebook, 10am (repeated Sunday)
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SUBTERRANEA BRITANNICA:
The spring meeting of Subterranea Brittanica takes place at the Royal School of Mines in South Kensington. It consists of a programme of four talks, including a photographic exploration of Subterranean London by Nick Catford, Roger Thomas of English Heritage on Cold War Missile sites in the UK, David Hedges of the Durand Group on the tunnel war of the Western Front, and Rob Vernon on the challenges of working underground in the mining areas of Andalucia, in Southern Spain. £22, just turn up, 9.30am-5pm
ANIMAL CHARITIES FAIR:
The London Animal Charities Fair brings together over 25 local, national and international animal welfare organisations under one roof for a day of fun and fundraising. Help support the work taking place in London and beyond to protect and preserve our wildlife. Takes place at the Human Rights Action Centre in Shoreditch. Free, just turn up, 10.30am-4pm
CHEESE TOASTIE:
Sometimes it's the little things in life, like a cheese toastie, that can make your weekend. And if it's washed down by a Bloody Mary, all the better. Head to Netil Market in London Fields and head to Morty and Bobs to get this hangover friendly offering. £6.50, 11am-4pm
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SING VERDI:
Join Dulwich Choral Society (PDF) to rehearse and perform Verdi’s masterpiece Requiem in one day under the direction of Aidan Oliver, accompanied by piano and professional soloists. Takes place at St Barnabas in Dulwich Village. £20 for participants/£5 for audience members, 11am-4.30pm (informal concert at 5pm).
CHARITY WALK:
Mental health charity CoolTan Arts leads an I Have A Dream walk which include talks about the campaign to abolish the slave trade, civil rights, the state of the NHS, homelessness, and ends at the Aylesbury Estate with a talk about the current housing crisis. Free, donations, welcome, 11.45am-4pm
ELIZABETH I:
Professor of History Carole Levin gives a talk at St Pancras Old Church about the success of Elizabeth I's reign, despite her being a woman and not having a husband. £10, prebook, 6pm
COMEDY CLASH:
Team Jamaica faces off against West Africa in this comedy clash event at Indigo at The O2 in Greenwich. UK comedy stand up acts also perform. Followed by an afterparty hosted by Paparazzi Central. Age 14+. £28.90, 6pm
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CALIFORNICATION:
The Royal Academy on Piccadilly undergoes an American transformation for one night only — California, specifically. Burlington House is transformed into a Beverly Hills mansion with skaters, martinis, meditation and West Coast rock all under one roof. Skater and filmmaker Winstan Whitter talks about the emergence of skateboarding in California, while street artist Darren John creates a Venice Beach-inspired mural. Tickets £22, 6.30pm
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HOUSE OF BURLESQUE:
Head to Sway Bar in Holborn for the House of Burlesque Speakeasy, and see some of London's finest performers in action, headed up by Miss Tempest Rose. Age 18+. £11, 6.30pm
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CIRCUS NIGHT:
The Aeronaut in Acton offers the fun of a circus in a far more intimate location than the traditional big top. Expect jugglers, hula hoopers, dancers, contortionists, magicians and comedians. Age 18+. £8.75, from 6.30pm
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GEEK CONCERT:
London Gay Symphonic Winds performs a geek concert at St Sepulchre-Without-Newgate. Expect music from Games of Throne, Doctor Who, World of Warcraft, Star Trek and more.
£8, prebook, 7pm
VE DAY:
Join in a VE day themed charity party to mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day, featuring music from 1940s style vocal trio The Three Belles. Takes place at the Ukrainian Social Club in Holland Park. £22, prebook, 7pm-midnight
TOYAH WILCOX:
Toyah — yes TOYAH — performs an intimate gig alongside The Humans tonight at the 100 Club on Oxford Street. 18+. £12, 7pm
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FRIENDZONE:
Head to Kensington Roof Gardens for an evening of social skydiving — or speaking to strangers. If you're looking to meet new friends, this evening of games, giveaways, activities and icebreakers should do the trick — helped along by the free welcome cocktail. Age 21+. £15, 7pm
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BATTERSEA ARTS FUNDRAISER:
The Phoenix Fund, which is supporting the recovery of Battersea Arts Centre following the recent fire, holds a fundraiser at Southbank Centre. The line-up, spanning comedy, theatre, literature, music and cabaret, includes Stewart Lee. Tim Key, Bridget Christie and the BAC Beatbox Academy. £10-£100, prebook, 7.30pm
COMEDY:
Brendon Burns is so bored with the UK's live comedy circuit he's gigging in some unconventional venues. His London dates are at the Cereal Killer Cafe on Brick Lane. Fair enough. £11, prebook, 8pm
CASINO NIGHT:
Pick from a drink at the bar or a three course meal at the Grosvenor Victoria Casino in Marble Arch, followed by an hour of blackjack and roulette tuition, plus a£5 free table bet and a £5 gaming slots voucher. 18+. £15-£30, 8pm
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BOAT SHOW COMEDY:
HMS President is the current venue for Boat Show Comedy. Nathan Caton, Pete Johansson, Nish Kumar and MC Joe Lycett all strut their stuff, followed by a party on the boat. Age 21+. £16, 8pm
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GLADIATOR AT IMAX:
Ever been to the BFI IMAX at Waterloo? Here’s your chance: Ridley Scott's action-packed epic Gladiator, starring Russell Crowe, is being shown on the big screen. Special YPlan price, £6.39, 8.30pm
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Sunday 19 April
CHOCOLATE TOUR:
If you didn't get enough of the good stuff over Easter, take a chocolate-themed guided tour around Soho and Mayfair, stopping at locations such as Hotel Chocolat and Fortnum and Mason. Ticket includes seven chocolate tastings. £15, various times
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FINCHLEY AT WAR:
Join a guided walk starting at Henly’s Corner in Finchley, giving an insight into Finchley’s links to the First World War. See the street where the very first British soldier to die in this war grew up, a hall converted to use as a hospital for injured troops and more. £10, prebook, 10.30am
TOWPATH GATHERING:
The National Bargee Travellers Association holds a gathering at the Canalgate Entrance of Victoria Park. Spend a day with the boating community and learn about a different way of life. Free, just turn up, from 12pm
FAMILY DAY:
Head to Keats House in Hampstead for a family day with a theme of Spring. There will be weather poems, a chance to make your own feather decorations and a belated Easter egg hunt.
Free, just turn up, 1pm-4pm
MAD HATTER'S TEA PARTY:
Families: The Bedford Arms in Balham hosts Big Fish Little Fish's multi-sensory family rave. As well as the music and multi-sensory dancefloor with bubbles, free glowsticks, glitter cannons and parachute dance, there are two other floors of activities including a craft room, a play room and a reading corner with storybooks and beanbags and a film screening. £8 adults/£4.50 for walking children (pre-walkers go free), prebook, 2pm
CORNETTO TRILOGY:
Smiths in Spitalfields screens World's End, the final film in Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's so-called Cornetto Trilogy (an ice cream appears in each film...). Fill yourself up with a roast dinner before sitting down to watch the film. £20, from 2pm
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FILM SCREENING:
Foyles Film Club takes place on Charing Cross Road, screening Claude Sautet’s Classe Tous Risques, the 1960 French-Italian gangster movie starring Lino Ventura and Jean-Paul Belmondo that sees mobster Abel Davos (based on real-life Gestapo henchman Abel Danos) pull one last job before fleeing to Paris to rejoin his wife and children. Free, prebook, 2.30pm
PILLOW CINEMA:
There's a double bill of Pillow Cinema screenings available today, both at the former Shoreditch Underground station on Brick Lane. Chill out on a large beanbag and watch The Grand Budapest Hotel (6pm) or 10 Things I Hate About You (8.30pm). £20 per screening (for two people), from 6pm
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WIFI WARS:
Play retro games on your mobile phone thanks to some wifi in-browser wizardry. It's part of McNeil and Pamphilon's Go 8-Bit night at the Backyard Comedy Club in Bethnal Green and is a stupid amount of fun. £9.90, prebook, 6.30pm
CRIME TOUR:
The Great Crime Tour of London delves into the city's greatest crimes, misdemeanours, heists, and political conspiracy at the highest echelons of power. Starts at Hungerford Bridge. £10, prebook, 7pm
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STEAK AND CHIPS:
Bring your weekend to a close with a sharing portion of Chateaubriand steak (considered to be the most tender and flavourful cut), accompanied by béarnaise sauce and chips. At Parisian restaurant La Brasserie in Chelsea. Special YPlan price £29.40, seating on arrival from 7pm
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ACOUSTIC MUSIC:
Breathing Room at The Antelope in Tooting Broadway is an evening of acoustic music, with performances from Case Hardin, Whom By Fire, Karen Grace and Gabriel Mesh. £5, just turn up, 7.30pm
SHAKESPEARE'S SONNETS:
As part of Tea House Theatre's Shakespeare Festival, all 154 of the Bard's sonnets will be performed at the Vauxhall venue. £10, prebook, 7.30pm
TCHAIKOVSKY:
Catch a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Manfred Symphony, inspired by Lord Byron's poetry, at Royal Festival Hall on South Bank. Celebrated pianist and composer Vladimir Ashkenazy leads the concert. Age 7+. £12, 7.30pm
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This weekend’s Things To Do In London This Weekend is sponsored by thinking bob.
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