All weekend
POLO IN THE PARK:
Chestertons Polo in the Park returns to Hurlingham Park near Fulham this weekend. World-class polo players, including George Spencer Churchill (grandson of Winston), George Meyrick and Juan Cruz Guevara go head to head, plus there are daytime parties from the likes of Mahiki. £10-£70, prebook, 5-7 June
LITERATURE FEST:
Go on a guided tour of ghostsigns, gen up on gin, learn to be a crime writer or test your mettle at a Game of Thrones pub quiz at this year’s Stoke Newington Literary Festival. Various prices, prebook, 5-7 June
NORDICANA:
Nordicana festival is a celebration of Nordic TV and all things Scandinavian, taking place at the Troxy in Limehouse. Expect high profile names of Nordic TV including Sofie Gråbøl (The Killing), Sofia Helin (The Bridge), Søren Malling (Borgen, The Killing) and many more. See full progamme and book tickets. 6-7 June
ANTIQUE MAP FAIR:
40 of the leading national and international antiquarian map dealers and hundreds of visiting dealers, collectors, curators and map aficionados from all parts of the world descend on the Royal Geographical Society for the London Map Fair. Free, 6-7 June
JUST JIM DALE:
Comedy actor Jim Dale, best known appearing in Carry On films, brings a new show of songs and anecdotes to the Vaudeville Theatre in Charing Cross. £10-£58, 6-7 June
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GRAFFITI WORKSHOP:
Head to London West Bank Gallery to learn the art of can-control, shading, fades, outlines and more, from a graffiti artist extraordinaire. Ticket includes one can of spray paint. £25, Saturday 1pm/Sunday 11am
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LAMB FESTIVAL:
All Saints Church in Edmonton holds The Lamb Festival, celebrating the lives of literary siblings Charles and Mary Lamb, best known for their children's book, Tales from Shakespeare. Throughout the week, activities include illustrated talks, concerts and recitals, and guided walks. 6-12 June
FESTIVAL OF LOVE:
Southbank Centre's Festival of Love begins for the summer this weekend. Choose from workshops, talks and performances. See full programme. 6 June-31 August
LONDON ILLUSTRATIONS:
Visit London Transport Museum this weekend and in addition to an experience full of trains, tubes, buses, social history, design and fun for all the family, enjoy the new Prize for Illustration exhibition of 100 original London Places and Spaces posters. Admission: young people under 17 free, adults £16 with unlimited return admission for 12 months. Open 10am-6pm
SOUND AMONG SOUNDS:
Rich Mix hosts a weekend of performances and installations sparked by new opera, Folie a Deux with Emily Hall as part of Spitalfields Music Summer Festival. Weekend pass to experience it all £20, performance only £15, Saturday and Sunday
Saturday 6 June
DEAL OF THE DAY:
Save 28% on tickets to see London Philharmonic Choir perform Four Seasons and Mozart's Requiem in a candlelit Royal Albert Hall. The programme will be complemented by a selection from Handel’s Water Music Suites. £22-£35, 7.30pm
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ENORMOUS ELEPHANT RUN:
If you happen across Clapham Common this morning, prepared to be trampled by a herd of elephants. The Enormous Elephant Run takes places, raising money for the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. It's too late to register to take part, but why not turn up and support the runners, running 5k or 10k in elephant costumes? From 10.30am
YOGA FITNESS:
Start your weekend in a serene manner with this yoga fitness class, taking place in a secret secluded garden in Chiswick. £10, 11am
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GUIDE DOGS:
Guide Dogs Training School in Woodford Green has its Annual Fun Day withdog demonstrations, craft stalls, children's activities, BBQs, refreshments, tombola, raffles and a chance to meet some of the dogs and learn a bit more about what they do. £2 adults (children free), 11am-5pm
HERITAGE WALKING TOUR:
Tying in with the current Camper shoes exhibition, Design Museum leads a walking tour of London's oldest leather making district in SE1. £25, prebook, 11.15am
GIN FESTIVAL:
Hackney Drinks Market is London’s first ever market dedicated to booze, and today it's all about the gin. Held at Hackney Downs Studios, the event showcases the local small batch gins of London. Sample the spirit, create your own and even chew on meats cured in the stuff. 12pm-6pm
HAWAIIAN TIKI HUT:
The Urban Food Fest in Euro Car Parks on Shoreditch High Street takes on a Hawaiian theme, with food trucks and stalls serving up a tropical themed feast. There's also live music, perfect for hula dancing to. Free entry, 12pm-12am
VOTING DEBATE:
Kensington United Reform Church is the venue for a free, post-election debate on democracy. Many people struggled to decide who to vote for this election — should you go tactical, should you vote for policies... should you vote at all? Expert speakers include Darren Hughes, deputy chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society. Free, prebook, 2pm
SHERLOCK HOLMES GAME:
Take part in a Sherlock Holmes style team game. Race against the clock — and other teams — decoding messages to eliminate the characters one by one, to figure out which of 24 characters is being targeted by an assassin. £15-£60, 2pm
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KIDS' COMEDY:
Comedians like Luke Toulson, Keith Farnan, James Acaster and Sara Pascoe perform at Udderbelly Festival on Southbank, with a family audience (age 6+) in mind. £13, 4.15pm
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BOAT PARTY:
Head to Temple Pier to board a boat for a party on the river Thames. Dance and drink with London as your background. £15, 5.30pm
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BURLESQUE SPEAKEASY:
A shot of debauchery, a spritz of glitter and a nipple tassel or two: just a few of the ingredients that go into a House Of Burlesque Speakeasy at Sway Bar in Holborn. See some of London's finest burlesque performers in action, headed up by Miss Tempest Rose. £11, 6.30pm
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MIDDLE EASTERN BANQUET:
Lifestyle store Ruby & Norm is building a pop-up souk in Manor House Gardens to host a three course Middle Eastern banquet, replete with live music and entertainment. The event raises money for the Manor House Gardens Festival Fund. £35, prebook, 7pm-11.30pm
VIVALDI BY CANDLELIGHT:
Hear Vivaldi’s Four Seasons performed by candlelight in Southwark Cathedral, alongside a programme featuring Elgar, Ireland, Piazzolla and Tchaikovsky. £15-£24, 7.30pm
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ADVENTURES IN MONAHANLAND:
Renowned for his energetically witty clean material and hugs, Patrick Monahan is back at artsdepot in North Finchley with his brand new and utterly charming family stand up show. Expect plenty of playful audience interaction from the loveable Irish/Iranian Teesider. £12/£10, prebook, 7.30pm
STAND UP TRAGEDY:
Stand Up Tragedy is a live show and podcast where people get up on stage and do some tragedy: it's part cabaret, part variety show. Expect music, comedy, fiction, spoken word, true stories and more. £5/£7, prebook, 7.30pm
MAGIC COMEDY:
Why choose between magic and comedy when you can have both? Multitalented Pete Firman offers just that at Udderbelly on Southbank. £15.50, 7.45pm
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MALE VARIETY SHOW:
Head to the Clapham Grand for Forbidden Nights, an all-male variety show, featuring vocalists, aerial artists, pole performers and fire acts. Age 18+. £19.99, 7.45pm
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LIVE AT THE CHAPEL:
Irish comedian Jason Byrne headlines at Union Chapel in Islington tonight, joined by Edinburgh Comedy Award Nominee 2014 Liam Williams, Natasia Demetriou and Ellie White. £20, 7.45pm
LONDON DREAMTIME:
Storytelling experts London Dreamtime hold a night of fantastical storytelling and music inspired by modern-classic sci-fi films in a distopic future location somewhere in SE17. £5, prebook, 9pm
CAMDEN ROCKS:
At The Underworld in Camden, guest and resident DJs play the likes of Pixies, Metallica and Queens Of The Stone Age until 3am. £5, 11pm
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Sunday 7 June
DEAL OF THE DAY:
Save 52% on tickets to see Stomp at the Ambassadors Theatre. Expect rhythmic theatre, dance and comedy, using everything from bin lids to the kitchen sink. £22.50, various dates
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OPEN FARM SUNDAY:
Farms across the country open their doors to the public this weekend for Open Farm Sunday, giving an insight into how our food is grown and produced. Find your nearest venue.
PÉTANQUE:
The Londonaise International Pétanque Festival takes place at Barnard Park in Islington, and you’re invited to enter a team of three and see whether you can be crowned champions. There’s entertainment for spectators, including a food market and kids’ activities. £11, 9am
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GUIDED WALK:
Join a guided walk down Seven Sisters Road and up Holloway Road to discover where Jimi Hendrix burnt his first guitar, and where the Medellín Cartel did their banking. £9, prebook, 10.30am
NORDIC LONDON:
Shared City leads an exploration of Nordic London. Visit the Norwegian Church and the Finnish Church, and learn all about Nordic culture in London, why the churches are here and how they serve the communities. Join the community eating a typical Norwegian buffet lunch. £30, prebook, 1o.30am
FOOD MARKET:
Eat Me Drink Me is a new Ealing food market, taking place at Ealing Town Hall, with street food and produce traders selling their wares. There's also live music and a children's craft table. Free, 11am-4pm
MAD HATTER’S BRUNCH:
Christabel’s is hosting a Mad Hatter’s Brunch in an N1 location that will be revealed three days before the event. Bring a bottle and tuck into crispy bacon and maple syrup, scones, pancakes and chocolate brownies. £30, 12pm
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LADIES' CRICKET:
Head to Hampstead Cricket Club for a day of fun with Charlotte Edwards and the England Women's Cricket Team. There's a girls' taster session at midday, plus a barbecue and 1920s jazz music. From 12pm
GARDENS FESTIVAL:
Horniman Museum hosts a day of family events inspired by the Horniman Gardens. Listen to live performances by the London Vegetable Orchestra and African Tree, go on a tour of the Horniman Gardens sundials, enjoy some garden storytelling and learn how to create a seed bomb, a carrot recorder or how to make your own miniature garden. Free, just turn up, 12pm-4pm
ROOFTOP PARTY:
Taste of Spain comes to the Prince of Wales in Brixton for an afternoon with DJs playing disco, funk and soul music. Fingers crossed that the weather reflects that of Spain. £5, 2pm
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MAKE UP CLASS:
Make your own make-up at Midas Touch in Southwark. At the end of this introductory class, you'll take home five products you've made yourself. £29, 2pm
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MEDIEVAL BANQUET:
Wolf Hall's got nothing on this medieval banquet at St Katharine Docks. Each ticket includes a four-course medieval banquet with prosecco for two to share, plus unlimited ale, wine and juice. A court of knights, troubadours, contortionists, magicians, jugglers, minstrels and medieval tumblers will entertain you as you dine. £79, 5pm
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LIVE MUSIC:
Head to the Bussey Building in Peckham for a concert by musicians Sharon Zachariah (vocals) and Ben Zachariah (piano). They play songs they've written themselves, as well as live re-arrangements of other people's songs. Their music is influenced by jazz, classical and rhythm & blues greats. Free, just turn up, 6pm
COMEDY:
Head to COGArtspace in Haggerston for a comedy night featuring The Free Association Players, improv group Do Not Adjust Your Stage and comedian Ralf Little. £8, prebook, 6pm
ITALIAN FILM:
The House Of Peroni in Brick Lane brings the best of Italian culture to London. Enjoy an aperitivo dish prepared by an artisan baker, while watching Io Sono L'Amore, a tragic love story set in Milan at the turn of the century. £22, 6pm
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