All week
THE FEMALE GAZE: It's ladies first at this exhibition, which features 70 fierce portraits shot by brilliant photographers, who happen to be women, happily. Getty Images Gallery, free, just turn up, until 14 March
VISIONS OF ZAMBIA: Tim Benson isn’t just any old artist, he’s decided to use his skills with a paintbrush for social good. These portraits are a result of his work with charities and NGOs around the world to bring the stories of the people he meets to life. Mall Galleries, free, just turn up, until 17 March
BURGERDICT GIVEAWAY: Thank god for restaurant anniversaries keeping us with a steady supply of free food. The Rail House Cafe is celebrating its first birthday by giving away 100 free Burgerdict burgers. Arrive early to be in with a chance of nabbing one of the 20 first burgers of the day this week. All together now: hip hip hurray! Rail House Cafe, Victoria, free, just turn up, from 8am, 12-16 March
DECONSTRUCTING LONDON: Investigative journalist George Turner has turned his hand to photography to present a pretty bleak picture of a pretty bleak subject: London's housing crisis. The Camera Club, free, just turn up, 5-16 March
CZECHIA NOW!: Czechia Now! delves into the fashion of the Czech Republic via film, photographs and ethnographic travel recordings gathered from exhibitions around Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia. Czech Centre London, Kensington, free, just turn up, until 18 March
Monday 12 March
TIMINOLOGY BOOK LAUNCH: Instead of letting a near fatal skiing accident destroy his life, Tim Leach changed his outlook and wrote a book about the process. Hear him chat about it today, a fitting start to Brain Awareness Week. Waterstones, Clapham Junction, free, just turn up, 7pm-9pm
ALT BRANDING: Hear from entrepreneurial women who have carved a successful niche for themselves in the fashion and art industries. There will be free booze for the early birds. The Crown Tavern, Clerkenwell, free, just turn up, 8pm-11pm
Tuesday 13 March
GLITTERBOX TAKEOVER: Prepare to want to party after you've seen this exhibition of never-before-seen photography snapped at Glitterbox club nights from the last five years. Jealous East, Shoreditch, free, just turn up, 11am-7pm, until 18 March
BURGER BILLBOARD: What's better than free burgers? A whole billboard made of burgers, that's what. This time you can tuck in courtesy of Deliveroo and there will be chicken and veggie options available. Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, free, just turn up, noon-7pm
DEEDS NOT WORDS: At this rate, it'll be another 50 years until Britain has closed its gender pay gap. Why the snail's pace? And why, in 2015, did 11 per cent of working women lose their jobs through pregnancy discrimination? Tough questions tackled by two tough ladies tonight — Helen Pankhurst and Professor Lynn Abrams hold the floor for this feminist debate. IHR Wolfson Conference Suite, Senate House, free, just turn up, 6pm-8.30pm
EDWARDIAN ARCHITECTURE: Give yourself a break from the glass and steel structures of modern-day London and cast your mind back to a time of traditional thatched cottages at this short talk on architecture and the Edwardian era. Barnard's Inn, Holborn, free, just turn up, 6pm-7pm
EASTER EGG 3D PRINTING PARTY: This usually member's only co-working space is opening its doors to London's tech heads today for a 3D printing and pizza party, with golden tickets thrown in for good measure. Plexal, The Press Centre, Here East, Stratford, free, just turn up, 6pm-9pm
NAUGHTY NIPPLE TASSEL MAKING: Why spend your spare time decorating teapots when you could be making nipple tassels? There will be glitter, drinks and lots of teenage-style giggling. Drink Shop & Do, King's Cross, free, just turn up, 6pm-midnight
Wednesday 14 March
MIDDLESEX STEM FESTIVAL: Make sure you're doing something geeky for British Science Week, like feeding Venus flytraps, playing Super Mario, or engaging in "semi-automated human-mediated semantic knowledge extraction to help fight against crime". Do all three at Middlesex Stem Festival. Middlesex University, Hendon, free, just turn up, 5pm-7pm
NIGHT AT THE VET COLLEGE: Got love for cats? Learn how to look after your kitty from trained vets, nurses and bioscientists at this late night vet surgery. The Royal Veterinary College, Camden, free, book ahead, 5.30pm-10pm
WOMEN IN ART FAIR: Despite there being tonnes of female art graduates, our galleries are full of men. WIAF is a new art fair hoping to redress this gender imbalance and we're all for it. Gallery Elena Shchukina, Mayfair, free, just turn up, 6pm-8.30pm
MIDTOWN BIG IDEAS EXCHANGE: The fifth in this series of stimulating debates explores the divisive topic: London as a place to live. We reckon the comp drinks should only be served once the housing crisis is solved. Wallspace Clerkenwell, free, book ahead, 6.30pm-9pm
LONDON DRINKER BEER & CIDER FESTIVAL: Sadly, this is the last ever Drinker Festival but happily, it's the perfect place to drown your sorrows. Expect 150 real ales (all from London breweries) as well as imported beers ciders and perries, English wine and mead. Plus, a Tombola, charity book sale and pub quiz. Camden Centre, King's Cross, £4, various times, until 16 March
DYSPLA INTERNATIONAL MOVING IMAGE FESTIVAL: Dyslexic filmmakers have been hard at work creating this trippy-sounding installation, in which their films are played simultaneously, "projected onto smoke" which the audience listens to through a radio transmitter. The Crypt Gallery, £5, book ahead, various times, 14-18 March
Thursday 15 March
RISE UP WOMEN! Rise Up Women! by Diane Atkinson celebrates the women that campaigned tirelessly for the vote. Hear the author reflect on their stories and struggles at this talk. The National Archives, £4-£5, book ahead, 2pm-3pm
POPLAR CLOTHES SWAP: It's pretty simple really, just ditch the clothes you don't wear for the ones you will. Bring up to ten (clean, quality) items and cash for the pop-up vegan cafe. The Cabin, Poplar, £2 on the door, just turn up, from 5.30pm
K WEST LIVE: This trendy hotel is ditching the lame piano lobby music for something with a little more edge. Every third Thursday you can see three live music acts, followed by DJ sets. At the opening night, Portobello Brewing Company is giving away free cans of London Pilsner to the first 100 guests. K West Hotel & Spa, Shepherds Bush, free, just turn up, 7pm-1am
CHINA IN CONTEXT BOOK FAIR: Leaf through more than 1000 titles curated by Cypress Books at the China in Context book fair. China Exchange, 32a Gerrard Street, free, just turn up, noon-8pm, 15-18 March
Friday 16 March
FAMILY RECORDS: Wish you could blitz through your family history like they do on the Who Do You Think You Are? Discover alternative ways to trace your past at this talk. The National Archives, £4-£5, book ahead, 2pm-3pm
GOT THE BLUES: Get those toes tapping to the likes of Bessie Smith, Cleo Brown, Billie Holiday with a pinch of Louis Armstrong, as performed by the talented Alice Phelps. Gallery Cafe, Bethnal Green, £5, book ahead, 7.30pm-10.30pm
TYPE LAUNCH PV: See rare and sought after work from bigwigs of the art world Harland Miller, David Shrigley, The Connor Brothers and Banksy, who create playful pictures overlaid with witty quips and deadpan delivery. Hang-Up Gallery, Stoke Newington, free, RSVP, 6pm-9pm tonight, until 6 May
RETURN OF THE PAST: Find out about the Postmodernist British Architecture of the 70s and 80s at this exhibition, which shines a light on its pioneers, Terry Farrell, CZWG, Jeremy Dixon, John Outram, and James Stirling. Sir John Soane's Museum, Lincoin's Inn Fields, free, just turn up, 10am-5pm, until 27 August
Saturday 17 March
EXPLORE ZOOLOGY: Have you exhausted the farm? Then bring your budding zoologists to this hands-on drop in session with the Zoology museum's educators. The Grant Museum of Zoology, Camden, free, just turn up, 1pm-4pm
ST PATRICK'S DAY AT POP: Take a trip to the emerald isle, courtesy of Pop Brixton, which is laying on a night of Ceilidh, traditional Irish dancing and face painting. Plus, all the Patricks out there can claim their free Guinness before 8pm. Pop Brixton, free, just turn up, 5pm-midnight
EVOLUTION AZ MAG LIVE: Want to see some badass BAME and LGBT+ musicians, poets and dancers? Head to this gender binary busting night hosted by AZ Magazine's very own, Tay. Lyric Hammersmith, £5, book ahead, 8.30pm-11.30pm
BARBICAN OPENFEST: The Barbican have a plethora of events over the weekend intended to liven up the Square Mile. God knows it needs it. Various venues, (mostly free) various prices, book ahead, 17-18 March
Sunday 18 March
STEAMING WEEKEND: Train geeks are in for a treat this Sunday. Head to this little known museum in south Tottenham and you'll be greeted by a fully restored 1888 Wood Bros Beam Engine in its original Victorian engine house, which is getting a full steaming to mark the museum's part in this year's European Year of Cultural Heritage. Markfield Beam Engine & Museum, South Tottenham, free, just turn up, 12:.30pm-1.15pm, 2pm-2.45pm, 3.30pm-4.15pm
SWAPAHOLICS UK: Can't make it to the Poplar clothes swap? Spring clean your wardrobe and head to Shoreditch Swapaholics instead. It's strictly fashion only (clothes, shoes, bags and accessories) and you can bring up to 20 items. Shoreditch Platform, £3, just turn up, 12.30pm-4pm
