Looking for something fun to do today? Something eye-opening to watch tonight? Our guide on things to do this week in London is personally curated, ensuring there's always a diverse range of events for you to choose from. Get stuck in!
All week
LEGACY WEEK: The V&A South Kensington's Legacy Week is a programme of free talks and guided tours exploring the stories behind objects given in wills. Programme highlights include Mariam Rosser-Owen on Agatha Christie's Syrian chest, and Dr Jenny Gaschke on the Constable bequest, revealing how impressive items have ended up in museum collections. FREE, 12-16 October 2026
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: Disney's High School Musical cheerleads its way into the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre from Monday, marking 20 years since the film first introduced us to Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High. 12 October 2026-3 January 2027
OKTOBERFEST: Don your lederhosen and raise a stein: Oktoberfest is going strong in London this week. The beery German festival has taken root at several venues around the capital, offering bratwurst, oompah bands and vast quantities of beer, at venues from King's Cross to Clapham. Our Oktoberfest guide has everything you need to know.
KYOTOGRAPHIE: The work of two established photographers, Kikuji Kawada and Ai Iwane, are shown together at Japan House London in an exhibition of prints and large immersive projections. This week is your last chance to see it. FREE, until 18 October 2026
ANISH KAPOOR: Mirror sculptures, Vantablack-coated objects, seemingly depthless voids and recent visceral paintings and sculptures are all part of Anish Kapoor's Hayward Gallery exhibition, which closes this weekend. Until 18 October 2026
FRIEZE SCULPTURE TRAIL: A reminder that Frieze Sculpture Trail — a completely free open-air art display alongside the altogether spendier Frieze Art Fair — is still ongoing, and this year's is the best one yet. Take an autumn stroll through Regent's Park seeking out treats including a palm tree made from reclaimed tyre rubber, and a colourful warrior figure. FREE, until 1 November 2026
BOOK OF THE WEEK: As we're well into October now, why not treat yourself to a copy of Ghost Month, Simon Wroe's new novel, in which the spirits of the dead return to London every year. The author's also shared five of his favourite London literary ghosts with us.
Today's events: Monday 12 October
HARD TRUTH: Stephen Sackur and Carole Cadwalladr join forces at the Conduit in Covent Garden for a discussion on investigative journalism and its role in holding powerful institutions to account. The conversation covers landmark investigations from the Pentagon Papers and Alexei Navalny's anti-corruption work to Cadwalladr's reporting on Cambridge Analytica. 6.30pm-7.45pm
ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH: Head to Daunt Books Marylebone to hear author Alexander McCall Smith discussing three of his new novels: The Isle of Good Karma, The Prime of Bertie Pollock and The Big Cats Dance Party. 7pm-8pm
BRAZILIAN MASTERS: Grammy-winning Brazilian vocal group Boca Livre revisits composer Edu Lobo's catalogue at the Jazz Cafe in Camden, with Lobo himself joining as a special guest. Expect intricate arrangements and harmonies in a rare meeting of two generations of Brazilian music. 7pm-10.30pm
MAGIC AT THE GATEHOUSE: An evening of close-up wonder comes to Upstairs at the Gatehouse in Highgate, with Paul Draper, Wayne Trice and John Lenahan presenting an intimate show designed to put the audience at the heart of the magic. 7.30pm
NEW MUSICAL THEATRE: The Other Palace stages the Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize 2026, showcasing 12 new songs from emerging UK musical theatre writers. Hosted by Alex Young and performed by West End stars, the gala celebrates the next generation of British musicals. 7.30pm
CASTLES AROUND LONDON: Footprints of London's virtual tour explores 12 medieval castles within roughly an hour of the capital, from Windsor Castle's military history to the stories of Berkhamsted, Cooling and Hadleigh castles. 8pm-9pm
RAGE AGAINST THE TAGINE: London-based jazz fusion ensemble Rage Against the Tagine brings contemporary jazz together with North African, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean traditions at Jamboree in King's Cross. Expect deep grooves, electric textures and hypnotic melodies, performed by saxophonist Joe Browne, guitarist Christian Miller, bassist Marcus Penrose and drummer Adam Teixeira. 8.30pm
Today's events: Tuesday 13 October
MEDIEVAL LONDON: Delve into the capital's distant past at The London Archives in Clerkenwell with a guided look at their Spotlight on Medieval London display. The session features an introductory talk from the archives team followed by a Q&A and a chance to browse rare items, including two illuminated manuscripts and watercolours of City aldermen dating from 1450. FREE, 5pm
SCIENCE OF PUPPETRY: Gresham College hosts free talk The Science of Puppetry – How Real Can They Be? at Barnard's Inn Hall in Holborn. Renowned puppet builder Steve Allen joins Professor Robin May to explore the engineering behind bringing characters to life, and why humans form such powerful emotional bonds with these figures. FREE, 6pm
LONDON SEWERS: The British Academy in St James's hosts a free discussion on London's underground systems, from the Great Stink and Bazalgette's engineering to fatbergs, sewage pollution and the new 'super sewer'. Historian Professor Rosemary Ashton FBA, Dr Paul Dobraszczyk and pollution activist Professor Peter Hammond take part, and you can also explore Crossness Pumping Station in an immersive exhibition. FREE, 6pm-8.30pm
TALAWA: To mark their 40th anniversary, theatre company Talawa is painting the town — or at least Hackney Empire — Black, with excerpts from some of their most sensational works, including The Black Jacobins, Run it Back, Play On! and Fragments of Us. Special guests include Josette Bushell-Mingo and Tameka Empson. 7pm
TRUMP AND HENRY VIII: Historian and political commentator Jackson van Uden compares Donald Trump with Henry VIII in a Pints of Knowledge talk at the Blues Kitchen Brixton. The discussion considers their public image, advisers, marriages, political power and reputations as tyrannical figures, followed by an audience Q&A. 7pm-8.30pm
THE BEATLES: Musician Gary Kemp and filmmaker Simon Halfon explore the world surrounding the Beatles at the height of their fame, in conversation with historian Tom Holland at Conway Hall. The discussion draws on their book 1967: The World of Brian Epstein and The Beatles, including Epstein's influence and the creative explosion of the 1960s. 7pm-8.30pm
BIG FAT QUIZBOX: Test your knowledge at Big Fat Quizbox at BOXPARK Wembley, with DJ Reno hosting an evening of trivia, banter and prizes. Questions range from fashion and travel to current affairs and music, with rewards that could include cash or a seahorse-shaped bubble gun. 7pm-9pm
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Hollywood glamour and Hitchockian horror with Chromatica Orchestra
A live orchestra brings to life music of the silver screen this Wednesday – and our readers can get tickets for just £10! On 14 October, Chromatica Orchestra performs its first concert under the baton of new Principal Conductor Oliver Cope.
Surface and Shadow unveils the surprising stories of three fascinating pieces of music, including one of the most iconic film soundtracks of all time: Bernard Herrmann’s Psycho. Even if you’re no horror buff, this masterful, foreboding-laden score will be instantly recognisable – and the thrill of experiencing of its shrieking violins live cannot be overstated.
In need of a palate-cleanser after all that psychological tension? Erich Korngold’s Violin Concerto should do the trick! This sumptuous piece draws on themes from several of Korngold’s film scores, transforming music written for Hollywood into a dazzling concert work.
The tone of the evening then shifts once more, as Chromatica Orchestra finish up with Dmitri Shostakovich Symphony No 9 – a Soviet satire that’s darker (and funnier) than its jaunty marches might initially suggest.
Intrigued? Get your tickets here – our readers can nab them for £10 with the code LONDONIST.
Today's events: Wednesday 14 October
BLOODY MARY(S): Mary Poppins, Marie Lloyd, Mary Queen of Scots, Mary Shelley and Mary Berry all make an appearance in Lottie Walker's one-person tribute to 60 Marys through time. Bloody Mary(s) is on for three nights at OSO Arts Centre in Barnes. 14-16 October 2026
TAP DANCE: After a sold-out run in 2024, tap dance show Stories returns to the Peacock Theatre, telling of a young, successful actor who is under the oppressive influence of his director behind the scenes. 14-31 October 2026
LIGHT AND MAGIC: Tate Britain celebrates the birth of art photography in Light and Magic, an exhibition about pictorialism, the first international art photography movement, developed across the world from the 1880s to the 1960s. 14 October 2026-21 February 2027
SNAP HAPPY: The latest exhibition at the Photographers' Gallery, Snap Happy! looks at the history of children as photographers — from post-war camera clubs and school projects to magazines, manuals, toys and family snapshots. View photographs and archival material showing how photography became an everyday pastime for younger generations. 14 October 2026-21 February 2027
WALLACE & GROMIT: Lightroom in King's Cross launches Larger Than Life, an immersive 50‑minute experience from Aardman that projects Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Morph and archival material across Lightroom's four 11‑metre walls and floor. From 14 October 2026
GREAT FIRE OF WESTMINSTER: Footprints of London leads a walking tour themed on Westminster's dramatic 1834 fire, when the medieval Houses of Parliament burnt down. Hear how the blaze was fought, how statesmen and the press reacted, and the art it inspired — including work by Turner. 6pm-7.45pm
CHRISTINE CHOY: Bertha DocHouse presents a double bill of short films by pioneering Asian American filmmaker Christine Choy. From Spikes to Spindles explores New York's Chinatown, while Bittersweet Survival: Southeast Asian Refugees in America examines refugee resettlement in the US after the Vietnam War. 6.30pm
CHEESE LATES: Channel 4's Sunday Brunch cheese expert Morgan McGlynn Carr leads a tasting at Fortnum & Mason's Cheese Counter. The evening offers a chance to explore cheese with one of the world's respected authorities, with an optional signed book ticket available. 8pm
LITERARY SALON: Annie Macmanus hosts an evening with Louise Kennedy and Mary Costello at the London Irish Centre, celebrating their latest novels with readings and conversation. Sean-nós singer-songwriter Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin provides the music, with a book signing afterwards. 8pm
Today's events: Thursday 15 October
FLOWERS IN THE FIELDS: Trafalgar Square's Georgian church St Martin-in-the-Fields gets a floral makeover for festival Flowers in the Fields. Blooming lovely installations go on display all over the building, and floral demonstrations take place all weekend. 15-17 October 2026
FAIR PLAY: A brand new event, Fair Play Art Fair launches at One Marylebone, bringing together 70 independent artists, each chosen by a selection committee, to showcase and sell their work. Unusually for an art fair, there's no upfront booth fee for the artists, making it more accessible from creatives from all backgrounds (hence the event's name). Look out for a programme of artist-led supper clubs, DJ nights and interactive experiences alongside the contemporary art. 15-18 October 2026
WIMBLEDON BOOKFEST: Elif Shafak, Celia Imrie, Robert Harris, Mary Beard and Sebastian Barry are among the speakers at this year's Wimbledon BookFest, which takes place at venues around central Wimbledon. It kicks off with three opening events today, including poet, novelist and activist Sir Ben Okri discussing his new novel. 15-25 October 2026
THE PIANIST: A new stage adaptation of Wladyslaw Szpilman's memoir The Pianist — which was made into a major motion picture in 2002 — opens at Park Theatre. The production features a cast of actor‑musicians bringing the music and atmosphere of pre‑war Warsaw to the stage. 15 October-28 November 2026
SHONIBARE AND GAINSBOROUGH: Yinka Shonibare's 1998 work 'Mr. and Mrs Andrews without their Heads' is displayed alongside Thomas Gainsborough's original 'Mr and Mrs Andrews' at the National Gallery, allowing visitors to compare one of Britain's most celebrated works and its reimagining, side by side. FREE, 15 October 2026-7 February 2027
DA POETRY JAM: Spoken word, rhythm and raw emotion take over Soul Mama Islington for Da Poetry Jam, an evening centred on love in all its forms, from the tender to the turbulent. The poetry event also offers a chance to enjoy the venue's African, Caribbean and South American cuisine. 7.30pm
SIP & STITCH: Try embroidery at Sip & Stitch London at the London Art Bar in Holborn, creating an embroidered hoop piece or bringing along clothes to upcycle. All art supplies and step-by-step guidance are included, along with a glass of prosecco (non-alcoholic alternatives available). 7pm-9.30pm
JOHN AND PAUL: Theatre Royal Stratford East stages The Ballad of John and Paul, tracing Lennon and McCartney from their early songwriting to global fame, rivalry and musical legacy. Live musicians and a set list including A Hard Day's Night and Let It Be accompany the story. 7.30pm
Today's events: Friday 16 October
LOVE NEVER DIES: Phantom of the Opera sequel Love Never Dies is performed in concert at the London Palladium, starring cast members including Jamie Muscato, Celinde Schoenmaker and George Blagden in a show which reunites the masked Phantom with his only true love and musical protégée. 16-18 October 2026
SOMALI FESTIVAL: Kayd Somali Arts Week returns to Oxford House in Bethnal Green exploring how art and creative expression have shaped Somali ideas of home across time and place. The programme includes storytelling, performance, poetry, comedy, film and creative workshops, with themes of belonging, movement and heritage. 16-25 October 2026
HALLOWEEN AT KEW: We've compiled a guide to London's Halloween events, but worth a specific mention is Halloween at Kew. Back for a third year, and by the same team as the magnificent annual Christmas at Kew, it's a spooky light trail through the gardens after dark, with fire gardens, glowing pumpkins and an illuminated haunted wood. Pick between daylight, twilight and moonlight sessions. 16 October-1 November 2026
ST GILES WALK: Can a whole district of London be redeemed? Robert Kingham from Pagan London leads a circular walking tour around St Giles, a neighbourhood that has seen much darkness and suffering over the centuries. The same Palette of Redemption walk happens fours times today, with proceeds going to the charity Change For Good. 10am, 11.15am, 1pm and 2.15pm
WATER VOLES: Thames21, Citizen Zoo, Ealing Wildlife Group and Ealing Council lead a free guided walk along Costons Brook from Greenford, exploring the habitat and ecology of water voles and the potential to bring them back to the River Brent. The walk launches a new Brent Catchment recovery initiative and includes advice on getting involved. FREE, 10.30am-1.30pm
DRAG TALENT SHOW: 10 artists compete in The Next Drag Superstar at Queen of Hoxton, with talents ranging from live vocals, comedy and dance to lip-sync, circus, magic and performance art. Points are up for grabs as the contestants vie to stand out and progress through the competition. 7pm-10.30pm
CERN: Particle physicist and CERN Director-General Mark Thomson explores the research facility's past, present and future in a Discourse at the Royal Institution. He discusses CERN's role in recreating conditions shortly after the Big Bang, the current understanding of particle physics and the questions still awaiting answers. The talk is also livestreamed. 7.20pm-8.45pm
ALAN MENKEN: The BBC Singers and Chief Conductor Owain Park explore the songs of Academy Award- and Grammy Award-winning composer Alan Menken at Barbican. Hear music from The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Little Shop of Horrors and the rarely performed King David. 7.30pm
LONDON BRASS: London Brass celebrates 40 years at Kings Place in King's Cross with a programme of original works and inventive arrangements. Hear music by eight-time Grammy Award-winning composer Vince Mendoza, Dani Howard and the ensemble's own Richard Bissill, alongside fresh takes on familiar sounds. 7.30pm
Today's events: Saturday 17 October
MINISTRY OF SOUND GAMES: Legendary nightclub Ministry of Sound turns into a gym for the day, for Ministry of Sound Games. The music-led fitness competition pairs live DJs and nightclub production with five workout zones — warm-up, Wattbike cardio, Concept2-powered functional fitness and finisher, plus stamina work — and a recovery and after-party. 8am/12pm
MAKE AND MEND: Muswell Hill Creatives' Make and Mend Festival brings hands-on workshops and a makers' market to Hornsey Town Hall. Sessions include sashiko embroidery, linocut and fabric printing, paper lampshade design, candle-making and family zine-making session — all led by local businesses and creatives. 11am-5pm
MAGIC SWEET JAR: An encounter with a mysterious jar whisks Louisa away to Sweetland — a world of lemonade seas, toffee valleys and peppermint mountains, which is threatened by the wicked Sugar King. Family show The Magic Sweet Jar is part of the ongoing Lambeth Fringe, and it's on at Vauxhall City Farm. 12pm
MARY'S DRESS: Keats House in Hampstead presents A Conversation with Mary's Dress, featuring an interactive recreation of an 18th century Georgian dress. Costume designer and author Dr Lindsey Holmes discusses the life of Mary Graham — AKA the Honourable Mrs Graham — and the garment's construction. 2pm-4pm
ANIMAL QUEENDOM: Science journalist Catherine Blackledge explores fierce female animals at the Royal Institution, from murderous mammals and record-breaking birds to spectacular snakes and self-cloning insects. Aimed at children aged 7-13, though audiences of all ages are welcome, with copies of The Animal Queendom available after the event. 2.30pm-3.45pm
BLINKING BUZZARDS: The UK Buster Keaton Society holds its quarterly meeting at the Cinema Museum, dedicated to the silent comedian. This final meeting of the year is a request session, with screenings chosen by Society members. 4pm-7pm
ALL-DAY INDIE: Non-stop indie anthems, DJs, confetti and immersive visuals come to Boxpark Wembley for the AllDay Indie Indoor Festival. Expect street food, cocktails and a crowd reliving the glory days of indie mayhem. 5pm-11pm
CARNIVAL 60 FINALE: The Carnival 60 series of events, marking six decades of Notting Hill Carnival, comes to a close today. Dexter Khan, a Notting Hill Carnival pioneer and founder of Cocoyea London, talks about Carnival history, mas on the road, and the event's future, at the Listening Lounge. 6pm
ALTERED IMAGES: Not the Scottish band, but Altered Images Fest Vol. VII, a night of experimental film, sound, performance and electronic music, fizzing away in a continuously evolving environment inside Brixton's Club Cheek. Acts include Broken English Club, Alienata and José Macabra. 8pm
Today's events: Sunday 18 October
CLASSICAL COFFEE MORNING: Start your Sunday at the Royal Albert Hall, where the Classical Coffee Morning has classical guitarist Eva Victoria Schockmel performing in the Elgar Room. A hot drink and pastry is included in your ticket. 11am
VINTAGE FASHION FAIR: More than 100 dealers from across the UK and further afield bring rare vintage and antique clothing, jewellery and textiles to Kensington Town Hall. Frock Me! Vintage Fashion Fair spans three floors, with pieces ranging from Victorian-era finds to pre-loved designer labels including Ossie Clark, Bill Gibb and Biba. 11am-5.30pm
BLACK LITERATURE FESTIVAL: Enfield Black Literature Festival brings 13 published authors, guest speakers, and workshops for budding writers to Dugdale Arts Centre. There are also bookstalls, a blind book swap, a Windrush Exhibition and Caribbean cuisine, with author panels covering heritage, identity, wellbeing and more. 1pm-7pm
ONE, TWO, THREE: One of Billy Wilder's lesser-known films, One, Two, Three is the matinee screening at the Nickel Cinema this afternoon. It stars James Cagney as a Coca-Cola executive stationed in West Berlin, who's charged with looking after his boss' daughter. 2pm
EMMELINE PANKHURST: Actress Liz Grand brings the story of the influential suffragette to life in this one-woman show at Upstairs at the Gatehouse (Highgate). The play explores Pankhurst's fight for women's right to vote, including the imprisonments, hunger strikes and direct action that shaped the campaign. 4pm
DIWALI DINNER AND DANCE: Celebrate Diwali at Blackheath Halls with Bharatanatyam and Indian classical dance from Natyasri Dance Company. The evening also includes a meal from local restaurant Everest Inn. Find other Diwali events and celebrations in London this year. 6pm
MADDIE MORRIS: Folk singer and BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner Maddie Morris brings traditional song into conversation with contemporary issues at Ye Olde Rose & Crown in Walthamstow. Their set offers new perspectives on the world we live in. 7.30pm
HORROR FOR A CAUSE: The Cinema Museum screens cult horror film The Return of the Living Dead (1985) in an evening supporting efforts to save the museum. Refreshments are available in the café/bar. 7.30pm
