Looking for something fun to do today? Something eye-opening to watch tonight? Something delicious to eat tomorrow? Our guide to 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
BALLET SHOES: After a successful run at the National Theatre last year, Ballet Shoes is back over Christmas, retelling Noel Streatfeild’s beloved story of three sisters pursuing their individual passions. As charming for adults as it is for kids. 17 November-21 February
CROCODILE FEVER: Riotous dark comedy Crocodile Fever ends its London debut at the Arcola Theatre, transporting audiences to 1980s Ireland, where two very different sisters live together in a farmhouse. Until 22 November
HAMLET: The play's the thing, and Olivier Award-winner Hiran Abeysekera plays the titular character in Hamlet at the National Theatre's Lyttleton Theatre. Until 22 November
CLARKSTON: Heartstopper star Joe Locke makes his West End debut in Clarkston, a play about a man travelling west in search of renewal, who crosses paths with Chris, a kindred spirit working the graveyard shift at a Costco in rural America. Until 22 November
STEREOPHONIC: 2024 play Stereophonic, which received the most Tony-award nominations of any play in history, is set in a music studio in 1976, charting the highs and lows of an up-and-coming rock band. See it at Duke of York's Theatre. Until 22 November
EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL: Get down with the trumpets at the EFG London Jazz Festival, which continues all week with live performances at venues including Barbican, Southbank Centre and the Royal Albert Hall. Highlights include actor Adrian Dunbar presenting T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land on Wednesday, and a solo performance and Q&A with pianist and composer Hiromi on Thursday. Until 23 November
FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL: French Film Festival London this week. Choices range from Love Letters, a heartfelt look at queer life in contemporary Paris, to police procedural drama Case 137. Until 23 November
VOILA: Multilingual theatre festival Voila! runs until the end of this week, with shows taking place across eight different venues. Highlights include Hands On, a surreal dark comedy about grief and migration, queer joyful solo show Camino, and Lemmings, about five old friends trying to reconnect. Find out more about the inspiration behind the festival. Until 23 November
MI5 SECRETS: This is the final week of MI5: Official Secrets, a free exhibition at the National Archives in Kew, which puts MI5's history on public display for the first time. View original case files, photographs and papers, alongside the real equipment used by spies and spy-catchers over MI5’s 115-year history. FREE, until 23 November
EVER AFTER GARDEN: Illuminated by the light of more than 30,000 glowing roses, the Ever After Garden is now open in Chelsea's Duke of York Square. Anyone can visit, and though there's no admission fee, the installation raises money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, so consider donating if you can. Alternatively, dedicate a rose to a loved one (minimum suggested donation £15). Until 16 December
WINTER WONDERLAND: London's giant festive funfair is now open in Hyde Park, with all the usual attractions; ice rink, giant wheel, funfair rides, ice kingdom, circus, Christmas market, and food and drink stalls. Like last year, you'll need to book your entry slot in advance, and prices vary depending on peak and off-peak timings. Until 1 January
Today's events: Monday 17 November
CLIMATE ACTION: The Natural History Museum hosts a free night of climate action, with discussions, performances, creative activities and inspiring stories, designed to delve into both the causes and solutions of climate change. It's timed to coincide with the COP30 conference in Belém, with live coverage of the conference provided by Samia Dumbuya, climate educator and UK Youth Delegate for COP29. FREE, 6.30pm
ANNA SUI: Fashion designer Anna Sui is at the V&A South Kensington to talk about the Nineties. Expect a dose of nostalgia as she shares stories from her shows, and the inspirations behind her designs, which included slip dresses worn by Winona Ryder and Madonna, and grunge-infused baby-dolls for Courtney Love. Watch in person at the museum, or online via livestream. 7pm
JOE SACCO: Hear from Joe Sacco — widely regarded as a pioneer of graphic journalism — and veteran war correspondent Anthony Loyd about the deadly sectarian riots in 2013 in Uttar Pradesh, India, and their global significance today. In his latest book, The Once And Future Riot, Sacco speaks to government officials, village chiefs and victims of the riots in a quest to understand this type of violence. Takes place at the Frontline Club in Paddington. 7pm-8.30pm
NEW MOON: Every Monday evening, the Half Moon in Putney hosts New Moon, an evening of live music by up-and-coming performers. Tonight you can enjoy sets by five-piece indie-rock band Antelope, singer-songwriter OCHRE, folk singer-songwriter Lorenzo Bonfire, and Croydon-based artist/producer Jacobus D. 7.30pm
LATE NIGHT JAZZ: Olivia Murphy, Andrew Woodhead and Lewis Daniel are on the line-up for Late Night Jazz at the Royal Albert Hall. Each showcases their musical talent as a result of taking part in the EFG London Jazz Festival's prestigious Take Five development programme, which offers a launchpad for mid-career musicians. 8pm
Today's events: Tuesday 18 November
HUMBUG CHRISTMAS: Another week, another festive drinking pop-up opening. Humbug takes the concept of a dive bar, and stirs in a few fistfuls of festive cheer. Expect Christmas cabaret, sing alongs, immersive performances and unexpected surprises, all hosted by Santa himself, in the Vaults at Waterloo. From 18 November
SCUMMY MUMMIES: Comedy duo and podcast hosts Scummy Mummies — AKA Ellie Gibson and Helen Thorn — bring their live show Scummy Mummies: Hot Mess to the Exchange Theatre in Twickenham. Expect plenty of laughs on topics including menopause and mansplaining, all while they don sparkly new catsuits. 18-20 November
MAYBE I SHOULD STOP: Opening at the Drayton Arms Theatre, Maybe I Should Stop is a one-man show about Aaron, an unemployed entertainer who steals his dad's ashes. His reasons for doing so become clear as he journeys towards St Ives to scatter them. 18-29 November
EARTH SOS: As part of its ongoing All Kaiju Attack: Earth SOS! series celebrating Japanese monster films, Barbican Cinema screens Ebirah, Horror of the Deep, a 1966 Godzilla film about a group of men facing a terrifying sea monster when they become shipwrecked. It's shown in Japanese with English subtitles, and is accompanied by an introduction from series curator Alex Davidson. 6.30pm
MAPPING LONDON: Londonist's editor-at-large Matt Brown is one of four London mapping experts taking part in an evening event at the UCL Institute of Education, hosted by travel bookshop Stanfords. Along with Oliver O'Brien from the Mapping London blog, Stanfords CEO Vivian Godfrey and Prof James Cheshire (author of The Library of Lost Maps), they share their experiences of mapping the capital. 7pm-10pm
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Ticket alert! A glorious Christmas market is coming to the Guildhall
Book ahead to soak up the spirit of Christmas amid medieval grandeur at one of London’s finest festive extravaganzas. The British Red Cross' Guildhall Christmas Market in partnership with Culture Mile BID is your chance to browse unique gifts, admire incredible architecture and feast on seasonal treats, all while raising money for a fantastic cause.
The fun begins on Monday 8 December with a swanky grand opening – think special guest appearances, a drinks reception and exclusive early shopping access – and continues on Tuesday 9 December, when a full day of shopping and festive feasting awaits. Whichever date you opt for, you’ll discover 80+ stalls selling luxury handmade, unique and exclusive gifts, some of which have been designed by refugees with the support of the British Red Cross.
The market takes place inside the Guildhall’s Great Hall – which dates back to 1502 – and its neo-Gothic Old Library. Neither are usually open to the public so, it’s a unique opportunity to experience one of our favourite London landmarks. If you visit on Tuesday 9 December, you’ll also have the chance to descend into the Guildhall’s medieval crypts, where two incredibly atmospheric dining experiences are taking place. Choose between a festive two-course lunch and a luxurious champagne afternoon tea – tickets on sale now!
All proceeds from the Guildhall Christmas Market in partnership with Culture Mile BID go to the British Red Cross. So with every ticket, gift or market day treat you buy, you’ll be supporting people in crisis all over the globe. Now that’s what Christmas is all about.
Image: British Red Cross/Dorothee Hall
Today's events: Wednesday 19 November
RED: One of our picks for family theatre shows to see in London this Christmas, Chickenshed Theatre in Southgate today opens Red, a modern, musical twist on the classic fairy tale of Red Riding Hood, featuring an impressive 200 performers. Red and her siblings have grown up in the city, but are sent to live with their grandmother in the mountains, where they encounter a village gripped by fear of a legendary wolf. 19 November-10 January
SNOOPY SCULPTURE TRAIL: The Fleet Street Christmas lights are switched on tonight, and with them comes the Snoopy sculpture trail. The free art trail sees a dozen individually decorated sculptures of the beloved beagle dotted around the Fleet Street Quarter, to be viewed for free until the new year. FREE, 19 November-16 January
HEALING SPACES: Coinciding with its new Healing Spaces exhibition (which opened yesterday), the Florence Nightingale Museum in Lambeth hosts Dr Donna Miles Curry to talk about Nightingale's life and accomplishments, and how they shaped modern health care. 2.30pm
LANTERN PARADE: Another area switching on the Christmas lights today is Greenwich Market (and the nearby Cutty Sark). They make quite a spectacle of it in these parts, with local schoolchildren marching through the streets in a lantern parade, before arriving at the market for the switch-on event. FREE, 4pm-6pm
JOSH JONES: Comedian Josh Jones performs I Haven't Won The Lottery So Here's Another Show at Leicester Square Theatre. Expect an evening of jokes about history, cats, his love of wrestling and much more. 7pm
JANINA RAMIREZ: Hear historian Janina Ramirez discussing the women behind the myths that shaped Europe, and find out whether figures such as Joan of Arc, Lady Godiva and Isabelle of Castile have been misrepresented in the stories of their lives. The event is online via livestream, hosted by the National Archives. FREE, 7.30pm
Today's events: Thursday 20 November
BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU: 20 November is Beaujolais Nouveau Day, a celebration of the first wine made from gamay grapes harvested this year in France. What's that got to do with London? Well, several wine bars and venues around the capital hold their own celebrations, beginning with a wine breakfast at Gordon's. Details of all events here.
GOBBY GIRLS: Created from scratch by two women-led comedy production companies, Gobby Girls: The After Party is a new hour of comedy following a sold-out run Edinburgh Fringe run of Gobby Girls: The 11% Club. Head to Soho Theatre Dean Street for an hour of female-led laughs. 20-22 November
IMPERIAL LATES: Imperial College stays open late for an adults-only evening themed around time, from the mysteries and mechanics of time to the future of time-saving tech. Hear a talk about the first second after the Big Bang, test your knowledge in a time-themed trivia quiz, or make your own twisted-time Christmas decorations. FREE, 6pm-9pm
THE JIMI SESSIONS: The former Mayfair home of Jimi Hendrix stays open late for The Jimi Sessions, which sees musicians playing original music throughout the flat. Tonight it's Cyn Brown-Mitchell aka ‘Girl With The Purple Guitar’, a London based multi-instrumentalist, producer & multidisciplinary creative. 7.15pm
CHOOSE LOVE: Charity Choose Love — which supports refugees and displaced people with everything from food and clothing to legal advice — celebrates its 10th anniversary with a gala night at the Royal Albert Hall. Jameela Jamil and Jordan Stephens host, with musical performances by Labrinth, James Blake, Jessie Ware, Mabel, Eaz Da Bully, House Gospel Choir, Jon Hopkins and Max Porter, and appearances from Clara Amfo, Dawn O’Porter, Deborah Frances-White, Dermot O’Leary, Little Amal, Pearl Mackie and Sebastian Croft. 100% of profits go back to the charity. 7.30pm
RUISLIP COMEDY CLUB: Ronnie Golden, Ben Norris, Maple Zuo, Emmanuel O and Sally Firth are all on tonight's line-up at Ruislip Comedy Club. Your ticket includes a drink, and all profits are donated to the Bumblebee Children’s Ward at Hillingdon Hospital. 8.30pm
Today's events: Friday 21 November
WES ANDERSON: Widely expected to be the most popular exhibition the Design Museum has ever hosted, Wes Anderson: The Archives displays 600 items from film director Wes Anderson's personal archive, and was partly curated by the man himself. A three-metre wide model of the candy pink Grand Budapest Hotel, and the vending machines from Asteroid City are among the props featured, along with costumes, storyboards and sketches. Definitely book in advance for this one. 21 November-July 2026
CHRISTMAS TREE MARKET: If you're already thinking about where to get this year's festive fir, you should know that the Christmas tree market at Big Penny Social in Walthamstow is open from today. Browse a selection of British grown Nordmann Firs — and get a free mulled wine or hot chocolate with every arboreal order. From 21 November
MAPPING THE MYSTERIOUS: Find out how myth, mystery and magic shape maps, in an evening event at the British Library. Alison Bashford, author of Decoding the Hand: A History of Science, Medicine, and Magic, and Travis Elborough, whose books include Atlas of Vanishing Places, explore the more uncanny sides of cartography and the place of myth and magic in guiding our direction of travel. 7pm-8.30pm
MOORGATE COMEDY CLUB: Head to pub The Tokenhouse on Moorgate after work and have a chuckle as comedians Nabil Abdulrashid, Ali Woods, Mags Mchugh and Carwyn Blayney take to the stage. 7pm-10pm
BARRIOKE: Cult karaoke event Barrioke is an evening of karaoke hosted by actor Shaun Williamson, AKA Barry from Eastenders. It has a huge following and takes place all over the country, including at Between the Bridges on South Bank tonight. It's been announced that Barrioke will come to an end next year, so if you've ever fancied going, now's your chance. 7pm-11pm
A BOHEMIAN DREAM: Take an impromptu trip to 1900s Paris with an immersive cabaret which, for one night only, is reawakening the spirit of the Belle Époque. Secret Society presents A Bohemian Dream — a spectacular blend of circus, burlesque, live music and poetic interludes. It takes place at Embankment’s luxe new Emerald Theatre. 7.30pm (sponsor)
LONDON MOZART PLAYERS: Orchestra the London Mozart Players team up with violinist Fenella Humphreys for a performance at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Trafalgar Square. Hear a rendition of Beethoven’s Third Symphony, which the composer himself dedicated to Napoleon as victory in the French Revolution loomed. 7.30pm
Today's events: Saturday 22 November
OPEN PALACE GARDENS: It's an Open Gardens Weekend at Hampton Court Palace, which means you can visit some areas of the gardens for free. The Great Fountain Garden, the Kitchen Garden and the Pond Garden are among the areas you can visit without paying a single penny, though note that normal admission applies if you want to enter the Palace itself, the maze, or the playground. FREE, 22-23 November
WINTER FAIR: The Chelsea Barracks Winter Fair brings together festive food and drinks, an artisans’ market, a visit from Father Christmas and performances from a live choir, along with various seasonal workshops such as candle painting across the two days. Find other Christmas markets and fairs happening around London this winter. 22-23 November
THE SNOWMAN: We're walking in the aiiiiir! A festive favourite, now in its 28th year, the Birmingham Repertory Theatre's take on children's book The Snowman returns to the Peacock Theatre from today, combining skilled choreography, an enchanting set with fake snow, and that soundtrack. It's one of our picks for family-friendly shows to see in London this Christmas. 22 November-4 January
SEA SHANTY FESTIVAL: Warm up your vocal pipes and climb aboard Cutty Sark for the Sea Shanty Festival, celebrating the vessel's 156th birthday. Bands and singers from across the UK perform live including the HogEye Men and the London Sea Shanty Collective. 10am-4.30pm
SILENT SOCA FETE: There's a Caribbean music showdown at Limin' Southbank, as the sounds of Trinidad and The Islands go head to head. It's a silent disco format, so don a pair of headphones, and choose channel one for Team Trinidad (think Carnival classics, groovy Soca, and high-energy anthems), or channel 2 for The Islands — that's island rhythms from Barbados, St. Vincent, Grenada, Jamaica, and more. 8pm-2am
CERTIFIED BANGERS: Club night Certified Bangers is back at The Three Compasses in Dalston, with DJ Callum taking to the decks to play an eclectic mix by the likes of ABBA, Amy Winehouse, Eminem, Nirvana, Daft Punk, Rolling Stones, Oasis and many more. 9pm
Today's events: Sunday 23 November
VINTAGE FAIR: Winkle out a bargain as So Last Century comes to New Cross for a vintage fair. Goldsmiths is the place to head to browse furniture, homewares, ceramics, posters, vintage clothing and jewellery, and plenty more. 10.30am-4pm
WINTER WOOF: Take your pooch along to The Ministry in Borough for The Winter Woof, a dog-centric day of activities including a market, snacks and drinks for dogs (and humans), and a chance for your pet to glimpse the future with Erin The Furtune Teller. 11am-4.30pm
ANNIE LEIBOVITZ: Famed photographer Annie Leibovitz makes an appearance at Waterstones Piccadilly to sign copies of her new book, Women. It showcases her photos of women, from Joan Didion to Billie Eilish, which have featured in publications including Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair and Vogue. Even with a ticket, expect to queue when you arrive. 12pm
DA LATA: Spend a high-energy evening at the Jazz Cafe in Camden, full of Afro-Brazilian rhythms, soul, jazz-funk, and trip-hop from musical group Da Lata. They're celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, melding London club culture and Brazilian influence. 7pm-8.30pm
ARABIC MUSIC: The work of singer and composer Mohamed Abdelwahab, known as the father of modern Arabic music, is celebrated in a one-off performance at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Egyptian Soprano Fatma Said takes you through symphonic reinterpretations of Abdelwahab’s work, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, conducted by Nader Abbassi. Mona Khashoggi, who specialises in reviving cultural stories from the Middle East, hosts. 7.30pm
