All weekend
HALF TERM: Running out of ways to keep the kids busy as half term comes to an end? Take a look at our family-friendly events guide — there's still plenty going on including a family fun day, a Lego exhibition and a chance to see vets in action.
IMAGINE FESTIVAL: It's the final weekend of Southbank Centre's Imagine Children's Festival, which celebrates kids' literature, theatre and music though talks, workshops and performances. See the full programme here — highlights from these final two days include a reading of How To Train Your Dragon and a book signing with the author, Cressida Cowell. Southbank Centre, various times and prices, until 24 February
LAST CHANCE TO SEE: Two big exhibitions close this weekend — and we expect them to be busy. V&A's Videogames is aimed at gaming aficionados, with a detailed look at the design and creation of games (£18, book ahead, until 24 February). Lost Treasures at Strawberry Hill House is an impressive gathering of some of the objects owned by the house's original owner, Sir Horace Walpole. They were sold off after his death and haven't returned to the house, until now (£16, book ahead, until 24 February).
WALES WEEK: In advance of St David's Day, Wales Week is actually a fortnight of events celebrating all the great things about Wales and being Welsh. A full programme is available here, and includes a celebration of Welsh food and drink at Borough Market, a St David's Day dinner, and a concert by the London Welsh Male Voice Choir. Various locations, times and prices, 23 February-9 March
CULTURAL REVOLUTION: On tour from Oxford's Ashmolean Museum, Cultural Revolution is an exhibition of Chinese state graphics from the 1960s and 1970s. The colour red — the colour of the revolution — features heavily in the propaganda posters, as do images of then state leader, Chairman Mao Zedong. William Morris Gallery (Walthamstow), suggested donation £5, just turn up, 23 February-27 May
PHYLLIDA BARLOW: Work by British sculptor Phyllida Barlow goes on display throughout the Royal Academy's new galleries. She's reinterpreted the space as a residential cul-de-sac, with colour used as a key theme. Royal Academy (Piccadilly), £14, book ahead, 23 February- 23 June
Saturday 23 February
COCKPITS AND CABINS: There's a rare chance to climb inside the cockpits and cabins of some of the RAF Museum's most fascinating vehicles, and get an idea of what it would have been like to drive or fly them. Vehicles open for business include the Sea King helicopter, the Phantom plane, and the K2 ambulance. RAF Museum (Colindale), £15, book ahead, 11am-3pm
FAMILY FUN DAY: Evolution and ancestry are some of the topics covered in Royal Institution's Who Am I? family fun day. It's aimed at 6-12 year olds and their families, with talks, demonstrations and experiments going on throughout the day. Royal Institution (Mayfair), £16/£10/£7, book ahead, 11am-4pm
BIG LONDON FLEA: Get your rummaging skills ready and head to the Big London Flea, where you might pick up anything including furniture, homewares, vintage clothes and unexpected oddities. Stallholders range from vintage experts to locals having a clear out, so you're bound to find something, whatever your budget and taste. Earth (Hackney), £1 entry, just turn up, 11am-6pm
ART 50: Barbican celebrates all things British at Art 50, a day of performances, dance, music, photography and film. Artists from all walks of life where asked to create something which showcases what national identity means to them in 2019. Barbican, free, just turn up, 12pm-8pm
FETISH COLLECTION: Bishopsgate Institute is home to the UK Leather and Fetish Archive, a national collection documenting the history and heritage of the leather, rubber, BDSM and fetish communities. Today, the archive is open for anyone who wants to drop in and see the magazines, pamphlets, posters, ephemera, t-shirts and artefacts. Bishopsgate Institute (Liverpool Street), free, just turn up, 1pm
CHINGFORD WALK: Join Footprints Of London guide Joanna Moncrieff for a walk around Chingford, an area that's transformed from fields and farms to royals and railways. The walk follows an 1838 map, highlighting which fields and footpaths still exist today, and covers facts such as a world war one aerodrome now underneath a reservoir, and Ivor Novello’s connection with the airfield and the pub nearby. Chingford station, £12/£9, book ahead, 2pm-4pm
QUEER UTOPIAS: With London nightclubs closing at an alarming rate, there are concerns that LGBTQ club culture is under threat in the capital. Hear a panel of experts discuss why nightlife — and particularly LGBTQ dancefloors, which are considered a utopian safe space — and important, and how they can be saved. Victoria & Albert Museum (South Kensington), free, just turn up, 2pm-4pm
FROMAGE ON ICE: If you like your music cheesy and your dance floor slippery, head to Club de Fromage On Ice. It's 90s versus 00s night, so dance the night away to the best (and worst) tunes from both decades, all on an ice rink. Choose your dance moves very carefully. Alexandra Palace, £10/£9, book ahead, 8.30pm
SHEEPS: It's the final performance of Sheeps' run at Soho Theatre. The comedy sketch trio trot out their new work in a show encompassing selfie sex and Harry Potter. Soho Theatre, £14-£19, book ahead, 9.15pm
Sunday 24 February
HALF MARATHON: Run a 13.1 mile course around Richmond Park, starting and finishing at Sheen Gate and taking in impressive views along the way. Not much of a runner? Go along and cheer them on. Richmond Park, £35-£37 to participate (booking required) or free to watch, 10am
ANTIQUES FAIR: Browse antiques being sold by 140 antiques exhibitors and experts from all over Europe at Adams Antiques Fair. Early arrival is recommended as queues tend to form later in the day. Royal Horticultural Halls (Victoria), £4, booking recommended, 10am-4.30pm
TEDDY FESTIVAL: Teddy bear lovers and traders from all over the world descend on Kensington for Hugglets BearFest. Add to your new collection with prices ranging from a few quid to thousands, pick up accessories for your ursine friends, or learn how to care for them and make any much-needed repairs at the teddy bear hospital. Kensington Town Hall, £4, just turn up, 10.30am-4pm
DENIM JUNIORS: Suitable for all ages, The Denim Juniors is a drag pop concert aimed at kids and their families, with impressive costumes and plenty of familiar hits to sing along to. Pleasance Theatre (Islington), £12/£10, book ahead, 2pm
HANDEL PLAYERS: Hear works of music by George Frideric Handel and his Italian friend Arcangelo Corelli performed in the atmospheric setting of The Charterhouse, an impressive building that has served as a monastery, private mansion, boys school and an almshouse. The Charterhouse (Clerkenwell), £20, book ahead, 2.30pm-3.30pm
ART OF BURIAL: Join Footprints of London guide Marilyn Greene for a tour of the V&A, focusing specifically on burial practices. Learn about imagery and representations found in tombs around the world, some of which date back thousands of years — including a couple of archaeological discoveries from the London area. V&A Museum (South Kensington), £12/£9, book ahead, 3.45pm-5.15pm
DRUNK WOMEN SOLVING CRIME: Popular podcast Drunk Women Solving Crime is recorded in front of a live audience. It does exactly what the title suggests — comedian hosts Hannah George, Catie Wilkins and Taylor Glenn are joined by a boozed-up panel in an attempt to personal crime stories and true crime cases. Pleasance Theatre (Islington), £10, book ahead, 6pm
OF LOVE & LAW: Documentary Of Love & Law is the story of openly gay Japanese laywers Kazu and Fumi, who have taken on cases such as a woman who was born outside of the traditional family structure, so doesn’t legally exist, and a teacher fired for not standing during the national anthem. This screening is followed by a Q&A with the director. Bertha DocHouse (Bloomsbury), £12.50/£10, book ahead, 6.30pm
COMEDY SKETCH OFF: See some of the UK's best up-and-coming sketch artists and character comedians go head to head in the fourth annual Sketch Off. Tonight's the grand final, so the cream of the crop are performing in a bid to win a cash prize and their own comedy showcase. Leicester Square Theatre, £16.75, book ahead, 7pm
