All week
CALM DOWN, DEAR: If that phrase has ever got your raging, you need to get yourself to Camden for this festival of feminist theatre. Abortion, menopause, motherhood, and the male monopoly on genius are some of the topics tackled by a range of performers. Camden People's Theatre, various prices, book ahead, until 16 June
LIT FEST: SW12 turns its attention to the written word for Balham Literary Festival, a 12-day programme of events. Our picks include the Deserter team flying the flag for south London, MP Rachel Reeves addressing the history of women in Westminster, and local thriller author Sabine Durrant interviewing crime authors Parker Bilal and Bev Thomas. Various Balham locations and prices, book ahead, 13-25 June
LONDON FESTIVAL OF ARCHITECTURE: There's still plenty going on for the month-long London Festival of Architecture. Highlights this week include a pop-up garden in Canary Wharf, a panel discussion about whether London needs purpose-built emergency accommodation for the homeless, and a Footprints of London walk focusing on the Wards of the City of London. Browse the full programme. Various locations and prices, until 30 June
ZIP WIRE: Step forward adrenaline junkies — it's your time to shine. Zip Now returns to Lambeth for another summer of whizzing across the skyline. This time there are four parallel lines, so bring your three most competitive mates and have a race to the other side. Archbishops Park (Lambeth), £30, book ahead, 12 June-15 September
Monday 10 June
HYDE PARK: Take a guided walking tour of Hyde Park, hearing stories of the Tyburn Tree, Speaker's Corner, and the park's role in the first world war. Finish up at the Parade Ground, where a gun salute is fired to mark Prince Philip's birthday. Hyde Park, £10, book ahead, 10.30am-12pm
COFFEE TASTING: Get to know your beans at this coffee tasting experience. Begin with an introduction to the history of coffee — a tale which features a goat — and learn about the journey from bean to cup, the importance of roasting, and the difference between beans from different regions. Put your new-found knowledge to the test by slurping five different tasters. Westminster Bridge Road, £28/£20, book ahead, 1pm-3pm (sponsor)
SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE: Joseph Fiennes and Gwyneth Paltrow star in 1999 film Shakespeare in Love, about a fictional love affair on which the playwright embarks while he's writing Romeo & Juliet. A Q&A with the film's director David Parfitt follows this screening. Dulwich Picture Gallery, £10/£8, book ahead, 7pm
Tuesday 11 June
JEWISH ARCHITECTURE: Hop on board a classic Routemaster bus for a tour of buildings designed by Jewish architects. Expert Joe Kerr takes you to buildings including modernist icons designed by Erno Goldfinger, Denys Lasdun and Berthold Lubetkin. Angel, £28/£23, book ahead, 10am-1pm
TRIQUIZARD TOURNAMENT: A certain boy wizard and his wand-waving chums are the subjects of seven rounds of questions at the TriQuizard Tournament (see what they did there?). Swot up on your Potter knowledge to be in with a chance of winning — and if it's all going badly, console yourself with themed cocktails from the bar. The Other Palace (Victoria), £35 per table (up to five people), book ahead, 7pm
SPLOSH!: Comedian Ben Target brings his show Splosh! back to Soho for another round of synchronised aquatics, front crawl relays and doggy paddle lessons. Expect plenty of air swimming among storytelling, jokes and physical comedy. Soho Theatre, from £13, book ahead, 8.30pm (repeated tomorrow)
Wednesday 12 June
LOST RIVERS: Join tour guide Chris Everett for a wander from Buckingham Palace to the Thames following the path of the lost River Tyburn. It's said that the river flows right under Buckingham Palace itself. Take the tour to find our more trivia about the river — including why it still affects house prices despite no longer being visible. Victoria station, £10, book ahead, 11am-1pm
INSIDE ST BRIDE: Get a look at the collections of the St Bride Library, a record of printing, book arts, typography and graphic design. Expert Bob Richardson opens up his little black notebook to share some of his more interesting finds in more than 10 years working and volunteering at the Library. St Bride's (Fleet Street), £22/£18.50, book ahead, 6.30pm-8.30pm
DANCE SUPERSTAR: New documentary Force of Nature Natalia follows the life of dance superstar Natalia Osipova, as she prepares for a fifth season as a principal of the Royal Ballet. The filmmakers were given access to rehearsals and to her personal archive, to tell the story of her Russian childhood, and her time with the American Ballet and at the Royal Opera House. Today's screening is followed by a director Q&A. Bertha DocHouse (Bloomsbury), £12.50/£10, book ahead, 6.30pm (repeated tomorrow without the Q&A)
Thursday 13 June
DIEGO MARADONA: There's a new documentary about Argentinian footballer Diego Maradona, which uses previously unseen footage to tell his story, from shanty town to international fame. Watch the film, preceded by an introduction by the director, Asif Kapadia. Bertha DocHouse (Bloomsbury), £12.50/£10, book ahead, 6.30pm
BATTERY TRANSPORT: How will batteries change our world? That's the topic of discussion between a panel of experts who debate the future of battery-powered vehicles, and what their introduction will mean for the future of the transport and automotive industries. Royal Institution (Mayfair), £16/£10/£7, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm
FIRST WORLD WAR: Historian Professor Margaret MacMillan discusses her book The War That Ended Peace. She looks at the political, cultural, military and personal forces which led to Europe being embroiled in the first world war. National Archives (Kew), £15/£12, book ahead, 7.30pm-9pm
Friday 14 June
JAIPUR LIT FEST: The main Jaipur Literature Festival takes place — unsurprisingly — in Jaipur, but you can get a taste of it at British Library this weekend. A programme of writers, thinkers, poets and raconteurs take part in a series of talks and discussions, including Jeffrey Archer, Shrabani Basu, Gyles Brandreth, William Dalrymple Yasmin Khan and Manisha Koirala. British Library, various prices, book ahead, 14-16 June
THEATRE TOUR: Existing in various incarnations since 1705, Her Majesty's Theatre — currently housing Phantom of the Opera — has a wealth of history. Find out about some of it on this tour, part of London Festival of Architecture, and finish up with a cocktail in the theatre bar. Her Majesty's Theatre (Haymarket), £16, book ahead, 1.30pm-4pm
LIVE MUSIC: Gypsy folk punk band Tiger Moth play a live gig on board the dry-docked Golden Hinde — and if you're not familiar with their style, you're in for a lively, wild ride. The Golden Hinde (Borough), £10/£7.50, book ahead, 7pm
Saturday 15 June
WATERLOO WEEKEND: Commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo at Apsley House, the Duke of Wellington's London home, which also goes by the address Number One London. Members of the 95th Rifles present a live reenactment both inside and outside the building, and there's also a demonstration of Georgian surgery for the unsqueamish. Apsley House (Hyde Park Corner), included in entry, just turn up, 15-16 June
BEHIND THE SCENES: Trained tour guides lead a behind the scenes tour of Southbank Centre. The building dates back to the 1951 Festival of Britain, and has since hosted Eurovision, earned a royal patronage, and hosted many famous names — hear some of the stories as you visit areas usually off-limits to the public. Southbank Centre, £10/£9, book ahead, 6pm
CANDLELIGHT CLUB: Dance the night away at The Candlelight Club's Jazz Age June party. It's a 1920s-style speakeasy with live swing music, cabaret performances and vintage DJs. Think The Great Gatsby, and dress to impress. Secret central location, £25, book ahead, 7pm-11.59pm
Sunday 16 June
AIRFIX: Introduce your kids to the toys of your own childhood — Airfix. Tanks are the focus of this Airfix workshop, where you can construct and paint your own 1:76 scale armoured land vehicle to take home. Age 8+. National Army Museum (Chelsea), £10, book ahead, 12pm-3pm
POP-UP SUNDAY LUNCH: The Clink is a pop-up restaurant where food is prepared and served by prisoners currently in catering training. Today it pops up at Roundhouse for a Sunday lunch as part of The Last Word Festival. As you tuck into a two-course meal, listen to an informal panel discussion with poets Joelle Taylor and Adam Kammerling about art, reform and masculinity within the judicial system. Roundhouse (Camden), £35, book ahead, 2.30pm
