Things to do this week is sponsored by Films in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall.
All week
THE WIDER EARTH: Relive the story of Charles Darwin's daring voyage aboard the HMS Beagle with the help of 30 hand-made puppets. This real life coming-of-age tale premieres at the Natural History Museum's brand new theatre. Natural History Museum (South Kensington), £17.50, book ahead, 2.30pm/7.30pm, until 30 December
STARRY EYED: Don those UV glasses to take a good, long look into the sun at the Science Museum. This new exhibition explores the relationship between humanity and its closest star — from solar religious artefacts dating back to 1400 BC, to NASA's upcoming solar missions. For those still mourning summer, there's even an indoor beach. Science Museum (South Kensington), £15, book ahead, until 6 May 2019
HAUNTED BRIDGE: Meet southsayers, witches, and the ominous-sounding keeper of the heads at this family-friendly plunge into the haunting history of London Bridge. You'll learn about the origins of Halloween, hold snakes, and eat scorpion-topped ice cream. The London Bridge Experience & London Tombs, £20, book ahead, until 3 November. Check out our guide to other Halloween events in London.
JUST THE TONIC: Head to Harvey Nicks, pick up your Tini Martini passport, and jet off into the wonderful world of Hendricks. This boozy immersive experience marks the release of the new Orbium gin, and features tini martinis, microscopic games and, er, pygmy goats. Harvey Nichols, £15, book ahead, 16 October-29 October
Monday 15 October
NEW MUSICAL NIGHT: Mad about musicals? See not one, not two, but five brand new all-singing, all-dancing extravaganzas from Edward Baxter Productions. You never know, you might even discover the next Hamilton... Pleasance Theatre (Islington), £12, book ahead, 7.30pm-9.30pm
LOOK NO HANDS: Icelandic musician Hekla sure knows her way around a theremin. Her delicate fractal music recalls both her homeland's magical folklore and the too-cool-for-school electronic scene of Berlin, where she now lives. Servant Jazz Quarters (Dalston), £8, book ahead, 7.30pm-11pm
Tuesday 16 October
SPARKLING PUMPKIN CARVING: With All Hallow's Eve just a fortnight away, it's time for some spooktacular seasonal shenanigans at Drink, Shop & Do. The classy pumpkin carving workshop includes a complimentary glass of Veuve Clicquot. Drink, Shop & Do (King's Cross), £16, book ahead, 5.30pm/8.30pm, until 17 October. Feeling spooky? There's plenty more where that came from.
COOKBOOK DINNER: For the latest in Joe Rotherham and Tom Harris' popular series of suppers inspired by classic cookbooks, Doug McMaster of Silo will be donning the chef's cap. He's whipping up a feast drawn from Italian poet and editor Filippo Tommaso Marinetti's art manifesto-cum-recipe collection The Futurist Cookbook. The Marksman (Hackney), £75, book ahead, 6.30pm-9.30pm
GLENN WOOL: You might recognise gag master Glenn Wool from his stints on Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Russell Howard's Good News. Now he's stepping out of your telly and into this Forest Hill pub for a night of stand up. The Honor Oak (Forest Hill), £8, book ahead, 8pm-10pm
ON YOUR HEAD BE IT: Shared interests are super important to a healthy relationship, and no one knows this better than Eleanor and Stuart, whose hobby just happens to be homicide. Romance meets horror in this cautionary tale about a couple's getaway gone wrong. Old Red Lion Theatre (Angel), £10, book ahead, 9.30pm
Wednesday 17 October
BING LIVE: Put a smile on your little ones' faces at a show that brings their CBeebies favourite to the stage. Bing and the gang invite you into a magical world of make-believe, featuring music, puppetry, and plenty of surprises. Greenwich Theatre, £19, book ahead, 10am/1pm/4pm, until 18 October
WHAT THE DICKENS: You know him as one of the most iconic fiction writers in history, but there's so much more to Charles Dickens than his classic novels. This talk explores the man's passion for scientific knowledge through his letters, journalism, novels and scientific objects. Charles Dickens Museum (Bloomsbury), £15, book ahead, 2pm-3.30pm
DENNIS BOVELL: Half a century after he first started making music, this British reggae legend is still going strong. Be the first to hear Dennis Bovell launch his brand new album, Akoustic, at this live show. Bernie Grant Centre (Tottenham), £15, book ahead, 8pm
Sponsor message
Relive the Oscar-winning romance of The English Patient with a live orchestra
Prepare to swoon all over again, because Academy Award-sweeping cinematic masterpiece The English Patient comes to the Royal Albert Hall. And with help of a world-class orchestra, this epic World War II romance is set to be more mesmerising than ever.
This Thursday, join the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra for the world premiere of The English Patient Live, the latest event in the Royal Albert Hall’s Films in Concert series. As you watch the screen, the orchestra treats you to a live rendition of Gabriel Yared's acclaimed score.
If that's not enough of a thrill, the composer himself takes to the stage for a Q&A — before you’re swept away on a breathtaking journey of love and loss through early 20th century North Africa and Italy.
Festival of Film 2018: The English Patient Live takes place on Thursday 18 October 2018. Limited tickets remain and must be booked in advance.
Thursday 18 October
LONDON LITERATURE FESTIVAL: Book lovers absolutely must make it down to London Literature Festival, which returns to Southbank Centre tonight. This year's event is dedicated to Homer's epic poem The Odyssey, and features live readings, talks and workshops from literary bigwigs like Mary Beard and Salman Rushdie. Southbank Centre, various prices, book ahead for some events, until 28 October
GO APE AFTER DARK: Hope you've been eating up all your carrots, because tonight you've got the chance to experience the thrill of Go Ape Battersea under the cover of darkness. Take a twilight zip trip, mess around in nets at nightfall, and complete the highest loop of the course under the glow of stars. Battersea Park, £21, book ahead, 6pm, until 27 October
CRAFT RUM TASTING: Play at being a pirate as you commandeer one of the world's most famous vessels in search of some sweet, sweet Barbados Water. You won't find any old grog aboard The Golden Hinde — instead, you'll try up to 15 bespoke rums from across the seven seas. The Golden Hinde (Bankside), £30, book ahead, 6.30pm-9.30pm
THE COCKATOO CLUB: Fans of Priscilla Queen of the Desert will love this night of cabaret and burlesque inspired by everyone's favourite Aussie musical. Expect the showtunes you know and love, award-winning costumes, and lip sync battles where you get to be the star of the show. Proud (Embankment), £30, book ahead, 7.30pm-3am
Friday 19 October
SKIN DEEP: Think ink with tattoo historian Dr Matt Lodder and tattoo artist Alex Binnie. They are taking a deep dive into the history and practicalities of tattooing, before helping you design your own tattoo stencil. Dulwich Picture Gallery, £30, book ahead 7pm-9.30pm
MURDER MYSTE-RI: Read about the evening the world's first photo was announced at the Royal Institution, and you won't find mention of a (gasp) unsolved murder. That may be because it's fictional, but you'll still have fun playing detective on this immersive murder mystery night at the scene of the crime. The Royal Institution (Mayfair), £25, book ahead, 7.15pm-10pm
SUPER HAMLET 64: If the title alone didn't give it away, you should know that this isn't your bog standard Shakespeare adaptation. Edward/Edalia Day has taken the Bard's most famous play and turned into a retro video game-referencing musical extravaganza. The Heart of Gaming (Croydon), £10, book ahead, 7.30pm-9.30pm
PEKING OPERA: Experience the exquisite art of Peking Opera with a rare UK performance of The Emperor and the Concubine from the Chinese National Peking Opera Company. Enchanting performances, a beautiful love story, and some absolutely beautiful set design — what more could you ask for? Sadler's Wells, from £25, book ahead, 7.30pm, until 20 October
Saturday 20 October
BIG BRIDGE DRAW: Take the kids to Tower Bridge and partake in the world's biggest festival of drawing. Down in the Victorian Engine Rooms, artist in residence Imogen Piper helps families unlock their creativity and conjure up mind-blowing patterns using the power of pneumatics. Tower Bridge, included in museum admission, just turn up, 10am-4pm
MODERNIST MEANDER: Admire the architecture of post-war London on this stroll through the Square Mile. Peer up at Brutalist skyscrapers and gaze down upon curious underpasses. Meet outside Blackfriars Underground station, £12, book ahead, 10.30am-12.30pm
THE MEMOIR CLUB: What do you say to spending the afternoon with Virginia Woolf, John Maynard Keynes and Lytton Strachey? These Bloomsbury Set icons and their secret Memoir Club are brought to life by The Goodenough Theatre Company for an entirely unfiltered trip down memory lane. Bloomsbury Hotel, £20, book ahead, 3pm, until 4 November
THE SKEPTICS' GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSE: Calling all natural born cynics! What if we told you we've found the perfect outlet for your scoffing, side-eyes, and scientific myth-busting? Well, you probably wouldn't take our word for it, but we urge you nonetheless to join the presenters of The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast for a one-off London show. Conway Hall (Holborn), £20, book ahead, 7.30pm-9.30pm
FROM LONELINESS TO ST LUKE'S: Inspired by the findings of the Jo Cox Commission on loneliness, Toni Castells has composed a brand new piece about the paradox of social isolation in today's world. More Than Just A Choir —a community choir which works with people suffering from mental illness and social isolation to help them overcome loneliness through music — will perform alongside a group of top classical musicians. Who says music can't change the world, eh? LSO St Luke's (Old Street), £20, book ahead, 8pm
Sunday 21 October
LEVANTINE BRUNCH: How does some Levantine grub in an East End-style caff, located all the way out in W12 sound? Let chef Helen Graham wake you up with a tasty spiced coffee before treating you to a selection of table mezze, lamb comfit eggs awarma, and white chocolate and mahleb mousse for pudding. Albertine (Shepherds Bush), £27, book ahead, 11am/2pm
BACH TO THE FUTURE: BBC science broadcaster Dallas Campbell leads an exhilarating talk on the past and future of space travel as the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment treats you to a nice bit of Bach. Because what are Sundays for, if not marvelling at the wonders of the universe? King's Place (King's Cross), £17, book ahead, 11.30am-1pm
THE DARLING AND THE DIVA: Botox meets Brexit despair as cabaret icons Kiki Mellék & Diva Regina team up for an utterly fabulous double bill. Make a dinner date at Privée with The Darling And the Diva. Privée (Knightsbridge), £6, book ahead, 7pm-9.15pm
