All week
JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL: Immerse yourself in Jewish life and culture at this festival celebrating Israeli film makers. Various venues, £15, book ahead, until 26 November
BEAUTY AND THE FEAST: Leave the realities of 2017 behind and immerse yourself in a world of fairy hostesses, table dances and a feast fit for a beast. The Vaults, £45, book ahead, until 30 November
FERRARI SHOW: We loved lusting over these beautiful Ferraris, even though our dreams of owning them remain just that. The Design Museum, £18, book ahead, until 15 April 2018
Monday 20 November
FASHION DISCUSSION: Fashion is no longer just about looking good. Increasingly ideas about provenance and politics are woven into the clothes we wear, as you'll hear at this talk on fashion's role in activism. Design Museum, £10, book ahead, 6.15pm-7.45pm
RA ARCHITECTURE: If you spend an inordinate amount of time puzzling over buildings, you'll enjoy this architecture talk, with two American architects Tod Williams and Billie Tsien chatting about their recent work, including the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. Royal Academy, £15/£8, book ahead, 6.30pm-7.45pm
Tuesday 21 November
GIN MASTERCLASS: If gin is your tipple of choice, hotfoot it to this masterclass, where you'll learn how to mix up the perfect G&T. Canapes and a welcome cocktail await your arrival. Karma Sanctum Soho, £20, book ahead, 6pm-8pm
DOCKS AFTER DARK: Halloween might be over but you can still get spooked at this after dark tour, where you'll hear haunting tales about forgotten dockworkers (but hopefully not bump into any) at this 200-year-old warehouse. Museum of London Docklands, £25, book ahead, 6.30pm
FREE COMEDY: See the (possible) stars of tomorrow at Party Piece — a monthly coming together of new comedians. There's stand-up, there's sketch — and there are moments of downright bizarreness, which will leave you slack-jawed. The Joker of Penton Street, free, 7.30pm
GFEST FILMS: See a series of short films depicting female relationships and If You Dare Desire, a drama about the tragic fate of two young lesbians in India, as part of Gaywise Festival (until 25 November). Rich Mix, various prices, book ahead, 8.15-11pm
Wednesday 22 November
IDEAL HOME SHOW: Feeling uninspired by beige walls and flat-pack furniture? Get lost among stylish interiors and sections dedicated to home improvements, outdoor living and, of course, Christmas decorations at the festive edition of this home show. Olympia, £13, book ahead, until 26 November
CLASS AND PSYCHOANALYSIS: It's an expensive practice, not usually associated with working-class culture, but the two collide in this talk on the role of class in clinical work and psychotherapeutic training. Freud Museum, £10, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm
CONWAY HALL THEATRE: How can you perform a building? Dancers and actors give it a go in these performances reflecting the history and philosophies behind the Conway Hall building. Conway Hall, £10, book ahead, 7.30pm-9.30pm
FAKE NEWS: Fine tune your fake news spotting-spidey senses at this quick-fire pub quiz Have I Got Fake News For You. Bring your brainiest, most skeptical mates. The Book Club, £8, book ahead, 7.30pm-10pm
Thursday 23 November
WINTER HOUSE: Fancy dining out in a Grade II listed chapel, which has been given a festive makeover by the stylish Brasserie and bar, Bourne & Hollingsworth? Of course you do. The Welsh Chapel (Soho), £55 (Set menu), book ahead, noon-12am, until 23 December
WINTERVILLE: This edgy, east London winter festival has upped sticks and moved south, bringing with it an ice rink. Go for a skate, explore the night garden, pick up some street food and nab tickets for Cirque du Cabaret and a Lucha Britannia wrestling show. Clapham Common, free (ticketed events), until 1 January
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING: After you've exhausted taking pics of the Christmas lights round Connaught Village, try your hand at festive floral headband making, join a cheese and wine pairing at Buchanans Cheesemonger and get your mitts on complimentary in-store prosecco and mulled wine at this festive shopping event. Connaught Village, free, just turn up, 3pm-8pm
BOOKS SHOWOFF: One for the literary nerds out there. Expect a cocktail-fuelled compilation of quickfire talks from a brainy line-up of authors, researchers, podcasters, comedians and other book geeks. Waterstones Tottenham Court Road, Fitzrovia, £7, book ahead, 7pm
TIPPING POINT: This mesmerising masterclass of aerial circus is a sort of pole dance, but not as we know it. Read our four-star review of this teetering show, which has transferred to Stratford on the final leg of its tour. Stratford Circus, £15, book ahead, 7pm, until 25 November
Friday 24 November
MINDFUL FESTIVAL: Going cold turkey this year? Club Soda is throwing a massive Christmas festival, full of alcohol-free options to make the transition to low booze/no booze easier. Spitalfields Market, free, book ahead, noon-8pm today, until 25 November
MAGICAL LANTERNS: Take a night-time ramble around the grounds of Chiswick House Gardens have been transformed into a blaze of light and colour. And we mean transformed. The stately acres look utterly alien, with dozens of illuminated sculptures forming the Magical Lantern Festival. Chiswick House & Gardens, £17, book ahead, 5pm-10pm, until 1 January
CROSSRAIL: Hear about the successes, challenges, and lessons learned while undertaking this mammoth feat of engineering that is Crossrail. Take a look at what Crossrail will look like when it finally opens next year. Royal Institution, London, £20, book ahead, 7.20pm-8.45pm
JAZZ VERSE JUKEBOX: A fabulously eclectic night blending jazz musicians with spoken word. Hoxton Hall, £9, book ahead, 7.30pm
CLOUDBUSTING: From Wuthering Heights to Running up that Hill, this five-piece tribute act belts out all the hits from the ethereal wonder woman herself, Kate Bush. The Half Moon (Putney), £15.40, book ahead, 8pm-11pm
Saturday 25 November
MINISTRY OF CHRISTMAS: Father Christmas has set up shop in Tower Hamlets and is expecting eager children for crafts, games, magic and selfie opportunities. Ragged School Museum, £22.50 (per child, includes a gift), book ahead, 9am-5.30pm, until 24 December
INDIE LABEL MARKET: Vinylheads should hit up this market to dig out the best records from independent labels. Once you've got a tote full of obscure music, have a beer break and listen to DJ sets in the garden. Old Spitalfields Market, free, just turn up, 10am-6pm
WINTER FAIR: Pick up lovely lampshades from Papershades, gorgeous glassware from Virle Acher Glass and stock up on preserves from From the Larder at the Stoud Green Winter Fair. The Stapleton Tavern, free, just turn up, noon-5pm
TREASURE HUNT: Gather your fastest, brainiest mates and race around the V&A finding and taking selfies with as many bacchanalian delights on the THATMuse clue list as possible. V&A Museum, £11, book ahead, 2pm-4.30pm
Sunday 26 November
MUSEUM SHOP SUNDAYS: Be a slave to culture not capitalism, at this national event launched as a counterpoint to Black Friday, which invites you to visit museums, art galleries and libraries and spend your cash where it counts towards supporting these institutions. Various venues, free, just turn up, all day
LONDON'S PRIDE: Work up a sweat and widen your knowledge of London's queer history on this running tour, which stops off at LGBT+ landmarks. Tower of London, £15, book ahead, until 26 November
CHRISTMAS MARKET: Head to Enfield, and bring your Christmas shopping list to this festive market, where you browse gifts, while Christmas classics are performed live. Forty Hall Estate, free, just turn up, 11am-4pm
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