All week
TEN COMMANDMENTS: Performance artist David Hoyle brings his new show Ten Commandments to Soho Theatre. He combines stage performance with social commentary, in a show that attempts to rebalance the injustices of modern Britain. Soho Theatre, from £15, book ahead, 28 March-2 April
LAST CHANCE: It's the final week of America in Crisis, a photography exhibition tracking social change in America from the 1960s, in the lead up to Nixon's inauguration, to the present day. 120 works by 40 photographers are on show. Saatchi Gallery (Chelsea), £5, book ahead, until 3 April
CHERRY BLOSSOM: London's cherry blossom trees are in fine form right now. If you're keen to get out and track down the best blossom or snap a few photos, take a look at our guide to seeing cherry blossom in London for the best places to spot and snap the photogenic pink flowers.
EASTER HOLIDAYS: London's schools start breaking up for Easter at the end of this week. If you've got kids to entertain, take a look at our Easter holidays guide, and get the lowdown on the current family-friendly exhibitions, shows and events in London.
Monday 28 March
AMALFI: Get stuck into the delights of a brand new Italian restaurant; Amalfi opens its doors in Soho today, offering plant-based, meat and seafood carpaccio; 'Baked Chocolate Etna'; and a house-smoked negroni. All sounds delicious. Amalfi (Soho)
ROOFTOP COMEDY: Stephen Bailey, Babatunde Aléshé, Kelly Convey and Sikisa are the comedians at the latest 12th Knot comedy night, which takes place at the rooftop riverside bar. Drinks and snacks are available to order throughout the performance. 12th Knot (Sea Containers), from £20, book ahead, 6.30pm
ALIENS IN SCI-FI: From H.G. Wells' Selenites, to Octavia Butler’s Oankali, take a closer look at the concept of aliens in science fiction at this free Gresham College lecture. History of Science specialist Professor Jim Endersby focuses on how aliens have been used to explore the limitations of the human race. Barnard's Inn Hall (Holborn) or online, free, book ahead, 7pm
HAPPY MONDAYS COMEDY: Don Biswas, Caroline Mabey, Sarah Bennetto, Izzy Mant, AMJ, and Mossy are on the bill at Happy Mondays Comedy, overseen by MC Siôn James. Amersham Arms (New Cross), £6.36, book ahead, 8pm
HUMAN JUKEBOX: Tony Bowen's been described as a 'human' jukebox' — tell him what song you'd like him to play and chances are he'll do it for you. He's the entertainment at Louche tonight (it's also happy hour till 8pm). Louche (Soho), free, book ahead, 8pm-10.30pm
Tuesday 29 March
GET CHANGED: Hear from fashion stylist Kat Farmer as she discusses her new book, Get Changed: Finding The New You Through Fashion, with Dennis Nothdruft from the Fashion & Textiles Museum. She shares her experiences of increasing her confidence through fashion, and offers tips for building the ultimate wardrobe. Online event, £5, book ahead, 6pm-7.30pm
GARDEN EVENING STROLL: Join Lucy Hart, head gardener at Fulham Palace, for an evening stroll through the gardens. Explore the 13-acre space, including the walled garden, and learn about future plans for the gardens. Fulham Palace, £8, book ahead, 6pm-9pm
ROMAN DEATHS: Author Caroline Lawrence gives a family-friendly talk about Roman London, specifically focusing on the aspects of life at that time which proved fatal for many residents of Londinium. She also talks about what the area we now know as Kensington and Chelsea might have looked like in Roman times. Online event, free, book ahead, 6.30pm-7.30pm
UKRAINIAN JOURNALIST: Hear from Stanislav Aseyev, a Ukrainian journalist who was released in 2019 from captivity in Donetsk, after staying in the city when it fell under the control of Russian-backed militants in 2014. His accounts of his time in captivity have recently been translated into English. The Frontline Club, £12/ £5 online, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm
Wednesday 30 March
SORTING BRITAIN: The Postal Museum opens a new exhibition dedicated to the topic of postcodes (something we've delved into ourselves in the past). Sorting Britain: The Power of Postcodes looks at how the invention of postcodes changed how mail was sorted and delivered, and the effect that had on life in Britain. The Postal Museum (Clerkenwell), included in museum admission, book ahead, 30 March-January 2023
ANTIQUES MARKET: Hunt out a bargain or two at the Wembley Park Antiques Market, a sprawling monthly market with up to 700 traders present each time, selling antiques, collectables, salvage, vintage homeware, jewellery, furniture and much more. Canada Gardens (Wembley Park), 8am-4pm
SCIENCE MUSEUM LATES: Science Museum Lates are back, and the theme this month is the Ancient Greeks. Stay in the museum after the usual opening hours to explore the exhibitions and displays, take part in sundial workshops and ship racing, or just celebrate the return of the famous silent disco. Science Museum (South Kensington), free, book ahead, 6.15pm-10pm
RADICAL FASHION: Hear from dress historian Amber Butchart, in a National Archives event looking at radical fashion changes in the 1920s and some of the notable figures that helped to define the decade. Find out how social changes, such as women's political representation, affected fashion too. Online event, suggested donation £5, book ahead, 7.30pm
MAYFLOWER 400: The Rotherhithe & Bermondsey Local History Society continues its Mayflower 400 lecture series (rescheduled from 2020) marking 400 years since the ship sailed. Today, author Graham Taylor examines London’s role in the Mayflower expedition of 1620, and adds a modern perspective. The Albany (Deptford), £3.75, book ahead, 7.30pm
Thursday 31 March
LONDON COFFEE FESTIVAL: Get your fill of caffeine, and then some, at the London Coffee Festival, a four-day programme of tastings, demos, competitions, shopping and more. On Friday night, there's a DJ session, from which 100% of ticket sales will go to the Red Cross Ukraine Appeal. The Truman Brewery (Brick Lane), from £24, book ahead, 31 March-3 April
TEA AND COFFEE: Join City Guide Jill Finch for a Guildhall Library tour around the City of London, focusing on the history of tea and coffee in the area. Wander from Aldgate to Bank, seeing the impact these two drinks had on the social and business aspects of the Square Mile. Aldgate tube, £10.30, book ahead, 11am-1pm
ONE PLANET: Steve Backshall hosts Seven Worlds, One Planet Live in Concert, a screening of the BBC nature documentary, accompanied by live music from the Seven Worlds Orchestra, that was rescheduled previously due to Covid. The O2 (North Greenwich), from £52, book ahead, doors 6.30pm
SAFARI THROUGH SCIENCE: Australian radio and TV presenter and author Dr Karl Kruszelnicki teams up with the Royal Institution to live stream a whistle stop tour through many aspects of science. Prepare to learn some amazing facts — and then go head-to-heard in an interactive quiz. Aimed at age 13+. Online event, pay what you can, book ahead, 7.30pm-8.45pm
Friday 1 April
Believe nothing. Trust no one. Question everything.
APRIL FOOLS FESTIVAL: We're promised "a weekend of utterly delightful nonsense" at the April Fools Festival, which brings together established and up-and-coming comedians in two days of shows covering dinosaur hunters, silent bank robberies, tiny big tops, and the like, alongside a fête of surreal stalls and stupid sports. OSO Arts Centre (Barnes), various prices, book ahead, 1-2 April
HISTORIC CRYSTAL PALACE: The area's claims to historical fame go way beyond the great glass building that burnt down in the 1930s. Long before the palace, this was an area of resorts and spas, the Great North Wood, and home to Zola and Pissarro, among others. Guide Richard Watkins leads a tour of this fascinating area, revealing its little-known history. Meet Crystal Palace Railway Station, £9-£12, book ahead, 1 and 9 April, 11am
LONDON GAMES FESTIVAL: Thumbs at the ready! The London Games Festival returns for 10 days of video games and interactive entertainment. Events are both in-person and online, and include a large-scale exhibition in Trafalgar Square, an awards ceremony, and gaming industry networking. Various locations and prices, 1-10 April
SUPERHEROES: Foundling Museum opens Superheroes, Orphans & Origins: 125 Years In Comics today. The exhibition explores the representation of foundlings, orphans, adoptees, and foster children in comics, graphic novels and sequential art from all over the world. Foundling Museum (Bloomsbury), £9.50, book ahead,1 April-28 August
CANALETTO'S VENICE REVISITED: Royal Museums Greenwich displays the complete set of 24 Venetian views painted by Canaletto in the 1730s. The National Maritime Museum exhibition looks at Canaletto's life at the height of his career, and the techniques he used to bring Venice to life. National Maritime Museum (Greenwich), adult £10/child £5, book ahead, 1 April-25 September
ACME FIRE CULT: Plant-forward, low waste BBQ outfit Acme Fire Cult open their first permanent restaurant today — it's at Dalston's 40FT Brewery. Expect dishes like grilled leeks & pistachio romesco; and beetroots with a sweet & sour dill dressing, pickled blueberries and sorrel. 40FT Brewery (Dalston)
Saturday 2 April
FAMILY FUN WEEKEND: The first weekend of every month is Family Fun Weekend at Cutty Sark, with extra workshops, songs and activities for all ages. Kids can dress up as members of the ship's crew, enjoy creative workshops on the theme of tea, and enjoy performances by the Sea Shanty Singers. Cutty Sark, included in admission, 2-3 April
CLIMB THE ROPES: Ever looked at the Cutty Sark and thought "hmm, wish I could climb that"? Us neither, but now you can, as a new rig and rope climbing experience launches on the famous tea clipper. Cutty Sark (Greenwich), adult from £41, book ahead, from 2 April
POWER UP: Science Museum's gaming extravaganza is back. Power Up has consoles, computers and video games dating back almost half a century (with modern ones thrown in too). They're all waiting to be played, across single and multi-player configurations, with leaderboards, family sessions, and adults-only nights. Science Museum (South Kensington), from £8, book ahead, 2-19 April
CRAFTY FOX: Mercato Metropolitano hosts the popular Crafty Fox craft market — and this time there's a difference. At least 70% of the products will be discounted, including end of line, slight seconds and samples. It's a great op to bag yourself bargain jewellery, ceramics and the like. Mercato Metropolitano (Elephant and Castle), free entry, just turn up, 11am-5pm
SAMPLE: Bringing together London brands and designers, makers, crafters and curators, shopping experience SAMPLE is back in North Greenwich. There are also food and drink stalls, live DJs and creative workshops. Greenwich Peninsula, free entry, book for workshops, 11am-7pm
MOORE LAUGHTER: For one night only, award-winning comedian Thanyia Moore takes to the stage at Soho Theatre accompanied by some of her comedy friends, for an evening celebrating up-and-coming talent in the UK. Soho Theatre, £13-£16, book ahead, 9pm
Sunday 3 April
FABRIC OF OUR NATION: See artist Gil Mualem-Doron's new take on the Union Jack flag at interactive installation The Fabric Of Our Nation. The flag celebrates the different communities that have contributed to the UK's cultural legacy, and has been an ongoing project since 2014. ArtsDepot (North Finchley), free entry, just turn up, 3-14 April
FAMILY DAY: Though Jewish Book Week was a few weeks ago, the fun continues with Family Day, an event aimed at younger readers. Talks includes a special pre-publication event around Michael Rosen's new book, Please Write Soon, as well as drawing workshops. Kings Place (King's Cross), various prices, book ahead, 11am-2.15pm
CITY TOUR: Need a refresher on the City of London? Join this 'highlight' tour from City Guides, and learn more about the Square Mile's landmarks, including St Paul’s Cathedral, Mercers' Hall and the Bank of England. City Information Centre (St Paul's Cathedral), £12, book ahead, 11am-12.30pm
TEDDY BEAR FESTIVAL: Teddy bear collectors, makers and dealers come together at the Hugglets Teddy Bear Festival, which has 75 stalls and thousands of teddies for sale along with clothes and accessories. Bears range from antiques to the very modern, and from a few quid to thousands of pounds in price. Kensington Town Hall, £6, book ahead, from 11.30am
SUNDAY PAPERS LIVE: The first Sunday Papers Live event in two years takes place today, bringing together experts to mull over the hot topics of the day. A panel discusses the situation in Ukraine, and other topics include chess, Himalayan exploration, the solar system, and more. Cecil Sharp House (Camden), £9 all day/£20 evening only, book ahead, 12.30pm-10pm
BOAT RACE: It's Boat Race Day, with teams from Oxford and Cambridge Universities going head to head on a course down the Thames. Get the lowdown on location, timings, fan parks and more in our guide to the Boat Races. Action starts at 2.23pm but you'll want to get there earlier to get a good view.
Urban oddity of the week
And speaking of the Boat Race, did you know that the start and finish lines are marked by these veteran bollards? The markers, in Putney (start) and Mortlake (finish) are marked with the letters UBR, for University Boat Race. It's safe to say that the riverside will be a little busier on Sunday than in our photograph.
Good cause of the week
Heard about the #CookForUkraine movement? It's a way of raising money for UNICEF's Ukraine appeal by cooking or enjoying East European food. You can participate by hosting a charity supper club or bake sale as a fundraiser (find recipe ideas here). Cafes, restaurants and bars are also taking oart by adding a small voluntary donation to their bills. Remember to upload pics of your dishes to #CookForUkraine.
