Things to do this week is sponsored by London Transport Museum.
All week
REPAIR WEEK: The annual London Repair Week aims to equip Londoners with the skills needed to repair old items, rather than throwing them away and replacing them with new ones. Keep an eye on the website for details of repair hubs and workshops, spanning everything from furniture and upholstery to electricals. 3-9 March
FUTURE FILM FESTIVAL: Catch the final week of the BFI's Future Film Festival, for aspiring filmmakers aged 16 to 25. Masterclasses, workshops, panel discussion and interviews are all on the events programme, both here in London and online. Until 6 March
BIRDSONG: Based on Sebastian Faulks' acclaimed novel, Birdsong retells the passionate affair of Stephen Wraysford and Isabelle Azaire amidst the horrors of the First World War. This week is your last chance to see the production at the Alexandra Palace Theatre. Until 8 March
FASHION RENEGADES: The Fashion & Textile Museum's Outlaws: Fashion Renegades of 80s London centres around legendary nightclub Taboo, opened by designer and performance artist Leigh Bowery in 1985, and looks at how its dress code and hedonistic philosophy influenced fashion. This is its final week (see Monday, below, for a special tour). Until 9 March
JEWISH BOOK WEEK: Radioactive toothpaste, football management, Iran's nuclear ambitions, concert pianist Myra Hess and Trump's second term are among the subjects tackled by experts at Jewish Book Week at Kings Place. Many of the events are available online if you can't attend in person. Until 9 March
ORDINARY MADNESS: Ordinary Madness at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith is in its final week. It's a theatrical exploration inspired by the life of Charles Bukowski, showcasing the beauty in the mundane. Through six short stories set against the backdrop of 1950s-1970s America, it reflects on the lives of ordinary people and the challenges they face. Until 9 March
LITERARY FOOTPRINTS: Dickens, Mrs Dalloway, Rivers of London and Wolf Hall. Just some of the topics covered through walking tours and online events as part of Literary Footprints Festival this week. Expert guides from Footprints of London host the events. Until 31 March
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY: Saturday 8 March is International Women's Day and March as a whole is Women's History Month, so there are plenty of events going on to celebrate the achievements of women. We've highlighted some of our favourites, but keep an eye out for lots more happening at various venues.
EAT OF THE WEEK: From Tuesday, Market Halls Paddington flings opens its doors, boasting a panoply of tasty traders, including BAO Night Market, Breddos, Gopal's Corner by Roti King, Black Bear Burger, 20ft Fried Chicken and Farm Girl. In short: you won't go hungry. From 4 March
PUB OF THE WEEK: It's one of London's more touristy pubs, but nonetheless the Horniman at Hays commands fine riverside views, its terrace overlooking the Thames at London Bridge — and it's just reopened following a refit. Worth having in the back of your mind, especially for when the springtime sunshine eventually makes an appearance.
TICKET OP OF THE WEEK: The BBC's Antiques Roadshow is coming to Stephens House & Gardens in Finchley (read our article about this fascinating venue here) on 1 June. If you fancy being one of those people who hovers in the background then raises an eyebrow and goes "Ohh" when Kate Flitcroft tells them their brooch is worth three grand, apply for free tickets now.
Monday 3 March
EXHIBITION TOUR: As mentioned above, Outlaws: Fashion Renegades of 80s London at the Fashion and Textile Museum closes this week. This afternoon, there's a chance to take a tour of the display led by curator Martin Green while it's closed to the general public, with a chance to ask your questions, and get a behind-the-scenes insight into how it was put together. 2pm-4pm
OSCARS PUB QUIZ: Following this years Oscars film awards ceremony, head along to the Golden Hinde for a pub quiz on the topic. Swot up on Hollywood history and this year's contenders for a chance to win prizes including Golden Hinde tickets and rounds of drinks. Teams of up to six people, £3 per person. 7pm
MANSFIELD PARK: Last chance to see students from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama performing Mansfield Park, Jonathan Dove's opera based on Jane Austen’s novel, marking the 250th anniversary of the author's birth. See it at Barbican's Silk Street Theatre. 7pm
BLITHE SPIRIT: Croydon's marvellous David Lean Cinema celebrates its 30th birthday with a screening of a 1945 film directed by its namesake. Blithe Spirit is a black comedy about writer Charles Condomine (played by Rex Harrison) who is harassed by the ghost of his late wife Elvira (Kay Hammond). 7.30pm
STATE OF THE UNION: Hampstead's Heath Street Baptist Church hosts State of the Union, a live music night combining American and English influences. Bluesy Americana stalwart Brooks Williams and cult British singer-songwriter Boo Hewerdine perform live. 7.30pm
COMEDY PODCAST: Another chance to be in the audience for a live recording of Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast. Guest this time round is comedian John Kearns, who is interviewed by Herring on topics which may be too controversial to make it into the final edit of the podcast. 7.30pm
Tuesday 4 March
PANCAKE DAY: Today is Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day, so book yourself a slot at one of these top pancake spots in London (or check out your vegan and gluten-free options). Take a look at Pancake Day races and special events happening around town too.
ROMEO AND JULIET: Shakespeare's love story Romeo and Juliet is retold through ballet. Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet celebrates its 60th anniversary with performances by the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House, transporting you to Renaissance-era Verona via sword fights and a masked ball. 4 March-26 May
CARBON OFFSETTING: We hear a lot about offsetting our carbon emissions these days, but does it really work? That's the topic of tonight's Gresham College lecture given by Professor Myles Allen who talks about why it's a controversial idea, who decides what counts as 'unavoidable' emissions, and what strategies we could adopt to offset future emissions. Watch in person at Barnard's Inn Hall, or online. FREE, 6pm
THE CANTERBURY TALES: Tonight's edition of weekly series The Conversation at St Martin-in-the-Fields features Professor of English Language and Literature at Oxford, Marion Turner, discussing Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and what they tell us about power and prosperity and sex and society, as well as about London itself. After hearing from Turner, take part in a discussion on the topic with fellow attendees. 6.30pm
PAULINE BLACK: Pauline Black, the lead singer of the 2-Tone band The Selecter, shares her life story alongside a special screening of new documentary Pauline Black: A Two Tone Story, at Karma Sanctum Soho. The evening features a Q&A with Black and director Jane Mingay, alongside journalist Chris Salewicz, and a DJ set afterwards. 7pm-11.30pm
CHIPPY TEA: Comedy twosome Bab are back at Aces and Eights in Tufnell Park to host another Chippy Tea comedy night; acts this time include Jin Hao Li, Kit Lloyd and Mark Silcox (the latter of which you'll almost certainly recognise from his many TV comedy cameos). 7.30pm-9.30pm
MARVEL CONCERT EXPERIENCE: Be quick if you want tickets to Marvel Studios' The Infinity Saga Concert Experience at Southbank Centre, as there are only a few left at time of writing. Music from 23 of Marvel’s most iconic films is played by a live orchestra, while scenes from the likes of Iron Man, Captain America and Thor are shown on a large screen. 7.30pm (repeated Saturday)
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Unleash your inner engineer after-hours at London Transport Museum
An evening of interactive fun awaits at London Transport Museum on Friday 7 March. Museum Late: Going Underground invites you to think like an engineer, with a range of activities to test your creativity and problem-solving skills.
Here, you’ll have the chance to make (and race!) balloon-powered vehicles, build sturdy bridges, and use snap circuits to reveal how Tube stations are powered. There are expert talks and demos too, plus the chance to roam London Transport Museum’s galleries after dark (if anyone needs us, we’ll be appeasing our inner child on the Elizabeth line train simulator).
Tempted, but loath to miss Friday drinks? The Thirst Trap are bringing their pop up cocktail bar to London Transport Museum – problem solved! As you sip your drink, you’ll even have the chance to enjoy a performance from LGBTQ+ community choir the Pink Singers. Bet your local pub can’t beat that!
Museum Late: Going Underground. 6.30pm-10pm on Friday 7 March at London Transport Museum (Covent Garden).
Wednesday 5 March
NOWRUZ FESTIVAL: Lauderdale House in Highgate celebrates Nowruz Festival (Persian New Year) with a special programme of events beginning today. View an exhibition of four UK-based Iranian illustrators in the Lower Gallery, or a display of Persian calligraphy in the Upper Gallery. Events later in the festival include live music and a family day. FREE, from 5 March
ALTERNATIVE BOOK FAIR: Coinciding with the start of London Book Fair 2025, the Alternative Book Fair is a week of author events to bring the world of publishing and literature to a wider audience, especially aspiring authors, emerging writers and avid readers. All events are free, and include an indie press book fair, and a special International Women's Day panel discussion. 5-8 March
BIG BITE-SIZE SHOW: It's been running at Edinburgh Fringe for 18 years, and now The Big Bite-Size Show comes to London for the first time, with each show featuring eight mini plays, each 10-15 minutes long. The production at Islington's Pleasance Theatre comprises fab favourites from over the years. One programme runs 5-8 March, and the other 12-15 March
WEATHER GIRL: A new show by the producers of Fleabag and Baby Reindeer, Weather Girl tells the story of Stacey, a California weather girl who discovers something which will save the planet. See it at Soho Theatre. 5 March-5 April
WAR POETRY: Professor Tim Kendall is at the London Archives to talk about the poetry of the Second World War. Find out why the poets writing at this time never reached as wide an audience as their predecessors from previous conflicts, and take part in a Q&A following the talk. The event ties in with the venue's current Blitz exhibition. 5.30pm-7pm
ELEANOR OF CASTILE: Historian Louise Wilkinson gives an online talk about medieval queen Eleanor of Castile, wife of Edward I. Though she was known as a supportive partner, she had a more sinister side, as is revealed in this National Archives event. 7.30pm
BARBIE IN CONCERT: Dig your summer 2023 Barbiecore outfit back out of your wardrobe and head to the Royal Albert Hall for a screening of the film, starring Margot Robbie, America Ferrera and Ryan Gosling. All-female orchestra the Barbie Land Sinfonietta perform the soundtrack live as the film plays. 7.30pm
Thursday 6 March
THE OTHER ART FAIR: The Other Art Fair takes over the Old Truman Brewery for four days of artwork that's designed to be accessible to all. Affordable and original pieces are up for grabs, alongside immersive installations, live performances and a bar. 6-9 March
KINOTEKA: The 23rd edition of the Kinoteka Polish Film Festival takes place at cinemas across London, spanning categories including new Polish cinema, classics and documentaries. Headline events this year including screenings of films about the Holocaust, and matinee showings of animated films for younger cinema-goers. 6 March-25 April
HELEN OXENBURY: Burgh House in Hampstead opens new exhibition Helen Oxenbury: Illustrating the Land of Childhood, the first ever solo exhibition of work by the children's illustrator. View her original paintings and sketches, from books including We're Going On A Bear Hunt. FREE, 6 March-14 December
HORNIMAN MUSEUM LATE: Cyberdance is the theme of this month's Horniman Late. The Forest Hill museum hosts an evening of live music re-imagining the instrument collection with a new take on traditional sounds, along with a mask-making workshop and other activities. FREE, 5.30pm-10pm
GALLERY HOP: Londonist art critic Tabish Khan leads a guided gallery hop — a tour through independent galleries in St James’s, from mega dealers to scholarly galleries, second hand dealers and gallery shops. A member of staff is on hand at each stop to give an introductory talk about the venue. 6pm-8pm
WILD MOROCCO: Join authors Lola Culsán and Danny Weller at OWL bookshop in Kentish Town for a conversation about all things Morocco, delving into the country’s natural beauty and uncovering the hidden treasures of this captivating North African destination. There will be a chance to buy their new book on the subject afterwards. 6.30-8.15pm
SPACE LATES: Also open late tonight is the Science Museum, for an evening themed on space ahead of the closure of the Exploring Space gallery (don't worry, it's being replaced by a new space gallery, opening this autumn). At the late you can watch pop-up debates about topics in space research, make your own spacelet (that's a space bracelet), or dance at a silent disco in the gallery. FREE ENTRY (charge for some activities), 6.30pm-10pm
GLEE DRAG SHOW: Join a raucous cast of top drag and cabaret talent as they pay tribute to TV show Glee at The Clapham Grand. Don't Stop Believin': The Ultimate Glee Drag Show takes you right back to the music room at William McKinley High — the show itself may have been deeply flawed, but the tunes were good. Age 18+. 6.30pm-10.30pm
Friday 7 March
COGNAC SHOW: Sample some 250 cognacs, armagnacs and calvadoses at the Cognac Show at Glaziers Hall, London Bridge today and tomorrow. Though we wouldn't recommend trying them ALL, you'll certainly want to make the most of your 'Dream Pour' token, included in the ticket price, which gives you the chance to try a rare cognac worth up to £499 a bottle. 7-8 March
MOVE IT: Claiming to be the world's biggest dance event, Move It comes to Excel Centre. Watch performances on three different stages, with Love Island’s Molly Marsh, Strictly Come Dancing finalist Layton Williams and Dance Moms Gianna Martello taking part. There are also competitions, and companies including Disney and Royal Caribbean hold auditions for dancers to join their crews. 7-9 March
PHOTOGRAPHY PRIZE: View works by the four shortlisted photographers of this year's Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize. Cristina De Middel, Rahim Fortunem, Tarrah Krajnak and Lindokuhle Sobekwa's photos are on show, spanning documentary photography, constructed images, self-portraiture, performance and family archives from around the world. The winner is announced on 15 May. 7 March-15 June
WINDRUSH HOUSE PARTY: Head to Woolwich Works for a special take on a house party, hosted by author and Windrush historian Tony Fairweather. Taking place in the current Windrush Front Room exhibition, the party features DJ sets, book signings, Windrush music, comedy, and a rather rum-heavy bar. 6pm
INCLUSIVE CLUB NIGHT: Grand Junction in Paddington teams up with Learning Disability Network London to launch new, inclusive event VIP Club Night. It's aimed at adults with learning disabilities, neurodiverse people, and everyone else, and takes the form of a club night with sets from DJ Yousife + DJ T!SCO, plus live music, a chill-out zone and a fashion show. 7pm-10pm
DIRTY DANCING SING ALONG: Leicester Square's Prince Charles Cinema — which currently faces an uncertain future — screens 1987 film Dirty Dancing. It's a sing along showing, so warm up your pipes to have the Time Of Your Life. Fancy dress is encouraged too. 8.30pm
Saturday 8 March
SIX NATIONS: As we enter the penultimate weekend of this year's Six Nations tournament, Ireland take on France (Saturday, 2.15pm), Scotland play Wales (Saturday, 6.45pm), and England go head-to-head against Italy (Sunday, 3pm). Whoever you're supporting, find somewhere to do so with our guide to pubs, bars and other venues which are showing Six Nations. And you'll want to book aheads if you want a spot to watch next weekend's final matches, too.
HOLI ASTRONOMY SHOW: Celebrate Holi, the festival of colours, at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, which hosts a family-friendly live show about South Asian astronomy. Find out how the Moon's appearance and position in the sky is linked to South Asian calendar systems, and learn more about India's space exploration achievements. Age 7+. 10.30am
COWBOY BRUNCH: Saddle up for The Fable's Ride A Cowboy brunch, where cowboy hats are a must. Expect an afternoon of country outfits, live music, DJs, line dancing, and country pop tunes. Choose between drinks tickets or brunch tickets — the latter includes a cocktail and a brunch dish. 12pm-5pm
DAMAGE IS DONE: If you've got cochleas made of steel, wrap them around the Damage Is Done hardcore music festival at Colour Factory in Hackney Wick today. On the docket are Blade, Cannonball, Straight To Hell and plenty of other noise artesans. 2pm-10.30pm
WOW AT 15: Celebrate 15 years of Women of the World — or WOW — Festival, with a special evening at the Royal Albert Hall. WOW founder Jude Kelly hosts, accompanied by activist Angela Davis. The event will include music and discussion celebrating the achievements of women, girls, and non-binary people across the globe, with guests including Annie Lennox, Sandi Toksvig, and Anoushka Shankar. 7pm
BUSHY COMEDY: Bushy Comedy brings a lively night of entertainment to the Hoxton Hotel in Shepherd's Bush, featuring performances from acts like Bobby Mair, Lianna Holston, Chantal Nash, and Adam Greene, hosted by Frances Keyton. 7pm-9.30pm
BEE GEES TRIBUTE: Hear hits such as Stayin’ Alive and Night Fever performed live at The Magic of the Bee Gees tribute concert at Croydon's Fairfield Halls. A light and video display accompanies the music, showcasing the Bee Gees' performances over the decades. 7.30pm
Sunday 9 March
CHOCOLATE CAKE MASTERCLASS: Geanina Ursache, semi-finalist on British Bake Off: The Professionals 2021 leads a masterclass showing you how to make the perfect chocolate cake. Over 4.5 hours, learn how to bake a rich and moist cake, create silky smooth ganache, craft a chocolate mousse, and layer and finish it like a professional chef. Takes place at Prestige Patisserie in Tottenham. 12pm
CANALSIDE SESSIONS: Master conga player Williams Cumberbache can be found at Grow in Hackney Wick for a few hours this afternoon, for another of his chilled Canalside Sessions, where he's joined by a special guest band. FREE, 1pm-4pm
THE BRUTALIST: Treat yourself to a film screening in a cosy cinema with a three-course meal or afternoon tea (plus champagne too if you're pushing the boat out) at Firmdale Film Club. Today's film is The Brutalist, about an architect and his wife fleeing post-war Europe for the USA in 1947. 5pm
BALLET ICONS: Ballet stars from leading theatres such as the Royal Ballet, Berlin State Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, La Scala, Paris Opera Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre take to the stage at the London Coliseum for the Ballet Icons Gala, accompanied by the English National Ballet Philharmonic Orchestra. 7pm
ARCHITECTURE ON STAGE: Stirling Prize-winning architect Niall McLaughlin is the latest participant in Barbican's Architecture on Stage series. McLaughlin gives a talk exploring "the role that buildings play in giving form to extended time". 7pm
ROSIE HOOD BAND: Finish off your week with some live music: The Rosie Hood Band takes to the stage at The Water Rats in King's Cross for an evening of traditional English folk songs. 8pm
COMEDY: Darren Harriott, Esther Manito and Marlon Davis are on the bill at Leicester Square's 99 Club this evening — three pros who you may well recognise off the telly. 8.30pm-10.30pm
