Things to do this week is sponsored by The Art of Banksy.
All week
DIWALI: Diwali — a festival of light celebrated by people from several different countries and religions, including Sikhs, Hindus, Buddhists and Jains — falls on 12 November this year. Although the free festival took place in London at the end of October, plenty of venues including museums, and Indian and Nepalese restaurants hold their own Diwali celebrations, on or around 12 November
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: The postponed-by-weather Carnaby Christmas lights are switched on Wednesday, and they're joined by Covent Garden, Regent Street and St James's and Marylebone this week. See our guide to Christmas light switch-ons to make sure you don't miss any of the action. FREE
ICE SKATING: Hand-in-hand with the Christmas lights (above) come London's winter ice skating rinks. Canary Wharf and Mayfair's rink are already open, with more ice unveiled in Battersea, Shepherd's Bush, and Wapping this week. They'll only get busier as we get closer to Christmas, so why not go for a twirl now?
DAILY MIRROR PHOTOGRAPHY: Time's running out to see free photography exhibition Putting Britain in the Picture in the lobby of One Canada Square. It features photos taken by Daily Mirror photographers over the past 120 years, covering wars, famine and natural disasters, as well as celebrities and politicians. FREE, until 14 November
MUSIC DOCUMENTARIES: A reminder that Doc 'n Roll Film Festival is going on at various locations around London and beyond, showing documentary films relating to music stars and the music industry. Until 12 November
BANGLA DRAMA: Tower Hamlets is presenting a near month-long programme of Bangla drama, which is already well under way. Check out the listings for plays, dances, monologues and more — taking place throughout the East End. Until 26 November
RED PILL: Chris, a nerdy young man is rejected romantically by his best friend Cassie, which leads to increasing isolation, and the lure of the alt-right. Red Pill — on at Kentish Town's Lion & Unicorn Theatre — explores 'the most seismic, yet least understood, political movement of our times'. 7-25 November
DRINK OF THE WEEK: The Deptford pub formerly known as the Job Centre is now back, rebranded as Jam Circus (a name some may recognise as that of a pub which used to be in nearby Brockley). Antic are running the show, so expect vintage wallpaper, mid-century modern furniture and well-priced cask ale.
READ OF THE WEEK: Did you know that Dickens tourism was a thing while the great author was still alive? That's the subject of Lee Jackson's excellent new book Dickensland, which he's just written about in an article for Londonist.
Monday 6 November
CURATOR TOUR: Bermondsey's Fashion & Textile Museum offers a private tour of its current exhibition, The Fabric of Democracy, led by curator and design historian Amber Butchart. Hear behind-the-scenes details, and discover how fabric designers and manufacturers have responded to political upheaval from the French Revolution through to Brexit. 2pm-3pm
CANDLE PAINTING: Head to Green & Stone in Chelsea for a Christmas candle painting workshop. It's for all abilities, no experience required, and takes you through designing and painting candles for a dinner table. All materials are provided. 6.30pm-8.30pm
WINTER BLUES: Singer Sarah Brown and blues and reggae harmonica player Errol Linton play an evening of Winter Blues at the Union Chapel in Islington. The event is inspired by and dedicated to American gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. 7pm
MAGIC WORKSHOP: Every Monday in November, Big Penny Social offers themed workshops, and today it's an adults-only magic class led by professional magician Tom Brace. He shows you how to read someone's mind, perform miracles with playing cards, and make things vanish and reappear. 8pm-9.30pm
MONDAYS IN LONDON: Looking for something else to do, today or any other week? Take a look at our guide to things to do in London on a Monday — we've gathered together live music venues, comedy and cabaret clubs which keep going on what is usually the quietest day of the week, along with guided walks and tours scheduled on a Monday, and a few special offers too.
Tuesday 7 November
WRAP UP LONDON: Annual charity coat collection WrapUp London returns to London stations from today, so dig out your old winter coat from the back of your wardrobe. The organisation redistributes the coats they collect to those who need them most, to help keep them warm from the winter weather. From 7 November
PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL: Organised by the team behind the Pitchfork website, Pitchfork Music Festival returns to London, with shows at more than 15 venues across seven nights, starting today. Slauson Malone 1, Joanna Sternberg and Fucked Up perform headline shows, with Dawn Richard, Black Belt Eagle Scout, RVG, Squirrel Flower, Kelly Moran, Aime Simone, Annahstasia and Hotline TNT among the others on the bill. 7-13 November
LONDON BY PUB: Hear about some of London's finest pubs and the notorious stories attached to them in this free Guildhall Library talk given by Pete Smith. It's inspired by Samuel Johnson's description of a seat in a Fleet Street tavern as ‘the throne of human felicity’. Watch in person at Guildhall Library, or online. FREE, 2pm-3pm
TOM HOLLAND: The co-host of enormously popular The Rest is History podcast delivers a free Gresham College lecture on pilgrimage. It can be difficult to fully understand why medieval folk took the time and trouble to go on a pilgrimage. This lecture will explore how tracing ancient routes on foot, and experiencing travel as people did in an age before trains and cars, can offer insights into the past. FREE, 6pm
CLINK DINNER: Dine at one of London's most unusual restaurants, The Clink at HMP Brixton. Celebrity chef Cyrus Todiwala is in the kitchen serving up a multi-course menu with a Portuguese-inspired Goan theme. 6pm-8.30pm
WINE DINNER: Whitcomb's restaurant within The Londoner hotel in Leicester Square hosts a three-course dinner, paired with award-winning Gusbourne vintage wines. It's hosted by the Gusbourne Wine Estate’s Master Sommelier, Laura Rhys, who talks you through each tipple as you tuck in. 6.30pm
GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS: A new comedy night — Good News/Bad News launches at Aces & Eights in Tufnell Park tonight, the idea being that acts bring along their best/worst news story from the last month, and run with it. Suchandrika Chakrabarti is MCing, and Kate Cheka headlines — with a number of other acts also on the docket. 7.30pm-9.30pm
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Wednesday 8 November
COUNTRY LIVING CHRISTMAS FAIR: The hygge-inducing pages of Country Living Magazine come to life this week at one of London’s finest festive fairs. Hundreds of artisanal makers showcase their wares at the Country Living Christmas Fair, where you can pick up unique gifts, beautiful decorations, and yuletide delicacies. You can also get creative with Christmas crafting, enjoy live culinary demos, or just sit back with a beverage and soak up the seasonal cheer. Our readers get 2-for-1 tickets with the code LONDONIST. 8-11 November (sponsor)
TREASON: Hot on the smokey heels of Bonfire Night, Alexandra Palace presents Treason, a musical about the events of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, with folk and pop songs accompanying the narrative. Anyone taking bets on Katy Perry's Firework being on the soundtrack? 8-18 November
WOMEN IN REVOLT: A major survey of work by over 100 women artists working in the UK from 1970 to 1990 opens at Tate Britain. Women in Revolt! explores and reflects on issues and events such as the British Women's Liberation movement, maternal and domestic experiences, Greenham Common and the peace movement, and the visibility of Black and South Asian Women artists, through painting, drawing, sculpture, film and performance. 8 November-7 April
SHAKESPEARE 400: This guided walk takes place 400 years to the day after the first collection of William Shakespeare's plays was registered at Stationers' Hall. Organised in association with London Metropolitan Archives, the tour examines how London influenced the Bard and how he left his mark on the City.The walk begins with a viewing of a copy of the First Folio at Guildhall Art Gallery. 1.30pm
MYSTERIOUS GODDESSES: This Gresham lecture considers a set of superhuman female figures found in medieval and early modern European cultures - Mother Nature, the roving nocturnal lady often called Herodias, the British fairy queen, and the Gaelic Cailleach. None seem to be surviving ancient deities, and yet there is nothing Christian about any of them either. FREE, 6pm
DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE: Head to Bertha DocHouse to watch a collection of short films, curated in collaboration with Guardian Documentaries, and followed by the filmmakers discussing their work. Topics covered in the films including vanishing languages, deepfake porn, and recent changes at Yellowstone National Park. 6.20pm
TRAVELLING VET: Author and vet Jonathan Hollins is at Stanfords in Covent Garden to discuss his new book, Vet At The End Of The Earth: Adventures with Animals in the South Atlantic. It tells of his work in remote, dangerous, and extraordinary landscapes including the Falklands, St Helena, Tristan da Cunha and Ascension. 7pm-8.30pm
PECKHAM RYE STATION: The Victorian Society offers an online talk about the recent restoration of Peckham Rye Station. Find out more about the station's architect, Charles Henry Driver, who specialised in using cast iron and polychrome masonry in his station buildings for the London Brighton & South Coast Railway. 7pm-8.30pm
Thursday 9 November
LONDON PHOTO SHOW: The Bargehouse Gallery at Oxo Tower hosts the London Photo Show, an open group exhibition giving photographers from all over the world a chance to show their work to the public. A wide range of photographic styles are on show, and it's a chance to buy work direct from the creators. 9-12 November
UK JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL: Various cinemas around London and beyond host screenings as part of the UK Jewish Film Festival from 9-19 November, with online screenings taking place the following week. The festival spans genres including drama, comedy and documentary. 9-27 November
LORD MAYOR'S SHOW: Ahead of the Lord Mayor's Show on Saturday, head to Guildhall Library for a free talk by City Guide Jill Finch about who the Lord Mayor is and what the role entails. FREE, 2pm-3pm
MUSIC AND TIME: Music is a temporal art, unfolding like a ribbon and transforming our experience of time itself. This free Gresham lecture
at LSO St Luke's demonstrates how music harnesses our unique and intricate listening faculties creating a complex interplay between sounding events and our internal predictions. FREE, 6pm
GASLIGHTS WALK: Join the Victorian Society for a guided walk around the remaining gas lamps of Westminster, and hear about how they were first introduced, how they’ve been modified over the years, and how they're being preserved today. 6pm-8.30pm
ALEXANDER BENNETT: Comedian Alexander Bennett performs his current show, I Can't Stand The Man, Myself, at Pleasance Theatre in Islington. Watch as he challenges his inner critic, tries to kill it, then comes for yours. Richard Todd is the support act. 8pm
Friday 10 November
EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL: Get down with the trumpets as the EFG London Jazz Festival returns. It takes place at venues including Barbican and Royal Festival Hall, and the programme features singer-songwriter Emeli Sande, award-winning vocalist Judi Jackson, and super group London Brew paying homage to Miles Davis' album Bitches Brew. The Opening Gala takes place at Southbank Centre tonight. 10-19 November
GHOSTS: The 10th anniversary season at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse opens with Ghosts, a play by Norwegian writer Henrik Ibsen which caused scandal when it premiered nearly 150 years ago. It's the first time Ibsen's work has been staged at this venue. 10 November-28 January
CURLING CLUB: A '90s-themed curling club opens at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross for the winter season. Book one of the six curling lanes for your group, then dance the night away to a live DJ set fuelled by cocktails from the pop-up bar. 10 November-25 February
COMBAT KARTS: 'Like a video game brought to life' is the description of Combat Karts, a new game launching in Mitcham today. Take to the real-life immersive track and go head-to-head with other players, using the latest technology on a screen in the kart itself to feel like you're in a video game. From 10 November
LAMPSHADE MAKING: Lampshade designer Alice Palmer leads a one-day lampshade making workshop at the Ham Yard Hotel. Learn about different fabrics and basic machine sewing skills, then take your lampshade home at the end of the day. Your ticket include tea, coffee, cake and lunch. 10am-3pm
POP-UP CEILIDH: Small Beer in Bermondsey hosts a pop-up ceilidh, inviting everyone to master the steps of the traditional dance, perhaps helped along by a beer or two. The musicians explain the dance as you go, so no prior knowledge or skill is necessary. 7pm-10.30pm
SOPHIE DUKER: Comedian Sophie Duker is at Bloomsbury Theatre following sold-out runs at Soho Theatre and Edinburgh Fringe. In her current show, Hag, expect gags about sex, star signs, sugar and spice. 8pm
Saturday 11 November
LORD MAYOR'S SHOW: If you're a sucker for pomp and pageantry, don't miss the Lord Mayor's Show. The event marks the outgoing Lord Mayor being replaced by the new one (this year that's Michael Mainelli), and takes the form of a procession through the City of London. FREE, from 11am (though get there earlier for a good viewpoint). Top tip: you can also get FREE ENTRY to St Paul's Cathedral on the day of the Lord Mayor's Show.
INDO + CARIBBEAN DAY: At the Museum of London Docklands' winds down its Indo + Caribbean: The creation of a culture exhibition, there's a special day of curator-led tours, talks and activities at the museum. From 11.30am
PLANTING DAY: Spend your Saturday in the fresh air in Hyde Park, helping to plant snowdrop and cyclamen bulbs to add a splash of colour — as well as much-needed nectar and pollen for bees — over the winter months. FREE, 11.30am-3.30pm
PAINT VAN GOGH: This Armistice Day, have a go at creating your own version of Van Gogh‘s Field of Poppies painting at The Art Bar In Holborn. All art supplies are provided at the Pop-Up Painting event, and no art experience is required. 3pm-5.30pm
NIGHT WALK: As winter falls, join actors, musicians and Dr Matthew Green on an immersive night walk through the slaughter grounds of Smithfield and hallowed alleys of Clerkenwell exploring how, over two thousand years, London went from darkness into light, with torch-lit performances in darkened churchyards and courts, and piping-hot wine. This two-hour walk is repeated on additional Saturdays through winter. 5pm-7pm
THE BILL REUNION: If like us, you can still remember The Bill theme tune note for note, you might want to get yourself to The Cinema Museum in Kennington, for a celebration of the defunct police show. Cast members Graham Cole (PC Tony Stamp) and Johnathan Linsley (villain Dennis Weaver) are present, and there's a screening of Cole's new film, Pareidolia, as well as meet and greets and a Q&A session. 6pm
EMPIRE STATE BASTARD: Metaller side-project of Biffy Clyro's Simon Neil and Mike Vennart, Empire State Bastard are at Electric Brixton tonight; if you need to mosh away all the woes you've acquired in the week, this is a good place to do it. From 6.30pm
SATIRICAL THEATRE: Today's your last chance to catch the current run of Oh! What A Lovely War at Artsdepot in North Finchley, part of the 60th Anniversary Tour of Joan Littlewood’s anti-war musical of the same name. The satirical production highlights the folly, farce and tragedy of the first world war. 7.30pm
Sunday 12 November
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY: Today is Remembrance Sunday, with plenty of memorial events going on all over the country, including the parade to the Cenotaph. Expect road closures around the Whitehall area for most of the morning and into the afternoon, and at various other war memorial locations, including Euston and Borough High Street. Many place will also hold a silence at 11am.
REGENT'S PARK 10K: At time of writing, there's still time to sign up for the Regent's Park 10K and start your Sunday with a run around Regent's Park, passing the Broad Walk, boating lake, and the perimeter of London Zoo. It's a three-lap route on tarmac paths, with medals for all finishers and trophies for the winners. 9am
CHRISTMAS MARKET: Festive fair and Christmas market season is well underway in London (here's our full guide) and today it's the turn of Big Penny Social in Walthamstow to host local craftspeople at the Christmas Maker's Market. Vintage bric-a-brac, plants, jewellery, food, ceramics and candles are among the products on offer. 11am-5pm
ENCHANTED CINEMA: Take the kids along to Horniman Museum for an interactive Enchanted Cinema event, where they're involved in creating the soundtrack using instruments, hands and voices. Where the Wild Things Are and My Neighbour Totoro are today's films. 11.30am/1.30pm/3.45pm
FOCUS: In our humble opinion, Dutch prog rockers Focus had one of THE great guitar tracks, with their 1971 noodling extravaganza Hocus Pocus. They're at Bush Hall this afternoon to play that, and other tracks. But really, it'll be worth going for that song alone. Now we've said all that, let's hope they play it... 3pm
SEASIDE SPECIAL: Bertha DocHouse in Bloomsbury screens Seaside Special (2019), by German filmmaker Jens Meurer. It was shot in the seaside town of Cromer in the style of a variety performance, at a time when the country was grappling with the fallout of Brexit. 3.30pm
FASHION & CINEMA: Award-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming is at the Soho Hotel to talk about her career, and the crossover between the worlds of fashion and film. It's also a chance to get a preview of the wardrobe of the upcoming Wonka film, as well as an insight into working on Bond, Batman, Harry Potter and Paddington films. 4.15pm
Museum treasure of the week
Bear grease... for baldness? Quack doctors used to peddle all kinds of unlikely substances, including these ursine unguents to make hair grow. The display is just one of the many fascinating corners of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's museum near Tower Bridge. It's free to visit, and you can just walk in during normal office hours. Find out more in our recent feature.
Good cause of the week
Coat appeal! As well as the Wrap Up London appeal (see Tuesday) at mainline stations, west Londoners can also donate their unwanted winter coats to a separate initiative. Ealing Broadway shopping centre has partnered with voluntary charity Calling London to collect and redistribute warm winter coats as we head into the colder months.
From now until Thursday 23 November, visitors are invited to drop off clean, pre-loved coats of all sizes to the centre’s donation box, located outside Tiger. Shoppers can donate anything from wool coats to ski jackets. All donations will be collected by Calling London and distributed to other Londoners who cannot afford to buy first-hand.
