All week
WIMBLEDON BOOKFEST: Wimbledon's literary festival is bringing out the big guns this year. Get insights from the likes of Graham Norton, Cathy, Newman, Afua Hirsch and Billy Bragg, plus enjoy live comedy, concerts, and creative workshops. Wimbledon Common, various prices, book ahead, 4-14 October
THE COPYCAT: Horror movie aficionados and serial killer podcast fans, your moment has arrived. Part murder mystery, part immersive horror show, part escape room, The Copycat will put your ability to play detective to one terrifying test. COLAB Factory (London Bridge), £22.50, book ahead, 5 October-11 November
SHAKES-SCENE SHAKESPEARE: Here's a bit of dinner party fodder for you: did you know that in the 16th and 17th century it was standard for actors to receive only their own lines, rather than a whole script? Shakes-Scene takes this practice of cue-scripting and apply it to their own productions for an added touch of authenticity — meaning that when you see their production of The Taming of the Shrew, the actors will be in for just as many surprises as you. Tristan Bates Theatre, £15, book ahead, 7pm, 8-13 October
GET YOUR SKATES ON: Politically-charged theatre meets roller derby in this high octane exploration of space, gender and resistance. Let Skate Hard Turn Left introduce you to a truly badass female sporting community. Battersea Arts Centre, £13, book ahead, 8.30pm, 9-13 October
BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL: It's that time of year again...the BFI London Film Festival returns with a whopping 225 features over 12 days. Tickets to associated events are selling fast, so if you fancy getting up close and personal with the likes of Alfonso Cuarón, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Simon Amstell, you're going to have to get a move on. Various venues (central London), book ahead, 10-21 October
Monday 8 October
SCIENCE, BIAS, AND BLACK HISTORY: If science is for everyone, why do certain groups struggle to get a seat at the table? And what are the consequences of this lack of representation on scientific progress? For Black History Month, a panel of experts explores the work of black scientists past and present, showing how a lack of diversity has left us with years of bias to tackle. The Royal Institution (Mayfair), £16, book ahead, 7pm-8.30pm
THRILLER DANCE CLASS: Vincent Price said it best — no mere mortal can resist the evil of the thriller. So moonwalk your way to Drink, Shop & Do, and get Halloween-ready as you learn how to bust a move to Michael Jackson's Thriller. Drink, Shop & Do (King's Cross), £15, book ahead, 7pm-9pm
LAUGH OUT LONDON: Five heavyweights from the world of alternative comedy come to The Old Queen's Head to tickle your funny bone. Enjoy sets from Ahir Shah, Fin Taylor, Fern Brady, Jordan Brookes and MC Lou Sanders. The Old Queen's Head (Islington), £7, book ahead, 8pm
Tuesday 9 October
GIN AND CHOCOLATE MASTERCLASS: Hayman's of London has combined two of your favourite vices into one delightfully indulgent masterclass. Master chocolatier William Curley shows you how to perfectly pair handmade chocolate and gin. Hayman's Gin Distillery (Balham), £35, book ahead, 6.30pm-8pm, until 11 October
GRACEFOOL COLLECTIVE: Delve into a world of farcical stereotypes and preposterous power struggles at Gracefool Collective's genre-defying new show. This Is Really Too Much takes a satirical look at 21st century womanhood through theatre and dance. Laban Theatre (Deptford), £16, book ahead, 7.30pm
IDIOT-SYNCRASY: Dancing gents Igor Urzelai and Moreno Solinas perform their critically acclaimed show. Expect meditations on perseverance and care, as well as jumping — lots and lots of jumping. The Place (King's Cross), £17, book ahead, 7.30pm
SOD'S LAW: You are cordially invited on a musical romp through queer history with the endlessly sassy Lord Hicks. Together, you'll explore the laws, legends and liaisons that have shaped what it is to be gay through the magic of cabaret. Pleasance Theatre (Islington), £12, book ahead, 7.45pm, until 11 October
Wednesday 10 October
ART SALON: Add a touch of class and sophistication to your midweek morning with a salon dedicated to 15th century Venetian artists and in-laws Andrea Mantegna and Giovanni Bellini. Pastries are involved. The Art Workers' Guild (Bloomsbury), £25, book ahead, 9.45am-12pm
SOHO UNCENSORED: Explore 300 years of Soho's X-rated history on a guided walk through the neighbourhood's seedy underbelly. It starts near the site of a 'high class magical brothel' and only gets naughtier from there. Meet outside Eat (Soho Square), £12, book ahead, 6.30pm-8.30pm
SOUTHWARK STORYTELLING: How did St Mary Overie Dock get its name? Professional storyteller Vanessa Woolf tells the eerie tale of a faked death that goes terribly wrong by candlelight at Southwark Cathedral, while George Hoyle provides a live soundtrack. Southwark Cathedral, £10, book ahead, 7pm
FAWLTY TOWERS FEAST: Enjoy a seventies-style supper with lashings of Basil aboard The Tattershall Castle at Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience. Expect all of the farce that made the classic BBC comedy so well loved, with a three-course meal included. The Tattershall Castle, Victoria Embankment, £50, book ahead, 7.30pm-10pm
Thursday 11 October
GORGEOUS GEORGIANS: Learn how to accessorise, Georgian-style, at an interactive craft session in the neo-classical splendour of Kenwood House. Make your own bejewelled brooch, feathery fascinator or memento medal and get ready to work that 18th aesthetic. Kenwood House (Hampstead), £20, book ahead, 6pm-9pm
RECKONINGS: Discover a new generation of UK-based dance makers at Sadler's Wells. From post-modern moves to contemporary African and hip hop theatre, a whole spectrum of dance styles highlight today's most pressing socio-political issues. Sadler's Wells (Angel), £20, book ahead, 7.30pm
THE GETUP: Let funk band The Getup take you all the way to funky town with their Hammond organ and hard horn arrangements. Tonight, they're joined by soul singer Ria Currie for two steaming hot sets. Hideaway Jazz Club (Streatham), £10, book ahead, 8.30pm-11pm
Friday 12 October
APPLE 'N' SPICE: Bored of the same old Brothers Grimm fairy tales? Introduce your little ones to Indian storytelling with Apple 'n' Spice, a new multicultural tale told through dance, music, and shadow puppetry. Little Angel Studios (Islington), £13, book ahead, 10.15am, until 14 October
KERB HOUSE PARTY: Street food masters KERB want your help raising the roof at their sixth birthday party. As well as scrummy one-off KERBlaboration dishes and surprise cocktails, there's plenty of classic house party fun, including beer pong and table foosball. West Handyside Canopy (King's Cross), £6, book ahead, 6pm-11pm
THE HONEYSUCKLE REVUE: Stripping space travellers, intergalactic gag merchants, and David Bowie-themed shenanigans makes for a burlesque, dance, and cabaret show that's totally out of this world. Boldly go where no man has gone before at Cosmos, from The Honeysuckle Revue. The Albany (Fitzrovia), £18, book ahead, 7pm-10pm
A REFUGEE LOVE STORY: Inspired by the true stories of two Jewish Romanian refugees immigrating to Canada in 1908, this darkly funny musical folktale explores learning to love again after witnessing the horrors of war. Expect Klezmer. Lots and lots of Klezmer. Artsdepot (North Finchley), £20, book ahead, 8pm, until 13 October
Saturday 13 October
LONDON MEGAWALK: Up for one seriously epic amble? This 21 mile mega-walk will take you into the heart of London's hidden wilderness, from dense woodland to some of the city's highest peaks. Email guide Ian Bull for further details. Meet at Crystal Palace station, £10 suggested donation, just turn up, 9am-6pm
ADVENTURE UNCOVERED: Calling all thrillseekers! You're invited to a high octane day of talks, film screenings, exhibitions and activities for the adventure community. Be inspired by the trailblazers who, in their quest to make the most of the great outdoors, are paving the way for a more sustainable future. The Crystal (Royal Victoria Dock), from £30, book ahead, 1pm-8.30pm
NOWHERE NIGHTS: With the evenings drawing in, it's the perfect time to cosy up at a celebration of all things bohemian. Expect live jazz, spoken word, and some impromptu poems from the South Bank's typewriter bard. Tap & Bottle (Flat Iron Square), £12, book ahead, 7pm
HIP HOP KARAOKE: Whether you're a Drake fan, or Blackalicious is more your jam (good luck tackling Alphabet Aerobics), you're invited to pay tribute to your hip hop idols live on stage at the Tate. Get down early and get your hands on some free Dutch courage in the form of a can of Fourpure Juicebox. Tate Modern, £10, book ahead, 7pm-11pm
Sunday 14 October
MIDCENTURY EAST: Transform your home into something Don Draper would happily sink an Old Fashioned in with the help of this effortlessly stylish vintage interiors show. Midcentury East is back with the best in mid-century furniture, including some juicy industrial pieces salvaged from Pinewood Film Studios. Erno Goldfinger's Haggerston School, £10, book ahead, 10am-4pm
APPLES TO APPLES: Can you think of a more idyllic Sunday morning than one spent wandering through SE1's urban orchards and listed buildings? You'll be guided by community gardener and orchardist Carole Wright, who'll give you the low-down on her green infrastructure projects. Don't forget to bring an apple variety of your choice. Peabody Square (Elephant & Castle), £15-£20, book ahead, 10.30am-12.30pm
VIKING FAMILY RAVE: Why should club kids have all the fun? Take your tots to one heck of a dance party featuring confetti cannons, craft tables, giant balloons, and even a parachute dance finale. Oh, and did we mention that it's Viking-themed? Fest Camden, £10, book ahead, 2pm-4pm
