All weekend
SAMPLE AUTUMN: Get your hands on something truly original; emerging fashion, beauty, art, lifestyle and homeware designers are showcasing their new work — including some special one-off pieces as well as high end labels such as Chloe and Celine from the One and Only Designer Sale — all curated by Hemingway Design. The seasonal food market will provide a real taste of autumn, and there will be live music from Giles Peterson's label Brownswood Recordings. Greenwich Peninsula, free entry, just turn up, 2-3 September (sponsor)
EXTRA ORDINARY OBJECTS: At Somerset House there are extra ordinary objects on show this weekend. They're definitely extraordinary because The Learned Society of Extra Ordinary Objects is presenting them and they should know, right? Somerset House, free, just turn up, 10am-6pm, until 3 September
ANARCHY SCHOOL: If you're one of those parents who is a glutton for punishment, then by all means accompany your kids to this exhibit, where they can learn to cause even more trouble on an epic scale. Sutton House, £6, noon-4.30pm, until 3 September
BIG SMALLS: Celebrate groundbreaking and cutting-edge short films at The Smalls Film Festival where independent creatives engage in screenings, masterclasses, industry sessions, panel discussions and a succession of lively parties. Calvert 22 (Shoreditch), £7/£10/£25, until 4 September
FOOTWEAR FANATICS: Fan of Star Wars? Fan of shoes? Then this niche exhibit is for you as the Museum of Brands launches the Star Wars Po-Zu footwear collection. The sustainable footwear is inspired by the Star Wars characters including Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, BB-8, Chewbacca and the First Order Stormtroopers. Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising (Ladbroke Grove), £9, just turn up, until 12 November
Saturday 2 September
WILDLIFE WEEKEND: Grab your wellies, fishing nets, your kids and have some fun pond dipping and bug hunting. As well as discovering London's micro beasts you can also take part in games, stories and sing-songs to keep you and the family entertained. Camley Street Natural Park, free, just turn up, 10.30am-1pm
FOOD FAYRE: It's almost back to school time, so defy the curriculum one last time and head out to... the British Library? They've got a splendid spread at their family food fayre with everyone's BBQ favourites, apply variety tasting and treasure trails. British Library (King's Cross), free, just turn up, 11am-4pm
BOND IN MOTION: Immerse yourself in the world of 007 at the London Film Museum. See Bond's Aston Martin in all its glory, along with over 100 other items from one of the world's longest running film series. Covent Garden, £12, 11am-5pm
FAMILY FILM FEST: Take the family along to Bromley for a fun day of cinema, including balloon modelling, animation workshops, arts and crafts, and other film-based events. Beckenham Place Park Mansion, free, just turn up, 11am-6.30pm
GARDEN SHOW:Let the countryside come to you at the Phoenix Garden Agricultural Show. Watch the Morris men strut their stuff, and check out some rare breed farm animals before you take in a traditional Punch and Judy show. St Giles in the Fields Churchyard, free, just turn up, noon-6pm
GAMEPAD: Life isn't all fun and games —that's why you should play as many as you can when you have the chance. Mayamada GamePad is offering a day of video, card, and board games. Maker Wharf, £10, book ahead, noon-7pm
SHORT FILM FEST: Hear the sounds from space as filmmakers from across the globe have created a wide array of films exploring the strange sounds from the cosmos. Drinks reception and audience Q&A to follow. Rich Mix, £5, book ahead, 1.30pm-3.30pm
RANSACK NEW CROSS: Aussie rockers Mis-Made have hit the capital for the finale of their European tour, supported by IDestroy, Healthy Junkies, Twisted Dolls, and Yur Mum. New Cross Inn, £8, just turn up, 4pm-11.45pm
COLOMBIAN FOOD: Taste unique tropical flavours on this 3.5 hour culinary tour of Colombian food, right here in London. You might want to arrive with an empty stomach for this one, as tickets include plenty of tastings. Elephant and Castle tube, £45, book ahead, 5pm-8.30pm
MURDER ON THE TERRACE: Enjoy an evening of interactive theatre and attempt to solve a murder mystery. The play is Downton meets Agatha Christie so expect lords of the manor, pomp and perfect elocution. Forty Hall Estate, £7, book ahead, 7pm-9.30pm
DIEMONDS: These Canadian headbangers will be at the Underworld for the London stop on the European leg of their Make America Headbang Again tour. There's no dress code, but black jeans and black shirts with satanic pictures on them are a wise bet. The Underworld (Camden), £12, book ahead, 7pm-10pm
LOBSTER DATING: If you're not too nervous on a date, and more than comfortable with stuffing your face, then "eat, meet and mingle" with the Lobster Supper Club. London Cooking Project, £35, book ahead, 7pm-11pm
STARRY NIGHT: The folks over at PopUp Painting are at it again, this time offering wannabe creatives the chance to paint a starry sky like Van Gogh. No experience is needed and all equipment is provided. Follow along with the on-hand tutor or just wing it. The Castle (Farringdon), £29.99, book ahead, 7.30pm-10pm
Sunday 3 September
GEOMETRIC PLAYGROUND: This is one art installation that actively encourages touching, prodding, turning, pulling and swinging, and today's your last chance to see it. This might be one of the only carefree trips to a museum that you'll have with your kids so take advantage of it. Discovery Children's Story Centre, £7, just turn up, 10am-5pm
LENS ON SYRIA: This intimate exploration into the Syrian conflict, curated by Queen Mary University, addresses the consequences of the war in Syria through a collection of photographs by award-winning Russian documentary photographer Sergey Ponomarev. Today's your last chance to see it. Imperial War Museum, free, 10am-6pm
SHAVASANA DISCO: Get some (Radio)headspace with this guided meditation session and album listening party, taking place in the same very studio that Radiohead's The Bends LP was cut to tape. RAK Studios, free via ballot entry, book ahead, 11am-1pm
REJUVENATED JUNK: Watch as the disposed and discarded gain a new lease of life. Everything in this exhibition used to be something else. The hats used to be tin cans, and the bags were ring pulls. Heath Robinson Museum, £6, book ahead, 11am-4pm
PHOTO EXPO: This exhibition features the best snaps from the international Travel Photographer of the Year awards. Have a look at these award winning images from around the world — today's your last chance to catch the exhibition. University of Greenwich, free, just turn up, 11am- 7.30pm
POPLAR PARTY: Head to Cotall Street and discover Poplar's past, present and future. Or just turn up for some soap making, biscuit decorating, and MOO Canoe tasting. There's plenty of music, poetry and food too. Poplar Union, free, just turn up, noon-5pm
MEATOPIA: Get a load of this carnivorous festival of meat and fire with intense flavours from some of your favourite restaurants and foodie brands. If you start to get the meat sweats, take a break with some live music, DJs, informal workshops, street theatre and chef talks. Tobacco Dock, £23, noon-7pm
AFRO BEACH: Grab your string vest, put on your best skanking shoes and finish the summer at this beach party celebrating Caribbean culture and music. BeachEast Amusement Park, from £10, book ahead, noon-11pm
DOG SHOW: If you're crazy about canines then you'd be barking mad not to visit the Annual Fun Dog Show, which has a full day of dog inspired competitions including "wiggliest tail" and "best trick". Mudchute Park and Farm, free, book ahead, 1pm-4pm
EID FAYRE: Join for a day of great grub at the grill, tee-total tipple and happy high-noon hijinks at this wild west themed Eid fayre. Funds raised will go to Walou, a charity supporting street children in Morocco. The Woodlawns Centre (Streatham), £2, just turn up, 2pm-6pm
A VERY SECRET WAR: Learn about one of the greatest deceptions of the second world war, which involved British Intelligence bugging the conversations of over 10,000 German prisoners-of-war. Forty Hall Estate, £5, 3pm-4pm
WARHOLIAN HACKNEY: An evening of music, dance, films and colouring-in inspired by Andy Warhol. The best, or rather, the most eclectically-dressed will also receive 15 minutes of fame. Farr's School of Dancing, £5, just turn up, 5.30pm-11pm
LGBT FILM: British independent producers Jack Tarling and Manon Ardissonare discussing the breakthrough success of Francis Lee's Sundance debut hit God's Own Country, and why bringing this powerful and complex LGBT narrative to the big screen was so important to them. This event will include a screening of the film. Rich Mix, £11, book ahead, 6pm-8.35pm
DRAYTON TRENCH: Head to the Museum of Comedy for an acclaimed live recording of this detective caper involving a kidnapped archaeologist, the lost tomb of Cesar, a sadistic assassin, and a Transylvanian Countess. Museum of Comedy, £10, book ahead, 7pm
GUITAR FEST: The Ealing Guitar Society presents an evening with Valerie Hartzell. Hartzell is an American guitarist who has performed on BBC Radio 3, In Tune. St Matthew's Church Hall, £13, book ahead, 7.30pm-9pm
SHARP TEETH: Absorb an eclectic evening of alternative poetry, short stories, and rap. Previous evenings have included varied stories and raps on things like stolen bikes and Lance Armstrong getting lost in an bathtub of meat, so who knows what you'll be in store for this evening. Theatre 503, £12, book ahead, 7.45pm
