All weekend
SANTANDER CYCLES CHANGES: A warning that from the evening of Friday 13 November, the Santander Cycles service won't be available until Tuesday 17 November. This is because TfL is launching a new Santander Cycles app with some upgrades. The cycles will be available again from Tuesday evening, when the new app will be up and running, and the old app will no longer work.
MIRACLE CHRISTMAS BAR: If you like your Christmases like your aunt used to do it in the eighties (i.e. by the absolute bucketload) Miracle is the place for you. The blindingly kitsch festive pop-up bar is back, with as many decorations as they can squeeze in, alongside an OTT Christmas cocktail menu which we've rather enjoyed slurping our way through in years gone by. Miracle has a new, bigger location this year, on Russell Street in Covent Garden. 9 November-30 December 2026. For more like this, see our guide to London's best winter and Christmas pop-up bars.
AN OAK TREE: Tim Crouch's experimental play An Oak Tree is at the Other Palace until this weekend, with Crouch joined by a different guest co‑star at each performance — Katherine Parkinson on Saturday, and Suranne Jones on Sunday. The piece examines loss, suggestion and blame following a fatal accident involving a stage hypnotist. Until 15 November 2026
INSIDE AARDMAN: Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit at the Young V&A celebrates the 50th anniversary of the stop-motion studio with models, sets and storyboards from Aardman's archives, many of which have never been on public display before. This weekend is your last chance to see it. Until 15 November 2026
FIREFLY FESTIVE FOREST: A new Christmas attraction for 2026, the Firefly Festive Forest opens on Sloane Street in Chelsea. It's a free outdoor art trail of 30+ Christmas tree sculptures, designed by artists including Alison Jackson, Charlotte Colbert and Tom Faulkner. It's one of our picks of free festive things to do in London this Christmas. FREE, 12 November-1 December 2026
BLOOMSBURY DUO: Vanessa Bell — sister of Virginia Woolf — and her husband Duncan Grant were the most famous artistic duo of the Bloomsbury Group. View their works and learn about their relationship in a new exhibition at Tate Britain. 12 November 2026-11 April 2027
SYLVIA: The rebellious middle child of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst is the subject of the musical Sylvia, which transfers from the Old Vic to a short run at the Royal Albert Hall this weekend. It uses a soundtrack of hip‑hop, funk and soul music, with Beverley Knight appearing as Emmeline Pankhurst and Naomi Katiyo as Sylvia. 13-15 November 2026
EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL: Get down with the trumpets at the EFG London Jazz Festival, which kicks off its first weekend of 2026 with an array of concerts and events — including a Jazz FM live broadcast and performances by Ineza, Faris Ishaq and Chip Wickham. 13-22 November 2026
WUNDRFUL WORLD OF CHRISTMAS: Some might say that mid-November is too early to be getting the kids wound up for Christmas. But if that's not you, take them along to the Wundrful World of Christmas at Excel, where they can meet Santa and his elves via a mixed reality experience, including riding a special lift to the North Pole and visiting the North Pole Post Office. 13 November-24 December 2026
CHRISTMAS AT KEW: We know we shouldn't have favourites, but we have a soft spot for Christmas at Kew, the spectacular light and illuminations festival that glows up the gardens each winter. Over a million lights and thousands of laser beams go into creating the event, which also features a fire garden, light tunnel and illuminated trees. 13 November 2026-3 January 2027. Find other light festivals in London this winter.
ALICE IMMERSIVE WONDERLAND: 10 large-scale rooms bring Alice's Wonderland to life with live performance, interactive games and a 20-minute 360° projection finale. New experience Alice Immersive Wonderland opens at Dock X in Canada Water, offering the chance to meet Lewis Carroll's zany characters and step into scenes including the Mad Hatter's Tea Party and the Cheshire Cat's Forest. From 13 November 2026
CLUB NVRLND: Immersive nightclub experience Club Nvrlnd transforms the Vaults in Waterloo into Peter Pan's underground nightclub. The audience becomes part of a nostalgic party, with a soundtrack of 2000s hits from the likes of Britney Spears, Rihanna, P!nk, Outkast and Coldplay. 14 November 2026-31 January 2027
LIGHT +FLIGHT: The London borough of Barnet offers two weekends of free events and activities for Light + Flight Festival. This first weekend sees large-scale art installations, live music, film, performance, creative workshops and the unveiling of a major new artwork, at Finchley Lakeside. FREE, 14-22 November 2026
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TRAIN: Choo choo! All aboard the Epping Ongar Lights Express, a special ride on a train bedecked with fairy lights. Once on board, admire specially-installed illuminations through the windows. New for 2026, there are three different themed rides to choose from. 14 November 2026-2 January 2027
Saturday 14 November
BENGALURU TO BETHLEM: Today's the final day to see the Bethlem Museum of the Mind's exhibition Manasa Chitra: the Art of Mental Health from Bengaluru to Bethlem, which contains works by artists from India who have a lived experience of mental distress. FREE, 9.30am-5pm
SPITALFIELDS TO STEPNEY GREEN: Explore 500 years of architectural and social history on this walking tour through the East End. The route takes in Georgian buildings, Brick Lane, Altab Ali Park, synagogues, the former Whitechapel Bell Foundry and Stepney Green, examining the area's Huguenot, Jewish and Bangladeshi communities. 10am
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 (or in this case, Lady) Mayor being replaced by the new one, and takes the form of a procession through the City of London. For the first time in several years, things kick off with a river pageant. FREE, procession from 11am
FAMILY CONCERT: 'Recorder explorer' Sarah Jeffery leads an interactive family concert at St Michael & All Angels Church in Blackheath, exploring everything from the world's tiniest recorder to the square contrabass recorder. The Wrong Recorder invites children to help create a new piece of music, with Wallace & Gromit-inspired musical mishaps along the way. 11am
VERTICAL FARM TOUR: Learn how vertical farming works and why it matters for the future of food on a 45-minute tour at Corner Corner in Canada Water. The session explores how indoor growing can help reduce waste and environmental impact. 11am
AFROBEATS BRUNCH: Koyesax and The Fortune Collective Band bring live Afrobeats to Soul Mama Islington, blending Fela and Lagbaja with modern hits from Davido, Wizkid and Rema. African-inspired dishes accompany the performance, with doors opening at noon and music from 1pm. 12pm-4pm
WATERCOLOUR CHRISTMAS CARDS: Valence House Museum in Dagenham runs a festive workshop for adults, exploring the history of Christmas cards. Handle original Victorian examples for inspiration, then create your own watercolour card. Tea, coffee and a mince pie are included. 1pm
ART DECO POSTERS: London Transport Museum's senior curator Georgia Morley explores how art deco transformed London's public transport network into a showcase for modern art and design. This curator's talk draws on the museum's exhibition and the work of artists including Jean Dupas, Vera Willoughby and Edward McKnight Kauffer. 2pm
VIRGINIA WOOLF: Actor, singer and theatre maker Lucy Stevens writes and performs An Audience with Virginia Woolf: Writing One's Mind at Wilton's Music Hall. Drawing on The Waves, Orlando, To the Lighthouse and A Room of One's Own, the play explores Woolf's critique of patriarchy, literary freedom and the vulnerability behind her words. 2.30pm/7pm
JOHN KEATS: Keats House in Hampstead hosts an afternoon of readings and conversation with poets Julia Bird and Mike Sims. Explore the Gothic thrills of La Belle Dame sans Merci and ghostly visions in Keats's work, with tea and cake served. 3pm-4.30pm
CLUB DE FROMAGE: Legendary over-30s clubbing event Club de Fromage celebrates its 20th anniversary with a birthday party at Scala in King's Cross. Dance the afternoon away to pop, rock, indie, power ballads and disco tunes from the likes of ABBA, Queen, Bon Jovi and Madonna. Expect balloons, birthday cake and sing-alongs, with fancy dress very much encouraged. 3pm-7pm
COUNTRY CLUB: Saddle up for Country Club, an indoor country music festival at Boxpark Wembley. Expect non-stop country hits, line dancing, cowboy and cowgirl hat giveaways, red Solo cups, Wild West décor and festival lighting. Yee-haw! 3pm-10pm
ICE HOCKEY: Support the local team as Haringey Huskies take on Oxford Rising Stars at Alexandra Palace Ice Rink. The fast-paced evening is suitable for all ages, with an hour-long ice disco taking place straight after the game. Refresh yourself on London's ice hockey scene before you go. Doors 5pm
LONDON FROM THE MARGINS: Rich Mix's London From The Margins festival brings together the people, spaces, sounds and communities that have shaped some of the UK’s most influential underground movements. Tonight, it's Grime night, with a screening of Jesse Bernard’s The Dance Begins at Home, followed by a panel discussion exploring how grime's spaces are built, sustained and passed onto the next generation. 6.30pm
THE AFRONAUTS: The world premiere run of The Afronauts, a Zambian space race epic by award-winning writer Ryan Calais Cameron (For Black Boys...) marks the finale of the Royal Court Theatre's 70th anniversary Downstairs season. Watch the true(ish) story of the Zambian Space Program, and a nation's defiant dream to reach for the stars, play out on stage. 6.30pm (and until 19 December 2026)
THE WEST WING WEEKLY: Joshua Malina and Hrishikesh Hirway bring a live taping of their podcast The West Wing Weekly to Union Chapel in Islington. The podcast began by focusing on the show it's named after, but has since moved on to Netflix political thriller The Diplomat: this episode features an episode-by-episode discussion of the latest series. Doors 7pm
STRIP YER WILLOWS: Whether you're a dab hand/leg at a ceilidh, or you've never tried one before, head over to Crypt on the Green in Clerkenwell tonight for a charity evening of dancing. Strip Yer Willows raises money for Arthritis UK through music, dancing and raffles. 7pm-10.30pm
BLAZIN' FIDDLES: Scotland's Folk Band of the Year 2025, Blazin' Fiddles bring their rich regional fiddle styles to Kings Place in King's Cross. Jenna Reid, Kristan Harvey, Rua Macmillan, Angus Lyon and Anna Massie combine quicksilver playing, driving piano and guitar, humour and stories from more than 25 years of Scottish folk music. 8pm
DAVID BOWIE SPECIAL: How Does It Feel To Be Loved? brings its annual David Bowie night to Signature Brew Haggerston, mixing plenty of Bowie favourites with the club night's usual indie pop and soul selections. The 18+ event also features music by artists including Belle & Sebastian, Dusty Springfield, the Cure and the Supremes. 9pm
MATRIX PARODY MUSICAL: It's the Matrix, but not as you know it. The Keanu Reeves film franchise gets the musical parody treatment at Lower Marsh Arts Club in Waterloo, offering "an absurd, stupid and clown-y journey through the events of the iconic 1999 sci-fi film, only this time told through the eyes of The One that got away". Sunglasses and long black coats optional. 10pm
Sunday 15 November
CHISWICK EYOT CONSERVATION: Help Thames21 to restore Chiswick Eyot in west London by stabilising its banks and enhancing the island for wildlife. Volunteer tasks include willow spiling, marginal planting, scrub removal, tree pruning, litter clearance and invasive plant removal. Equipment is provided. 10am-2pm
MIDCENTURY MODERN: 85 vintage dealers and modern designers exhibit and sell their wares side by side at the Midcentury Modern at Dulwich College. Immerse yourself in a highly-curated midcentury aesthetic as you peruse furniture and large homewares. 10am-4pm
GIANT LONDON FLEA: Alternatively, head to Stratford's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for the Giant London Flea, a gathering of seasoned antique traders and East End house-clearers, alongside a new generation of thrift sellers, offering furniture, home decor, fashion and oddities. 10am-5pm
WIGS AND WIGGLES: Handel Hendrix House in Mayfair holds an interactive concert series for under-fives and their families, bringing Baroque music to life through singing, dancing and movement. Put on a favourite wig and explore the world of Handel's music in historic surroundings. 10.15am/11.30am
CHRISTMAS FAIR: Handmade crafts, books, treats and festive decorations fill the Great Hall at Blackheath Halls for Blackheath Christmas Fair. There are children's activities, charity Christmas cards, a raffle and seasonal refreshments in the café, with proceeds supporting Age Exchange, its Creative Dementia programme, and Blackheath Community Library. 10.30am-4.45pm. Find other Christmas markets and fairs in London this year.
LABYRINTH 40TH ANNIVERSARY: 2026 marks 40 years since the release of fantastical film Labyrinth, starring David Bowie as the Goblin King. The Prince Charles Cinema marks the occasion with a special anniversary screening, showing a special 4K re-issue of Jim Henson's masterpiece. 12.15pm
CHRISTMAS CABARET: A double bill of comedy, cabaret and singalong classics comes to the Fox and Firkin in Lewisham with 4 Poofs and a Piano x La La Piano Bar: The Christmas Special. The 4 Poofs and a Piano quartet perform an hour of comedy and harmonies, followed by La La Piano Bar's festive set of Christmas jingles and pop songs. 3.30pm-6pm
RE-ENCHANT: Live literature series Re-Enchant brings poets Gale Burns, Luigi Coppola and Nadia Larina to the Cockpit in Marylebone, with open-mic slots alongside the readings. Curated and introduced by Nick Moss, the evening explores "poetic experiments for a new world". 5pm
THE IMPERFEKTIONIST: Described as 'Mose Allison meets Kraftwerk', the Imperfektionist returns to the Old Library in New Cross to perform tracks from new LP Plunderfoniks. FREE, 5pm
BOB DYLAN: D. A. Pennebaker's landmark music documentary Don't Look Back screens at the Nickel in Clerkenwell, capturing musician Bob Dylan during his 1965 British tour through backstage encounters, interviews and performances. The 96-minute screening is accompanied by Dylan concert footage. 5.45pm
LONDON GAY BIG BAND: The London Gay Big Band brings jazz, soul, swing, musical theatre and diva classics to Toulouse Lautrec as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. This special seven-piece performance combines big-band energy, powerhouse vocals and LGBTQ+ celebration. 6pm-8pm
RAPHAEL WALLFISCH: One of the world's most recorded cellists, Raphael Wallfisch joins Conway Hall Artistic Director Simon Callaghan for a programme spanning Martinů’s rhythmic 7 Arabesques, Ethel Smyth's Cello Sonata, Henriëtte Bosmans's 3 Impressions and Beethoven's Op.69 Sonata. 6.30pm-8.30pm
SIMPSONS TRIBUTE: An unofficial, unauthorised drag tribute to The Simpsons comes to the Divine in Stoke Newington, hosted by Ash Bestos with rising London drag stars. Expect lip-syncs, comedy, drama and games in tribute to the long-running animated show. 8pm
