All weekend
THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR: Take the kids along to Blackheath Halls for performances of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, an adaptation of four of Eric Carle's books. Naturally, that Caterpillar takes centre stage, joined by Brown Bear, Brown Bear, 10 Little Rubber Ducks and The Very Busy Spider. All are brought to life by more than 75 (!) puppets. 7-8 March 2026
FLEA WEEKENDER: Browse a flea market at a rather unusual location — Wapping Power Station. 70 traders set up inside the industrial landmark for two days selling mid-century furniture, rare vinyl, vintage fashion, antique homewares, lighting, art and more. 7-8 March 2026
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY: March is Women's History Month and this Sunday (8 March) is International Women's Day: have a look at our pick of events celebrating and uplifting women, from supper clubs and concerts to talks and tours.
JEWISH BOOK WEEK: Running until Sunday, Jewish Book Week at Kings Place has a programme packed full of Jewish authors and speakers, covering a wide range of topics, as well as comedy, live music and walking tours. Until 8 March 2026
COSTUME COUTURE: Film and TV costume provider Cosprop is the subject of the Fashion & Textile Museum's current exhibition, Costume Couture, which displays familiar costumes from Downton Abbey, Gentleman Jack, Peaky Blinders, Pride & Prejudice and Out Of Africa. It closes this weekend. Until 8 March 2026
ANNA ANCHER: Danish painter Anna Ancher's first ever UK exhibition is at Dulwich Picture Gallery until Sunday, showcasing her luminous paintings, bold use of colour and ability to capture light like no other — across 40 pieces. Until 8 March 2026
ORCHIDS: Swing by the Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew Gardens to see a dragon, monkeys and pandas fashioned from flowers. This year's Orchids festival celebrates the flora and fauna of China, with traditional lanterns strung up too. Until 8 March 2026. While you're there, visit the International Garden Photographer of the Year Exhibition, showcasing stunning shots of green spaces, flora, fauna and fungi. Both are included in Kew Gardens admission. Until 9 March 2026
DRAMA OF ARCHITECTURE: 300 years after the death of respected architect Sir John Vanbrugh, Sir John Soane's Museum (that is a lot of Sir Johns for one sentence) opens a new exhibition about him. Learn more about the man responsible for designing some of the UK's most admired and loved country houses, including Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard, and see some of Vanbrugh's drawings from both major and lesser-known projects. 4 March-28 June 2026
THE OTHER ART FAIR: The Other Art Fair takes over the Old Truman Brewery for four days of artwork that's accessible to all. Affordable and original pieces are up for grabs, alongside immersive installations, live performances and a bar. 5-8 March 2026
MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS: Scottish Ballet's choreographer-in-residence Sophie Laplane brings her major new production, Mary, Queen of Scots, to Sadler's Wells. The Scottish Ballet Orchestra provides the soundtrack to an iconic story, unconventionally told, as Elizabeth I is haunted by memories — real and imagined — of her cousin Mary. 5-8 March 2026
CATHERINE OPIE: Photographic portraits by the American artist Catherine Opie are on display at the National Portrait Gallery, the first major museum exhibition of her work in the UK. Works featured in the exhibition span her first big artwork, Being and Having (1991), her portraits of LGBTQ+ friends inspired by court painter Hans Holbein, and her Baroque-like portraits of artists. 5 March-31 May 2026
PHOTOGRAPHY PRIZE: View works by the four shortlisted photographers of this year's Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize at the Photographers' Gallery near Oxford Circus. Photos by Jane Evelyn Atwood, Weronika Gęsicka, Amak Mahmoodian and Rene Matić are on show, spanning documentary, constructed images, self-portraiture, performance and family archives from around the world. The winner is announced on 14 May. 6 March-7 June 2026
Saturday 7 March
MORRIS MONTH: The William Morris Society kicks off Morris Month today, with a flurry of talks and demos based on Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement with which he's synonymous. It's family friendly, and takes place at the Society's Hammersmith HQ. Book your place in advance. 10am-4pm
SEWING MACHINE MUSEUM: The monthly opening of south London's little-known Sewing Machine Museum is a chance to view the private collection of hundreds of historic machines. Entry is free, though donations to the RNLI or Leukemia Research are encouraged. 2pm-5pm
CROYDON AIRPORT: "Whatever else it has done, Croydon Airport has certainly put Croydon on the map of Europe. Many foreigners instinctively think of Croydon when they hear the word England mentioned." (Croydon Advertiser, 1938). Londonist Editor Will Noble is at the David Sweet Hall at ECURC, East Croydon, exploring the golden age of Croydon, when it was a crucible of aviation, global travel and adventure. Just show up; recommended on-the-door donation of £3 to CNHSS. 2.20pm
JOHNNY CASH MUSICAL: The Ballad of Johnny & June is a new musical telling the story of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, through the eyes of their son, John Carter Cash. Catch the final shows of the UK premiere run at Churchill Theatre Bromley. 2.30pm/7.30pm
ANCIENT GREASE: An unofficial parody of the musical Grease comes to The Vaults in Waterloo, setting the action in Ancient Greece rather than 1950s American. Ancient Grease (see what they did there?) takes place in Olympus Academy, where the Alphas and Omegas are the studs, and Zeus and Hera spend a fateful summer night together, which leaves Hera with a big decision to make. 2.30pm/7.30pm (and until 31 May 2026)
HARINGEY SHED ANNIVERSARY: Haringey Shed, an inclusive performing arts organisation for children and young people both with and without disabilities, celebrates its 25th anniversary with a special show at Alexandra Palace Theatre. The Silver Hive is about a group of young people trying to save a local community centre, told through music, dance and storytelling. 5.30pm
ENFIELD FEASTS: Supper club Enfield Feasts returns to the Dugdale Arts Centre, this time with British-Polish food writer Ren Behan at the helm. Begin with welcome canapés, and hear Behan discussing her love of food and the inspiration behind her cookbooks. Then enjoy a multi-course dinner featuring both traditional Polish dishes including golabki and szarlotka, as well as modern creations inspired by Polish street food. 6.30pm
DISCO SISTERS: Women-only event Disco Sisters is at the Star of Kings in King's Cross, playing disco and dance classics throughout the evening, with mass karaoke sessions and a glass of prosecco included in your ticket. Carly Foxx DJs. 6.30pm-10pm
SUMMERFOLK: Maxim Gorky's 1905 play Summerfolk gets a revival at the National Theatre, set in a hot, beautiful summer when Russia's elite retreat to the countryside to swim, sip champagne and start affairs, while ignoring the storm on the horizon... 7.30pm (and until 29 April 2026)
CLIMATE OPERA: Climate opera Soria Moria gets its world premiere at Conway Hall in Holborn, telling the story of Lucia, a young explorer drawn by the voice of Fossegrim, the ancient Water Spirit, to the melting Arctic ice. The production is inspired by Nordic mythology and real-world climate science, and performed in English and Nordic, with surtitles — beginning with a short introduction by the composer and producer. 7.30pm-9pm
COMEDY WIP: Watch comedian Kate-Lois Elliott's work-in-progress show, Trad, following on from her sell-out Edinburgh debut last year. She picks apart stories from history and her own life, from Queen Victoria’s alleged sex mania, to her own deranged obsession with making it into the tabloids, at Pleasance Theatre in Islington. 7.40pm
IMPROMPTU SHAKESPEARE: See a Shakespeare-style show whipped up live on stage, as Impromptu Shakespeare comes to the New Wimbledon Theatre. Each show is different as the cast takes audience suggestions and creates improvised verses. 7.45pm
FIRST WOMAN: Singer, musician and comedian Sam Hickman brings comedy harp show First Woman to Camden People's Theatre, promising an hour of original songs and stand-up spanning topics including womanhood, motherhood and medical transition. 9pm
DISCO ALWAYS: Celebrate all things Harry Styles and One Direction at the Clapham Grand, on the release weekend of his new album, Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally. Tribute act The Harry Styles Show performs, alongside disco balls, confetti, balloons and themed cocktails. 10.30pm-3am
Sunday 8 March
FLEA MARKET: Food hall Hackney Bridge hosts a flea market, with 40+ traders selling vintage and designer fashion, and homeware and furniture. Early bird tickets get you entry from 10am, while general admission is from midday. 10am-3.30pm
BEAM ENGINE: The magnificent Markfield Beam Engine opens its doors today; admire the muscular machine that once pumped sewage, and in doing so, helped improve London's public health. As well as the engine (note: today is not a 'steaming' day) there's a museum, cafe and playground. FREE, 10am-3.30pm
OLIVER TWIST'S LONDON: The Foundling Museum offers a walking tour focusing on the London of Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist. Begin at St Paul's Cathedral and spend two hours hearing how Dickens and other social campaigners fought to improve conditions for London's most vulnerable, before finishing at the museum. 11am
WOLF HALL: As part of the Literary Footprints festival, which runs throughout March, join a guide for a walking tour of the real London locations of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall trilogy of novels. Begin at Blackfriars station and hear about this turbulent period in British history encompassing royalty, religion and riches. 11am
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE: Mark International Women's Day with a walking tour themed on pioneering nurse Florence Nightingale. Beginning in Mayfair, a guide from the Florence Nightingale Museum takes you in the footsteps of the 'mother of nursing' through the places where she lived and worked. Learn about her background, her influential neighbours and her love life, in Mayfair and St James’s, finishing at the Florence Nightingale statue on Waterloo Place. 11am
WOMEN AND THE ARMY: Take a guided tour of the Women and the British Army gallery at the National Army Museum, and find out what the impact was of the government opening all combat roles in Britain's armed forces to women in 2018. It's also an insight into the roles women played in the armed forces before that, as far back as the First World War. 11am
ORGAN MUSEUM: The enchanting Amersham Fair Organ Museum (which we visited at the end of last year) opens its swoon-worthy collection of vintage fair organs, the ornate machines — some dating back to the 19th century — being played in 15-20-minute bursts. Stick around long enough, and you'll get to experience the lot. A cafe is also open selling refreshments. FREE, 11am-5pm
LASAGNA COOK-OFF: Spend a delicious Sunday at Gloria Shoreditch, where six restaurants enter their dishes into the Lasagna Cook-Off. Sample all six, and cast your vote before a judging panel crowns the best lasagna. 12pm
HOLI FESTIVALS: The Hindu festival of Holi takes place in early March, with two huge events here in London. Head to Swiss Cottage today for the Magic of India Holi Colour Dance Party with Indian food stalls, bhangra dance performances, live music, a T20 match screening — and perhaps the most famous part of Holi — colour powders for throwing. A similar event happens in Hounslow next weekend. 12pm-5pm
ST JOHN PASSION: The London Mozart Players are at Fairfield Halls in Croydon for a rendition of Bach's St John Passion. The piece was originally written for Good Friday, and is an emotional retelling of Christ’s final hours. 4.30pm
ICE HOCKEY: Caught hockey mania from the Winter Olympics? Watch home team the Haringey Greyhounds takes on Slough Sirens in a women's match at Alexandra Palace. An hour-long ice disco takes place on the rink immediately after the game. Doors 6pm
HEATED RIVALRY: More hockey! As hit Canadian TV series Heated Rivalry picks up fans this side of the pond, hear from Rachel Reid, the author of the books on which the series is based. Tickets to attend the Union Chapel event in person have sold out, but you can still tune into the livestream to hear about the Game Changers series, ahead of the seventh book being published this September. 7pm
