All weekend
MINDFUL DRINKING: Doing Dry January, or looking to cut down on your booze intake? The Mindful Drinking Festival focuses on no-alcohol and low-alcohol beverages, with product tastings, workshops and talks. The Old Truman Brewery (Brick Lane), free entry, just turn up, 12-13 January
HACKNEY FLEA MARKET: Browse vintage homewares, kitchenware, furniture, records and bric-a-brac, and bag yourself a bargain at Hackney Flea Market. Good luck getting that free-standing floor lamp home on the tube. Abney Public Hall (Stoke Newington), free entry, just turn up, 12-13 January
SHORT FILMS: London Short Film Festival is underway, with film screenings and premieres, plus special industry events. Highlights this weekend include films depicting spooky goings on, and new films showing London in all its glory. Full programme here. Various locations and prices, book ahead, 11-20 January
MIME FESTIVAL: There's more to London International Mime Festival than miming. Circus, physical theatre, live art, puppetry and dance are all on this year's programme, along with workshops for anyone who wants to have a go themselves. Some shows have already sold out, so get booking. Various locations and prices, book ahead, 9 January-3 February
Saturday 12 January
PHOTOGRAPHY WALK: Hone your photography skills and get some fresh air on this photography walk, led by a member of the Royal Photographic Society. Learn basic skills and helpful tips on the 2-3km walk through the Forty Hall Estate. Age 18+. Forty Hall (Enfield), £30, book ahead, 10am-1pm
GRINLING GIBBONS: Whether you've heard of sculptor and wood carver Grinling Gibbons or not, this day-long tour dedicated to his work has plenty to fascinate you. Start by going inside some of the V&A's lesser known rooms, discovering some absolutely stunning pieces of craftsmanship, and visit a couple of pubs, two churches, a hospital, and various other places along the way, before coming to the breathtaking finale. Meet at the V&A, £37, book ahead, 10am-5pm
WINTER TREES: Hyde Park's resident arboriculturist leads this walk, showing you how to identify different species of tree through barks and buds, even in the stark winter when leaves are scarce. Hyde Park, £10, book ahead, 10.30am-12pm
SNOW BABY: This children's theatre show uses music and puppetry to tell the story of Doris and Bear Man, who live on a hill in a remote snowy forest, until Bear Man disappears in a snowstorm, and Doris has to look after herself. Age 3+. Half Moon Theatre (Limehouse), £7, book ahead, 11am/2pm
DAYLIGHT MUSIC: Kick back and enjoy a lazy afternoon of music (and tea and cake, if you fancy). Today's performers at Union Chapel's regular Daylight Music event are The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, playing Haydn and Mozart's 10th symphonies, and string duo Fran & Flora. Union Chapel (Islington), suggested donation £5, just turn up, 12pm
OPEN MIC: Poets, singers, dancers, rappers and actors age 11-17 get up on stage to practice their performances, and they need your support. Brixton Youth Open Mic is a friendly and non-competitive environment for young people to hone their skills — and everyone's welcome to watch. Ritzy (Brixton), free entry, just turn up, 1pm-3pm
CAMDEN ROCKS: If you thought festivals were for the summer months, think again. The brains behind Camden Rocks put on an all-dayer inside a pub. Experimental punk band Janus Stark and alternative rock group Our City Fires are among the acts on the line-up. The Monarch (Camden) £8, book ahead, 1.30pm
MATING SELECTION: Comedian Robyn Perkins offers a preview performance of her new show, Mating Selection, which looks at the trials and tribulations of modern-day dating, and includes stories from her experience on a live dating show. The Bill Murray (Islington), £6, book ahead, 4pm-5pm
MOZART REQUIEM: Enjoy a free concert of Mozart's Requiem, performed by voluntary amateur musicians and singers. St John's Church (Waterloo), free, just turn up, 5.30pm-7.30pm
REWRITE THE ENDING: This programme of short films challenges the apparent norm in film and TV that lesbians never seem to have a happy ending, by imagining what could have been and offering up alternatives to the usual narrative. It's a repeat screening of an event from the Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Fest shorts programme. Genesis Cinema (Mile End), free, book ahead, 6.20pm
TATE LATE: Tate Modern stays open late for a lively evening of hip hop karaoke in the Terrace Bar. Fourpure Brewery's craft beer is available in tap throughout the evening, giving you the courage to take on the rhymes of your favourite rapper in front of the crowd. Tate Modern (Bankside), £10, book ahead, 7pm-11pm
ULTIMATE BEATLES: Fab Four tribute act The Ultimate Beatles cover the band's hits between 1967 and 1970 (1963-1966 is covered in a separate gig on Friday). Tonight, hear songs from Sgt Pepper and tunes featured in the famous rooftop concert. Half Moon (Putney), £10/£12, book ahead, 8pm
Sunday 13 January
ROAST DINNERS: Do Sunday right. Book yourself in for a full roast — we've found and even mapped London's best Sunday roasts. Doing Veganuary? No problem, we've also hunted out some of the best vegan and vegetarian roasts in the capital.
WASSAIL: Join the local community to celebrate the new year, with live music, Morris Men, choirs, local cider, and blessing of the trees in the orchard. East Greenwich Pleasaunce (Westcombe Park), free, just turn up, 1pm-3pm
LUNCHTIME CONCERT: Jazz flautist Gareth Lockrane and his 18-piece big band perform a lunchtime gig of original music and classic jazz standards, ideally timed to add some gusto to a lazy Sunday. 606 Club (Chelsea), £10, book ahead, 1.30pm
COMEDY BOOKS: Comedy website Chortle brings a number of comedians together for a one-day book festival. Alex Horne, Robin Ince and Jessie Cave are among those scheduled to talk about their books. British Library, various prices, book ahead,1.30pm-8.30pm
POETRY PRIZE: Readings from The T.S. Eliot Prize shortlist take place this evening, but before they do, get the lowdown on this year's contenders from poetry critic Jeremy Noel-Tod. Southbank Centre, £10, book ahead, 2pm
PINK JUKEBOX: This regular Ballroom and Latin dance club is aimed at members of the LGBT community and their friends. It's open to dancers of all levels, and begins with classes to help you learn the steps, followed by social dancing from 4.30pm. Bishopsgate Institute (Liverpool Street), £12/£10 book ahead, 2pm-7pm
CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS: Civil partnerships should be open to all, not just same-sex couples. That's the premise of today's Thinking On Sunday event, which features Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan who have been campaigning for equal civil partnerships since 2014. Conway Hall (Holborn), £8/£4, book ahead, 3pm-4.30pm
