All weekend
DICHROIC SPHERE: Head down to Southbank Centre's riverside terrace to see Dichroic Sphere, a new, multi-coloured light installation by Jakob Kvist — you'll be seeing plenty of it on Instagram this winter. FREE, 7 November-8 January
ROLLER SKATING: Get your skates on, because a new roller rink has rolled into London. LA's legendary Flipper's Roller Boogie Palace opens its doors in White City, combining a roller rink, live music venue, diner and skate shop all in one. From 11 November
EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL: Get down with the trumpets — the EFG London Jazz Festival is now underway, celebrating its 30th year with a gigantic programme. It takes place at venues including Barbican and Royal Festival Hall, and shows this weekend include Sounds of West Africa and Malian singer-songwriter Fatoumata Diawara. 11-20 November 2022
ENCHANTED WOODLAND: Looking for a festive event for younger kids? Syon Park's Enchanted Woodland is a safe bet. Open on selected evenings throughout November, starting this weekend, the mile-long route winds past the lake, with all manner of illuminations in the trees — and the occasional fairy garden or enchanted installation to look out for on the ground too. 11-27 November
A CHRISTMAS CAROL: London's awash with different versions of A Christmas Carol as the festive season approaches, and the Old Vic's production is a stalwart each year. See Charles Dickens' tale of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge brought to life, with Game of Thrones' Owen Teale in the lead role. 12 November 2022-7 January 2023
FRIEZE SCULPTURE: It's the final weekend of this year's Frieze Sculpture Park. An extension of Frieze art fair, it's a collection of 19 large-scale sculpture works by various artists, dotted around Regent's Park and completely free to visit. FREE, until 13 November
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Oxford Street, Regent Street, Covent Garden and Carnaby are among the London districts whose Christmas lights are switched on by this weekend. All can be seen for free every evening, so why not take a couple of hours to wander around them all, before the Christmas crowds get too busy?
REMEMBRANCE: Sunday is Remembrance Sunday, when the nation pauses to remember those who sacrificed their lives in war. There will likely be several Remembrance events, parades and the like taking place around London this week (we've mentioned a couple below), as well as a two-minute silence at 11am on Sunday.
Saturday 12 November
FREE ST PAUL'S ENTRY: As part of the Lord Mayor's Show celebrations (below), St Paul's Cathedral opens to the public for free, for one day only. Free entry applies to the Cathedral floor only, but that'd normally set you back £18 for an adult ticket. If you do want to head up to the dome, that's £10 extra. Alas, you can't book free tickets, so it's a case of getting there early and hoping you get in — just remember there are road closures in place and the City will be very busy on the day. FREE, 8.30am-3.30pm
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 Mayor being replaced by the new one, and takes the form of an extreeeemely long procession through the City of London. FREE, from 11am
REMEMBRANCE IN THE ARCHIVES: The National Army Museum in Chelsea opens its archives for Remembrance Weekend, inviting the public to view a selection of original documents and materials. Find out about individual soldiers who have served in the armed forces, and learn how the museum works to preserve their stories. FREE, 11am-3pm
WREATH MAKING: Head to Lush on Oxford Street for a creative workshop, in which you'll make an autumnal wreath under the guidance of an expert florist, using seasonal fresh flowers. 11am/1pm/3pm
CHRISTMAS WINE FEST: Thinking about your festive tipple already? The Big Christmas Wine Fest has vino experts Oz Clarke, Tim Atkin and Olly Smith on hand to help you pick the perfect wine to pair with your turkey. Over 600 wines from all around the world (plus a few gins) are available for tasting, and ready to buy when you find one that floats your boat. 1pm-8pm
MEANING OF REMEMBRANCE: Abney Park Cemetery tour guide Alan Gartrell leads a walking tour focusing on those buried at Abney, who fought and died in conflicts as long ago as Trafalgar and the American Civil War. See Abney's rare memorial to the Civilian dead of Stoke Newington, and find out about the role the Commonwealth War Graves Commission played in remembrance in the 20th century. 2pm-3pm
FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE: The Royal British Legion hosts its annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. VIPs and members of the public attend the commemorative event, in honour of those who gave their lives in service of their country. 2pm/7pm
SWINGING LONDON: Footprints of London tour guide Richard Watkins takes you on a walking tour around central London focusing on the events 0f 1966 — the year of Swinging London. Visit Carnaby Street, one of Soho's music clubs and rock hang-outs, the house in which Hendrix lived and where violent anti-Vietnam war protests were staged, focusing not only on the positive things happening at the time, but also homelessness and poverty in a city that was still largely bombed-out. 2.30pm-4.30pm
ICE HOCKEY: See north London ice hockey team the Haringey Huskies take on the Basingstoke Buffalo in a home match at Ally Pally. New to the sport? Read our ice hockey guide before you go. Doors 5pm
ADVENTURE FILMS: Films, Campfires and Marshmallows returns to St Anne's Church in Limehouse, screening three short adventure films, which have won 20 awards between them. Mike & Abbie is the story of one man's bond with a kelpie pup, Chasing Monstors follows photographer Nick Moir pursuing storms and bushfires worldwide, and Maiden is the against-all-odds story of sailor Tracy Edwards. Toast marshmallows around the campfire, enjoy Cutty Sark Whisky hot toddies from the pop-up bar, or tuck into food from independent street food traders as you watch. 7pm-10pm (sponsor)
REQUIEMS: As we enter the season of Remembrance, Figure (an historical remembrance ensemble) puts on a concert of requiems at Union Chapel. Enjoy an evening of reflective words and choral music featuring requiems by two great French composers, Gabriel Fauré and Marc-Antoine Charpentier. 8pm
CLUB DE FROMAGE: Cheesy disco night Club de Fromage is back at The O2 Academy Islington for an evening of music dating from the '90s to now. Get down to pop, rock, indie, power ballads, disco, r 'n' b and dance tunes from the likes of S Club, Bon Jovi, Madonna and Taylor Swift — with balloons, confetti cannons and other japes thrown in. 10.30pm-3.30am
Sunday 13 November
RARE HACKNEY: Neil Martinson gives a talk on his photos of Hackney taken in a time before gastropubs and artisan coffeeshops, as part of his exhibition at Two More Years. There's also a chance to buy his prints. FREE, 10.30am-11.30am
RETRO GAMING FAIR: Retro video games, board games and merchandise are all for sale at the London Gaming Market, a retro games fair at the Royal National Hotel in Russell Square. Browse goods from more than 20 traders, and meet and chat to like-minded gamers. 11am
WREATH MAKING: Head to Lush on Oxford Street for a creative workshop, in which you'll create an autumnal wreath under the guidance of an expert florist, using seasonal fresh flowers. 11am/1pm/3pm
FESTIVALS OF LIGHT: Marilyn Greene leads a guided tour around the V&A Museum, focusing on objects related to the celebration of light. Various religions have celebrated the significance of light throughout the centuries, and the V&A has many examples of religious lamps and candleholders in its collections. 11am-12.30pm
JAZZ BOAT: Jazz clarinettist and saxophonist Ewan Bleach is performing on board a Thames Clipper, as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. He'll be on the boat departing London Bridge City Pier at 11.55am and travels to Barking Riverside Pier (arriving 12.53pm). No ticket needed — just tap in for a boat ride. 11.55am-12.53pm
MARIE KONDO: Perhaps you became a follower of Marie Kondo — aka KonMari — during lockdown, and adopted her methods for decluttering your home? The Japanese consultant and TV presenter is at Waterstones Piccadilly, meeting fans and signing copies of her new book, Marie Kondo's Kurashi at Home, about a Japanese concept centring on the ideal way to spend your time. 12.30pm
FORAGERS: As part of the London Palestine Film Festival, catch a screening of Foragers at Barbican Cinema. It looks at how Israeli nature protection laws — which carry fines and court orders if breached — impact the Palestinian custom of foraging for wild edible plants. 6.30pm
MESSIAH FROM SCRATCH: It's traditionally performed at Christmas, but if you can't wait that long for Handel's Messiah, take part in Messiah from Scratch at the Royal Albert Hall. Performers from The Really Big Chorus and audience members join forces for this choral participation event. 7pm
