Note: all listings are subject to cancellation at short notice, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Please check with the event website before attending. We'll be aiming to keep our listings approach in line with government advice as the situation evolves.
All weekend
ST PATRICK'S DAY: Officially, the celebration of Ireland's patron saint takes place on 17 March, but there are plenty of St Patrick's Day events taking place this weekend. The main one is the huge free parade and festival in central London on Sunday — full details here. UPDATE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS
LONDON BOOK AND SCREEN WEEK: The sixth annual London Book And Screen Week celebrates literature, TV shows, film and theatre through a variety of events. TV shows Doctor Who and Yes Minister, and author Lynda La Plante are forefront this year, and events this weekend include a Karl Marx walking tour. Various locations and prices, book ahead, 9-15 March
ANDY WARHOL: It's the first weekend of Tate Modern's new exhibition on pop art maestro Andy Warhol. Over 100 of the Pittsburgh-born artist's images are on display, including iconic prints of Marilyn Monroe, Debbie Harry, Elvis Presley and Coca-Cola bottles. It's likely to be very busy this weekend. Tate Modern, £22, book ahead, 12 March-6 September
COUNTRY TO COUNTRY: Music festival Country To Country returns to The O2 for three days of live music, with simultaneous events in Dublin and Glasgow, and the artists switching venues each day. Eric Church, Darius Rucker and Luke Combs are this year's headliners, with plenty of support acts. Choose between a one-day or all-weekend ticket. The O2 (North Greenwich), from £45, book ahead, 13-15 March UPDATE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS
VEGAN LIFE LIVE: Whether you're a hardcore vegan, or just plant-based-curious, Vegan Life Live focuses very much on what is still on the menu, rather than what's banned. Tuck into pizzas, ice cream, curries, pasta and more, all completely vegan, and pick up cooking tips and ideas in demo kitchens. Alexandra Palace, £15, book ahead, 14-15 March
VAULT FESTIVAL: The clock's ticking on this year's Vault Festival, which finishes next weekend. Highlights this weekend include Comedy Swingers Party, theatre show The Kola Nut Does Not Speak English, and Take Care, a theatre show telling a real-life story of a woman's battle over her mother's care home. Waterloo, various prices, book ahead, until 22 March
Saturday 14 March
VINTAGE KILO SALE: Update your wardrobe at Peckham Vintage Kilo Sale, where six tonnes of stock is laid out ready to be bought, dating from the 1960s. It's sold by weight, so you only pay for what you buy — perhaps as little as 75p if you just choose one item. The Bussey Building, £3/£1.50, just turn up, 10am-4pm
LGBTQ HISTORY: London Metropolitan Archives' LGBTQ+ history session focuses on the Chelsea Hotel in New York. Hear tales of the hotel being frequented by queer icons such as Jack Kerouac and Gore Vidal, and then focus on parallels between Chelsea and London. Is there any way a new Chelsea Hotel could emerge today? London Metropolitan Archives (Clerkenwell), free, book ahead, 11am-1pm
ROYAL ENGINEERS: Take the kids along to a day of family-friendly activities focusing on the Royal Engineers. The soldiers of the Corps of Royal Engineers — also known as Sappers — are on hand to provide live demonstrations and talk about their role, which ranges from bomb disposal to bridge building, and they even had their own football club. National Army Museum (Chelsea), free, just turn up, 11am-5pm
TOY STORY: Screen 25's Family Film Club shows Toy Story 4. Turn up early to watch short film My Mom Vala ahead of the main Pixar screening, which picks up with the toys settling into their new life with Bonnie, after being given away by Andy. Harris Academy South Norwood, £5, book ahead, 1pm-4pm
OPERA FOR KIDS: Introduce the younger members of your family to the world of opera at Opera for Kids. The performance takes place in a relaxed environment, with no expectation to sit still or be quiet. Baritone Maciek O’Shea, soprano Sarah Minns and pianist Sholto Kynoch perform operatic favourites from composers including Dvorak, Bizet, Mozart and more. Royal Albert Hall, £12/£6, book ahead, 1.30pm
THE CANDLELIGHT CLUB: Dance the night away at The Candlelight Club, a clandestine party which harks back to the era of Prohibition. Don your best jazz age outfit and enjoy live music from Silver Ghosts and DJing by The Bee's Knees, all hosted by Champagne Charlie. Secret central London location, £25-£40, book ahead, 7pm-midnight
LIVE COMEDY: There's an impressive line-up for comedy night Live at The Rose, with Bridget Christie headlining, joined by John Robins, Shappi Khorsandi, and Ahir Shar. The Rose Theatre (Kingston), £22, book ahead, 7.30pm
HAVEN'T STOPPED DANCING YET: 70s and 80s soul, funk and disco tunes are the soundtrack for Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet, an event aimed at anyone who remembers the songs from the first time round, as well as anyone who just enjoys grooving to good music. Expect an outfit competition and free retro sweets too. Islington Assembly Hall, £16.50, book ahead, 7.30pm
FROMAGE ON ICE: Cheesy club night Club de Fromage takes to the ice for a musical movies special. Put your skates on for Fromage on Ice, and spend your evening dancing and twirling to tunes from musical films, including Mamma Mia, Grease, Bohemian Rhapsody, Frozen, Moulin Rouge and more. Alexandra Palace, £10/£9, book ahead, 8.30pm
Sunday 15 March
GALLERY YOGA: Start your Sunday with a yoga session surrounded by a collection of Old Master paintings. British Wheel of Yoga teachers lead the session, designed to stretch, strengthen and energise you, and your ticket includes entry to the current British Surrealism exhibition after the class. Not suitable for complete yoga beginners. Dulwich Picture Gallery, £25, book ahead, 8.30am-9.45am
DICKENSIAN WALK: In partnership with the Dickens Museum, London Walking Tours leads a wander around the streets of Southwark which would have been familiar to the author. Pass the site of the Marshalsea Prison where his father was incarcerated for debt, and see the remains of a churchyard which may have influenced a scene from A Christmas Carol. Borough station, £10, book ahead, 11am
GAMING MARKET: Russell Square is the place for the capital's gamers to be today, as the London Gaming Market comes to town. Browse and buy retro video games and board games, as well as computers, consoles, artwork and other merchandise. Royal National Hotel (Russell Square), entry £5 from 11am, or £2 after 12pm, just turn up, from 11am
RARE BIRDS MARKET: No winged creatures are for sale at the Rare Birds Market. Instead, it's a bohemian market with traders selling ethical and vintage fashion, homewares, artisan crafts and more. Workshops go on throughout the day, a live DJ provides the soundtrack, and food and drink are available to buy to keep energy levels topped up. 93 Feet East (Brick Lane), free entry, just turn up, 11am-10pm
LONDON ON WHEELS: Join tour guide and author Rachel Kolsky on board a vintage Routemaster for a celebration of Women's History Month. Tour the East End, learning about the lives of women who have lived there, from match girls to suffragettes, social workers to nurses and royal rebels to artists and authors. Museum of London Docklands, £30, book ahead, 1.30pm
FUNKY FLOWERS: Keats House hosts a family craft afternoon with a funky flowers theme. Design a card for Mother's Day, featuring flowers made from colourful paper. Then explore the rest of the house, once home to Romantic poet John Keats. Keats House (Hampstead), free, just turn up, 2pm-4pm
BISHOPSGATE SWING: Social dance night Bishopsgate Swing begins with a beginners' taster class, to help everyone get up to speed with the steps. This is followed by an evening of social dancing accompanied by vintage DJs and a guest live band. No experience necessary, and no need to bring a partner. Bishopsgate Institute, £9-£17, book ahead, 6.30pm-10.30pm
