All weekend
RUGBY WORLD CUP: Keeping up with all the action in France? The quarter finals of the Rugby World Cup are played in Paris and Marseille this weekend, and we know the best places in London to watch the action.
LONDON COCKTAIL WEEK: London Cocktail Week claims to be the biggest cocktail festival in the world, and who are we to argue? Buy yourself a festival wristband for £15 to get access to £8 signature cocktails at hundreds of bars across the capital throughout the festival. There are also cocktail tours, special menus and other events going on. 12-22 October
WIMBLEDON BOOKFEST: Alexander McCall Smith, Emma Gannon, Afua Hirsch Lisa Snowdon and Ben Okri are among the speakers this weekend at Wimbledon BookFest, which has a theme of culture, community and global connection. 12-22 October
OM YOGA SHOW: Head to Alexandra Palace this weekend for the Om Yoga Show, apparently the biggest yoga gathering in Europe, with open classes led by the world's top teachers, along with 200 exhibitors offering yoga accessories, clothing, jewellery, retreats and more. 13-15 October
BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL: Bloomsbury Festival celebrates the area's arts, culture and science, through more than 100 events across nine days, including theatre, music, exhibitions, talks and walks. Highlights this weekend include a Peter Pan-themed family walk, a flower trail, a lunchtime concert, stand-up comedy, and a walk themed on the legendary women of Bloomsbury. 13-22 October
DISNEY100: The centenary of the Walt Disney Company is celebrated with a huge exhibition, Disney100, opening at ExCeL. It spans 10 galleries, covering films, theme parks and more. The carousel horse which Dick Van Dyke rode in Mary Poppins (1964) and the crystal glass slipper from Cinderella (2015) are among the exhibits. From 13 October
FASHION CITY: Coats worn by Princess Diana and Dot Cotton, alongside items from high street retailers including M&S, Wallis and Moss Bros are part of Museum of London Docklands' new Fashion City exhibition, which looks at how the Jewish tailors and designers of the East End shaped fashion worldwide. 13 October 2023-14 April 2024
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY: One of our favourite annual exhibitions, Wildlife Photographer of the Year returns to the Natural History Museum for its 59th incarnation. See photos of animals and the natural world taken by photographers all over the globe, including the overall winners (announced on 10 October). The first weekend is normally very busy, so might be worth waiting a couple of weeks if you can. 13 October-30 June
JAPAN EXHIBITION: The first exhibition at the newly reopened Young V&A in Bethnal Green is Japan: Myths to Manga, which explores how landscape and folklore have influenced Japan's culture, technology and design. In keeping with the spirit of the museum, it's family-friendly, with manga-making, Taiko drumming and other hands-on activities to take part in. From 14 October
RUMFEST: As if there wasn't enough booze flying around for London Cocktail Week (above), The Rumfest takes over the ILEC Conference Centre in Earl's Court for two days of tastings, seminars and masterclasses themed around the spirit. 14-15 October
ART FAIRS: Three of London's biggest art fairs take place this weekend, bringing members of the art industry from all over the globe to the capital:
- Frieze London sets up in Regent's Park, with galleries showcasing work by contemporary artists in a variety of mediums. If that's all a bit spenny for you, check out the nearby Frieze Sculpture, a free outdoor art gallery that's open to everyone. 11-15 October
- The Other Art Fair takes over the Old Truman Brewery with a focus on artworks available for all budgets, from over 100 artists. There are also immersive installations, live performances, DJs and other entertainment to make it more of an all-round experience. 12-15 October
- 62 exhibitors from 31 different countries descend on Somerset House for 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair. See work by African artists across a range of mediums including painting, sculpture and installation. Works from established artists such as Joana Choumali, Ibrahim El-Salahi and Soly Cissé sit alongside pieces by young and emerging artists including Josué Comoe, Anya Paintsil and Edozie Anedu. 13-15 October
PORTRAITS OF DOGS: Paintings, sculptures, drawings, works of art, and even taxidermy, feature in Portraits of Dogs: From Gainsborough to Hockney at the Wallace Collection, which looks at humans' relationship with dogs through the centuries. This weekend is your last chance to see it. Until 15 October
PUMPKIN PICKING: Head to London's outskirts or beyond for a spot of pumpkin picking. Have a browse of our guide to pumpkin patches and farms near the capital where you can pick your own gourds — don't forget your wellies!
AUTUMN WALKS: For seasonal fun a bit closer to home, pick one of these autumn walks through London and surround yourself with colourful leaves.
Saturday 14 October
MENTAL WEALTH FESTIVAL: Today's the final day of City Lit's Mental Wealth Festival, with a focus on the impact of connections on mental health through workshops and talks. All events are either free or low-cost. 9-14 October
FAMILY FILM CLUB: Take the kids along to Family Film Club at Barbican Cinema — this week's film is Ruby Gillman Teenage Kraken, a newly-released Dreamworks animation about a teenage girl who discovers that she's a giant kraken princess tasked with saving the oceans. 11am
FAMILY CRAFTS: UCL's Petrie Museum invites children and their families to customise their own amulet — an Ancient Egyptian good luck charm — at a free workshop. All materials are provided and it's aimed at ages 6+, though parents/carers will need to be on hand to help out. FREE, 11am-2pm
CIRQUE: Musical theatre meets circus at Cirque, a show starring West End and circus performers, which has two shows at Croydon's Fairfield Halls today. Aerialists, contortionists and fire jugglers are among the acts, combined with big tunes from well-known shows. 2.30pm/7.30pm
CLAPHAM BOOK FESTIVAL: Melvyn Bragg headlines Clapham Book Festival at Omnibus Theatre, with crime writer Simon Brett, barrister-turned author Nicola Williams, bestselling novelists Kate Mosse and Elizabeth Buchan, and Radio 4's Tom Sutcliffe also on the afternoon's programme. 3pm-8pm
BLACK-OWNED MAKERS' MARKET: Browse and buy clothing, accessories, beauty products and more from Black-owned and Black-run start-ups at Poplar Union's Black-owned makers' market. The event continues into the evening with live music. FREE ENTRY, 4pm
PINK OKTOBERFEST: RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Ginger Johnson hosts Pink Oktoberfest at Between the Bridges — an LGBTQ+-friendly Oktoberfest event. Expect plenty of bratwurst and beer, along with games, a live brass band and raucous table dancing. The event repeats next Saturday, and you can find other Oktoberfest events in London here. 6pm
LOUD WOMEN: Anarchopunk party band Hagar the Womb, cyborg-housewife-glitch-kitsch-supermarketcore group The Red Stains, and London's own Twat Union are on a line-up overspilling with talented female bands, at the Hope & Anchor Islington's Loud Women night. From 6pm
MURDER MYSTERY EVENING: Valence House in Dagenham hosts a murder mystery evening, where you need to work with your fellow detectives to solve clues. Ticket includes a welcome drink and evening meal. Age 18+. 7pm-10pm
DIANA ROSS: Legendary Motown singer Diana Ross brings her Music Legacy Tour to the Royal Albert Hall for two evenings. See her perform hits from her solo career, as well as her time as lead singer of The Supremes, including Ain't No Mountain High Enough, and Stop! In the Name of Love. 7.30pm (repeated tomorrow)
LAUGHTER CONNOISSEURS: Soho Theatre hosts a Black History Month special of comedy/storytelling show Slim's Laughter Connoisseurs, with Ola Labib, Chris Savage, Sarah Levine and Quincy all lined up to perform. 9.15pm
Sunday 15 October
VINTAGE KILO SALE: Give your wardrobe a refresh at the Croydon Vintage Kilo Sale, taking place at Fairfield Halls. Stock is priced by weight, at £20 per kilo, but there's no minimum or maximum purchase. 10am-4pm
WALLACE COLLECTION TOUR: With a collection of 5,500 works, the Wallace Collection contains many Black presences — but often, they are hidden. Black History Walks offers a guided tour of the gallery, focusing on the religious, cultural and social significance of the Black presence in the artworks. 11am-1pm
LIGHTBULB PRINCESS: Aimed at ages 4+, The Lightbulb Princess is a theatre show with songs and science, about a princess who has to save the fairy lights to stop the holiday season being cancelled. The later show at Artsdepot today is a relaxed performance. 11am/2pm
GARDEN TOUR: Join a member of the garden team for a guided walk around the gardens of Fulham Palace. You'll hear about the history of the green space, including how it has been used by the different resident Bishops of London, as well as projects which the current team are working on. Age 14+. 12.30pm-1.45pm
ARSENAL V VILLA: The Emirates Stadium in north London hosts this afternoon's clash between Arsenal Women and Aston Villa Women — and tickets are as little as £13.65 for adults, so worth going even if you're a neutral. KO 2pm
DARREN CRISS: American actor and singer-songwriter Darren Criss is at the London Palladium for two shows today. He performs the hits of his career, with his four-piece band and special guests, Starkid’s Lauren Lopez and Joey Richter. 2.30pm/8pm
SUNDAY CONCERT: It's the turn of the Eusebius Quartet to headline this week's Sunday Concert at Conway Hall. The group, formed in 2016, perform works by Haydn, Bartok and Beethoven as part of Europe's longest-running series of chamber concerts. 6.30pm
