Things to do this weekend is sponsored by Four Minds.
All weekend
TOTALLY THAMES: The celebration of London's river is still going strong with free exhibitions, a VR wildlife experience and plenty more. Such as being guided through the underbelly of the Victorian metropolis by author Lee Jackson. Various locations and prices, 1-30 September
LONDON PODCAST FESTIVAL: It's the final weekend of London Podcast Festival, and it's going out with a bang. Be in the audience for live recordings of The Retro Football Shirt Podcast or The Empire Film Podcast, or get a helping hand with your own creation through an introduction to podcasting. Kings Place (King's Cross), various prices, book ahead, 6-15 September
WILLIAM BLAKE: Be one of the first to see the biggest William Blake exhibition for more than 20 years. Best-known for his poetry, he was also a skilled artist, albeit under appreciated in his own time. Now, 300 of his original paintings, watercolours and prints go on display side by side. Tate Britain, £18, book ahead, 11 September-2 February
AFRICA UTOPIA: Art, culture, gender, race, sexuality, fashion, activism and society are all on the programme at Africa Utopia, a festival looking at how Africa and its diaspora shape our culture. Highlights from the impressive programme include a look at undiscovered works of African literature, a digital archive documenting black British life, and a voguing workshop. Southbank Centre, various prices, book ahead, 13-15 September
PECKHAM FESTIVAL: There's a varied programme for Peckham Festival, a three-day celebration of all things SE15. Visit the UK's first sake brewery, find out about the making of mead, and see a series of photos taken in nearby Burgess Park. Various locations and prices, book ahead, 13-15 September
FOOD FESTIVAL: Tuck into all manner of grub inside the Tower of London moat. A food festival pops up in the erstwhile waterway, with artisan traders selling everything from cheese to gin. Street food stalls sell nosh to tuck into then and there, and celebrity chefs cook up a storm in the demo kitchen. Look our for beefeaters actually eating beef too. Tower of London, included in admission, 13-15 September
WINTER NIGHT GARDEN: Backyard Cinema's Winter Night Garden kicks off this weekend, with three films each day including absolute classics and new releases. Sing along to Grease, have the time of your life watching Dirty Dancing, or take the kids to a screening of the new Aladdin. Capital Studios (Wandsworth), from £18.99, book ahead, 13 September-2 October
HACKNEY FLEA MARKET: Furniture, records, vintage clothes, kitchen equipment and bric-a-brac are among the items for sale at Hackney Flea Market. Over 30 handpicked traders take part, with a different line-up from previous events to keep things fresh. Abney Public Hall, free entry, just turn up, 14-15 September
ZIP NOW: Whizz on down to Lambeth for one last zip wire ride before Zip Now packs up for the year. Climb the equivalent of ten storeys (ouch!) before sailing over the park below at speeds of over 50kph. Archbishop's Park (Lambeth), from £15, book ahead, until 15 September
LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL: Getting underway on Saturday, London Design Festival offers an eclectic programme of events for the creatively minded, from tours of Westminster Cathedral to jewellery workshops and a colourful pop-up lounge. Browse all events. Various locations and prices, 14-22 September
SCIENCE CITY: It's the first weekend of Science Museum's new gallery, all about London. Science City focuses on the capital's contributions to science between 1550 and 1800. Highlights include a copy of Newton's Principia Mathematica (which some would argue is the most important book ever published), Newton's telescope, and Robert Hooke's microscope and illustrations. Science Museum, free entry, just turn up, from 12 September
Sponsor message
A bold new art exhibition comes to Savile Row
Three painters. One sculptor. Eight days on Savile Row. From 10-17 September, London's most famous suiting street plays host to a vibrant and eclectic array of art for a new pop-up exhibition.
31 Savile Row — a grand, two-storey building which sat empty until recently — houses works by emerging and established Scottish artists. Expect bold, abstract paintings inspired by everything from childhood in the Highlands to the static homes that populate Britain's coastline. Meanwhile, intriguing hand-carved, cast and burnt wooden-forms divide up the floor of this ad-hoc gallery space.
Four Minds Two Generations is completely free to attend, and all of the art on display is available to purchase. Click here to find out more about the exhibition, and get a sneak peek at some of the works on offer.
Saturday 14 September
ROYAL RAMBLE: Find out how kings and queens over the years have shaped the Royal Parks into the green spaces we know today. The guided walk through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens reveals why Hyde Park came to exist in the first place, and which king felt threatened when travelling through there. Hyde Park, £10, book ahead, 10.30am-12pm
STANLEY KUBRICK: The Design Museum hosts a multisensory tour of its current Stanley Kubrick exhibition, for blind and partially-sighted visitors. The tour focuses on the design stories behind his iconic films including his work with set-designers, composers and cinematographers. Design Museum (Kensington), free, book ahead, 10.30am-12.30pm
WALK TOGETHER: Sign up to take part in a five-mile walk along the Thames, raising money for Bowel Cancer UK. Walk Together passes Shakespeare’s Globe, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge, and less-well known corners of central London. The Scoop at More London, £10/£5, book ahead, 11am
BERMONDSEY STREET FESTIVAL: An urban village fete takes place just minutes from London Bridge station. The road is closed to traffic for Bermondsey Street Festival, and taken over with stalls selling items made or potted locally, including handbags and honey. Live music and dancing graces the stage all day, and there's a dog show too. Bermondsey Street, free, just turn up, 11am-6pm
THE GREAT RIVER RACE: 330 boat crews racing down the Thames in the Great River Race is a site to behold. Watch from the riverbanks as they go head to head in a 21.6-mile river marathon, from Docklands in the east to Ham in the west, passing through central London. All manner of vessels from naval whalers to Hawaiian war canoes battle to be crowned the UK Traditional Boat Champions. Docklands-Ham, free, just turn up, 11.20am
BAG OF GOLD: Discovering London tour guide Peter Berthoud leads an unusual tour around Bloomsbury, that pays no attention to the usual tourist sites such as the British Museum. Instead plan your own funeral, do some grocery shopping, experience a divorce, puzzle at a magic square and all importantly, share and spend a bag of gold. Intrigued? Us too — and that's before we factor in the four pub stops. Russell Square, £25, book ahead, 11.30am-3.30pm
HIDDEN RIVER FESTIVAL: The New River was built by hand over 400 years ago, and still supplies Londoners with fresh drinking water today. Celebrate it at the Hidden River Festival, which includes canoeing, a treasure hunt, art and craft activities, and entertainment from street dance to circus skills. Woodberry Wetlands (Green Lanes), free, just turn up, 12pm-6pm
WINE CAR BOOT: How's this for a car boot sale with a difference? Every car or stall is an independent wine producer or importer, selling vino from all over the world. The Wine Car Boot is a chance to chat to experts and take part in tasting before selecting the bottles you want to buy to take home. Bloomberg Arcade (Cannon Street), free entry, just turn up, 12pm-8pm
GRAVES IN THE WOOD: The Cemetery Club leads a tour around the largely forgotten Barnes Cemetery, tucked away in the woods and overgrown with ivy and bracken. Learn about the people buried there, including the Edwardian Marilyn Manson and a maverick life-gambling doctor, and finish up with a musical finale. Barnes Cemetery, £12/£10, book ahead, 1.30pm-3pm
CROWN DUAL: Last chance to see The Crown Dual, a parody theatre show which tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II's ascension to the throne. A cast of just two plays actors playing the Queen and her immediate family (keeping up?) — expect frenetic hat-passing, period accents and corgi impressions. Read our review here. Wilton's (Limehouse), £12-£26, book ahead, 3pm/7.45pm
STREET FOOD AWARDS: The cream of the crop of street food traders go head to head in the British Street Food Awards final. Try dishes from some (or all, if you're hungry) of the 16 finalists, each of whom enter two dishes, to be voted for by the public. Ticket includes a beer and canapés made from food which would otherwise have gone to waste. Hawker House (Canada Water), £5, book ahead, 5pm-midnight
CHIHULY NIGHTS: Have an enchanting night out at Kew, where Dale Chihuly's colourful glass sculptures are illuminated as dark falls. Follow a trail through the grounds and conservatories, with a musical soundtrack, and finish up with a drink or bite to eat. Kew Gardens, £18/£12, book ahead, 7.30pm-10.30pm
WHAT WORDS ARE OURS: Here's another chance to see Talia Randall's poetry-cabaret show, What Words Are Ours? Comedians, cabaret stars, visual vernacular performers, and spoken word artists all feature, and the special guest is Roundhouse Poetry Slam 2019 winner Kareem Parkins-Brown. Roundhouse (Camden), £12, book ahead, 7.45pm
SOFIE HAGEN: Last chance to catch comedian Sofie Hagen performing her latest show, The Bumswing, at Soho Theatre, following an Edinburgh Fringe run. It's a show about the things you forget, the things you remember, and the things you wish you could forget. But also, there’s a bit about bums. We gave it five stars. Soho Theatre, £15, book ahead, 9pm
Sunday 15 September
HOUSEMAID'S TOUR: The Charles Dickens Museum opens early for a themed tour. An actor plays the role of the Dickens family's housemaid, who invites you inside while her employers are away and spills some of their secrets. Dickens Museum (Bloomsbury), £15/£12/£8, book ahead, 10am/11am/11.45am
BLITZ WALK: Join tour guide Manuel for a walk from the City to Southwark, seeing evidence of bomb damage from the Blitz in the second world war. War monuments and plaques feature on the route, along with buildings that suffered damage and protected Londoners. It's also a chance to hear stories of the people who lived in London at the time. Fish Street Hill, £15, book ahead, 10am-12pm (sponsor)
ROALD DAHL: Imagine a world without the work of Roald Dahl. That's the premise of family theatre show Roald Dahl and the Wurblegobblers. A secret organisation known as the Ancient Guild of Tale Tenders needs to save Roald Dahl's stories, which are disappearing from books and from children's minds... and they need the audience to help. Age 6+. ArtsDepot (North Finchley), from £9, book ahead, 11am/2pm
MEDIVET GARDEN PARTY: Go behind the scenes at the newly-refurbished Medivet Centre in Hendon. The 24-hour animal care clinic hosts a garden party, with a chance to meet staff and find out what they do, tour the facilities, and take part in fun and games in the garden. Medivet Hendon, free, just turn up, 11am-3pm
SUMMER STREETS: The final Summer Streets event of 2019 takes place on Regent Street, closing the busy thoroughfare to vehicle traffic for an afternoon of activities. The festival-style event includes talks, catwalk shows, street food from local restaurants, and activities, offers and competitions inside the shops. Full programme here. Regent Street, free, just turn up, 12pm-5pm
JEWISH CEMETERY: Willesden Jewish Cemetery holds a Heritage Open Day, offering free guided tours on the theme of 'people power'. Willesden Jewish Cemetery, free, book ahead, 1pm-3pm
SUMMER PARTY: Little Angel Theatre hosts a free summer party for kids of all ages and their families. Watch a puppet parade go by, catch short performances outside in the gardens and in the auditorium, and meet some of the characters from shows in the theatre's upcoming season. St Mary's Church Gardens (Angel), free, just turn up, 1pm-5pm
PALACE GARDEN: Fulham Palace is home to the second oldest botanical garden in London. Learn more about it on this walking tour of the 13-acre site, which covers how each of the Bishops of London put their own stamp on it, shaping the space into what it is today. Age 14+. Fulham Palace, £6, just turn up, 2pm-3pm
BREXIT WITHOUT THE BULL: It's a brave person who tries to get to the facts behind Brexit, but that's what journalist and author Gavin Esler has done in his new book, Brexit Without The Bull***. Hear him talk about how Brexit will affect food and diet, health and the NHS, jobs and industry, education and travel. Conway Hall (Holborn), £8/£5, book ahead, 3pm-4pm
