Things To Do This Weekend In London: 15-16 June 2019

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All weekend

Marylebone Summer Festival goes on all weekend

ZIP WIRE: It's the first weekend of Zip Now London's return to the capital. Climb the stairs of the 10-storey launch tower before whizzing over Archbishop's Park on a zip wire. There are four parallel lines this year, so you can race three friends to the end. Archbishop's Park (Lambeth), £30, book ahead, 12 June-15 September

GREENWICH BOOK FEST: Author talks, book launches, walking tours, playwriting showcases and poetry performances are some of the Greenwich Book Festival events this weekend. And that's before we get to the kiddie options, including storytelling sessions, and an appearance by Gruffalo illustrator Alex Scheffler. Various locations and prices, book ahead, 13-16 June

LIT FEST: Balham Literary Festival brings together authors from all different genres. Highlights this weekend include MP Rachel Reeves talking about the Local Women of Westminster and Balham-based author Sabine Durrant chatting to fellow thriller writers Parker Bilal and Bev Thomas. Various locations and prices, book ahead, 13-25 June

JAIPUR FESTIVAL: The British Library hosts an outpost of the Jaipur Literature Festival, with talks covering topics as diverse as Shakespeare, religion and fairy tales. Jeffrey Archer, Gyles Brandreth and Yasmin Khan are among the speakers. British Library, £25 per day/£35 for a weekend pass, book ahead, 14-16 June

Zip Now opens for the summer

WATERLOO WEEKEND: Mark the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo at the Duke of Wellington's former home, Apsley House. Watch live reenactments from the 95th Rifles, see a Georgian surgeon demonstrate their trade, or listen to a talk on Regency etiquette. Aspley House (Hyde Park Corner), included in admission, just turn up, 15-16 June

SUMMER FESTIVAL: For two days, Marylebone Summer Festival takes over the Marylebone Village area — with several road closures to be aware of. The programme of family-friendly entertainment includes live music across two different stages, a plethora of stalls, and a street party on Sunday. Paddington Street Gardens (Marylebone), free entry, just turn up, 15-16 June

CAMBERWELL ARTS FESTIVAL: The Art of the Party is the theme of this year's Camberwell Arts Festival, which kicks off on Saturday. An arts market, creative workshops and a big feast are part of the weekend's events. Various locations and prices, book ahead, 15-23 June

Saturday 15 June

Have a rummage at a charity book sale

CHARITY BOOK SALE: The Blackheath and Greenwich branch of Amnesty International hosts its annual book sale to raise funds for the human rights charity. It's a clearance sale, so a chance to stock up on new reads — included recently-released novels — at bargain prices. Church of the Ascension (Blackheath), free entry, just turn up, 9am-5pm

FAIR IN THE SQUARE: Fair In The Square is a summer fete with merchandise, food and charity stalls (miss the cake stall at your own peril) taking place in Highgate. Live dance, theatre and music performances take place on stage all afternoon, and various community groups, societies and businesses are involved. Pond Square (Highgate), free entry, just turn up, 12.30pm-5.30pm

NATURE WRITING: As part of the aforementioned Greenwich Book Festival, Bob Gilbert — author of The Green London Way and Ghost Trees —chats to Caroline Crampton, who wrote The Way to the Sea: The Forgotten Histories of the Thames Estuary. They discuss the Thames and London in contemporary nature writing, followed by a book signing. Old Royal Naval College, £6/£5, book ahead, 12.40pm-1.30pm

There's a free Pride Street Party in King's Cross

LONDON IN 7 DRINKS: Join historian and friend of Londonist Dr Matthew Green for a liquid history of London to quench both your literal and intellectual thirst. This afternoon tour covers the histories of ale, wine, mead, coffee, chocolate, tea, and gin in the capital, with a generous serving of each included in the ticket price. Stops include London's oldest coffeehouse and a lost city vineyard. Age 18+. Meet at St Michael's Church (Cornhill), £47, book ahead, 1.30pm-5.30pm

GARDEN PARTY: A rare chance to visit the gardens of Trumpeters' House — located on the site of the former Richmond Palace. The garden party invites the public in to enjoy the green space, with drinks and cake, and music from a live band. Trumpeters' House (Richmond), £10/£8/£5, book ahead, 2pm-5pm

PRIDE PARTY: The Pride Street Party is an afternoon of creative activities in preparation for Pride. Take part in a hooping workshop, learn how to Vogue, or get stuck into crafting sessions led by LGBTQ creatives. Find other Pride events in London. Coal Drops Yard (King's Cross), free entry, just turn up, 2pm-8pm

Sofie Hagen performs her show, Bubblewrap

CANDLELIGHT CLUB: Channel your inner Jay Gatsby for The Candlelight Club's Jazz Age speakeasy. Live swing music comes courtesy of a seven-piece band, Champagne Charlie hosts the cabaret, and there's an option of tucking into a three-course set menu to begin the evening. Central London location, from £25, book ahead, 7pm-11.59pm

SOFIE HAGEN: Danish comedian Sofie Hagen brings her UK-wide tour to a close, before taking her show to the Edinburgh Festival. Bubblewrap, Happy Fat is a combined stand-up comedy show and book tour. She deals with issues of body image and mental health before reading from Happy Fat, and taking part in a Q&A session. Bloomsbury Theatre, £14/£12, book ahead, 7.30pm

I NEED TO CHER: I Need to Cher — the world’s only immersive feminist cabaret night themed on the American singer — releases a menagerie of Chers upon Dalston. The show is a celebration of love for Cher as a feminist hero. VFD (Dalston), £7.70, book ahead, 8pm-2am

Sunday 16 June

Hunt out a bargain at the Adams Antiques Fair

VINTAGE SALE: Pay for retro garments based on their weight at the Vintage Kilo Sale. Thousands of items from the 1970s to 2000s are for sale at a price of £15 per kilo — but there's no minimum spend, so you could pay as little as 50p if you just pick one item. The Workshop (Lambeth), £3/£1.50, book ahead, 10am-4pm

ANTIQUES FAIR: 140 antiques dealers from across the UK are selling at the Adams Antiques Fair, with items for sale including jewellery, ceramics, paintings and more. Royal Horticultural Halls (Westminster), £4, book ahead, 10am-4pm

AIRFIX: Classic childhood pastime Airfix makes a return. Take the kids along to the National Army Museum and work together to build and paint a 1:72 scale tank from one of the kits. Age 8+. National Army Museum (Chelsea), £10 per kit, book ahead, 12pm-3pm

Get a new wardrobe at the Vintage Clothing Kilo Sale

MYSTIC MAPS: Kids can design their own unique map of London, inspired by William Blake's mystic map, at this family day. It ties in with current exhibition by artist Louise Albani, which is based on the same map. Keats House (Hampstead), free, book ahead, 2pm-4pm

THE CLINK: Tuck into a Sunday lunch served by The Clink, a catering service staffed by prisoners currently in training. While you're eating, listen to an informal panel discussion with poets Joelle Taylor and Adam Kammerling exploring themes of art, reform and masculinity within the judicial system. Roundhouse (Camden), £35, book ahead, 2.30pm

LOWBORN: Kerry Hudson discusses her book Lowborn, a non-fiction work about poverty in Britain. Focusing on her own childhood experience of moving around a lot with her single mother, Hudson looks at where she came from, the towns she grew up in, and whether anything's changed. Conway Hall (Holborn), £8/£4, book ahead, 3pm-4.30pm

KIDS THEATRE: Improv performance Showstoppers comes in kiddie size too. Watch the cast take kids' ideas for settings, characters and plots, and turn them into a musical show right in front of you. Underbelly Festival (South Bank), from £14.50, book ahead, 3pm

The Showstoppers' Kids Show comes to South Bank

BOOK PODCAST: For Independent Bookshop Week, Nigerian-British writer Irenosen Okojie chats to the co-hosts of Not Another Book Podcast, about her experiences as a novelist and short story writer. She also discusses her forthcoming short story collection Nudibranch and novel Curandera. Housmans Bookshop (King’s Cross), £3, book ahead, 4pm-6pm

JAMES BOND: Watch 1964 Bond film Goldfinger for free at this open-air screening. It celebrates the launch of Orlebar Brown's new 007-inspired swimwear range, and food and drink are available from nearby restaurants — including martinis at the Grandstand Bar. Canada Square Park (Canary Wharf), free, just turn up, 5.30pm