All weekend
FOURTH PLINTH SHORTLIST: Last couple of days to see the National Gallery's Fourth Plinth Shortlist Exhibition, which contains miniature models of the seven artworks shortlisted to be displayed on Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth in 2026 and 2028 (full details of the artworks here). You can vote for your favourite on the National Gallery website. FREE, until 17 March
BARNES MUSIC FESTIVAL: Barnes Music Festival is still ongoing in south-west London. Events this weekend include the Barnes Choir performing Mozart's Requiem, and a sing-a-long production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Under-12s get free entry as part of the festival's Youth Programme, in a bid to reach a younger audience. Until 24 March
ST PATRICK'S DAY: This Sunday is St Patrick's Day, when a huge parade and festival takes place in central London (details below). But there are plenty of other green-washed and shamrock-shaped events celebrating Ireland taking place this weekend — take a look at London's St Patrick's Day events this year.
LITERARY FOOTPRINTS: A reminder that tour guide company Footprints of London has a Literary Footprints festival going on throughout March, with dozens of walks themed on literature, books, authors and the like. Highlights this weekend include a deep dive into second world war novels set in Bloomsbury, a walking tour of literary Southwark, and a trip further afield to visit the Rochester locations linked to Charles Dickens (more on which here). Until 31 March
BFI FLARE: London's LGBTQIA+ film festival BFI Flare is an 11-day celebration of queer cinema featuring gala screenings, panel discussions, short films, and more. There's an impressive 40+ events on the programme for this weekend alone, so have a browse and get booking. 13-24 March
HUMAN RIGHTS FILMS: Seven documentaries and three feature films are on the programme at this year's London Human Rights Watch Film Festival, screened at Barbican Cinema and Rich Mix. Focus is on the role of youth in confronting systems of power, and every film is followed by a conversation with filmmakers, activists, and human rights experts. 14-22 March
UNTOLD LIVES: Kensington Palace has a new exhibition, Untold Lives, celebrating people from all walks of life who worked at the Royal Palace over 300 years ago. Find out about roles including rat-killer, 'Groom of the Stool', who was responsible for looking after the monarch on the toilet, and the 'Keeper of Ice and Snow’. 14 March-27 October
HOLI FESTIVAL: For the seventh time, a House of Holi pop-up comes to Cinnamon Kitchen City, to celebrate the Hindu festival of Holi (which falls on 25 March this year). The Indian restaurant has a technicolour paint throwing pod for diners to enjoy, before tucking into a Holi cocktail and a nine-course feasting menu in the restaurant. 15-25 March
RAILWAY MODELLING: Model railway enthusiasts from all over the country gather at Alexandra Palace for the London Festival of Railway Modelling. 35+ exhibitors show off their layouts, and there's a chance to pick up rarer scales and gauges. 16-17 March
Saturday 16 March
ENCANTO: Take the kids along to Barbican Cinema for Family Film Club, which this week screens 2021 animation Encanto. Set in Colombia, it's about a family whose magical powers fail them, with songs by Hamilton writer Lin Manuel Miranda — including the ridiculously catchy We Don't Talk About Bruno. 11am
VINTAGE KILO SALE: Give your wardrobe a refresh at the Croydon Vintage Kilo Sale, taking place at Fairfield Halls. Vintage and preowned clothing, shoes and accessories are sold by weight (£20 per kilo), but there's no minimum or maximum spend, so shop well and you could pick up a few items on the cheap. 11am-5pm
WORLD WHIZZING FACTS: TV science superstar and STEM ambassador Emily Grossman is at the Royal Institution for an interactive family-friendly quiz show, where you'll learn lots of interesting science facts on a range of topics. Live demonstrations and audience interaction are part of the event. 2pm-3.15pm
SIX NATIONS: International rugby tournament the Six Nations comes to an end today, with the Round 5 matches taking place in various cities and staggered throughout the afternoon and evening. Whether you're supporting England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France or Italy, here's our pick of places screening the Six Nations action. It's Wales vs Italy at 2.15pm, Ireland vs Scotland at 4.45pm, and France vs England at 8pm.
JAZZ JAMAICA: British jazz/reggae music group Jazz Jamaica takes over the Jazz Cafe in Camden for an evening of classic and modern jazz standards, played alongside Jamaican folk songs. Standing tickets and seats in the restaurant are both available at time of writing. 7pm-10.30pm
4FT FINGERS: English punk rock band 4FT Fingers headline The Fighting Cocks in Kingston tonight, with support from First Time Dead, skate punk band Resuscitators, and gruff punk band Back Teeth. 7.30pm
WINTERREISE: The Aurora Orchestra joins forces with British tenor Allan Clayton for a theatrical orchestral production of Winterreise, reimagined for a chamber orchestra, at Southbank Centre. The piece is a cycle of 24 songs for male voice and piano composed by Franz Schubert in the 19th century. 7.30pm
FRANKIE'S GUYS: Dance and sing along with Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons tribute act Frankie's Guys, at Fairfield Halls in Croydon. Along with a live band, they perform hits including Big Girls Don't Cry, December 1963 (Oh What A Night), Sherry, and Walk Like a Man. 7.30pm
SCARED TO DANCE: Alternative club night Scared To Dance is back at The Shacklewell Arms in Dalston, with comedian Celya AB at the helm as guest DJ. Expect to hear the likes of David Bowie, Talking Heads, Blondie, The Cure, Wet Leg, Joy Division, The Clash and others. 11pm
Sunday 17 March
CHEESE MARKET: Head over to Chiswick for a gouda day out as the monthly Chiswick Cheese Market. Dozens of cheesemongers and producers have stalls at the event, selling cheese alongside breads, chutneys, crackers and everything else you need to have an edam good time. 9.30am-3pm
RETRO GAMES FAIR: Traders from all over the UK come together for the Retro Games Fair at the Royal National Hotel in Bloomsbury, where retro video games, board games and merchandise are available to buy. From 11am
ROAD TO ETHICS: Blue Badge Guide Julie Chandler leads a walking tour around Euston and Bloomsbury covering London's ethical history. Hear stories of people who championed controversial causes such as religious, sexual and political freedoms, including Quakers, the Bloomsbury Group, Suffragettes and social reformers. 11am-1.30pm
ST PATRICK'S DAY PARADE: This year, London's St Patrick's Day Parade and Festival takes place on St Patrick's Day itself. The parade wends down from Hyde Park Corner to Trafalgar Square, where there's an afternoon of free entertainment and activities — full details here. Even if you're not attending the event, be aware that there will be large crowds and road closures in central London today. FREE, 12pm-6pm
LORD OF THE RINGS: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra perform Howard Shore's Academy Award-winning score live, as The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is shown on screen at the Royal Albert Hall. It's part of the venue's Films in Concert series — look out for Indiana Jones, Top Gun, Ghostbusters and Harry Potter later this year. 12pm
SUNDAY PAPERS LIVE: Topics from the Sunday papers spanning politics, world news, food, music, culture, and lifestyle are brought to life at Sunday Papers Live, taking place at One Marylebone. At time of writing, the speakers haven't been announced, but journalists Polly Toynbee and Chris Atkins have appeared at previous events. 1pm-9pm
SUPPER CLUB: Indian restaurant Kanishka continues its Sunday Supper Club series, which sees a different female chef taking over the kitchen each month. Today, cook and author Crystelle Pereira whips up a feast inspired by the heritage of her Kenyan born, Portuguese-Goan parents — think Goan fish/prawn curry, pickle chicken curry, and chai tres leches dessert. 6pm
SUNDAY CONCERT: The five-piece Divertimenti Ensemble take to the stage for this week's Sunday concert at Conway Hall. The group has been around since 1978 (with four founding members still there today) and they perform works by Boccherini, Gade, and Brahms. 6.30pm-8.30pm
