All weekend
WINTER LIGHTS: See Canary Wharf come alight at Winter Lights. The free light festival has over 20 glowing artworks installed around the Canary Wharf Estate — this map will help you find them. Watch our video for an idea of what to expect. Canary Wharf, free, just turn up, 5pm-10pm, 15-26 January
LONDON ART FAIR: Over 100 galleries exhibit modern and contemporary work by a range of artists at London Art Fair, plus there's a strong programme of talks and workshops. Photo50, an exhibition of contemporary photography, is also part of the fair. Business Design Centre (Islington), £16/£12, book ahead, 16-20 January
MODEL ENGINEERING: All aboard! There's more to model engineering than planes. See mini trucks, boats, aeroplanes and helicopters alongside the usual steam locomotives and traction engines at London Model Engineering Exhibition. Alexandra Palace, £12.65, tickets now only available on the door, 18-20 January
NIGHT AND DAY: It's the final weekend of the Fashion & Textile Museum's current exhibition, Night and Day. It focuses on fashion and photography of the 1930s, a decade in which many 1920s flappers grew up, evolving their style as they went, and the Jazz Age gave way to the start of the second world war. Fashion & Textile Museum (Bermondsey), £9.90/£8.80/£7, book ahead, until 20 January
LAST CHANCE: It's also your final chance to see I Object, an exhibition about dissent and rebellion which was curated by Ian Hislop. Find out how a builder's 'up yours' to a king ended up in The British Museum, and why China had to hastily withdraw some commemorative stamps. British Museum, £12, book ahead, until 20 January
CHILDREN OF FORTY HALL: A new exhibition opens this weekend focusing on the children who have lived and worked at this north London estate in the past, as well as those who visit it today. Many children from wealthy families once lived here, while poorer children worked in the building. Forty Hall (Enfield), free, just turn up, 19 January-31 March
Saturday 19 January
PREGNANT THEN SCREWED: This day-long festival is aimed at parents who have found it a challenge to get back into work after the birth of their child. Topics covered include writing a CV, legal rights, childcare solutions and starting your own business. Speakers include TV presenter Cherry Healey, parenting blogger Susie Verrill and Helen Bryce, founder of the Guilty Mothers Club. Conway Hall (Holborn), £22.50-£29, book ahead, 9.30am-4.30pm
JOE WICKS: Joe Wicks — also known as The Body Coach — is at Waterstones signing copies of his new veggie cook book, Veggie Lean In 15. Waterstones, Westfield London (White City), free, just turn up (early arrival recommended), 12pm
EXPLORE ZOOLOGY: The Grant Museum takes some of its specimens out from behind the glass and lets the public have a poke and a prod. It's aimed at families, but anyone's welcome, and museum educators are on hand to answer your questions. Grant Museum (UCL), free, just turn up, 1pm-4pm
HIIT RUN: Workout studio Victus Soul hosts an hour-long HIIT and run workout, combining sprints, climbs and endurance running with HIIT training. It's followed by a panel discussion with fitness experts, focusing on new year's resolutions — plus you'll receive a goody bag just for turning up. Victus Soul (Aldgate), £25, book ahead, 1.45pm-4pm
EAT OR HEAT: The third annual fundraiser for Waltham Forest's local food bank Eat Or Heat takes place today, in the form of a day of music at venues across Ravenswood Industrial Estate (home to neon paradise God's Own Junkyard). The full line-up can be found here. Ravenswood Insdustrial Estate (Walthamstow), free but donations encouraged, just turn up, from 2pm
FAMILY STORYTELLING: Professional storyteller Vanessa Woolf spins a yarn or two, using music and props along the way. Take the kids along to hear the tale of Daedalus & Icarus, followed by The Freedom Bird. Leighton House Museum (Holland Park), £3, book ahead, 2pm/3.30pm
FIRE AND EXPLOSIONS: Fire and explosion scientist (excellent job title...) Claire Benson shares some true stories about fires and explosions in science in the Victorian period. Find out how explosives have saved lives, and why the first plastics were particularly dangerous. Age 7+. The Royal Institution (Mayfair), £16/£10/£7, book ahead, 6pm-7.15pm
QUEER SHUFFLE: Andrew McMillan, So Mayer, Dean Atta, Sophie Blackwell, Richard Scott and Sogol Sur are among the poets taking to the stage to share their work at this event celebrating UK queer poets. The Poetry Cafe (Covent Garden), £7/£5, just turn up, 7.30pm-9.30pm
CLUB DE FROMAGE: It's Grease vs. Dirty Dancing night at Club De Fromage On Ice, a cheesy club night which takes place on the ice rink. Dance/skate/stumble the night away to songs from both films, plus plenty of other epic tunes. Alexandra Palace, £10/£9, book ahead, 8.30pm
Sunday 20 January
HOUSEMAID'S TOUR: Experience this townhouse as it would have been when author Charles Dickens and his family lived here in the 1830s. While the family are away, the housemaid shows you around, a great opportunity to see the museum before it opens to the public. Dickens Museum (Bloomsbury), £15/£12/£8, book ahead, 10am/11am/11.45am
BARBICAN CONSERVATORY: This tropical conservatory in the City of London is open to the public most Sundays. Wander among more than 2,000 plant species from all over the world, looking out for fish and terrapins as you go. Barbican, free, just turn up, 12pm-4.30pm
GARDEN TOUR: Fulham Palace — former residence of the Bishop of London — is a fascinating building, but have you ever stopped to look closely at the garden? Join experts on a tour of the garden, and learn about the unusual trees and the vinery — grapes from here were sent to Queen Elizabeth I. Fulham Palace, £6, just turn up, 12.30pm-1.30pm
WOODY WOODPECKER: The BFI looks back on the 'career' of cartoon bird Woody the Woodpecker, at this special screening which includes exclusive, not-yet-released footage. He's been around in films and on TV since the 1940s, and a guest panel discusses what's made him so successful for so long. BFI Southbank, £4-£8.80, book ahead, 1.30pm
LET IT SNOW: If your children are praying for a snow day soon, take them along to Keats House, which is hosting a family day of snow-themed activities today — even if it's glorious sunshine outside. Keats House (Hampstead), free, book ahead, 2pm-3pm
SURVIVOR TALK: John Dobai experienced the Holocaust in Budapest in 1944, and survived thanks to Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg. Dobai's story is recounted in forthcoming film The Donkey Field, and today he's in conversation with his filmmaker daughter Sarah. Jewish Museum (Camden), free, book ahead, 2pm-3pm
UNDER THE WESTWAY: The Museum of Walking's latest amble explores the Westway — the inspiration for J G Ballard's novel Concrete Island — 10 years after the author's death. Read the novel before you come, the event is described as a 'book club on foot'. Latimer Road station, £15-£20, book ahead, 2.30pm-4.15pm
ITALIAN CINEMA: This regular Italian film club screens comedy Metti La Nonna In Freezer, about an art restorer living on her grandma's retirement checks. When her grandmother dies, she hides her body in the freezer so that she can keep receiving her money. Genesis Cinema (Mile End), £10/£6.50, book ahead, 3pm
PING PONG: Finally, someone's put the sound of a ping pong match to good use. Bounce Beat is a musical performance which incorporates the sounds of a live game of ping pong. It's part of Soundstate Festival. Southbank Centre, free, just turn up, 6.30pm
LIVE MUSIC: Australian folk singer-songwriter Anna Smyrk plays a gig showcasing tunes inspired by her years living in Cambodia and the Solomon Islands. The Harrison (King's Cross), £10, book ahead, 7.30pm
SANDI TOKSVIG: Comedian, writer and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig's solo show tells the story of why she's aiming to become a National Trevor rather than a National Treasure. Expect her usual blend of silly jokes, funny stories and fascinating facts. Southbank Centre, £25-£29, book ahead, 7.30pm
