Things to do this weekend is sponsored by The Night of the Iguana.
All weekend
THABISO SEKGALA: Home, intimacy, place and belonging are the main themes in Thabiso Sekgala's new exhibition, Here Is Elsewhere. It highlights 50 works by the late South African photographer, taken between 2009-2014 in South Africa, Jordan and Germany. Hayward Gallery (Southbank Centre), free, just turn up, 28 August-6 October
MEATOPIA: Calling all carnivores: Meatopia is back. Tickets have already sold out for Saturday, but Sunday (and Friday) tickets for the meaty festival are still available at time of writing. Chefs from 25 excellent restaurants whip up special dishes on barbecues, and they're all served in miniature, so you can try as many as possible. Tobacco Dock (Wapping), from £22.50, book ahead, 30 August-1 September
BEANZ MUZEUM: How much do you like Heinz Baked Beans? Enough to visit a museum dedicated to them? The Heinz Beanz Muzeum openzs in Covent Garden, to mark the 150th anniversary of the kitchen cupboard staple. We're sold on the beans slide, but less so on the giant walk-through toaster. 5 Great Newport Street (Covent Garden), free entry, just turn up, 30 August-1 September
ZOO FAMILY FESTIVAL: ZSL London Zoo's Family Festival is an ideal way for animal-lovers to finish the summer holidays. Activities include a family gameshow, animal-themed storytelling, crafts and a teddy bears' picnic — and that's in addition to visiting all of the zoo's residents. ZSL London Zoo, included in admission, booking recommended, 30 August-1 September
LONDON BRUNCH FEST: Whether you're into blueberry pancakes, doughnuts, avocado on toast, or traditional egg dishes, celebrate at London Brunch Fest. A mouth-watering range of food and drink is available to tuck into while you enjoy brunch-themed workshops, talks and live music. Old Truman Brewery (Brick Lane), £12.50, book ahead, 31 August-1 September
LONDON MELA: South Asian heritage and culture take centre stage at the family-friendly London Mela. Dancers, musicians and DJs provide entertainment across several stages, plus there are dance workshops, an Asian food market, and a children's fun area. Southall Park, £2, just turn up, 31 August-1 September
ILLUMINATED RIVER: It's the final weekend of Illuminated River, an exhibition dedicated to the project to light up the Thames bridges at night. The exhibition showcases architectural drawings and animations of what the project will look like once complete, as well as historic paintings of the river. Guildhall Art Gallery, free, just turn up, until 1 September
IMAGINARY CITIES: Also closing this weekend is Michael Takeo Magruder's Imaginary Cities exhibition. He's used a combination of traditional collage methods, 19th century maps and new technology to create fantastical and futuristic cityscapes. British Library, free, just turn up, until 1 September
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A sultry, star-studded revival of The Night of the Iguana
For the first time in two decades, Clive Owen is back in the West End as the leading man in a hit new production of Tennessee Williams' last great play.
Allow The Night of the Iguana to transport you to 1940s Mexico where — at a remote, coastal hotel — a tropical storm is brewing. A group of tourists including a disgraced priest, a family of Nazis, and a troubled artist are thrown together for the night. As the weather turns, tensions build to boiling point in a revival critics are calling "brave", "magnificent" (The Independent), and "madly compelling" (Time Out).
Directed by James Macdonald, this production of The Night of the Iguana also sees Breaking Bad's Anna Gunn, Lia Williams (Mary Stuart), and Julian Glover (Game of Thrones), take to the stage at Noël Coward Theatre. This strictly limited season ends 28 September — so get your tickets while you can. Book here.
Saturday 31 August
BIG TENT FESTIVAL: Describing itself as 'non-partisan in its politics', Big Tent Ideas Festival hosts speakers including MPs and jourmalists for talks and debates about the current political situation. The aim is to widen engagement and offer a platform for all civilised viewpoints. Events take place in a number of themed tents, covering economy, environment, health and other topics — stick with one tent all day, or move between them. Mudchute Farm, £15-£45, book ahead, 9am-8pm
PRINCE ALBERT: Take a walking tour through Kensington Gardens to mark the bicentenary of Prince Albert's birth. Visit the Italian Water Gardens, which he had installed as a gift to Queen Victoria, see the site of his Great Exhibition, and go behind the railings for a closer look at the Albert Memorial. Kensington Gardens, £10, book ahead, 10.30am-12pm
THE GREAT ESTATES: Join the London Ambler for a wander through some of London's poshest areas, Marylebone and Mayfair. Hear the history of the neighbourhoods, which were built for the upper classes in the 17th and 18th centuries, but stood beside slums, workhouses and burial grounds. St Marylebone Parish Church, £10-£12, book ahead, 10.30am-12.30pm
FIRE STATION: Get a close-up look at a fire engine, have a look around the station at Hainault Fire Station's open day. Learn about west London's firefighters and what their job involves, and get some fire safety tips. Hainault Fire Station, free, just turn up, 11am-4pm
CAMBERWELL FAIR: A mini, family-friendly music festival rocks up in Camberwell. Three stages form the backbone of Camberwell Fair's entertainment. Head to the Wormfood Stage for afro, reggae and dancehall tracks, see local talent on the Camberwell Stage, while local restaurant Louie Louie hosts its own stage with live DJs. Camberwell Green, free, just turn up, 12pm-9pm
CHINGFEST: Waltham Forest keeps the Borough of Culture events coming with Chingfest, a music festival for residents of all ages. Local performers including Nao, Incognito, Lemzi and DJ Luck and MC Neat headline the main stage. There are talks, workshops and other performances taking place elsewhere, but expect the night to peak at the raucous Lord of the Mics showcase in the DJ Dome tent. Ridgeway Park, free, just turn up, 1pm-9pm
LIVE MUSIC: It's the final week of Coin Street's free summer music season. Among the restaurants and design shops of Gabriel's Wharf, listen to a lively gig of jazz, pop, and R&B by Sound Express Band. Gabriel's Wharf (next to OXO Tower), free, just turn up, 1pm-3pm
MUSEUM OBJECTS: Handle some of the objects in the Foundling Museum's collection, under the guidance of expert curators. 30 items are available for closer inspection, including Foundling Hospital tokens — unique things such as a piece of jewellery that were used to reunite mothers with children they'd left in the hospital's care. Foundling Museum (Bloomsbury), included in admission, just turn up, 2pm-4pm
HMS PINAFORE: Today's matinee and evening shows are the end of HMS Pinafore's run. The Gilbert & Sullivan opera consists of eight performers, and satirises the British class system on board a ship. Wilton's (Limehouse), £10-£30, book ahead, 2.30pm/7.30pm
Sunday 1 September
TOTALLY THAMES: Month-long celebration of the river Totally Thames begins today. The Ship of Tolerance moors up near Tate Modern and other activities today include a Foreshore Festival, an archaeological walk, and a Thames boat trip. 1-30 September
CANAL FESTIVAL: Angel Canal Festival takes over the towpath around City Road Lock and Basin today. Live dance, music, theatre and comedy performances take place on dry land, with boat trips, kayak and pedalo sessions and a floating market on the water. City Road Lock, free, just turn up, 11am-5pm
PALMERS GREEN FESTIVAL: Broomfield Park — hopefully soon to be home to a wild swimming lake — keeps things on dry land for the Palmers Green Festival. Listen to live music at the bandstand, get moving at the dance zone, hear the thoughts of local people at speaker's corner and watch Fido and Rover strut their stuff at the dog show. Broomfield Park, free, just turn up, 12pm-7pm
HISTORY TOUR: Learn about the Bishops of London's lives at Fulham Palace on this history tour of the buildings and gardens. The walk covers the different architectural styles of the palace building, and how the outdoor space evolved over the centuries under the different bishops. Fulham Palace, £6, just turn up, 12.30pm-1.30pm
CHOCOLATE TOUR: Chocoholics won't want to miss this tour of Mayfair's finest chocolate shops. Visit artisan chocolatiers and learn about their history, with seven samples included in your ticket. Mayfair, £29/£25, book ahead, 12.30pm-3.30pm (sponsor)
LONDON ON WHEELS: Museum of London runs a bus tour around the city, visiting sites linked to the suffrage movement. Board the vintage Routemaster for a ride through the City and Westminster, hearing suffrage stories as you go and learning the difference between suffragists and Suffragettes. Museum of London, £28, book ahead, 1.30pm
MUSIC QUIZ: The Sounds Familiar Music Quiz takes things outside with an event on an east London rooftop. Show off your knowledge with eight rounds of identifying song titles and artists, plus a bonus round — but be warned, the quiz doesn't take itself seriously so don't get toooo competitive. Skylight (Tobacco Dock), £10, book ahead, 2pm-5pm
ROMAN LONDON: Get a taste of what Roman Londinium was like on this walking tour led by a Museum of London guide. Wander from London Wall to Leadenhall Market passing Roman landmarks hidden beneath modern skyscrapers, and covering five centuries of Roman occupation as you go. Age 12+. Museum of London, £12.50, book ahead, 2pm
STOP BEING REASONABLE: Philosopher and journalist Eleanor Gordon-Smith chats to Little Atoms podcaster Neil Denny about some of the stories from her book, Stop Being Reasonable. It covers true tales of people who radically altered their important beliefs for a particular reason, and asks what we should do if our beliefs turn out to be wrong. Conway Hall (Holborn), £8/£5, book ahead, 3pm-4.30pm
MUSIC AT MYDDELTON: Enjoy an evening concert in the beautiful (and fascinating) Myddelton House Gardens. Bring your own chair or blanket and picnic and see cover band The Greatest Hips perform songs by the likes of James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Chic, Bruno Mars. Myddelton House Gardens (Enfield), £10/£12, book ahead, 6pm-8pm
THE FEMINIST BUGLE: Deborah Frances-White, comedian and presenter of The Guilty Feminist podcast, chats to comedian Andy Zaltzman, who has his own podcast, The Bugle. The two cross over in a podcast mash-up, an experiment which mixes two different formats and topics. Kings Place (King's Cross), £12.50, book ahead, 7pm
REFUGEE ORCHESTRA: The Refugee Orchestra Project — comprised of musicians whose friends and families have fled prosecution — makes its UK debut. Hear music from Belize, Iran, Afghanistan and other countries, while raising money for charity Refugee Action. LSO St Luke's (Old Street), £15-£25, book ahead, 8pm
