All weekend
ORCHID FESTIVAL: It's the final weekend of the fantastically colourful Kew Gardens Orchid Festival. Wander underneath floral arches, look up at a rainbow river, and look out for a sloth, jaguar, toucan and other Colombian wildlife made out of fauna. Kew Gardens, included in admission, booking recommended, until 10 March
VEGAN LIFE: Vegan Life Live is a food festival designed to show what vegans can eat, rather that focusing on what they can't. It's aimed at longstanding vegans, and those new to veganism or considering trying it. Kebabs, pizza, ice cream and curry are all on the menu, with cookery demos to show you how to whip tasty dishes up at home. Alexandra Palace, £10-£19, book ahead, 9-10 March
HACKNEY FLEA MARKET: 30 vintage traders sell furniture, records, clothes, homewares, textiles, bric a brac, and home decor at Hackney Flea Market, so you're bound to find a treat or two, whatever your style and budget. Abney Public Hall (Stoke Newington), free entry, just turn up, 9-10 March
ONE DUCK DOWN: Family-friendly show One Duck Down is based on the true story of 7,000 rubber ducks who were cast adrift in the sea in a huge storm. In the show, lovable hero Billy is tasked with clearing them all up. Waterloo Vaults, £12, book ahead, 3.10pm, 9 and 10 March
CATS ON THE PAGE: There's only a week left to see free exhibition Cats On The Page, all about felines in literature, and the role that real-life cats have played in inspiring writers throughout history. British Library, free, just turn up, until 17 March
Saturday 9 March
WOMEN OF THE WORLD: Southbank Centre's Women of the World festival — celebrating strong women — culminates today. Hear from Women’s Equality Party co-founder Catherine Mayer or watch a discussion about the future of gender equality. Southbank Centre, various prices and times, 8-9 March
EDGELANDS: Explore the City of London's 'edgelands' — an area of neither town nor country in the area surrounding a city — on this guided walk. See the buildings, streets and places that have grown up in the shadow of the financial district, and follow a route first used by the Romans 2,000 years ago. Tower Hill, £12, book ahead, 10.30am-12.30pm
INVENTIONS: The whole family is invited to this drop-in session about the inventions which have made London what it is today. Imperial College London scientists talk about recent inventions — and get kids thinking about what they might like to invent. Museum of London, free, just turn up, 11am
MOTHER ROSS: Back in the 17th century, women weren't allowed to join the Army — so a woman who became known as Mother Ross disguised herself as a man in order to search for her missing husband. Hear her tale in this family storytelling session, part of Women's History Month. National Army Museum (Chelsea), free, just turn up, 11am/1pm/3pm
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK: We're guessing you don't need the story of pantomime favourite Jack and the Beanstalk explained to you. Today's show moves away from panto traditions, and uses beautiful images, while CBeebies’ Patrick Lynch recounts the story. Half Moon Theatre (Limehouse), £7, book ahead, 11am/2pm
MAKING MEMORY: The Design Museum offers two special tours of the current David Adjaye: Making Memory exhibition, which focuses on the architect's use of storytelling to create monuments and memorials. The multisensory tour makes the exhibition more accessible for blind and partially-sighted visitors (free, book ahead, 11am-12.30pm). The later BSL tour offers BSL interpretation of Martin Glover's presentation, which explores how buildings shape our memory of events (free, book ahead, 12pm-1pm).
39 STEPS: See Hitchcock spy thriller The 39 Steps recreated on stage, with plenty of comedy thrown in. This production sees just four actors play more than 200 roles, making for a lightning-paced show. Dugdale Centre (Enfield), £17/£15, book ahead, 2.30pm/7.45pm
ANIMALCOLM: Comedian David Baddiel's children's book Animalcolm is brought to life on stage in this family-friendly show. Musical theatre, physical theatre and puppetry are used to tell the story of Malcolm, a boy who doesn't like animals until a school trip changes everything. ArtsDepot (North Finchley), from £9, book ahead, 3pm
FINDING A BED: What was life like for the homeless in Victorian London? Professor Jane Hamlett and Dr Vicky Holmes offer some historical context on the concept of homes and homelessness at the time, in a free talk. Foundling Museum (Bloomsbury), including in admission, just turn up, 3pm
KIDS COMEDY: Comedy Club 4 Kids has been running since 2005, so it's fair to say they know what makes children chuckle by now. This show is aimed at age 6+ and their families, and is basically a regular comedy show, without the rude bits — and no patronising idiocy either. Waterloo Vaults, £12, book ahead, 3.15pm
THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD: Released last year, Peter Jackson's moving documentary They Shall Not Grow Old is comprised of frontline footage from the first world war trenches, restored and colourised for the first time. This screening is introduced by local historian John Hickman, who talks about the military in Croydon. Harris Academy South Norwood, £8.50/£7/£5, book ahead, 4pm
DAME DIANA RIGG: Actress Dame Diana Rigg has had one heck of a career, and at the age of 80 she's showing no signs of stopping — she returned to Broadway for a role in My Fair Lady just last year. Tonight is a tamer affair though, as she chats to broadcaster Edward Seckerson about her career, from the Royal Shakespeare Company, to Broadway, to Game of Thrones. Southbank Centre, £15-£35, book ahead, 7.30pm
WHAT WORDS ARE OURS?: Drag artists, BSL poets, political satirists and spoken words artists are just some of the performers in What Words Are Ours? The show describes itself as a poetry cabaret show, and you may well find yourself laughing and crying at various points. Roundhouse (Camden), £10, book ahead, 8pm
THE DOORS: The magic and atmosphere of a Doors concert is recreated tonight, with tribute band The Doors Alive. They perform some of the band's greatest hits including Light My Fire, When The Music's Over, Riders On The Storm and The End. The Half Moon (Putney), £14/£16, book ahead, 8pm
Sunday 10 March
GRANDAD'S ISLAND: Take the kids to the theatre for a performance of Grandad's Island. Benji Davies's children's book is brought to the stage with plenty of songs to keep little ones entertained. ArtsDepot (North Finchley), from £9, book ahead, 11am/2pm
MR SELFRIDGE: Hear all manner of fascinating history and juicy trivia about London's world-famous department stores on this Footprints Of London walk. A certain John Lewis features, as does a dispute between Harry Gordon Selfridge and a Mr Harrod — and a few stores that sadly no longer exist. Oxford Circus, £12/£9, book ahead, 11am-12.30pm
VINTAGE FAIR: Pick yourself up a new (to you) dress, jacket or jumper at the Frock Me! Vintage Fair, and keep your eyes peeled for designer items by the likes of Biba and Chanel. A vintage jewellery fair takes place at the same time, so once you've got your new outfit sorted, pimp it up with a necklace, brooch, or pair of studs. Kensington Town Hall, £4, booking recommended, 11am-5.30pm
HISTORY TOUR: This tour varies from the usual history tours at Fulham Palace. Because the restoration work is coming to an end, there's a chance to get a glimpse at the final stages of some of the building works, as well as seeing the usual fascinating corners of the building. Fulham Palace, £6, just turn up, 12.30pm-1.30pm
PINK JUKEBOX: Ballroom and Latin dance club The Pink Jukebox is aimed at members of the LGBT community and their friends. The afternoon begins with classes where beginners can learn the steps, followed by social dancing where dancers of all abilities are welcome. Bishopsgate Institute (Liverpool Street), £12/£10, book ahead, 2pm
LONDON IN VERSE: London has been the inspiration for many poets throughout history. The Keats House Poetry Ambassadors perform a free reading of some of the works about the capital, its people and its stories. Keats House (Hampstead), free, book ahead, 2pm-3pm
SWISH AND STYLE: If your wardrobe needs a refresh but money's tight, take a few old (but good condition) items along to the Swish and Style, and swap them for someone else's donations. New clothes without spending a penny? Magic. ArtsDepot (North Finchley), free entry, just turn up, 2pm-5pm
BIG DATA: As our lives become less private, and our every move is watched by large corporations, it seems the big companies of the tech and finance industries become increasingly less regulated. At this Thinking On Sunday session, Dr Peter Bloom, head of People and Organisations Department at the Open University, discusses what this reveals about the deeper meaning of modern society. Conway Hall (Holborn), £8/£4, book ahead, 3pm-4.30pm
SUNDAY STORIES: Just 12 tickets are available for this monthly atmospheric storytelling session for adults, led by master storyteller Giles Abbott. Why's it atmospheric? It takes place seated around a sarcophagus in Lion's Chamber of the museum's Wunderkabinnet. The young hero Fionn is the subject of tonight's tales. The Last Tuesday Society (Hackney), £10/£5, book ahead, 6pm-9pm
JUBILEE QUARTET: Ahead of the release of their first album, Rubicon Classics, the Jubilee Quartet perform tracks from the CD to officially launch it. Expect to hear works by Haydn and Schubert performed in this one-off concert. Conway Hall (Holborn), £12/£10, book ahead, 6.30pm-8.30pm
