Time Out London Things To Do

Saturday night might get all the glory, but anyone with an ounce of street cred knows that Friday night is way more fun. Head out to town on a Friday night and you’ll find a glorious cocktail of suited post-work drinkers crowded outside the pubs as darkness descends and eager hedonists raring to get the weekend off to a buzzing start.  Friday is a chance to let off steam after a hectic week in nightspots across the city. And frankly, we're spoilt for choice, with classy cinemas, bougie bowling alleys and historic pubs, not to mention restaurants, clubs and world-renowned theatres galore. There's basically no excuse to reply ‘nothing much’ when your colleagues quiz you about your Friday night plans. Here are some ideas for nights out that'll start your weekend with a bang. TGIF.  RECOMMENDED: Events on today and great things to do this weekend in London

The weekend might start on a Friday (or a Tuesday, depending on your lifestyle) but everyone knows that Saturday is the best day of the week, and London is the best place in the world to spend it. Whatever the season, there are literally thousands of things to do in London on a Saturday: dancing, drinking, shopping, going to a gallery or museum to see some art, taking in a theatre show, eating out, or just chilling in a park. We’ve got you covered. Honestly, you’ll never waste a Saturday in London again.  RECOMMENDED: Things to do today and more things to do this weekend in London

Think you’ve ticked off everything London has to offer? Think again. Try a Thames river cruise – and no, we’re not talking about the Clippers (well we are, but only a little bit). There are few better ways to take in the capital than by its famously choppy, murky central waterway. Plus the views, from Hampton Court down to the City and Greenwich, are some of the absolute finest our city has to offer. It's time to ditch dry land and hop aboard a Thames river boat tour. And plenty of London’s top attractions are best seen from the water – so get your camera ready. RECOMMENDED: 101 things to do in London

Are you sitting comfortably? Then let us begin… our tale of literary London. Actually, it’s not really a tale, it’s more a one-stop-shop for all our favourite book-based things to do in the city. No beginning, no middle, no end. Just books. From literary landmarks and London’s best bookshops, to talks, events and anything else you can shake a hardback at, browse our guide to London for book-lovers and go get story hunting.  Also: Our guide to the best 100 children’s books ever.London’s most beautiful and inspiring libraries.

Our round-up of new and upcoming exhibitions in London will help keep you updated with the dizzying array of displays in London. If planning ahead isn't your thing, we've also brought together the top ten museum exhibitions in London and free exhibitions going on the capital, so you'll morph into a culture vulture before you even know it. RECOMMENDED: our full guide to exhibitions in London

WINTERVILLE WILL NOT TAKE PLACE IN 2019  Here's everything you need to know about London’s most eccentric Christmas village.  What is Winterville 2018 and when is it taking place? Winterville found its new home on Clapham Common. It sprinkled some festive fun south of the river, with more dancing, eating, laughing and drinking than you can shake a snowglobe at. This year, it's back, and will open mid-November. How do I get to Winterville? The nearest tube stations are Clapham Common and Clapham South.  Is there an entry fee? Last year, it was free on Tuesday but £2 on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. On Friday entry was £2 after 2pm, £5 after 6pm, on Saturday it was £2 after noon and £5 after 6pm. Phew! Fees have yet to be confirmed for 2019. Tickets are usually required for special events like the ice rink. What's on at Winterville 2018? We're expecting old favourites like the open-air ice rink, as well as new additions. And with plenty of food stalls to choose from, the Winterville grub will be a welcome change from the dry turkey sandwiches and run-of-the-mill mulled wine.  RECOMMENDED: Find more festive fun this Christmas in London

Hot, sunny summer days in London may be drawing to a close, but there’s still time to squeeze out that last zesty drop of the season. Jump into the Hampstead ponds or an outdoor swimming pool. Get yourself onto a London rooftop for some drinks in the sun. Or make a beeline for the Walthamstow Wetlands or one of London’s hidden parks if you want to spend the long, hot days away from the crowds.  Summer in London means feeling the heat of the Brutalist concrete on the South Bank, it means great art exhibitions, lazy days spent in beer gardens and most importantly: it means the soca sounds and mas bands at Notting Hill Carnival. Whether you’re after the latest new theatre shows, the best gigs, restaurant openings or other great things to do in London, our summer round-up will keep your social life hotter than an August morning on the Bakerloo Line. Here are 36 sizzling summer events to soak up the last of that balmy sun.  RECOMMENDED: Plan a brilliant weekend in London  

The sun is finally starting to make an appearance and so it’s time to get outdoors and tend to your poor neglected plants. Author of ‘The London Garden Book A-Z’ Abigail Willis recommends the best urban gardens to inspire your eager green fingers.  

You don't have to be a sports junkie to enjoy outdoor sports screenings in London during summer. Watching events like the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and this year's Rugby World Cup at an outdoor screen with crowds of others always provides a great atmosphere. Pull up a deck chair, bring your own bottle and cheer along whatever the weather.  RECOMMENDED: the full guide to outdoor London

May in London is finally here. The wisteria is out, the sun is (occasionally) out too, and all your colleagues are – gasp – smiling. Why? Well, iit comes bringing gifts of not one, but two bank holiday weekends.   Yes, London is filled with beer gardens, art exhibitions and food markets, but this May bank holiday comes with all manner of weird and wonderful events from Saturday May 25 to Monday May 27 2019. Whatever you do, don’t wake up on Tuesday May 28 feeling like you let your extra day off work go to waste.  RECOMMENDED: Read our full guide to the bank holiday in London.

The thrill of the chase. The hammering of your heartbeat. The satisfying crunch of an egg successfully caught, shattered and thrown into your gaping mouth. Despite the naysayers who'll say nay, you're never actually too old for an Easter egg hunt. That’s why, while there may be lots of slightly more grown-up events going on in London this Easter, it's on these eggy trails that your heart truly lies. And sure, if you really have to, you can bring the kids along too.  If egg hunts somehow aren't your thing, check out our list of alternative Easter events

All you museum buffs out there, take note. If getting the chance to experience even more culture, talks, exhibitions (and sometimes, just plain random things) during after-hours sounds like an absolute treat, you need to get involved with ‘Museums at Night’. The latest offering takes place across the UK from Thu 25 -Sat 27 Oct 2018, with a series of seriously special events at some of London’s best galleries, museums and attractions. Here are the most unmissable events from across the capital for you to check out a whole other side to London’s top cultural hubs. What is Museums at Night?  Part of a UK-wide festival, ‘Museums at Night’ events across London give you a chance to see new and exciting parts of a number of world-class cultural institutions, after dark. Go behind the scenes and see London’s best museums in a very different way with specialist talks, unusual events and one-off exhibitions. This year, you can go on a Tudor treasure hunt, or attend a talk on medicinal plants. Or both. Sounds good, when is it? The latest edition, for the autumn season, runs from Thu Oct 25 - Sat Oct 27, while the next spring counterpart takes place from Wed 15 – Sat 18 May 2019. And where is it being held? Opening hours are extended in cultural institutions around London, with venues both big and small joining the late night celebrations. Check out our event highlights below. 

Put your money away! Here are the week’s best free events Nancy Rubins: ‘Diversifolia’ It’s your last chance to catch Nancy Rubins’s twisted animal sculptures before they escape King’s Cross. The vertiginous silver forms feature precariously piled-up creatures that look like they’ve been chucked from a great height. They’re the very opposite of fluffy. Gagosian. Tube: King’s Cross. Until Sat Apr 14. Native Session: Bars Rapper Ms Banks, grime MC Flowdan and DJ Target are some of the artists taking place in this evening of Q&As, workshops and live shows. Get tickets from Eventbrite. Barbican Centre.          Tube: Barbican. Wed Apr 11. West Norwood Free Film Festival Missed out on seeing ‘The Death of Stalin’ in the cinema? Fancy watching ’80s classics ‘ET’ and ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ on the big screen? Grab your popcorn and head to this  free volunteer-run film festival. Various locations. West Norwood rail. Until Apr 29. Oatly x Spike Free coffee, anyone? Dairy-free milk company Oatly has teamed up with Old Spike Roastery to celebrate London Coffee Festival with complimentary caffeine, a latte art competition and cocktail masterclasses. It all sounds pretty oat-k to us! Boxpark Shoreditch. Shoreditch High St Overground. Wed Apr 11-Sun Apr 15. Brass band night Toot, toot! The Flat Iron Square Horn Society is bringing some top best brass bands to cosy alpine bar Après London for a free show every Wednesday in April. Après London. Tube: Southwark. Wed Apr 11, 18 and 25. ‘Ea

Put your money away! Here are the week’s best free events Red, White, Blue: Global Colours Be transported around the world via the vibrant work of 37 photographers from 24 countries at the Getty Images Gallery’s latest exhibition. The pictures’ common thread? They all show there’s more to the colours red, white and blue than the Union Jack. Getty Images Gallery. Tube: Oxford Circus. Until May 26. Glee club Fancy yourself a ‘Glee’ student or a ‘Pitch Perfect’ performer? Clear your throat and head east for a group acapella singalong. Queen of Hoxton. Shoreditch High St Overground. Mon Apr 9. Girls skate night Learn to be a pro-skateboarder thanks to expert tutors at this beginners-friendly all-girl get-together. Cool down with a yoga class then round off the night with a free cocktail. Sounds rad. House of Vans. Tube: Waterloo. Thu Apr 5. Hedgehog Discovery Day Brush up on your knowledge of adorable prickly creatures at this family-friendly day out. Hear about hedgehog conservation, learn if there are any hedgehogs where you live and eventake home a clay critter of your very own. Sydenham Hill Wood. Forest Hill Overground. Sun Apr 8. Little Moons mochi pop-up Mochi are small and perfectly formed glutinous rice balls traditionally filled with sweet bean paste. Little Moons, however, use ice cream in theirs, which sounds awesome. Head to Old Street station, where they’re celebrating what passes for spring this year by giving away free samples of their limited-edition cherry and c

Put your money away! Here are the week’s best free events Free doughnuts from Doughnut Time In the market for sugar, spice and all things nice? You’re in luck. Doughnut Time is opening a new branch in Shoreditch, filled to the brim with monster baked goods. (Think treats topped with lashings of icing and whole Hershey’s Kisses.) To celebrate, the team are handing out free festive ’nuts for two hours only. Go, go, go! Doughnut Time, 233a Old St. Tube: Old St. Fri Dec 15, 12.30pm-2.30pm. Never Stop London go Bouldering Spend a night dangling from a climbing wall this week at a free bouldering workshop.  It’ll leave you feeling giddier than your Christmas party. Book tickets on Eventbrite. Castle Climbing Centre. Tube: Manor House. Thu Dec 14. The Dartmouth Decibelles at the Natural History Museum Ice Rink Need a festive top-up? US acapella group The Dartmouth Decibelles will bring the #vibes to the Natural History Museum’s Café Bar. Natural History Museum. Tube: South Kensington. Tue Dec 12. BBZ x Tate Exchange How do communities of queer, trans and intersex people of colour grow? What’s their importance? That’s just a couple of the questions asked at BBZ collective’s four-day Tate Takeover. There’ll be parties, co-working spaces , talks and even a pop-up barbershop. Tate Modern. Tube: Southwark.  Thu Dec 14-Sun Dec 17. Snow slide at East Village Twenty tonnes of real snow. That’s what’s being used to create the 25-metre ‘snow slide’ arriving in East Village this week. Apparent

Put your money away! Here are the week’s best free events Slideatron What’s more lit than a giant LED Christmas tree? One you can slide down, of course. Yes, it’s a festive helter skelter – and it has landed in Wembley. Expect to hear Mariah and Slade blaring out as you brave the 20-metre slide to the bottom (book in advance). Then indulge in Christmassy street food and bubbles, once you’ve got your feet back on the ground. Seasonal thrills indeed. Wembley Park. Tube: Wembley Park. Until Jan 2. Herne Hill Free Film Festival Taking place south of the river for a fifth year, Herne Hill Free Film Festival is screening nine festive flicks in the run-up to Christmas. Yep, ‘Elf’ will make an appearance. Donate to Norwood & Brixton Foodbank’s collection points while there. Various venues. Herne Hill Rail. Thu Dec 7-Dec 20. Get into the Christmas Spirit Workshop If your booze knowledge only extends to Blossom Hill, this masterclass will help you field questions from the in-laws. You’ll learn how to make wintery tipples and get into the festive spirit, literally. London Bridge City Pier. Tube: London Bridge. Thu Dec 7. Hawksmoor cocktail class Sack off the mulled wine this festive season and head down to Seven Dials to learn how to make Christmas cocktails from the pros at Hawksmoor. Enter the online ballot to nab yourself a spot and be prepared to get merry. Seven Dials Christmas pop-up. Tube: Covent Garden. Fri Dec 8. Passenger Films x IWGB present: ‘Strike!’ Catch two 40-minute fil

Put your money away! Here are the week’s best free events Ryoji Ikeda: ‘Test Pattern No 12’ If you loved video art exhibition ‘The Infinite Mix’, you’re in for a treat. 180 The Strand is playing host to more captivating art. One of the highlights? An immersive installation by Ryoji Ikeda that converts sound, music, photos and video into disorientating binary patterns around the room. Well worth queuing for. 180 The Strand. Tube: Temple. Until Dec 10. Pimp Your Pumpkin Get ready for Halloween at this family-friendly pumpkin party. You’ll be able to make a squash centrepiece, decorated with jewels and glitter, sure to be the prettiest on your patch. Register for the ticket ballot up to five days in advance at www.carnaby.co.uk. 2 Newburgh St. Tube: Oxford Circus. Mon Oct 23. Opera Passion Day at St Pancras What does St Pancras sound like? Normally it’s commuters tutting and wheely suitcases rolling. On Thursday, though, it’ll be vocals from The Royal Opera Chorus – with back-up from willing commuters. It’s to mark Opera Passion Day, taking place around the country. St Pancras. Thu Oct 19, 6.30pm. A Wheelie Big Bounce Anyone who’s woken up after a night of raving with legs aching liking they’ve been working out can vouch for the motivating power of drum ’n’ bass. Now it’s official: there’s a free D&B-soundtracked dance-fit class coming to London. Book a spot on Eventbrite. Lee Valley VeloPark. Tube: Stratford. Fri Oct 20, 7.30pm. Find more great free things to do in London.

The renowned musician tells us about the London spots she loves  Where do you live and why?‘Earl’s Court. I lived in Dalston for ten years but returned to my roots. The east-west divide has been strong in all areas of my life.’  What do you love about London?  ‘It’s a cliché but it’s got to be the cultural diversity.’  Tell us your favourite hidden gem?  ‘The mock-Tudor pub off Shoreditch High Street, where I used to go to many squat parties. Also, a boat on the Thames called the Tattershall Castle, where I ran a club called Kashpoint years ago.’ Favourite London memory? ‘Crawling home while the sun was rising on the summer solstice on Hampstead Heath.’ What smell do you associate with London? ‘The Great Stink of 1858, which I was not lucky enough to witness.’   Where would you… Take a date Tate Modern. Spend a tenner Foyles on Charing Cross Road. Get pissed Queen Adelaide on Cambridge Heath Road. Go for a hangover Hoi Polloi at the Ace Hotel. Eat drunk at 2am A disgraceful chippy somewhere – anywhere that will take my money! Go for brunch Bistrotheque or The Wolseley if I’m feeling fancy. Go to feel inspired Sir John Soane’s Museum. Go for a shopping spree Shopping makes me nervous, sorry.  Get a caffeine fix Troubadour in Earl’s Court. Go alone Brompton Cemetery. Tell a newbie to go Maison Bertaux, in Soho. Eat a birthday meal J Sheekey. Go dancing Savage at Metropolis, Bethnal Green. Absorb nature Hampstead Heath or Primrose Hill. Bishi is co-founder of WITCiH (Women In

Put your money away! Here are the week’s best free events Femfest Want to take part in feminist zine-making workshop? Femfest is for you. The three-day arts festival, focusing on the voices and experiences of women and non-binary people, has a packed schedule. Head down there on Friday for short film screenings or on Saturday and Sunday for the zine workshop. There’s an exhibition and performance art running all weekend too. Ugly Duck. Tube: Bermondsey. Fri Sep 8-Sun Sep 10. Free burgers at Ichibuns Chow down on one of 500 free wagyu blend cheeseburgers being given out at new central London joint Ichibuns on Friday.  The Japanese-inspired restaurant says it makes its buns using sake yeast so they’re also extra special. 22 Wardour St. Tube: Leicester Square. Fri Sep 8. Wac Arts Senior Taster Day If you’re between the ages of 14 and 26, you can spend Sunday taking part in theatre, video production, music tech and trampolining workshops as part of Wac’s free taster day. The classes then run weekly at £2.50 each. Hampstead Town Hall Centre. Tube: Belsize Park. Sun Sep 10. Nasty Women Workshop Organisation Nasty Women is a reaction to growing misogyny. They’re holding an art show on September 22 and this workshop is a chance for women’s rights activists to make art to be exhibited. Sign up at nastywomenuk@hotmail.com. Stour Space. Hackney Wick Overground. Sat Sep 9. Capoeira class A martial art-infused dance style, capoeira dates back to 1800s Brazil. Now you can give this acrobat

Put your money away! Here are the week’s best free events High Ropes Swap clingwrapped sarnies at your desk for a lunchbreak spent zip-wiring through Paddington. You’ll be able to climb, jump and swing your way along a 20ft-tall urban assault course on Thursday. Fancy having a go? Email events@merchantsquare.co.uk to book a slot. It’s probably the only way to get high during office hours without risking some kind of disciplinary situation. The Lawn. Tube: Edgware Rd. Thu Aug 24. noon-2pm. At Your Beat Open Day Get down to Drake, Bieber, Beyoncé and –  song of the summer  – Rihanna’s  ‘Wild Thoughts’ at this day of classes run by At Your Beat, aka the hippest dance school in the city. Beginners are welcome. More at atyourbeat.com. The Castle Centre. Tube: Elephant & Castle. Mon Aug 28.   Aperol Spritz Sundial Social If you go down to the South Bank this week, you’re sure of a boozy surprise. Aperol Spritz is sending a team of bartenders to hand out free drinks every day at 5pm from a 20ft orange sundial. It’s aperitif time! South Bank. Wed Aug 23-Mon Aug 28, 5pm-8.30pm. Tube: Waterloo. Travel Treasure Hunt at the V&A Explore the V&A like a big kid at this Friday’s late. Treasure hunt pros That Muse are putting on a museum-wide competition during which teams will crack clues to find objects from around the world. Sackler Centre at the V&A Museum.Tube: South Kensington. Fri Aug 25, 6.30pm. Mandy Williams   RBMA X Mangrove Carnival Workshops Watch the Mangrove band rehearse f

Put your money away! Here are the week's best free events. The Anatomy of Beer Brooklyn Brewery is celebrating the launch of its mysteriously named new brew, Cloaking Device, with a night of free beer and food. Sounds great, right? But if you’re squeamish, be warned: they’ll be grilling up offal, served on a (fake) corpse. Y’know, like that game Operation, except with food and without that annoying buzzer. Sessions are at 6pm and 8pm – get down there early to make sure you nab a freebie. The Axe. Stoke Newington Overground. Thu Aug 10. The Odyssey The Scoop’s free theatre season is back – and this time they’re tackling  Homer’s epic work ‘The Odyssey’. Split into three hour-long parts, the first is aimed at families, before the more serious sword ’n’ sandals action kicks off in parts two and three. The Scoop. Tube: London Bridge. Wed Aug 9-Sep 3.  ‘Save the Last Dance’ Forget ‘Step Up’ and its many, many sequels – any fule kno that ‘Save the Last Dance’ was the best noughties dance movie. Watch Julia Stiles strut her stuff as a ballet dancer-turned-street dancer at this free screening. Merchant Square. Tube: Paddington. Thu Aug 10. Cubitt Sessions Catch loads of free performances at multi-arts outdoor festival the Cubitt Sessions. Expect opera, cabaret and acappella, as well as a circus show from PanGottic, which involves a giant ball-slinging contraption. Lewis Cubitt Square. Tube: King’s Cross. Until Sun Aug 13. Violet Nights: Woke Twitter IRL ‘Woke’ is officially in the Ox

  Put your money away! Here are the week’s best free events. Parks: Our Shared Heritage You might fancy spending  time in London’s Royal Parks this summer (weather permitting), but did you know these green spaces have a colourful past? Find out all about it at this exhibition showcasing the history of the Royal Parks, which includes artefacts, paintings and photos, like this lady walking a leopard on a lead in Kensington Gardens – something you probably won’t see in your local park any time soon. Mall Galleries. Tube: Charing Cross. Until Aug 11. Free coffee at Hand Café Need a Sunday morning caffeine hit? East Village’s Hand Café is giving away free coffees (complete with sport-inspired latte art) to celebrate the IAAF World Championships. There’s only 100 up for grabs, so you’ll need to sprint to grab one. Hand Café. Tube: Stratford. Sun Aug 6. Dragon Boat Taster Session Give your arms a serious workout at the Thames Dragon Boat Club’s taster session, where they’ll teach you the basics of dragon boating (basically, paddling a boat as fast as you can in a team). Sign up by Wednesday to reserve a spot. London Regatta Centre. Royal Albert DLR. Thu Aug 3 Jazz Re:Fest 2017 Now in its fifth year, this one-day jazz extravaganza is taking over the Royal Festival Hall’s Clore Ballroom with a line-up of more than 50 DJs, artists and musicians. There will also be performances on the terrace, so let’s hope for some sun. Southbank Centre. Tube: Waterloo. Sun Aug 6. Yard Sale Pizza Part

Put your money away! Here are the week’s best free events. River Stage Takeover: The Glory The National Theatre’s River Stage is back for another summer – and this weekend the fabulous folks from LGBT+ boozer The Glory are taking over. Get your creative juices flowing at a drag life-drawing session, join Shesus and The Sistas for a singalong at their musical church service The Unholy Hour, or rest your vocal chords and watch the sassiest kings and queens battle it out in the Lipsync1000. National Theatre. Tube: Waterloo. Fri Jul 28-Sun Jul 30. Gospeloke Embrace your inner Whitney Houston at this karaoke session accompanied by an urban choir, where you can belt out classics from Prince, Martin Gaye and Aretha Franklin. You’ll basically feel like you’re in ‘Sister Act’. Oh happy day! The Scoop. Tube: London Bridge. Thu Jul 27. Future Forest Bonkers duo Bompas & Parr are up to their old tricks again with a new immersive installation at Westfield Stratford. Make a splash in the forest zorb lagoon, see plants that create electricity and walk through a cloud of fruit-flavoured mist. Westfield Stratford City.Tube: Stratford. Until Aug 3. Craft Beer Tasting Brook Green Market and Kitchen is hosting a craft beer month to showcase London breweries. Kicking off with Portobello Brewing Co this Saturday, it’ll have free tastings and you can meet the brewers to learn about what goes into their beer. Addison Primary School. Tube: Goldhawk Rd. Sat Jul 29. Free food from Rola Wala Indian stre

Put your money away! Here are the week’s best free events. Walthamstow Garden Party Programmed by the Barbican and Create London in partnership with Waltham Forest Council, this free two-day festival is returning to E17 for its fourth year. Expect street food, local beers from Wild Card Brewery, live music, theatre, dancing, comedy and acrobatic performances from the Walthamstow Youth Circus. Lloyd Park. Tube: Walthamstow Central. Sat Jul 15-Sun Jul 16. Free Croissants at Paul Bakeries Don a Breton-striped T-shirt and head to your nearest Paul bakery this Friday. To celebrate Bastille Day, they’re giving away free croissants to anyone wearing blue-and-white stripes. Various locations. Fri Jul 14. Core Clapton Osteopathy clinic (it’s cooler than it sounds, honest!) Core Clapton is celebrating its relaunch with a whole day of free sessions, including yoga, massages and boxing. Core blimey! Core Clapton. Clapton Overground. Sat Jul 15. Summer Screenings at Woodberry Down Want to watch a film without missing out on the balmy evenings? Grab a blanket and get comfy at Woodberry Down’s pop-up screen. They’ll be showing ‘La La Land’ and ‘The Jungle Book’, while tennis fans can catch the Wimbledon finals. Woodberry Down. Tube: Manor House. Thu Jul 13-Sun Jul 16. Aperol Spritz Social Everyone’s favourite aperitif is taking over east London rooftop Netil 360 for a night of spritzes, Italian small plates from Forza Win and a DJ set from Norman Jay MBE. Enter here to nab a spot – winners