Things To Do In London This Weekend: 24-26 May 2014

Take part in a floristry workshop courtesy of The Cut Flower Project.

All weekend

POLISH FILMS: Head to the Institute of Contemporary Arts for rarely screened short films by the Polish painter, sculptor and filmmaker Walerian Borowczyk. £8-£15, prebook, 24 and 25 May

FAMILY WEEKENDER: The HMS Belfast has a weekend of family activities. Children can make their own medals or design their own t-shirt, inspired by Navy tattoos. Included in admission price, just turn up 24 and 25 May

SCOTTISH FOOD: Scottish pop-up restaurant Dram & Smoke launches this weekend, with sittings on Saturday and Sunday in Vauxhall. £40, prebook, 24 and 25 May

TATTOOS: Head to Alexandra Palace for the Great British Tattoo Show, celebrating body art with tattoo artists and fashion shows. From £11, prebook, 24 and 25 May

HERBAL CHAT: Make your own herbal tea and talk to strangers in the delightful King Henry’s Walk Garden in Islington with ‘i beg your pardon, i never promised you a herb garden‘. Free, 24-25 May

THIS CITY: The Museum of London has a family festival, The City We Live In, with a street art wall, find out what's hiding in Epping Forest and build a model city with skyscrapers. Free, just turn up, 24-25 May

COMMUNITY FESTIVAL: Expect history, family fun and even fitness at the Hither Green Festival. Most of the events are free or very cheap, tickets need to be collected in specific venues. Until 25 May

FOOD FESTIVAL: The Morden Hall Park Food Festival has artisan food traders, cookery demonstrations, children's workshops and talks. Free, prebook, 24-26 May

COMIC CON: MCM London Comic Con returns to ExCel Centre for three days this weekend, with dealer stalls, a games expo and special guests from many areas. Many priority tickets have already sold out, so get in quick, or get there early on the day. 24-26 May

TUDORS AT THE TOWER: The Tower of London has a tudor themed weekend, as the court of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII in 1533 is re-enacted, with Tudor cooking, crafts, and games to take part in. Included in admission, pre booking recommended, 24-26 May

FAMILY GARDEN PARTY: The Charles Holden pub in Colliers Wood has a Bank Holiday Garden Party, with food, live entertainment, children's activities and a charity raffle. Free, just turn up, 24-26 May

BREWFEST: Head to Greenwich’s Old Royal Naval College for Brewfest, and event focusing on craft beer, with a chance to sample many craft beers. There will also be live music and food. From £20, prebook, 24-26 May

WILDLIFE ART: The Spotlight on Sumatra exhibition is outside More London, accessible 24 hours a day. It portrays the species of Sumatra and the danger they are in. Free, just turn up, until 31 May

FREE FILM FESTIVAL: A rich programme of free films in unusual venues: that's the Herne Hill Free Film Festival. You can just turn up and enjoy the film in most venues. Free, until 31 May

ROOF GARDEN: The John Lewis roof garden and Stories of a Shopkeeper exhibition on Oxford Street are still going strong. Both are free (prebooking required for some roof garden events), all weekend

LOVE THE TREES: London Tree Week celebrates all the woodlands and green spaces in town. Expect guided walks and cycle tours, wanders in the woodland and even pop-up forests in town. Check website for events and prices, until 31 May

CULTURE FESTIVAL: Wandsworth Heritage Festival kicks off today with a rich programme of free events, bringing back to life the history of the borough. Expect guided walks, talks, family activities and so on. Free, prebook suggested, until 8 June

PLANTASIA: Saturday sees the start of the Summer plant event at Kew Gardens. Plantasia explores the health and scientific benefits of plants, with Tai Chi sessions, plant family croquet and more. Included in admission price, prebook, until 7 September

MARKETS AND SHOPPING: We’ve created a round-up of shopping and market events for shop, browse and bargain-a-holics to enjoy this month.

ART EXHIBITIONS: Take a look at our May round up of London art openings too.

THEATRE: And yet another for theatre openings in May. Lots of shows are selling out fast, so hop to it.

Saturday 24 May

LONDON FIELDS WALK: Follow an ancient track out of Hackney to hear about the 'common land' of London Fields, one of London's few remaining Lidos, the first Jews in Hackney and find out why there were riots in Broadway Markey. £8, prebook, 11am

RARE BOOKS: Today is the last day of the Antiquarian Book Fair at London Olympia, with thousands of rare, unusual and unique items for sale. Free when prebooked, or £10-£15 on the door, 11am-5pm

QUIET MUSIC: Heath Street Baptist Church near Hampstead Heath hosts SHHH, an all day event celebrating quiet music and art. £20, prebook, 12pm

FLORAL WORKSHOP: On the last day of its pop-up shop at West Elm on Tottenham Court Road, The Cut Flower Project is running a flower workshop. £25, prebook, 12pm

MORE FAMILY FUN: The Whitechapel Gallery has organised a family day connected to their current exhibition about filmmaker, writer and photographer Chris Marker. Use words, sounds and images then make your own film. Free, prebook, noon-4pm

CANARY WHARF TOUR: As part of the London's Growing up! exhibition, there is a tour around the buildings of Canary Wharf, looking at how they were constructed, despite the restrictions of the area. £12, prebook, 2pm

SPY WALK: Learn about the Spy Stories of Mayfair and Marylebone on this guided walk. £8/£10, prebook, 2.30pm

COMEDY: Knock2Bag comedy night returns to Rich Mix for an evening of established comics and newbies to the comedy circuit. £12/£8, prebook, 7.30pm

FUNDRAISER:  The Poetry Cafe holds an open mic evening to raise funds for an Anthology to Seamus Heany. £5, just turn up, 7.30pm

LIVE MUSIC: Pop musicians Tigercats are supported by Fever Dream and indie group Mammoth Penguins at The Shacklewell Arms in Dalston. £7.50, prebook, 8pm

SATURDAY JAZZ: Jazz virtuoso Jacqui Dankworth performs at The Studio at St James Theatre, as part of the Saturday Jazz Divas season. £16.50/£19, prebook, 8pm

MASQUERADE BALL: A Curious Invitation hosts The Rite Of Spring Masquerade Ball at the Coronet Theatre, complete with ballroom, cabaret stage and baroque buffet. £20, prebook, 10pm

RETRO PARTY: I love the 80s vs I love the 90s is a club night at the Jazz Cafe in Camden, with well-known songs and anthems from both decades. £5/£7, prebook, 1o.30pm

Sunday 25 May

FSTVL: At time of writing there are still tickets left for We Are FSTVL, the electronic dance music fest, at Damyns Hall Aerodrome, Upminster (that's on the District line) headlined by Fatboy Slim. Tickets from £77, from 9am

ROAD RACE: The BUPA London 10,000 run takes place from 10am around the City and the West End. This means there will be road closures and bus re-routes in the area, but if you're around, why not turn up and support the runners? From 10am

FORAGE: Explore Gillespie Park Nature Reserve near Finsbury Park station with a foraging expert and find out about wild food. Free, Sunday 25 May, 10.30am

BEHIND THE SCENES: The Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley has organised a Behind the Scenes tour, where you'll be able to understand and see how a cinema works. Tours last 45 mins each and host small amounts of people so you need to book quickly by email. £2, prebook by email, 11am-11.45am-12.30pm

WEMBLEY MARKET: Head to Cottrell House for the Creative Wembley Market with local fashion and textile designers, visual artists, dress-makers, jewellery-makers, paper-crafters, bakers and all other creative sorts. Free, just turn up, 11am-5pm

FLEA MARKET: The annual Soho Flea Market, described as “London’s first designer street market”, returns to Dean Street, raising money for local charity Soho Family Centre. Traders include glass blowers, fashion and jewellery designers, furniture makers, and more. Plus, street food will be sold, including offerings from The London Marshmallow Company. 11am-7pm

ENVIRONMENTAL FAIR: The Redbridge Green Fair aims to encourage people to be environmentally friendly. There will be stalls, fitness classes, eco arts, live music and more. £2, just turn up, 11.30am-7pm

ZINE FAIR: Head to Rich Mix for DIY Cultures 2014, a day-long festival of zines, artist books, comics, artist-run spaces, talks, films, animation, poetry, video art, exhibition, workshops. Free, just turn up, 12pm

ROLLERSKATING: The Sunday Stroll is a relaxed slow paced skate open to all roller skaters and rollerbladers able to stop, turn and control their speed on hills. Meet at Serpentine Road in Hyde Park. Free, just turn up, 2pm

KEATS POETRY: Head to Keats House for an afternoon of poetry and spoken word with an open mic and performances from the Keats House Poets. Free, prebook, 2pm

DOCTOR WHO: I Need A Doctor: The Whosical is an unauthorised Doctor Who musical comedy, about two people trying to write an unauthorised Doctor Who musical comedy... Various prices, prebook, until 27 May

SUNDAY CONCERT: This week's Sunday Concert at Conway Hall features the Werther Ensemble performing the music of Brahms. £9/£4, prebook, 6.30pm

MUSIC AND MASTERCLASS: Israeli singer-violinist Michael Greilsammer is performing at JW3 Centre on Finchley Road. His musical style is a mixture of classical violin and electric guitar. £15/£7.50, prebook, 8pm. Prior to his performance, he is giving a masterclass for anyone with a musical interest. £10/£5, prebook, 5pm

CIDER FESTIVAL: The Water Poet in Spitalfields holds its inaugural Cider Festival, with new and classic cider producers represented. Soak up all that booze with a the hog roast. Free, just turn up, from 6pm (continues tomorrow)

JANE AUSTEN: Austentatious at the Leicester Square Theatre is an improvisation of a Jane Austen novel. Watch an Austen story crafted from scratch, entirely based on your suggestions, and never see the same show twice. £10/£12.50, prebook, 7pm

PING PONG DATE: Dating website DoingSomething has a ping pong dating night at Bounce in Chancery Lane, complete with space hopper races and three-way ping pong tables. £10-£20, prebook, 7.30pm

TORRIANO POETS: At this week’s Torriano Poets meeting, Richard Skinner and Marion Tracey read their poetry. £5/£4, just turn up, 7.30pm

EDIBLE BOOK LAUNCH: At time of writing, tickets are still available to the UK’s first ever edible book launch, taking place in Shoreditch. Debut novelist Sarah Holt releases her new book, Love and Eskimo Snow, with an accompanying six course meal. Prebooking essential, 7.30pm

CIRCUS EXTRAVAGANZA: Head to Proud in Camden for an evening of circus themed entertainment, with acrobatics, fire acts and live music. £5/£3, just turn up, 10pm

Monday 26 May

AFRICAN MARKET: The African Market returns to Spitalfields with stallholders including fashion designers, artists, interior designers, music, film and food vendors. Free, just turn up, 10am-4pm

GOOD CAUSE: Fika Swedish Bar and Kitchen in Brick Lane hosts a one-off pay what you want evening. Diners are invited to pay what they think their dinner is worth, with money going to support local charity Headway East London. Prebook suggested, 5pm-10pm

MASK MAKING: Masks aren't just for kids! Head to The Book Club in Shoreditch for a mask-making session in preparation for the festival season. £8, prebook, 7pm

ART DISCUSSION: Calvert22 Gallery in Shoreditch hosts a panel discussion about art education in Britain and Russia in the post-communist era. Free, prebook, 7pm

POETRY TRIBUTE: 90 York Way in King's Place hosts a tribute to the work of Seamus Heaney, Nobel Prize winner who died in 2013. The event includes a screening and reading of his most famous poems by contemporary poets. £6.50, prebook, 7pm

EROTIC LITERATURE: Velvet Tongue, London’s erotic literature event, takes place at Bar Kick in Shoreditch, with writers Paul Ebbs, Tom Bland, Greg Mitchell and others, plus an open mic. £5/£3, just turn up, 7.30pm

POETRY READING: Coffee House Poetry has a poetry reading, Spring into Summer, with poets Lydia Macpherson, Ian House, Jennifer Wong, Alyson Hallett, Barbara Marsh, Victoria Field, Jackie Wills and special guest Louis de Bernières. Takes place at The Troubadour on Old Brompton Road. £8, just turn up, 8pm

PAUL HOLLYWOOD: TV baking expert Paul Hollywood hosts an evening of baking with demonstrations and audience participation at the Hammersmith Apollo. £39.75, prebook, 8.15pm

Other good stuff

Catch up on all latest features, see what we like in theatre and arts and browse more things to do in London.

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