All weekend
PUB: Just want to kick back and relax with a pint and a packet of pork scratchings? Our pubs guide has information about all the best pubs in London, organised by area for your convenience. Find a boozer nearby, or see if your favourite made the cut.
FRESH BREAD: The Dusty Knuckle Bakery is a new start up enterprise in Dalston that has been baking from a shipping container on site at the Bootstrap Company’s car park since the end of September. The Bakery's long-term aim is to develop a sustainable model for employing disadvantaged young people with barriers to employment, including criminal records, childcare challenges and a lack of qualifications. So by dropping by and picking up some bread for your weekend bacon butty, you'll be doing something good, too.
ART FAIR: Moniker Art Fair is one of London's most immersive, highly curated and experiential art fairs. Major artists showing this year include Ben Eine, Shepard Fairey and Banksy, D*Face. Takes place at Old Truman Brewery. £8.80 per day, prebook, 16-19 October
THE GIRLS ARE: Forge Venue in Camden runs a series of events and free workshops offering advice to women who work in or want to work in music journalism and live music photography. Free, just turn up, 17-19 October
AFRICAN AMERICAN: Grow Hackney in Hackney Wick presents a weekend of Latin American and African culture. Over three days and nights, a host of performers from around the world will share their skills, knowledge, energy and passion for their art form. There will also be workshops, documentaries, food, drink, arts and crafts for sale, a Yoruba art exhibition by Ade Sose Wallace throughout the weekend and DJs. 17-19 October
CHOCOLATE SHOW: The Chocolate Show at London Olympia brings together chocolate brands from around the UK and across the globe, giving chocolate lovers a chance to address all of their vices under one roof. As well as a chance to stock up on the good stuff, expect demonstrations, talks, and interactive workshops from renowned chocolatiers and chefs, plus a dedicated tasting room. £8-£25, prebook, 17-19 October
FLEA MARKET: Hackney Flea Market is back on Stoke Newington Church Street, offering bargains from over 50 handpicked exhibitors. Free, just turn up, 18-19 October
BATTLE OF IDEAS: The massive Battle of Ideas comes to Barbican, with events covering everything from feminism, to FGM, to whether it matters if we speak proper English or not. See the full, meaty programme here. £55 per day/£100 for weekend, prebook, 18-19 October
EXTINCTION MARATHON: Serpentine Galleries presents the Extinction Marathon. Artists, writers, scientists, film-makers, choreographers, theorists and musicians explore the complex and timely topic of extinction through talks, conversations, performances and screenings. £10-£20, prebook, 18-19 October
COLLEGE FESTIVAL: King's College Arts and Humanities Festival has a plethora of events going on, including life drawing, dance workshops and guided tours of Somerset House. Many events are free but booking is required. See full programme. Until 24 October
LITERARY FOOTSTEPS: The Literary Footprints Festival continues. This weekend's options include a Mary Poppins themed walk and a chance to see the London of Sherlock Holmes. £10, prebook, throughout October
TAHINI POP-UP: Tahini Brunch sets out to recreate some of the flavours of Tel Aviv, using produce that is available to us from local suppliers in London. For two weeks there's a brunch pop-up in Kensal Rise. Until 31 October
Saturday 18 October
PHOTO EXHIBITION: The Great Londoners exhibition starts today at the Hoxton Hotel in Holborn. Photographer Nicholas Goodden captures photos of Londoners during their everyday lives. Free, until 31 January 2015
LONDON BUS: London Transport Museum in Covent Garden hosts a day-long symposium about the social history and cultural significance of the London bus. Topics covered by experts include the role of the bus during World War One, and how the buses have been represented in art throughout time. Concludes with a panel discussion. £40, prebook, 10am-4pm
CABBIES' SHELTER: The Cabbies’ Shelters Project, which has commissioned three contemporary artists to present work inspired by London’s Cabmen's shelters, comes to a close this weekend with a series of free events, including a guided tour of the shelter at Embankment, and a talk about the history of the cab trade. Free, prebook, 10.30am-10pm
VAMPIRES, WEREWOLVES AND WITCHES: Conway Hall Ethical Society holds a day of talks and debates around the myth and reality of vampires, werewolves and witches, in the past and today. £10, prebook, 10.30am
HOME MOVIE DAY: Got any old films lying around of your family? Take them along to Home Movie Day at the Cinema Museum in Kennington to get advice from a professional film archivist on how to store them, and a chance to see them projected onto the big screen. Free, just turn up, 11am-5pm
KIDS' BOOK JAM: Brixton Kids' BookJam is a free mini literary festival, with authors including Piers Torday, Tamara Macfarlane, Andrew Weale and Emer Stamp all taking part. Aimed at 5-12 years olds and their parents. Free, 1pm-7pm
CITY SPLASH: Sound system culture and Caribbean-influenced music are celebrated in a one-day festival at Camden Roundhouse. Richie Spice headlines with a full live band, and other acts include live dub collective Gentleman’s Dub Club and 9 piece live hip-hop crew The Mouse Outfit. From £25, prebook, 2pm-11.30pm
RUBBISH TRIP: This guided walk offers an alternative perspective on the Mudchute / Greenwich part of London by linking together features of the landscape through the theme of rubbish. £15/£12, prebook, 2pm
OXJAM TAKEOVER: This week it's the turn of Brixton to host a music festival in aid of Oxfam. Throughout the event, over 50 live music acts will play across five venues in the area. See the full line-up. £10, prebook, from 2pm
SHADOW BANKS: Occupy London's Mayfair Tour takes a look at the Shadow Banks of the area. Find out about links between unregulated finance and our politics: from enigmatic Tory funders to the company which lists ex-presidents and prime ministers on its payroll. Free, prebook, 2pm
CAKE WALK: This two hour walking tour of the cakiest places in the West End takes in 20 different venues, from charming tea rooms, to chocolate shops and French style patisseries. £8, prebook, 2pm
STRAND WALK: Discovering London guide Peter Berthoud leads this walk which features a feast of London trivia. Learn about the death of the bowler hat, see the site of an elephant's execution, and walk along a former beach — all in the vicinity of the Strand. Starts at Covent Garden station. Limited to 15 places so book ASAP. £12/£10, prebook, 3pm
COCKTAILS: Underground Drinking Club, in association with Russian Standard Vodka, is offering Londoners the chance to book in for a two hour cocktail mixology session in Old Street Underground station. £25, prebook, from 6pm
DIG A LITTLE: The record fair heads to ElthamGPO, giving record collectors a chance to get together and add to their collections. After 7pm, there's an evening session with soul and funk music played by the DJs. From 2pm
GIG: Rock band Night Screamer headlines a gig at the O2 Academy2 Islington, supported by Vendetta, Fable, Kill All the Gentlemen and Silent Divide. £10, prebook, 7pm
EP LAUNCH: Musician Yvonne launches her new EP, Endless Soul, at The Gallery Cafe in Bethnal Green, supported by singer songwriter Kenesha and sitarist, singer and poet Shama Rahman. £5/£4, prebook, 7pm
HOUSE OF FUN: Blackheath Halls hosts The House Of Fun With Arthur Smith. Expect comedy, music, saucy stand-up, scintillating theatre and more £17.50/£15, prebook, 7.30pm
BBC CONCERT: The BBC Concert Orchestra performs a UK premiere by Terry Riley with maverick organ virtuoso Cameron Carpenter at Southbank Centre. The evening includes a special performance of The Alcotts from Ives' Piano Sonata No.2, performed by Cameron Carpenter on the newly restored Royal Festival Hall organ. £10-£34, prebook, 7.30pm
Sunday 19 October
SUNDAY ROAST: Nothing says Sunday like a full roast dinner. Have a look at our choice of the best Sunday roasts in London, or check out your other food options.
RUN/WALK: Woman's Trust's annual 10km Run and 6.6km Walk takes place in Regent's Park, and is open to all ages, and regardless of ability. £15/£20, prebook, 9am
THEATRE FUNDRAISER: Theatre company House of Stray Cats hosts the first 12-hour Actathon at Matthew's Yard in Croydon, to raise money for charity Medical Aid for Palestinians. From monologues to musicals, comic sketches to rap battles, any style of performance is welcome and anyone attending is free to join in, be it for 12 seconds or the full 12 hours. £3, 10am-10pm
WALK WITH OLD MAPS: Walk with old maps exploring the corner of Holborn often mistaken for Clerkenwell. Home to London’s Italian community since the early 1800s, discover barrel organ manufacturers, barometer makers and the knife grinders union. There is a ragged school, a board school and a workhouse casual ward. Along the way, encounter Chiappa’s, Comitti & Son and Garibaldi as well as painter Helen Saunders and writer Katherine Mansfield. £10, prebook, 11am
DIWALI: Head to Granary Square in King's Cross for a family celebration of the festival of Diwali. Dishoom Bombay Cafe tells the stories behind Diwali with a day of face-painting, pavement art and storytelling. Free, just turn up, 11am-2pm
SONNET SUNDAY: During lunch service at the Swan restaurant next to Shakespeare’s Globe on Southbank, actors from the theatre will be performing some of Shakespeare’s sonnets to diners. Part of London Restaurant Festival. Free to diners, prebooking recommended, throughout lunch service
VINTAGE STREET PARTY: Camden Stables Market hosts a Vintage Street Party featuring some of the market traders. Browse the vintage wares, enjoy traditional afternoon tea (extra cost) or try out swing dancing. Free, just turn up, 12pm-5pm
CHILDREN'S SEWING: The Sewcial Circle at Peacock Yard in Kennington gives children a chance to make Halloween themed masks or spooky tote bags, perfect for going trick or treating next week. For children age 8+. £25, prebook, 1pm
CHOIR COMPETITION: Southbank Centre hosts the final of the National Choir of the Year competition. Sixteen choirs have been chosen from the original 150, with categories including one for children. £13-£22, prebook, 2pm
UPCYCLING WORKSHOP: As part of AfroRetro's School of Uganglish month, there's a upcycling workshop in Cambridge Heath. Turn an old unwanted T-shirt into a statement fashion item to rock out just in time for the party season. £35, prebook, 2pm-5pm
CABARET: Lauderdale House on Highgate Hill kicks off its series of Sunday cabaret sessions with a performance by Sandra Marvin, who has appeared in Hairspray and Chicago in the West End, as well as in Kate Bush's recent London residency. £13/£11, prebook, 4.30pm
FUNDRAISER: Portobello Pop Up Cinema hosts a one-off fundraising event on behalf of Compassion 4 Kurdistan. The evening consists of a seminar, auction, documentary film screening and songs and poetry. The event aims to raise awareness against ISIS and aid for the refugees of Syria and Iraq. £5 donation, just turn up, 6pm
SINATRA, SEQUINS & SWING: Leicester Square Theatre plays homage to the 50s Hollywood glamour of Sinatra’s supreme Capitol Records years. Expect over 30 renditions of his greatest hits, supported by the 15 piece Pete Long Orchestra. From £24, prebook, 6.30pm
ORCHESTRAL MUSIC: London Gay Symphony Orchestra launches its new season at St Sepulchre Without Newgate in Holborn Viaduct. The line-up is Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture (AKA Fingal’s Cave), followed Elgar’s Cello Concerto to mark 100 years since the outbreak of World War One, concluding with Brahms’s Symphony No. 2. £10, prebook, 7pm
COMEDY: The Lion on Stoke Newington Church Road hosts Laugh Out London, a comedy night featuring Sam Simmons, David Trent, Karl Schultz and more. £5/£4, prebook, 7pm
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