Things To Do In London This Weekend: 21-22 March 2015

This weekend's Things To Do In London, sponsored by thinking bob.

All weekend

Death For A Trophy exhibition is at Oxford House. Photo: Marta Ariza

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, try a new place, or see if your local’s in there.

ANTIQUES FAIR: The BADA Antiques and Fine Art Fair has antiques dealers selling items from 16th century works of art to contemporary furniture. Takes place at Duke of York Square on King's Road in Chelsea. £10, just turn up, 18-24 March

EASTER FAYRE: St John's Hospice in St John's Wood hosts an Easter Fayre, raising money for the charity. For kids, there's an Easter egg hunt, plus appearances from Peppa Pig and the Easter bunny, while adults can browse the stalls of books, food and clothes. Free, just turn up, 21-22 March

EDIBLE GARDEN SHOW: Head up to Alexandra Palace for the Edible Garden Show and Good Food Live. Get advice on how to grow and make your own food from experts, and visit a pop-up city farm. £16/£20, prebook (get two-for-one tickets on Sunday), until 22 March

FICTION FESTIVAL: The Folio Prize Fiction Festival at British Library offers readers and fans the opportunity to come face to face with the eight shortlisted authors before the winner is announced on 23 March. See full list of panel discussions and lectures. Various prices, prebook, 20-22 March

ASIAN MARKETPLACE: The Asia House Spring Fair in Marylebone has dozens of exhibitors selling arts, crafts, fashion and design from across the Asian region. Free, just turn up, 19-22 March

RACE THEATRE: Chickenshed Theatre in Southgate puts on performances of As the mother of a brown boy, a true story about a mother who remembers the life, and untimely death, of her mixed race son and his struggle for identity in a multi-racial society. £10/£8, prebook, 19-22 March

LAST CHANCE: This will be the last weekend of the Paula Rego/Honóre Daumier exhibition at House of Illustration: make sure you visit it before it's too late. Although more than a century separates these two artists, they have much in common. £7/£5, prebook, until 22 March

TROPHY HUNTING: Oxford House Gallery in Bethnal Green hosts a wildlife photography exhibition by Marta Ariza, focusing on the canned hunting industry in South Africa, ahead of her documentary film, Death For A Trophy. Free, just turn up, until 31 March

Saturday 21 March

Party like it's 1940 at The Blitz Party

BIG DIG DAY: This nationwide event aims to get people into their local gardens, getting their hands dirty and helping to prepare the garden for the new growing season. Find your nearest London event here.

LEARN TO PLAY DAY: It's National Learn to Play Day today: get the chance to learn a new instrument from professional musicians and experienced teachers. Find the music venue closest to you and get learning — all for free.

STRANGE CREATURES: Grant Museum of Zoology's new exhibition, Strange Creatures, explores the difficulties of describing a new animal species to someone who has never seen it before  — with specific reference to kangaroos. Exhibits include art, taxidermy and toys. Free, just turn up, until 27 June (1pm-5pm today)

BLOWZABELLA DAY: The internationally renowned band are at Cecil Sharp House in Camden for a day of workshops (bagpipes, fiddle, button accordion, dance), finished off with an evening dance. Various prices, prebook, 10am-11pm

DISCOVERING LONDON: It’s a double dose from Discovering London guide Peter Berthoud today. Oddities of Strand walks along a former beach, passing London’s (and possibly the world’s) first wine bar, the scene of an elephant’s execution and the oldest family-run shop of its type on earth. £10-£12, prebook, 11am. Then, spot all Seven Noses of Soho (legend has it that you’ll be very wealthy if you do), a very grand eighth nose and a ghost nose. £10-£12, prebook, 3pm

FAMILY DAY: Tying in with Barbican's current Magnificent Obsessions exhibition, which explores the things that artists collect, there's a day of events with games, tours of the exhibition, and a chance to have your treasured item valued by a Christie's expert. Free, prebook, 11am-5pm

DAYLIGHT MUSIC: The Union Chapel in Islington hosts a concert featuring Martin Carr, Tomorrow We Sail and Lutine. Suggested donation £3.50, just turn up, 12pm-2pm

GESTURE CAFE: Join a relaxed afternoon of art, conversation and activities, celebrating the beauty of our everyday gestures at The Old Library in Burgess Park. 12pm-4pm

FILM SCREENING: Deptford Lounge hosts a free screening of Secrets, in which artists share some of the secrets that are intrinsic to their work. Followed by a workshop exploring the notions and processes of 'reveal' and 'conceal'. Free, prebook, 12.30pm

DOCUMENTARY PRE-SCREENING:  Head to Canada Water Culture Space to be part of the test audience of a documentary feature about diets, health and nutrition, and watch the film for free in exchange for your feedback. Free, prebook, 1.45pm

SCIENTIFIC HISTORY: To mark British Science Week, Laurence Scales leads a tour focusing on the history of the Royal Society and of some other London societies contributing to science and technology, introducing some lesser known characters and chapters from history. £12.50, prebook, 2.30pm

GALLERY TOUR: Curator Rebecca Lewin leads a tour of the exhibition Pascale Marthine Tayou: Boomerang at the Serpentine Sackler Gallery. Free, just turn up, 3pm

WEST END MAGIC: Leicester Square Theatre hosts a family magic show by West End Magic, featuring Ben Hart, star of BBC3's Killer Magic. 8+. £15/£10, prebook, 3.30pm

SCRATCH NIGHT: It's the second of Morley College's consecutive Scratch Nights, in which four up and coming theatre companies perform works that challenge gender and racial stereotypes, celebrity culture and definitions of sanity. Free (donations welcome), just turn up, 7pm

COCKTAIL NIGHT: Rita's in Hackney has teamed up with Beach London for a monthly pop-up cocktail night. Tonight's special guest is Camberwell ceramic artist Charlotte Mei. Take home a product by Charlotte, and try some cocktails designed by the cocktail experts at Rita’s, based on Charlotte's work. £30, prebook, 7pm-11pm

FRIENDZONE: Head to Kensington Roof Gardens for a "social skydiving" event (no parachute required). It's an evening to play games and meet new people. £10, prebook, 7pm-3am

OPERA: Tea House Theatre in Vauxhall hosts a narrated recital of What Is Life?, charting the life and career of contralto Kathleen Ferrier from her first singing competition to her death in 1953. £15, prebook, 7.30pm

CHORAL CONCERT: The Royal Free Music Society and Hampstead Sinfonietta team up to perform Vivaldi’s Gloria along with a selection of music by English composers such as Wesley, Parry and Stanford at St Marks Church in Primrose Hill. £12, just turn up, 7.30pm

BLITZ PARTY: Village Underground in Shoreditch is the venue for a 1940s themed party, based on an air raid shelter. Period dress very much encouraged.£25/£30, prebook, 8pm

Sunday 22 March

Flamenco comes to Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

SUNDAY ROAST: We’ve updated our list of the best Sunday roasts in London, now with ratings and a map. Take your pick, or check out your other food options.

ART MILES: Three London museums and galleries — Chiswick House and Garden, Dulwich Picture Gallery, and the William Morris Gallery — are hosting a 3 mile walk around their surroundings, with all proceeds raised going straight to the venues. £20, prebook with individual venue, from 10am (individual venue times vary)

SCANDINAVIAN LONDON: Shared City leads a tour of Scandinavian London, focusing on the Norwegian and Finnish Churches of Rotherhithe, with a chance to meet Finnish and Norwegians locals and find out about Scandinavian customs and culture , followed by an authentic Norwegian buffet lunch and coffee and cake. £30, prebook, 10.30am

CARNIVAL ARTS: Ben Uri Gallery near Swiss Cottage hosts a family art day, tying in with the current exhibition about the history of Notting Hill Carnival. Free, prebook, 11am-2pm

PERSIAN NEW YEAR: The V&A Museum in South Kensington has a drop in family event marking the beginning of the Persian New Year celebration of Norou, with traditional songs, storytelling, sound art and poetry and dance performances. Free, just turn up, 12pm-5pm

ROCKABILLY MARKET: Hula Boogie holds a vintage market at The Renaissance Rooms in Vauxhall, with 35 stalls selling 1940s-1960s clothes, jewellery, shoes, music, homewares, fabric, books, hair accessories and toys, plus a vintage hair and beauty salon. £3, just turn up, 12pm-5pm. Followed by a 1950s party. £8.50, prebook, from 7pm

POETRY PARTY: Head to Drink Shop Do in King's Cross for afternoon tea, with tea-inspired performances from poets Amy Key, Camellia Stafford and John McCullough. £12.50, prebook, 3pm

EVOLVING CITY: Museum of London leads a guided walk covering the history and people of the City of London from Romans to Lord Mayors, historic buildings to modern architecture. £10/£8, prebook, 3pm

COMEDY: One of our favourite funny groups, Austentatious makes up a lost Jane Austen novel before your eyes at Leicester Square Theatre. £12.50/£10, prebook, 5pm

NX CREATIVE LAB VOL. II: Non-profit entrepreneurial incubator, NX Creative Lab, is hosting an evening of networking, sharing ideas and dancing at The Proud Archivist. This live crowdfunding event gives young entrepreneurs the chance to win money for their businesses/projects... and the audience decides which entrepreneur to fund. £3, just turn up, 6pm.

FLEET SINGERS: Fleet Singers perform new cantata The Man in the Straw Hat, composed by Benjamin Till, with texts by John Betjeman and local residents. The evening also includes poetry reading, art installation and a performance by the Camden Youth Choir. At St Anne's Church, Highgate West Hill. Free (donations welcome), 7pm

IBERIAN NIGHTS: Flamenco singer extraordinaire Rocío Márquez is joined on stage by guitarist Miguel Ángel Cortés at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. £10-£60, prebook, 7.30pm

CUTTY SARK CONCERT: Experience an evening of folk, blues and hymns at Cutty Sark Studio Theatre in Greenwich, courtesy of musician Phil Beer. £15, prebook, 7.45pm

CHARITY GIG: Blues & Spirituals is a night of musical entertainment featuring veteran Blues vocal/guitarist Adam Grogdope, and Wagner Society Award winning soprano Rejieli Paulo, in support of Médicins sans Frontières. At Colour House Theatre in Merton. £7, prebook, 8pm


New in London? Try thinking bob

Moving to London can be daunting, but our capital is only lonely if you allow it to be. So try thinking bob, a ready-made social club aimed at curious people who want to meet like-minded Londoners and discover the capital through alternative and interactive events. The first month of membership is free so sign up today and give it a try!

thinking bob crowd visits Borough Market

This weekend’s Things To Do In London This Weekend is sponsored by thinking bob.


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