This weekend's Things To Do In London, sponsored by thinking bob.
Book now buttons are provided by YPlan.
All weekend
ST GEORGE'S DAY:
Although St George's Day (23 April) will have passed by the time weekend rolls around, there are still plenty of events going on to celebrate our patron saint including the annual feast in Trafalgar Square.
MARATHON:
Remember that the London Marathon takes place on Sunday. This means lots of road closures and crowds, so check before you travel. Taking part? Have a gander at some unusual things to look out for along the marathon route.
ART FAIR:
Discover 130 independent artists and their creativity this weekend at The Other Art Fair, taking place inside Bloomsbury's Victoria House Grade II listed building. Use the code ‘LONDONIST’ to get 20% off the ticket price. £8.80/£7.04, prebook, until 26 April
PIZZA MAKING:
Aided along by a glass of prosecco, head to Mayfair Pizza Company to learn how to make a pizza from the experts. 25 April 6pm, 26 April, 12pm/3pm
SPRING MARKET:
The Crafty Fox Market is back in Brixton for two days, for a Spring event, where unique, design-led, handmade products sold directly by the makers. Free entry. 11am-5pm, 25-26 April
NAVY SHIPS: Both HMS Defender and HMS Middleton are in London in support of the Centenary of the Gallipoli campaign and HMS Defender will be moored off Greenwich ship tier pier for the duration. Unfortunately tickets to tour HMS Middleton are now sold out, but you can still catch a glimpse of the ships — HMS Defender will be moored off Greenwich ship tier pier while HMS Middleton will be moored off Royal Naval Reserve Unit HMS President.
MEDIEVAL BANQUET:
Inspired by Wolf Hall and the like? Dine like a king or a knight at this interactive night out in St Katharine Docks. Performers will serenade you between courses, and there's a chance to take a picture with King Henry. £79 for two people, 25 April, 7.15pm/26 April, 5pm
TRANSPORT UNCOVERED:
London Transport Museum's Acton Depot has an open weekend, giving visitors the chance to see treasures from London’s transport past and present. Take a trip on a moving miniature railway, take part in a guided bus pit tour, watch live demonstrations of how the Emergency Response Team deals with incidents on the transport system. Plus, hear Londonist editor-at-large Matt Brown talk about secret tunnels and disused stations on the Underground. £10/£8, prebook, 11am-5pm, 25-26 April
Saturday 25 April
FREEBORN EXCHANGE:
London based Irish artist Gavin Freeborn seeks to take you on a journey of his international adventures. Inspired by artists who barter, he has exchanged his photographic portraits for other skills, objects and hospitality in over 20 countries since November 2011. He has selected artists from the community of Chelsea College of Arts to show works that relate to travel or exchange. Free, just turn up, ends today
NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS:
Be in control of what goes into your beauty products by making your own, at this workshop at Queensborough Community Centre in Southwark. You'll be given all the equipment and natural ingredients you need to make things like coconut and jojoba body butter, homemade hair spray, mint and cocoa lip balm and a peppermint lip scrub. £29, 10am
SOHO FOOD TOUR:
Take a half day walking food tour around Soho, visiting well-known and secret food outlets, and munch your way through a 10-course taster menu. £61, 10.30am
KEATS IN THE CITY:
The people at Keats House lead a guided walk following in the footsteps of John Keats. Discover the London haunts of the poet, starting at Keats birthplace and exploring the areas where he lived and studied, including Cheapside, Apothecaries Hall and Guys Hospital. £10/£8, prebook, 11am
CRAFT BEER BUS:
Hop on board the beer bus for a tour of London's breweries, including the likes of Crate Brewery, RedChurch, Beavertown and more. Sup on four free craft beers, take part in a micro-tour of each brewery and get tasting notes from each brew-pub. Tour starts at Brew Dog in Shoreditch. Age 18+, £22.50, 1pm
I WANT TO BE ELECTED:
Take part in a scavenger hunt with a political twist. Solve the cryptic clues to explore Westminster and follow in the footsteps of political leaders. There are prizes to be won, and everyone is rewarded with a drink at the end. £70, 2pm
THE BEATLES:
Take a walking tour of London sites linked to the Fab Four. See where John muttered the words "Bigger than Jesus", the spot that Ringo, John, Yoko, and even Jimi Hendrix lived (not at the same time), and more. £10, 4pm
INSPIRE MY CITY:
Join a group of guerilla artists who will be using coloured chalks to write positive messages on the pavements around Leicester Square, so that Londoners are met with positive and supportive messages on Sunday. Part of Inspire My City 2015. Meet in New Port Place. From 5pm
AMERICAN SNIPER: Miss this Oscar-winning film when it was on at the cinema? Catch it again at Pillow Cinema in the old Shoreditch Underground Station on Brick Lane. Starring Bradley Cooper, it tells the true story of US Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle, who finds it difficult to leave the war behind once he returns home. £20 for two people, 5pm
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SPRING BALL:
Studio 189, an arts studio in an undisclosed N1 location, hosts a Spring Ball with art, music and readings, including an exclusive erotic art viewing, a spoken word performance, and live music in the venue's city garden. £30, prebook, 7pm
INNER VOICES:
Inner Voices is a youth choir that takes good singers from a group of inner London state schools. Today they perform Bobby McFerrin's Grammy awarding winning album Vocabularies at Union Chapel in Islington, alongside the choirs of the West London Free School and Bishop Thomas Grant School. £10/£7, prebook, 7pm
BLOW MONKEYS:
The Blow Monkeys, a new wave, pop rock, sophisti-pop and alternative rock band who have been playing together since 1981, relive the ‘80s tonight at Under The Bridge in Fulham. They’re playing hits including Digging Your Scene and It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way. £13, 7pm
ARTS INSPIRED BY CITIES:
Cityscapes is an evening of music and art inspired by cities at 47/49 Tanner Street. Ensemble Perpetuo will provide music spanning 200 years including Haydn's London Trio and Steve Reich's New York Counterpoint. The music will provide a backdrop to exhibitions of photography from the London Photo Festival, art by Caroline Mackenzie and Tom Pearce and dance by Lucia Sweigert. £15, prebook, 7pm
REBEL BINGO:
It's bingo, but not as you know it. It's a stage show and a party at the same time, based loosely on the original game—if you like flashing lights, dancing, laughing, winning and screaming then this is the show for you. Takes place at Mecca Bingo hall in Camden. Age 18+. £16, 7.30pm
KNOCK2BAG:
Head to Rich Mix in Shoreditch for Knock2Bag comedy night with a line-up including Reginald D Hunter, Holly Walsh, Joseph Morpurgo, Rob Carter and Spencer Jones. £12/£8, prebook, 7.30pm
COMEDY:
Andrew Maxwell performs his London Loves show at Udderbelly on the South Bank, all about his experiences living here for over 20 years. £18.50, prebook, 7.45pm
SWINGING SIXTIES:
Head to the Eight Club near Liverpool Street for a glamorous cabaret disco with a 1960s theme, based on 60s icon Emma Peel. It takes place on a rooftop terrace, with live music, dancing, psychedelic light effects and more. £15, prebook, 8pm
SATURDAY NIGHT SHOW:
The Invisible Dot in King's Cross hosts the weekly Saturday Night Show, bringing alternative stand-up comedians to the stage. Mae Martin headlines, joined by Simon Munnery and Sara Pascoe. £10, 8pm
Sunday 26 April
CANDLE MAKING:
Have a go at creating your own waxy light. Gain an understanding of wax varieties, smells, colours, materials and decorations in this 3-4 hour long workshop. Ages 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult. £29, 10am/2pm
SCIENCE BAKE OFF:
Science London holds its first Great Science Bake Off — a baking competition where competitors are encouraged to bring along their best baking effort, decorated with a scientific theme. Takes place at Paddington Arts Centre — anyone welcome to enter, regardless of ability. Pay what you can, prebook, 1.30pm-4.30pm
ANTHONY TROLLOPE:
The great Victorian novelist was born on 24 April 1815. This birthday walk through the beautiful squares of Pimlico and Westminster will look at his life (and death) and scenes from his novels, especially the political Palliser series. Meet at Pimlico tube station booking office. £10, prebook, 2pm
DOGS DON'T DO BALLET:
London Symphony Orchestra presents a Family Concert in the Barbican Hall. Dogs Don't Do Ballet is based on Anna Kemp's 2010 book. Children can get involved by bringing along their instrument or singing along with the audience participation piece. Aimed at ages 7-12 and their parents/guardians. £10/£5, prebook, 2.30pm
CHOCOLATE TOUR:
Starting at the Algerian Coffee stores in Soho, take a guided walk through the nearby streets and immerse yourself in the world of chocolate, visiting locations including Hotel Chocolat and Fortnum & Mason's. Ticket includes seven chocolate tastings. £15, 3pm
AUTHORS IN CONVERSATION:
Hear four of the shortlisted authors of The Wellcome Book Prize in conversation at Wellcome Collection. Marion Coutts, Henry Marsh, Sarah Moss and Miriam Toews discuss the creative process behind their critically acclaimed books while exploring the broader context of medicine and literature. Free, prebook, 3pm
BASKETBALL:
Watch London Lions take on Worcester Wolves in the playoffs at the Copper Box Arena in the Olympic Park. Worcester Wolves are the current playoff champions, so it should be an exciting match. £8-£15, 3pm
LAST KING OF SCOTLAND: Watch James McAvoy and Forest Whitaker in this 2006 film, set in Uganda, in which Scottish doctor Nicholas Garrigan develops a strange father-son relationship with dictator Idi Amin. Watch it at Roxy in Borough while enjoying a meal. Age 18+. £12, 3pm
MAGIC CAVERN: This family magic show at Barons Court Theatre in Kensington offers interactive illusions, suitable for those age 6+. £10, 3pm
SILENT FILM:
Barbican Cinema screens the 1927 romantic film Annie Laurie, with a specially commissioned score by Shona Mooney who will be accompanying the film live. £11.50, prebook, 3pm
VODKA TESTING + BURGERS:
Covent Garden independent restaurant Little Water has 16 flavours of vodka to choose from, including basil, blackcurrant and chocolate. Sample four shots, soak them up with a burger, and a chocolate burger for dessert. Age 18+. £19.90, 6pm
CINEMA ITALIA:
The Italian film club, in association with The Italian Bookshop and ANPI London, brings a screening of L'uomo Che Verrà (The Man Who Will Come) to Genesis Cinema in Mile End. The film is about a young girl living near Bologna in 1943, as the war approaches. Prebook, 6.30pm
GAY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA:
London Gay Symphony Orchestra presents a Spring Concert at St Sepulchre without Newgate. Pieces played include Mihaud’s Le Bouef sur le Toit and Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite. £10, 7pm
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DRAG QUEEN CABARET:
Drag diva Vanity von Glow, star of the TV show Drag Queens Of London, is on hand to provide a night of cabaret with some special guests. At The Phoenix Artists' Club in Soho. £8.50, 8pm
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This edition of Things To Do In London This Weekend is sponsored by thinking bob.
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