Things To Do In London This Bank Holiday Weekend: 23-25 May 2015

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

All weekend

The Foodies Festival comes to Syon Park

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HALF TERM:
Need inspiration for things to do with your little Londoners over the coming weeks? Look no further.

LONDON ILLUSTRATIONS:
Visit London Transport Museum this weekend and in addition to an experience full of trains, tubes, buses, social history, design and fun for all the family, enjoy the new Prize for Illustration exhibition of 100 original London Places and Spaces posters. Admission: young people under 17 free, adults £16 with unlimited return admission for 12 months. Open 10am-6pm

HAPPY DAYS:
Happy Days Festival in East Molesey features artists from the 70s, 80s and 90s including Happy Mondays, The Beat, The Selecter, Lisa Stansfield, Roy Ayers and CeCe Peniston. Also at the festival are a themed retro bar, pyrotechnics, games area and fun family activities. £40-£55, prebook, Saturday and Sunday
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CHELSEA FRINGE:
Can't get into the Flower Show? There are plenty of gardening and horticultural events and installations to visit around the capital. Here are our highlights — see what else is going on at www.chelseafringe.com, until 6 June

SAISONS GREETINGS:
The Hops & Glory Brewery in Islington holds a four-day Saison beers (a Belgian aromatic style of beer traditionally celebrated to bring in the beginning of summer) festival. Try the brews and enjoy the barbecue. 22-25 May

ARCELORMITTAL ORBIT:
Get half-price entry for two people to the ArcelorMittal Orbit in the Olympic Park. Grab a mate (or a date) and treat them to a 20 mile view over London from 80m up in the air. £15-£25, all weekend
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COMIC CON:
MCM Comic Con comes to ExCel Centre for three days of memorabilia, dealer stalls, special guests, games, cosplay and more. £15-£22, prebook, 22-24 May

FOODIES FESTIVAL:
Syon Park transforms into a foodie haven as the Foodies Festival takes over. Expect tastings, demonstrations, a chilli food market, a vintage tea tent, craft beer and more. £15 per day/£25 for three days, prebook, 23-25 May

FULL OF SPICE:
Kew Gardens' Summer festival, Full Of Spice, opens today, focusing on the power of some plants to colour, flavour and preserve. There will be a series of talks, performances and workshops around the theme, plus take part in the Strictly Spice Dance-off or sample a variety of breads — and if you book in advance, you can take a rickshaw ride around the gardens (extra charge). Festival included in admission to the gardens, prebooking recommended, 23 May-6 September

THAMES WILDLIFE:
The Sea Life London Aquarium opens a new zone on Saturday, themed around the River Thames. Curated with Thames Tideway Tunnel, visitors will discover a secret portal into the hidden world of hundreds of creatures and freshwater plants, all living just feet away from the aquarium. Included in aquarium ticket (from £18.36 adult/ £13.52 child), prebooking recommended, from 23 May

THE NAME’S BOND:
Daniel Craig was filming stunts on the Thames last Sunday but if you missed him, console yourself with a visit to the London Film Museum in Covent Garden to see original vehicles used in the espionage series, plus rare artwork from the films and more. £9.50-£14.50, Saturday and Sunday, from 11am
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TEENAGE SCIENTIST:
When he was just 15 years old Jack Andraje invented a highly-effective test for pancreatic, lung and ovarian cancers which was 400 times more effective than the medical standard, and cost just 3c per use. This weekend, Jack is in London talking about his new book, Breakthrough. Catch him at Waterstone's in Piccadilly on Saturday (£5, 3pm) or Gay's The Word bookshop on Sunday (free, 12pm).

BATH BOMB WORKSHOP:
Make your own soaps and bath bombs at this workshop in Southwark. Learn skills such as how to use fragrances and colours, and decoration techniques. £29, Saturday 2pm/ Sunday 10am
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MOTORCYCLE CLUB:
Bike Shed Motorcycle Club at Tobacco Dock is run in collaboration with British motorcycle manufacturer Triumph, with riders and builders from across the continent coming together to share their passion for creativity, personalisation and style. £15, prebook, 23-24 May

Saturday 23 May

Boat Show Comedy Club is at Tattershall Castle

MINI MAKERS:
The Institute of Imagination Mini Maker Faire at OXO Tower invites children aged 5-11 and their families to have a go at activities including crafting, weaving, fixing, 3D printing, virtual reality, robotics and more. Free, prebook, 10am-5pm

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP:
Get your DSLR out and get snapping at this workshop on South Bank. Learn techniques such as focus tracking and optical vs. zoom from an expert tutor. £50, 10.30am
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BATTLE OF WATERLOO:
Westminster City Archives holds a literary and historical day to commemorate the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo. Includes talks from experts and authors on various aspects of the battle. Free, prebook, 11am

YOGA FITNESS:
Start your weekend with a spot of yoga in a secluded garden in Chiswick. Soothe your mind and body, and leave feeling relaxed and serene. £10, 11am
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FABULOUS FEAST:
The fourth annual Fabulous Feast takes place at St John's Hill in Battersea. Today there will be farmers' market-style stalls and  street food sellers from across the city, plus activities such as cooking lessons, tastings and demonstrations, and The Great Battersea Bake Off. Free, just turn up, 11am-5pm

EAST LONDON WALKS:
Discover East Ham and/or Canning Town on a duo of east London walks with Sue Sinton-Smith. Tickets £10/£7.50, 11am and 2pm

BIG NATURE DAY:
The Natural History Museum holds a Big Nature Day, where the public can go on a ladybird hunt or insect walk, try pond-dipping, see museum specimens close up and talk to conservation experts. Free, just turn up, 11am-5pm

SCREEN PRINTING:
Print Club London presents a day of screen printing in Soho. Try your hand at the art — all materials are provided, and you can take your poster home. Free, just turn up, 12pm-4pm

PIRATE SHOW:
Captain Hacker's Treasure, a family show at Cockpit Theatre, is about a cabin boy and a princess who get caught up in a terrible storm and are washed up on a desert island, where a vicious pirate has hidden his treasure. £7, prebook, 2pm

PIZZA TOUR:
Love pizza? Take this tour and visit some of London’s most creative pizza venues to learn about the history of pizza.The tour includes five tastings, finishing with a special Sicilian dessert pizza. £19, 2.15pm
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SOHO NOSES:
Seek out the Seven Noses of Soho and take a closer look at one of London's most interesting areas with Westminster Guide, Pete Berthoud. Prebook, £10+bkg (you're both 'interesting and nice' right?), 3pm

STREET ART TOUR:
Meet at Shoreditch High Street station for this walking street art tour around Shoreditch. Identify the techniques and spot the tags of the world's most influential street artists. £10, 3pm
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MOTION PICTURE SUPPER CLUB:
The Motion Picture Supper Club aims to recreate the old fashioned dinner-and-a-movie-style event, with a flourish of 1920s glamour. Enjoy a welcome cocktail, live jazz, three-course candlelit dinner and a screening of Catch Me If You Can. £65 (or £10 just to attend the after-party), prebook, 6.30pm

CASINO EXPERIENCE:
Head to the Grosvenor Victoria Casino for either drinks at the bar or a three course meal plus an hour of gaming tuition from a casino expert. Ticket includes a £5 free table bet, plus a £5 gaming slots voucher. Age 18+. £15-£30, 7pm/8pm/9pm
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INDONESIAN FEAST:
Tuck into 13 authentic Indonesian dishes at Stage 3 at Hackney Empire, including prawns steamed in banana leaf and Javanese fried chicken wings. When you've munched your way through that lot, head to the bar for some drinks while Toko DJs play into the night. £27.50, 7pm
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BOAT COMEDY SHOW:
Climb aboard the newly reopened Tattershall Castle at Embankment for a comedy night featuring Marcus Birdman, Felicity Ward, Carl Donnelly and MC Tom Wriggleworth. Comedy is followed by a club night. Age 21+. £13.50, 7pm
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WAM BAM CLUB:
The Electric Carousel in Piccadilly holds a 40s-inspired supper club, complete with a night of burlesque and cabaret. Age 18+, glamorous dress code. £20, 7pm
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HERB COCKTAILS:
Bestowed Kitchen brings its Walthamstow residency to a close with a special vegetable, fruit and herb inspired cocktail night. Items on the menu include cucumber, gin and chilli cooler, and beet-lini (prosecco, beetroot juice and orange zest). Beer and food are also available to buy. Free entry, RSVP, 7.30pm

90s PARTY:
There's a massive warehouse party in London Fields consisting entirely of nostalgic '90s throwback tunes, retro games, '90s fashion, films and more. Age 18+. £25, 8pm
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GOSPEL CHOIR:
The House Gospel Choir have played at Glastonbury, Buckingham Palace and on Later… with Jools Holland. Tonight, their electric house-meets-gospel sound comes to Rich Mix. £8, 8.30pm
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OBLIQUE TAKEOVER:
Floripa in Shoreditch is taken over by Oblique tonight, led by DJ Moses Midas, with hip-hop, R&B, funk and dancehall tunes. £6, 9pm
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HIDDEN ORCHESTRA:
Using a mixture of samples, synths, drums, and innovative live-sampling/looping techniques, plus sampling Hidden Orchestra drummer Jamie Graham, Joe Acheson will be creating new spontaneous versions of Hidden Orchestra tracks at Ace Hotel in Shoreditch. £8, 9pm
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Sunday 24 May

Go cheese rolling

SPIDER WALK:
City Lit ventures to Hampstead Heath for an ecology walk focusing on spiders. Learn to identify common species of spiders, and find out about the role they play in the ecosystem. £34, prebook, 10.30am-3.30pm

CHEESE ROLLING:
Strictly, this one's not in London, but as transport is provided from Clapham Junction, and it's a bank holiday, and it's just so darn unusual, we're putting it out there anyway. Join an overnight cheese rolling tour to Gloucestershire. For the unfamiliar, cheese rolling involves chasing oversized cheese downhill. Camping, BBQs and other activities also included. £94, 12pm
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HEAR NO EVIL:
Hear No Evil is a one-day festival at London Fields Brewery in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. As well as a thorough line-up of music acts, there's comedy and spoken word,  and food and beer available to buy. £15, prebook, 1pm

JAZZ ROAST:
Tuck into a Sunday roast dinner (with free Bloody Mary cocktail or a Mimosa) while you listen to live jazz from the Acoustic Nomad collective at The Lexington in Angel. £12.50, 1pm/2pm/3pm
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BEOWULF:
here's a special reading of the old English monster saga at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse with veteran actor Julian Glover, who's been performing the poem for the last 30 years, doing so for the last time before he hands over to his son Jamie, who aims to continue the family tradition, keeping the ancient oral tradition alive. Various prices, prebook, 1.30pm/ 7pm

MODEL BOAT REGATTA:
The Chisenhale Gallery runs a workshop on the mechanics of model boating led by Norman Lara, Chairman of the Victoria Park Model Steam Boat Club. The workshop includes a screening of archival footage from the park’s boating lake and coincides with the club’s regular Sunday regatta. Free, prebook, 2pm

CENTRAL LINE:
Walk Bank to Chancery Lane with Mark Mason. £8, £5 concessions, just turn up, exit 3 Bank Station, 2.30pm

MAGIC CAVERN:
Treat the family to a trip to The Magic Cavern in Kensington, and watch all sorts of illusions take place right in front of your eyes. Age 6+. £10, 3pm
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KIDS' COMEDY:
Comedians Ginger & Black and Andrew O'Neill do their usual comedy skits without the explicit parts, making it perfect for a family audience. Takes place at Udderbelly on South Bank. £12, prebook, 4.15pm
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NIGHT CLUB RIVER CRUISE:
Enjoy a night club aboard a boat. Board the 98ft vessel at Festival Pier outside Southbank Centre and cruise up and down the Thames with tunes pumping out. £20, 5.30pm
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PAUL MCCARTNEY:
The Beatles legend performs at The O2 North Greenwich, in a show coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the release of Yesterday. £140.75, 6.30pm
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MEMORY LANE:
The Bread & Roses Theatre in Clapham holds an entertainment evening of classic songs, a Meander Down Memory Lane, which is bound to get you tapping your feet in time to the music. £10, 7.30pm
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REDUCED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY:
Comedy troupe the Reduced Shakespeare comedy brings its latest show, The Complete History of Comedy, to Wandsworth Theatre. £18/£15, prebook, 7.30pm

IMPROVISED MUSICAL:
Head to Udderbelly on South Bank for Showstopper: The Improvised Musical! The comedy troupe takes audience suggestions and transforms them into a new musical. £16.50, 7.45pm
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Monday 25 May

THE VACCINES:
The Vaccines visit HMV on Oxford Street to perform and sign copies of their new album English Graffiti. Prebook, 2pm

PUTNEY FOLK DEBATES:
The Cat’s Back, a Victorian pub nestled in the new Riverside Quarter between Putney and Wandsworth, is hosting the Putney Folk Debates, a free music and community festival. Free, just turn up, 2pm-1opm

FOOTBALL FUNNIES:
If you love Spurs you can be at a the recording of Phil Cornwell's Spurs Show comedy podcast at Guanabara, Covent Garden. Tickets just £15 through YPlan (reduced from £25), 7pm
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CHARITY WALK:
Footprints of London's monthly walk in aid of Amnesty International heads to Dalston, looking at how different groups of people in one corner of Hackney struggled for change (and are still doing so). £10, prebook, 7pm

FILM AND DINNER:
Roxy Bar and Screen show Oscar-nominated, sports biographical, psychological thriller Foxcatcher with dinner served up alongside. Tickets £12, includes one main meal from the menu, 8pm
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AMUSED MOOSE COMEDY:
Hosted by Alex Zane, the Amused Moose Laugh Off semi-finals takes place today with the likes of Benji Waterstone, Daniel Audritt and Sarah Keyworth  fighting it out for a place in the final at Edinburgh Fringe in August. £10, prebook, 8.15pm

DINNER FOR TWO:
Round off your long weekend with a great value dinner for two at Shoreditch's Forge & Co with a glass of Prosecco thrown in. Book, fixed price with YPlan just £18.
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COMEDY IN THE DARK:
Turning the lights out intensifies any experience, so expect to be laughing hard at Udderbelly Festival with Comedy in the Dark. The line-up is yet to be revealed but past shows have featured some of our favourites, like Marcus Brigstocke, Dan Antopolski, Jon Richardson, Shappi Khorsandi, Reg D Hunter, Josie Long, Sarah Millican and more. Tickets £16, 9pm
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Spice up your bank holiday weekend with thinking bob

It's bank holiday weekend again — yay! But what's that — still no plans? How about a street game in Camden based on the BBC's The Apprentice? Or maybe a flamboyant Eurovision Party?

London-based online and offline community thinking bob has plenty of social events to keep you busy during the long weekend. Check them all out here: Celtic dance nights, murder mysteries, pub quizzes and loads more. Joining is free for the first month (£1 subscription fee): become a bobber today and start making new friends!

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This edition of Things To Do In London This Weekend is sponsored by thinking bob.


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