All week
LONDON GAMES FESTIVAL: Make the city your playground this week—London Games Festival is back and bigger than ever. While some events can be on the pricey side, if you're not feeling too flush there's plenty of free stuff to choose from too. Check out the LGF Hub where you can try your hand at prototype games from the devs of tomorrow, or don a Mario cap and follow the incredible Games Character Parade along your favourite London landmarks. Various locations, free, book ahead, until 15 April
IMAGINED FUTURES: From techno-utopias to post-apocalyptic nightmares, generations of writers have conjured up fantastical fates for London town. Discover how these imagined futures reflect the hopes and fears of a particular age and find out how the city is evolving as a literary setting at this exhibition. Museum of London, free, just turn up, until 22 April
SIXTY MINUTE SPECTRUM: Head to the Hayward Gallery for a colourful journey through time. Artist David Batchelor has created a chromatic rooftop clock that floods the entire pyramid roof with intense colour, graduating through the entire rainbow in the space of an hour. Hayward Gallery (Southbank Centre), free, just turn up, 11am-7pm, until 1 May
Monday 9 April
A BIT NIPPY: Liven up your Monday night with a naughty nipple tassle-making workshop. Bring your mates, grab a fistful of feathers and sparkles, and get ready to live out your burlesque fantasies. Drink, Shop & Do (King's Cross), £5, book ahead, 6pm
KARLIE KLOSS: Join Avi Flombaum for a fireside chat with supermodel, coding school founder and Taylor Swift BFF Karlie Kloss. She'll speaking about women in tech, digital skills development, and what's next for Kode with Klossy. WeWork Moorgate, free, book ahead, 6.30pm-8.30pm
GRAVE ENCOUNTERS: Kenneth Greenaway of the Barking & District Historical Society leads an illustrated talk on Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park—one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of the Victorian era, the final resting place of some of the Bethnal Green tube disaster victims and now a local nature reserve. Harp House (Upney), £2 (free for members), just turn up, 7.45pm-9pm
Tuesday 10 April
KATAGAMI IN PRACTICE: The art of traditional Japanese textile printing is brought to life by the Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture. Having acquired over 400 resist-printing stencils dating to the 19th century, MoDA art school students showcase work inspired by their engagement with Katagami. Asia House (New Cavendish Street), free, just turn up, until 14 April
GAINED IN TRANSLATION: Find out who will be the lucky recipient of a €20,000 prize at the inaugural EBRD Literature Awards. Created to recognise the art of translation and celebrate the creativity of almost 40 countries where the EBRD invests, the prize will go to the best work of fiction translated into English and published within the past 18 months. Stick around for the wine reception and meet the finalists. EBRD (Liverpool Street), free, book ahead, 5.15pm
COMEDY GROTTO: A cadre of comedy connoisseurs congregate at The Star of Kings to show off their new material in aid of Syrian refugees. Tonight you can catch star of BBC 2's The Mash Report Rachel Parris and last year's Edinburgh Best Show nominee Jordan Brookes. The Star of Kings (King's Cross), £5, book ahead, 8pm-10.15pm
Wednesday 11 April
LUNCHTIME YOGA: Get over the midweek hump with 45 minutes of stretch, gentle yoga & meditation. Holistic health specialist and yoga teacher Robyn Silverton promises to bring awareness, balance and clarity to your lunch hour. The event is free for members of the 42 ACRES coworking community, but outsiders are welcome at £5 a pop. 42 ACRES (Shoreditch), £5, book ahead, 12.30pm-1.15pm
SPACE WOMEN: Artists Lu Mei and Sarah Willett explore both physical and imaginative space in an exhibition influenced by their experiences living in Beijing—one as a Chinese native, the other as a Western transplant navigating an experience of otherness. Lewisham Arthouse (New Cross), free, just turn up, until 22 April
PARKINSON'S PIONEER: Did you know that the man who first described paralysis agitans (aka Parkinson's disease) was also a paleontologist, activist and freemason? Professor Brian Hurwitz reveals the secrets of James Parkinson's illustrious life in a free talk commemorating World Parkinson's Day. Museum of Freemasonry (Holborn), free, book ahead, 6.30pm-8pm
Thursday 12 April
CAT SNAPS: Meet Jiji and Kinako. One is a 90-something Japanese man suffering from Alzheimer's, the other is the ginger cat who turned his life around. In this touching photography exhibition Akiko DuPont documents the border between animal and human collapsing, and shows how even in darkness moments of pure joy can be found. Sway Gallery (Old Street) free, book ahead, 11am-6pm/opening reception 6pm-8pm, until 25 April
FOOD FEST: The newly revamped Television Centre is hosting a three day food festival in its iconic forecourt. Take part in workshops, scoff stall samples and indulge in some telly nostalgia, as the BBC Orchestra treats you to a special live performance of the Beeb's best TV theme tunes. Television Centre (White City), free entry, just turn up, 5pm, until 14 April
LEGO ROBOTS: Retreat to the comfort of your childhood (but take a boozy beverage with you) with an evening of competitive lego building. Grab your most dexterous friends and get creative to be in with chance of your creation being crowned best robot. Drink, Shop & Do (King's Cross), free when you buy a drink, just turn up, 6pm
ONE MIC ONLY: Head to Hackney Wick and take your music, words, and performances pieces with you because it's time Bring It! This open mic night at Grow includes a special hour curated by It's Nearly Friday and Wicked Radio. Plus, you get to enjoy 10% off all orders from the bar AND the seasonal menu. Grow, Hackney (Hackney Wick), free entry, just turn up, 7pm-11pm
Friday 13 April
LAMBETH PALACE GARDEN: Explore one of the oldest gardens in England as Lambeth Palace, also known as the Archbishop of Canterbury's city digs, opens its grounds to the public for the first time this year. If ten acres of wilderness isn't enough for you, live entertainment and refreshments will also be provided. Kids ramble for free, as do your four-legged friends. Lambeth Palace Gardens, £5 (which goes to charity), just turn up, 12pm-3pm
EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA: Three mischievous chicks and a golden egg are waiting to be found by your little ones at the Bank of England Museum. It's your last chance to get involved with their Easter hijinks, which include mask-making, a tricky trail, and, of course, a chocolate prize. Bank of England Museum, free, just turn up, 10am-4.30pm
HANDMADE IN HIGHGATE: Indulge in a spot of window shopping at the Highgate Spring Fair, which features the work of 30 talented designers and craftspeople. It's also a rare opportunity to eyeball the Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution for free. Highgate Literary and Scientific Institute, free entry, just turn up, until 15 April
BE RIGA-ROUS: Latvia is celebrating its 100th birthday as an independent state, so it's the perfect time to get better acquainted with its capital, once dubbed the 'Paris of the North'. In this rare showcase of contemporary Latvian writing, you'll discover how Riga established itself as a vibrant creative centre after centuries of foreign rule. Housmans Bookshop (King's Cross), £3, book ahead, 7-7.30pm
Saturday 14 April
VINTAGE TREASURES: Have a rummage at Wanstead's Past and Present Antique, Vintage and Craft Fair. Browse the bric-a-brac, grab a snack or treat yourself to the best homemade preserves east London has to offer. Christchurch Hall (Wanstead), £1, just turn up, 10am-4.30pm
CHARITY EXHIBITION: The threat of international terrorism is explored through 25 artworks by jbecerra at Scars, in aid of the UK Solidarity Fund. Each painting is inspired by a particular section from Kahlil Gibran's poetry fables, chosen to reflect on the interdependence of human lives. Stick around for free beverages and music at the opening reception. NR project (Bethnal Green), free, just turn up, exhibition 10am-6pm/opening reception 7pm-11pm, until 24 May
WAYS TO WELLBEING: A festival that's good for the soul. Take in performances, workshops and walks all routed in the Five Ways to Wellbeing: a nationally recognised set of guidelines for anyone looking to improve their mental health. CoolTan Arts (Southwark), free, book ahead, 11am-5pm
GIRL CODE: No boys allowed at the Girls Only Dojo at the Institute of Imagination. Wannabe coders can choose between creating their own web apps or games, learning about Javascript and Raspberry Pis, and coding their own website. Laptops are available for those who can't bring their own but book early to avoid disappointment. Institute of Imagination (Lambeth), free, book ahead, 1.30pm-5pm
Sunday 15 April
ANTIQUES FAIR: Channel your inner Fiona Bruce as you wander the historic Royal Horticulture Hall at Adams Antiques Fair. A real insiders' secret, there's over 140 stands worth of eclectic antiques for you to eye up. Royal Horticulture Hall (Victoria), £4, book ahead, 10am-4.30pm
SWAPAHOLICS: If your wardrobe's bursting at the seams but you can't find a stitch to wear, it's probably time for a good old spring clean. Bring up to twenty unloved but good quality items to Shoreditch Platform and get ready to swap til you drop. £3 for a closet's worth of new threads? An absolute bargain. Shoreditch Platform, £3, just turn up, 12.30pm-3.30pm
MUSICAL MICROFEST: Expect a mysterious melting pot of spoken word, unmusical music, improvisation and things that go pop at part 3 of the Collusion microfestival. All colluders are welcome and audience interaction with the artists is highly encouraged. Grow Hackney, free, just turn up, 6.30pm-11pm
BIRDS: Terrific twosome Amy Spinks and Leila Nashef are swooping into The Cavendish Arms with their debut comedy show Birds. Their sharp, snappy and surreal sketches are sure to quack you up. The Cavendish Arms (Stockwell), free, just turn up, 8pm-9pm
WORK IN PROGRESS: Former Eddie Izzard support act and Mock the Week writer Francis Foster teams up with fellow comedian and A* Elmo impersonator Sam Russell at their old haunt, the Angel Comedy Club for a pay-what-you-want comedy show. The Bill Murray (Islington), £2.50 to reserve a seat, book ahead, 9.30pm-10.30pm
