Things To Do This Week In London: 28 October-3 November 2024

Things to do this week is sponsored by Half Six Fix.

All week

HALF TERM: Most London schools are closed for half term this week, which means parents and carers will be looking for ways to keep the kiddos occupied. Our guide to half term events covers shows, exhibitions and one-off happenings for all ages. There's even a section of free things to do, handy if you're watching the pennies. Until 3 November

HALLOWEEN: Thursday is Halloween, but London doesn't restrict the celebrations to one day. There are parties, scary film screenings and other spooky events for both adults and children going on all week, and into next week. Take a look at our pick of Halloween things to do, and get planning. Need a costume? We've got you covered there too.

DIWALI: Diwali falls on 1 November this year, with events happening all week to celebrate the festival of light. Get booking now for special meals and menus, a lantern parade, and a themed fireworks night.

FIREWORKS: Speaking of fireworks, Bonfire Night is next week but plenty of venues hold their firework displays towards the end of this week. We've compiled every fireworks event happening in the capital that we know of.

GORY STORIES: Replica ship the Golden Hinde offers family-friendly tours with a gruesome twist. Gory Stories explores parts of history which we don't usually hear about. 28 October-3 November

CHOCOLATE HOUSE GREENWICH: Last chance to see Chocolate House Greenwich, an exhibition which recreates Grace and Thomas Tosier’s famous ‘royal’ Chocolate House, once located on the edge of Blackheath. It also delves into how Greenwich became a hub for astronomy, science and culture. Until 3 November

HALLOWEEN AT KEW: Also ending this week is Halloween at Kew, a light trail through the botanical gardens with a spooky theme. Glowing pumpkins, a rather convincing cemetery and a trippy laser garden are all part of the fun. It's family-friendly, but watch out for the jump-scares! Until 3 November

EXPLORE FESTIVAL: All week, the Royal Geographical Society hosts Explore Festival, with talks and events designed to inspire a sense of exploration. Hear from author, journalist and broadcaster Ash Bhardwaj about his book, Why We Travel, and hear a talk marking the centenary of Alexander Hamilton Rice’s final expedition to Amazonia. Some events FREE, 28 October-4 November

THE BUDDHA OF SUBURBIA: Hanif Kureishi’s award-winning south London coming-of-age tale is brought to the stage by two theatrical heavyweights. See the Royal Shakespeare Company and Wise Children’s critically-acclaimed production of The Buddha of Suburbia — which explores family, friends, sex, theatre in 1970s Beckenham and more – at the Barbican now. Until 16 November (sponsor)

LOST GARDENS: Lambeth's Garden Museum has a new exhibition looking at the history of London's lost gardens. View artworks, photos and archive documents offering an insight into former green spots in London — including those sitting on the sites which are now home to Somerset House and Waterloo station. Until 2 March

PUB OF THE WEEK: Retro pale ale Double Diamond is back on the scene, and we went for a half at swanky new Kensington pub, the Blue Stoops. If gassy glasses of nostalgia are not your bag, we still suggest trying out this boozer — for its gorgeous decor, lovely staff and plenty of beers that aren't Double Diamond.

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK: Cinehead Nigel Smith — whose walks we sometimes recommend on here — has just launched the Memory Palaces website, documenting London's old cinemas (erstwhile and still in use), and invites the public to share their memories of these wonderful picture palaces. Grab some popcorn and have a browse.

Monday 28 October

WINE DINNER: The Covent Garden Hotel continues its Wine Dinners series featuring wine pairings from different regions of the world. This month: Australia. Wine expert Emily Harman hosts, guiding you through tastings of Australian wines, including Mount Barker Riesling, accompanied by a welcome drink, canapés, and a four-course meal. 7pm-10.30pm

THE PIONEERS: Trojan Records alumni The Pioneers are at 229 in Great Portland Street tonight, playing songs from their sunny repertoire like Long Shot (Kick De Bucket) and Give And Take. 7pm

NEW MOON: See up-and-coming musicians on the cheap at the Half Moon in Putney. New Moon is a weekly event giving singer-songwriters, bands and performance artists somewhere to showcase their talent. Power-pop collective Alex and the Milkshake Boys, and singer-songwriter Meg Curl are among this week's performers. 7.30pm

PUB QUIZ: Every Monday at the Lexington in Angel, Paul Guided Missile hosts his super-fun legendary pop music quiz, designed for musos and the pop-curious alike. It's £2 per person, max. six on a team, with £60 to be won. 8pm

MONDAYS IN LONDON: Our curated guide to things to do in London on a Monday has plenty of other ideas and suggestions for things to do, either today, or on a future Monday when you may find yourself with some spare time on your hands. 

Tuesday 29 October

JUNIOR BOOK FESTIVAL: The Week Junior Book Festival is a one-day event at the Barbican, designed to inspire children to be imaginative through performances and workshops. Michael Rosen and Joseph Coelho are among the special guests. From 11am

PALACE TOUR: Join an interactive family tour at Fulham Palace, taking you both inside and outside the building. Complete challenges, and have a go at dressing up as a past palace resident, as you learn more about its history. 11am-noon

SWEDISH AIR MISSION: Join Pier Paolo Alfei as he delves into the Swedish Air Mission's 1928 rescue operation for the airship 'Italia' survivors. The lecture explores archival documents from Rome to Stockholm, covering the expedition's international cooperation and challenges. Watch in person at the RAF Museum, or online. FREE, noon  

WIFI: Learn about the surprising characters behind the development of messaging technology, including the Hollywood starlet who made Wi-Fi and GPS possible, at today's Gresham lecture in Holborn. FREE, 6pm

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: It's all going on at the Fox & Firkin in Lewisham tonight, where a Halloween special features an open mic session, artists including The Home Service, Flo + Her Marble, and Jude McCreath — plus a Halloween themed quiz. From 7pm

BEAVERTOWN SUPPER CLUB: The Oyster Shed near Monument hosts a unique dining experience featuring MasterChef winner Natalie Coleman and Beavertown brewery. The four-course meal showcases UK flavours, pairing each dish (think cured Cornish red mullet and pan-roasted beef fillet) with Beavertown craft beers. The event supports Dogs For Good, a charity training assistance dogs. 7pm-10pm 

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Get your Beethoven on with Half Six Fix

Love orchestral music, but also want time for a post-concert drink/meal? Classically-curious person keen to dip your toe in the scene? Want to win over the kids with the musical greats? Half Six Fix is for you!

Hosted in the Barbican's stunning concert hall, these pocket-sized performances are just an hour long. Each begins with an entertaining intro by the conductor. Once you're prepped, sit back and enjoy as the London Symphony Orchestra gloriously brings the music to life.

This Wednesday (30 October), the spotlight shines on Beethoven’s First Symphony. Soak up 60 minutes of this witty and elegant piece. Dip into bitesize notes in the free concert programme, and maybe enjoy a drink while you're at it. How very classically casual.

Half Six Fix: Beethoven, Barbican, 30 October, 6.30pm-7.30pm. You can also book tickets for Half Six Fix: Lachenmann and Beethoven 7 on 27 November. Tickets start from just £15, and Londonist readers can save with a 2-4-1 promo code. Simply use the code LDNIST241 when prompted at the checkout.

Wednesday 30 October

WOMEN & FREUD: The women who helped Freud invent psychoanalysis are the subject of a new exhibition at the Freud Museum in Hampstead. Patients, Freud's own daughter and her partner, and artists all feature. 30 October-May 2025

MODERN PAGANISM: Prof Ronald Hutton explores the origins of modern paganism and witchcraft in tonight's free Gresham lecture in Holborn. FREE, 6pm

POETRY IN PROTEST: Join award-winning poets Professor Jackie Kay, Dr Kadija George, and Monika Radojevic for a discussion on political themes in poetry. They explore poetry's role in challenging societal norms and fostering resilience, while celebrating the late Professor Benjamin Zephaniah's work. This event, at the British Academy, includes live subtitles. FREE, 6.30pm-8pm

KURDISH LIFE: Find out what it was like growing up as a young Kurd in Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Author and filmmaker Kae Bahar is at Stanford's in Covent Garden to discuss his new book The Good, The Bad and The Gringo, which is based on his own experiences, including being arrested and tortured by the secret police at the age of 14. 7pm-8.30pm

SMOKE HOLE: Join mythologist and wilderness guide Dr. Martin Shaw for an evening exploring ancient myths that address modern complexities. Celebrating his new book Smoke Hole, Shaw shares traditional stories which offer a deeper understanding of contemporary life. Takes place at Conway Hall in Holborn. 7pm-9pm

COMEDY CLUB: A rotating line-up of comedy acts appears on stage for the Market Halls Comedy Club, a regular event at the street food venue on Oxford Street. Joe Bor, Fiona Allen, Pierre Holmes and El Baldinhio perform tonight, with offerings from nine street food vendors to choose from as you watch. 7pm-10pm

BUS COMEDY: A couple of weeks ago, we brought you the news that Ludo's — a bar on a double-decker bus in Wood Green — has launched comedy nights. Tonight's show features Alexandra Haddow, Matt Rouse, Eddy Hare and Morgan Rees. 7.30pm-10pm

BLACK ARSENAL: Black British culture is discussed in new book Black Arsenal, which is the focus of a London Literature Festival event tonight. The book's editors Clive Chijioke Nwonka and Matthew Harle appear alongside Baroness Lola Young and chair Musa Okwonga to discuss the North London club and its place in Black British culture. 7.45pm

Thursday 31 October

CROYDONITES: Croydon has not one but two festivals this autumn — the Croydonites Fringe (31 Oct-3 Nov) kicks off today, featuring a torrent of comedy, dance, public art and more around the Cronx. Then, the main Croydonites festival (6-24 Nov) gets to work — with more eclectic performing arts going down left, right and centre. An exciting time to be in Croydon, but then when is it not? 31 October-24 November

NEW PUMPKIN PATCH: Get Halloween ready with a family day trip to Hobbledown Heath this week. West London’s ultimate adventure playground and zoo has a brand new pumpkin patch where you can snap autumnal photos, indulge in seasonal street food and pick your own glorious orange gourd to take home and transform into a jack o'lantern. Every Thursday-Sunday until 3 November (sponsor)

PROJECT ALTAR: Celebrate the lives of lost loved ones in an illuminated art trail of memorial shrines at Stoke Newington’s Abney Park. The shrines feature over 1,000 photos, stories and tributes from contributors all over London. Project Altar is free to enter during the day, with child-friendly half-term activities. By night, it's ticketed, offering a rare opportunity to enter the cemetery after dark. 31 October-3 November

US ELECTION: As the big day looms ever closer, Gresham College looks back to the 1968 US election - ultimately won by Nixon - which has many parallels with the 2024 contest. FREE, 1pm

DECODING THE US ELECTION: Boston-based US political history expert Dr. James D. Boys, and assistant professor in the School of Public Policy (SPP) at the London School of Economics Alexandra Cirone share their thoughts on the state of the election race, and what a potential Trump or Harris victory could mean for the US, its foreign policy... and the rest of the world. FREE, 6.15pm-7.30pm. Find other US election themed events in London, ahead of the main event next week.

HALLOWEEN LATES: The Science Museum stays open late for a special Halloween event featuring spooky science and terrifying tech. Through talks and other events, delve into the science of phobias, learn how to survive a zombie outbreak, shine a light on nature's real-life monsters and explore how science has inspired some of the scariest stories ever told. FREE, 6.30pm-10pm

GHOSTS OF FLEET STREET: Staying on the Halloween theme, join Dr Matthew Green for a diabolical tour of Fleet Street where you'll "meet the ghosts of ghoulish characters instrumental in making Fleet Street “the nerve-centre of the world”, including the octopus-wielding Father of Fleet Street Wynkyn de Worde, murderous state censor Sir Roger l’Estrange, wizard-apothecaries, the ghosts of slaughtered journalists and the spirit of Hodge the Cat". With actors and musicians, and servings of delicious blood wine. 6.30pm

FOUR SEASONS BY CANDLELIGHT: Experience the enchanting sounds of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons at Cadogan Hall, performed by the Mozart Festival Orchestra. The concert features other classics, including works by Charpentier, Mozart, Bach, and Handel, all presented in a candlelit setting. Musicians including soprano Harriet Eyley and trumpeter David Blackadder perform in this journey through some of classical music's greatest compositions. 7.30pm

WEIRDOS COMEDY: The hilarious Weirdos gang are back at Bloomsbury's Museum of Comedy, this time with a Halloween special. QAnon vs Dracula asks all the important questions, including: Is Donald Trump a military genius? Are the Hollywood elite secretly blood-sucking vampires? And does Taylor Swift eat garlic? 7.30pm, also Friday and Saturday

LATE NIGHT JAZZ: London-based vocal trio Flight Call take their turn in the spotlight at the Royal Albert Hall's Late Night Jazz series. Get yourself a drink from the bar and settle down in the Elgar Room for a relaxed evening of jazz-, soul- and gospel-inspired music. 9.30pm

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Friday 1 November

LUCHA LIBRE: Mexican wrestling show Lucha Libre tumbles into York Hall in Bethnal Green, showcasing a fast-paced form of professional wrestling with colourful masks and high-flying moves. The tour is your last chance to see Mexico’s greatest ever Luchador, El Hijo del Santo, before his retirement. 1-2 November

FORGE ART FAIR: See work by contemporary visual artists at Forge Art Fair, which takes place at London Lighthouse Gallery near Canning Town. Oil painting, photography, illustration and textile art are among the media on display. 1-3 November

KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL: Cinemas across the capital host more than 20 screenings as part of the London Korean Film Festival, which includes critically acclaimed films, new talent and Korean box office hits. Special strands focus on women's voices, and what's popular in Korean culture right now. 1-13 November

BLACK BRITISH HISTORY: Writer Joanna Brown and illustrator Angela Vives launch their new biographical book, Bright Stars of Black British History. Head to the National Archives to hear about important people of African descent, including John Blanke, the African Tudor trumpeter, and Claudia Jones, the community activist who brought Carnival to London. 2pm

GAS LAMPS: As the nights draw in, Jane Parker is back with a new season of her gas lamp tours. The first, From Palace to Piazza, looks at the street lighting between Victoria and Covent Garden, including the first street in London to be lit by gas. 

ORGAN SPECTACULAR: As Luke Jerram's Gaia installation ends its run at Southwark Cathedral, enjoy an evening viewing it accompanied by organ music. Stroll beneath the great globe as the award-winning soundtrack by composer Dan Jones plays, before Cathedral organist James Gough delivers a mix of popular sci-fi themes including Star Wars, interspersed with classical organ music. 7pm/8.30pm

Saturday 2 November

JANEY MORRIS: The life of Janey Morris, embroiderer and wife of artist William Morris, is the subject of a free tour in Hammersmith. Meet at Ravenscourt Park station for an hour-long walk focusing on her own skills, which are often overshadowed by her husband's fame. FREE, 11am-12pm

FAMILY FESTIVAL: The V&A opens its doors for BOOST! Family Festival, a day of creative activities including zine-making, make-up workshops and costume-making activities, including a chance to parade through the galleries in your new costume. FREE, 11am-4pm

MOTORWAY BRIDGES: Ever seen the beauty in motorway bridges? Artist Jen Orpin certainly has. She's painted hundreds of views of motorway infrastructure. Some of her best artwork goes on display at Union Gallery on Teesdale Street in a show called We Left Nothing Behind. FREE, runs until 7 December

FAMILY CONCERT: Flautist Meera Maharaj, pianist Benjamin Powell, and narrator Polly Ives perform the musical story of ‘Blown Away’, where Penguin Blue and friends embark on a whimsical adventure on a windy day. The family-friendly concert, at Wigmore Hall, is suitable for ages 3-7. 3pm

BAD VIBRATIONS: Hackney's Shacklewell Arms calls on the talents of SILVERWINGKILLER, Big Warm Bed, Bert Ussher and Flytrap for its Bad Vibrations Halloween Party. If you've got the stamina, a Dance Yourself Clean post punk/new wave/electro party follows from 11pm at the same venue. From 6pm

PUCCINI CENTENARY CONCERT: Join the Chelsea Opera Group for a celebration of Puccini's powerful early works at Cadogan Hall. The Puccini Centenary Concert is conducted by Peter Robinson, with performances by baritone Stephen Gadd, soprano Seljan Fermor-Hesketh, and tenor Charne Rochford. The programme includes Puccini's Capriccio sinfonico, Messa di Gloria, and his first opera Le villi. 7pm

GATTI'S MUSIC HALL: The London Canal Museum stays open late for a special concert performance in the style of Carlo Gatti's Music Hall Theatre — a venue which was run by the entrepreneur and ice importer and his family. See The New Players' Theatre Company in an evening of Victorian-style entertainment. The museum itself is also open late, so you can learn about the history of Carlo Gatti and the ice trade. 7.30pm

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Sunday 3 November

VETERAN CAR RUN: The Veteran Car Run sees more than 100 pre-1905 vehicles setting off from London to Brighton. You'll have to be up early to cheer them on — they begin leaving Hyde Park around 7am, heading through Lambeth towards Croydon, and on to the coast. FREE, from 7am

ELMER'S BIRTHDAY: Beloved David McKee character Elmer the Elephant celebrates his 35th anniversary with a special party at Southbank Centre, part of the final day of London Literature Festival. Party games, a live DJ and art and craft activities are provided in honour of the colourful patchwork creature. FREE, 10.30am

TUDOR SINGALONG: If you can never remember that rhyme about Henry VIII's wives, perhaps what you need is this singalong walking tour, covering all six women, from Catherine of Aragon to Catherine Parr. It leaves from Lambeth Palace and kids are very welcome. 11am-1pm

BLACK THEATRELAND HISTORY: The Theatreland Black History Walk uncovers the hidden history of African presence in London's West End. The tour explores the contributions of Black performers throughout history. Learn about iconic figures like Paul Robeson, trailblazing Black women producers, and the impact of US Civil Rights on British theatre. Discover insights into racist stereotypes that were challenged and enjoy stories of Black magicians and comedians. 1pm-3pm

FAMILY RAVE:Big Fish Little Fish bring a Halloween edition of their family raves to Woolwich Works. It's like a regular rave, with a DJ playing rave music, but for adults and children to dance together. Face painting, foam, bubbles and balloons make it extra fun for younger members of the family. As it's Halloween, costumes are encouraged. 2pm-4pm

ROGUE REPORTER: Investigative journalist Matt Kennard unpacks the reality of the American Empire through his experiences with global elite figures, including Henry Kissinger. At Conway Hall, he reveals the unchecked systems of exploitation underpinning our global economy, as well as the growing resistance against these dynamics. 3pm-4.30pm 

THAMES SHIPWRECKS: Footprints of London guide Rob Smith offers a virtual tour of shipwrecks in the Thames. From your own home — and without getting wet — learn about 12 ships that have sunk in the Thames, from a Roman cargo ship, to a mysterious sinking in the Cold War. 8pm-9pm

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