Things To Do This Weekend In London: 16-17 November 2024

A cheese market, new illuminations and a literature festival.

All weekend

CHRISTMAS SANDWICH FESTIVAL: A festival focusing entirely on Christmas sandwiches comes to Peckham, offering festive takes on the humble sarnie, made by 20 top chefs. Entry tickets include three tokens to spend on sandwiches of your choice. 15-17 November

DIGITAL BODY FESTIVAL: A new festival combining the moving body and digital technology takes place in Hackney Wick. Digital Body Festival has a varied programme including talks, panel discussions and art installations, featuring a lab where you can take part in the creation of digital motion using technology including VR. 15-17 November

TOTTENHAM LITERATURE FESTIVAL: Now in its sixth year, Tottenham Literature Festival is back at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre, celebrating stories by Black authors, poets and artists from Tottenham and beyond. This year's theme is Black Imaginations, with both adults and family-friendly talks and workshops this weekend. 11-17 November

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NEWHAM FESTIVAL OF STORIES: Continuing through the weekend and beyond, Newham Festival of Stories is a new event for this year, taking place at venues all around the borough. This weekend, children can record their own audio books, make masks or attend various storytelling sessions. For adults, there's a Vietnamese cooking session and writing workshops. All events are FREE, 11-22 November

LONDON PHOTO SHOW: Hoxton Arches hosts the London Photo Show, an open group exhibition giving photographers from all over the world a chance to flaunt their work to the public. A wide range of photographic styles are on show, and it's a chance to buy work direct from the creators. 14-17 November

SOUND VOICE PROJECT: Opera installation The Sound Voice Project takes up residency at the Royal Opera House, offering eight showings a day, each with a 20-minute run time. Personal documentary, graphics, digital projections and performance film combine to tell the stories of opera singers living with voice loss. 14-20 November

EVER AFTER GARDEN: A field of 30,000 glowing white roses go on display in Mayfair. The Ever After Garden in Grosvenor Square is an illuminated installation designed as a garden of remembrance, raising money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. You can also dedicate a rose in memory of a loved one. 14 November-18 December

DISCERNING EYE EXHIBITION: Painting, drawing, sculpture, print, photography, video, textile, ceramic, and mixed media art all feature in the ING Discerning Eye Exhibition at Mall Galleries. See the pieces shortlisted from 6,500 entries, chosen by judges including art critic Will Gompertz, artist Adebanji Alade and interior designer Gabrielle Blackman. All pieces are for sale, too. FREE entry, 15-24 November

PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY: The Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize is an annual staple in the London arts calendar — showcasing the work of talented young photographers, gifted amateurs and established professionals. Informal captures and more formal posed portraits all feature in the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. 14 November-16 February

PENGUIN PARADE: A dozen penguins pop up around Fleet Street this winter, for a free sculpture trail. The Penguin Parade consists of 12 statues, each 1.6m tall and individually designed by a different artist, dotted around Chancery Lane, New Street Square, Ludgate Circus and Fleet Street. It's free to visit, though donations to conservation charity WWF are encouraged. FREE, from 14 November

EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL: Get down with the trumpets as the EFG London Jazz Festival returns. It takes place at venues including Barbican and Royal Festival Hall, and events this weekend include jazz yoga, and Dawn Richard and Spencer Zahn live in concert. 15-24 November

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: By this weekend, Covent Garden, Marylebone, Leadenhall, Savile Row and The Shard will have their Christmas lights switched on, joining Oxford Street, Regent Street and Carnaby, which switched them on last week. The closer to Christmas it gets, the busier it gets, so why not make a trip to see them this weekend, without the December crowds? Belgravia has a switch-on event on Sunday too: details below.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TRAIN: All aboard! The Epping Ongar Railway Lights Express is back from Saturday, offering a special ride on a train that's illuminated with countless fairy lights. 16 November-12 January

Saturday 16 November

FAMILY FILM CLUB:Puffin Rock and the New Friends is the chosen film at this week's Family Film Club at Barbican Cinema, offering families a chance to watch the Irish animation about a race to save puffin eggs before a big storm hits. Age suggestion 4+. 11am

DO GO ON: Australian comedy/history podcast Do Go On is at the Clapham Grand for a live recording in front of an audience. Comedians Jess Perkins, Matt Stewart and Dave Warneke host the show, in which they take a deep-dive into an historical topic suggested by a listener. 1pm-3pm

BUDDHA OF SUBURBIA: The RSC and Wise Children’s production of The Buddha of Suburbia ends a four-week run at Barbican. It's the story of 17-year-old Karim, set in south London in the 1970s, and you can read our review here. 1.30pm/7.15pm

RUBIK'S CUBE: Celebrate 50 years of the Rubik's Cube, as teacher, mathematician and professional magician Andrew Jeffrey is at the Royal Institution to talk about the colourful puzzles. Find out why they are so hard to solve, how many moves are needed to solve one, and how many possible permutations there are. 2pm-3.15pm

TARA CLERKIN TRIO: Taking inspiration from jazz, trip hop, electronica, psychedelia and minimalism, Bristol-based band the Tara Clerkin Trio perform live at EartH Hackney. 6.30pm

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DRACULA: Catch a production of Bram Stoker's Dracula on stage at Artsdepot in Finchley, performed by Blackeyed Theatre. It blends Victorian gothic with the contemporary to tell the story of a world caught between traditional belief and technological change. 7.30pm

AUTISM MAMA: Comedian Josephine Lacey gives the final performance of her current show Autism Mama at Soho Theatre sharing her experiences of guiding her autistic son through puberty. Expect visual aids, balloons, and plenty of heartwarming moments. 8.45pm

Sunday 17 November

CHEESE MARKET: Well, Edam! It's that time of the month again when Chiswick is taken over by a cheese market. Browse and buy 200+ different cheeses by producers from around the UK, along with breads, chutneys, and everything else you need to enjoy cheese at its best. 9.30am-3pm

MIDCENTURY MODERN: 85 midcentury dealers and modern designers descend on Dulwich College to sell film posters and artwork, furniture, lighting, rugs, textiles, ceramics, wallpaper and more, dating from the 20th century. The Midcentury Modern also has food vans on site, and if you buy any large items, delivery is available. 10am-4pm

GIANT LONDON FLEA: Over 100 traders pitch up at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park multi-storey car park for the Giant London Flea. Claiming to be London's largest indoor flea market, it's a chance to buy vintage home decor including furniture and 'unexpected oddities'. 10am-5pm

BLACKHEATH CHRISTMAS FAIR: The Friends of Age Exchange hold their 11th annual Blackheath Christmas Fair at Blackheath Halls, with 40+ stalls selling books, jewellery, gifts, food and drink. Money raised goes back to the charity. Find other Christmas markets and festive fairs in London. 10.30am-4.45pm

BELGRAVIA AGLOW: Things get lit at Belgravia Aglow, the area's Christmas light switch-on event. A pop-up market in Eccleston Yards, live performances by the London Gay Men's Chorus and the Fulham Brass Band on Elizabeth Street, and appearances by Santa and his reindeer are all part of the fun, before the big event at 3.45pm. FREE, 11am-4pm

VINTAGE FASHION FAIR: The Frock Me! vintage fashion fair has a new location, popping up at the Royal Horticultural Halls in Victoria for the first time. Expect the usual high-fashion blend of vintage clothing, jewellery, accessories and textiles, sold by 80+ traders. The new venue has an on-site cafe too. 11am-5.30pm

DRAG ROYALTEA: Get your sass on at the Royal Albert Hall, which hosts Drag RoyalTea. Star of Ru Paul's Drag Race UK, Kate Butch takes centre stage in the Elgar Room for an afternoon of live vocals, lip syncing and general silliness, all while you tuck into sandwiches, scones, cakes and cocktails. 1pm

QUEEN OF BETWEEN: Storytelling collective Crick Crack Club are at the British Museum for Queen of Between, a show about Hecate from Greek mythology, goddess of birth, death, witches, weasels, hellhounds, crossroads, thresholds and ghosts. Age 14+. 2.30pm

REAL VOICES: Real Voices is a community of non-auditioned contemporary choirs, open to anyone who loves to sing. However, the organisers realise that not everyone can commit to regular sessions so they hold regular Sunday Sessions, with everyone welcome. Head to the Wheatsheaf Inn in Vauxhall to be part of a six-part harmony covering popular and familiar songs. 5.30pm-7.30pm

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THE COMPANY OF WOLVES: Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Neil Jordan's influential film, The Company of Wolves, as part of the Irish Film Festival, at Vue Piccadilly. Co-written with author Angela Carter, this dark fantasy stars Sarah Patterson, Angela Lansbury and David Warner, with themes of sexual awakening and identity. 6pm

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