Things To Do This Weekend In London: 17-18 May 2025

Rare books, a dance festival and selfies with a meteorite.

Things to do this weekend is sponsored by EatClub.

All weekend

FEEL GOOD FESTIVAL: Mind, body and soul are the focus of the Feel Good Festival at Hampton Court Palace, which features workshops, talks and drop-in clinics designed to help you to be the best version of yourself. 16-18 May.Kensington and Fitzrovia also have their own wellness festivals this week, with events and activities ongoing until Sunday.

NEW SPACE EXHIBITION: Be among the first to see the Natural History Museum's new exhibition all about space. Specifically it asks whether there could be life beyond Earth, along with giving you the opportunity to touch a piece of Mars, wrap your hands around a fragment of the Moon and snap a selfie with the Allende meteorite, which is older than Earth itself. Recommended age 8+. From 16 May

HACKNEY HISTORY FEST: It's the second — and final — weekend of Hackney History Festival, with walks, talks and films celebrating the borough's history. Celebrate 40 years of Hackney City Farm, hear about the Dalston Peace Mural from two people who feature in it, and help get some Hackney women added to Wikipedia. 17-18 May

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LONDON CRAFT WEEK: Wigs? Tick. Rugs? Of course. Paper flowers? Naturally. Find out about some of the more unusual things being made here in the capital at London Craft Week. Workshops, demonstrations, talks and workshop tours feature in the impressively large programme, showcasing the handiwork of London's makers. 12-18 May

PHOTO LONDON: International fair Photo London is back at Somerset House for a celebration of all things snap happy. As well as a chance to collect and purchase photos from around the world, there are talks, tours and workshops on all aspects of photography. Day tickets and weekend passes are available. 14-18 May

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RARE BOOKS: Books, original manuscripts, letters and rare items are all for sale at the annual Firsts: London's Rare Book Fair. Taking place at Chelsea's Saatchi Gallery, this year it has a theme of 'Books in Bloom', with a special focus on the relationship between books and botanicals, as well as a chance to purchase rare and unique tomes. 15-18 May

PHOTOGRAPHY NOW: Closing this weekend, the V&A's free Photography Now display showcases the latest additions to the V&A's collection of global contemporary photography, touching on topics including conflict, colonialism, social inequality and ecology issues. FREE, until 18 May

DULWICH FESTIVAL: This is the final weekend of this year's Dulwich Festival, an impressive programme of events taking place in the Dulwich area. We like the look of the Goose Green and Love West Dulwich fairs, open days at Dulwich Picture Gallery and the Centre for Wildlife Gardening, and a bicycle-powered Shakespeare show. Many (though not all) of the events are free. Until 18 May

POP OFF, MICHELANGELO: Fringe musical comedy Pop Off, Michelangelo! makes its West End return at Underbelly Boulevard Soho, telling the story of best-friends-turned-bitter-rivals Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, with RuPaul's Drag Race UK finalist Michael Marouli as the Pope. 17 May-22 June

Saturday 17 May

CHEAM CHARTER FAIR: Rumour has it that the Cheam Charter Fair dates back to 1259 — though even the modern-day organisers can't verify that. Either way, head to the London-Surrey border for a traditional fair of stalls, kicked off with a procession at 9am. FREE ENTRY, 9am-2pm

KENSINGTON DOLLSHOUSE FESTIVAL: Experience life in miniature at the Kensington Dollshouse Festival. 120 top miniaturists from multiple countries exhibit and sell their works for anyone looking to kit out their own dolls house, plus there are displays, kids' activities and more. 10am-5pm

FOOD FESTIVAL: Eat your way around the world on Camberwell Green at an international food festival. Munch on dishes from Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and the Mediterranean, at a variety of stalls, with many local food and drink businesses represented. Live music, face painting, bouncy castles and arts and crafts keep everyone entertained. 11am-7pm

WOMEN FOR WOMEN: The #SheInspiresMe car boot sale parks up at Selfridges again, raising money for Women For Women's work supporting women and girls affected by war and conflict. Browse car boots filled with new, past-season, vintage and pre-loved designer fashion donated by luxury brands, designers and fashion and beauty insiders — and bag yourself a bargain while doing some good. 12pm-6pm

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COCKFOSTERS: Comedy play Cockfosters is set on the Tube, telling the story of two strangers who meet at Heathrow and get to know each other on a Piccadilly line journey across London. Today's your last chance to see it at Southwark Playhouse Borough; before you go, read our article about the inspiration behind it. 2.30pm/7pm

MIDNIGHT COWBOY: Midnight Cowboy - A New Musical ends its world premiere run at Southwark Playhouse Elephant. It's based on the novel by James Leo Herlihy, which in turn inspired a film of the same name, about the unlikely friendship between two men who head to New York City in search of a better life. 2.30pm/7.30pm

THE WILD ROBOT: As part of Herne Hill Free Film Festival, watch The Wild Robot, a family film about a robot who finds herself stranded on a desert island and has to learn to live alongside the animals there. Showing at Herne Hill Station Hall. FREE, 4pm

FA CUP FINAL: Crystal Palace will attempt to win their first ever FA Cup this afternoon, as they take on Man City at Wembley. If you've not got tickets for the game, scope out the best bars in London for watching the footy. KO 4.30pm

HIGHWAYS COUNTRY FESTIVAL: Country and Americana artists are at the forefront of Highways Festival, taking place at the Royal Albert Hall. For the second (and final) evening tonight, acts performing are Eric Church, Charles Wesley Godwin and Bella White, hosted by Baylen Leonard. 6.45pm

COMMONS FESTIVAL: Stanley Arts in South Norwood hosts Commons Festival, a celebration of dance in all its forms. Tonight, Commons: Mixed Bill brings four pieces on stage, including one exploring masculinity and gender through Tom Jones songs, and a personal take on flamenco. 7pm-10pm

ALBUM LAUNCH: Indie-folk quintet Patch & The Giant launch their new album with a live show at St John on Bethnal Green. Fragments is their first album in eight years, though you may have seen them performing live at festivals including Green Man Festival, Secret Garden Party, Cambridge Folk Festival, Wilderness and BoomTown Fair. Folk band The Lost Cavalry are tonight's support act. 7pm-10.30pm

ROYAL VARIETY NIGHT: Ghosts actor Kiell Smith-Bynoe hosts A Right Old Royal Variety Night at Stratford East Theatre, a variety night featuring guests including comedians Jeff Innocent and Desiree Burch, hula-hooper Amazi, and jazz fusion dance group The Queens, among others. It's part of the venue's 140th birthday celebrations. 7.30pm

EUROVISION FINAL: Taking place in Basel, Switzerland this year, the Eurovision final will be shown on TV as usual, with several London venues hosting screening parties. We've made a list of all the ones we know of, to help you find somewhere to show off your best sequinned outfit, wave a flag, and see how many 'nil points' the UK gets. From 8pm

Sunday 18 May

ANTIQUES FAIR: The monthly Adams Antiques Fair is back at the Royal Horticultural Halls, with over 130 antiques dealers from across the UK selling antique jewellery, silver, decorative pieces and collectables. It's a popular event, with queues to get in before the doors open, so arrive early. 10am-4.30pm

SUNDAY FUN-DAY: Take the kids to Lauderdale House in Highgate for Sunday Fun-Day a day of free workshops aimed at 4-10 year olds, designed to teach them about the history of the building. The statue of Sir Sydney Waterlow in Waterlow Park provides inspiration for a model-making workshop. FREE, 11am

URBAN VILLAGE FETE: Live music and dancing, street food stalls, crafting workshops, and talks on topics including sports and sustainability are all part of the Urban Village Fete, which celebrates its 10th birthday this year. It's a family-friendly event taking over Greenwich Peninsula, supporting charity War Child. FREE entry (charge for some workshops), 11am-7pm

UNLIMITED TIRAMISU: Are there two more dangerous words in the English/Italian language? Nonetheless, Fitzrovia's authentic Roman restaurant Agrodulce is now doing a Sunday brunch each week, where fresh plates of pasta/pizza are indeed followed with as much tiramisu as you can eat. Good luck. 12pm-3.30pm

PYJAMA PARTY RAVE: Big Fish Little Fish brings its Camp Bestival warm-up tour to the Fox and Firkin in Lewisham, offering a pyjama party family rave. Dance together as a family, with bubbles, balloons, a parachute and arts and crafts keeping everyone entertained. 2pm-4pm

CHARITY JAZZ: The Bromley Jazz Collective gives a charity concert at Chislehurst Methodist Church, raising money for SPANA (The Society for the Protection Animals Abroad). Expect to hear tunes including April in Paris, Summertime, Sweet Georgia Brown and Autumn Leaves. 2pm-4.30pm

PUNK ALL DAYER: Harker, Downcast and Pardon Us are among the motley crew of punk bands thrashing it out on stage at Kingston's Fighting Cocks today, as a Punk All Dayer promises to shake the neighbourhood to its foundations. From 3pm

NETBALL SUPER LEAGUE: Netball team London Pulse are at home, taking on visiting team Loughborough Lightning in the Netball Super League, at the Copper Box Arena in the Olympic Park. 6pm

COLLYWOBBLERS COMEDY: Comedians Mark Thomas and Patrick Monahan team up to offer previews of each of their Edinburgh Fringe shows. Sion James is the MC at Collywobblers Comedy, which takes place at The Railway in Streatham. 7.30pm-10.15pm

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BOOKER PRIZE READINGS: Though tickets to attend in person have sold out, you can watch Southbank Centre's International Booker Prize shortlist readings via livestream. Hear extracts from some of the the finest novels and short story collections from around the globe that have been translated into English and published in the UK and/or Ireland, ahead of the winner being announced. FREE, 7.45pm

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