Things To Do This Weekend In London: 8-9 March 2025

International Women's Day, a Windrush exhibition and Six Nations screenings.

Things to do this weekend is sponsored by The Photography & Video Show.

All weekend

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY: Saturday 8 March is International Women's Day and March as a whole is Women's History Month, so there are plenty of events going on to celebrate the achievements of women. We've highlighted some of our favourites, but keep an eye out for lots more happening at various venues this weekend, and throughout the month.

SIX NATIONS: As we enter the penultimate weekend of this year's Six Nations tournament, Ireland take on France (Saturday, 2.15pm), Scotland play Wales (Saturday, 6.45pm), and England go head-to-head against Italy (Sunday, 3pm). Whoever you're supporting, find somewhere to do so with our guide to pubs, bars and other venues showing Six Nations. And you'll want to book ahead if you want a spot to watch next weekend's final matches, too.

Weekends in London are sooo much better, when you sign up to our listings :)

REPAIR WEEK: The annual London Repair Week aims to equip Londoners with the skills needed to repair old items, rather than throwing them away and replacing them with new ones. Keep an eye on the website for details of repair hubs and workshops, spanning everything from furniture and upholstery to electricals. 3-9 March

THE OTHER ART FAIR:The Other Art Fair takes over the Old Truman Brewery for four days of artwork that's designed to be accessible to all. Affordable and original pieces are up for grabs, alongside immersive installations, live performances and a bar. 6-9 March

AFRO FUTURES FESTIVAL: Arts development organisation Certain Blacks brings Afro Futures Festival back to Rich Mix for a weekend of live music, dance and performance by Black artists, highlighting what diverse culture has contributed to Britain. Catch one-woman show T21 Alchemy or theatre show Best Friends on Saturday, or wordless storytelling performance Roshni on Sunday. 6-9 March

MOVE IT: Claiming to be the world's biggest dance event, Move It comes to Excel Centre. Watch performances on three different stages, with Love Island's Molly Marsh, Strictly Come Dancing finalist Layton Williams and Dance Moms' Gianna Martello taking part. There are also competitions, and companies including Disney and Royal Caribbean hold auditions for dancers to join their crews. 7-9 March

FASHION RENEGADES: The Fashion & Textile Museum's Outlaws: Fashion Renegades of 80s London centres around legendary nightclub Taboo, opened by designer and performance artist Leigh Bowery in 1985, and looks at how its dress code and hedonistic philosophy influenced fashion. This is its final weekend. Until 9 March

JEWISH BOOK WEEK: Pablo Picasso's muse, being Jewish today, an orchestra at Auschwitz, AI, and Trump's second term are among the subjects tackled by experts in this final weekend of Jewish Book Week at Kings Place. Many of the events are available online if you can't attend in person. Until 9 March

PHOTOGRAPHY PRIZE: View works by the four shortlisted photographers of this year's Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize. Cristina de Middel, Rahim Fortune, Tarrah Krajnak and Lindokuhle Sobekwa's photos are on show, spanning documentary photography, constructed images, self-portraiture, performance and family archives from around the world. The winner is announced on 15 May. 7 March-15 June

NOWRUZ FESTIVAL: Celebrate Nowruz Festival (Persian New Year) at Lauderdale House in Highgate with two free exhibitions. View the works of four UK-based Iranian illustrators in the Lower Gallery, or a display of Persian calligraphy in the Upper Gallery. Further events take place in the coming weeks (Norwuz itself falls on 20 March). FREE, from 5 March

WINDRUSH FRONT ROOM: Woolwich Works hosts free exhibition The Windrush Front Room, recreating a typical Windrush Generation living room. It's curated by Tony Fairweather, the son of Jamaican parents, and there are events running alongside it this weekend, including a chance to meet Fairweather, and two children's authors who've written about Windrush.

Sponsor message

Celebrate visual storytelling at The Photography & Video Show

Want to become a better photographer/videographer/content creator? Get yourself to Excel London, which from 8-11 March is transformed into the ultimate playground for visual storytelling. What’s more, our readers can get 20% off tickets*.

The Photography & Video Show 2025 is your chance to upgrade your kit, improve your craft and network with thousands of like-minded creatives. Here you’ll find cutting-edge cameras, lenses, lighting and video equipment from leading brands like Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm and Adobe. You’ll also discover new techniques to get the most out of them, with 500+ talks and demos led by the likes of Lindsay Adler, Joel Grimes and Kelly Brown. Then you can put them to the test, using stunning sets in the show's Creator Playground.

The inspiration doesn't stop there. The Photography & Video Show 2025 also features a rather special showcase of never-before-seen photos from the 1948 London Olympic Games. Be one of the first to see this fascinating slice of sporting history, recently rediscovered on a forgotten roll of film. Suffice to say the event is a must-visit for London-based creatives, enthusiast and pro alike. Just enter the code LDN25 by 5 March to get 20% off advance standard entry tickets.

The Photography & Video Show. 8-11 March at Excel London. Get your tickets now.

*Terms and conditions: Discount applies to standard adult entry only and cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, including concession rates. The code expires at midnight on 5 March 2025 and cannot be applied retrospectively. Professional photographers, filmmakers, content creators and image-making industry representatives can apply for FREE entry to the show.

Saturday 8 March

ALTERNATIVE BOOK FAIR: Coinciding with the start of London Book Fair 2025, the Alternative Book Fair is a programme of author events bringing the world of publishing and literature to a wider audience, especially aspiring authors, emerging writers and avid readers. All events are free, and today's the final day, with an indie press fair, panel discussions and children's activities at Islington Central Library. FREE, 10am-5pm

HOLI ASTRONOMY SHOW: Celebrate Holi, the festival of colours, at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, which hosts a family-friendly live show about South Asian astronomy. Find out how the Moon's appearance and position in the sky is linked to South Asian calendar systems, and learn more about India's space exploration achievements. Age 7+. 10.30am

MUMMY MASKS: Take the kids along to UCL's Petrie Museum for a family workshop where you can make your own mummy masks. Artist Jaquie Feldman offers insight into the meanings of different colours and materials used by the Ancient Egyptians. 11am-2pm

COWBOY BRUNCH: Saddle up for The Fable's Ride A Cowboy brunch, where cowboy hats are a must. Expect an afternoon of country outfits, live music, DJs, line dancing and country pop tunes. Choose between drinks tickets or brunch tickets — the latter includes a cocktail and a brunch dish. 12pm-5pm

JAZZ MATINEE: As part of the Kinoteka Polish film festival, Cine Lumiere screens a programme of Polish, French and British cartoons from the 1960s and 1970s, accompanied by live music played by jazz musicians from Wrocław. It's a family-friendly screening, with children invited to meet the musicians and their instruments afterwards. 1.30pm

BIRDSONG: Based on Sebastian Faulks' acclaimed novel, Birdsong retells the passionate affair of Stephen Wraysford and Isabelle Azaire amidst the horrors of the First World War. Today is your last chance to see the production at the Alexandra Palace Theatre. 2.30pm/7.30pm

Share

RALPH STEADMAN: The Heath Robinson Museum in Pinner currently has an exhibition dedicated to political cartoonist and illustrator Ralph Steadman. Today, Steadman's daughter Sadie Williams gives a talk about his work and legacy, and her experiences of growing up around his creative chaos. 3pm-5pm

BIG BITE-SIZE SHOW: It's been running at Edinburgh Fringe for 18 years, and now The Big Bite-Size Show comes to London for the first time, with each show featuring eight mini plays, 10-15 minutes long. The production at Islington's Pleasance Theatre is comprised of fab favourites from over the years. 3pm/7.30pm (with a different programme running 12-15 March)

WOW AT 15: Celebrate 15 years of Women of the World — or WOW — Festival, with a special evening at the Royal Albert Hall. WOW founder Jude Kelly hosts, accompanied by activist Angela Davis. The event features music and discussion celebrating the achievements of women, girls and non-binary people across the globe, with guests including Annie Lennox, Sandi Toksvig and Anoushka Shankar. 7pm

BUSHY COMEDY: Bushy Comedy brings a lively night of entertainment to the Hoxton Hotel in Shepherd's Bush, featuring performances from acts like Bobby Mair, Lianna Holston, Chantal Nash, and Adam Greene. It's hosted by Frances Keyton. 7pm-9.30pm

BEE GEES TRIBUTE: Hear hits such as Stayin’ Alive and Night Fever performed live at The Magic of the Bee Gees tribute concert at Croydon's Fairfield Halls. A light and video display accompanies the music, showcasing the Bee Gees' performances over the decades. 7.30pm

HAVEN'T STOPPED DANCING YET: Regular club night Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet celebrates its 15th birthday with a disco at Islington Assembly Hall. It's a 70s & 80s soul, funk and disco takeover with DJs and dance-off competitions. Themed outfits = very much encouraged. 7.30pm

MARVEL CONCERT EXPERIENCE: Be quick if you want tickets to Marvel Studios' The Infinity Saga Concert Experience at Southbank Centre, as there are only a few left at time of writing. Music from 23 of Marvel's most iconic films is played by a live orchestra, while scenes from the likes of Iron Man, Captain America and Thor are shown on a large screen. 7.30pm

MATERNITY SERVICE: Journalist and author Emma Barnett is at Southbank Centre to discuss her book, Maternity Service, with journalist and broadcaster Kirsty Young. Barnett delves into the reality of maternity leave beyond the rose-tinted memories often shared, and talks about how descriptions of the time as a 'special experience' do a disservice to women by not preparing them for the difficulties of new motherhood. 7.45pm

Sunday 9 March

CHOCOLATE CAKE MASTERCLASS: Geanina Ursache, semi-finalist on British Bake Off: The Professionals 2021 leads a masterclass showing you how to make the perfect chocolate cake. Over 4.5 hours, learn how to bake a rich and moist cake, create silky smooth ganache, craft a chocolate mousse, and layer and finish it like a professional chef. Takes place at Prestige Patisserie in Tottenham. 12pm

THE BUBBLE SHOW: Family-friendly production The Bubble Show comes to Artsdepot in Finchley, bringing Bubbleland to life in a display of soap and water, fire effects, puppetry, light displays and music. Aimed at ages 3-12. 2pm

WOLF HALL: Footprints of London guide Mark Rowland leads a walking tour in hunt of the real London of Wolf Hall. Visit locations linked to the real events depicted in Hilary Mantel's books and the subsequent TV series, beginning at Blackfriars station and ending near Liverpool Street. Part of the ongoing Literary Footprints festival. 2pm-4pm

Share Londonist: Things To Do

BEGINNER'S COMEDY SHOWCASE: Catch performances by some early-career comedians, as the Comedy Store hosts a beginner's comedy course showcase. Participants in the venue's course take to the stage to showcase what they've learnt. 2.30pm

THE BRUTALIST: Treat yourself to a film screening in a cosy cinema with a three-course meal or afternoon tea (plus champagne too if you're pushing the boat out) at Firmdale Film Club. Today's film is The Brutalist, about an architect and his wife fleeing post-war Europe for the USA in 1947. 5pm

BALLET ICONS: Ballet stars from leading theatres such as the Royal Ballet, Berlin State Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, La Scala, Paris Opera Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre take to the stage at the London Coliseum for the Ballet Icons Gala, accompanied by the English National Ballet Philharmonic Orchestra. 7pm

PORTRAITS IN JAZZ: Composer and jazz pianist Helen Sung performs with the Guildhall Big Band at Barbican. Hear the UK debut performance of her new work, Portraits in Jazz, which she describes as "a musical love letter and tribute to the masters of jazz I had the chance to study and work with". 7.30pm

ROSIE HOOD BAND: Round off your week with some live music: The Rosie Hood Band takes to the stage at the Water Rats in King's Cross for an evening of traditional English folk songs. 8pm

© 2025 Londonist: Things To Do
hello@londonist.com
Unsubscribe