Things To Do In London This Week: 29 September-5 October 2025

Things to do this weekend is sponsored by Royal Docks Originals.

Looking for something fun to do today? Something eye-opening to watch tonight? Something delicious to eat tomorrow? Our guide to things to do this week in London is personally curated, ensuring there's always a diverse range of events for you to choose from. Get stuck in!

All week

BEATLES PHOTOS: This week is your last chance to see Rearview Mirror: Liverpool–London–Paris, a free exhibition of photos taken by Paul McCartney at the height of Beatlemania. See the Fab Four's rise to fame and fortune through McCartney's lens, in candid photos snapped in 1963-4, including backstage shots taken before gigs. See the exhibition at Gagosian Davies Street in Mayfair. FREE, until 4 October

FREE FILM FESTIVAL: Muriel's Wedding, Moana 2, Sunset Boulevard and Little Shop of Horrors are some of the movies shown during this final week of Streatham Free Film Festival. St Peter's Church and Streatham Vale Sport and Social Club are among the local venues hosting the free screenings. FREE, until 4 October

MORE THAN HUMAN: The More than Human exhibition at Design Museum explores how design can assist our planet alongside other living beings. It features over 140 works by more than 50 international artists, architects and designers, including a monumental seaweed installation and artworks aimed at octopuses. Until 5 October

LAMBETH FRINGE: Performing arts festival Lambeth Fringe is now in full swing, offering a plethora of shows around the borough. Highlights this week include two-woman documentary theatre play Neither Here Nor There, dark comedy Needy, and The Moon Under Water, a humorous take on pubs and all that happens there. Until 25 October

TOPLESS THE MUSICAL: Not as raunchy as it first sounds, one-woman immersive theatre experience Topless The Musical blurs the line between audience and performer, through the eyes of Sandie, a wise-cracking London tour guide who knows all the city’s secrets. Takes place at Underbelly Boulevard Soho, the very site of the strip club that inspired the original play. 29 September-20 October

OKTOBERFEST: Raise a stein to Oktoberfest, the German beer festival which has more than made itself at home here in London. Various festivals and parties take place through late September and into October, packed with oopmah bands, bratwurst, and the all-important beer. Pour yourself a cold one and peruse our Oktoberfest events guide to see what's on this week.

AUTUMN WALKS: Start your October with a wholesome stroll. We've shared seven of our favourite autumnal walking routes in London, taking you through Royal Parks, cemeteries and botanical gardens in search of London's finest red and orange hues.

PLAN YOUR OCTOBER: With a new month starting on Wednesday, get planning with our guide to the very best things to see and do in London in October. Swot up on must-see shows, hot new exhibitions and everything else you won't want to miss... then get booking, to make sure you don't!

EAT OF THE WEEK: Devilled sausages, chilli prawn toast, crispy mutton rolls and vadai (savoury lentil doughnuts and chutney) are on the menu at Covent Garden's freshly-opened ADOH! restaurant. The go-to dish at this Sri Lankan street food joint, however, is the kothu — a plate of chopped roti, vegetables and eggs, tossed on a grill with curry sauce, and topped with crab, chicken, mutton or jackfruit.

DRINK OF THE WEEK: Kamara — a cocktail bar on Soho's Poland Street, that's inspired by the caves of the eastern Mediterranean — opens on Wednesday (1 October), serving cocktails laced with house-made ferments, along with wild-foraged produce served in custom pottery, sourced from Cretan artisans. The coffee and honey old fashioned (mixed with bourbon, Cretan eau de vie, Exmoor honey and burnt butter), sounds a sensible place to start.

Today's events: Monday 29 September

VISIONS OF UKRAINE: Barbican Cinema hosts film series Visions of Ukraine, with three different screenings showing Ukraine through the eyes of its filmmakers, from the silent era to the present. It begins tonight with Mikhail Kaufman’s symphony to Kyiv, In Spring (1929), previously considered lost until it was rediscovered in 2005. 29 September-2 October

DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOSTS? Danny Robins has penned his first children's book, Do You Believe in Ghosts, and this evening he's at Waterstones Piccadilly to chat it over with No Such Thing As a Fish's Dan Schreiber. 5.30pm

GABRIELLE CHANEL: Though in-person tickets have sold out, you can still hop onto the livestream of the V&A's talk, Gabrielle Chanel and Britain, delving into how the French fashion designer — better known as Coco — launched her business in the UK back in 1925. Hear Oriole Cullen, Senior Curator of Fashion at the V&A, and Justine Picardie, Chanel biographer, in discussion. 7pm-8pm

SCIENCE OF SERENDIPITY: Stories of innovation typically involve an individual solving a problem single-handedly, but when you look at these stories in more detail, they turn out to be more nuanced, involving multiple contributors, surprising unforeseen outcomes and a continuous process of social tinkering. Join Martin Reeves as he reveals this messier view of innovation at the Royal Institution. 7pm-8.30pm

JAZZ IN THE ROUND: This month's Jazz in the Round at the Cockpit Theatre stars Phil Bancroft's The Beautiful Storm and up-and-coming bass player Tom Sheen, along with other acts. Expect an evening of live music in an unusual set-up. 8pm

Today's events: Tuesday 30 September

WILDLIFE ART: Wildlife artist Hannah Shergold displays her latest collection in a free exhibition at Mall Galleries. 30 new works, including depictions of British and African wildlife, domestic animals and portraiture feature in the show. Perhaps unexpectedly, so does her portrait of musician Ronnie Wood, an ambassador for conservation charity Tusk. FREE, 30 September-4 October

THE DELUSION: A new video game commission and multiplayer immersive experience is the latest free exhibition at Serpentine North Gallery. Artist Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley explores themes of polarisation, censorship and social connection in The Delusion, which invites visitors into a post-apocalyptic world. In this imagined future, society has broken into factions, each clinging to its own version of truth, providing a space for players to pause, discuss and reconnect. FREE, 30 September-18 January

GIN SUPPER CLUB: Chelsea restaurant The Campaner serves up a three-course dinner paired with specially crafted Gin Mare cocktails. The Mediterranean-inspired menu is served in the Olive Tree section of the venue, transporting you to a Spanish terrace without leaving west London. 6pm

HITLER & JESUS: Hitler, Jesus & How to Win a Culture War is the intriguing title of today's Gresham College lecture, in which Professor Alec Ryrie FBA discusses how we came to build our values, and what we define as 'evil' around the memory of the Second World War, and why that isn't effective in our current predicaments. Watch in person at Barnard's Inn Hall, or online. FREE, 6pm

VICTORIAN AI: Join the Sohemian Society at the Horse and Groom for an intriguing discussion about the “Machine for Composing Hexameter Latin Verses,” displayed at the Egyptian Hall in 1845. It's a story with links to Babbage, Lovelace, Darwin and Poe. 7pm

MARK SIMMONS: Joke of the Fringe winner 2024, comedian Mark Simmons performs his current show His Latest Jokes at OSO Arts Centre in Barnes for one night only. 7pm

A DEAL WITH KATE BUSH: Mark 40 years since Kate Bush's The Hounds of Love album was released in a special show at Islington's Pleasance Theatre. Jonbers Blonde and Ginny Lemon from Ru Pauls Drag Race UK star in A Deal With Kate Bush, which features contemporary dance, live music, Irish dancing and drag. 7.30pm

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Join a housewarming like no other at Royal Docks Originals

Royal Docks Originals, the free arts festival inspired by the people and places of London’s Royal Docks, enters its final week. With it, comes the opportunity to step inside the historic (and recently refurbished) Compressor House. Especially for the festival, this listed warehouse - one of the last remaining structures from the docks’ shipping days - transforms into a hub of creative experiences. All free to enjoy.

Bid fond farewells and heartfelt hellos with Arrivals + Departures, the interactive installation by YARA + DAVINA. Then, delve into Newham’s transport history with a magic time capsule spanning the past seven decades. Art and film screenings honour the area’s riverside roots, including a special event on 29 September that shares stories of 19th and 20th century sailors who arrived at the docks from across the British Empire.

Rounding off the week is Royal Docks Reimagined. Bring your friends, family and crafty fingers to Compressor House between Thursday 2 and Saturday 4 October to redefine the neighbourhoods and waterways of the Royal Docks by building a collaborative cardboard city! All materials provided, all ages welcome, all ideas encouraged. The resulting masterpiece will remain on display all weekend.

Royal Docks Originals is on until 4 October. See the full programme of free events and follow along at @‌yourroyaldocks.

Today's events: Wednesday 1 October

MONTH OF THE DEAD: Spooky season is approaching, but you don't need to wait until Halloween at the end of the month. Macabre-sounding festival Month of the Dead begins today offering fascinating talks, candlelit cemetery concerts, and screenings of classic horror movies with live piano accompaniment, among myraid other happenings. Browse the full programme and get booking — events are selling out, fast! 1 October-2 November

PARENTS' COMEDY: Backyard Comedy Club in Bethnal Green is the place to head for BYOB Comedy (that's Bring Your Own Baby). Aimed at parents and carers with babies under 15 months old, it's a comedy show with buggy parking and baby changing facilities, where you're free to feed or change your little one as needed throughout the show. 12pm-1.30pm

FEEL THE FEAR: The psychology of fear is discussed in today's free Gresham College lecture. Professor Robin May talks about the evolutionary reasons why fear is important, but why it sometimes backfires, giving us phobias of harmless things. Does knowing more about how fear works help us to escape it, or make us more vulnerable to it? FREE, 6pm

LONDON'S HIDDEN HISTORY: Delve into London's history at Waterstones Piccadilly as two authors discuss their latest books. Renowned mudlarker Lara Maiklem hosts as Victoria Shepherd, author of Stony Jack and the Lost Jewels of Cheapside: Treasure and Ghosts in the London Clay, and Jack Chesher, who wrote London: The Hidden Corners For Curious Wanderers, discuss the city they know and love. 6.30pm

NAPOLEON: Catch a screening of Ridley Scott's recent epic in the unlikely location of the Brunel Museum's tunnel shaft. The 200-year-old hole was once the entrance to the Thames Tunnel, and makes an evocative location to watch a movie. Part of the museum's French Revolution season. Doors 6.30pm

COMEDY FINAL: Following regional rounds with hundreds of participants from all over the UK, the final of the Dutch Barn Spirit of Comedy competition plays out at Leicester Square Theatre tonight. Thanyia Moore hosts, with performances by comedians Red Richardson and Sean McLoughlin, as well as all of the finalists. 7pm

TAMARIN: Spend the evening in coastal Mauritius, via Covent Garden, as author Priya Hein is at Stanfords to discuss her new novel, Tamarin. She chats to journalist Anthony Cummins about the inspirations behind her writing, from colonial legacies and cultural identity to love, resilience, and the landscapes of Mauritius. 7pm-8.30pm

SUMMONING SONDHEIM: On stage at the Phoenix Arts Club, Summoning Sondheim is a musical comedy séance, in which two West End performers summon Stephen Sondheim to save musical theatre, and therefore, the world. Expect original music and the occasional Sondheim parody, with a focus on elevating new womxn voices in musical theatre. 8.30pm

Today's events: Thursday 2 October

REEL HORRORSHOW: Horror film obsessive and cabaret artiste Benjamin Louche stars in Reel Horrorshow at Fontaines in Stoke Newington, an evening of song, scares and spookiness to delve into what draws us to things that go bump in the night. 2-3 October

PRECIOUS STONES: Helen Molesworth, Senior Jewellery Curator at the V&A and Lead Curator of the Cartier exhibition, gives a free lunchtime lecture focusing specifically on pieces which feature some of the most remarkable and precious stones ever used by Cartier. Given that the exhibition is sold out right up until it closes in November, we're expecting this talk to be popular, so get there in plenty of time as it's on a first come first served basis. FREE, 1pm-2pm

GUILDHALL LIBRARY LAUNCH: Guildhall Library throws a launch event for its special 600th anniversary exhibition, with Professor Caroline Barron giving a talk on the original library at Guildhall, funded by mayor Richard Whittington and town clerk John Carpenter in 1425. Watch the talk in person at Guildhall, or online. 6pm-8pm

IN A NEW LIGHT: Part-performance, part-discussion, theatre company Skin Deep centre the ways young Black Brits see themselves in UPRISING: In A New Light at Brixton House. A cast of four actors perform stories about Black British life, through a curated selection of play extracts. Topics include hiding a sickle cell diagnosis from work, and squatting to escape a strict parent feature. 7.30pm

LONDON SHIPBUILDING: Footprints of London guide Rob Smith offers an online talk about the history of shipbuilding in London. From the comfort of your own home, learn about ships built in London, from Tudor sailing ships to the battleships of the First World War, at locations including Woolwich, Blackwall and Millwall. 8pm

LATE NIGHT JAZZ: UK-based post-fusion, nu-jazz ensemble Dreamscapes performs at Late Night Jazz at the Royal Albert Hall, the first event in the autumn series. Head to the Elgar Room to experience their wide range of musical influences. 9.30pm

Today's events: Friday 3 October

SHOWGIRL DAY: Big day for Swifties: Today's the launch day of Taylor Swift's new album, The Life of a Showgirl, and we've rounded up everywhere we know of in London to celebrate, including a special edition of club night Swiftogeddon, and a listening party and craft night. 3 October

COLONIAL INDIA: Dr Erica Wald is at the National Army Museum in Chelsea to give a free lunchtime talk about how food influenced the lives of the troops and shaped perceptions of the ideal soldier in the 19th-century Indian Army. Officials were preoccupied with managing soldiers' diets, understanding that their health and their discipline were affected by what they ate. See how this contrasts with how European soldiers were perceived, through medical reports and official correspondence. FREE, 12pm-1pm

IRELAND'S UNDISCOVERED PAST: The Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland is an international digital humanities project which aims to reconstruct the collections that were lost following the destruction of the Public Record Office of Ireland in 1922. Hear from historian Gillian O’Brien about lesser-known men and women from 19th-century Ireland and learn how their unexpected stories reveal new interpretations of Ireland’s recent past. 2pm-3pm

WHAT MAKES A TOUR GUIDE?: If you've been on lots of tours and wondered about having a go yourself, or just want to learn more about the challenges of the profession, then join Saira Niazi at Southwark Heritage Centre and Walworth Library. Saira's written a handbook, called Renegade Guides, all about the art of tour guiding. 6.30pm

MEAN GIRLS: What day is it? It's October 3rd, AKA Mean Girls Day. Naturally, Rooftop Film Club Peckham is screening the original 2004 version of the film, starring Lindsey Lohan as a teenage starting at a new high school, who finds herself embroiled in popular crews 'the Plastics'. It might not be Wednesday, but you should definitely wear pink. 6.45pm

WATERWISE GARDEN: Award-winning garden designer Tom Massey launches his new book at — rather aptly — the Garden Museum. In RHS Waterwise Garden: Sustain Your Garden Through Drought & Flood, he explains how to design a garden that will use water efficiently, withstand drought and mitigate flooding, and tonight he's joined by more speakers, details TBC. 7pm-8pm

GOSPEL CONCERT: West London gospel choir Sing Gospel and the Kristiansand Frichurch Youth Choir from Norway join forces for a gospel concert at St Mary's in Acton. 7.30pm-9pm

MOULD SPRAY GRISTLE QUEST: An evening dedicated to live musical comedy performances, the inaugural Mould Spray Gristle Quest (sounds familiar...) launches as Farringdon's Betsey Trotwood pub tonight, featuring Becky Goodman (performer of The Day My Sugar Daddy Dumped Me) and Bunny Hopkyns ("Bluesman. Troubadour. Drugs casualty.") 7.30pm-10.30pm

WRONG JOVI: Excellently-named Bon Jovi tribute band Wrong Jovi pitches up at live music pub The Half Moon in Putney, performing a set of greatest hits, live favourites and rarities. 8pm

Today's events: Saturday 4 October

ELEPHANT MARKET: A new weekend market's opened at Elephant and Castle: The Elephant Market promises stalls from artisan food producers, street food and designers — including Kaieteur Kitchen, peddling authentic Guyanese and Caribbean dishes. Sat-Sun weekly

CROYDON HARVEST FESTIVAL: Croydon gets into the autumnal spirit this weekend, with various free harvest festival antics in the town centre, including The Wandering Oracles (four human-operated mystical fortune-telling machines), The Orbitza (a magical, interactive labyrinth by Rost Productions) and a visit from animals from Vauxhall City Farm. The Walnut Fair also returns — a nod to Croydon's ancient nutty celebration. Events take place 12pm-5pm on both days. FREE, 4-5 October

FUNGI FESTIVAL: Not mushroom left at the London Fungi Festival (4-12 October), organised by London National Park City. The week-long festival celebrates all things mycelial, with talks, exhibitions and, most importantly, Shroom Sunday — an all-day mushroom-themed activity day at a Chingford nature reserve.

THE FUTURE WAS THEN: Fitzrovia's Cartoon Museum opens its new exhibition, The Future Was Then, looking at how original comic art has depicted the future of the human race from 1990 to 4000 AD. Original work from futuristic worlds such as Tank Girl, Judge Dredd, Black Mirror, Buck Rogers and Thunderbirds features, among 80 pages of original comic art. 4 October-21 March

JEWELLERY MARKET: 100+ established and emerging international jewellery artists and designers show and sell their work at the Independent Jewellers' Market, which returns to Copeland Park in Peckham. Browse for yourself, treat someone special or, dare we say it, make a start on your Christmas shopping. 11am-5pm

MOSQUE OPEN DAY: The East London Mosque invites everyone to its annual Visit My Mosque Open Day. Expect guided tours, teas and refreshments, and a chance to get to know the community. Part of a nationwide initiative where mosques across the UK open their doors, fostering understanding, friendship, and shared community spirit. FREE, 11am-3pm

KOREAN THANKSGIVING: London Good News Church in Hanwell hosts a Korean Thanksgiving Festival, featuring authentic Korean grub, traditional games (some recognisable from Squid Game, yet 100% more family-friendly) and cultural activities such as hanbok dress-up. 11am-5pm

BEER MILE HARVEST FESTIVAL: Walthamstow's Blackhorse Beer Mile will use any excuse for a party, and today that takes the form of harvest festival celebrations. It's family-friendly until 7pm (18+ after that), with performances from the Blackhorse & Standard North West Morris Dancers, plus a live band and DJ, and a pop-up food donation and fundraising point in support of local food bank Eat or Heat. 12pm-1am

BLACK BRITISH FOLK TAKEOVER: The Black British Folk Revival is an all-day festival which includes traditional folk sounds, modern British music inspired by folk traditions, a live conversation on African diasporic identities and much more. Guest curator Angeline Morrison and friends take over Cecil Sharp House with music from Angeline Morrison & Mataio Austin Dean, Germa Adan, Bethany Weimers, and many others. 1.25pm-10.30pm

FOOD WALK: Make that an 'anti-influencer food walk'. Historian Dr Matthew Green and Times journalist Jack Burke conduct a "mouthwatering historical food odyssey from Smithfield to Whitechapel revealing the timeless dishes and venerable eateries that do not appear on any glossy Instagram or TikTok feed, experiencing the old East End like never before." 2pm

ARDAL O'HANLON: Irish comedian and actor Ardal O'Hanlon takes to the stage at Alexandra Palace, performing his current show Not Himself. In his own inimitable style, he reflects on who he is as a man and a comedian. 7pm

BLACKED-OUT BLOCKS: A dark satire spotlighting how creative ownership is gradually eroded through collaboration and market mechanisms, Blacked-Out Blocks is the work of the Nomereach theatre group — and is full of tense dialogue and breaking of the fourth wall. It's on at Theatre Deli in the City. 7pm-8pm (also on Friday 3 Oct)

Today's events: Sunday 5 October

ANTIQUES FAIR: It's the time of the month when the Adams Antique Fair pitches up at the Royal Horticultural Halls in Westminster, bringing together 130+ traders from across Europe who sell all manner of vintage goodies. 10am-4.30pm

NFL TAILGATE PARTY: Today the first of three NFL in London games takes place, with Cleveland Browns taking on Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. If you didn't get match tickets, get in on the action at the tailgate party at Between the Bridges, which screens the action American-style, with food, drinks, live DJs and team colours flying. 12pm-11pm

FRETA MCGHEE: Fusing the worlds of science, comedy and dating, Freya McGhee has a background in STEM, but it also pretty damned funny, her shows often selling out. This afternoon she's trying out her new show, Experimental, at the Bill Murray. 4pm-5pm

BEAT THIS!: Musical comedian Rob Deering hosts Beat This! a quizzy evening of mash-ups, megamixes and mayhem at the Mildmay Club, in which four guests battle it out to win Rob's pop quiz. You, the audience, play a major part in the proceedings too — all those years accruing 'useless' pop knowledge are about to pay off... 5.30pm-9.30pm

SUNDAY CONCERT: Today's Sunday Concert at Conway Hall in Holborn spotlights the Adderbury Ensemble, who perform quartets by Beethoven and Dvořák alongside original arrangements by the Danish String Quartet. 6.30pm-8.30pm

GILBERT & GEORGE: Ahead of their highly-anticipated exhibition opening next week, artist duo Gilbert & George join forces with the Philharmonia Orchestra for a special concert. Their images are projected onto a large screen, along with interview footage filmed at their home in Spitalfields, while the Philharmonia performs symphonic music exploring the themes of sex, money, race and religion. 7pm