Things To Do This Weekend In London: 12-13 October 2024

A new market, Oktoberfest celebrations, and a half marathon.

All weekend

KNITTING AND STITCHING SHOW: The Knitting & Stitching Show is at Ally Pally, with hundreds of exhibitors selling supplies including yarn, fabric, buttons, fat quarters, sewing machines and more. Get inspired in the galleries, which display works by textile artists and groups. 10-13 October

BEHIND THE BOOSH: Marking 20 years since The Mighty Boosh first appeared on TV, Behind The Boosh is an exhibition of photos by Boosh cast member Dave Brown, aka Bollo, telling the story of the comedy troupe's journey to becoming a cult TV show and massive live tour. See it at 2 Hoxton Street until Sunday. 10-13 October

NEW SCIENTIST LIVE: Supermassive black holes, brain health, volcanoes, screen time and free will are just some of the topics covered at this year's New Scientist Live at ExCeL London. Experts from all manner of fields give talks including Professor of Forensic Science Anne Coxon, primatologist Caroline Thompson and astrophysicist Chris Lintott. 12-13 October

NEW MARKET: A weekly food and craft market launches in Elephant & Castle this weekend. Elephant Park Market brings together 20 independent traders, with pasta, churros, cookies and coffee among the goodies on offer. This Saturday, for the launch, there are 100 free lunches up for grabs on a first-come, first-served basis. To claim yours, collect a voucher from the Elephant Park team outside the Tree House pavilion. 12-13 October (and every Saturday and Sunday, 12pm-5pm)

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WINDMILL TOUR: This is the final open weekend at Brixton Windmill of 2024. Guided tours are available on both days (booking required) with a chance to see two sets of mill stones, originally powered by wind and steam. These days, they're powered by electricity and used by volunteers to make flour, which you can buy from the shop. The cafe's also open over the weekend. 12-13 October

CHOCOLATE FAIR: Kickstart Chocolate Week at the Cocoa Runners Craft Chocolate Fair at Fidelio Cafe in Farringdon. Sample chocolate from some of the best makers in the world, learn why craft chocolate is so much better for you and the cocoa farmers, and enjoy tastings and talks hosted by experts including Paul A Young and Annalisa Barbieri. 12-13 October

NOW YOU SEE US: Last chance to see Now You See Us, Tate Britain's current exhibition, which focuses on women artists in Britain between 1520 and 1920. View works by women who paved the way for the female artists who came after them, including Mary Beale, Angelica Kauffman, Elizabeth Butler and Laura Knight, many of whom went against society's expectations to pursue life as an artist. Until 13 October

LONDON COCKTAIL WEEK: London Cocktail Week continues until Sunday. The annual boozefest has 200 bars from across London taking part, all serving up signature cocktails which you can enjoy for £8 a pop once you've bought yourself a festival wristband (£20). There are also special events including tastings, masterclasses, bar takeovers and more. Until 13 October

MAKING A RUKUS!: The joy, friendship, resistance and art of Black LGBTQIA+ people in Britain is explored in new Somerset House exhibition Making a Rukus! Over 200 objects including archive materials, contemporary artworks and brand-new commissions feature, with a programme of public events running alongside the exhibition. FREE, 11 October-19 January

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY: One of our favourite annual exhibitions, Wildlife Photographer of the Year returns to the Natural History Museum for its 60th incarnation. See photos of animals and the natural world taken by photographers all over the globe, including the overall winners (announced on 8 October). From 11 October

FRANCIS BACON: The National Portrait Gallery has a new display, Francis Bacon: Human Presence, showcasing more than 55 works from the 1950s onwards which show how Bacon challenged the traditional definitions of portraiture. 10 October-19 January

ART FAIRS: Some of London's biggest art fairs take place this weekend, bringing members of the art industry from all over the globe back to the capital. Frieze London (9-13 October) sets up shop in Regent's Park, with galleries showcasing work by contemporary artists in a variety of mediums. Over in east London, The Other Art Fair (10-13 October) takes over the Old Truman Brewery, with a focus on artworks available for all budgets, from over 100 artists. At Somerset House, 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair (10-13 October) brings together 60 international exhibitors, representing 23 countries, and the Women in Art Fair takes place at Mall Galleries (9-12 October)

BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL: The 68th incarnation of the BFI London Film Festival is on at a scattering of venues on the South Bank and in the West End. Highlights this weekend which still have tickets available include screenings of the restored version of Watership Down; Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington and Danielle Deadwyler in The Piano Lesson; and Elton John documentary Never Too Late. 9-20 October

PUMPKIN PICKING: Oh my gourd! Pumpkin season is upon us, with plenty of farms and fields close to London offering you the chance to pick your own orange gourd. Pack your wellies and head out for a day of pumpkin picking, photo opportunities and, in many cases, seasonal activities and entertainment too.

Saturday 12 October

GO MENTAL: Aimed at people who want to safeguard their own mental health, as well as those looking to help others who are struggling, Go Mental is a one-day festival of interactive workshops, and keynote speakers including GP and nutritionist Dr Divya Sharma, Alcohol Change UK ambassador Millie Gooch, and mental health campaigner Ben West. Takes place in Bloomsbury. 10am

MEDICINE FOR WOMEN: The London Archives in Clerkenwell marks the 150th anniversary of the London School of Medicine for Women, which was the only British institution dedicated to the training of 'lady doctors'. Learn all about it in a series of talks and document displays delving into how the early generations of students handled their status, and how they were received by patients. FREE, 10am-1.15pm

MENTAL WEALTH FESTIVAL: Today's the final day of City Lit's Mental Wealth Festival, with a focus on the impact of connections on mental health through workshops and talks. All events are either free or low-cost, and topics include boosting your brain power, along with singing and clay workshops. From 11am

BSL TOUR: The Foundling Museum offers a British Sing Language tour of its permanent collection for D/deaf people who are BSL users. Get an in-depth look at the items in the collection; your ticket also offers access to the temporary exhibitions. 12pm

JUNGLE BRUNCH: Japanese-Peruvian restaurant Chotto Matte launches a new Jungle Brunch. Served every Saturday from today, the menu includes some of the restaurant's most popular dishes such as prawn tempura with red onion and coriander, and a selection of sushi rolls. Add bottomless cocktails for an extra charge. 12pm-4pm

CONKERS: Peckham Conker Championships returns, and its brutal 'Battle Royale' rules mean that nut-pimping, stampsies and more or less any kind of cheating are fair game. It's all in the name of winning the coveted 'Golden Nut', a 22 carat gold conker, currently held by 'Pietro the Pummeler'. There's a Juniors (1pm-3pm) and a Seniors (3pm-6pm) competition, and we predict tears at both. 1pm-6pm

DRAG PIZZA BRUNCH: Drag queen Lucinda B-Hind provides the entertainment at a drag pizza brunch, taking place at Unlock restaurant in Hackney Wick. Your ticket includes unlimited slices of margherita and diavolo pizza, and bottomless beer or prosecco, to be enjoyed as Lucinda takes you on a journey through circus, rollerblading and general chaos. 1.30pm-3pm

BOXTOBERFEST: Oktoberfest celebrations take place all over town this month, including at Boxpark Croydon today. Raucous entertainment comes in the form of The Amazing Bavarian Beer Stompers, as well as Shaun Williamson AKA Barry From EastEnders, who hosts Barrioke live. Steins and jugs of beer are available from the bars, along with traditional Bavarian food. 2pm-11.30pm

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PLANT GAYSIANS: Theatre show Two Plant Gaysians comes to the Pleasance Theatre in Islington, telling the story of Ghost and John, a romantic and wholesome pair of gay Asians, living a beautiful life in London while nurturing hundreds of houseplants to fill a certain 'hole'. 4pm/7.30pm

BLACK NURSES: Author Kandace Chimbiri is at the Florence Nightingale Museum in Lambeth to discuss her new book, The Story of Britain's Black Nurses. It's a children's book, although people of all ages will enjoy and learn from the talk. It's followed by a Q&A. 6pm-7.30pm

SWING ORCHESTRA: The 30-piece Down for the Count Swing Orchestra performs the music of Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and others, in a lively concert at Cadogan Hall in Chelsea. 7.30pm

SPECIAL KINDA MADNESS: Live music pub the Half Moon in Putney hosts The Specials and Madness tribute band Special Kinda Madness. Their show consists of one set from each band, to get you dancing away to the soundtrack of the era of two-tone and ska. 8pm

DEADNAME: Comedian Dee Allum brings her debut show, Deadname, to Soho Theatre. In it, she shares her experience of being a trans woman, reconciling with the past, coming out, and going through puberty twice. 9pm

Sunday 13 October

SCHNAUZERFEST WALK: As part of Streatham Festival (worth checking out the full programme), join schnauzers Noodle and Scribble for a walk around Streatham Common & Norwood Grove. Dogs of all breeds and their owners are welcome to take part in SchnauzerFest, which raises money to support animal rescues. FREE, 9am-10.30am

ROYAL PARKS HALF: The Royal Parks Half Marathon takes runners on a route through four of the eight Royal Parks (Hyde Park, Green Park, St James's Park, Kensington Gardens), and closed-off roads around central London. You've missed your chance to take part this year, but why not turn up on the day to support the runners. FREE to watch, from 9am

VINTAGE KILO SALE: Add some autumn/winter staples to your wardrobe at the Peckham Vintage Kilo Sale, where nine tonnes of vintage and pre-owned clothing is sold by weight, priced at £20 per kilo. There's no minimum spend, so shop well and you could get away with just a few quid for some new threads. Find it at the Bussey Building, and if you want first dibs, book yourself an early bird ticket. 10am-4pm

KITE DAY: Make like Mary Poppins on Blackheath, where a Kite Day takes place. Eyes to the skies as the Kent Kite Flyers bring out their big kites, with a steel pan performance by Grinling Gibbons and Lucas Vale schools at 2pm. FREE, 12pm-4pm

PARK TO PARK: Fancy a lengthy weekend stroll? Tim Ingram-Smith (whom you may remember from the London Spiral Walk), is leading monthly walks that connect up London's parks. Today, the group will take in Greenwich Park, Blackheath, Charlton Park and Maryon Wilson Park in a five-and-a-half-mile green amble. 1pm

ABBA FOR KIDS: Mamma Mia! Kids are never too young to be introduced to ABBA, so take them along to Cadogan Hall in Chelsea, where ABBA Revival & Mozart Symphony Orchestra are performing ABBA For Kids. The 90-minute show features many of the group's biggest hits with plenty of dancing thrown in. 1.30pm/4.30pm

BISCUIT ART: Design historian and artist Ella Hawkins will teach you how to decorate a biscuit with edible inks, taking inspiration from Edwardian tiles. It's happening at Stanley Arts in South Norwood, and yes, you can eat your biscuit at the end. FREE, 1.30pm-2.30pm

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RAVILIOUS: Acton's ActOne cinema screens Eric Ravilious: Drawn to War, a full length feature documentary on the great artist, featuring appearances from Ai Weiwei, Alan Bennett, Grayson Perry and Tamsin Greig. The screening is followed by a Q&A with the director. 2pm

MRS GIGGLY'S MAGIC SCHOOL: Take the kids along to Artsdepot in North Finchley for Mrs Giggly's Magic School, a circus-opera for ages 4-8 about a teacher who has lost her belief in magic. 3pm

PRETTY WOMAN: Big mistake. Big. Huge... not ending your weekend at Rooftop Film Club, that is, as the Peckham branch is showing 1990 romantic film Pretty Woman. Richard Gere plays a wealthy businessman opposite Julia Roberts in the role of prostitute Vivian. 6.15pm

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