Things To Do This Weekend In London: 15-16 April 2023

All weekend

EASTER HOLIDAYS: With most London schools still closed for the Easter holidays, there are plenty of family-friendly things to do in the capital this weekend. Take a look at our guide to Easter holiday events in London for exhibitions, shows and other events for kids of all ages — including plenty of free and cheap things to do.

EXECUTIONS: The thought-provoking Executions at Museum of London Docklands ends this weekend. It offers a sensitive but fascinating look back at the history of capital punishment in London, including an affecting replica of the Tyburn Tree, and is well worth seeing if you can squeeze it into your Saturday or Sunday. Until 16 April

AFRICA FASHION: The V&A's Africa Fashion exhibition displays more than 250 objects by 45 designers from more than 20 countries, celebrating the talent and diversity of Africa's fashion industry from the mid-20th century to today. Sketches, photographs, film and catwalk footage all feature, alongside plenty of outfits — and this is its final weekend. Until 16 April

HUMANS 2.0: The next chapter of Circa's internationally acclaimed physical circus show Humans has a short run at Southbank Centre. Humans 2.0 features 10 performers doing choreographed acrobatics and dance to a specially performed soundtrack. Age 8+. 12-16 April

WIZARD OF OZ: We're off to see the wizard, at the Cockpit Theatre in Marylebone, where there's an Easter panto version of The Wizard of Oz, based on Frank L. Baum's novel. 13-16 April

BRICK LANE JAZZ FESTIVAL: The Brick Lane Jazz Festival returns for a weekend of live music. Headline acts include Indian-raised, London-based performer Sarathy Korwar, and south London pianist and composer Ashley Henry. You can buy day or weekend passes to all shows at the Old Truman Brewery, with tickets to Village Underground shows sold separately. 14-16 April

IN THE ROUND: The seventh incarnation of In The Round Festival takes place at Camden Roundhouse, giving fans a chance to experience music performed live on the venue's circular stage. Gambian multi-instrumentalist Sona Jobarteh, singer-songwriter Cam, and American soul singer Leroy Huston are all on this year's programme. 14-25 April

WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS: One of our art critic's April picks is the Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House. See the shortlisted photos — 415,000 images from over 200 countries — as well as new additions for 2023 including a space dedicated to recent works by Australian photographer Adam Ferguson, who won the 2022 Photographer of the Year for his series Migrantes, and a spotlight on the winning series of the new Sustainability Prize. 14 April-1 May

CLASSIC CAR BOOT SALE: Pre-1990 vehicles including cars, campervans, hot rods, scooters, caravans, motorbikes and custom bicycles park up in King's Cross for the Classic Car Boot Sale, a weekend of shopping, eating and dancing. Browse and buy vintage clothing and homewares from the Charity Super.Mkt, and visit the Repair Shop for advice on caring for your vintage garments. 15-16 April

PETROL HEADONISM: It's a good weekend for car fans, as in addition to the above, Petrol Headonism Underground takes place in Wembley's underground car parks. With retro, classic and modified vehicles, hypercars, supercars and bikes on display, it brings together car enthusiasts for the first in a series of new events. 15-16 April

CYCLIST TRACK DAYS: Take to two wheels at the Cyclist Track Days at Lee Valley VeloPark in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It's organised by Cyclist magazine, and anyone's welcome to go along and test ride the newest road bike models from top cycling brands including BMC, Canyon and Ribble. 15-16 April

GRAFFITI WORKSHOP: The Leake Street graffiti tunnels beneath Waterloo station currently have an artist-in-residence, Marc Craig, and he's offering regular graffiti workshops for anyone who wants to try their hand at the art form. Learn how to use a spray can and try out various techniques to create your own masterpiece on a blank stretch of wall within the tunnel.12pm/4pm/8pm Saturday and Sunday, and various other dates

Saturday 15 April

YOGA BRUNCH: Start your weekend with a 75-minute Yin Yang Yoga class at The Treehouse in Elephant Park, followed by brunch at nearby pub The Rosy Hue. Choose from six dishes, including a vegan option, and you can add booze for just £3 extra. 10am-1pm

SKATE JAM: Calling all skateboarders! Alexandra Palace is hosting another skate jam, raising money towards renovating the venue's skate park. Skaters of all abilities are welcome to join in the 10am session, while the 1pm session is reserved for competent skaters only. Live music and food and merch stalls are there all day. 10am

VINTAGE SALE: Give your wardrobe a spring refresh at Peckham Vintage Kilo Sale, where you can stock up on vintage clothes, shoes and accessories, priced by weight at £20 a kilo. There's no minimum — or maximum — spend, so pick well and you could take home a selection of new garments for just a few quid. 11am-5pm

PETER RABBIT: Today's your final chance to catch children's concert The Tales of Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle-Duck at Wilton's Music Hall. It uses storytelling, songs, and a live orchestra to bring Beatrix Potter's tales to life on stage. 12.30pm

TONY!: Someone has created a rock opera about former prime minister Tony Blair — though it doesn't sound like it's all sunshine and roses. Tony!, which opens at Leicester Square Theatre today, is the story of "how one man went from peace-loving, long-haired hippy and would-be pop star to warmongering multimillionaire in just a couple of decades". Ouch. 2.30pm

THE BIG LEBOWSKI: It's quarter of a century since 'The Dude' breezed onto our screens in The Big Lebowski, and today's the final 25th anniversary screening at the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square. Jeff Bridges plays a keen bowler who is mistaken for a millionaire of the same name. 6pm

EARTHQUAKE FUNDRAISER: Marcus Mumford, Dermot Kennedy, Hozier, James Bay, Anna Calvi and Nilüfer Yanya are among the performers at a one-off charity concert at the Royal Albert Hall, raising money for War Child and The Turkey Mozaik Foundation, following the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. 6.30pm

RAINBOW NATION CHARITY GALA: Catch a special performance by the Rainbow Nation Dance Academy at Alexandra Palace, showcasing the group's choir, pole dancers, voguers, ballet class and more. The show raises money for the Rainbow Nation Foundation which supports eight LGBT+ charities. Age 18+. 6.30pm

SUHANI SHAH: Last chance to catch Indian magician and mentalist Suhani Shah in her current run at Soho Theatre. Apparently the world’s first and only solo female mind reader, she shares her story in a bid to amaze, amuse and entertain her audience. 7.30pm

CARTOON HEROES: It's a Cartoon Heroes special at this week's Club de Fromage at O2 Academy Islington. Expect to hear pop hits from Shrek, Frozen, Toy Story, Madagascar, Aladdin, The Lion King, LEGO movie, The Little Mermaid, Beauty & The Beast and more, mixed in with the event's usual pop tunes. With apologies if you've got Cartoon Heroes by Aqua stuck in your head for the rest of the day now. 10.30pm

Sunday 16 April

BOOK BUZZ: Take the kids along to artsdepot in North Finchley for Book Buzz, a day of children's literature-themed activities. They can take a book they've finished along and swap it for a new one for free, and enjoy drag storytelling and live music performances, plus there's a children's book character fancy dress parade. FREE, 10.30am-4pm

AMERICANS OF MAYFAIR: Join Footprints of London tour guide Michael Duncan for a walking tour around the well-to-do neighbourhood of Mayfair, focusing on the well-known Americans who have lived there over the years. Rock and film stars and presidents are among the people who have stayed — which is not surprising when you remember that the US Embassy was based in the area until 2018. 11am

BLACK NATIONAL GALLERY: The Black History Walks team lead an Africa-focused tour of the National Gallery, focusing on paintings and artworks with a Black presence, from African Kings and Queens to musicians and entertainers to faces in crowds. Find out what they meant at the time the works were created, and what they can tell us today. 11am-12.15pm

VINTAGE CLOTHES MARKET: Another chance to stock up on vintage clothes this weekend, this time at Big Penny Social in Walthamstow. The Glass Onion Vintage Clothes Market has thousands of garments, and if you're super-keen to bag the best bargains, you can pay for entry from 11am — otherwise, entry's free after 12pm. 11am-5pm

FOUNDLING MUSEUM TOUR: Never been to Brunswick Square's Foundling Museum? The venue's regular Sunday drop-in tours are a great introduction to the history of the Foundling Hospital, which stood on the site and cared for babies who had been abandoned. 11.30am

GARDEN TOUR: As the weather gets better and we turn our attention back to the great outdoors, take a garden tour at Fulham Palace, home of the Bishops of London, and get the lowdown on how the different Bishops through history shaped the garden into what it is today. 12.30pm

ALWAYS SUNNY PODCAST: Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, and Glenn Howerton, of the much-loved TV show, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, bring their hit comedy podcast The Always Sunny Podcast to the Royal Albert Hall — their first live shows in the UK. 2.30pm/7.30pm

DIVERSE CLASSICAL: See the debut concert of Vox Urbane, a new classical vocal ensemble founded to tackle the lack of diversity in classical music. The early evening concert takes place in the atmospheric Asylum Chapel, Peckham. It includes UK premieres by Judd Greenstein and Tara Mack, plus music from Meredith Monk, Philip Glass, Barbara Dudek, Francis Poulenc and more. 6.30pm

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