Things To Do This Weekend In London: 18-19 January 2025

Queer history, wassailing, and a Greek feast.

All weekend

QUANTUM JUNGLE: Last chance to see the Young V&A's festive installation, Quantum Jungle. The interactive artwork by artist, engineer and designer Robin Baumgarten is made from 800 tactile springs which light up when touched, in celebration of festivals of light around the world. FREE, until 19 January

FRANCIS BACON: The National Portrait Gallery's Francis Bacon: Human Presence closes this weekend. It showcases more than 55 works from the 1950s onwards which demonstrate how the unorthodox artist challenged the traditional definitions of the portraiture genre. Until 19 January

MAKING A RUKUS!: The joy, friendship, resistance and art of Black LGBTQIA+ people in Britain is explored in Somerset House exhibition Making a Rukus!, which closes on Sunday. Over 200 objects, including archive materials, contemporary artworks and brand-new commissions, feature. Until 19 January

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SORTING OFFICE: The Postal Museum opens Sorting Office, featuring artworks on a mail theme from 12 artists, including Gilbert & George, Lolly Batty and Daniel Beuys. Set in a fictional sorting office, some pieces have already made their way through the postal system, some may enter it in the future, and a few pieces will never reach delivery. Sounds like a realistic sorting office tbh. 15 January-4 April

LONDON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL: January is ideal for snuggling down in the cinema watching films, which is where London Short Film Festival comes in. The programme boasts a wealth of new drama, documentary, comedy and animation short films, and events this weekend include a mobile cinema parking up in Hounslow, and The Gap In The Curtain, a collection of three haunting shorts showing at Rio in Dalston. 17-26 January

GARDEN OPEN DAYS: The first garden open days of the year at Hampton Court Palace are this weekend, meaning you can visit the gardens without paying the usual admission fee. The Great Fountain Garden, the Privy Garden and the Pond Garden are among the areas included in the offer, but note that if you want to visit the palace itself, the Maze, or the Magic Garden Playground, the normal admission fee applies. FREE, 18-19 January

BRUNEL MUSEUM TOURS: As part of its 200th anniversary celebrations, the Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe offers guided tours on selected weekends throughout 2025. Get an in-depth tour of the Engine House exhibition and Grade II* listed underground Tunnel Shaft, in a tour lasting approximately 45 minutes. 18-19 January

MARIA CALLAS: To celebrate new film Maria, starring Angelina Jolie as soprano Maria Callas, the Royal Opera House has special themed tours. Find out about Callas' life, and her performances in the Covent Garden institution, and see some of the costumes worn by Jolie in the film. 18-19 January

Saturday 18 January

ART PARTY: Church-turned-community centre Grand Junction in Paddington holds monthly family drop-in art parties. Head along for two hours of games and creative activities led by Social Fabric, and take your finished artwork home with you. FREE, 10am

CATHEDRAL TOUR: Join a Cathedral Guide for a tour of Southwark Cathedral, delving into some of the building's history spanning 900 years. Topics covered include links to Winchester, bishop burials, and Shakespearean actors. 11am-12pm

CURIOUS CORALS: Take the family along to the Grant Museum of Zoology for a workshop themed on corals. Take part in stories, games and crafts to learn about different types of coral and how they survive. 11am-3pm

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WASSAIL DAY: London Wildlife Trust hosts a Wassail Day at Dulwich Village Orchard. It's an ancient custom of singing to apple-producing trees in cider orchards, and the event includes an orchard tour, live folk music, crafts and more. FREE, 12pm-4pm

FREE SPIRITED: New boutique/booze-free day Free Spirited comes to Meraki in Fitzrovia today. It's the creation of DJ duo SUNANA and lifestyle brand Sober & Social — and promises an electric party atmosphere, fuelled by great music and tasty mocktails. 2pm-5pm

QUEER HISTORY: Learn about queer people who lived in London through Roman occupation, the medieval period and the English Civil War on Walking London's queer history tour. Wander through the City, hearing stories of queer struggle, joy, late-night trysts in St Paul's Cathedral and thieves in controversial clothing. 3pm-4.30pm

THE BLINKING BUZZARDS: The UK Buster Keaton Society holds its quarterly meeting at the Cinema Museum in Kennington, featuring a selection of Keaton shorts, followed by Doughboys (1930) which he considered the best film he made for MGM. You'll need to be a member to attend, but annual membership can be bought on the door for £10. 4pm-7pm

SCIENCE OF IMAGINATION: Neurologist Adam Zeman is at the Royal Institution to talk about the latest scientific discoveries on the topic of imagination. Find out how we all imagine differently, including people with aphantasia who lack the ability to picture things while awake but often dream vividly; and those with hyperphantasia, who are more likely to work in creative roles. 7pm-8.30pm

BOREAS'S FEAST: Greek chef Marios whips up a meal inspired by Greek mythology for the Boreas's Fest supper club at South London Gallery. Expect dishes consisting of forest flavours — wild game, forest herbs, and foraged treasure — with a mythic Greek twist. 7pm-11pm

PINK SINGERS: Europe's longest-running LGBTQ+ choir, the Pink Singers, give a concert celebrating queer artists and queer stories at Cadogan Hall. Hear bespoke arrangements of songs by Queen, Chappell Roan, Joy Oladokun, and Pet Shop Boys, and choral takes on works by David Bowie, Billie Eilish, and Jacob Narverud. 7.30pm

NOT KATE BUSH: The music of Kate Bush is celebrated in tribute show An Evening Without Kate Bush at Jacksons Lane in Archway. Sarah-Louise Young takes on the role of the singer, performing hits including Wuthering Heights and Hounds of Love. 7.30pm

FOC IT UP: The Femmes of Colo(u)r Comedy Comedy Club presents FOC IT UP! at Soho Theatre. Founder Kemah Bob hosts an evening of laughs featuring Fatiha El-Ghorri, Sharon Wanjohi, Esther Manito, and Temi Wilkey. 9.15pm

HOW DOES IT FEEL?: Regular club night How Does It Feel To Be Loved? is back at The Phoenix in Cavendish Square for a night of indie pop, northern soul, Tamla Motown, girl groups, and sixties heartbreak tunes. Tonight's a Ramones and Buzzcocks special, with tunes from both bands sprinkled through the DJ set. 10pm-2am

SCARED TO DANCE: Alternative club night Scared to Dance takes over the Shacklewell Arms in Dalston, with comedian Ivo Graham as guest DJ. Expect to hear post-punk, indiepop, new wave and art rock music by the likes of Belle and Sebastian, the Beatles, Brian Eno, Franz Ferdinand, Pixies and Iggy Pop. 11pm

Sunday 19 January

STAGES AND CELLS: Take a walking tour through Covent Garden, starting at the Bow Street Police Museum, learning about the history of crime in the area. Find out how the arrival of theatres in the 17th century caused a significant increase in criminal activity, and hear stories of individuals including Charles Macklin, who used his acting skills to literally get away with murder. 11am-12.15pm

SHADOW PAINTING: Aimed at 3-12 year olds and their families, the Garden Museum holds a drop-in shadow painting session. Spend some time drawing the shadows of plants, then fill them in using watercolours. FREE, 11am-12.30pm

FLEA MARKET: Browse stalls from 60 different traders at the Big Winter Walthamstow Flea Market at Big Penny Social. Salvaged and vintage homewares are up for grabs, from across the UK and Europe. 11am-5pm

BOOK SWAP GROUP: Battersea Bookshop hosts a Book Swap and Book(ish) Group. Turn up with any books you no longer want, and swap them for those someone else has brought along. Drinks and biscuits are included, so why not linger a little longer and swap reading recommendations. 1pm-3pm

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SOBER WASSAIL: Another day, another wassail, this time organised by the Museum of Homelessness. Head to Finsbury Park to toast the apple trees for a good 2025 harvest with a hot, non-alcoholic toddy. 1pm-4pm

TALES OF HOFFMAN: Barbican Cinema screens The Tales of Hoffman as part of the Royal Ballet & Opera Live series. Watch a rendition of Offenbach's dream-like opera about a poet looking back over his life and reminiscing about four women he loved. 2pm

LODORE TRIO: Musical group the Lodore Trio give a performance in the Picture Gallery at the Foundling Museum. They play pieces linked to the Foundling Hospital, on which the museum is based, including works by Mozart, Suffragette Ethel Smyth, and Lennon and McCartney. The performance is included with the price of admission to the museum. 2pm

ROSAIC: The 1975 and Chappell Roan are among the inspirations for Rosaic, who headlines a Rough Edges showcase at the Star in Shoreditch this evening. A slew of other acts take to the stage too, including Anna Mo, Lorna Scarlett and Orange Comet. 6pm-11pm

BREWERY COMEDY: Russell Hicks, Micah Hall, Malinda Mukuma, Oriana Buckland and Olly Miller are among the comedians on the bill at a comedy night at Brockley Brewery, along with a special guest. There's the option to make a donation to Lewisham Foodbank when you buy your ticket. 7pm-10pm

PUB QUIZ: Round off the week by showing everyone just how clever you and your mates are, at the Wheatsheaf in Tooting's pub quiz. Bar tabs, prosecco and bonus prizes are up for grabs. Doors 7.30pm

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