Things To Do This Weekend In London: 30 September-1 October 2023

All weekend

CHELSEA HISTORY FESTIVAL: The National Army Museum, the Royal Hospital Chelsea and Chelsea Physic Garden team up again for this year's Chelsea History Festival, which covers local, national and global history. This year includes special events marking the 300th anniversary of the death of Sir Christopher Wren, as well as punk and movie-themed tours of Chelsea, and the chance to hear from Sir Michael Palin about his latest book. 26 September-1 October

RUBENS & WOMEN: Dulwich Picture Gallery shows a different side to Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens in new exhibition Rubens & Women. View paintings and drawings demonstrating how his relationships with women — from family members to female patrons — inspired his creativity and career. 27 September-28 January

IMMERSIVE MONET: French painter Claude Monet is the latest to get the immersive art experience treatment. The Boiler House on Brick Lane immerses visitors in the great Impressionist's works, as well as re-creations of his creative atelier and his luscious gardens at Giverny. From 28 September

BRITISH ART FAIR: The 32nd edition of British Art Fair takes place at Chelsea's Saatchi Gallery, showcasing Modern British and Contemporary British Art, with 70+ exhibitors. Additionally this year, the fair includes a special exhibition, Crossing Borders: Internationalism in Modern British Art. 28 September-1 October

EMAIL IS DEAD: Intuit Mailchimp teams up with the Design Museum for a new display looking at how email will shape our future in an age of AI, and new methods of connecting online. What will email look like in the year 2070... if it still exists at all? FREE, 28 September-22 October

AFRICA WRITES: The British Library hosts Africa Writes, a biennial celebration of contemporary literature from Africa and the diaspora. It's organised by the Royal African Society and this year's programme includes writers and creators such as Kwame Dawes, Claudia Rankine, Caleb Azumah Nelson, Ibrahim Kamara, Kelechi Okafor, Magdalene Abraha, Franklyn Addo and Heather Agyepong. 29 September-1 October

BOY'S DRESS: Leading fashion historian Amy de la Haye and renowned expert collector Alasdair Peebles have teamed up to curate the Fashion & Textile Museum's new exhibition, Oh Boy! Boy's Dress 1760-1930, which opens today. The first three months of the exhibition focuses on how, aged six, boys would abandon dresses in favour of breeches, with a selection of historic garments on show. 29 September-3 March

SPIES: LIES AND DECEPTION: The Imperial War Museum unveils a major exhibition about the role, purpose and human cost of espionage, deceit and misdirection, from the first world war to the present day. 150 objects, including gadgets, official documents, art and newly digitised film and photography go on display, telling the stories of those whose actions changed the path of human conflict. FREE, 29 September-14 April

MUDLARKING SHOWCASE: Museum of London Docklands hosts a mudlarking festival, taking a closer look at some of the artefacts found in the Thames. It includes a lecture on Docklands history by mudlark Jason Sandy, and workshops where you can see some of the objects discovered and meet the people who found them. 30 September-1 October

CLASSIC CAR BOOT SALE: All manner of vintage vehicles park up at King's Cross for the autumn edition of the Classic Car Boot Sale. Ogle the wheels, while buying vintage fashion. Other entertainment includes clothing repair workshops, live DJs, and motorcycle and scooter ride-ins. 30 September-1 October

QUEER NATURE: Kew Gardens launches a brand new festival, Queer Nature, celebrating the diversity and beauty of plants and fungi. View new art installations, hear from Kew scientists, horticulturists, and writers on their individual perspectives on queerness and nature, and book ahead for themed After Hours events. 30 September-29 October

TOTALLY THAMES: We're in the final weekend of this year's Totally Thames festival, an event that celebrates London's main waterway through walks, tours, talks and other events. Dive in while you can. Until 1 October

Saturday 30 September

ANTIUNIVERSITY FESTIVAL: The Antiuniversity comes to Conway Hall for two days of workshops, talks and more, to challenge traditional academic and class hierarchies by teaching any subject, in any form, anywhere, in a way that's accessible to all. 10am

UNLIMITED SUSHI: Skip the cornflakes today, because Lambeth's Pan Asian restaurant Chino Latino is laying on a bottomless sushi brunch, featuring salmon sashimi, maki rolls, tuna nigiri, vegetable gyoza and more. 12pm-4pm (every Sat until 29 Oct)

STAMPEX: Taking place at Islington's Business Design Centre, Stampex is a collectibles event, with focus mainly on stamps, run by The Philatelic Traders' Society. It's a chance to meet and trade with other collectors and learn from experts... and this year, the world's rarest stamp is on show. Today's the final day. 10.30am-4pm

FAMILY FILM CLUB: This week's Family Film Club at Barbican Cinema is a rather special one, screening documentary Earth: One Amazing Day, narrated by Robert Redford. It takes place across 24 hours, from remote islands, to lush jungles, to underwater kingdoms. Arrive early to take part in a free pre-film workshop. 11am

DIY ART MARKET: Over 100 emerging and established artists are showcasing and selling their works at the DIY Art Market in Peckham. The event champions a diverse range of creatives, offering them somewhere affordable to sell their work — and gives the public a chance to buy products directly from the people who made them. 11am-5pm

IBIZA BRUNCH: As closing parties take place in Ibiza, The Folly offers an alternative for anyone unable to fly out there. The Ibiza Live Orchestra brunch features live reworkings of iconic dance anthems, from Fat Boy Slim to Basement Jaxx and Rudimental, with the option to add a two-course meal to your ticket. 12pm-6pm

MARYLEBONE VILLAGE: Meet Me In Marylebone Village is a one-day shopping and dining event taking place on the pedestrianised Marylebone Lane. There are pop-up stalls, roaming live music performances and free workout classes, along with special offers, deals and events in local shops, bars and restaurants. 12pm-6pm

DRAG BRUNCH: Ibiza brunch (above) not sassy enough for you? Instead, head to The Otherist for the West End Drag Brunch, to be entertained by stars from the West End stage, with the choice to add a two-course brunch and/or bottomless cocktails to your ticket. Expect singing, dancing and lip syncing galore. 1pm-4pm

QUEEN OF SOHO: Hit 'big gay odyssey' drag show Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho ends its current run at Wilton's Music Hall. Set on the eve of the vote on Section 28, a clause relating to homosexuality, it imagines an alternative universe where Margaret Thatcher ends up becoming a cabaret superstar in Soho. 3pm/7.30pm

OKTOBERFEST MASSAOKE: Oktoberfest events in London are coming thick and fast, including today's Oktoberfest Massaoke session at Between the Bridges on South Bank. Think karaoke, but on a mahoosive scale, helped along with teutonic food and lashings of beer. Prost! 6pm

LIGHTROOM LIVE: Classical pianist Yuja Wang takes over Lightroom in King's Cross for a series of intimate concerts, performing a repertoire of pieces inspired by her response to David Hockney’s artworks, which are currently on display in the space. Performances at 7pm and 9pm

HELEN BAUER: Comedian Helen Bauer brings her current show, Grand Supreme Darling Princess to Soho Theatre, celebrating the women in her life — from her mother to her best friend to Disney princesses. 9.15pm

CLUB DE FROMAGE: Cheesy disco night Club de Fromage is at the O2 Academy Islington every Saturday evening, playing pop, rock and indie tunes and power ballads, along with balloons, sing alongs, confetti cannons and other such hijinks. Tonight is a 00s vs 10s party, so expect to hear songs from the last couple of decades. Top tip: anyone in fancy dress gets to queue jump. 10.30pm

Sunday 1 October

APPLE DAY: Fulham Palace celebrates the orchard harvest with its annual Apple Day. There's a market selling autumnal-themed goods, a baking competition and tombola — plus garden games, crafts and face painting for children. The cafe is selling refreshments throughout the day. 11am-4pm

INDEPENDENT CERAMICS MARKET: In need of a new vase or some updated crockery? Get yourself to Peckham where the Independent Ceramics Market brings together more than 90 ceramics artists selling their latest wares. 11am-5pm

PHOTO WALK: Expert photography tutor Marissa Roth leads a photography walk around Kensington Gardens, where you can pick up tips and tricks and master your camera while snapping pics of the park in autumn. 12pm-2pm

GREATEST SHOWMAN: Vocal cords at the ready for this sing-a-long screening of The Greatest Showman at the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square. Fancy dress is encouraged, audience participation is essential — and there's a chance to learn some of the dance moves too. 12.30pm

MUSIC AND BEER: 50 beers and ciders from south London are poured at the Bedford in Balham today — paired with live music throughout the afternoon and evening. There's also the chance to chat to brewers, and to win prizes. From 1pm

WALTHAMSTOW WALK: Footprints of London guide Joanna Moncrieff leads a guided walk around Walthamstow, starting at the former home of William Morris, visiting a theatre hidden within a school, discovering a remnant from Robert Smirke's General Post Office, and checking out the original Walthamstow Village and its Ancient House. 2pm-4pm

WOMEN'S SUPER LEAGUE: Reigning champions Chelsea Women’s F.C. kick off their fourth consecutive title defence in the first match of the Women's Super League this Sunday. See them take on London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on home ground — with the likes of Millie Bright, Lauren James, and Jess Carter in Emma Hayes' squad, you can expect a thrilling evening of footie. Kick off 5.30pm (sponsor)

SAXOPHON QUARTETT: The Arcis Saxophon Quartett, who hail from Germany, perform at today's Sunday Concert at Conway Hall. Their repertoire includes work from from the 18th to the 21st century, including Mozart, Bach and Ligeti. 6.30pm

BIA FERRIERA: Brazillian singer and multi-instrumentalist Bia Ferriera makes her London debut in a live show at Rich Mix in Shoreditch. Expect a blend of soul, R&B and rap, combined with Brazilian musical influences such as samba and repente. 7.30pm

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