Things To Do This Weekend In London: 7-8 September 2024

Boat, cocktail, podcast, mural and Harry Styles festivals, and LOADS more

All weekend

CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL: All manner of vintage vessels moor up at St Katharine Docks (next to the Tower of London) for the Classic Boat Festival. Even if you don't know your port from your starboard, it's a fascinating spectacle, with around 40 preserved vessels on display, including Dunkirk Little Ships. It's bigger than ever this year, expanding into the west basin so that larger vessels can take part. FREE, 7-8 September

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UNLIMITED FESTIVAL: Work by disabled and D/deaf artists, companies and performers forms the programme of Unlimited Festival at Southbank Centre. Performance, dance, literature, comedy, music, visual art and more are all on the programme -- which includes some free events. 4-8 September

PARALYMPICS SCREENINGS: An epic summer of sports comes to an end with the Paralympics closing ceremony on Sunday. But before then, wheelchair tennis, para swimming and wheelchair basketball are among the competitions happening this weekend -- take yourself along to one of these Paralympic screenings in London to keep up to date with the action. Until 8 September

GDIF: This is the final weekend of this year's Greenwich + Docklands International Festival, with free outdoor theatre performances taking place around east London. Dancing City takes over Stratford, and A Ballad For Thamesmead is performed at the Thamesmead Clock Tower, among other events. FREE, until 8 September

LAST CHANCE: It's a bumper weekend for exhibitions and theatre shows closing in London. This is your final chance to see all of the following:

TAYLOR SWIFT: The V&A's free trail dedicated to singer-songwriter Taylor Swift shows off some of her outfits and instruments at 13 different locations throughout the museum, including her costume from The Man music video, and the glittering dress she wore to announce 2022 album Midnights. FREE, until 8 September

WIZARD OF OZ: We're off to see the Wizard... but only until Sunday when the current production of the Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium -- starring JLS member Aston Merrygold as The Tin Man and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West -- ends. Until 8 September

ENZO MARI: The Design Museum celebrates the life and work of 20th century Italian designer Enzo Mari. His projects ranged from furniture, children's books and games to product and graphic design, and more conceptual installation-based works, and the exhibition gives an insight into his research and creative process. Until 8 September

MYTHS TO MANGA: The inaugural exhibition at the Young V&A, Japan: Myths to Manga is a family-friendly look at Japanese culture, including how landscape and folklore have influenced art, technology and design in the country. Sylvanian Families, Hello Kitty and Studio Ghibli characters are among the familiar faces which feature. Until 8 September

SIX LIVES: The National Portrait Gallery's exhibition focuses on Henry VIII's queens. Six Lives features Tudor paintings by Hans Holbein the Younger and contemporary photography by Hiroshi Sugimoto, chronicling the representation of Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Katherine Parr throughout history and popular culture. Until 8 September

LONDON PODCAST FESTIVAL: Headphones at the ready for London Podcast Festival at Kings Place, which sees both mainstream and niche podcasts filmed in front of a live audience, with some of the recordings streamed online too. The Empire Film Podcast and The Guilty Feminist are some of the big name shows taking place this weekend, along with offerings on comedy, food and politics. 5-15 September

LONDON MURAL FESTIVAL: Organised by Global Street Art, the London Mural Festival returns to the capital’s streets, with over 100 murals to explore. The programme includes street art tours and calligraphy workshops, as well as those new artworks to track down. 5-29 September

TOTALLY THAMES: Month-long riverine festival Totally Thames gets into its stride, with an impressive events programme spanning exhibitions, performances, art installations, boat trips, walks, talks and more. Highlights this weekend include an installation dubbed "Canary Wharf's smallest gay bar", and kayaking taster sessions at Chelsea Kayak Club. Until 30 September

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Saturday 7 September

LIGHT AND LAND: All aspects of outdoor photography, from traditional landscapes to architecture and street, wildlife and documentary, are on show at Light and Land, a free photography exhibition at Mall Galleries which closes today. It's organised by the photographic holiday tour company of the same name, to celebrate its 30th anniversary, with photos taken by tour leaders featured. FREE, 10am-5pm

MARYLEBONE WALK: Take a guided walk around the Marylebone Lane area, beginning at the new art installation The Elm Leaf at the south end of the street -- inspired by London's oldest surviving elm tree which can still be seen nearby. Learn about the area's history, from a mention in the Doomsday Book, to becoming a royal hunting ground. 10.30am-12pm

OLYMPIC YEARS WALK: While the Paralympics are going on in Paris, learn about London's own Olympic history. Hammersmith BID offers a guided walk starting at Shepherd's Bush Market and focusing on when the 1908 Olympics were hosted in White City. 11am-12pm

BLACK SATURDAY: The London Archives offers a walking tour starting at Tower Hill, marking the 84th anniversary of the start of the Blitz. Find out how London and its residents coped with 'Black Saturday', when 348 German bombers and 617 fighter planes flew up the Thames to attack the London Docks, resulting in the deaths of 430 Londoners. 11am-1pm

HARRY FEST: One for Harry Styles fans: head to Dockside Vaults in St Katharine Docks for HarryFest, a one-day celebration of the former X-Factor contestant and One Direction singer. Organisers promise Harry-Oke, a scavenger hunt, prizes for best dressed, themed food and drink... but no appearances from the main man himself, unfortunately. 11.3oam-9pm

CREEKSIDE FESTIVAL: Grassroots music station and event space AAJA holds the second edition of multi-venue music festival Creekside Festival. It takes place across 15+ venues around Deptford with Antz Boogie, Dwarde, Harrison Guyett and Freshta among the artists taking part. From 12pm

TAYLOR SWIFT BRUNCH: Boxpark Wembley offers a Taylor Swift themed bottomless brunch featuring DJs, live music performances, a glitter station, bracelet making and more. Tickets includes 90 minutes of bottomless drinks plus a £10 food voucher. 12pm-4pm

COCKTAILS IN THE CITY: For the final time this year, boozy festival Cocktails in the City takes over Bedford Square Gardens. Drink your way around pop-ups from 20 of London's bars (alright, maybe don't have a drink at every one) and take part in cocktail masterclasses, or enjoy live music, a silent disco and other entertainment. 12pm-10pm

CAMDEN INSPIRE: Celebrate the borough of Camden, both past and present, at Camden Inspire. Local artists, musicians, comedians and thought leaders host performances, talks and workshops across Buck Street and Stucley Place. 12pm-10pm

LONDON POLE CHAMPIONSHIPS: Pole dancing competition the London Pole Championships takes place at Artsdepot in North Finchley. Watch shows of musicality, strength, stamina and flexibility featuring both amateurs and professionals, and see who will be crowned the winner in each category, including beginners and doubles. 1pm

LOUD WOMEN FEST: Bands from the USA, Indonesia, France, Ireland and the UK are among those on the line-up at Loud Women Fest, a live music festival showcasing new female and non-binary talent rising up from the grassroots and alternative music scene. It's been described as "the antidote to male-heavy festival lineups" and takes place at Rich Mix in Shoreditch. 1pm

SCISSOR SISTERS: Part of SE Fest, a celebration of new theatre, see play Scissor Sisters performed at the Bridge House Theatre in Penge. It's based on the true story of a murder committed by two sisters in Dublin in 2005, one of whom is now free while the other is still in prison. 3pm/7.30pm

ROCKY HORROR SHOW: Do the Time Warp again at the Dominion Theatre, as the Rocky Horror Show is in town for just two weeks, with Jason Donovan in the role of mad scientist/seductive crossdressing alien, Dr. Frank-N-Furter. 5pm/8.30pm

Sunday 8 September

ANTIQUES FAIR: Like clockwork, the monthly Adams Antiques Fair rolls back into town, bringing together 120+ exhibitors at the Royal Horticultural Halls in Westminster, selling antique jewellery, silver, decorative pieces and collectables. Note that a queue usually forms before the doors open, so arrive early if you want first dibs. 10am-4.30pm

FROM HERE ON: Catch a thought-provoking free performance that crosses borders, cultures and generations at Liverpool Street’s Exchange Square. From Here On is co-created by two award-winning theatre companies -- Good Chance (The Jungle, The Walk with Little Amal) and Gecko (Kin) -- with 40 young people from across the globe. Exploring displacement, movement and searching for a new home, it carries an urgent message about children’s right to safety. FREE, 11am/1.15pm/3.30pm/5.40pm -- also showing at the same times on 6 September (sponsor)

CHILLI FEST: Things get fiery at Fulham Palace, which holds its annual Chilli Fest. There's a chilli eating competition for the brave, as well as stallholders selling chilli plants and chilli-based products, live musics, talks about the chilli plant and more. 11am-3pm

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SUPERTRI LONDON: Get free tickets to watch professional athletes taking on the Supertri London, a triathlon taking place in the area around West India Quay. The tough course sees athletes race 3 x swim-bike-run without a break, the short distances meaning constant action, making it a lively one to watch. FREE, from 12.05pm

AT THE MOVIES: The 17-piece LP Swing Orchestra is at Cadogan Hall performing a programme of music from the golden age of movies. Enjoy live renditions of compositions by Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and George Gershwin, which have featured in James Bond, Disney and MGM films. 3pm

TOMORROW'S TECHNOLOGY: Why aren't we driving around in flying cars, or with jet packs? Today's Ethical Matters event at Conway Hall discusses why the futuristic technology which was predicted in the past hasn't become a reality yet. Hear from Nicole Kobie, author of The Long History of the Future, about the scientists and innovators who first brought these ideas to life and have struggled to make them work since. 3pm-4.30pm

BOAT OPEN DAY: There's a free open day at the Golden Hinde, which is drydocked near Southwark Cathedral. For one day only, as part of Heritage Open Days, you can explore the ship for free, while enjoying live music performances and family-friendly historical activities. Come evening, there's a silent disco for adults only. FREE, 3pm-10pm

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BICYCLE-POWERED THEATRE: Cycling theatre troupe The Handlebards park up at Dulwich Picture Gallery for an open-air performance of Shakespeare's A Comedy of Errors. Take along a chair or blanket to sit on, pack a picnic and sit back to enjoy the show. 7pm-9pm

CHINEKE!: Britain’s only orchestra of Black and ethnically diverse musicians, Chineke! takes the spotlight at the BBC Proms, performing Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique, as well as Duke Ellington’s jazzed-up take on Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker. 7.30pm

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