Things To Do This Weekend In London: 8-9 February 2020

All weekend

CHINESE ARTS: Performing arts festival Chinese Arts Now returns to London, with a programme of performances by British-Chinese artists. Our picks this weekend include film and live performance Queering Now, and kids' theatre show Boh Boh's New Friends.Various locations and prices, book ahead, 3-23 February

STEPPING INTO STORIES: Book-loving youngsters are in for a treat at Stepping Into Stories, a literary festival in Herne Hill. Talks, workshops and an open mic night cover poetry, illustration, creative writing and other crafts, with special appearances by former Children’s Laureate and award-winning author and illustrator, Chris Riddell and his daughter, illustrator Katy Riddell. Station Hall Herne Hill, £6 per event, book ahead, 4-9 February

RAINBOW ART: It's the first weekend of a very colourful new exhibition, which gives visitors a chance to wander through 100 different shades. Slices of Time by Emmanuelle Moureaux consists of layers of dangling numbers, representing now, the past and a the future. We expect it'll be very busy this weekend, so recommend getting there early. NOW Gallery (Greenwich Peninsula), free entry, just turn up, 5 February-19 April

HACKNEY FLEA MARKET: Have a rummage through stock belonging to more than 30 traders at Hackney Flea Market, and see what bargains you can find. The specialist vintage traders sell a wide range of bric-a-brac, furniture, homeware, and retro collectibles. Abney Public Hall, free, just turn up, 8-9 February

ELEPHANT AND CASTLE: As plans abound for a new Walworth Library and Southwark Heritage Centre, Southwark Council hosts a free weekend of painting. The family-friendly workshop focuses on items from the Cuming Collection, resulting in some giant group paintings on the theme of mythology. 145-147 Walworth Road, free, just turn up, 8-9 February

CHINESE NEW YEAR: Martial arts demonstrations, musical storytelling and lion dancing are all part of the (slightly late) Chinese New Year Family Festival. The free weekend aims to introduce younger Londoners to Chinese culture, at a venue that's close to the location of London's original Chinatown. Museum of London Docklands, free, just turn up, 8-9 February

ORCHID FESTIVAL: It's the first weekend of this year's Orchid Festival, which sees the Princess of Wales Conservatory taken over with beautiful, exotic flowers. Indonesia is the theme, so look out for plants from the archipelago, along with Indonesian wildlife models made from flowers. Kew Gardens, included in admission, book ahead, 8 February-8 March

ROYAL PARKS: It's the final week of this fascinating exhibition looking at the history of London's Royal Parks. Paintings, drawings, photos and other memorabilia track the green spaces, from use as hunting grounds by Henry VIII through to modern rock concerts. Garden Museum (Lambeth), included in admission, just turn up, until 9 February

VAULT FESTIVAL: The fun continues at Vault Festival, with all manner of performing arts shows taking place beneath Waterloo station. Our picks this weekend include Lily Bevan's Character Monologues, cabaret show Slam Minutes and TED-talk-meets-theatre-show Mighty. Waterloo, various prices, book ahead, until March

Saturday 8 February

MAGNIFICAT: Southwark Cathedral hosts a celebration of all things feline, with five different presentations covering everything from the domestic moggy to the mighty lion. Writer Kimberlie Hamilton shares tales of feisty felines, and wildlife specialist Sara Evans discusses the plight of wild lions. Southwark Cathedral, £15/£12.50, book ahead, 10am-5pm

BLOOMSBURY ARCHITECTURE: Join The London Ambler for a wander around Bloomsbury, looking at the architecture of the local area. See a complete cross-section of the area, from 17th century mansions to 20th century urban grids, with focus on the well-known and hidden green spaces. Bloomsbury Square Garden, £12/£10, book ahead, 10.30am-12.30pm

OUR DISGUSTING PLANET: At Our Disgusting Planet, the Vagina Museum aims to bust taboos and normalise the disgusting through frank, funny and filthy comedy. Headed up by scientists Belle Taylor and Charlotte Mykura, the evening looks at all manner of unexpected and unusual topics. Vagina Museum (Camden Market), £9/£7, book ahead, 7.30pm-9.30pm

CLASSICAL VAUXHALL: Three venues, three concerts, three days. That's the crux of Classical Vauxhall, a series of events which aim to make people think differently about classical music, and do away with the ceremony of traditional concerts. Tonight's the final concert, taking place at The Garden Museum, with a performance by Adam Walker and Fiachra Garvey. The Garden Museum (Lambeth), £22.15, book ahead, 8pm-10.30pm

CLUB DE FROMAGE: Cheesy disco night Club de Fromage takes to the ice for a 90s vs 00s party. Dance and skate the night away to tunes from both decades. Fancy dress encouraged, as long as it doesn't hamper your skating efforts. Alexandra Palace, £9-£10, book ahead, 8.30pm

Sunday 9 February

LONDON WINTER WANDER: Pick a route through London and wander it at your own pace, ogling landmarks while raising money for a charity of your choice. Sound good? Then sign up for the London Winter Wander. There are four different start points, located in Hampstead, Battersea, Whitechapel and Bermondsey, all ending in Trafalgar Square. Various locations, £10, book ahead, from 9am

JAZZ JAM: February's NYJO Jazz Jam is headlined by vocalist and composer Jessica Radcliffe, followed by an open mic session where anyone can perform. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon of free music — jazz fans, casual passers by and families all welcome. Foyles Charing Cross Road, free, book ahead, 12pm-3pm

AFTERNOON POEMS: The Keats House Poetry Ambassadors host a free performance of poetry readings, looking forward to spring, with a focus on health and wellbeing.Keats House (Hampstead), free, book ahead, 2pm-3pm

WITCH HUNTS: Thought witch hunting was a thing of the past? Think again. Kirsty Brimelow QC and author and campaigner Syd Moore join forces to expose the reality of belief in witchcraft today, and the resulting harmful practices. Find out about techniques use to 'discover' witches today, hear about the legal perspective, and some real-life cases. Conway Hall (Holborn), £8/£5, book ahead, 3pm-4.30pm

PAINT LONDON: Have a go at painting your own version of the London skyline. No experience is needed, and all materials are provided, as is the guidance of a qualified artist. A themed playlist plays as you paint, and drinks are available to buy from the bar. Effra Social (Brixton), £29.99, book ahead, 3pm-5pm

CRAFT FAIR: Solo Craft Fair holds its first event in Catford, launching a new monthly craft market. Browse 40 craft stalls across three rooms, selling beauty products, jewellery, accessories, artworks and more. Ninth Life (Catford), free entry, just turn up, 12pm-5pm

PRINCE HARRY: In a somewhat timely manner, One Of A Kind Comedy presents a new comedy musical, looking at where Prince Harry might be in 2084. The show casts him as the leader of a rebel faction of redheaded outcasts, while Meghan Markle's been kidnapped. Round Table (Leicester Square), £5, book ahead, 9pm-10pm

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