The best things to do this weekend in London

New Shoreditch cocktail bar FlipDog is bringing the loggerhead method to drink preparation, with a red-hot iron poker plunged into the concoction to boost flavour – the hottest spot of the week indeed. There's serious expertise behind the bar, with one of the world's best bars, Tayer + Elementary, among past credits, and the venue is split across two floors to accommodate demand – this one is definitely looking like a big hit.

The London Gaming Market, the capital's biggest event for retro video games and classic board games, returns to Bloomsbury this Sunday. The recurring fair provides a dedicated space for collectors and enthusiasts to explore a vast assortment of original titles, rare collectibles, and unique gaming merchandise, serving as a comprehensive celebration of gaming history and nostalgia.

The free Urban Elephant Festival returns this Saturday for its fifth anniversary, transforming local spaces across Walworth Town Hall Square, Sayer Street, and Castle Square from 12pm to 6pm with a vibrant mix of street entertainers, fitness sessions, and family-friendly performances. A central highlight of the day is the official unveiling of the area's new square at 1pm, marking a major milestone in the neighbourhood's ongoing urban redevelopment.

Big Fish Little Fish are hosting an under-the-sea-themed family rave at Hackney's Night Tales, featuring a tech house set by DJ Terry Francis. This inclusive event allows the post-rave generation to introduce their children to club culture within a safe environment equipped with bubbles, foam, soft play, and a licensed bar, among other fun activities. It's designed primarily for children aged 0–8 but open to all ages.

A new immersive exhibition uses 360° projections and life-size replicas to bring 9th-century Viking history and mythology to life. Visitors of all ages can engage with interactive displays, including ceremonial sword handling, the legendary Yggdrasil World Tree, and VR experiences, during the 90-minute tour. The unique display combines historical education with modern entertainment.

Led by designer Rozi aka the Crafty Dyke, these monthly workshops at the Vagina Museum offer a fully guided environment for participants to master new creative skills. The sessions provide a welcoming, communal atmosphere where attendees can explore camp aesthetics and connect with others while crafting unique handmade items.

One of the landmark exhibitions of the year, “Tracey Emin: A Life in Art” has launched at Tate Modern. Offering a major retrospective of the ground-breaking artist's four-decade career, it brings together iconic works like “My Bed” alongside rarely seen pieces across painting, neon, textiles, film, and installation, as well as newer works. The show charts Emin's confessional practice and deeply personal approach to art, exploring how she has continually transformed her own experiences into powerful reflections on love, trauma, and healing.

Marking 50 years of Aardman, the Young V&A in East London is hosting “Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends”, a major exhibition celebrating the studio's stop-motion legacy. Featuring more than 150 items – including original puppets, props, sketches, and concept art – it lifts the lid on the craft behind the beloved characters while tracing the wider history of stop-motion through pieces from the V&A collection. Designed with families in mind, the exhibition also includes hands-on activities.

The Mundo Pixar Experience lands in Wembley Park (from 13 February). Set inside a purpose-built space the size of a small aircraft hangar, the immersive exhibition brings 14 Pixar worlds to life – from shrinking down in Andy's Room in “Toy Story” to stepping onto the “Monsters, Inc.” Scare Floor and grabbing a snap with Lightning McQueen at Flo's Café. Expect scenes from “Inside Out 2,”, “Coco", “Up” and more, complete with cinematic soundtracks and themed scents.

With country music's growing mainstream appeal, line dancing has become a fun and social way to let loose, and Lil' Nashville has established itself as the home of line dancing in London. Weekly one-hour beginner classes take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays for ages 12+, while Sunday sessions cater to intermediate dancers looking to refine technique and tackle more dynamic choreography. After each class, the dance floor stays open for social dancing, with food and drinks rounding out the full Lil' Nashville experience.

A new weekly farmers market is launching in Peckham on 24 January at The Belham Primary School, serving the Peckham, Dulwich, and Camberwell area. More than 25 traders will offer seasonal produce, meat, seafood, cheese, baked goods, preserves, and plants. With street food and live music, it promises to be as much a social hang-out as a place to shop.

The Royal Air Force Museum is launching a series of hands-on, family-friendly workshops where children can build models of iconic aircraft like the Supermarine Spitfire and the infamous Messerschmitt. The Airfix Model Club runs across ten weekends in 2026, guiding young engineers through each project. Participants receive an engineer's licence to track their progress, unlock a mystery model, and enjoy discounts on Airfix kits in the museum shop.

Over at the British Museum, you can dive into “Hawai'i: a kingdom crossing oceans” – the museum's first major exhibition of 2026. At its core is the tragic 1824 London journey of King Liholiho and Queen Kamāmalu, retold through objects, artworks, and first-hand accounts. By pairing historic pieces with contemporary Kānaka ʻŌiwi voices, the show balances beauty with critical reflection on how and why these objects now reside in a London gallery.

On every second Sunday of the month, the Vagina Museum in Bethnal Green hosts the Writer's Gym, a meetup for budding storytellers. Taking place in the museum café, the workshop offers a chilled, supportive environment with fresh prompts each session to encourage playful experimentation and creativity. Open to all genres and abilities, it welcomes anyone from complete beginners to more seasoned writers.

Wes Anderson fans have a solid reason to swing by the Design Museum this weekend, as the director's archive of around 600 props, costumes and sketches goes on show. The big draw is the three-metre-wide model of the Grand Budapest Hotel, which looks just as sweet in person as it does on screen. You can also check out the “Asteroid City” vending machines, Margot Tenenbaum's fur coat from “The Royal Tenenbaums” and plenty of tiny stop motion pieces from “Fantastic Mr Fox” and “Isle of Dogs”. It is expected to get busy, so booking ahead is advised.

“Dark Secrets: The Esoteric Exhibition” is an immersive exploration of the occult, folklore, and the supernatural, featuring over 1,000 rare artefacts across 27 themed rooms. From cursed dolls and voodoo fetishes to the “Malleus Maleficarum” and Jimi Hendrix's jacket, the display weaves together history, myth, and pop culture. Set in the atmospheric tunnels of The Vaults beneath Waterloo Station, it offers a theatrical deep dive into humanity's enduring fascination with the unknown.

Paddington Bear is coming to the stage this November in a brand-new musical at London's Savoy Theatre. Featuring original songs by Tom Fletcher of McFly and directed by Luke Sheppard of “& Juliet” fame, the show brings the beloved story of the marmalade-loving bear from Peru to life. Suitable for audiences aged four and up, “Paddington the Musical” promises a heart-warming adventure for everyone.

Tate Modern's “Nigerian Modernism” brings together over 50 artists who transformed Nigerian art during the years around independence, breaking with colonial traditions and forging new identities. The show traces the networks connecting Nigerian cities like Zaria, Lagos, and Enugu with European art centres, highlighting collectives such as the Zaria Art Society and Mbari Artists' and Writers' Club. With works spanning painting, sculpture, and more, the exhibition underlines Nigeria's bold artistic innovation and its enduring influence on global modernism.

The Design Museum's “Blitz: the club that shaped the 80s” exhibition explores the short-lived but iconic Covent Garden nightclub that helped define a decade. Featuring over 250 rarely seen objects, the show includes Spandau Ballet's original synthesiser, handwritten lyrics, and striking outfits worn by the “Blitz Kids.” The exhibition highlights how figures like Boy George, Visage, and designers Stephen Jones and Michele Clapton transformed music, fashion, and media forever.

The David Bowie Centre at V&A East Storehouse is the permanent home of the music icon's vast archive, featuring over 90,000 items covering his lengthy career, including costumes, instruments, diaries, lyrics, and photographs. Visitors can access a working archive through the V&A's Order an Object service and enjoy curated displays, film screenings, and installations celebrating Bowie's cultural legacy.

On the third Sunday of each month, Chiswick transforms into Cheesewick for London's only dedicated cheese market. Held at Old Market Place, it features over 200 cheeses and gourmet treats from UK cheesemongers, with seasonal specials and new traders keeping the selection fresh. Run by local women, the market champions community spirit and supports charities through regular donations.

“Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” a prequel to the popular Netflix series, is making waves in London's West End as a major theatrical hit. The play, unfolding the backstory of the series' villain Henry Creel, is co-directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, and has been praised for capturing the essence of “Stranger Things” as well as putting on an astounding visual feast.

Head on a Greek journey to the island of Skopelos for an unforgettable evening of dining and dancing at this “Mamma Mia”-inspired event. As the sun sets, discover yourself at Nikos' family-run taverna, feasting on a tasty four-course Greek meal, including dishes like Greek mezze, salad, confit lamb shoulder, and slow-cooked beef with garlic-roasted potatoes. A live band will play iconic ABBA tracks throughout the night, ensuring the dance floor stays lively with their best hits. 

Our event calendar highlights the top things to do in London.