The 10 best things to do in London this weekend

When searching for the best things to do in London this weekend, it’s hard not to end up more confused and indecisive than when you started. While it’s never a bad idea to secure a booking at one of the best restaurants in the capital, spend an evening in one of the latest innovative bars on the scene or even explore an iconic London attraction, we’re always on the lookout for new, exciting pop-ups, openings and events. Each week, we get the inside track on exciting things to do in London for the upcoming weekend to help us discover a new area of the city or explore a new address in a neighbourhood we thought we’d already uncovered.

Things to do in London this weekend (16 - 18 October)

1. Settle in for a night at the opera

16, 17, 22, 23, 29, 31 October

Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Angel's Bone arrives at the London Coliseum following its UK premiere at Manchester’s Aviva Studio in spring. The run is part of the English National Opera's dual-centre model, bringing opera to audiences in both Greater Manchester and London – with productions shaped by the venues in which they’re performed. Angel’s Bone tells the story of Mr and Mrs X.E., a desperate couple longing for a better life who discover two wounded angels in their garden. However, what begins as an act of compassion takes a darker turn, highlighting human greed and socially relevant issues.

Address: London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4ES
Website: eno.org

2. Indulge in King’s Cross

Open now

Argentine bakery Madre is the latest business to take residency in King’s Cross – and the treats are well worth making time for. The coffee shop at Fabrica X is part of The Mills Fabrica, a platform that supports innovation across techstyle and agrifood, with a focus on sustainability and social impact. Think small-batch, indulgent bites that pair fabulously well with their usual coffee offering.

Address: The Mills Fabrica, 36-40 York Way, London N1 9AB
Website: themillsfabrica.com

3. Enjoy a tipple somewhere new

Open now

A handful of new drinking dens have opened across the capital recently, just in time for cosy autumn evenings spent nursing a pint (or stronger concoction, should you so choose). The Last Exchange is the city’s newest pub, having opened its doors in Exchange Square, a stone’s throw from Liverpool Street Station. The team is determined to ‘pub properly’, with all the tipples you can imagine and a menu of elevated classics. Sip on a pint of The City Scribbler, the pub’s own house beer, and feel the stresses of city life fizzle away. Elsewhere, Bar Buah has started welcoming thirsty foodies at The White Horse, Peckham. Ex-Oranj chef Elies Salvà Ruiz de Villegas is in charge, so expect dishes such as crab caldereta and oxtail croquetas to go down very well with a glass of wine.

Address: The Last Exchange, 11 Exchange Square, Broadgate, London EC2A 2BR; Bar Buah at The White Horse Peckham
Website: publicanestate.com; whitehorsepeckham.co.uk

4. Have a laugh at the Leicester Square Theatre

18 October

Enjoy an evening of laughs as man of many talents – comedian, writer, director and novelist among them – Andy Hamilton takes to the stage at the Leicester Square Theatre this Sunday. Cackle away as he explores the wonders and the weaknesses of human memory, touching on the nights he’ll never forget along the way.

Address: Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, London WC2H 7BX
Website: leicestersquaretheatre.com

5. Sip and slosh for Oktoberfest

16 - 17 October

BREW//LDN goes Bavarian for its first-ever Oktoberfest celebration this weekend, uniting 18 breweries in the same space for two days of beer-sloshing. More than 35 beers are available on tap at the site, found at Riverside East in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, plus a live oompah band, DJs and street food stalls.

Address: Riverside East, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 5 Thornton St, London E20 2AD
Website: brewldn.com

6. Pick up affordable pieces in Battersea

Aesthetes and art lovers come together under one roof as the Affordable Art Fair Battersea returns for its autumn edition this week. The fair offers an accessible introduction to collecting with thousands of works priced under £10,000 across multiple spaces – with more than 100 galleries participating.

Address: Battersea Evolution, Battersea Park, Queenstown Road, London SW11 4NJ
Website: affordableartfair.com

7. Celebrate six years of Kol

18 October

Celebrate six years of Michelin-starred Kol, recognised as one of the best restaurants in the world, as the team throw a one-night-only celebration this Sunday. Chef and founder Santiago Lastra is transforming the restaurant into a dynamic culinary festival as four of the city’s most celebrated chefs, including Margo Henderson and Jeremy Lee, interpret iconic Mexican dishes in their own way. Tickets cost £135 per person and include a glass of biodynamic wine Gut Oggau, five dishes, and a cocktail.

Address: KOL, 9 Seymour Street, London W1H 7BA
Website: makeitmarylebone.co.uk

8. Experience the art of French patisserie

Open now

Claridge’s Art Café has been one of London’s sleekest addresses for a sweet treat since it opened its doors. However, following a rebranding that sees Thibault Hauchard front and centre of the operation, there’s never been a better time to check out the selection on offer. Think artisan coffees, boiled eggs with truffle cheese soldiers and avo toast in the morning, before heartier lunch dishes and an array of spectacular patisserie options until close.

Address: Art Café By Thibault Hauchard, Brook's Mews, London W1K 4HR
Website: maybourne.com

9. Find hidden treasure at a vintage market

Saturdays until 28 November; 11am - 5pm

As if its array of viral street food stalls, thrift shops and various secret hideouts weren’t reason enough to visit, Camden Market welcomes a new open-air market on Saturdays this autumn in collaboration with Bootyfull Car Boot. Expect curated stalls filled with vintage fashion, retro accessories, rare vinyl records, original art and jewellery – or sell your own wares by securing a stall for £40.

Address: Market Place, Hawley Wharf, NW1
Website: bootyfullcarboot.com

10. Get soulful at Soho’s latest live music series

13, 21, 28 October

Where better to spend an autumn evening than up high in one of the city’s glitziest rooftop bars? On select midweek nights throughout the rest of October, Flute at Broadwick Soho presents a series of live music events in collaboration with Johnnie Walker. Savour a range of limited-edition cocktails as performers including Madeleine (13 October) and Kianja (21 October) bring the soul above the colourful chaos of Soho.

Address: Flute Bar, 7th floor, 20 Broadwick Street, London W1F 8TH
Website: broadwicksoho.com