Things To Do
Guide
Things to do in London This Week: October 5 – 11
Looking for things to do in London this week? We've got you covered
If you’re in the English capital and looking for ways to pass the time, look no further. Whether you’re after a Monday night gig, a midweek matinee or an activity to keep the kids busy after school on Friday, this weekly guide is packed with fun activities to enjoy with your friends, family or on your own. Highlights from this week 5 October – 11 October) include new hits on the West End, up-and-coming comedy stars, and plenty of fun events for the entire family.
Best London Events this Week
Get your fill of Misfits Boxing thrills
- Where? Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, E203HB.
- When: Saturday 10 October
Comedian, actor, content creator and father of four, headliner Dapper Laughs (Daniel O’Reilly) declared he’d just had a few weeks’ notice before the big night. But for a man who often speaks about the inner demons he’s fought through boxing, he’s nothing if not game. Catch him this Saturday as he faces “not just a pretty face”, reality star Joey Essex, in another pulse-pumping Misfits Boxing spectacle at London’s Copper Box. Be sure to get there early to catch the Heavyweight Boxing Title fight between Chase DeMoor and Plínio Cruz, among several more, in a crossover boxing bill bound to deliver sports thrills galore.
Get tickets to Misfits Boxing at Copper Box Arena
Explore the Senegalese soul with Baaba Maal
- Where? Blue Note London, Saint Martin’s Lane, London, WC2N4HX.
- When: 4-6 October
Since his seminal 1989 release with Mansour Seck, Djam Leelii, Baaba Maal has taken Senegalese music to the world, his entrancing vocals and winding guitar melodies blending tradition with an insatiable spirit of exploration. Across his decades-long adventure, he’s joined folk-rockers Mumford & Sons on ‘There Will Be Time’ and expanded the cinematic universe of Black Panther and Wakanda Forever. Join him on Monday and Tuesday this week with his brand-new quintet as he sets off on a mesmerising journey across West African fusion and jazz, guided by melodies from his recent record Being and beyond.
Get tickets to Baaba Maal at Blue Note London
Roll in peerless indie sleaze with The Strokes
- Where? The O2, Peninsula Square, Greenwich, London, SE10 0DX,
- When: 6 & 7 October
In one fell swoop, 2001’s wildly influential Is This It, The Strokes defined the indie sound of the Y2K generation and reignited the rock flame for a legion of bands who came in their wake. Twenty-five years and a handful of albums later — including 2020’s Grammy Award-winning The New Abnormal — the garage rock- and post-punk-indebted New Yorkers released their seventh LP, Reality Awaits, at a time when the ‘00s sound and indie sleaze nostalgia have hit a new peak. Catch them this Tuesday and Wednesday as they take The O2 stage to reclaim their crown and launch headfirst into a new era of continuously expanding indie reign.
Get tickets to The Strokes at The O2
See London from above with an iconic Chimney Lift
- Where? Battersea Power Station, Circus Rd W, Nine Elms, London SW11 8DD.
- When: Ongoing
The Battersea Power Station is one of London’s most eye-catching landmarks, today sitting at the heart of a bustling new riverside neighbourhood. But how did it all really come to life? Find out at the striking Art Deco Turbine Hall A, where The Exhibition gathers a host of historic and hands-on treats, including the original 1920s office of the station’s architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and an interactive illustrated wall delving into the icon’s construction. The experience culminates with a fascinating ascent 109 metres high, to the top of the north-west chimney, where the breathtaking London skyline awaits — complete with a bird’s eye view of the Power Station itself, of course.
Get tickets for the Chimney Life at Battersea Power Station
Theatre & Comedy
Laugh in the face of misery with Gianmarco Soresi
- Where? Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX & The London Palladium, Argyll Street, W1F 7TF.
- When: 6 & 9 October
Misery Loves the UK, according to straight-talking stand-up Gianmarco Soresi — and he’d surely love company when he lands in the British capital this week for a series of live performances he’s got planned across the pond. Catch him this Tuesday at the Leicester Square Theatre as he tackles madly animated, nostalgia-soaked comedy in his intimate show Theater Adult before letting rip in a comical double treat at The London Palladium this Friday, taking in relationship realities and sociopolitical observations courtesy of The Misery Loves Tour. If you can’t beat it, join it.
Get tickets to Gianmarco Soresi at Leicester Square Theatre
Gear up for Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody
- Where? Underbelly Boulevard Soho, 6 Walker’s Court, London, W1F 0BT.
- When: 7 October – 1 November
Following the steamy secret romance of two rival hockey stars, the Heated Rivalry TV phenom kicked off last year, with a hotly anticipated new season coming in April 2027. Luckily for starving global fans of the series, the off-Broadway hit Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody quickly glided in to fill the gap. Score big this week as Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov skate from the small screen to the small central London stage and live their years-long romance amidst feel-good bops, nonsensical time jumps and mighty cameos by the likes of “Ilya’s Ass”. Brace for a blistering impact.
Get tickets to Heated Rivalry at Underbelly Boulevard
Relive an extraordinary 16th-century tale at Martin Guerre
- Where? The Old Vic, 103 The Cut, London SE1 8NB.
- When: 1-31 October
A remarkable story based on a real-life historical figure. An Olivier Award-winning musical. A fresh dramatic identity: grippingly reimagined with new music, lyrics and folk-laced arrangements by the creators of Les Misérables and Miss Saigon, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Martin Guerre opened last week for an exclusive preview of semi-staged performances directed by Matthew Warchus. Immersively presented at The Old Vic In the Round, this daring revival navigates deceit and impossible love in 16th-century France through a sophisticated creative lens. “We know it’s dangerous,” says Schönberg. “That’s what we like.”
Get tickets to Martin Guerre at The Old Vic
Witness love and loss at a timeless Cherry Orchard
- Where? The Harold Pinter Theatre, Panton Street, London, SW1Y 4DN.
- When: 3 October 2026 – 9 January 2027
Written in 1903, Anton Chekhov’s last play and one of the great classics of the theatre canon moves contemporary audiences with masterful skill, sending quiet emotional shockwaves with the aristocracy’s futile attempts to maintain its privilege in a changing world. Much like The Cherry Orchard’s famous heroine, Lyubov Ranevskaya, who returns to her childhood estate after years abroad, the BAFTA and Olivier Award-winning Kristin Scott Thomas (Electra, Slow Horses) returns to London’s theatreland for this new adaptation of the play by Conor McPherson directed by Ian Rickson (Uncle Vanya, Jerusalem). Will she embrace the future or give in to a fast-crumbling past?
Get tickets to Cherry Orchard at The Harold Pinter Theatre
Make the most out of life — and death — at Beetlejuice The Musical
- Where: Prince Edward Theatre, Old Compton Street, London, W1D 4HS.
- When: Six days a week
Are you possessed with Tim Burton’s ‘80s immortal comedy classic? Get ready to juice up your life this week, as the hit Broadway stage adaptation of the film has just crossed over to the West End. Enter broody, black-clad teen Lydia Deetz, who has just moved into a home haunted by newly-deads Adam and Barbara Maitland — and she’s the only one who can actually see them. The unfortunate couple decide to invoke bio-exorcist, aka the “ghost with the most”, Beetlejuice to drive the Deetzes out, unleashing side-splitting chaos and calypso-fuelled catastrophy. Let the haunting begin.
Get tickets to Beetlejuice The Musical at Prince Edward Theatre
Music & Nightlife
Get swept by SIX60’s soulful island wave
- Where? Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP.
- When: Wednesday 7 October
They may come from New Zealand’s far-flung South Island, but SIX60’s floaty, uplifting melodies never fail to hit home. The former university flatmates, who grew to become the country’s highest-selling live band, oscillate between soul, reggae, R&B and rock with weightless ease, anchored by thoughtful lyrics that tug at the heart. All of them now parents, they refuse to dwell in the darkness of the world and choose to take a ride on the bright side of love instead. Hear the Aotearoa alchemists’ 2026 release Right Here Right Now this Wednesday, as they head north once again to spread their indomitable wave of sunny vibes.
Get tickets to SIX60 at Royal Albert Hall
Feast on Mariachi Merseybeat with Red Rum Club
- Where? O2 Forum Kentish Town, 9 – 17 Highgate RD, Kentish Town, London, NW5 1JY.
- When: Thursday 8 October
A trumpet- and guitar-wielding sextet serving up a borderless brew of alternative and Americana, Merseyside’s Red Rum Club grabbed the nation’s attention in a cinematic spaghetti western fashion with their first Top 10 album (and fourth altogether), 2024’s Western Approaches. They repeated the feat with their follow-up, 2025’s BUCK, exploring adventurous territory on both sides of the Atlantic with trademark brass-fuelled bravado. Meet them at the crossroads of Mariachi band energy and Merseyside industrial edge this Thursday, as their UK tour descends into London with a bagful of genre-crossing, intoxicating jams.
Get tickets to Red Rum Club at O2 Forum Kentish Town
Surf back to Summers Past with Dutch Criminal Record
- Where? The Lower Third, 26 Denmark St, London, WC2H 8NJ.
- When: Friday 9 October
Gliding between balmy surf rock and billowing shoegaze carried by jangly guitars and wistful seascapes, indie trio Dutch Criminal Record made their first full-length statement on their 2024 album Novium. But after 18 months of exploring and refining their sound, the Brighton gang is back with brand-new material and a fresh perspective. Get a live taste of DCR’s brand-new EP Summers Past, rock and reminisce this Friday on the next stop of their UK/EU tour in central London, with their special guests from Vancouver, Hotel Mira adding an extra Canadian alt-rock edge.
Get tickets to Dutch Criminal Record at The Lower Third
Embark on a pop-fuelled ABBA Voyage
- Where? ABBA Arena, 1 Pudding Mill Lane, London, E15 2RU
- When: Ongoing
ABBA’s last public performance took place on December 11, 1982. Sadly, we can’t send you back in time to see the pop supergroup in their prime, but we do have the next best thing. Blending state-of-the-art technology and some of the most beloved pop records in history, ABBA Voyage sees Sweden’s fab four return to the stage of a purpose-built arena, in truly spectacular fashion — as digital avatars. Join the glitter-studded gang and their 10-strong live crew on a jaw-dropping, 100-minute voyage, fuelled by back-to-back choruses that hit all the right notes for an evening of high-spirited singalongs and dancing.
Sport
Watch London Lions bring their A-game
- Where? Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, E203HB.
- When: Until 31 May 2027
The reigning champions of Super League Basketball London Lions are back to defend their title, following a coveted win earlier this month in a friendly game against EuroLeague’s Paris Basketball. Catch them this Saturday as they kick off the 2026/27 season in a hotly anticipated game against Liverpool, a team just starting out with the great advantage of a seasoned NBA coach. It’s the first in a series of thrilling basketball games coming up at the Copper Box, with the Lions facing both SLB and EuroCup stars at their home court, all the way till spring.
Get tickets to the London Lions at Copper Box Arena
Feel the pulse of summer at the Fulham Pier
- Where? Fulham Pier, London SW6 6HH.
- When: Ongoing
Craven Cottage has been the home of Fulham F.C. since 1896, but its recent revamp is not just for football fans. Fulham Pier last summer saw a once-inaccessible part of the riverside open to the community, which steadily flocks here for a raft of art, culture, fitness and family events. Apart from the free live football and Wimbledon screenings, their Summer at the Pier season amps up the energy every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, as riverside DJs trade sunny grooves and searing floor fillers. Mixing street food with interactive digital art, the Riverside Market food hall will also make sure you never run out of fuel.
Family
Let your creativity blossom at Green Shoots!
- Where? Southwark Park Galleries, 1 Park Approach, Southwark Park, London, SE16 2UA
- When: Until 11 October
A Grade II-listed park with a 150-year history in Bermondsey, Southwark Park offers peaceful moments to enjoy any time of year. But, this week and every second Saturday of the month, families have a fresh reason to visit, beyond the beautiful spring scenery. Join artists Abigail Hunt and Alexa Lowe at the Southwark Park Galleries for Green Shoots!, their free, drop-in family sessions exploring the flora and fauna in the garden of the Lake Gallery, then inviting kids to get down and dirty by creating their own eco-friendly masterpieces. Recommended for children up to 11.
Find out more about Green Shoots
Immersive Experiences
Step into a multi-sensory art experience at FRAMELESS
- Where? FRAMELESS, 6 Marble Arch, London W1H 7AP
- When: Open daily
When you really love a painting, you don’t want to just look at it — you want to live in it. An immersive experience redefining the concept of art exhibition as we know it, FRAMELESS assembles 42 famous artworks by great masters like Cezanne, Kandinsky, Dali, Klimt, Van Gogh and many more, turning each classic into a full-blown, multi-sensory spectacle. Across four distinct galleries, you can now step into a world Beyond Reality, see Colour in Motion, learn The Art of Abstraction and see stunning new perspectives of The World Around Us in a series of eye-popping displays that take each artwork to a whole new level.
London Museums and Galleries
Dig into Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold at Battersea Power Station
- Where? NEON at Battersea Power Station, Circus Rd E, Nine Elms, London, SW11 8DQ
- When: Open daily
Tutankhamun may be the bigger name, but Ramses the Great and his influential 67-year reign catapulted Ancient Egypt to new heights 3000 years ago, through striking monuments, targeted military tactics and skilful diplomacy. Be transported back to the Valley of the Kings and Egypt’s golden age through 180 invaluable treasures, including the coffin of Ramses II, colossal sculptures, gold masks, animal mummies and priceless jewellery, that have travelled directly from the Egyptian Museum of Cairo to London. They will be displayed alongside virtual reality experiences that give the journey fresh depth, for a limited time only.
Get tickets to Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold at Battersea Power Station
Discover beautiful and bizarre art at Frieze Sculpture 2026
- Where? English Gardens, The Regent’s Park.
- When: 16 September – 1 November
Every autumn, The Regent’s Park serves up a choice of weird and wonderful things to give your stroll that extra spark. Now in its 14th edition, Frieze Sculpture 2026 presents 11 international artists and their sizeable creations scattered around the park’s beautiful English Gardens. From a seven-meter ‘Black Palm’ made from reclaimed tyre rubber and steel to two monumental paws giving refuge from a spiritual crisis in ‘Agony in the Garden’, there’s bound to be something to inspire food for thought, or at least something fun to stare at over a picnic.
Find out more about Frieze Sculpture 2026
View Amy Winehouse through a different lens
- Where? Granary Square & King’s Boulevard, Kings Cross, N1C 4DQ.
- When: 1 September – 15 October
Amy Winehouse was a generational talent with a deeply soulful, smoky voice and heart-on-sleeve storytelling that made her the stuff of legend. Twenty years after her seminal record Back to Black, her home borough of Camden celebrates her life and work with Amy Winehouse: In Focus, a free exhibition taking over The Outdoor Art Project’s gallery benches in King’s Cross with intimate portraits from the people who worked with the artist. From the thoughtful to the mischievous, this is “The Queen of Camden” in all her candid, uncompromising glory.
Wander spaces of grief and possibility at the Wellcome Collection
- Where? Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE.
- When: 10 July – 7 February 2027
Rudy Loewe’s artistic meditations on Black people’s lived experiences with mental healthcare in the UK don’t come from a happy place. But, although their starting point is racist discrimination, his mission is to arrive to a place of hope. The sculptures, paintings, sound and more displayed in the free exhibition Intimacies of Care – Spaces of Grief and Possibility give glimpses of a system that is more equitable and supportive through alternative, more empathetic approaches to care, reflecting Loewe’s roots in resistance histories, African and Caribbean folklore. They are also powered by the community, in collaboration with grassroots organisations like ADHD Babes.
Discover gripping stories of Childhood in War
- Where? IWM London, Lambeth Road, London, SE1 6HZ.
- When: 31 July – 28 February 2027
We often hear stories of children in conflict, but we rarely get the chance to go behind the scenes and experience the world through their eyes. The Imperial Museum London’s free, interactive exhibition Childhood in War looks back in time, from 1914 to the present day, highlighting little-known chapters and tales of adaptability and resilience in the face of extraordinary challenges. Step into an evacuee train carriage or a Cold War-era kitchen, and discover how children spotted enemy ships, as books, installations and rare objects bring their unique minds and voices vividly to life.
Find out more about the exhibition
