London’s hard to impress, but this weekend it’s serving everything from the St Patrick’s Day parade to quiet Kensington galleries as the city kicks off its spring rush.
From free park time to an immersive wizarding prison, London has plenty on from Friday, March 13 to Sunday, March 15, above ground, below ground and everywhere between.
Here’s what to see, mixing big-name festivals with smaller local nights across the capital.
1. St Patrick’s Day parade and festival
A city-wide splash of green.
Central London goes green on Sunday 15 March as the annual St Patrick’s Day parade travels from Hyde Park Corner, down Piccadilly, and into Trafalgar Square, with Irish dancing, live music and market stalls.
The St Patrick’s Day parade in central London, marking the city-wide celebration in green. (Image: NQ)
The Trafalgar Square programme runs roughly 12:00 to 18:00, with food stalls and crowds to watch, and it’s free and family-friendly.
2. Country to Country at The O2
Nashville lands in North Greenwich.
The Country to Country festival is the headline event at The O2, running from Friday 13 March to Sunday 15 March and bringing Nashville stars and rising talent to North Greenwich.
Country to Country festival at The O2 in North Greenwich during the weekend line-up. (Image: NQ)
Shows run from afternoon into late evening, and day tickets usually start at about £40 to £50.
3. Off Menu Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Off Menu goes big.
Ed Gamble and James Acaster bring Off Menu to the Royal Albert Hall this weekend, grilling a different guest each night on their dream meal.
Shows are on Friday and Saturday at 19:30, with tickets from about £30.
4. David Hockney at the Serpentine North Gallery
Hockney’s seasons, up close.
In Kensington Gardens, the Serpentine is hosting A Year in Normandie, a 90-metre frieze by David Hockney. Inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, the work depicts the changing landscape of the French countryside through a digital medium.
Entry is free and the Serpentine North Gallery is open 10:00 to 18:00 all weekend.
5. Black Athena Festival at Rich Mix
Black creativity takes centre stage in Shoreditch.
Rich Mix hosts the Black Athena Festival from March 13 to March 21, with dance, theatre, music and live art inspired by Martin Bernal’s book.
There are evening shows and more experimental work, and many events are low-cost or pay-what-you-can.
6. Jock McFadyen’s Underground and Surface
Tube art with a soundtrack.
Opening this weekend, Jock McFadyen shows large paintings of Tube stations, paired with a soundscape by Jem Finer of The Pogues.
Entry is free, but check the gallery opening times before you go.
The McFadyen show is at the Guildhall Art Gallery in Guildhall Yard and uses a pay-what-you-can model rather than standard ticketing.
7. Covid-19 and Beyond photojournalism
Quiet, hard-hitting documentary photos.
Covid-19 and Beyond looks at life during and after the pandemic through photojournalism, best taken slowly.
It’s open this weekend in normal gallery hours and is usually free or low-cost.
8. Phantom Peak in Canada Water
Steampunk escape world.
Phantom Peak builds a steampunk town in Canada Water where you follow storylines, meet actors and solve puzzles.
Sessions run all weekend, best in small groups, and tickets start at about £35.
9. Hexmoor Wizarding Prison
Escape-room puzzles and cocktails on Hackney Road.
Hexmoor is immersive theatre in a wizarding prison where you work as a team to solve puzzles and break out.
It’s aimed at adults and older teenagers, runs all weekend on Hackney Road, and includes cocktails as part of the story.
10. Frameless at Marble Arch
Walk-through projected art shows.
Near Marble Arch, Frameless uses high-definition projections to turn famous artworks into rooms you can walk through.
It’s weather-proof, popular with families and date nights, and runs timed entry slots all day and evening.
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11. Moorgate Comedy Club at the Tokenhouse
Friday night stand-up in the City of London.
Moorgate Comedy Club has a mixed bill on Friday, March 13, including Nick Helm and Russell Hicks.
It’s inside the Tokenhouse pub, so you can eat and drink before the show, with tickets £12 to £18.
12. Rio After Dark at Sushisamba
Late-night party with skyline views.
Rio After Dark hits Sushisamba in the Heron Tower on Friday night from 22:30, with DJs, dancers and live percussion.
Entry is usually free with a booking, but drinks are pricey.
13. Wee Pop-Up Ceilidh in Bermondsey
Celtic dancing in a Bermondsey brewery.
Small Beer brewery in Bermondsey hosts the Wee Pop-Up Ceilidh on Friday, March 13 for a traditional Celtic dance night.
It’s held in the brewery’s industrial space, and tickets start at £20.35.
14. Sci-Fi film night at Big Penny Social
Sci-fi shorts in Walthamstow.
Big Penny Social hosts a sci-fi film night on Friday evening, screening contemporary short films.
It’s a big venue with food, and tickets are expected to be £10 to £15.
15. IFS Cloud Cable Car
Thames skyline views.
The cable car between North Greenwich and the Royal Docks is a simple add-on if you’re already going to The O2 or ExCeL.
It runs roughly 08:00 to 22:00 at weekends, and one-way adult tickets start at £6, with child discounts.
16. Classic West End musicals
The enduring appeal of the theatre district.
West End staples such as Hamilton, The Lion King and Les Miserables run multiple shows across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
With matinees and evening shows, prices range from £25 rush seats to premium tickets over £50.
17. A Mirrored Monet at Charing Cross Theatre
Technological storytelling in the West End.
A Mirrored Monet opens on Saturday, March 14, reimagining Belle Epoque Paris with music, storytelling and immersive projections.
At Charing Cross Theatre, it’s a smaller alternative to the big musicals, with tickets usually £25 to £45.
18. Children’s theatre at Half Moon
Creative performances for younger audiences.
Half Moon Young People’s Theatre in East London has shows this weekend, with Saturday matinees for families.
Tickets are usually £8 to £15 for children’s shows in a theatre built for young audiences.
19. A spring wander through the parks
Low-cost outdoor exploration.
If the weather holds, a loop of Hyde Park or Regent’s Park’s rose gardens is an easy, free few hours.
Add a café or pub stop to your walk for a cheap day out, and parks are open in daylight all weekend.
20. Free pop-ups and festivities
Budget-friendly city exploring.
Away from the big festivals, London has plenty of smaller free pop-ups this weekend, from the St Patrick’s parade to community drop-ins.
Listings such as Time Out round up free activities, so you can pick a couple and build a simple day out.
21. Local indie arts venues
Small-scale culture in the neighbourhoods.
Local venues, including in Deptford, have literature and arts nights through March, from poetry readings to scratch shows for new work.
Listings such as To Do List flag these events, and even outside the city centre your nearest independent venue may have something on for little money.
London can give you a huge festival and a quiet local show a few streets apart, and this weekend is best spent mixing both.
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