With restrictions tightening on the daily and London now locked into Tier 2, this weekend we’ve rounded up a mix of indoor and outdoor activities for you to enjoy with your partner, housemates or socially distanced (and outdoors) with your five firm friends.

Remember to keep safe and have fun this weekend.

Discover the stunning new lantern installation in Chinatown 

This week saw Chinatown light up in celebration of Netflix’s new film Over the Moon, an animation inspired by the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival folklore. 

Spread over Gerrard Street and Newport Place, Netflix unveiled the lantern installation,  all of which are inspired by the new animation film, depicting characters including Jade Rabbit and Chang’e the Moon Goddess. The immersive light walkway has been designed by Liverpool’s Lantern Company, the team famously behind The Lumiere Festival, and restaurants and shops up and down the streets will be taking part too, creating limited edition bespoke items inspired by the film and the Mid-Autumn Festival. 

Expect hopping bunnies and rocket ships flying overhead when you venture to Chinatown this weekend.

Running until Sunday 15th November 

Gerrard Street and Newport Place
Uncover more Chinatown at: chinatown.co.uk

Celebrate World Pasta Day with free pasta from Emilia’s Crafted Pasta

Calling all lovers of pasta! Emilia’s Crafted Pasta is giving away mountains of free pasta in celebration of World Pasta Day this Sunday. 

Available at both their Aldgate and St. Katharine Docks restaurants, all you need to do is head down and you’ll be able to choose from seven of their signature pasta dishes and tuck into the bowls of warm, carby goodness. Our favourite from the selection being the silky-smooth golden ribbons of pappardelle paired with a four hour, slow-cooked bolognese sauce and topped with fresh béchamel. 

The offer extends to one fresh pasta dish per person, per sitting. Drinks, antipasti and desserts aren’t included, but can be enjoyed off the standard menu. Finally some delicious and good news!

Sunday 25th October

Available at their Aldgate or St. Katharine Docks branch
emiliaspasta.com

Toe-tap the night away at Kindred’s Live Friday sessions

London’s looking a little different right now, but determined to bring back live music is Kindred, the community focused members’ space in Hammersmith. 

Their live sessions run every Friday night, and this week sees Radio Soul get its shining moment, but stripped back. Expect all of the soul classics but in acoustic form. It’s a fun, different way to spend with your partner or housemates this weekend. 

Click the link here to confirm your spot.

Friday 23rd October, 7pm 

Bradmore House, Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith W6 9BW
wearekindred.com

Explore the new community fuelled exhibition, Hold Still 

There’s no denying that this year hasn’t planned out the way we thought, but one thing that it has bought us is an undeniable sense of community, and the National Portrait Gallery’s newest exhibition Hold Still demonstrates this beautifully.

Supported by the Co-op, Hold Still is a new UK-wide exhibition created to share images of as many people from across the UK and is being displayed in local communities for four weeks, from 20th October.

The initiative received over 30,000 entries and these have been whittled down to 100, which now feature on 400 outdoor posters at 112 locations in the UK, from Birmingham to Bristol, Cardiff to Edinburgh, Manchester to London.

Find your nearest display here.

ON DISPLAY FOR FOUR WEEKS FROM 20TH OCTOBER

MORE INFORMATION AT: NPG.ORG.UK

Fall in love with live music again at London’s hippest new venue 

London’s hottest new food venue-cum-co-working space, The Tramshed Project flung open its doors earlier this month and offers Londoners a space to catch up and be creative, all socially distanced of course. 

This Friday the venue will be playing host to its very first live performance with resident jazz band and friends at Black Flamingo. Vocalist Heidi Vogel and the live four-piece jazz will be performing in the Main Hall from 6-10pm, allowing you the opportunity to wine, dine and toe-tap the night away. Make a night of it and enjoy food from resident chef Andrew Clarke.

(Photography by Graeme Robertson)

Friday 23rd October

32 RIVINGTON STREET, SHOREDITCH EC2A 3LX
Reserve your free ticket at:
tramshedproject.com

Kick off hot chocolate season at the newly opened Knoops

Chocolate lovers, do we have a treat for you. 

Knoops, the home of expertly crafted chocolate drinks, is launching its second London site in Kensington, and it’s opening this Friday!

It’s here you’ll find the smoothest, velvety hot chocolate made from real chocolate buttons and be able to explore the chocolatey confectionery range, perfect for snapping up some chocolate goodies for the chocoholics in your life.

Opening Friday 23rd October

80 Kensington High Street, Kensington W8 4SG

knoops.co.uk

Reconnect with loved ones virtually at DNA VR’s new venue 

With stricter government guidelines in place and London now in Tier Two, it’s difficult to stay connected with friends and family right now. But one place that may be able to help you is DNA VR. They’ve just launched their first venue south of the river at Battersea Power Station, and are hoping to reconnect Londoners with their friends and family during this difficult time. 

The VR experience will allow you to meet up with friends in different rooms, and talk and interact with one another, all socially distanced. While also trying to survive a zombie apocalypse or fight off dragons. You know, the usual.

For more information, visit: batterseapowerstation.co.uk

Staycate the right way with Laura Ashley’s Wellness Retreat

As London enters yet another lockdown, we’re packing our bags and heading off to the countryside for Laura Ashley’s Wellness Retreat. The two day staycation, which takes place in the tranquil surroundings of the Burnham Beeches hotel, is guaranteed to leave you feeling energised, renewed and, well, a little less glum. 

The retreat includes a one night stay in a designer Laura Ashley bedroom, daily holistic yoga classes, wellness workshops and access to the hotel’s swimming pool, jacuzzi and sauna. A vegan chef caters for individual dietary requirements and preferences, and revitalising refreshments are served throughout the day, leaving you energised and with your immune system boosted. Take it from us, you’ll return to the big smoke feeling better than you have all year.

Limited availability. Visit lauraashleyhotels.com for available dates and to book your stay

Pick up a pumpkin at one of these orange-hued patches 

Halloween is creeping round the corner and it’s time to pick up a pumpkin to carve a spooky face on. 

Eke out the most of the spooky season this weekend and head to one of the UK’s best pumpkin patches to snatch up an orange-hued gourd to carve, roast or pop on your doorstep.

Snatch up an orange-hued gourd this weekend to carve, roast or pop on your porch.

Treat yourself to a manicure at agua London for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Throughout the month of October, Sea Containers London’s spectacular spa, agua London, is offering guests the chance to book in for a 60-minute limited-edition GIRL vs CANCER manicure or pedicure, with £12 of every treatment going back to GIRL vs CANCER and their four partner charities (CoppaFeel!, Trekstock, Future Dreams and Look Good Feel Better). Each treatment is complemented against an aromatherapy and breath work welcome followed by a lemon balm tea. Perfect for treating yourself to a little pamper this weekend.

On 29th October, there’s an extra special pop-up from the House of Lady Muck in the Glamour Room too. Email in to find out more.

GIRL vs CANCER for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Book in for the House of Lady Muck pop-up on 29 October in the Glamour Room.

Bookings are to be made by calling 0203 747 1010 or aguaspa@seacontainerslondon.com

Have brunch in bed thanks to Pasta Evangelists X Eggbreak

Indulge in this match made in heaven this weekend without even leaving bed (well, bar a quick trip to the kitchen) with Pasta Evangelists, Eggbreak and Tabasco’s three-way collaboration.

The pasta delivery service that posts tasty, pasta dishes through your letter box to be made in minutes for restaurant quality dishes, has teamed up with one of our favourite brunch spots, Eggbreak and every millennial’s favourite condiment, Tabasco, to create a limited edition pasta-meets-brunch box to celebrate Sunday’s World Pasta Day.

Dishes include a “Full English” tortellini stuffed with wild mushrooms and pork sausage served with a “Bloody Mary” pangrattato infused with Tabasco Sauce; a vegetarian Brunch Mac & Cheese crafted with lashings of Grana Padano, Tabasco Green Sauce; and a “Carbonara Porridge” with orzo pasta and crispy pancetta fried in Tabasco sauce. Or our favourite, the Egg, Bacon and Cheese Toastie Lasagne (featuring golden egg yolks, crispy pancetta and the smoky flavour of Tabasco Chipotle Sauce). Yum.

Brunch Kits available from £12.28 for two. All dishes can be purchased at www.pastaevangelists.com.


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