The 14 Activities You Won’t Want To Miss Out On This Weekend

Head to Rosina for Jazz Nights on the Common

Adam Byatt’s neighbourhood Italian restaurant, named after his daughter Rosie, is now hosting a fortnightly jazz series every other Thursday from 7pm to 9.30pm, with an acoustic trio of bass, saxophone and guitar soundtracking the evening.

Whether you’re dropping into Thorn Bar for aperitivo and snacks or settling in for a full dinner of Risotto bianco, Cavatelli cacio e pepe and a slice from the marble dessert trolley, the live music makes the dining experience feel like a proper evening out.

Where: 35 Bellevue Rd, London SW17 7EF
Website: www.rosina.com

Dine at this new Italian hotspot

One of Italian cooking’s most beloved figures has finally opened his own restaurant in London, and it’s everything you’d hope for. BOLO, Gennaro Contaldo’s intimate 32-seat trattoria on Air Street in Soho, is inspired by the simple, bustling restaurants of 1970s Italy and built around a menu of just six curated pasta dishes.

At the centre is his famous Bolognese, alongside The Antonio, a tribute to his great friend Antonio Carluccio, and The Limone, a nod to his childhood on the Amalfi Coast.

Where: 17 Air St, London W1B 5AF
Website: www.bolo.com

Check out this steak and wine experience

If you consider yourself a steak enthusiast or simply want to become one, The Ginger Pig’s new Steak and Wine Experience at Borough Market is the most delicious way to spend an evening this autumn.

The intimate two-hour session brings together up to 12 guests around a shared table for tastings of five different cuts, from fillet and sirloin through to lesser-known onglet and feather blade, all served on sharing boards with Koffmann’s chips and free-flowing Lirac red wine.

Where: The Ginger Pig, Butchery Classes, Unit 7W, Borough Market, Cathedral Street, SE1 9AG
Website: www.gingerpig.com

Feast on Sri Lankan cuisine here

Borough Market’s resident Sri Lankan hotspot, Rambutan, is bringing back its iconic Jaffna Crab Night for one day only this Sunday and it isn’t one to miss.

Founder Cynthia Shanmugalingam is celebrating Sri Lanka’s king of curries with a family-style set menu, featuring whole, fresh British brown and spider crabs cooked in an aromatic, roasted spice and coconut milk sauce. Expect to roll up your sleeves with crab crackers in hand, mopping up every last drop with flaky butter roti alongside charred prawn sathe, vibrant sambols, and natural wines poured by Newcomer Wines.

Where: 10 Stoney St, London SE1 9AD
Website: www.rambutan.com

Experience Nyonya home cooking

If you are looking to kickstart weekend celebrations a little early, the Dusty Knuckle has just the thing. This Thursday, the Dalston hotspot is teaming up with Abby Lee, head chef and founder of Mambow, for a one-off feast of home-style Nyonya cooking.

Guests at the Dusty Dinner x Abby Lee, can expect to tuck into a Chinese-Malay menu featuring an exclusive Assam Pedas Oxtail Curry Puff wrapped in Dusty Knuckle’s signature dough, alongside braised pork belly, prawn-pineapple-coconut curry, and Kuih Dadar with coffee ice cream for dessert.

Where: Abbot St, London E8 3DP
Website: www.dustyknuckle.com

Dive into this pub lunch

If a hearty pub lunch is what your weekend calls for, few spots beat the Pig and Butcher.

Famous for its farm-to-table ethos, this gastropub butchers its meat on-site, working directly with small-scale UK farms to serve seasonal British classics at their peak. Settle into the rustic dining room and dive into generous cuts of rare-breed pork, lamb, or beef, served alongside sky-high Yorkshire puddings, crisp beef-dripping roast potatoes, and rich, long-simmered gravies. Pair it with a craft ale or an organic glass of wine for the ultimate autumn comfort meal.

Where: 80 Liverpool Rd, London N1 0QD
Website: www.pigandbutcher.com

Discover Californian-inspired dining

Malibu Kitchen at The Ned has unveiled a fresh all-day dining menu focused on nutrient-dense, gut-friendly cooking that doesn’t compromise on flavour.

Designed with wellbeing in mind, the new Californian-inspired lineup features a handy nutritional key highlighting dishes rich in protein, fibre, antioxidants, and probiotics. Expect colourful, vibrant plates like sea bass ceviche with plantain crisps, forbidden rice bowls with sauerkraut and avocado, roasted salmon with three-pulse salad, and cauliflower fritters.

Where: 27 Poultry, London EC2R 8AJ
Website: www.thened.com

Try the latest addition to London’s burger scene

A sleek new burger and Champagne joint, Milk Burger, has landed on Westbourne Grove.

The brainchild of Kyiv hospitality duo Alina Kosichkina and Dima Zakhodiakin, this stylish Notting Hill spot is already gaining some serious hype. Leading the kitchen is Executive Chef Jorge Paredes, formerly of Sabor and Michelin-starred OMA, who is elevating classic comfort food with options like a Bone Marrow & Truffle Burger, a Spicy Smash Burger, and Cuban sandwiches. Pair your meal with a glass of fine bubbles for the ultimate high-low dining experience.

Where: 50 Westbourne Grove, London W2 5SH
Website: www.milkburger.com

Send a sweet treat with Biscuiteers

If you’re looking for a thoughtful surprise or a stylish host gift this season, Biscuiteers has released an utterly charming new collection of hand-iced biscuits.

Famous for their signature keepsake tins and intricate designs, the artisan icing team has crafted an autumnal lineup featuring everything from cosy woodland creatures and Halloween treats to personalised “thank you” sets and seasonal bouquet tins. Baked by hand in London, these beautiful, hand-finished treats are almost too pretty to eat, making them the ultimate sweet gesture to post directly through a loved one’s door.

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Uncover hidden gems on the Thames

If you’re looking to bypass the usual tourist spots along the river, explore the quieter side of the South Bank with our guide to 5 Hidden Gems To Discover On The Thames.

Wander through the ever-changing street art inside the Leake Street Tunnels, grab a coffee or a sunset drink above the crowds at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden, or shop independent designer-maker studios on the upper floors of Oxo Tower Wharf. To finish the day, settle in at Forza Wine on the National Theatre’s riverside terrace for seasonal sharing plates, or head beneath the railway arches to The Archduke for live jazz and steak.

Where: Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX
Website: www.southbanklondon.com

Read our complete area guide here

Play pétanque and sip highballs at Circle13

Padel had its moment, but Circle13 is betting that French boules is London’s next big social obsession.

Founded by former international pétanque player Monty Quaia and NYC hospitality alum Marc Sarton Du Jonchay, this newly opened pétanque and highball bar has taken up permanent residence in London Fields following a string of cult Hackney pop-ups. Head down to Helmsley Place to try your hand on the piste while sipping sessionable highballs and low/no-alcohol cocktails. Between games, tuck into Basque-style pintxos from ex-Andrew Edmunds chef Sean Donnelly, including pig head croquetas and pork belly skewers.

Where: 369–370 Mentmore Terrace, London Fields, London E8 3SD
Website: www.circle13.com

Discover this new wellness hub

For this weekend’s wellness billing, head straight to Battersea to discover HiiCLUB’s new studio.

Following the summer launch of its signature high-intensity HiiTRAIN concept, phase two unveils HiiBALANCE, a brand-new dedicated Pilates studio, alongside HiiGRIND, a stylish coffee and post-workout recovery space. Whether you’re looking to push your limits in a sweat session or stretch it out on the reformer, download the HiiCLUB app to book a class and check out South London’s latest fitness debut.

Where: Unit 74, 326-342, 75 Queen’s Circus, Queenstown Rd, Nine Elms, SW11 8NE
Website: www.hiiclub.com

Discover Cliveden Literary Festival

Cliveden Literary Festival is returning to the historic Cliveden House in Berkshire this weekend.

The lineup includes Kemi Badenoch in conversation with Simon Sebag Montefiore, Robert Harris discussing his new Roman Empire novel with Tom Holland, Patrick Radden Keefe on London’s underworld, and Candace Bushnell and Jay McInerney alongside panels on politics, history and the state of America. Described by Her Majesty The Queen as a perfection of a literary festival, it’s a very good reason to get out of London for the weekend.

Where: Taplow, Maidenhead SL6 0JF
Website: www.clivedenliteraryfestival.com

Lace up your hiking boots

If you’re craving fresh autumn air, trade the city pavement for sweeping landscapes and countryside trails.

October is prime hiking season, and London’s surrounding green belts offer an abundance of stunning trails just a short train ride away, from the sweeping chalk ridges of the North Downs to the ancient woodlands of Epping Forest and the dramatic coastal cliffs of Sussex. Whether you’re after a challenging day-long trek or a gentle afternoon stroll through sleepy countryside villages, pack your boots, grab a flask, and aim for a route that conveniently finishes outside a cosy country pub with a roaring fire.

Read our guide to the best hikes outside of London here