9 Fun Ways To Spend This Chilly Weekend

3rd October 2024 | By Patrick Dunne

We’ve officially entered Autumn, and to celebrate we’re thinking about gallery exhibitions, cinema trips, spooky events, and taking advantage of London’s cocktail week. Here are all the best events on this weekend in London.

Discover the other half of Warhol

This brand new innovative showcase features five emerging artists — Alexa Sirbu, Jade Pearl, Kelly Anna, Ken Nwadiogbu, and Xu Yang — who each bring a fresh interpretation by completing the other half of a newly discovered Andy Warhol painting, Absolut ‘blue’.

Entry is free, and these works represent thought-provoking themes of identity, culture, self-expression and a unique blend of past and present.

when: 04 – 06 october
where: saatchi gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Rd, London SW3 4RY
website: www.saatchigallery.co.uk

Explore London Cocktail Week

Sober October might have to wait for the second week of the month because London Cocktail Week is back this weekend. The world’s original cocktail week sees 200 of the very best bars in London offering special £8 signature cocktails exclusively for the events, as well as a host of masterclasses, tastings and more. Cross-reference with our guide to the best bars in Soho, and get tasting.

The world’s original cocktail week sees 200 of the very best bars in London offering special £8 signature cocktails

when: 03 – 13 october
where: Across London
website: www.londoncocktailweek.com

Cosy up in the cinema with this Oscar-tipped performance

The weather has seemingly skipped the in-between-season period and plunged us straight into the cold and the dreary, and the Cinema is our favourite sanctuary.

Four-time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan has two performances this year which may see her finally win a statue. First up is The Outrun, where she plays a recovering addict who returns home to the wild Orkney Islands in Scotland. Expect stunning windswept scenery which is nicer to look at from a warm seat.

when: from 27 september
where: Barbican Hall: 1,943; Barbican Theatre: 1,156; The Pit: 200
website: www.barbican.org

Explore Monet’s connection to London

Claude Monet is one of France’s most famous artists, who also happens to have some of his best-known works set in London. This exhibition explores his connection to the English capital, mainly depicting the Thames as it had never been seen before.

Begun during three stays in the capital between 1899 and 1901, the series — depicting Charing Cross Bridge, Waterloo Bridge and the Houses of Parliament — was unveiled in Paris in 1904. Sadly, they never made it to London, but now they are on display in the Courtauld Gallery, brought together for the first time 120 years after their inaugural exhibition.

when: 27 October – 19 January 2025
where: Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN
website: www.courtauld.ac

Head to Chelsea Dog Day

One of our favourite days of the year is back – Chelsea Dog Day. Celebrating this dog-friendly neighbourhood and supporting Pets As Therapy, it is set to be a fantastic day for you and your four-legged friends.

Enjoy a dog-themed market at Duke of York Square (from 10am to 4pm), curated by the ‘Four Legged Foodies’, featuring 21 dog brands selling an array of delicious canine treats, and accessories from Hiro + Wolf to Caboodle.  Plus, don’t miss the giant sausage dog bench for that perfect picture memento of the day.

when: 05 october
where: Across Chelsea
website: www.kingsroad.co.uk

Head to Brixton for this unique market

Black History Month takes place in October, and this Black Culture Market in Brixton is supporting emerging entrepreneurs and new businesses of African and Caribbean descent with opportunities to showcase and sell their products in the retail industry.

This next event takes place over two days in the heart of Brixton offering a diverse, quality shopping and cultural experience perfect if you’re looking for gifts, cards, unique prints, jewellery, male grooming kits, skincare, clothes or other original accessories.

when: 05 – 06 october
where: Department Store, 248 Ferndale Rd, London SW9 8FR
website: www.blackculturemarket.co.uk

Embrace Spooky Season with Month of the Dead events

Spooky season is here, and it’s time to get with the spirit (literally). London Month of the Dead, an annual festival of arts to inform, entertain and provoke on the subject of death and the city, is running for its 10th year. This year’s grand calendar boasts a haunting array of over 60 talks, walks, workshops, and performances all uncovering the shadowy depths of the city.

This year’s grand calendar boasts a haunting array of over 60 talks, walks, workshops, and performances

when: All of October
where: Across London
website: www.londonmonthofthedead.com

Two events worth travelling for

Celebrate Oktoberfest in Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s Oktoberfest is one of the best Bavarian celebrations in the UK, taking place in a tent slap-bang in the middle of the city. The area is transformed into a traditional Oktoberfest with live music, and great beer and a friendly atmosphere. There is also a special offer for your Sunday Lunch, so you can let the entire family experience Bavarian culture for a day.

The area is transformed into a traditional Oktoberfest with live music, and great beer and a friendly atmosphere

when: 03 – 06 october
where: Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 2HG
website: www.edinburgh-oktoberfest.com

Head to Wales for an arts festival

From 4th to 6th October, Swansea Arts Weekend showcases creative arts, celebrating local and international artists, performers, and creatives in South Wales, as the community has the chance to be immersed in culture, arts and creativity in the heart of the city.

With plenty for both adults and families to enjoy, the event offers a wide variety of shows, interactive experiences, and fun activities across many of Swansea’s attractions, art galleries, event spaces, and entertainment venues.

when: 04 – 06 october
where: Across Swansea
website: www.visitswanseabay.co.uk


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