London events today and this week

Food and drink Free

Christmas by the River, London Bridge City

12:00 London Bridge City Pier, Borough

Until 24 Dec

Chalets along the Thames path between Hay's Galleria and Tower Bridge. Free, and the walk is the point: the bridge lit on one side, the City on the other. 2026 dates not yet announced.

Seasonal Free

Diwali at Neasden Temple

09:00 BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Brent

Until 10 Nov

Diwali and the annakut at the Neasden temple, over the five days of the festival. Free to enter. The temple sets its own hours for these days and had not published them when we checked.

Seasonal Free

Diwali at Neasden Temple

09:00 BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Brent

Until 10 Nov

Diwali and the annakut at the Neasden temple, over the five days of the festival. Free to enter. The temple sets its own hours for these days and had not published them when we checked.

Seasonal Free

Diwali at Neasden Temple

09:00 BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Brent

Until 10 Nov

Diwali and the annakut at the Neasden temple, over the five days of the festival. Free to enter. The temple sets its own hours for these days and had not published them when we checked.

Seasonal Free

Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph

10:00 The Cenotaph, Westminster

Whitehall closes and the service is at eleven. Free to watch from the pavement if you are there by nine thirty; after that you will hear it rather than see it.

Gigs Free

Downstairs at the King’s Head: Crouch End Jazz

16:00 to 19:00 Downstairs at the King's Head, Crouch End

A free jazz jam, founded in 1985 and a weekly fixture at the King's Head for more than 40 years.

Seasonal Free

Diwali at Neasden Temple

09:00 BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Brent

Until 10 Nov

Diwali and the annakut at the Neasden temple, over the five days of the festival. Free to enter. The temple sets its own hours for these days and had not published them when we checked.

Seasonal Free

Diwali at Neasden Temple

09:00 BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Brent

Diwali and the annakut at the Neasden temple, over the five days of the festival. Free to enter. The temple sets its own hours for these days and had not published them when we checked.

Cabaret Free

Dragaoke: Drag Hosted Karaoke!

22:00 to 23:45 Phoenix Arts Club, Covent Garden

An evening in the basement under the Phoenix Theatre, 10pm. The room is low ceilinged and seats a few dozen, so nothing is far from the stage.

Free

Woolwich Works: Stitch Night

18:30 Woolwich Works, Woolwich

Bring your knitting, crochet or sewing to the Visitors' Book Cafe for a cuppa with other makers. Free, from half six, no booking.

Free

Woolwich Works: Games Night

18:30 Woolwich Works, Woolwich

Board games in the Visitors' Book Cafe: play theirs or bring your own, alone or with friends. Free, from half six, no booking.

Seasonal Free

Covent Garden at Christmas

11:00 Covent Garden Piazza, Covent Garden

Until 6 Jan 2027

The tree, the mistletoe and more than 300,000 lights, lit from 12 November. Free, busy from four, best on a weekday morning.

Seasonal Free

Lord Mayor’s Show

11:00 City of London, The City

Eight hundred years old, three miles of procession through the City and free from the pavement. Fireworks off the river in the afternoon. Second Saturday in November.

Seasonal Free

The Lord Mayor’s Show

11:00 Mansion House and the City of London, The City

The procession sets off from Mansion House at eleven and fills most of the City. Free.

Gigs Free

Downstairs at the King’s Head: Crouch End Jazz

16:00 to 19:00 Downstairs at the King's Head, Crouch End

A free jazz jam, founded in 1985 and a weekly fixture at the King's Head for more than 40 years.

Cabaret Free

Dragaoke: Drag Hosted Karaoke!

22:00 to 23:45 Phoenix Arts Club, Covent Garden

An evening in the basement under the Phoenix Theatre, 10pm. The room is low ceilinged and seats a few dozen, so nothing is far from the stage.