What to book weeks ahead in London, and what to leave to the day

London runs on turning up. The great majority of an evening here can be decided at six o’clock for seven, and the city rewards that. A short list does not work that way, and it is worth knowing which.

Book weeks ahead

The free rooftops go first and fastest. Horizon 22 and the Sky Garden release timed slots a few weeks out and the sunset ones are gone the day they appear. The ballot buildings at Open House open in August and close within hours. The winter ice rinks take December weekends in November.

Book a few days ahead

Museum lates where a ticket is asked for, the ticketed Christmas trails, and any restaurant that has been written about in the last fortnight. The lates that let you walk in need no ticket but do need you to arrive at six rather than seven.

Leave to the day

Nearly everything else. The free museums on a weekday, the markets, the parks, the walks, the pubs, and most theatre if you are willing to take a day seat or a return. That is the whole argument for a page that is rebuilt every day rather than a calendar you fill in a month out.

What is coming that genuinely needs planning is on coming up.