Your London shortlist, twice a week
Monday 28 September
This week in London,
picked for you
A handpicked mix of free things, timely events, date ideas and one wildcard for the week ahead.
Free
Free to do, worth knowing about.
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2026
The National Portrait Gallery’s annual portrait prize brings together 51 contemporary paintings, from traditional portraiture to more experimental approaches.
Trafalgar Square · Until 7 Oct · Free
This Is Still Not a Pipe: The Afterlife of Magritte
Magritte paintings, drawings and sculpture sit alongside new work by more than 40 contemporary artists in this free Mayfair exhibition.
Mayfair · Until 12 Dec · Free
Know someone who’d use this?
This week
On now and worth knowing about.
Festival
American Writers’ Week
Alison Bechdel, Joyce Carol Oates, Viet Thanh Nguyen and more appear at the British Library for five days of talks and readings.
King’s Cross · 28 Sep – 2 Oct · Tickets vary
NIGO: From Japan with Love
The final week of NIGO’s first UK retrospective, bringing together more than 700 objects spanning streetwear, music, design, ceramics and collecting.
Kensington · Until 4 Oct · From £15.29
Date idea
For a memorable day (or night).
Luminiscence
Westminster Cathedral becomes a 360-degree world of projection, music and narration in this immersive evening experience.
Westminster · Until 30 Jan · From £30
Wildcard
A less obvious pick to try this week.
London Month of the Dead
More than 60 cemetery walks, talks, workshops and performances explore death, burial and the stranger corners of London history throughout October.
Across London · 1 Oct – 1 Nov · Tickets vary
Pick a side
What sounds most like your October?
Results in the next email
Last poll
Your ideal Saturday?
- Street food feast – 82%
- Vintage treasure hunt – 18%
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