The 12 best things to do in London this weekend (17-18 February)

published 16 February 2018

Valentine’s Day has been and gone, you’ve used up all your pancake batter since Shrove Tuesday, and now you’re stuck.

What’s left to do this weekend? Let us help you out.

We’ve found a selection of London’s best entertainment for any budget, from free events all the way up to the more expensive options out there.

‘Another Time Another Place’ – Hackney in the 70s and 80s
If you’re curious about what Hackney was like one generation ago, this collection of unseen photos from Hackney-born photographer Neil Martinson is a must-see. It’s taking place at Stour Space, a non-profit space just a few minutes away from the Olympic Stadium, where old and new Hackney sit side-by-side.<a href="http://www.stourspace.co.uk/portfolio/another-time-another-place/" rel="noopener noreferrer" rev="346066" target="_blank" data-url="http://www.stourspace.co.uk/portfolio/another-time-another-place/" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" data-hl-processed="none">http://www.stourspace.co.uk/portfolio/another-time-another-place/</a> - Free, all weekend, Roach Road E3
Chinese New Year Parade
2018 marks the start of <a href="https://www.shortlist.com/news/chinese-new-year-by-birthday" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.shortlist.com/news/chinese-new-year-by-birthday">the Chinese Year of the Dog</a>, and celebrations will be taking place across London’s Chinatown and beyond. Sunday’s events, organised by the London Chinatown Chinese Association, include a parade in Trafalgar Square, a variety show including an appearance from Gok Wan, cultural events, Chinese food pop-ups and more.<a href="http://www.lccauk.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" rev="346066" target="_blank" data-url="http://www.lccauk.com/" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" data-hl-processed="none">http://www.lccauk.com/</a> - Free, Sunday, 10am, Various Central London locations
Converse One Star Hotel
Converse are spending the whole weekend filling Shoreditch with sneaker drops, curated rooms, workshops and gigs with special guests throughout. While some of the events have been fully booked, you can head down to the hotel and check out everything that’s going on throughout Saturday daytime.<a href="https://onestarhotel.london" rel="noopener noreferrer" rev="346066" target="_blank" data-url="https://onestarhotel.london" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" data-hl-processed="none">https://onestarhotel.london</a> – Free, Saturday 12pm-6pm, New North Road N1
Orbit Beers Sing-Along and BYO Vinyl
If you like singing, drinking, and combining singing with drinking, then this could be up your street. South-East London brewery Orbit Beers are heading to Draft House Birdcage and inviting you to bring along your own vinyl to belt out tunes at the pub. Or, if you don’t have any vinyl to bring along, head down early for a piano sing-along – it’s your choice.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/947615158747916/" rel="noopener noreferrer" rev="346066" target="_blank" data-url="https://www.facebook.com/events/947615158747916/" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" data-hl-processed="none">https://www.facebook.com/events/947615158747916/</a> - Free, Sunday 2.30pm, Columbia Road E2.
Frankenstein at 200
Two full centuries have passed since the original release of Mary Shelley’s <i>Frankenstein</i> and it’s still a huge draw; so much so that there’s even a commemorative coin out this year. Novelist Kate Mosse is speaking at the Hampstead Theatre about how the classic novel has continued to influence fiction right up until the present day.<a href="https://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/whats-on/the-festival/frankenstein-at-200-with-kate-mosse/" rel="noopener noreferrer" rev="346066" target="_blank" data-url="https://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/whats-on/the-festival/frankenstein-at-200-with-kate-mosse/" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" data-hl-processed="none">https://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/whats-on/the-festival/frankenstein-at-200-with-kate-mosse/</a> - £10, Saturday, 12.45pm, Eton Avenue NW3
Long Live Southbank fundraiser
There’s a real concern that the South Bank skating area could soon disappear, but money is being raised with the goal of stopping that from happening. If you want to support the cause, DJs including Will Bankhead (founder of The Trilogy Tapes) are putting on a night at Hangar in London Fields with tickets going for less than a tenner.<a href="https://www.residentadvisor.net/events/1059749" rel="noopener noreferrer" rev="346066" target="_blank" data-url="https://www.residentadvisor.net/events/1059749" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" data-hl-processed="none">https://www.residentadvisor.net/events/1059749</a> – £7.50-£10, Sunday, 6pm-Midnight, Warburton Road E8.
PDC UK Open darts qualifiers
If you found yourself watching the darts over Christmas and thought ‘that doesn’t look too hard’, you can test that theory in open qualifiers for the PDC UK Open (or just head along and watch). Amateurs can sign up and try their luck, and if you go all the way you could wind up getting a chance to play against the pros. Current world champ Rob Cross started out playing these qualifiers, so if you think you’re good enough then you might well be.<a href="http://www.rileys.co.uk/tournaments/pdc-uk-open-amateur-qualifiers-2018" rel="noopener noreferrer" rev="346066" target="_blank" data-url="http://www.rileys.co.uk/tournaments/pdc-uk-open-amateur-qualifiers-2018" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" data-hl-processed="none">http://www.rileys.co.uk/tournaments/pdc-uk-open-amateur-qualifiers-2018</a> - £7 (includes free drink), Sunday, 10am (pre-registration required), Semley Place SW1W
ShopAholicsUK Clothes Swap
Got some clothes you don’t need any more? Want to replace them without spending a fortune? You can meet other people hoping to do the same, and save a lot of cash in the process. The event, at Shoreditch Platform, will give you the chance to swap up to 20 good-condition clothes, bags, shoes and accessories.https://www.meetup.com/London-Clothing-Swap-Meetup/events/247617123 - £3, Kingsland Road E2

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Curling at Social Fun & Games Club
If you’ve been <a href="https://www.shortlist.com/news/winter-olympics-pyeongchang-personality-quiz-sports" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.shortlist.com/news/winter-olympics-pyeongchang-personality-quiz-sports">bitten by the Winter Olympics bug</a>, you may well be tempted to see how you’d get on at one of the most TV-friendly events. The folks behind Social Fun & Games Club have launched Sliders, which is apparently London’s only rooftop curling experience, and at the time of writing there are still slots available on Sunday.<a href="https://sfgclub.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" rev="346066" target="_blank" data-url="https://sfgclub.com/" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" data-hl-processed="none">https://sfgclub.com/</a> - £50 for 4 people, Sunday 12.20-6.20pm (with pre-booked slots), Great Eastern Way E15.
Fulham v Aston Villa
It’s FA Cup weekend, which means no Premier League football in London on Saturday or Sunday, but there <i>is</i> a chance to see two teams who could find themselves in the top flight next season. Fulham and Aston Villa are battling it out for promotion from the Championship, and there are still (at the time of writing) a limited number of tickets left to pre-order.<a href="http://www.fulhamfc.com/first-team/2017_2018/league/home/aston-villa" rel="noopener noreferrer" rev="346066" target="_blank" data-url="http://www.fulhamfc.com/first-team/2017_2018/league/home/aston-villa" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" data-hl-processed="none">http://www.fulhamfc.com/first-team/2017_2018/league/home/aston-villa</a> - £35-45, Saturday 3pm, Stevenage Road SW6
London Classic Car Show
The ExCeL will be home to a wide variety of classic cars all weekend, with the fourth annual edition of the show running from Thursday to Sunday. Tickets include free entry to its sister event, Historic Motorsport International, while the main event plays host to a homage to getaway cars, an appearance from Nigel Mansell, and a lot more.<a href="http://www.thelondonclassiccarshow.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" rev="346066" target="_blank" data-url="http://www.thelondonclassiccarshow.co.uk/" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" data-hl-processed="none">http://www.thelondonclassiccarshow.co.uk/</a> - £20-75, All Weekend, Royal Victoria Dock E16
Stokey Beer Fest
Some 14 breweries, including some of London’s best newbies, will be converging on Stoke Newington to show off their wares. You’ll get a free 1/3 pint sample from each one with your festival ticket, and we imagine you’ll quickly find your favourites and go back for (a lot) more.https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stokey-beer-fest-2018-tickets-39131305789 – £32, All Weekend (four sessions), Stoke Newington Church Street