The ianVisits guide to November's unusual events, tours, lectures and exhibitions happening around London.
Wednesday 1st November
The launch of Linda McDougall's new biography of Marcia Williams, who became the first woman political adviser to a Prime Minister.
5:30pm to 7pm
Whitechapel
Visitors will enjoy seeing 7 Hammersmith Terrace in low lighting, which creates a unique and special effect on wallpapers, textiles and furniture
Starts at 6pm
Hammersmith
Van Gogh specialist Martin Bailey examines the struggles that he faced and how he overcame them to channel his creativity into his art.
Starts at 7pm
Stockwell
Online events / webinars
Historian Helen Fry will look at the rich and varied intelligence and espionage work women undertook as civilians and in uniform.
7:30pm to 8:30pm
More London events on Wednesday 1st November
Thursday 2nd November
A roundtable discussion and reading from Debasish Lahiri’s Legion of Lost Letters: Dramatic Monologues of Romans In Exile, exploring the place of poetry and storytelling in imagining Roman Britain in the present.
4pm to 5:30pm
Euston
A monthly late opening of the restored Roman temple found near Bank in the City of London in the 1950s, and recently restored to its original subterranean location.
5pm to 8pm
City of London
Free
Join church and public clock specialist Keith Scobie-Youngs to explore the history of the winding of the Great Clock of Westminster.
5:30pm to 10pm
Russell Square
On the first Thursday of the month, Holborn's Novelty Automation has a bar in the store for their late-night opening.
6pm to 9pm
Holborn
Told for the very first time, this is the shocking and extraordinary story of the most-conniving and manipulative Tudor family you've never
6:30pm to 8pm
Southwark
A selection of silent film clips are being screened along with a live 15-piece orchestra.
Starts at 8pm
Brixton
More London events on Thursday 2nd November
Friday 3rd November
£2.00
Shop 1000s of affordable and sustainable original mid-century vintage posters - from £10 bargains to rare investment pieces
2pm to 8pm
Peckham
More London events on Friday 3rd November
Saturday 4th November
Free
Monthly Saturday opening of an exhibition about the British priest who nearly became Pope.
10am to 5pm
Southwark
A display of pre-1905 motor vehicles in central London ahead of the London to Brighton vintage car rally.
10am to 3:30pm
Whitehall
£2.00
Shop 1000s of affordable and sustainable original mid-century vintage posters - from £10 bargains to rare investment pieces
10am to 6pm
Peckham
A day of talks on London history.
10am to 4:30pm
Southwark
The Festival of the Accused delves into the history of witchcraft and summons a host of writers and performers who praise the modern witch.
10am to 9pm
Camden
National Secular Society historian Bob Forder introduces the 19th century secularist freethinking pioneers of family planning
11am to 3pm
Holborn
This summer London's fire stations be opening their red doors to the public for a number of open day events across London.
12pm to 5pm
Poplar
Free
The 2023 Writeidea Festival is two days of free public talks (mostly) by book authors
1pm to 8pm
Bethnal Green
John Walsh will be signing his books Conan the Barbarian: The Official Story of the Film and The Wicker Man: The Official Story of the Film
2pm to 3pm
Soho
More London events on Saturday 4th November
Sunday 5th November
If you get up early enough, you can see a load of pre-1905 vintage cars leaving Hyde Park and heading towards Brighton.
7am to 10am
A number of vintage buses will be running along routes in North London today.
9:30am to 5pm
The collection includes instruments by Gavioli, Marenghi, Hooghuys, Wilhelm Bruder Söhne and Gebr.Weber.
11am to 5pm
Amersham
£2.00
Shop 1000s of affordable and sustainable original mid-century vintage posters - from £10 bargains to rare investment pieces
11am to 5pm
Peckham
Free
The 2023 Writeidea Festival is two days of free public talks (mostly) by book authors
1pm to 8pm
Bethnal Green
More London events on Sunday 5th November
Monday 6th November
There will be an overnight rehearsal of the ceremonial aspects of the State Opening of Parliament.
12am to 6am
Whitehall
Wes Streeting MP will be talking to Farah Hussain about his early life in Stepney
6pm to 7:30pm
Whitechapel
More London events on Monday 6th November
Tuesday 7th November
Be prepared for ghosts, merry monarchs, “snob screens”, naughty nymphs and mischievous monks – as well as fabulous furnishings and curious customs.
2pm to 3pm
City of London
This lecture will explore how tracing ancient routes on foot, and experiencing travel as people did in an age before trains and cars, can offer insights into the past.
6pm to 7pm
Holborn
Griff Rhys Jones will introduce the campaign to reject the proposed redevelopment of the station.
6:30pm to 9pm
Whitechapel
£10.00
A miner's daughter from County Durham who advised three US presidents on foreign affairs takes on the future of education.
7pm to 8:30pm
Camden
This illustrated talk will map its course, consider its earlier history above ground, in particular at some of the local Dulwich connections.
8pm to 9pm
Dulwich
More London events on Tuesday 7th November
Wednesday 8th November
Find out about the past, present and future of children and young people's nursing and visit our new exhibition.
5:30pm to 8pm
Harley Street
Speakers will discuss the past, present and future of housing safety and fire policy.
5:30pm to 7pm
Euston
Online events / webinars
This talk tells the story of the Peckham Rye Station restoration, setting Driver’s work in the context of Victorian railway architects.
7pm to 8:30pm
More London events on Wednesday 8th November
Thursday 9th November
Light-hearted guide to becoming Lord Mayor, describes the route to this top title.
2pm to 3pm
City of London
What will be in our future fridge? Chat to scientists about how food affects health and wellbeing, vertical farming, and the future of food.
6pm to 9pm
South Kensington
£10.00
With the help of a live model and a set of autopsy instruments, Dr Suzy Lishman describes how pathologists examine the body.
7pm to 8:30pm
Holborn
More London events on Thursday 9th November
Friday 10th November
Free
This Remembrance Weekend, come and admire the War Widows Quilt and discover the work that went into creating this moving piece of collaborative art.
10am to 5:30pm
Chelsea
Barchas will share new findings about Georgian art rentals, including what she learned about a London art supplier who lent out pr
5:30pm to 7:30pm
Euston
The intriguing history of Dickens's London, showing how tourists have reimagined and reinvented the Dickensian metropolis for more than 150 years.
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Southwark
Online events / webinars
This talk will explore the lesser-known clauses and stories hidden in the First World War Peace Treaties.
2pm to 3pm
More London events on Friday 10th November
Saturday 11th November
On the day of the Lord Mayor's show, there's free entry to the Cathedral's ground floor.
8:30am to 3:30pm
City of London
Free
This Remembrance Weekend, come and admire the War Widows Quilt and discover the work that went into creating this moving piece of collaborative art.
10am to 5:30pm
Chelsea
Watch the three mile-long procession to mark the Lord Mayor’s first full day in office.
10am to 3pm
Tolworth Showtrain is the Society’s annual model railway show in November. It is one of the largest shows held in the South East.
10am to 5:30pm
Surbiton
The museum, normally only open Mon-Fri will be open today for the Lord Mayor's Show.
11am to 4pm
City of London
A day of talks and tours to mark the closing of the Museum of London Docklands Indo + Caribbean display.
11:30am to 4pm
Poplar
‘How to Read a Censored Book’ invites you to take a closer look at a selection of queer literature seized by the UK government in the 1980s and to consider some of the many different ways they might be read today.
1:30pm to 5:30pm
Euston
More London events on Saturday 11th November
Sunday 12th November
Free
This Remembrance Weekend, come and admire the War Widows Quilt and discover the work that went into creating this moving piece of collaborative art.
10am to 5:30pm
Chelsea
Tolworth Showtrain is the Society’s annual model railway show in November. It is one of the largest shows held in the South East.
10am to 4pm
Surbiton
More London events on Sunday 12th November
Monday 13th November
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Monday 13th November
Tuesday 14th November
In this lecture Professor David Reynolds FBA, explores some of the issues that are still not fully resolved.
5pm to 6:30pm
St James
Gemmology – the science of gemstones – is a science that, although practiced since 300 BC, wasn’t fully recognised until the 19th century.
6pm to 7pm
West Brompton
More London events on Tuesday 14th November
Wednesday 15th November
In this lecture, we’ll look at some remarkable examples of evolutionary chance and reveal why they are sometimes less random than you might expect.
6pm to 7pm
Holborn
Join broadcaster and cultural historian Matthew Sweet alongside Christel Dee, author and presenter of Doctor Who: The Fan Show, as we celebrate The Doctor, their companions, and what may be the greatest show on, and off, Earth.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
Photograph the Cathedral after hours on this autumn evening
7pm to 8:30pm
Southwark
Online events / webinars
This reappraisal builds on material presented to the Second International Early Main Line Railways Conference held at the National Railway Museum, York, in 2018 and subsequently published in the conference proceedings in 2019.
7pm to 8:30pm
More London events on Wednesday 15th November
Thursday 16th November
Come and enjoy the traditional atmosphere with Swedish food and handcrafts.
11:30am to 8pm
Marylebone
£17.50
An evening featuring scenes of yesteryear’s railways - on the big screen.
2pm to 4:30pm
Brentford
2023 is Whittington 600 and there is quite a bit more to Dick Whittington than the pantomime.
2pm to 3pm
City of London
Monthly late opening of the Bank of England Museum.
5pm to 8pm
City of London
The Lord Mayor of London will switch on Leadenhall Market's Christmas lights at 6pm - complete with pyrotechnic firework fountains.
5:15pm to 6:30pm
City of London
A talk about the provision of public toilets in London.
6:30pm to 8:30pm
A compendium of sounds from this world and beyond, from the author of A New Map of Wonders and The Book of Barely Imagined Beings.
6:30pm to 8pm
Southwark
Join a screening of 'I am a Cliche' a documentary exploring the life and impact of musician Poly Styrene.
6:45pm to 9pm
Bethnal Green
More London events on Thursday 16th November
Friday 17th November
A guided tour of one of the City of London's grand livery halls, belonging to the Stationers Company.
11am to 12:30pm
City of London
Celebrate the opening of the new Global Poster Gallery, and discover iconic posters and artworks after dark.
6:45pm to 10pm
Covent Garden
Online events / webinars
In this historical adventure, Broadcaster and author Selina Mills takes us on a journey through the history of blindness in Western Culture to discover that blindness is not so dark after all.
2pm to 3pm
More London events on Friday 17th November
Saturday 18th November
A few days each year, the Hampton Court Palace gardens are free to visit.
10am to 5:30pm
East Molesey
An annual gathering of witchcraft, folklore, ghosts, and fairies from the British Isles.
10am to 5pm
Holborn
Come and enjoy the traditional atmosphere with Swedish food and handcrafts.
11:30am to 6pm
Marylebone
To celebrate the launch of ‘London Railway Atlas’, author Joe Brown will be holding a book signing in the Museum shop
12pm to 3pm
Covent Garden
Volunteers from Barnet Museum are continuing to arrange special openings of Barnet Physic Well.
2pm to 4pm
Arkley
Jessica Carney will share some stories about her famous grandfather, William Hartnell, the original Doctor Who.
3pm to 4:30pm
Ealing
More London events on Saturday 18th November
Sunday 19th November
Vintage buses operating free extra trips on routes 13, 125, 134, 221 and 263.
9:30am to 5:30pm
A few days each year, the Hampton Court Palace gardens are free to visit.
10am to 5:30pm
East Molesey
£10.00
Twice yearly sale of midcentury modern furniture and accessories.
10am to 4pm
Dulwich
A tour covering the whole of the Gardens, including the sites of the earlier houses, the Walled Garden and a large part of the existing Mansion.
Starts at 10am
North Weald
A one-day exhibition to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Liverpool Street line coming to Chingford.
11am to 4pm
Chingford
Come and enjoy the traditional atmosphere with Swedish food and handcrafts.
11:30am to 5pm
Marylebone
More London events on Sunday 19th November
Monday 20th November
An annual talk delivered by the President of Gresham College, The Rt Hon the Lord Mayor of the City of London.
6pm to 7pm
City of London
Find out what the reality was like for servicemen and surgeons in the bloody fields of battle with Mr Michael Crumplin, retired consultant surgeon and world authority on surgery during the Napoleonic Wars.
7pm to 8:30pm
Holborn
In conversation with Dr Lyndsey Jenkins, Jess will be reflecting on her life from childhood to MP.
7:30pm to 9:30pm
Whitechapel
More London events on Monday 20th November
Tuesday 21st November
Peruse a plethora of food, fashion, decoration and home ware stalls, whilst enjoying the beautiful historic surroundings.
11am to 8pm
Clerkenwell
Join our guided tour of Oxford House's listed Victorian building. Peek into our archives, visit our 'secret chapel' and take in 360°degree views of East London on our spectacular rooftop.
12pm to 1am
Dagenham
In this lecture, we discuss the mathematics behind them, and the links to other kinds of number grids, like magic squares and so-called Latin squares, which have been studied for centuries.
1pm to 2pm
Holborn
Public Meeting hosted by Griff Rhys Jones to Save Liverpool Street Station.
6pm to 7:30pm
City of London
Dr Sally Jeffery will discuss recent research on London and his career that has revealed many new details.
Starts at 6:30pm
Tottenham Court Road
Alice Albinia has spent the past seven years travelling around the edges of Britain, piecing together ancient, medieval and modern myths of islands ruled by women.
7pm to 8:30pm
Soho
Former BBC News technology correspondent, Rory Cellan-Jones talks about his life as a child of a love affair between two BBC employees.
7:30pm to 8:30pm
Richmond
More London events on Tuesday 21st November
Wednesday 22nd November
This lecture considers the evolution of this conspiracy theory since the Middle Ages, examines its nature and operation today, and considers its future development.
6pm to 7pm
Holborn
Join writer Iain Sinclair and painter Renchi Bicknell as they recount their experiences, through conversation, painting and film, retracing some of Van Gogh's long-distance walks across England, Belgium and France.
Starts at 7pm
Stockwell
Online events / webinars
This talk discusses some of the the creative uses and reuses of railway structures, including relocated and repurposed structures.
7pm to 8:30pm
More London events on Wednesday 22nd November
Thursday 23rd November
The festive celebration will host over 100 curated stands
10am to 5pm
Chelsea
Free
History Day is a day for students, researchers & history enthusiasts to explore library, museum, archive and history collections across the UK & beyond.
11am to 4pm
Euston
In this lecture, Professor Roland Greene will consider the First Folio as an event, not only in its immediate national context but from outside England and in light of its influence over the long term.
6pm to 8pm
Euston
The launch of a new creative venue, The Handbag Factory, with an inaugural exhibition opening.
6pm to 9pm
Kennington
Join Dr Matt Lodder to explore a botanical perspective of tattoo design, tools and inks from prehistory to the present
6:15pm to 7:30pm
Pimlico
Delve into the world of Tudor warfare at sea and explore the creation and function of Tudor gun-shields.
6:30pm to 9pm
Whitehall
Join writer and speaker Nick Page for this fun and informative look at myths and traditions of the festive season.
6:30pm to 8pm
Southwark
Celebrate a decade of Concretopia this is a special night back in Bookseller Crow, where it all began.
7:30pm to 9:30pm
Upper Norwood
Online events / webinars
This talk with Dr Kris Lockyear explores the techniques used to discover an ancient Roman palace in Hertfordshire.
1pm to 2pm
More London events on Thursday 23rd November
Friday 24th November
The festive celebration will host over 100 curated stands
10am to 5pm
Chelsea
Illuminate Bermondsey & Rotherhithe is a free annual festival inspired by the histories of the Thames, the docks, and migration.
Starts at 5pm
Rotherhithe
Online events / webinars
How can London learn from European cities who are pioneering circular economy strategies to achieve our own zero-carbon status by 2030?
10am to 11am
In this talk commemorating 250 years since the Boston Tea Party, Daniel Gosling examines the documents at The National Archives that record this political and mercantile protest.
2pm to 3pm
More London events on Friday 24th November
Saturday 25th November
A day of talks exploring the lives and legacies of the Stuart family and their children, this event promises to be a captivating journey into British history.
10am to 5pm
Southwark
This is a biennial event, showcasing the work of this large group of active quilters.
10am to 4pm
Beckenham
The festive celebration will host over 100 curated stands
10am to 5pm
Chelsea
£3.00
There will be a selection of creative stalls and sellers displayed in the period rooms and outside in the Historic Courtyard.
11am to 4pm
Enfield Town
20 minute free horse and carriage rides around Chelsea each weekend in the run up to Christmas
12pm to 4pm
Chelsea
Annual sale of Nordic gifts by the two Nordic churches in Rotherhithe.
12pm to 6pm
Rotherhithe
£8.00
Biannual open weekend of an arts and crafts collective in Bloomsbury.
12pm to 6pm
Clerkenwell
A chance to see a steam train arrive at Paddington station in the afternoon.
12:30pm to 2pm
Once a month open day at a nature reserve that sits alongside the railway in Forest Hill.
1pm to 4pm
Forest Hill
Step back to the Roaring Twenties for an evening of traditional live Jazz and see the world's largest working steam engine in action.
6:30pm to 10:30pm
Feltham
More London events on Saturday 25th November
Sunday 26th November
The festive celebration will host over 100 curated stands
10am to 4pm
Chelsea
A WW2-era history attraction that's open to the public once a month.
10:30am to 4pm
Watford
£3.00
There will be a selection of creative stalls and sellers displayed in the period rooms and outside in the Historic Courtyard.
11am to 4pm
Enfield Town
A festive extravaganza supported by The Friends of Dulwich College.
11:30am to 4pm
Dulwich
20 minute free horse and carriage rides around Chelsea each weekend in the run up to Christmas
12pm to 4pm
Chelsea
Annual sale of Nordic gifts by the two Nordic churches in Rotherhithe.
12pm to 6pm
Rotherhithe
£8.00
Biannual open weekend of an arts and crafts collective in Bloomsbury.
12pm to 6pm
Clerkenwell
Once a month, the oldest building in Hackney, St Augustine's Tower is open, so you can climb up to the top.
2pm to 4:30pm
Hackney
The longest running Doctor Who pub quiz on the planet, The Quiz of Rassilon, joins the festivities at Riverside Studios to mark the 60th Birthday of Doctor Who.
Starts at 6:30pm
Hammersmith
More London events on Sunday 26th November
Monday 27th November
Free
This lecture will examine the opportunities and threats of the impending AI revolution, asking if AI differs from past technology waves and exploring measures to ensure AI safety.
6pm to 7pm
Holborn
More London events on Monday 27th November
Tuesday 28th November
The Guildhall Christmas market will let you shop a variety of stalls selling luxury handmade, unique and exclusive gifts.
10:30am to 7pm
City of London
This talk will explore the lives of senior female office-holders and consider to what extent they could exercise agency in the jobs to which they had been appointed.
5:30pm to 7pm
Euston
Discover the new wave of guerrilla gardening, rooted in social justice and climate action, with Ellen Miles
6:15pm to 8pm
Pimlico
Eye magazine hosts another of its Type Tuesday evening events with a focus on funfair signwriting with Joby Carter.
7pm to 9:30pm
City of London
Online events / webinars
Eyam Museum's curator Owen Roberts explores fascinating history of the ‘plague village’.
6pm to 7pm
More London events on Tuesday 28th November
Wednesday 29th November
In this talk, former housing association developer turned heritage professional, Roland Jeffery, steers us through these changes to the area and their correlation with the social conditions of the time.
Starts at 7pm
Paddington
Online events / webinars
Susan Major discusses the working class railway excursions for women in early Victorian Britain.
7pm to 8:30pm
Join author Helena Kelly as she retells Dickens’ story from his childhood to his deathbed, uncovers the truths he tried to keep hidden
7:30pm to 8:30pm
More London events on Wednesday 29th November
Thursday 30th November
Join the Thames Discovery Programme on a guided walk on the Thames foreshore by Cannon Street in the City of London.
Starts at 9:15am
Come along to Foyles Charing Cross Road and meet some of the best authors of the year, get your Christmas gifts signed, and have a glass of mulled wine.
Starts at 6pm
Soho
This special guided tour will take you on a journey through the Charterhouse's history, all revealed in flickering candlelight.
6pm to 8pm
Clerkenwell
Discover the magic of winter with garden designer Naomi Slade, as she joins us in conversation at the Lindley Library
6:15pm to 8pm
Pimlico
