Five things to do in London this weekend

We’re officially in Autumn and what better city is there to enjoy this new season than London?

From Oktoberfest events to Kew Gardens’ Japan Festival, there are tonnes of fun things to do in the capital this weekend.

Here are five of our favourite events in London this weekend from October 1 to 3, we think you should check out.

London Oktoberfest

Various Locations October 1 to 3

Say prost to Oktoberfest. Who needs to go to Munich when you can celebrate in style right here!

This weekend will see a whole host of events kick off to celebrate Germany’s favourite beer festival.

Starting in Canada Water, festival goers can drink beer and eat bratwurst to their heart’s delight all weekend.

South London Oktoberfest, Camden Oktoberfest and Oktoberfest Clapham will also launch this Saturday October 2.

Japan Festival Week

Kew Gardens October 2 to 31

This weekend will see Kew Gardens abound with installations, performances and plants, inspired by Japanese culture.

Visitors can follow the Momijigari Trail across the gardens and take in the spectacular seasonal displays of fiery foliage.

Momijigari is the tradition of visiting places that are brimming with red leaves in autumn.

Visitors can also enjoy a large-scale artistic installation, One Thousand Springs, by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota at the Temperate House and while you are there you can also listen to mesmerising soundscapes by Yosi Horikawa.

An Evening With Stanley Tucci

London Palladium October 3 to 4

For those of you who loved his cocktail making tutorials over lockdown, this event is not to be missed.

Before he became Hollywood royalty through starring roles in blockbusters like The Devil Wears Prada and The Hunger Games, Stanley Tucci grew up in an Italian American family that spent every night around the table.

Join the award-winning actor and food obsessive for these intimate live events, as he celebrates the publication of his heart-warming new memoir, Taste – taking us beyond the recipes and into the memories that inspired them.

With Stanley’s signature wry humour and charm, plus never-before-heard stories, this promises to be a truly entertaining night in celebration of unforgettable meals and the importance of gastronomic joy in life.

Visit the new Prezzo in Islington

Islington Square

Calling all pizza and pasta lovers, a new Prezzo is in town!

The newest addition to the Italian food chain opened this week in Islington Square’s South Arcade boasting a whole new autumn menu.

As the evenings begin to get darker and chillier, what better way to warm up than tucking into some delicious chicken alfredo tagliatelle or goats cheese penne al forno, and wash it down with a blackberry negroni or orange and pomegranate cooler.

When LondonWorldvisited, the restaurant was buzzing with cheerful midweek diners enjoying signature cocktails and feasting on Italian classics.

We sampled some delicious porcini mushroom arancini, mozzarella sticks and calamari for starters, followed by sea bass puttanesca and chorizo and ricotta ravioli for the main course, finishing with the sumptuous chocolate fudge cake and honeycomb smash cheesecake.

Staff were friendly and attentive and the service was excellent.

The Normal Heart

National Theatre to November 6

A powerful, stirring drama based on the harrowing true story of the beginning of the AIDS crisis in New York City, and the gay men who fought with an entire political system to take their plight seriously.

Based on playwright Larry Kramer’s own experiences founding the Gay Men’s Health Crisis in New York in the 1980s, The Normal Heart follows Ned Weeks, a reluctant leader but furious activist, as he campaigns for awareness, and tends to his own friends and lovers who are dying all around him.

Marking 35 years since its explosive UK premiere, Dominic Cooke directs this National Theatre production starring Ben Daniels (The Crown), Liz Carr (Silent Witness) and Luke Norris (Poldark).

Tickets are still available.