What To Do This Weekend 11.09.25

Clarins is celebrating ten years of its bestselling Lip Comfort Oil with a playful Soho pop-up. Open across Saturday and Sunday, the Sweet Spot is full of themed activities, exclusive giveaways and sugary treats – from lip-shaped biscuits to branded macarons with every purchase. Early birds will be rewarded too, with the first 50 customers each day receiving an exclusive goody bag. Once inside, there’s plenty to explore: spin the mixer wheel for a chance to win full-sized products, decorate edible lip biscuits and get hands-on with Clarins’ hero products in dedicated beauty zones. Fans will also want to keep an eye out for the limited-edition Lip Oil plushies, available with qualifying purchases – plus, the chance to win one of ten giant versions worth over £150. Add in cocktails, mocktails and Insta-worthy installations, and it’s a great way to start your weekend.

59 Greek Street, Soho, W1D 3DZ; 13th-14th September

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London’s West End is getting a new nightlife hotspot this weekend as U9 Karaoke Bar opens its futuristic doors. Inspired by East Asian KTV culture but with a cool London twist, it’s the city’s first high-end karaoke and cocktail bar. Behind its understated exterior, nine private suites have been fitted with cutting-edge sound systems, atmospheric club lighting and there’s an on-demand bottle service. Whether you’re after a cosy space for 12 or a sprawling VIP lounge for 40, you’ll have access to a vast library of 450,000 songs spanning everything from K-pop and Mandopop to 90s Britpop classics. Drinks lean into bold Asian flavours – think lemongrass, star anise and Szechuan pepper – with inventive cocktails crafted by ex-Hakkasan mixologist Egidio Bizzotto. Add DJs, late-night bites like sushi, dim sum and Korean fried chicken, and interiors that nod to sci-fi glamour, and you’ve got a totally new kind of London night out.

47 Whitcomb Street, Covent Garden, WC2H 7DH; From 12th September

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This weekend, pre-loved luxury specialist Sign of the Times is taking over The Music Room in Mayfair for a one-day shopping event offering up to 70%  OFF retail prices. Expect rails of bags, coats, jackets and accessories from Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada and more – with every piece authenticated and carefully sourced. Payment is card-only, all sales are final and last entry is at 4pm – so arrive early to get your hands on the best finds. 

The Music Room, 58 Davies Street, Mayfair, W1K 5JF; 13th September

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Few films are as iconic as Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet – and this week, Backyard Cinema is bringing it back to one of London’s most atmospheric venues. At the Grade II-listed Union Chapel, the film will be screened with a live choir and 12-piece orchestra performing its legendary soundtrack. Think DiCaprio at peak 90s heartthrob, Claire Danes behind the fish tank and Radiohead’s ‘Exit Music’ echoing beneath stained glass windows. Add in candlelight, blue neon crosses and a fully stocked bar, and you’ve got a movie night that feels more like a concert-meets-theatre experience. Tickets are £38.

Union Chapel, Islington, N1 2UN; until 13th September

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There aren’t many restaurant pop-ups as personal – or as delicious – as Dita, a new dining project from chefs Louis Korovilas and Taylor Sessegnon-Shakespeare. The pair, who honed their skills at Locanda Locatelli and Bancone, are serving just 27 diners a night above the Islington Arts Club. Expect a six-course menu (£65) that’s as seasonal as it is inventive: recent highlights have included sardine saor with sweet onions and beans; a crispy polenta boule topped with earthy mushroom sauce; and delicate potato ravioli dressed in crab and tomato butter. With warm, unfussy hospitality and a drinks list limited to a handful of well-chosen bottles and cocktails, it feels like a dinner party cooked by chefs at the top of their game.

Upper Street, Islington, N1 0NU; Fridays & Saturdays 

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If you’re looking for a family-friendly outing that feels a little out of this world, head to Clapham Common for Colourscape. Taking over almost an acre, it’s a sprawling labyrinth of interconnected tunnels made from translucent panels that glow with vivid colour in the daylight. The result is an immersive experience that alters your sense of space, balance and even mood – making it equally fun for kids to explore and adults to marvel at. This year’s edition also adds live music performances inside the structure, heightening the surreal atmosphere and making each visit unique. Tickets are from £7, with time slots available throughout the day.

Clapham Common, Clapham, SW4 9DE;  13th-21st September

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For one night only, some of London’s most decorated chefs are heading to The Dorchester. Who’s Cooking Dinner? is the annual fundraising gala where 20 acclaimed chefs each take control of a single table, creating a bespoke menu for diners who won’t know who’s cooking until they sit down. This year’s line-up includes Claude Bosi, Sally Abé and Francesco Mazzei, with Michelin stars scattered throughout the kitchen. Beyond dinner, there’s also a live auction, with 100% of the proceeds donated directly to Leukaemia UK. The event, which marks its 26th anniversary in 2025, has already raised more than £8m since it began. Expect extraordinary food, impeccable service and the chance to play a direct role in supporting a vital cause. Tickets are limited, so move fast.

The Dorchester, 53 Park Lane, Mayfair, W1K 1QA; 15th September

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The Bridge Theatre continues its run of bold re-imaginings with Simon Stone’s new production of The Lady From The Sea. Known for transforming classics like Yerma and Phaedra into urgent, contemporary works, Stone now takes on Ibsen’s tale of love, autonomy and longing. Alicia Vikander stars as Ellida, a woman trapped in a comfortable but stifling marriage to Andrew Lincoln’s Edward, when a lover from her past returns to upend her life. Set against the backdrop of a remote coastal town, the play explores questions of freedom, desire and identity with Stone’s signature cinematic flair. For Vikander, it’s a rare stage appearance – and one theatre fans won’t want to miss.

Bridge Theatre, Southwark, SE1 2SG; until 8th November

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Soho has always been synonymous with jazz, and this weekend the London neighbourhood is hosting one of the capital’s most exciting music festivals. Across four days, more than 100 artists will perform 40-plus shows in venues ranging from legendary clubs to tiny backstreet pubs – and even on a roaming double-decker jazz bus. Expect headline gigs from big-name performers alongside intimate jam sessions, secret drop-ins, live recordings and exhibitions celebrating the scene. This year’s programme even includes a ‘metaverse jazz club’, blending the traditional with the cutting-edge. Day passes are available, making it easy to dip into the festival atmosphere, or you can plan a full itinerary, hopping from venue to venue.

Various locations across Soho; 10th-14th September

Visit SOHOJAZZFESTIVAL.COM