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Key dates for your diary, and all the blockbuster shows you should be booking right now.
SEP 1-30: TOTALLY THAMES
A month-long festival of maritimethemed events celebrating Old Father Thames. Look out for historic tall ships in Greenwich, some great walks and talks, and opportunities to go mudlarking with shoreline pros. Various venues. totallythames.org
SEP 5-NOV 21: PHOTOGRAPH 51
Nicole Kidman returns to the West End to take the lead role in Anna Ziegler’s play about Rosalind Franklin, the often-overlooked scientist who was pivotal in the discovery of DNA. Noël Coward Theatre. Buy tickets.
SEP 12: CEREMONY FESTIVAL
The thinking raver’s dance festival, packed with influential DJs from across the genres and around the world. Definite highlights will include Armand Van Helden’s ’90s set. Finsbury Park. ceremonyfestival.com
SEP 16-20: GREENWICH COMEDY FESTIVAL
Side-splitting stars such as Tim Key, Adam Buxton, Bridget Christie and Richard Herring will be doing their mirthsome thing in a tent in the grounds of the beautiful Old Royal Naval College. National Maritime Museum. greenwichcomedyfestival.co.uk
SEP 17-JAN 24: THE WORLD GOES POP
From canvas to car bonnets and pinball machines, this exhibition will explore the vast influence of ’60s pop art on trends and movements all around the world, from the political to the consumerist. Tate Modern.
SEP 19 AND 20: OPEN HOUSE
Buildings that are generally off-limits throw open their doors to visitors during this annual architecture festival. Burlington House – home to several royal societies – and the Inns of Court are among this year’s highlights. Various venues.
SEP 19-DEC 13: AI WEIWEI
The Chinese artist and political activist takes over the Royal Academy’s main galleries with a retrospective spanning his often controversial career. Royal Academy.
SEP 21-25: FLORENCE + THE MACHINE
Our favourite flame-haired foghorn plays four sold-out dates, capping an amazing year that has seen her headline Glastonbury and top the album charts. Alexandra Palace. Buy tickets on the Time Out Ticket Exchange.
Mallory Turner
SEP 22-NOV 14: GINGERLINE'S CHAMBERS OF FLAVOUR
Culinary impresarios Gingerline stage their largest immersive dining event to date. Be poised to grab a ticket when the next wave is released on September 14. Secret venue. chambersof flavour.co.uk
FROM SEP 30: THE MARTIAN
Ridley Scott blasts back to his sci-fi roots with this hotly anticipated adaptation of Andy Weir’s hit novel, starring Matt Damon as an astronaut struggling to survive after being accidentally left on Mars.
OCT 1-4: LONDON BEER CARNIVAL
Fifty breweries from 16 countries will be serving an array of hoppy concoctions in the tunnels beneath Waterloo. Beer! The Vaults. londonbeercarnival.com
OCT 7-18: LONDON FILM FESTIVAL
This annual festival is returning to the BFI, and its opening night film ‘Suffragette’, starring Meryl Streep, Carey Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter, is worth chaining yourself to the railings over. lff.org.uk
OCT 14-17: FRIEZE ART FAIR
The capital’s leading art fair returns to its temporary pavilion in Regent’s Park to showcase work from nearly 200 international galleries. Regent’s Park. friezelondon.com
FROM OCT 26: SPECTRE
The world’s favourite martini-supping psychopath returns for the twenty-fourth movie in the 007 franchise. Daniel Craig’s Bond will be pitted against Christoph Waltz’s shadowy bad guy, with Sam Mendes reprising directorial duties.
OCT 30 AND 31: PATTI SMITH
Punk’s poet laureate performs her landmark album ‘Horses’ in its entirety at the Roundhouse. Buy tickets on the Time Out Ticket Exchange.
NOV 7: WAHACA PRESENTS DAY OF THE DEAD FESTIVAL
London’s foremost Mexican restaurant chain celebrates the Central American nation’s colourful answer to Halloween with this all-day event which fuses food, music, film, immersive theatre and art. The Horrors and Crystal Fighters will perform on the main stage. Tobacco Dock. wahaca.co.uk/dotd
NOV 13-15: DOCTOR WHO FESTIVAL
Whovian nerds will be spoilt rotten at this threeday event with a variety of panel discussions, cast appearances and other Tardis-related fandom at this major celebration of the much-loved BBC show. ExCel London. doctorwho.tv
Jimmy Katz
NOV 13-22: EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL
Contemporary jazz giants including Courtney Pine, Melody Gardot, Jamie Cullum and, erm, Ice-T will perform in venues dotted around the city as part of this broad annual festival. Nice! Various venues. efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk
NOV 23-FEB 28: WONDER.LAND
From Damon Albarn comes this musical inspired by ‘Alice in Wonderland’, in which Lewis Carroll’s psychedelic fantasy land is replaced by a virtual reality world. National Theatre.
NOV 27: CHVRCHES
Touring their second album, ‘Every Open Eye’, the synthy Scots will perform their biggest headline show to date, with support from electro wizard Four Tet. Alexandra Palace.
Read our bloggers' picks to find more things to do this Autumn.