What's On in London: 13–19 March 2026

Ever wondered if you’d survive a 16th-century street brawl? This week, you can find out minus the actual danger. The Sword Fighting Demonstration at Shakespeare’s Globe is our top pick for a thrilling afternoon, where the Globe Fight Team breaks down the lethal difference between rapiers and smallswords.

Beyond the blades, London is leaning heavily into Women’s History Month. From "badly behaved" women at the National Gallery to unsung abolitionists at the Museum Docklands, this week’s schedule is a powerful tribute to the female figures who shaped our world.

Friday 13 March

• Out of Hours Dino Tours | Natural History Museum | A 9:00am early-access tour of the world-famous Dinosaur Gallery. Price: £30

• The Way of Tea | British Museum | A demonstration of a Japanese tea ceremony in the Japanese Galleries. Price: Free

• The Fevered Fight: Medicine in 1776 | National Army Museum | A talk exploring medical challenges during the American War of Independence. Price: Free

• Yeol Eum Son plays Bartók | Barbican Hall | The BBC Symphony Orchestra performs a powerhouse programme at 7:30pm. Price: From £15

• Singing, Stories and Crafts for Under 5s | London Transport Museum | Interactive sessions featuring the "Underground Mouse" for the little ones. Price: Free with admission (£24.50 annual pass)

Saturday 14 March

• Women’s History Month: The Unsung Abolitionists | London Museum Docklands | A talk uncovering the role of women in the 19th-century abolition movement. Price: Free

• Women’s History Month: Women of the Wallace | The Wallace Collection | Celebrating the female artists and patrons who shaped this famous collection. Price: Free

• Sounds of Blossom | Kew Gardens | Live music from the Roselle String Quartet amidst the magnolias and cherry blossoms. Price: Included with entry (From £20)

• Quiet Mornings: Lucian Freud | National Portrait Gallery | A calm, sensory-friendly early morning visit to the latest exhibition. Price: Free (Booking required)

Sunday 15 March

• Sword Fighting Demonstration | Shakespeare’s Globe | Watch the Globe Fight Team battle it out and learn about historical street fights. Price: £12

• Women’s History Month: Inspiring Women Tour | National Portrait Gallery | A highlights tour celebrating female pioneers in science, nursing, and art. Price: Free

• Fleet Street Walking Tour by Bowl of Chalk | Meet at The Blackfriar | Tracing London's "ink street" history from the 1500s to the 1980s. Price: From £22.38

• Regency Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea | Old Royal Naval College | Treat Mum to tea inside the historic Admiral’s House. Price: £55–£72

Monday 16 March

• Sufi Life and Art | British Museum | An exhibition exploring the eighth-century mystical movement through art and objects. Price: Free

• East Wing Exclusive Guided Tour | Buckingham Palace | An expert-led tour through the principal rooms of the Palace’s East Wing. Price: £100

Tuesday 17 March

• Historical Highlights Tour | Somerset House | A deep dive into the architecture and naval history of this Grade I listed landmark. Price: £12

• Prom Praise For Schools | Royal Albert Hall | An immersive musical journey for families and schools starting at 6:00pm. Price: Check website for school/family rates

Wednesday 18 March

• Women’s History Month: Marie de Médici | The Wallace Collection | A short talk on how this French icon used art to project power. Price: Free

• Wednesday Lates | Two Temple Place | Live music from Steve Skaith of Latin Quarter while you explore the gallery. Price: Free

• Women’s History Month: Women Behaving Badly | National Gallery | Exploring depictions of female power and defiance in art. Price: £20 (Gallery Members Only)

Thursday 19 March

• International Day of Glaciers: "When White Blankets" | The Photographers' Gallery | A book launch and film screening exploring vanishing Alpine glaciers. Price: Free

• Women’s History Month: Margaret Beaufort | National Portrait Gallery | A lunchtime lecture on the survivor and "kingmaker" mother of Henry VII. Price: £10

• Monty Don: British Gardens | Eventim Apollo | Britain’s best-loved gardener brings stories of our landscape to the stage. Price: From £35

• Refugee and Migrant Writers | Keats House | Displaced poets share work that "writes back" to the poems of John Keats. Price: From £5