What's On in London
Thursday 05 November 2026 · This weekend · City guide
London on a Thursday in November can feel like the city is daring you to stay in — and tonight, it absolutely wins that argument. From candlelit concert halls to a Lewisham pub ringing with Somali funk, the capital is pulling in every direction at once, and every single one of those directions is worth following. Wrap up, step out, and let the city surprise you.
Highlights

Beethoven Piano Trios by Candlelight — There are few more quietly magical settings in London than St Mary Le Strand, that elegant Baroque island of a church marooned in the middle of the Strand, and tonight it glows with candlelight for an intimate evening of Beethoven's chamber masterworks. From 6:00pm, the flicker and warmth of the room does half the atmospheric heavy lifting before a single note is played, making this an ideal early-evening escape from the November chill. Tickets run from £10 to £45, so there is a price point whether you are treating yourself or treating a date.

Dur-Dur Band International — This is genuinely one of those gigs you will be talking about for years — Dur-Dur Band are legends of Somali music, blending funk, jazz, and the hypnotic rhythms of the Indian Ocean into something that feels completely unlike anything else on a London stage. The Fox And Firkin in Lewisham is an unpretentious, brilliant venue for exactly this kind of joyful discovery, and at £22 from 7:30pm, it is outstanding value for a band with this much history and heat. Do not sleep on this one.

She's Got Brass - Freight Brixton Presents: Soul of the South — Freight Brixton is fast becoming one of south London's most exciting new live music spaces, and this early evening showcase from 6:00pm is a perfect introduction, celebrating the soulful, brassy sounds of the South with a line-up curated with real care and passion. Tickets start from just £5, making it one of the most accessible musical evenings in the city tonight, and the intimate setting means you will feel every note. A brilliant way to kick off a Thursday evening before the night properly begins.

IYAMAH: Save Our Scene x The North Face x Liveline — 21Soho is the kind of room where the energy hits you the moment you walk in, and tonight it hosts IYAMAH in what promises to be a charged, collaborative live experience brought together by Save Our Scene, The North Face, and Liveline — a genuinely unusual coalition that speaks to something bigger than just a gig. From 8:00pm and priced between £8 and £12, this is a night that sits at the intersection of music, culture, and community, with an artist whose voice is earning serious attention right now. Get in early.

Liszt By Candlelight — If Beethoven earlier in the evening has whetted your appetite for something even more dramatic, St Mary Le Strand reopens its doors at 8:00pm for a second candlelit programme — this time devoted entirely to the volcanic Romanticism of Franz Liszt, whose piano music was essentially the arena rock of the nineteenth century. The combination of flickering candles, a jewel-box church, and music that was designed to make audiences swoon is close to unbeatable on a cold November night. Tickets are £10 to £45.

This Feeling - London — This Feeling has an enviable track record of spotting guitar bands on the cusp of something big before anyone else does, and their London showcase at The Finsbury from 7:30pm is exactly the kind of sweaty, thrilling evening that reminds you why live music matters in the first place. The Finsbury is a proper north London boozer with a room that sounds great and a crowd that comes ready to be converted, so expect new favourites to emerge before the night is out. Check the website for ticket prices and line-up details.
Full listings
| Event | Venue | Time | Price | Link | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Music | |||||
| She's Got Brass - Freight Brixton Presents: Soul of the South | Freight Brixton | 6:00pm | £0–£5 | Tickets | |
| Beethoven Piano Trios by Candlelight | St Mary Le Strand | 6:00pm | £10–£45 | Tickets | |
| Gordon Mark Webber Thursday Night at Indian Essence | BR1 1LG | 7:00pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| This Feeling - London | The Finsbury | 7:30pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| Dur-Dur Band International | Fox And Firkin | 7:30pm | £22 | Tickets | |
| Liszt By Candlelight | St Mary Le Strand | 8:00pm | £10–£45 | Tickets | |
| IYAMAH: Save Our Scene x The North Face x Liveline | 21Soho | 8:00pm | £8–£12 | Tickets | |
| Exhibition | |||||
| Mega Mega: Romford's Suburban Sound Revolution | ATIK Romford | 12:00pm | £0–£12 | Tickets | |