Welcome listeners to "Things to Do in London" with your globetrotting, sports-loving friend Ollie Bennet, coming at you live on Sunday, November 16th, 2025. London’s wearing its classic autumn coat today—a brisk but friendly 10°C, a touch of sunshine peeking through clouds, and a general mood that’s buzzing with that special blend of anticipation and cozy excitement. The city’s alive with the hum of everything from holiday lights to jazz riffs, so let’s cut right to the chase and see what London has on tap!

Tonight, the one and only Lorde is taking center stage at The O2 Arena. Her doors open at 6 PM and the show kicks off around 9—expect ethereal vocals, epic crowd singalongs, and the kind of energy that’ll have even the Tube vibrating like a bass drum. If pop royalty’s not your jam, ABBA Voyage brings its dazzling, digital spectacular to ABBA Arena tonight, so grab your platforms and groove with the world’s favorite Swedish supergroup. For those who crave something a bit left-of-center, Orbit Culture’s shredding metal riffs will electrify the Electric Ballroom from 6:30 PM—get ready for hair-whipping and headbanging aplenty.

Feeling festive? New Wimbledon Theatre’s "Step Into Christmas" delivers big holiday vibes with a live band and seasonal singalongs to blast you into Yuletide mode. For the jazz aficionados, the EFG London Jazz Festival rolls out its carpet of brass and improvisation, including Dhamaal’s genre-blending performance at the Barbican, where classical brass bands meet south Asian rhythms and jazz jams for boundary-smashing brilliance.

Families and adventure-lovers, London’s got you covered. Dive into a citywide scavenger hunt with “London’s City Stroll”—solve clues, discover offbeat landmarks, and turn the Square Mile into your personal gameboard. Over at the Southbank Centre, kids can bounce through the REPLAY: A Limitless Recycled Playground, or families can meander through Jeppe Hein’s renowned Appearing Rooms, dodging water fountains and giggling like maniacs. If vintage is your thing, the Midcentury Modern fair and Frock Me! Vintage Fair are in full swing today, brimming with iconic designs and retro treasures.

Let’s not overlook local news! Vauxhall’s new Richard Wentworth sculpture brings a splash of...toilet humor atop the super sewer (yes, London’s art scene is never shy). The Congestion Charge has stepped up to £18, and news for electric vehicle fans—not exempt anymore. Southwark Tube Station just scored heritage protection, so next time you’re there, give those Jubilee line roundels a wink and a respectful nod for their new status.

If you need a snack amid all the excitement, swing over to any number of pop-up seasonal mulled wine stands dotted across the city—Londonist recommends warming up with a cheeky cup in Soho or Borough Market. For dinner, you can sneak into an early festive menu or try new bites at recently reopened Simpson’s Tavern, although heads up—the historic chophouse has a new name, so watch this space.

Here’s my Ollie Bennet tip of the day: get tickets to climb all 334 steps of Elizabeth Tower so you can stand beside Big Ben when it bongs. These go on sale today, but you’ll want to be quick—they sell out faster than you can say “Mind the Gap!” All-out adventure, unbeatable views, and a memory worth bottling.

Tomorrow, London’s twinkling with even more magic—from exclusive light trail festivals kicking off around the city to Mamma Mia! setting hearts spinning on the West End. So don’t forget to tune in then for your next dose of curious competitions, wild stories, and Ollie’s patented local mischief.

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