Things to do in London this week

Spring’s just around the corner now, and the capital is full of colour this week.

Holi celebrations are taking place throughout the month, and there’s plenty for Londoners to get up to – check out our full guide here.

Elsewhere, there are new cocktail bars to check out and new vegan takeovers, as well as intriguing club nights and quiz nights to please Potter fans across the city.

This is our pick of the best things to get up to in London over the next few days.

Take part in an enlightening discussion about women in food

Some of the top chefs in British cooking are taking part in this thought-provoking discussion for International Women’s Day. Clare Smyth, Phil Howard, Skye Gyngell and Geetie Singh Watson will all debate the advantages of keeping a gender balance in their kitchens, and how the industry can still learn more. The £18 tickets also include a glass of wine on entry.

Monday March 9, SMEG Showroom, Regent Street, SW1Y 4PH, eventbrite.co.uk

Enjoy vegan Mondays at Dirty Bones Soho

New York-style diner chain Dirty Bones is switching things up – while you’ll usually find great burgers and wings on the menu, it recently announced plans to go vegan on Mondays at its Soho location. Expect a top selection of plant-based comfort food and cocktails on offer, including Dirty Vegan signature burgers, dogs and sides.

Every Monday, 14 Denman Street, W1D 7HJ, dirty-bones.com

Dance the night away at Phonox

Phonox, one of the best clubs in south London, is hosting an intriguing night on Friday, welcoming Pearson Sound and re:ni to spin eclectic tunes all night. They’ll both offer a wide range of styles and genres, spinning tracks through the venue’s top-notch Funktion-One sound system.

Friday March 13, 418 Brixton Road, SW9 7AY, phonox.co.uk

Head to a Britpop party at Dingwalls

Roll the clock back to mid-90s Manchester with this special Oasis night in Camden. Fans can expect four non-stop hours of the band’s tunes at Dingwalls, reliving the glory days until 3am. There’ll be beer on tap, but if you’re feeling supersonic, you can have a gin and tonic. Some might say it’s definitely (maybe) one of the best club nights of the month.

Friday March 13, Middle Yard, NW1 8AB, eventbrite.co.uk

Test your knowledge of the Quizzarding World

How well do you know your HP? Do you know your knuts from your sickles and galleons? Your monkshood and wolfsbane? You’ll need to be on top of your game for this Harry Potter quiz night at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, which is raising money for Cabaret vs Cancer and will also feature performances from drag troupe The Vixens.

Thursday March 12, Royal Vauxhall Tavern, SE11 5HY​, vauxhalltavern.com

Head to a Drag Race Season 4 Reunion Show

The queens of season four reunite to sort a few things out. Sharon Needles, Latrice Royale, Chad Michaels, Phi Phi O’Hara, Jiggly Caliente and Madame LeQueer battle it out (again). They’ll be bringing back their snatch game characters and lip syncing for their lives to crown a new winner.

Monday March 9, Clapham Grand, SW11 1TT, claphamgrand.com

Try out a new cocktail haunt in Tooting

There’s a new spot to keep an eye out for in south London, with the Orange Buffalo restaurant in Tooting Broadway adding a new-look bar. There’s a fresh cocktail list on offer, as well as New York style buffalo wings from the kitchen. The spot has added a big screen to its new upstairs space, and it’ll be showing big sporting events too.

46 Mitcham Road, SW19 7NA, theorangebuffalo.com

See Emilia Clarke step onto the London stage

The action from Russian master Chekhov’s The Seagull os moved to the Isle of Man in this, the second play of Jamie Lloyd’s Playhouse Theatre takeover. Game of Thrones stars Emilia Clarke and Indira Varma are both in the cast, breathing life into the classic story focusing on the disparate individuals gathered on an isolated country estate.

March 11-May 30, Playhouse Theatre, playhouse.londontheatres.co.uk

Add a splash of colour with Holi celebrations in London

Holi celebrations are taking place in London this month, with the official festival happening on March 10. It's being marked with events throughout the coming weeks, including a paint throwing pop-up at Cinnamon Kitchen. Check out our full guide here.

Various locations, standard.co.uk