Jubilee mania might be over, but there’s still plenty going on in London. Here are our top picks for what to do in the capital this weekend.

London Nocturne

Smithfield Market will become a bicycle battleground on Saturday as top cyclists race on its surrounding streets in this year’s IG Markets London Nocturne. The free event also includes a penny farthing race and a challenge to achieve the longest skid on a fixed-gear bike. The brand new City Criterium will see cycling teams from central London firms fight to be crowned the fastest company in the square mile. 9 Jun

Open Garden Squares Weekend

More than 200 of London’s private squares are unlocked to the public for one weekend only each year. Admire the Victorian stump garden and beehive in Camden’s Bedford Square or take tea in Fitzroy Square, the communal garden used by prime minister Lord Salisbury and Virginia Woolf, who lived there at different times. One ticket allows entry to all the squares over the weekend and you can calculate distances between them using the handy ‘My Gardens’ tool on the website. 9 – 10 Jun

Dickens and London

It’s the last chance to catch the Museum of London’s much-praised Dickens and London exhibition charting Charles Dickens’ relationship with the capital. Entry is by timed ticket and pre-booking is advised. Until 10 Jun

The London Green Fair

The Regent’s Park is getting even greener this weekend as London’s biggest eco-festival takes over with music, talks and activities for the environmentally-minded. Try out electric bikes, learn about permaculture, browse organic and fairtrade wares at market stalls, check out exhibitions from Ecotricity and Zipcar and listen to bands at the Global-local stage and Pea Pod Arena. 9 – 10 Jun

MINT Polo in the Park

The Jubilee got our juices flowing for all things British, and what could be more proper than a spot of Polo? Six teams play each other over three days at MINT Polo in the Park at Hurlingham Park, with entertainment from the Devil’s Horsemen equine stunt team. It’s as much about the glamour as the matches – there’s also the Harrods Food Court, a luxury shopping village and opportunity to whet your whistle at numerous pitch-side bars. 8 – 10 Jun

Comedy Store Players

For anyone who feels comedy is too formulaic, here’s your antidote. This top improvisation group puts on a brilliant night of unscripted fun, with members who have worked together since the 80s. Paul Merton is the top name to catch and will be part of the antics on stage at the intimate Soho club on Sunday evening. 10 Jun

Plan your weekend in London at www.visitlondon.com

In the Olympic year, you can save at least 20.12% on hotels and attractions across London.

Offers include:

• Two-for-one tickets to the Dickens and London exhibition at Museum of London
• Two-for-one tickets to Chelsea FC Stadium Tours & Museum
• 20.12% off entry to WWT London Wetlands Centre

Go to www.great2012offers.com to find out more.

Dickens: Dark London, Museum of London

Museum of London has launched an interactive graphic novel to coincide with its Dickens and London exhibition. Accompany Dickens on his night time walks and experience the darker side of Dickensian London in this app, based on Dickens’ short stories. Dickens: Dark London is illustrated by David Foldvari and voiced by actor Mark Strong. New editions will be released monthly. Dickens: Dark London, iPhone and iPad only, first edition free, subsequent editions, £1.49

Treasures by The British Library

Get your fingers on a handwritten draft of Nicholas Nickleby with The British Library’s Treasures app. This fascinating manuscript from the library’s collection is now available to view in a digital format on your phone, and shows the corrections and alterations Dickens made to the story. Among the other, erm, treasures on the app are sketches by Leonardo da Vinci, a first edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and audio excerpts from the library’s expert curators. iPhone and Android editions (£2.39), HD iPad edition (£3.49)

Dickens Map on Spottd

Find and visit highlights of Dickensian London on location-based sharing app Spottd. The Dickens map pinpoints famous locations from his novels, as well as some of Dickens’ own favourite haunts, including his family home in Camden; The Prospect of Whitby pub; and The Old Curiosity Shop on Portsmouth Street (often cited as the inspiration for the novel of the same name). Spottd, iPhone only, free

What do you think of these apps and are there any we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments below?

Madelene Yeshin
All my theatre highlights took place at The National, from Danny Boyle’s mind-blowing production of Frankenstein, to the hilarious One Man, Two Guvnors and finally to the beautiful, romantic and funny play by Daniel Kitson -It’s Alright Now, until Later. On the food front, I had an incredible dining experience at Heston’s Dinner in Knightsbridge, and dicovered a new favourite Oxford Street eatery at Riding House Café - perfect for escaping the shopping crowds. Finally, my most bizarre experience of the year was rowing across the roof of Selfridges on an emerald lake courtesy of Bombas and Parr.

Lettice Kemp
My 2011 highlights included following the craft trail at the Thames Festival, seeing Milton Jones’ stand-up show, being utterly terrified by Daleks at the Doctor Who Experience, visiting the Tower Bridge Exhibition, watching Arthur “Rory” Darvill in Doctor Faustus at Shakespeare’s Globe and attending Knit Nation for the first time. Tapping into the trend for shocking Christmas jumpers, I took a one-day knitting class at Loop and mastered Fair Isle knitting. I also took a silver clay class at the London Jewellery School and a lampshade making class at The Make Lounge, both of which I heartily recommend. Best of all was South Pacific at the Barbican: just beautiful and dreamy.

Aly Garvey
There were some gorgeous exhibitions in London this year including the Glamour of the Gods at the National Portrait Gallery which I loved. Degas and the Ballet at the Royal Academy of Arts was fantastic too. I enjoyed dinner at two of London’s most well-known restaurants, the OXO Tower and the Rib Room which have both had refurbishments this year and reopened looking better than ever with food and drinks to match.

Hannah Collingbourne
After seeing Shrek The Musical, my friend declared, “That’s the best thing that’s happened to me all week!”. I have to agree; in fact it was one of my top events for the whole year. Audience members of all ages left the theatre with a smile on their face. If you need cheering up in the dark winter months after Christmas, I’d recommend a visit to Shrek.

Lisa Williams
Walking along the Southbank with all the beach huts, beach and drinking Pimms on the roof top garden bar during the Southbank Centre’s Festival of Britain was fantastic. I was also lucky enough to go to The O2 to watch the ATP Tennis semi-final matches, which was truly inspiring. Next would be my preview trip of the Harry Potter tour which is opening in March – I just couldn’t believe how much detail had gone into making the sets! Finally, my trip on the Orient Express: being treated like royalty, drinking champagne and eating divine food while pottering around in a beautiful train… what a year!

Jenny Owen
From the swashbuckling Pirates exhibition, to the beautiful and delicate paintings of Degas, it’s been a great year for soaking up some culture in London. I spent hours at the Mirá½¹ exhibiton at Tate Modern, and now we have the Dickens exhibition, which I think really deserves all the hype. Other stand-out moments included visiting The Ritz (every bit as decadent as I’d imagined); touring the Tower of London by night and visiting beautiful Lancaster House during a rare public opening.

Lianne Kolirin
Matilda was unquestionably the highlight of my year in London. The kids loved it too, but you don’t need a little one in tow to appreciate this musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic. I also enjoyed visiting World Travel Market over the autumn. Practically every country around the world occupies a tiny corner of the enormous ExCel exhibition centre. It’s so huge; you could spend a whole week taking in the atmosphere. Earlier in the year, I saw John Bishop compere a comedy benefit in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall. So many great acts, so many laughs. Best of the bunch was Seann Walsh, who is definitely a face to look out for in 2012.

Tom Butler
2011 has been a great year for discovering new spaces in London, from inside the former Commonwealth Institute as part of Open House London, to the Eden Project-designed Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden & Bar for the 60th anniversary of the Festival of Britain. I’m glad this beautiful, grassy rooftop will be back in 2012. Other highlights included a Q&A with author Kazuo Ishiguro at a screening of Never Let Me Go in February (the venue, the Ritzy in Brixton, had an incredible year of events celebrating its 100th birthday), and Hackney Wicked in July. Finally, the best single moments were the decision to award the 2017 World Athletics Championships to London, and the discovery of (possibly) London’s best burritos at Picante Mexican Grillin Victoria – both are a fantastic result for the city.

Zoe Craig
There have been some great shows in London this year. Highlights for me included the brilliantly acted plays Clybourne Park, Frankenstein and The Westbridge; and classy musicals Crazy For You, Matilda and Betty Blue Eyes. Best of the lot was One Man, Two Guvnors – a wonderful script, a fantastic cast, and whole lot of fun. I also loved seeing the new Penguin Beach at London Zoo earlier in the summer.

What were your highlights of 2011? Let us know in the comments below…

One of the best of these is the Dickens and London exhibition at the Museum of London.

Visit, and you’ll see paintings, photographs, costumes and objects illustrating the world Dickens lived in and captured brilliantly in his books. Don’t miss the chance to check out Dickens’s rarely seen hand-written manuscripts, which will also be on display.

This Christmas, we’re offering you the chance to win two tickets to the exhibition, and, to make your experience a memorable one, we’re throwing in a night’s stay at the gorgeous Art Deco Thistle Hotel in Marble Arch. As well as staying in an Executive room, you can enjoy breakfast and dinner in the Marmor Grill.

Enter now for your chance to win this fantastic Dickens prize!

Dickens often walked the streets of London at night to piece together ideas for stories and characters. This exhibition takes you on a similar tour of Dickensian London, showing how the city he called his “magic lantern” inspired his famous tales.

Like any Dickens novel, there’s plenty of information about the grimy, poverty-stricken side of London in the 1800s. But there are also cheerier aspects on display, such as a beautiful painting of people enjoying Hyde Park in the summer, strolling, relaxing and playing – just like Londoners do today.

My favourite exhibits were:

• Handwritten letters by Charles Darwin, plus one of his own inkwells
• A display of period doorknockers (straight out of A Christmas Carol!)
• Dickens’ writing desk and chair

Also, Museum of London have added to their excellent app collection with Dickens: Dark London, a gorgeous-looking, graphic novel app, with monthly additions, available from 9 December.

Dickens and London, Museum of London, 9 Dec-10 Jun (admission charge). Get two-for-one entry to Dickens and London with our special offer

Please Sir, Can I Have Some More….

Celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens in 2012 with more Dickens-themed activities in London:

• The Charles Dickens Museum: See where the author lived between 1837 and 1839
• Meet Ebenezer Scrooge: Visit one of Dickens’ most famous characters in the grottos of Museum of London and Museum of London Docklands between 27 December and 1 January, and win a prize if you can cheer him up!
• The British Library: Charles Dickens and the Supernatural examines how Dickens used supernatural phenomena in his stories. Until 4 March
• BFI Southbank: Dickens on Film showcases archive footage of classic Dickens adaptations and examines his contribution to film and television history. 15 December
• Charles Dicken’s London: Our guide to the London landmarks featured in Charles Dickens’ novels