Among the events going on this weekend, London’s arts scene offers up two gems – a musical piece in a cemetery and a collection of classic Marilyn Monroe portraits.

Marilyn Monroe: A British Love Affair at National Portrait Gallery
Opening on Saturday, this free exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery explores the most iconic pin-up of the 20th century, Marilyn Monroe, seen through the lenses of British photographers. The photos on show include Monroe’s favourite image of herself holding a rose in bed, taken by Cecil Beaton in 1956 in his Ambassador Hotel suite in New York. Other pictures cover the actress’s four month visit to Britain to film The Prince and The Showgirl with Laurence Olivier, a shot of Monroe meeting the Queen and selection of rare British magazine covers taken by André de Dienes and Milton Greene.
Until 24 Mar

Big Draw, Big Make at the Victoria and Albert Museum
One man’s scribble is another man’s masterpiece, and Roald Dahl illustrator Quentin Blake will be at the V&A on Sunday to inspire us at the launch of The Big Draw, a worldwide festival dedicated to drawing. CBeebies TV character Mister Maker will also make an appearance along with pop-up studios, drawing games, portfolio advice for older drawers and a battle between seven top cartoonists. All events are free but some need to be booked in advance.
30 Sep (The Big Draw runs from 1-31 Oct)

Pearly Kings & Queens Harvest Festival Parade

You’re guaranteed to spot royalty in London on Sunday, as the pearly kings and queens of the capital don their signature pearl-button-covered outfits or “smother suits” to march through East London. Each borough has a king and queen, thanks to groups who continue a working-class tradition started in Queen Victoria’s reign. Their annual parade starts at Guildhall Yard on Gresham Street at 1pm, and will include donkeys and carts.  The day rounds off with a church service at 3pm at St Mary-le-Bow Church.
30 Sep

The London Requiem at Abney Park Cemetery
Abney Park Cemetery is the venue for the first performance of a new choral work by English composer Benjamin Till. It’s a fitting location as The London Requiem was written after Till spent time in London’s majestic cemeteries, and the story is inspired by Londoners who have passed away. Organisers plan to create an “avenue of remembrance” using white balloons which each visitor can dedicate to the memory of someone for a donation. Tickets are from £15 and guests are advised to bring a torch and note that reaching the cemetery involves a 200m walk down a woodland path.
29 Sep

What are you up to this weekend? Post any events we’ve missed below.

This year’s Enjoy England Awards for Excellence are asking for your favourite quirky event that’s unique to England.

The winner will be announced in a ceremony on St George’s Day (24 April).

Visit London will shortly be submitting some of our favourite quirky London experiences in a bid to claim the top “Where Else but England” prize for the capital!

Here are some of our favourite unconventional London traditions:

The Christmas Day Peter Pan Swim in the Serpentine: brave members of the Serpentine Swimming Club take to near-freezing waters for this annual event in Hyde Park.

The IWA Canalway Cavalcade: hundreds of narrowboats fill the waters of Little Venice with colour, character and quintessential English on May bank holiday

The MP vs Media Parliamentary Pancake Race gives the two opposing teams the opportunity to battle it out in Victoria Tower Gardens carrying frying pans and pancakes

Horseman’s Sunday: the vicar of St. John’s Church in Hyde Park leads more than 100 horses and riders to the church in a celebration of horse riding in the capital.

A much-loved cockney tradition, Pearly Kings & Queens: dating from the 19th century when a young boy covered a suit with shiny buttons to attract attention in an effort to raise money for the poor. The tradition thrives to this day; particularly at the annual festival at St Martin-in-the Fields.

Twelfth Night: mixing ancient midwinter traditions with contemporary festivity, the Twelfth Night celebration on Bankside includes the extraordinary, pagan Holly Man, who, decked in evergreen foliage, appears from the Thames…

Do you have your own favourite quirky London event? Add your suggestions to the comments below for other top contenders!

Did you arrive at Heathrow’s Terminal 1 on Sunday?

Then chances are, you were given a proper London welcome by a group of Pearly Kings and Queens, for a traditional cockney knees-up!

The Pearlies greeted passengers with the spoons and a good ol’ rabbit.

We’re told even the terminal announcements (normally broadcast in the best Queen’s English) were read in traditional rhyming slang:

• Take care on the apples and pears
• Saucepan lids are not permitted to ride on the baggage trolleys

Mike Brown, Chief Operating Officer at Heathrow, said, “We’re trying to bring some of London’s unique characteristics to Heathrow, to entertain passengers but also to show off some of the city’s history and its culture.”

William McCarthy arriving from Auckland said, “I have never seen anything quite like this; what a welcome to the UK!”

Pearly Queen of Islington, Phyllis Broadbent said, “We’ve never been to Heathrow before, it’s rather exciting! The Pearlies are a London tradition and this is London’s airport; now people arriving from all over the world have seen us!”

Did you see them? Let us know what you think of the Pearly party!