The theme Smoke is explored in the Pump House Gallery until 15 December 2008 with a dedicated Smoke Fayre day on Saturday 8 November.

The exhibition 'Smoke' comprises a curious collection of artefacts from major museums, contemporary artworks, archive films, ephemera and everyday objects. It presents a cacophony of objects, images, texts and sounds that extends beyond the gallery.

The Smoke Fayre day on Saturday November 8th is a bundle of smoky-themed workshops, demonstrations and performances in the grounds of the gallery, for both children and adults, including tastings and demonstrations of food smoking,trying out smoky eye makeup techniques, meeting Smoky Angora rabbits and learning how to knit their hair into smoky forms, finding out about the work of a fire engine from its crew and marvelling as a magician makes objects disappear in a puff of smoke.

Admission to the Pump House Gallery is free. The gallery is open Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday and Bank Holidays 11am-5pm, and Friday and Saturday 11am-4pm. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Admission to the gallery is free, but booking is recommended for the Smoke Fayre day. You can book via the gallery on 020 7350 0523 or email.

Find out more about exhibitions and events in the Pump House Gallery.

How to get there:

By tube: Vauxhall (Victoria Line, then via 156 or 344 bus)

By bus: 19, 49, 44, 137, 156, 170, 319, 345, 344, 452

By rail: Queenstown Road station (from Waterloo / Clapham Junction)

The London Children's Film Festival is upon us again and you can join in some of the fun for free in the Barbican from Saturday 22nd to Sunday 30th November 2008.

It's the fourth year of the London Children's Film Festival and there are various school and family events all over the city including The Electric Cinema, Greenwich Picturehouse, Phoenix Cinema, Rich Mix, Rio Cinema, Ritzy Cinema and Stratford Picturehouse East.

Not everything in the festival is free but Drop-In Zone films, events and activities at the Barbican are. Open to all ages.

Programme (of free events!) in the Barbican Centre

Sat 22 Nov: 10am-4pm
Animate London: The Pixelise the Population Project - This festival needs you! The LCFF is running a mass pixelisation project, aiming to animate as many Londoners as possible to create an animation starring you! The Pixelise the Population Project will take just a few minutes to participate in so drop in and have a go. See the results played back on the big screen at the end of the festival.

Sun 23 Nov: 10am-4pm
Crafts Corner - Why not go to one of the African themed films, then have a go at real African Crafts? Inspired by the festival's films there will be lots of opportunities for you to get creative. (Available throughout the festival)

Sat 29 Nov: 10am - 4pm
Flipbooks - Star as a character in your own flipbook.
Film Wardrobe - Try on film costumes and have your picture taken as a star.

Sunday 30 November: 10am-3pm
Free Screens - Sit back in a beanbag, relax and enjoy short films especially for children and by children.
Tune In - Inspired by the exhibition Frequency and Volume make your own vegetable radio and use your body as a radio transmitter in the Curve Gallery. 

Find out more about the London Children's Film Festival (for free events put 'free' in the search engine).

How to get there

The closest tube stations are located at Farringdon and Barbican.

If travelling by bus the 55, 63 and 243 serve Farringdon and the 4, 55, 56, 100, 153 and 243 all serve Barbican.

To help you plan your visit, visit Transport for London's Journey Planner, whether you're walking, cycling, driving, using the tube or buses, Journey Planner will provide the fastest, most efficient route.

Remember, remember, approximately the 5th of November! It's 403 years since Guy Fawkes was caught in a bit of a predicament with rather a lot of gunpowder.

In remembrance, free firework displays annually set the sky alight all over London, and as usual this November, London is Free is going to find them for you. We're going to keep adding events as we find them, so keep checking here for the latest...

List of free fireworks displays in London in alphabetical order (see end for general travel info):

Blackheath Fireworks
Saturday, 8 November 2008
Blackheath, Greenwich, London, SE3 See map
6.30pm music, 8pm fireworks!

Blackheath offers a traditional Guy Fawkes evening enjoyed by thousands each year. Music starts at 6.30pm and the sky gets lit from 8pm. And it's free!

You are advised not to go by car as parking spaces will not be provided.

Find out more about Blackheath Fireworks

How to get there:

Trains - Closes stations are Blackheath, Lewisham, Greenwich and Maze Hill.
Buses - 53, 54, 89, 108, 202, 380 and 386 all serve the area.

Brockwell Park
Wednesday 5th November 2008
Brockwell Park, Lambeth, London, SE24 See map
7.30pm - 8pm

The beautiful Brockwell Park, set in Herne Hill and close to Brixton, will be lit under a veritable feast of fireworks-driven light, as organised by Lambeth Council.

Find out more about Brockwell Park, or email Lambeth Council on infoservice@lambeth.gov.uk or you can call them on 020 7926 1000 (between 8.30am - 8pm).

How to get there:

Train - Herne Hill or Tulse Hill stations.
Underground - Brixton (Victoria line) tube is reasonably close.
Bus: 3, 37, 68, 196, 322, 468, 690 all serve the area.

Clapham Common
Wednesday 5th November 2008
Windmill Drive, Clapham Common, London, SW4 See map
7.30pm - 8pm.

Clapham Common is one of the largest firework displays in South London, expecting 100,000 spectators.

Find out more about Clapham Fireworks by calling 020 7926 6207.

How to get there:

Trains - Clapham High Street Rail is the closest train station.
Underground - Clapham Common and Clapham South are the closest tube stations, then Clapham North.
Buses - The 50, 137 and 417 all serve the Clapham Common area.

Roundwood Park
Wednesday 5 November 2008
Roundwood Park, Harlesden Road, Brent, London, NW10 See map
Fireworks 8pm-8.25pm, but arrive early for best view and entertainment!

Roundwood Park in Brent is hosting another glorious fireworks night brimming with music, children's entertainment - rides and such - refreshment stalls and fireworks booked in for 8pm. You are advised to arrive before 7.30pm to secure a good view and check out the entertainment.

Find out more about Roundwood Park, call 020 8937 5619 or email.

How to get there

Trains - the closest overground station is located at Willesden Junction.
Tubes - the closest tube station is a short walk away at Kensal Green.
Buses - 18, 187, 206, 220, 224, 226, 260, 266, 487 and PR2 all serve the area.

Saturday 8 November 2008

Between Blackfriars and Waterloo Bridges, South Bank, London, SE1 See map
A day of events, 5pm fireworks!

'One of London's grandest fireworks' will complete the day of delight and ritual of the Lord Mayor's Show. We're talking about half a tonne of fireworks, shooting from a barge on the Thames, potentially reaching 600ft into the sky.

Promised to be visible for miles, if you're in Southwark, near the water of the Thames with a view to the sky, then look up and enjoy the bright lights.

Victoria Park
Sunday 2nd November 2008
Victoria Park, Grove Road entrance, London, E9 See map
4pm funfair, 7.30pm-8.15pm fireworks!

This is the big one, 'The Big Bang', voted the Best Fireworks Display in London by Capital Radio and otherwise highly acclaimed by those in the know.

The Tower Hamlets Council Arts and Events people teamed up with internationally acclaimed pyrotechnicians Walk the Plank along with local speech and drama grads to come up with all things theatrical and spectacular. Backed by a soundtrack and great expectations from the crowd, this one's not going to disappoint!

The funfair's on from 4pm, and the fireworks begin at 7.30pm. Fireworks and glass are not allowed in the event. There will be limited disabled parking in Grove Road carparks only, and a wheelchair accessible viewing area.

Find out more about The Big Bang Fireworks in Victoria Park or call 020 7364 7900.

How to get there:

Trains - The closest train station is Cambridge Heath (London) Rail, then London Fields and Bethnal Green.
Underground - The closest tube stations are Mile End and Bow Road, then Bethnal Green.
Buses - 277 (to Victoria Park); 339, 8 and D6 (get off at Grove Road junction with Roman Road); 338 (get off at Grove Road junction with Victoria Park Road); 25 (get off at Mile End station).

Come to Orbital Manga on Saturday 8th November for a free fun day with Akemi (lecturer in Japanese Culture and the oldest daughter of a Samurai family).

Learn how to wear a Kimono, tie an Obi, understand traditional and modern Japanese Culture, discover Chanoyu Tea Ceremony & Japanese Caligraphy.

Using artisitic brushstrokes Akemi will write your name in Japanese on Chiyogami paper and explain its meaning.

Programme

2pm - 3pm: Kimono Dressing, Tea Ceremony, Traditional & Modern Japanese Culture.

3pm - 5pm: Japanese Calligraphy.

5pm - 6pm: Kimono Dressing, Tea Ceremony, Traditional & Modern Japanese Culture.

Find out more about Orbital Manga (It is the Orbital Manga option, in the Upper St Martins Street location) or call on 020 7240 5577.

How to get there

The closest train station is Charing Cross.

The closest tube stations are at Leicester Square, Charing Cross and Covent Garden.

If travelling by bus, jump on the 14, 19, 24, 29, 38 or 176.

To help you plan your visit, visit Transport for London's Journey Planner, whether you're walking, cycling, driving, using the tube or buses, Journey Planner will provide the fastest, most efficient route.

"Possibly the best family art class in London..."

Free family workshops
Saturdays, 14.00-15.30

Somerset House, and their creative workshops will help you discover the artistic treasure in your little treasure.

Created by the in-house learning team, workshops take inspiration from the collections, exhibitions and magnificent architectural surroundings at Somerset House.

Children aged 6 to 12 years and their families are warmly welcomed at the free Saturday workshops, which begin at 14.00 and take an hour and a half to complete.

Family Workshops take place in the Learning Centre, Embankment level, South Building. Free tickets can be collected  at 13.00 on the day from the information desk in the Seamen's Hall. Spaces are limited, so tickets are allocated on a first come first served basis. Workshops are from 2pm until 3.30pm.

Somerset House family workshops and holiday drop-in workshops are for families and are not suitable for play schemes.

How to get there:

Trafalgar Square hosts celebrations to mark Diwali, the Festival of Lights, on Sunday 19 October 2008, organised by the Greater London Authority and Diwali in London Committee.

Diwali on the Square is a wonderful day for all the family, and will see the square transformed by magical light displays and music and dance performances.

Programme

3pm - 4pm: Come and learn the garba, a traditional circular dance.

4.30pm - 5pm: Opening ceremony with lighting lamps and Diwali songs.

5pm - 7pm: Performances including a celebration of dance in many styles: Kathak from North India Oddissi dancers from Orissa Classical Bharata Natyam, contemporary dance, and a touch of Bhangra. Performed by Saraswati Academy of Indian Dance, Akademi, Encee Academy of Performing Arts, Apsara Dancers Mudralaya and Kala - The Arts. Musical medleys from Chinmaya Mission and a special live performance of Jay Kumar's Diwali anthem song.

7pm - 7.30pm: Special presentation by Star

7.30pm - 8pm: Aarti - traditional prayers and singing with lamps - and finale.

Stage hosted by Club Asia Radio

How to get there:

By tube: Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern lines)

The following stations are within a few minutes' walk:

Leicester Square (Northern and Piccadilly lines)
Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines)
Embankment (Bakerloo, Northern, District and Circle lines)

By bus: 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 23, 24, 53, 77A, 88, 91, 139, 159, 176, 453 go past Trafalgar Square. Routes 22 and 94 will drop you at nearby Piccadilly Circus.

By rail: Charing Cross Station is a 2 minute walk away