Good Times: What to see and do in November
The weather might have you wanting to stay inside for the month of November, but let me tell you there are plenty of cultural happenings that are worth getting yourself out the house for.
First up, a brand new exhibition about Marilyn Monroe has come to London, and it will appeal to everyone from super-fans to those who are even just a little bit curious about the woman behind the glamour.
And as we head towards Christmas (yes, I've said it), the cinemas are stacked with must-see family films, including the much-anticipated third instalment of the Paddington franchise (he's heading to Peru this time) and a sequel to Moana. Both look like essential viewing.
Read on to discover more about our number one hot ticket this month, plus the best of the rest…
HOT TICKET
Marilyn: The Exhibition
When: Until 23 February 2025
Where: Arches London Bridge, SE1 2ER
"When considering the most famous women in Hollywood, it’s impossible not to think of the curly blonde hair, the thick black eyelashes and the famous beauty spot of Marilyn Monroe. As well as embodying old Hollywood glamour, Monroe established herself as a triple threat, became a sex symbol of the 1950s and remains a pop culture icon to this day.
It’s no surprise then, that her legacy is being honoured at Marilyn: The Exhibition at Arches London Bridge, where a show of some of the star’s most personal belongings awaits. The 250-strong collection is curated by Ted Stampfer – the largest collector of Monroe’s historical objects.
The display (lasting about 80 minutes) is accompanied by an audio guide, footage and information charting the life of Monroe, from her childhood as Norma Jeane all the way up to her death, aged 36.
From her birth certificate, satin robe and fan mail to love letters from Arthur Miller, her first-ever cookbook and original movie scripts, the interactive exhibition offers incredible insight into the star’s private world. It’s this vision of Norma Jeane, the ambitious yet vulnerable woman who often hid behind the role she played, that follows me around the exhibit.
What struck me most was the lived-in, everyday articles of clothing, makeup and accessories on display, including her hairnet, rollers and sleep mask. They’re contrasted with her more famous outfits, including the signature black rollneck and white capri trousers for a Life magazine cover and, of course, a replica of the bejewelled dress she wore to sing Happy Birthday to President John F Kennedy.
It’s with a heavy heart that I turn away from Monroe’s final magazine interview to view her last will and testament – marking the tragic end of her life as well as the exhibition. For a woman forever belonging to the public because she ‘had never belonged to anyone else’, Marilyn: The Exhibition offers a rare glimpse at the courageous woman behind the bombshell reputation – and it’s an experience not to be missed if you can help it.”
By Abby Allen, Sub-Editor
Tickets from £21.90 for adults; £19.65 for children aged 5-15 years
TV
Bad Sisters
Sharon Horgan’s black comedy returns for a second season, set two years after the ‘accidental’ death of Grace’s (Anne-Marie Duff) husband John Paul. The close-knit sisters might have finally moved on, but the past will not stay silent and sisters Grace, Eva (Horgan), Becka, Bibi and Ursula are the centre of suspicion once more. Watch the finale on Christmas Day.
Watch on Apple TV+.
Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light
Based on the final novel in Hilary Mantel’s award-winning trilogy, this second series (following 2015’s series 1) welcomes back Damian Lewis as King Henry VIII and Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell. Set in 1536, just after the beheading of Anne Boleyn, Thomas Cromwell continues his climb to power and wealth, while the King sets his sights on his third wife, Jane Seymour (Kate Phillips).
Watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Until I Kill You
BAFTA-winning actress Anna Maxwell Martin takes on the role of Delia Balmer in this dramatisation of a chilling true story. In 1991, Delia started dating John Sweeney (Shaun Evans), however a darker side of John was soon revealed when he admitted to killing his former girlfriend. Seven years after surviving a near-fatal attack from John, he’s arrested for the murder of another girlfriend, and Delia must revisit her trauma as she’s called to give her testimony in court.
Watch on ITV1 and ITVX.
FILM
Paddington In Peru
In the third film in the Paddington franchise, Olivia Colman joins everyone’s favourite marmalade-loving bear on his biggest adventure yet – back to Peru to visit his Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton). But when he arrives, Aunt Lucy has escaped the Home for Retired Bears – and so begins an epic journey into the Amazon rainforest to track her down.
In cinemas from 8 November.
JOY
Bill Nighy, Thomasin McKenzie and James Norton make a formidable trio in this dramatisation of the incredible true story of the birth of IVF. Surgeon Patrick Steptoe (Nighy), nurse and embryologist Jean Purdy (McKenzie) and scientist Robert Edwards (Norton) overcame the odds to bring the world’s first ‘test-tube-baby’, Louise Joy Brown, into the world - changing the lives of millions in the process.
In cinemas from 15 November.
Moana 2
Following Disney’s Oscar-nominated Moana in 2016, we’re heading back to ancient Polynesia for another trailblazing voyage with Moana and friends. Now chief of Motunui island, Moana, demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson), Hei Hei the rooster and Pua the pig must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous waters in search of people beyond the shores of Motunui. In cinemas 29 November
In cinemas from 15 November.
THEATRE
The Importance of Being Earnest
Doctor Who’s Ncuti Gatwa stars in this joyful and flamboyant reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy. Sharon D Clarke and Hugh Skinner also star in the hilarious story of identity, impersonation and romance.
21 November to 25 January, Lyttelton Theatre at the National Theatre, London.
Alice In Wonderland
Shakespeare North Playhouse presents a magical grown-up sequel to the classic story, Alice In Wonderland. Alice is now an adult, with children of her own, and she has begun to doubt whether her adventures in a faraway world as a child ever happened at all. That is, until one Christmas Eve, when a flash of white fur lures her back into a familiar story…
22 November to 5 January, Shakespeare North Playhouse, Preston.
White Christmas
Book in for a two-course dinner and a performance of White Christmas. Based on the beloved film, the heartwarming show follows two World War II veterans as they team up with a sister act to save a local inn - and in doing so discover the true meaning of Christmas.
27 November to 25 January, The Mill At Sonning, Berkshire.
EXHIBITIONS
The 80s: Photographing Britain
Explore one of the UK’s most transformative decades, the 1980s, through the eyes of photographers and publications of the time. The exhibition tells a story of protest and change, as the decade is set against a backdrop of race uprisings, the miner strikes, section 28, the AIDS pandemic and gentrification.
21 November to 5 May 2025, Tate Britain, London.
Maggi Hambling: Nightingale Night
See 14 new paintings by one of Britain’s most celebrated artists, Maggi Hambling. The paintings are inspired by a night Maggi spent in the Sussex woodland guided by folk musician and conservationist, Sam Lee. Using a striking gold-on-black palette, the works are Maggi’s depiction of the nightingales’ birdsong cutting through the darkness of the night.
9 November to 27 April, Pallant House Gallery, West Sussex.
Material Worlds: Contemporary Artists and Textiles
Hayward Gallery Touring ensures exhibitions are seen beyond the capital city of London, and its latest venture is an ambitious group exhibition exploring how artists are using textiles in surprising and radical ways. Visiting Warwick Arts Centre in Coventry, Lakeside Arts in Nottingham, The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum in Cheltenham and Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery in London, the artists transform the medium of textiles into theatrical, bold, unsettling and humorous artworks.
Until May 2026, various UK venues.
EVENTS
GLOW WILD
London’s Kew Gardens’ sister venue, Wakehurst, in Sussex, welcomes the return of GLOW WILD, an illuminated wonderland for the festive period. With over a mile of twinkling handcrafted light installations, the UK’s tallest living Christmas tree stands proudly at its heart. Plus, don’t miss toasting artisan marshmallows on a real fire.
28 November to 1 January, Wakehurst, Sussex.
Whistle Punks
If you've never experienced the joy of launching an axe at a target, then I implore you to put it on your list of things to do with friends and family this side of Christmas. Whistle Punks, the axe-throwing bar with locations in London, Manchester, Leeds and Bristol, has recently launched its family tickets, so under-16s can now also join in the axe-wielding fun. A brilliantly unique day out.
Booking now, London, Manchester, Leeds and Bristol.
Tulley’s Christmas Santa Experience
If you missed out on tickets to LaplandUK, there’s plenty of festive magic to be found at Tulleys Farm in West Sussex. Activities include gingerbread decorating, a Christmas circus, elf hunt and a sleigh ride to visit Santa in his log cabin. Fun for the whole family.
23 November to 24 December, Crawley, West Sussex.
TICKETS TO BOOK AHEAD
Christmas With Katherine Jenkins
Katherine Jenkins OBE returns to London’s Royal Albert Hall for a memorable festive night of singing accompanied by the London Concert Orchestra. Expect surprise friends and special guests to stop by for a song or two.
11 December, The Royal Albert Hall, London.
Love Actually In Concert
Witness everyone’s favourite yuletide romantic comedy as you’ve never seen it before. Stopping in London, Birmingham and Manchester, the feel-good film is be projected onto a huge screen as the score is played by a full, live orchestra.
15-18 December, London, Birmingham and Manchester.
Pig Heart Boy
Based on the book by bestselling author Malorie Blackman, this production is recommended for ages 9-13 years. Cameron wants to be like any other 13-year-old - have friends, go to school, and dive to the bottom of the swimming pool - but he desperately needs a heart transplant. With time running out, he’s finally offered a new heart, but Cameron must choose how far he’ll go to get his life back.
26 January to 7 June, Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse, Sheffield.
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