All weekend
THAMES FORESHORE: The City of London Archaeological Society (COLAS), featuring the Thames Discovery Programme, celebrates Fun on the Foreshore with two days of free events and activities at the Tower of London, including a rare opportunity to visit Tower Beach. Don't forget to check out the Secrets of the Thames Foreshore before you go. Part of Festival of Archaeology. Free, just turn up (get there early as numbers on the beach are restricted for safety reasons), 19-20 July, 11am-4pm
DANCE PERFORMANCE: Spontaneous Combustion is an annual dance and performance festival at Arebyte in Hackney Wick, with outdoor performances taking place in the surrounding Hackney and Bethnal Green area. Free workshops allow the public to try out different dance styles. Free, just turn up, 19-20 July
STREET PARTY: Known by many as the go-to street food market at lunchtime, Whitecross Street near Old Street is taken over by a street party this weekend. There's a Mad Hatters Tea Party, Radio Roadshow, live spray can art, kids activity zone and more, here's our preview. See full programme here. Free, just turn up, Saturday and Sunday, 12pm-6pm
BEACH LAUNCH: The Print House Bar in Stratford unveils its sandy beach, complete with deck chairs, palm trees, a tiki bar and barbecue this weekend. Free, just turn up, launch this weekend, beach open all summer.
LAMBETH COUNTRY SHOW: A traditional country fair comes to Brockwell Park, with home grown vegetables, jams and chutneys, sheep dog and owl displays. But this country show has a South London twist, with live music, zumba dancing and football sessions. See the full line-up here. Free but donations welcome. Saturday and Sunday, 11am-7pm
MUSIC: The epic BBC Proms start on Friday at the Royal Albert Hall. Consult our guide to making the most of your Proms experience and consider our top ten highlights from the programme. This weekend, experience the China Philharmonic Orchestra, enjoy the BBC Sport Prom with special sporting guests, and witness the World Orchestra for Peace. Promming tickets from £5.
BRIDGES: Have you been to Museum of London Docklands' new art exhibition Bridge yet? Free entry, open 10am-6pm
Saturday 19 July
ZOO HISTORY: As the first scientific zoo in the world, London Zoo is full of history. Learn all about it, from the many listed buildings to the story of the real Winnie the Pooh bear on a history tour. Various prices, prebook, 10am
DOG SHOW: North London Vintage Market returns to Crouch End with the usual retro bargains and a dog show event in aid of North London Hospice. £1.50, just turn up, 10am-5pm (dog show 2pm)
SUBLIME FESTIVAL: St Martin-in-the-Fields and The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square host Sounds Sublime choral music festival. Performers come from across the UK, from gospel choirs and jazz quintets to Renaissance consorts and opera duos. Free, book for some events, 10.30am-5.30pm
BOOK EXHIBITION: See 50 of the best new artists’ books from across Europe selected by a jury from MoMA, Frans Masereel and the V&A. Kaleid 2014 takes place at Kaleid Editions' headquarters in Borough Street: we suggest you book your ticket quickly as the first slot is already sold out. Free, prebook, 11am-2pm
BUS GARAGE OPEN DAY: The latest TfL bus garage to throw open its doors to the public is Walworth. Take a trip on vintage buses, ride through a bus wash and go on a behind the scenes tour. All events are under cover, so don't let the Great British Weather put you off! Free, just turn up, 11am-4pm
MUSIC FESTIVAL: The Ship Pub in Kennington hosts Kennington Music Festival & Family Fun Day. From 11am, keep the kids busy with a bouncy castle, face painting, and an arts and crafts tent. At 2pm, the live music starts, with a BBQ and outside bar. Free, just turn up, 11am-3am
VINTAGE SUITCASES: Pop Up Vintage Fairs is also going for a summer festival theme at Old Spitalfields Market this month, with vintage suitcases filled with fashion bargains. Free, just turn up, 11am-5pm
STREET FOOD: Every month, KERB Saturdays street food rocks up to Granary Square in King's Cross. This month, it hosts the London heat of the British Street Food Awards. Turn up, try the food, then vote for your favourite. Free (pay for food), just turn up, 11am-6pm
COMEDY WALK: Stand-up and Walk is an interactive, immersive and intimate walking tour set on the streets of London lead by a comedian. This time is the turn of Phil Kay, which guides you on a walk around Oxford Street. £10/£6+bf, prebook, 1pm
LAST CHANCE: Today is the last day of the Subnature exhibition at Grant Museum of Zoology. The exhibition features artworks based on digitally altered fish bones, including prints and sculptures. Free, just turn up, 1pm-5pm
ART HISTORY: The National Gallery's A Longer Look series takes on Sebastiano del Piombo's Raising of Lazarus today. Led by Rebecca Lyons, participants are encouraged to spend longer looking at just one painting, finding things that are often missed on first glance. Aimed at people with some existing knowledge of art history. £30/£24, prebook, 10.30am
FOODIE TOUR: The Floating Cinema adopts a foodie theme. Food writer Richard Johnson leads a tour around Camden and King's Cross exploring the new generation of international mobile menus to be found on the streets of London. £15/£13, prebook, 12pm-2pm
DALSTON DANCING: Local talent creates carnival spirit in Gillett Square for Dance Nations Dalston. Turn up and groove to music and performance then head into the Vortext at 9pm for film screenings. Come rain or shine it's free for all the family, 2-11pm
WEST END CINEMAS: From music halls to pubs, there are many buildings in the West End which once housed cinemas. This walk explores some of them from the outside, including some which had stage facilities as well as a projection room, and a surviving 1920s foyer. £10/£7.50, prebook, 2.30pm
EAST END CONCERT: Grand Union’s world singers, musicians and Youth Orchestra celebrate the richness and diversity of music in East London with songs and melodies from around the world. Free (donations welcome), prebook, 7.30pm
MACABRE: Bloomsbury Ballroom is transformed into a big top for The Dark Circus Party. The strict dress code is Opulence, Glamour and Fantasy, allowing guests to emerge themselves further into the world of circus. £25, prebook, 9pm
STUDIO 54: The spirit of Studio 54 lives on at Disco 54 at Bethnal Green Working Men's Club, with live acts, live music and a sequins-and-disco dress code. £6/£8, prebook, 9pm
POLICE OPEN DAY: Various Met police units will be at Imber Court in Esher for an open day with plenty of family activites. Quiz officers from the mounted police, helicopter and marine units, meet a sniffer dog. The Territorial Support Group will also be in attendance, not doing crowd control for once. Free, just turn up, 11am-4pm
Sunday 20 July
SUMMER STREETS: Regent Street's traffic-free Sundays continue today. The V&A Museum has a fashion pop-up with shopping opportunities and specially curated fashion workshops. A 100m catwalk is installed as the street is turned into a Mile of Style for people to strut their stuff. Free, just turn up, all day
ANTIQUES FAIR: Adams Antiques Fair returns to the Royal Horticultural Halls in Victoria with over 140 traders from across the UK and Europe selling their stock. £4, prebook, 10am-4.30pm
VINTAGE THRIFT: The Round Chapel Performing Arts Centre in Hackney Downs hosts Dusty Fingers, a vintage market with over 45 stalls, prices as low as £5 and a live DJ. £1, just turn up, 11am-3pm
THEATRE OPEN DAY: Opera Holland Park Theatre has a free open day for families, with workshops and theatre performances. Learn how to apply stage make up or have a go at conducting the orchestra. Free, just turn up, 12pm-5pm
WORLD CULTURE: Greenwich World Cultural Festival takes place in the grounds of Eltham Palace, with dance, theatre, music, art and circus from across the globe, including a vintage ballroom and pop-up performances throughout the afternoon. Free, just turn up, 12.30pm-4.30pm
FAMILY DAY: Keats House in Hampstead has a family day with a holiday theme. Free, just turn up, 1pm
CONCERT: Hear classic quartets for strings by Haydn, Shostakovich and Schumann played by young players in a Maiastra concert, organised by the Aidan Woodcock Charitable Trust, at Omnibus, 1 Northside, Clapham Common. Free (donations welcome), just turn up, 4.30pm
COLOMBIA FEST: Celebrate the achievements of Colombia past and present at the fourth Colombia Fest at Lightbox London, South Lambeth Place SW8. There'll be film, food, live music and salsa workshops. Tickets from £6, starts 6pm
MONTY PYTHON: If you didn't manage to bag yourself tickets to the live Monty Python shows, look on the bright side of life (sorry!), as Rich Mix in Shoreditch screens the final O2 show live. £13.50/£16.50, prebook, 7pm
POP-UP CIRCUS: The roaming performance pops up at Rich Mix in Shoreditch tonight to perform The Story of The Moon. It celebrates the 45th anniversary of the moon landing through music, theatre, film and art. £10/£8, prebook, 8pm
Come and Feast with us
Feast food festival returns to Tobacco Dock at the end of July with top London restaurants, street food and food traders all tempting you with their delicious fare. There’ll be plenty to sip and savour too, plus music, masterclasses and and nice places to hang out.
Get two tickets for the price of one! To redeem this offer, visit www.wefeast.co.uk/promo and enter the code LONDONIST when booking.
Terms & Conditions: Available on Standard tickets only for any session from 31 July until 3 August. Not available with any other offer.
Feast runs from Thursday 31 July to Sunday 3 August at Tobacco Dock, Wapping. Londonist is proud (hungry and thirsty) media partner to Feast 2014.
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