Things To Do In London This Weekend: 2-3 August 2014

Try Boozy Lollies at Feast this weekend. Details below

All weekend

FEAST: Feast food festival returns to Tobacco Dock this weekend 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, plus you'll find Londonist talking to food traders in the pub on Sunday afternoon from 2pm. Get two tickets for the price of one! Visit www.wefeast.co.uk/promo and enter the code LONDONIST when booking.​ £10/£8, daily, until Sunday

URBAN FOREST: It's the final weekend for the Kopparberg Urban Forest in Dalston, and it's going out with a bang. Danish songstress MØ takes to the stage, and floral beards are in. Follicley gifted men can have their beard customised by floral stylist Lara Sanjar. Free, just turn up, until 3 August

GO TO THE BEACH: Camden Beach is back at the Roundhouse. Why not head there with your loved ones and chill out with a drink? It's free and it feels like being at the seaside (sun permitting). Free, just turn up, until 23 August

ART FESTIVAL: Explore the historical House of St Barnabas this weekend during Art Social '14 festival. This weekend's event schedule include a music workshop and a family open day. Check the website for full programme, ends on Sunday

HACKNEY WICKED: Hackney WickED Festival takes place in different venues around London and has a strong aim of promoting local culture within communities and getting people involved in creating art. Expect art exhibition, performances, workshops and so on. Check website for full programme. Until Sunday

VINOPOLIS: The comprehensive wine bar and shop in London Bridge presents Summer of Love, a series of summery events for grown-up. Throughout August activities include cocktail masterclasses, wine tastings, music nights and so on. Check website for full programme.

MEXICAN POP-UP: Try fish tacos, fresh corn and home-made guacamole this weekend as Coco Mexico is running a pop-up at The Kiosk Cafe in Bethnal Green. This is also a chance to visit this unusual cafe, which is located on a former deco building. Saturday & Sunday 10am-5pm

INTO THE PARK: Explore The Holme, a private mansion within Regent's Park, once owned by Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie. The mansion is open today and tomorrow, children get in for free. £4, just turn up, Saturday & Sunday 2.30pm-5.30pm

FAMILY FUN: Have a fun weekend with your family at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich. This weekend's theme is Strange Ships and Fantastic Adventures — the workshop is free when you buy tickets to enter the museum. £13.50/£7, prebook, Saturday & Sunday 11.30am-1.30pm & 2pm-4pm

TRIATHLON: It's free to watch the athletes compete in the London Triathlon, which takes place in and around ExCel Centre (a good reason to use the cable car?) There's plenty to watch on Saturday but the Elite races are on Sunday, where the cycling extends right into Westminster — watch out for road closures. Check out the spectator tips at the London Triathlon website. Free, just turn up, 2-3 August.

BALLROOM DANCING: Ever wanted to try it? The Bishopsgate Ballroom Weekender will teach you what you need to know to get on the dancefloor, and each day ends in a social dance to put your moves into practise, Saturday night's do is at the Rivoli Ballroom. Day and weekend passes available, as are tickets to the social dance only. Check website for details.

WATCH THIS SPACE:  Things get messy this weekend at Watch This Space festival at St John's Waterloo and outside the National Theatre with 6ft meerkats, the Spurting Man and Holi festival of colour with vibrant powder fights! Free, just turn up, 1-3 August

MUSIC: Go to the Proms! Consult our guide to making the most of your Proms experience and consider our top ten highlights from the programme. This weekend there are Greek myths, a performance of Kiss Me Kate, and the War Horse Prom to choose from. Promming tickets from £5.

Listen to Emma Enderby talking about Marina Abramovic's exhibition at Serpentine Galleries. Details below

Saturday 2 August

STEAM TRAINS: Travel on a heritage steam train along the Underground to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Hammersmith and City Line. Journeys run between 8.24am and 4.25pm. Tickets are £40-£95 for adults and £30-£85 for children, depending on the journey and class chosen.

FASHION WORKSHOP: The V&A hosts a workshop about iPad Fashion Illustration, led by fashion illustrator Sue Dray, who teaches you how to use the creative potential of the iPad. £80/£64, prebook, 10.30am-5pm

WOMEN THROUGH TIME: Footprints of London's latest charity walk in aid of Amnesty International has a theme of Women Through Time. It covers sights of interest linked to female role models, some well-known and some rarely heard of. Starts at Guildhall Art Library. £10, prebook, 10.30am

ART WALK: Follow Alexandra Epps, City of London Guide and Tate Guide, for a fascinating walk exploring the most recent contemporary art installations to be found within the heart of the City. Meeting point is Monument. £10+bf, prebook, 10.45am-1pm

BEACH RUGBY: Today is the second (and last day) of a free-to-watch Beach Rugby Tournament, taking place at Wood Wharf in Canary Wharf.  Free, just turn up, 11am-8.30pm

SUMMER FASHION: We’re hoping the sunny weather hangs around because we’re promised some bargainous (what do you mean that’s not a word?) summer vintage fashions at So Vintage in Old Spitafields Market. If you’re staycationing this year (how retro!), homeware and furniture are also on sale. Those in the know can whisper ‘So Vintage Sale’ to stallholders for an extra discount. Free, 11am-5pm

LOVE VICTORIA PARK: Have a great day out with the family in Victoria Park. It'll be beachified with water play, donkey rides, sideshows and other activities to keep the kids entertained while you relax in the park. Free, just turn up (Crown Gate East), 11am-5pm

EID: The Mayor of London’s Eid Festival takes place in Trafalgar Square. There's a food festival with global cuisines, live music performances and activities for children including face-painting, henna, calligraphy and sports. Eid-al-Fitr is celebrated by Muslim communities worldwide and marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. Free, just turn up, 12pm

FOOD POP-UP: Billy the Pig is specialised in all Pork products and will be at the Brick Brewery in Peckham Rye this weekend. Expect tapas type dishes in the form of ham croquetas plus pulled pork swimming in double-cooked apple sauce. Free, just turn up, 12pm-9pm

VINTAGE FAIR: Jumble & Pearls Vintage Fair returns to The Book Club in Shoreditch. Browse a lot of new designers' creations to a background of excellent music. Free entry, just turn up, 12pm-6pm

ART COLLABORATION: Merging Inks is a live collaborative art jam. Two venues in London and Penang collaborate to create a live exhibition. The evening showcases creatives from a variety of backgrounds from street art to contemporary art and their ability to merge styles rapidly. It's all fused with music performances and a curated marketplace at Rich Mix in Shoreditch. Free, prebook, 12pm-4pm

FARM FESTIVAL: Farmival is a festival celebrating urban farming, taking place in Meanwhile Gardens in Westbourne Park. Workshops include a kitchen garden pharmacy and a compost Q&A, and there are stalls selling food, plants and arts and crafts as well as live music on stage. Free, just turn up, 1pm-7pm

HAYSTACK WORKSHOP: Learn the traditional skill of scything in this two-hour workshop at the Valley Centre in Leyton. After the scything, there's a picnic followed by informative talks from local historians and community groups on conservation, urban agriculture, land management and the arts. £5, prebook, 1.30pm-3.30pm & 4.30pm-6.30pm

GUIDED WALK: Follow guide Yannick Pucci and explore Bloomsbury’s rich Art Deco heritage, including Charles Holden’s iconic Senate House, the former Daimler Car Hire garage and a converted petrol station. Meeting point is Russell Square. £8/£6.50, prebook, 2pm-4pm

FAMILY WORKSHOP: The Cuming Museum leads a free family workshop about mythical creatures at Peckham Library. Free, just turn up, 2pm

ART TALK: Emma Enderby, Assistant Curator of the current Marina Abramović: 512 Hours exhibition at Serpentine Galleries, talks about the interactive art exhibition. This event is on a first-come first-served basis. Free, just turn up, 3pm

SAD MUSIC: Feeling Gloomy Music Club has a very specific music policy: depressive and sad tunes. Mooch along on the first Saturday of each month at The Phoenix in Cavendish Square. £5, prebook, 10pm

CAT FACE: Cat Face is a party where it's cheaper to get in if you let the organisers draw a nose and whiskers on your face, for no other reason than they like cat faces. At Village Underground in Shoreditch. £3/£5/£10/£20, from 10pm

LET'S DANCE: Listen to retro anthems at I love the 80s vs. I love the 90s dance party, which takes place every Saturday of this month at The Jazz Cafe in Camden. £5 before 11.30pm/£7 after, prebook, from 10.30pm

INDIE MUSIC: Old School Indie Party at the 02 Academy Islington is a celebration of indie, rock 'n' roll, synth and soul music. Wear your favourite old band t-shirt and jump the queue to get in. £5+bf, prebook, from 10.30pm

Try Jamaican Jerk Chicken at the Queen of Hoxton. Photo credit: White Men Can’t Jerk.

Sunday 3 August

KNITTING CLASS: Learn to knit your first scarf at Surrey Docks Farm. Learn how to cast on, do various stitches including the knit stitch and purl stitch, and cast off. £15, prebook, 10am-3pm

JERK CHICKEN: The Shoreditch-based Queen of Hoxton celebrates Jamaican Independence Day by inviting the best Jamaican food vendors onto their rooftop for a *cough* Jerk Off day. The ticket includes four pieces of Jerk chicken with sides plus two complimentary Wray and Nephew welcome drinks. £10+bf, prebook, 12pm-12am

BRIXTON SPLASH: This Brixton Street Festival takes place all across the central roads of the borough, organised by the local community. During the day there will be food, music, a craft market, art performances and so on. You can support the street festival by making a donation on their website as well. Free, just turn up, 12pm-7pm

MAURITIUS: Down Lane Park near Tottenham Hale hosts the Mauritian Open Air Festival with big live music acts direct from Mauritius plus bands, dancers, stalls and traditional food and drink. Tickets £6.50 advance, more on the door (accompanied under 10s free), 12-8pm

FAMILY FUN: Families who visit the Lee Valley Centre in Leyton today can gather the hay from the scything workshops into giant haystacks (as opposed to Giant Haystacks), join the Ranger Ramble walk and talk with the site ranger. This event is part of the Haystacks event series. Free, just turn up, 12pm-6pm

NATURE WALK: Join London Wildlife Trust and Friends of One Tree Hill for a four-mile walk, covering Honor Oak Park, Crystal Palace Park, Cox's Walk and Sydenham Hill Wood. Meeting point is One Tree Hill notice board in Honor Oak Park. Free, just turn up, 12pm-4pm

UNION CHAPEL: To get the chance to see the secrets bits of Union Chapel you don't usually get to see, join a guided tour of the historical building. £5, prebook by email, 12.15pm

LOST RIVERS: Meet guide and author Tom Bolton and follow the ancient route of Walbrook river, meeting point is Shoreditch High Street station. £10, prebook by email, 2pm

TREE WALK: Discover local trees in the area close to Wood Green called Tower Gardens on a Tree Walk. Meeting point is at the corner of Waltheof Avenue and Lordship Lane. Free, just turn up, 3pm

BOOK READING: Gay's The Word bookshop in Russell Square hosts author, director and performer Neil Bartlett reading from his new novel, The Disappearance Boy. £4, just turn up, 4pm

GIG: Listen to Culture playing live at The Flyover in Ladbroke Grove. £12+bf, prebook, 7pm

GOSPEL MUSIC: UK born Gospel singer Israel J Allen performs at the Jazz Cafe in Camden tonight, in an evening perfect for seasoned Gospel fans or anyone looking for a way into the genre. £20/£15, prebook, 7pm


Camden Fringe

London’s biggest performing arts festival, Camden Fringe, started on 28 July. Everyday throughout the festival, we’ll be bringing you our pick of shows to catch that day. This weekend’s suggestions are below:

Reality Abuse is a one-man show featuring acclaimed magician and mind reader S1L3NC3. Experience an interactive examination of the human psychology behind hallucinations, and how to control them. Please note that every performance is restricted to 13 participants. At Dublin Castle, until 23 August

Caroline Maybe explores the unadulterated joy and tedium of becoming a parent during her stand-up solo show. At Camden Head, until 3 August

Juliet Meyers tells all about her (mis)adventures during her trip to India, undertaken to discover her Iraqi-Jewish heritage. Well, expect the unexpected in this comedy show that explores themes of lost identity and immigration. At Camden Head, until 3 August

Neil Frost presents his one-off solo show for this year. A journey through clown, character and living in the moment. At Canal Cafe Theatre, Saturday 2 August only

Songs + Jokes + International Relations sees PhD Dr. Chris Oates on stage, who jokes about the relationship between American and Britain. At Hen and Chickens, Sunday 3 August and Saturday 9 August


Other good stuff

Catch up on all latest features, see what we like in theatre and arts and browse more things to do in London.

What have we missed? Let us know what’s going on this weekend, leave a comment or email [email protected].

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