This weekend's Things To Do In London is sponsored by Pact Coffee, who are offering Londonist readers 250g of freshly-roasted coffee, sent direct to their door, for just £1 (inc. P&P). Use code Londonist09 and get yours here. More details below.
Spend a relaxing evening on a Thames Tall Ship Fireworks Cruise.
All weekend
CHILDREN'S FAIRY TALES:
Sofar Productions presents Once Upon a Time where a young audience can enjoy not one, not two, but three fairy tales: Little Red Riding Hood, Fearless Hans and The Mouse Family. In Archway. £6, adults free, prebook, until 30 August
FOOTBALL:
Watch Barclays Premier Football on the big screen at Golden Horseshoe Casino in Bayswater. You won't miss a goal with five big screens to choose from, plus take advantage of the £5 burger, beer and bet deal. £10, prebook, 12.45pm/1.30pm, until 30 August
CARNIVAL CELEBRATIONS:
Make the most of the bank holiday weekend with a four day extravaganza hosted by Paradise by way of Kensal Green. Highlights include Ms Dynamite on Friday night and a special Eton MESSY party to celebrate Notting Hill Carnival on Sunday. Check the website for prices and times for each night. until 31 August
RINSE BIRTHDAY WEEKENDER:
Rinse FM have put together an impressive line-up for their Notting Hill Carnival celebrations. Party to the likes of Artwork, David Zowie, Flowdan, J-Cush, Josey Rebelle, Katy B, Merdian Dan, Skream, Spyro, Tinie Tempah and Uncle Dugs. Check the website for details of more acts and set times. Free, just turn up, until 31 August
HACKNEY FLEA MARKET:
Hackney Flea Market will be open over the whole of the bank holiday weekend. Head to Abney Hall to pick up a range of vintage treasures from furniture to fashion and reclaimed items. Free, just turn up, 11am-6pm, until 31 August
BOND EXHIBITION:
James Bond enthusiasts would be mad to miss this exhibition at London Film Museum in Covent Garden featuring the best of the Bond vehicles. £9.50, prebook, 10am, until 31 August
WATER POET CIDER FESTIVAL:
Head to The Water Poet for its annual Cider Festival and Hog Roast in the garden (best beer garden ever) with a live steel band, cider cocktails and ice cream from The Drunken Dairy. Free entry (hog roast and pint £10), just turn up, Until 31 August
LONDON UNRAVELED PHOTOGRAPHY WALKS:
London Unraveled tours blend photography workshops with London's rich architecture and history. Saturday's tour explores Art Deco in The Strand (£7/£8, prebook, 2pm), while Sunday's Macaroon and Mews tour includes five tastings (£20, prebook, 2pm) and Monday's tour explores Art Deco in Bloomsbury. (£7/£8, prebook, 2pm)
Saturday 29 August
TALL SHIP ISLAND:
If the Thames Tall Ships cruise itself seems a bit pricey, why not sail aboard a comfortable Thames clipper to Tall Ship Island this weekend instead? Guides will be stationed at different points telling stories about life at sea, rigging and navigation, the history of the ships and the current business of these cathedrals of the ocean. Remember tickets are only valid for the time slot selected. £10, prebook, 8.30am
MORNING GLORYVILLE:
Get in the Notting Hill Carnival spirit early with a Morning Gloryville rave at Mode in Notting Hill. Adorn your wildest attire and join the samba celebrations. £12.95, prebook, 9am
CHAKRA MEDITATION CLASS:
Whether you need to de-stress at the end of a busy week or want to relax your mind before the bank holiday mayhem begins this Chakra Meditation workshop should do the trick. It takes place at Diorama Arts Studio in Regent's Park. £24, prebook, 10.30am
GRAFFITI WORKSHOP:
Spend the weekend perfecting your street art skills at this two hour graffiti workshop hosted by Graffik Gallery in Ladbroke Grove. £24, prebook, 11am
PUNK ROCK SOHO TOUR:
Meet at Tottenham Court Road Station before embarking on a tour around the legendary punk rock sites of Soho. From the places the Sex Pistols played to strip clubs with a bit of history, this tour will entertain anyone with an interest in London's punk legacy. £9, prebook, 11am
LIVESTOCK MUSIC FESTIVAL:
North London is getting its very own community-run music festival in the lovely location of Forty Hall Farm in Enfield. Livestock features a mixture of rock, ska, blues, folk, rap and reggae across three stages. Seek out the popular Woodland Blues Stage. There will also be bars, food and kid's entertainment. £5/£10, prebook, noon
LONDON RIVIERA BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH:
It's a holiday so why not splash out on brunch at More London Estates in London Bridge. During the course of two and a half hours, you can linger over bottomless sangria, bloody marys & Prosecco Bellinis, plus delicious dishes that include grilled merguez sausages with wilted spinach, roast potatoes and tomato relish. Not cheap but your taste buds will thank you. £43, prebook, noon
CRAFT BEER BUS:
If you're a fan of craft beer join this bus tour which takes you around key centres of interest from London Fields and Redchurch to the Bermondsey Beer Mile. The tour includes four breweries, tastings and a stop off to buy your favourites. The tour lasts around four to five hours so we wouldn't plan anything extravagant for the evening. £25, prebook, 1pm
RUGBY:
If you can't wait for the Rugby World Cup then head to the Olympic Park in Stratford to see a warm up game. £10, prebook, 3pm
LONDON INTERNATIONAL SKA FESTIVAL:
Discover the best of Ska and reggae at the Garage in Highbury. Tonight there's a chance to see Melbourne Ska Orchestra, a 24 piece ensemble made up of some of the best musicians in the genre. £15 in advance, 5pm-2am
DALSTON DISCO:
Spend the night partying to DJs Aeroplane and Alex Metric at The Nest in Dalston. There will also be a BBQ, open-air bar and cocktails to keep you going. £5, prebook, 5pm
JAZZ AT RONNIE SCOTTS:
Tonight hear the James Taylor Quartet famed for their upbeat, energetic live shows. Taylor’s driving Hammond organ has been leading the group for nearly twenty years and the band show no signs of slowing down. £30-£50, prebook, 6pm
NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL PANORAMA:
Kick off Notting Hill Carnival at Emslie Horniman Pleasance Park where a steel band will be ramping up the Caribbean vibes. Free, just turn up, 6pm-10pm
SHAKESPEARE'S GLOBE:
The Voice and the Echo is a series of evenings at Shakespeare's Globe in which critically-acclaimed contemporary poets respond to masterpieces by John Donne, George Herbert, William Blake and Gerard Manley Hopkins. The resultant blend of classic and modern poetry will be read by actors, accompanied by live music. Tonight's focus is Donne. £10-£45, prebook, 8pm
THAMES TALL SHIPS FIREWORKS CRUISE:
On this Thames Tall Ships Cruise you'll sail your way from the Royal Arsenal Pier through the Thames Barrier towards the O2 Arena. Take in views of the Old Royal Naval College, the Cutty Sark, Canary Wharf and many other sights from the river while you dine on food included in your ticket price. A fireworks display will complete the evening for an unforgettable bank holiday. Oh and ladies, no high heels aboard the ship. The cruise runs today and tomorrow.£59.90/£79.90, prebook, 8pm
BFI AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM:
An outdoor screening of family favourite The Princess Bride will take place at The British Museum this evening. Bring your own pillows or rugs to make it a comfortable experience. £10.05, prebook, 8.15pm
PILLOW CINEMA:
Tonight you can see the brilliant documentary Amy which offers an intimate insight into the London singer's life and death. The screening is on the rooftop of Snap Studios in Shoreditch. Don't forget to take refreshments and a pillow or prebook one before arriving. £25, prebook, 8.45pm
Sunday 30 August
MIND SPORTS OLYMPIAD:
Head to Hampstead and you can take part in this annual board games festival. Join in a special round of Magic The Gathering (we think this is a fantasy type card game). Every entrant gets to play four exciting rounds from 10am to 6pm; and gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded. Spectators can watch for free. £15, prebook, 10am
MOSELLE MOSEY WALKING TOUR:
Meet at Queen’s Wood Café in Highgate before walking the complete course of Haringey’s hidden River Moselle and observing the changing face of the borough along the way. Finish Markfield Park, Tottenham at around 4pm. It includes a break for lunch at lakeside cafe. £7.50/£10, prebook, 10am-4pm
NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL FAMILY DAY:
Join the children's parade as they dance and sing their way along the carnival route. Hear the sound of Calypso and Soca at Powis Square where a whopping 38 sound systems will be strategically placed. Take part in family workshops and enjoy tasty Caribbean food and drink. Free, just turn up, 10am-8.30pm
DAY AND NIGHT BBQ PARTY:
Queen of Hoxton is bringing the bank holiday party vibes all day and into the night, featuring a rooftop BBQ, BMX demonstration and tie-dye workshops. Grab some BBQ and an alcoholic ice lolly from Wavey Ice while DJs play a selection of carnival jams and reggae music. £6/£15, prebook, noon-3am
DISTRICT LINE WALK:
Join Mark, author of Walk the Lines: the London Underground-Overground for a stroll along the district line. You'll learn why the Queen spoke to her sister in French, why Westminster Bridge is painted green and how Winston Churchill tried to cure his speech impediment. £5/£8, just turn up, 1pm and 4pm
SEASON LAUNCH PARTY:
The Space, a theatre and roof garden in Greenwich, is hosting a sneak preview of its up and coming productions which include Oscar Wilde, conspiracy theories, improvisation, masks, biography and much more. Get there early to enjoy the BBQ (from 4pm) or just in time for dancing (from 10pm). £10, prebook, 4pm-10pm
POKER TOURNAMENT:
Mind Sports Olympiad is taking place in Hampstead. Each night during the Olympiad, a variant of poker will be played. The person who gets the top scores will be crowned Amateur Poker World Champion. Better get practicing your poker face. £10, prebook, 7pm
MUSIC:
Head to Brasserie Toulouse Lautrec in Kennington to hear Four Femmes in The Thames perform swing classics. £12.50, prebook, 9.30pm
Monday 31 August
FREE FROM FOOD FESTIVAL:
Free From Food Festival is the UK's first gluten-free, sugar-free and dairy-free summer food festival which caters for people with food allergies. Learn how to throw together great recipes with a diverse range of ingredients. There'll be plenty of tastings and live music throughout the day. It takes place at the Old Truman Brewery in Brick Lane. £5, prebook, 10.30am-6.30pm
MONOPOLY:
If Monopoly is your game of choice when the rain starts head to Mind Sports Olympiad in Hampstead. There are four rounds to take part in throughout the day. For spectators it's free to watch. £15, prebook, 10am-6pm
NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL GRAND FINALE
Expect flamboyant costumes, the aroma of sizzling jerk meats and the sound of steel bands at the final day of the Carnival. Arrive early to make the most of the performances, food and music on offer. Free, just turn up, 10am-8.30pm
KEATS IN HAMPSTEAD GUIDED WALK:
Follow the story of Keats's life in this walk around Hampstead village, with readings from his poetry and letters. Explore locations that inspired Keats, including the Vale of Health, Well Walk and Hampstead Heath. Meet at Hampstead tube and finish at Keat's House. £10/£8, prebook, 11am
WILD CAPITAL ROAD SHOW:
Fulham Palace is hosting an event in collaboration with Wild Capital, which helps people discover London's animal side. There'll be a marquee set up on the main lawn for all the family to explore. Free, just turn up, 1pm-4pm
NEIGHBOUR DAY:
The Cat's Back, a Victorian pub on the river in East Putney is celebrating Bring Your Neighbour To The Pub Day in style. With a fine selection of bands and DJs playing bossa nova, choro and soukous. With an all day BBQ and the pub's legendary community vibe, there won’t be much risk of awkward moments so take the plunge and invite your neighbour to join you for a lazy afternoon at this lovely local. Free, just turn up, 2pm-10pm
CAT CAFE:
And if you love cats, you'll love Cat Village in Shoreditch. Grab lunch or a coffee and spend the afternoon making some new feline friends. £5, prebook, 4pm
EMPIRE MASTERCLASS:
If you are a fan of gin, rum or port (and who isn't?), head to Merchant House in Bank for an Empire Masterclass with multiple tastings. £20, prebook, 7.30pm
Try Pact for £1 and Change the Way You Drink Coffee
Fresh, hand-roasted, straight-to-your-door coffee. Pact Coffee have an aim to get Londoners drinking the really good stuff with regular deliveries to your home or office that suit your brew-drinking schedule. Their various coffees come from around the world and are carefully sourced by them, chosen by them, roasted by them and sent out by them — meaning all you have to do is concentrate on the drinking.
Try your first bag for just £1 and you'll see what we mean. Find out more and use code Londonist09 to get yours here.
Full-priced 250g bags are usually £6.95. £1 offer includes P&P. Offer for new Pact customers only. Click here for full terms and conditions.
This weekend’s Things To Do In London is sponsored by Pact Coffee.
Other good stuff
- What’s on stage
- What’s on in Museums and Galleries
- Free things to do in London
- Art & photography shows
- Eating and drinking
- Listen to our latest podcast
- Free & cheap events in London
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]
For daily ideas of things to do in London subscribe to our emails.