Things To Do In London This Weekend: 16-17 July 2016

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All weekend

Photo by Ren Forrest from the Lambeth Country Show.

JAPAN FESTIVAL: Feel the bright lights of Tokyo at the Hyper Japan Festival at Olympia. Complete with cosplay, an anime area, and a lot of cosplay, this is the closest we'll get to Japan without the 12 hour flight. £15-23, book in advance, 15-17 July

SUMMER MARKET: Head to the river front for 180 stalls of artisan products, clothes and jewellery at the Embankment Summer Market, at Victoria Embankment Gardens next to Embankment station. There's also giant Jenga, live music and street food. Free, just turn up, 15-17 July

WALTHAMSTOW GARDEN PARTY: Listen to music from around the world, try craft beer and see the best Walthamstow has to offer at this family-friendly festival in Lloyd Park. Over 30,000 visitors attended last year, so it's worth getting there early. Free, just turn up, 16-17 July

PORTOBELLO ROAD SUMMER FESTIVAL: Acklam Village Market and surrounding venues host the first Portobello Road Summer Festival with live music, dance, spoken word, DJs, street food and more. See the full line-up. Free, just turn up, 16-17 July

FAMILY FUN WEEKEND: Roof East in Stratford, home to this rooftop crazy golf course, hosts a family fun weekend with workshops, games and activities for all ages, including table tennis, basketball and dance. Free, just turn up, 12pm-5pm, 16 & 17 July

COUNTRY SHOW: Visit Brockwell Park for the Lambeth Country Show to experience the best of the countryside and city, including sheep-shearing, a home-grown vegetable competition, and owl displays. Where else could you drink locally made cider next to animals in the mini zoo while listening to soul music? Free, just turn up, 16-17 July

STREATHAM ART FESTIVAL: See art from local and international artists displayed in the windows of Streatham High Street (allegedly the longest high street in Europe) for Art23. Pick up a map of the trail at one of the venues taking part. Free, just turn up, until 17 July

STAR WARS EXHIBITION: There's a celebration of everything Star Wars at ExCel this weekend, with celebrity guests including Peter Mayhew, Jeremy Bullock and Warwick Davis. Autograph signings and an interactive stage floor are just a couple of things happening. £30, book in advance, 15-17 July

THEATRE FESTIVAL: Get ready for immersive theatre, intimate story telling and sound and visual installation as four companies present their latest works at the Tanner Street Takeover. £5-12, book in advance, 15-17 July (at various times)

Saturday 16 July

The Chap Olympiad in Bedford Square Gardens.

NIGHT-TIME ECONOMY: A new exhibition opens at Rich Mix in Shoreditch today with photography and poetry offering an insight into the nightlife of the town of Newport. Free, just turn up, 16-28 July

VEGAN BEER: Head to The Old Ship in Hammersmith for a Vegan Beer Festival. It will feature dozens of vegan beers, stalls serving vegan food in a park adjacent to the pub, and great views of the Thames £5, book in advance, 11am

CHAP OLYMPIAD Don your dandiest tweed and pop down to Bedford Square Gardens in Bloomsbury for The Chap Olympiad, an eccentric garden party with games, cocktails and live music. £25, book in advance, noon-9pm

WINE FESTIVAL: Urban Food Fest in Shoreditch hosts a festival of Uruguayan wine. Tuck into street food from all over the world and wash it down with tipples from the Bodega Garzón wine estate. Free entry, just turn up, noon-midnight

EXPLORATION OF DATING: Southbank Centre hosts an interactive installation about dating, and how technology is making dating less traditional. Free, just turn up, 2pm-7pm

THE CORRS CONCERT: Listen to Irish pop/folk band The Corrs (and support band Ten Millennia) for the penultimate event of Kew the Music, a music festival taking place in Kew Gardens. Bring your own picnic or treat yourself at the food and drink stalls on site. £45 (child £31), book in advance, 6pm

COMEDY NIGHT: Join political stand-up comedian Chris Coltrane and guests Matt Winning and Sooz Kempner as they perform their new stand-up shows before heading to the Edinburgh Fringe. Takes place at the Carpenter's Arms on Seymour Place, near Marble Arch. Free, just turn up, 7pm

DJ SET: Kevin Rowland, frontman of band Dexys (previously known as Dexys Midnight Runners) plays a DJ set at How Does It Feel. Expect a range of music from indie to 60s pop — and Rowland might even take to the mic himself. Takes place at The Phoenix on Cavendish Square £6 (+booking fee) book in advance, 9pm

Sunday 17 July

The Friends of Brompton Cemetery hold an open day.

CLIMB A SKYSCRAPER: Race up more than 1600 stairs to the top of the Walkie Talkie tower and raise sponsorship money for Mencap. If your thighs are burning after the 36 floor climb, sit and relax in the Sky Garden at the top. £20, book in advance, 10am

CEMETERY OPEN DAY: Explore 176 year old Grade I listed Brompton Cemetery with a guided tour and a rare chance to visit the cemetery's catacombs. Free, just turn up, from 11am

URBAN BAZAAR: Treat yourself to jewellery or silk flowers at monthly designer/maker fair Urban Bazaar at St Luke's Community Centre in Old Street. Vintage clothing, homewares and accessories are also among the products on offer. Free, just turn up, 11am-4.30pm

FAMILY RAVE: Take your kids to a family-friendly rave at the Oval Space. Live DJs will be playing all sorts of tunes, but we're guessing the little ones will be more excited by face painting, bubbles and a ball pit. £8 adult/£5 child (+booking fee), book in advance, noon

CITADEL FESTIVAL: Have a day of fun at Citadel Festival in Victoria Park, where you can hear the likes of Lianne La Havas and Sigur Rós. There's also a family-friendly sports day taking place, with tugs of war, disco dodgeball and a volleyball tournament. £55 (+booking fees), book in advance, noon

FRINGE IN A DAY: Fill your boots with an afternoon full of Edinburgh Fringe previews, including comedy, storytelling and theare perfomances. Takes place at Angel Comedy 2.0 in Angel. £25, book in advance, 1pm

SPEED DATING: Spend your afternoon meeting new people at Last Night A Speed Date Changed My Life at The Book Club in Shoreditch. At the end of the event, write down the name of anyone you'd like to see again, and see if you have any matches. £15/£17, book in advance, 2pm-5pm

JEWISH TOUR: Discover the history of Jewish London on a tour around the Old Jewish Quarter where you'll visit the oldest synagogue of the city and learn stories like the secret Jew who became the Queen's physician. £10, book in advance, 3.30pm

SOMERSET HOUSE GIG: At the final night of Somerset House's Summer Series, experience an audiovisual extravaganza from UNKLE:REDUX, supported by Golden Globe and Olivier-nominated Jocelyn Pook.  £35, book in advance, 7.30pm

DIRTY DANCING: Catch a screening of classic film Dirty Dancing at Rooftop Film Club at Queen of Hoxton. Watch the sun set over the City before the screening begins. £15, book in advance, 9pm


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Our pick of Funzing events

NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY: Discover how to take high quality photos at nighttime and learn how to take advantage of camera settings like exposure and white balance on this evening photography course. £40, 16 July

POTTERY CLASS: Take to the pottery wheel and learn how to make your own clay pot under the guidance of a pottery expert on this afternoon workshop. All materials included, and you'll be able to take your pot home. £35 16/23 July

VEGETARIAN COOKERY CLASS: Find out how to make and plate a fresh, healthy menu to impress your family and friends at a vegetarian cookery class in Wandsworth. £70, 24 August