Loads going on at Brompton Cemetery on 6 September. Image: Poetarojo ., Pexels License

Brompton Cemetery springs into life with its annual open day.

Though you can visit the magnificent Victorian cemetery any time of the year, in September — as the last drops of summer are squeezed out over the grand, tree-lined boulevard — an annual open day welcomes a flurry of free activities and entertainment.

This year's Friends of Brompton Cemetery Open Day is on Sunday 6 September 2026, featuring:

🪦 Tours of the cemetery and its catacombs, running throughout the day
🪦 Birds of Prey behind the Chapel, with talks at 11.30am and 2.30pm
🪦 Children's storytelling and face painting
🪦 Stalls selling local honey, handmade soaps, jewellery, clothes, toys, books, paintings and more
🪦 A chance to meet Chelsea Pensioners
🪦 Children's activities courtesy of the Royal Parks Learning Team
🪦 Stalls selling ice cream, samosas, crepes, cakes and more

If you're unable to make this open day, Brompton Cemetery plays a key role in hosting the ever-popular London Month of the Dead, happening a little later on in the year.

Friends of Brompton Cemetery Open Day, 6 September 2026, free.

The Woolwich Ferry has been operating for over 700 years, but it only recently got its first woman captain. Emma Lewis writes about the joys and challenges of the role.

"My favourite is Dame Vera Lynn. She's the female boat and I find she glides so elegantly across the Thames." Image: TfL

Being the first female Captain of the Woolwich Ferry is such an honour. Especially being a normal girl from Birmingham who never even stepped on a boat until I was 21.

Crazy story, but my first ever time on a boat was on the River Thames. My first trip to London was for my 21st birthday and I went on the London Eye River Cruise. If someone had nudged me on the shoulder then and said 'You'll be a captain on this river one day', I would have giggled. But look at me now!

My career on the water started as a Customer Service Assistant for Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. I sold tickets on the piers and helped passengers board. I fell in love with working outside and was really encouraged by how the crew enjoyed their job on board, so I choose to move over to that side of things.

I am not a lover of boats but gaining a new skill and working with such influential people triggered me to start my journey to becoming a captain. My time at Uber Boat by Thames Clippers was so valuable because I had no marine experience previously. The work was fast-paced. Gaining knowledge and experience was so much fun, and every day was different.

Emma Lewis hadn't even stepped on a boat until her 21st birthday. Image: TfL

"Dame Vera Lynn is the female boat and she glides so elegantly across the Thames"

My final shift as a captain at Uber Boat by Thames Clippers was on New Year's Eve — the hardest shift of the year. You have to keep your vessel completely still within a controlled area, with loads of boats around you. You don't get to enjoy the fireworks at all, as you have your back to them, so the back deck is exposed for the customers to have a good view. It was so intense, but I am so proud that I did it.

I moved to the Woolwich Ferry to challenge myself and to gain more knowledge as a captain. The boats here are vastly different from what I had been used to. I wanted change and the Woolwich Ferry was a great place to move to.

We have two ferries, Dame Vera Lynn and Ben Woollacott. My favourite is Dame Vera Lynn (DVL for short). She's the female boat and I find she glides so elegantly across the Thames.

"I do training with my crew daily, so I know they are prepared and ready for any emergency we may encounter." Image: Tom Page, Creative Commons

"With a boat you can't just stop anywhere and let people off"

As captain, my day starts by doing safety checks and a briefing with my crew to discuss daily operations. I navigate the boat from the North to South pier, keeping a watch for any traffic heading inward and outward bound. This is especially important as we are a 'give-way' vessel, so must give right of way to all vessels navigating the River Thames.

On certain days we may have short delays, especially if there are reporting vessels in the area, and sometimes you can have three at once. A reporting vessel is a boat that has right of way on the river and it must fit one of three rules: be longer than 40 metres, weigh 50 tonnes or more and go outside of the River Thames, or be a tugboat towing another ship.

Berthing was once described to me as a 'controlled crash'. We must berth a boat alongside a stable pontoon or pier without causing any damage. When you park a car you don't need to be alongside anything to get out or to stay still, whereas a boat can't just stop anywhere and let people off. So when you are berthing, you need to make contact without causing any damage. Can you imagine having to park a car with contact with the car next to you, without any damage?! The pontoons are protected by 'fenders' which essentially act as shock absorbers, acting as a buffer between the vessel and pontoon.

" I enjoy the sunrises and sunsets." Image: TfL

I do training with my crew daily, so I know they are prepared and ready for any emergency we may encounter. The operation is complex, and I always have to monitor the weather as it may cause delays, especially if it's extremely windy.

I love going down on deck and having a visual inspection of the boat as this gives me the opportunity to speak with customers. A lot of people are surprised we are a free service, so I love giving them the history of the ferry, which started out life in the 14th century.

My favourite part of working at the Woolwich Ferry is the people. I am so unbelievably blessed to call this my job, and I work with some lovely characters who make work seem less like a job. I also enjoy the sunrises and sunsets.

Your weekly roundup of Londonist news and features.

House Of Secrets: New WWII Museum Opens At Trent Park Near Cockfosters

Spies listened in here, while German POWs revealed war secrets.

Image: Matt Brown

60+ Summery Things To Do In London This Month: August 2026

Carnival! Afternoon Tea Week! A lovely long bank holiday weekend!

Image: Cocktails in the City

Robotaxis: The Lowdown On Driverless Cars In London

And will we get driverless buses too?

Image: Matt Brown/Londonist

Ticket Alert: Be Among The First To Visit Wake The Tiger's Absurd City

Europe's largest immersive art experience comes to London. (sponsor)

Image: Wake the Tiger

London: A Timeline Of The Future

We map out the next two centuries.

Image: Matt Brown

London's Getting A Bright Pink Pub... And It's Serving Free Drinks!

But hurry, it's not open long. (sponsor)

See London Upside Down At Alexandra Palace's New Camera Obscura

It's not in town for long.

Image: Pinhole London

The 1st Annual Writing Competition From Londonist: Time Machine

With prizes for London's next great history writers.

Image: public domain

16 More Photos Of London From The Goodyear Blimp

Astounding aerial shots of the capital.

Image: Matt Brown

The Decline And Fall Of London's Hanging Signs

The original Swingin' London.

Image: Matt Brown

Beatrix Potter's London: The Birthplace And Favourite Haunts Of Peter Rabbit's Creator

Not such a country bumpkin after all.

Image: public domain

A Scotch Egg Race Through Leadenhall Market

Win a £100 bar tab... or a scotch egg at least.

Visit A Museum Of Glasses, And Go On A Cemetery Bat Walk: Heritage Open Days 2026

September = Xmas for London lovers.

Image: Matt Brown/Londonist

Thamesmead Festival: Outrageously Fun Party In South London This August

Music, comedy and a dog show.

Image: Thamesmead Festival

The Welcoming Cafe That'll Let You Linger As Long As You Like... But Don't Order A Coffee

"We are trying to be different. We will not hurry you."

Image: Londonist

This is a sponsored article on behalf of 7UP® Pink Lemonade Zero Sugar.

Favourite Clapham pub The Perky Nel gets an eye-catching makeover next week, becoming The Pink Nel to celebrate the launch of a brand new take on a classic summertime drink.

Be among the first to try — for free, we might add — new 7UP Pink Shandy, a refreshing blend of 7UP® Pink Lemonade Zero Sugar and lager (both zero alcohol and standard options are available). Think traditional shandy, but with a fruity twist that hits different, served in pink.

The easy-drinking serve is the ideal tipple for lazy afternoons in the sun with friends, or after-work drinks — making The Pink Nel one of London's best hangout spots in the coming weeks. Bag yourselves a table in the pink-toned beer garden and catch up over garden lawn games, with giveaways of summery merch including cool bags and bucket hats.

What's more, everyone can get a completely free 7UP Pink Shandy or 7UP Pink Shandy (zero alcohol or standard) at The Pink Nel. Pop in and speak to a member of staff at the venue to claim yours.

And if you get hooked? This simple recipe lets you recreate the 7UP Pink Shandy experience at home (pink walls optional), any time you like:

Ingredients:

• Sugar-free strawberry syrup (15ml)
• 7UP® Pink Lemonade Zero Sugar (160ml)
• Alcohol-free or standard lager of your choice (160ml)
• Ice cubes
• Frozen raspberries

Method

• Fill a glass with ice
• Add the strawberry syrup
• Tilt the glass and pour in ½ can of 7UP® Pink Lemonade Zero Sugar.
• Keeping the glass tilted, top with lager
• Garnish with frozen raspberries

Can't make it to Clapham? Experience The Pink Nel on its summer tour, visiting Liverpool (8 August, Liverpool ONE), Manchester (9 August, Media City), Bristol (15 August, Cabot Circus) and Brighton (16 August, I360 EAST).

The Pink Nel opens at 7-8 Cavendish Parade, Clapham, SW4 9DW between 31 July-24 August 2026. Entry is free, with one free drink redeemable per guest.

A rooftop beach opens in south London. Image: Glenn Foster / Centrale and Whitgift centre

SUMMER HOLIDAYS: With schools closed, we've put together a guide to spending the summer holidays in London, packed full of family-friendly events, exhibitions and outdoor activities. On a budget? There are plenty of free things to do in the summer holidays. In the mood for a show? Here's our pick of family-friendly musicals and theatre productions in London over the summer.

DUNKIRK LITTLE SHIPS: Start your month by the water, as a fleet of 16 Dunkirk Little Ships drops anchor at St Katharine Docks next to Tower Bridge. The vessels taking part in Dunkirks at the Docks are just a handful of those which were involved in Operation Dynamo, rescuing Allied troops from the beaches of northern France in 1940. FREE, 1 August 2026

ROUNDHOUSE COMEDY FESTIVAL: Chuckle your way through the first half of August at Roundhouse Comedy Festival. The legendary Camden venue hosts the likes of Joe Lycett, Katherine Ryan, Alexei Sayle and Ayoade Bamgboye, offering a mix of established and up-and-coming talent. 1-18 August 2026

JAZZ CAFE FESTIVAL: For the third time, Camden's Jazz Cafe curates its own live music festival, spanning a range of genres and playing out in Burgess Park in south London. Singer-songwriter Ari Lennox, rapper Smino and singer/DJ Durand Bernarr are among this year's headliners. 2 August 2026

Nina Conti is on the bill. Image: Roundhouse Comedy Festival

ROUTES, RUINS AND RECONNAISANCE: Writer, traveller and archaeologist Gertrude Bell is the subject of the Royal Geographical Society's new exhibition, Routes, Ruins and Reconnaissance. View newly-digitised images created from original negatives held in the Society's collection, which showcase her archaeological and geographical work, and how she became invaluable to British intelligence in the First World War. FREE, 3-24 August 2026

CAMDEN FRINGE: The Camden Fringe takes place this month, bringing theatre, music, comedy and dance to venues across the area. Highlights of the 400+ performances include The Simpsons writer Mike Reiss revealing secrets of the show, and NSYNCe-centric comedy Syncing. Take a look at our picks for Camden Fringe 2026. 3-30 August 2026

COCKTAILS IN THE CITY: The second and final edition of this year's Cocktails in the City takes place at Bedford Square Gardens, opening the usually private park to ticket holders, with 20 of London's best bars appearing in pop-up form to serve their tipples. There are also street food stalls, live music, a silent disco, and cocktail making workshops. 6-8 August 2026

COSTA DEL CROYDON: A pop-up beach once again appears on a car park rooftop in central Croydon. Feel the sand between your toes in a giant sand pit, try bungee trampolines, a water splash zone... and, new for 2026, adults-only evenings on Thursdays. Who needs Brighton anyway? FREE, 7-31 August 2026

Take your tipples al fresco. Image: Cocktails in the City

THAMESMEAD FESTIVAL: South-east London is the place to be when the free Thamesmead Festival returns to Southmere Park, on the banks of Southmere Lake. Four stages pop up, with local performers showcasing their talents, spanning R&B, soul and rap music, headlined by 10-piece collective Natalie Williams & the Soul Family Band. Also happening: craft workshops, kids' entertainment, a local market and loads more. FREE ENTRY, 8 August 2026

AFTERNOON TEA WEEK: Not that we ever need an excuse to tuck into a scone and a couple of cakes, but Afternoon Tea Week falls in August. Why not celebrate at one of London's best themed afternoon teas, or perhaps the best afternoon teas near London's tourist attractions, and combine it with a day of sightseeing? We also know the best afternoon teas for children, and, if it's all sounding a bit expensive, we've got a guide to London's most affordable afternoon teas too. 10-16 August 2026

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Explore the century-old tunnels of London’s hidden Mail Rail network

© The Postal Museum, Miles Willis

Fancy uncovering subterranean secrets this summer? Join The Postal Museum for a Tunnel Walk! These fascinating tours give you the chance to venture beneath the streets of London and explore the 100 year-old tunnels of the Mail Rail, which transported post across the capital from 1927 until 2003.

Along the way, The Postal Museum’s expert guides will reveal surprising stories about the staff who built, operated and maintained the underground railway, from its construction in the early 1900s, through its midcentury heyday, to its eventual closure. You’ll get access to disused tracks, abandoned platforms, and parts of the network that aren’t accessible on The Postal Museum’s Mail Rail Ride.

Tunnel Walks take place on select dates in August (and beyond!) and are suitable for urban explorers, history lovers and rail enthusiasts aged 12+. They run after hours at The Postal Museum, which you’ll find on Phoenix Place in Clerkenwell (super close to the foodie hotspot that is Exmouth Market, if you fancy making an evening of it).

PEAKY BLINDERS: Step into the world of gang crime TV show Peaky Blinders, in a new immersive experience opening in London Bridge. Venture into a replica of the show's Garrison Tavern, and get drawn into Tommy Shelby's world through speakeasy rooms, live performers and interactive challenges. From 13 August 2026

CHILD OF GLASS: A new music-drama about the life of composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky comes to the stage at Opera Holland Park. The seasonal venue showcases the pressures, passions, and conflicts that shaped Russia’s most celebrated composer through a cast of four: musician Tama Matheson, actors Suzy Kohane and Oliver Holland, and the Royal Ballet’s Téo Dubreuil. 13-15 August 2026

Carnival? Nah, Thamesmead Festival. Image: Thamesmeead Festival

SUMMER SOUNDS: Free music festival Summer Sounds is back at King's Cross, with live concerts every evening, and other theatre performances dotted throughout the schedule. The West End Musical Choir, Soul Choir, the Kings Place Jazz Orchestra and saxophonistt Denys Baptiste are among this year's performers. FREE, 13-23 August 2026

JEEVES TAKES CHARGE: One-man show Jeeves Takes Charge sees actor Sam Harrison impressively playing 22 different PG Wodehouse characters including Jeeves, Wooster, Florence Craye, Bingo Little, Uncle Willoughby and Aunt Dahlia. It's got a limited run at Charing Cross Theatre. 13 August-6 September 2026

PLAY MAKE DO: Barbican Centre offers summer holiday entertainment in the form of family festival Play Make Do. Each of the three days encompasses one of those words, with activities including storytelling and circus skills on Friday, Carnival-themed crafts on Saturday, and dance and creative writing workshops on Sunday. 14-16 August 2026

AS YOU LIKE IT: Shakespeare's Globe is the ideal setting to catch the latest production of the Bard's comedy play As You Like It. The atmospheric riverside venue transforms into a forest festival as Rosalind escape's her uncle's repressive regime into the forest. 14 August-25 October 2026

Step into the world of Tommy Shelby. Image: Peaky Blinders London

IMBERBUS: Alright, so it's not in London, but it is a top-notch (and very popular) event featuring London buses, so indulge us for a second. Imberbus is an annual parade of double-decker London buses from Warminster to Chitterne, via Salisbury Plain and a collection of bucolic villages. Why? It all dates back to residents of the small village of Imber being turfed out of their village by the Ministry of Defence in 1943, and never being allowed to return — full story here. 15 August 2026

INFLATABLE ASSAULT COURSE: Apparently the UK’s biggest touring inflatable assault course, Action Arena pops up at Chiswick House & Gardens for one weekend in the middle of the month. Two different courses are set up in the Walled Garden, one for younger adventurers and the other for bigger kids over 120 cm tall (and yes, that includes adults — form an orderly queue behind us). 15-16 August 2026

FORMULA E: Start your (quiet) engines: Formula E races back into London in the form of the 2026 London E-Prix. The electric car motorsport championship takes place at — including inside — Excel London, with the start, finish and pit lane all located inside the giant building, and part of the course venturing outside. 16 August 2026

BARBICAN OUTDOOR CINEMA: There's an eclectic range of films on offer at Barbican's Outdoor Cinema this summer, the pinnacle being the UK preview of respected director Pedro Almodóvar's new film Bitter Christmas, introduced by the man himself. All films are shown on a giant screen in the open-air Sculpture Courtyard, with food and drink available to buy nearby.19-30 August 2026. Have a browse of the other outdoor cinemas popping up in London this summer.

Free music festival Summer Sounds is back. Image: King's Cross

ELECTRA/PERSONA: Cate Blanchett stars alongside Nina Hoss and Ella Lily Hyland in the National Theatre's new production Electra/Persona. During a performance of Electra, an actress suddenly falls silent, in a powerful exploration of identity, and the fragile line between who we are and who we play. 19 August-10 October 2026

ALL POINTS EAST: Deftones, Lorde, Tyler the Creator... just a few acts on the impressive line-up at this year's All Points East Festival in Victoria Park. The In The Neighbourhood free programme of events on selected non-gig days returns this year too offering live music and DJs, fitness activities, outdoor cinema and family theatre shows. 21-30 August 2026

GREENWICH AND DOCKLANDS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL: Free outdoor performing arts festival Greenwich and Docklands International Festival returns, for two weeks of theatre, art, dance and circus in outdoor locations, with a theme of 'We Move'. Highlights include 360, a dance performance on a towering circular stage in Woolwich town centre, and Efectos Especiales, which immerses visitors in the set of an action film. FREE 21 August-6 September 2026

PICCADILLY LINE HISTORY: Railway historian and broadcaster Tim Dunn is at the London Transport Museum to give a talk about the history of the Piccadilly line, to mark its 120th anniversary. Hear about the line's construction, operation, architecture, trains and stations, followed by a Q&A session. 22 August 2026

Entertain the kids at Play Make Do. Image: Kingsley Koranteng/Barbican

PROPELLERS AND POPCORN: London's full of unusual places to watch a film over the summer months, but what about on an airfield? The RAF Museum in Hendon screens (what else?) Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick for its Propellers & Popcorn movie nights, with 1980s costumes very much encouraged.22-23 August 2026

SLAVERY REMEMBRANCE DAY: The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich marks Slavery Remembrance Day with an afternoon of workshops, screenings and other events remembering the long struggle for emancipation throughout the world. FREE, 23 August 2026

HOLY FOOL: Soviet-Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich walked a perilous tightrope, working at the height of Stalin's regime and under the constant threat of torture and death. Holy Fool at the Park Theatre explores the story of how he appeased a brutal despot – while quietly resisting him. 27 August-10 October 2026

THE STORY: Newsroom thriller play The Story opens at the National Theatre, telling the tale of four journalists who race to get the headline when a white teacher is killed in a black neighbourhood, forcing them to weigh up how far they'll go to tell their version of the truth. 27 August-24 October 2026

The huge free festival takes over south-east London. Image: GDIF

ANIME & GAMING CON: What claims to be the UK's largest anime convention comes to Hammersmith, with merch, gaming, comics and cosplay. Expect appearances from anime rapper Shao Dow, as well as a chance to meet voice actors from anime productions. 28-30 August 2026

YIDDISH CULTURE WEEKEND: Yiddish language and culture is celebrated in a weekend of events organised by the Jewish Music Institute. The programme includes a beginner-friendly Yiddish sing-along celebrating women’s and gender-diverse voices, and an exploration of contemporary Yiddish poetry, with events at Bloomsbury's Horse Hospital, and at SOAS. 28-31 August 2026

JANE EYRE: Catch the UK premiere of a musical adaptation of  Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre, at Southwark Playhouse Elephant. We're promised the chance to "see Jane, the first feminist literary icon, like you never have before" accompanied by a powerful musical score. 28 August-24 October 2026

KIMBERLEY AKIMBO: David Lindsay‑Abaire and Jeanine Tesori's Tony‑winning musical about Kimberly Levaco — a teenager with a rare premature ageing condition — arrives at Hampstead Theatre in a new production by Michael Longhurst. The story follows Kim, her new choir friends, love interest Seth and an ex‑con aunt drawn to a get‑rich‑quick plan. 28 August-7 November 2026

Southwark Park gets involved in festival season. Image: Jake Davis/Rally Festival

RALLY FESTIVAL: The fourth edition of RALLY Festival takes place in Southwark Park on the Saturday of the bank holiday weekend, featuring Ilford born writer and producer Blood Orange as the headline act. 29 August 2026

BI PRIDE: An event where people who experience attraction beyond gender can be freely visible and celebrate themselves and their identities, Bi Pride UK takes place at Kings Place in King's Cross, offering talks, stalls from LGBTQ+ organisations and live performances. Full programme TBC at time of writing. FREE, 29 August 2026

BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND: The month comes to an end with a glorious, three-day bank holiday weekend. Make the most of the extra day with our guide to spending the bank holiday in London, so you're guaranteed a good time... even if good weather isn't guaranteed. 29-31 August 2026

NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL: Notting Hill Carnival is back on the streets of west London for three days of Caribbean-style entertainment. Expect the usual heady mix of Caribbean culture, samba, mas, soca and calypso, dazzling costumes... and lots and lots of people. Here's everything you need to know about this year's event. 29-31 August 2026

See top wrestling stars at Wembley. Image: All Elite Wrestling

FOOD FESTIVAL: Feast your eyes on the surroundings of Hampton Court Palace, and your stomach on goodies from the Hampton Court Palace Food Festival, which is held in the palace gardens. Tuck into street food, browse and buy artisan products including wine, rum, cakes, pastries, coffee and cheese. There's also live music at the bandstand and vintage garden games for kids. 29-31 August 2026

ALL ELITE WRESTLING: Wembley Stadium hosts a sporting showcase as All Elite Wrestling takes over the venue, showcasing top names from the wrestling world (full details TBC). 30 August 2026

GOOD TIMES SOUNDSYSTEM: Norman Jay MBE brings his Good Times Soundsystem to Alexandra Palace's Terrace for an open-air bank-holiday party, featuring the iconic red Routemaster bus stage, Carnival guests and a wide musical mix including house, rare groove, disco, jazz, hip-hop and drum & bass. 30 August 2026

LUKE JERRAM'S GAIA: Barely a month goes by without one of Luke Jerram's celestial orb artworks going on display somewhere in London. This time it's Gaia at Southbank Centre for one day only. Gaze up at the seven-metre wide replica of Earth, accompanied by a surround-sound composition. 30 August 2026

Get involved with Body Movements. Image: Sienna Lorraine Gray/Body Movements

BODY MOVEMENTS: Body Movements is a one‑day dance and queer‑led festival at Southwark Park. The bill includes Horse Meat Disco, Eris Drew & Octo Octa, Roza Terenzi, Romy (DJ), Samantha Togni and many more DJs, live acts, crews and dancers such as Little Gay Brother. 30 August 2026

OUTDOOR CULTURE: Cross your fingers for decent weather this month, then make the most of it with London's al fresco culture options. Theatre, films, art and live music can all be enjoyed in the open-air if you know where to look and what to book... which we do, naturally.

OUTDOOR CINEMA: As an extension to the above, London's awash with outdoor cinemas, from ones on rooftops to those in palace grounds, and alongside canals. Get booking to watch cult classic and new release films in the open-air this summer.

DAY TRIPS FROM LONDON: Need to get out of the city for a day or two? We hear you. Check out our Beyond London section for day trip inspo, weekends away in the UK, and city breaks further afield. At the moment, we're loving these Sussex seaside towns, relaxed weekends in Southwold, and this gorgeous country house with links to Harry Potter and Henry VIII.

London exhibitions and shows closing in August 2026

Last chance to see Holy Pop! Image: David Parry

A few things are closing this month too. August 2026 is your last chance to see:

ALLEGRA: Maureen Lipman stars in Allegra, a play about a woman who cannot stop herself from bursting into song, and the effect it has on those around her, at the Harold Pinter Theatre. Until 8 August 2026

DARK OF THE MOON: Supernatural witchcraft tale Dark of the Moon at Charing Cross Theatre is a musical telling the stories of two very different places: a charming rural Appalachian town, and the mystical world of witches and warlocks from the Smoky Mountains. Until 8 August 2026

HOLY POP: A Somerset House exhibition dedicated to the world of modern shrines and collections of objects which honour celebrity heroes. Until 9 August 2026

HIT MACHINE: How I Met Your Mother star Josh Radnor stars alongside Noah Galvin in Hit Machine, a darkly funny play about two brothers who grew up making music together. See it at Soho Theatre Dean Street. Until 15 August 2026

DOG MAN: Southbank Centre offers a summer holidays treat in the form of Dog Man The Musical, based on the best-selling children's book series of the same name. With the head of a dog and the body of a policeman, Dog Man loves to fight crime and chew on the furniture, but now he's called on to perform heroics. Until 16 August 2026

See a collection of works by artist Frank Bowling. Image: © David Levene

ENORMOUS CROCODILE: Roald Dahl's Enormous Crocodile has snapped its way into the Lyric Hammersmith, with music and large puppets telling the story of the other jungle creatures who summon up the courage to stop his rampage. Until 22 August 2026

HEATHERS THE MUSICAL: Adapted from the cult 1980s film, the popular Heathers the Musical is at The Arts at Marble Arch. It follows it girl Veronica Sawyer, the three Heathers and the mysterious J.D. at Westerberg High. Until 22 August 2026

FRANK BOWLING: British artist Frank Bowling is in the spotlight at the Royal Drawing School where exhibition Driven To Draw showcases his works spanning more than 60 years. Until 22 August 2026

RIDE THE CYCLONE: After a freak roller-coaster accident, six teenagers find themselves suspended in limbo and offered one final chance to return to life in Ride The Cyclone at Southwark Playhouse Elephant. Until 22 August 2026

Transport the kids to A World Elsewhere. Image: Shakespeare's Globe

FAIRY TALES: Interactive displays, theatrical design, costumes and activities feature in family-friendly exhibition Fairy Tales at the British Library. Familiar characters and magical creatures are brought to life as you learn how fairy tales have been transformed through time. Until 23 August 2026

POWER OF HONEY: Bees and the Bank of England aren't an obvious combination, but the on-site museum's temporary exhibition centres around the Bee-nomics Inspection Hive, a custom-built observation hive that brings living bees into the Museum, ultimately using their way of life to explore how trust is built, protected and deceived. FREE, until 28 August 2026

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM: Shakespeare's Globe offers a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A company of amateur performers prepare a wedding‑night play that spills into a moonlit world of lovers, fairies and mischief, accompanied by music by Jim Fortune. Until 29 August 2026

A WORLD ELSEWHERE: Meanwhile, Shakespeare's Globe also hosts A World Elsewhere, a family show staged in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, following Cass and his band of imaginary friends through Shakespeare-inspired adventures. Until 30 August 2026

Catch a free exhibition of cathedral photography. Image: © Peter Marlow Foundation/Magnum Photos

BONSAI TREEHOUSES: The Museum of Architecture brings bonsai specimens and architect-designed miniature treehouses to a special outdoor exhibition in Oxford Square, curated with Paolo Cocco and bonsai specialist Peter Warren. Until 31 August 2026

THE ENGLISH CATHEDRAL: Photographer Peter Marlow captured photos of all 42 cathedrals of the Church of England using only natural light. See the results in a free Southwark Cathedral exhibition. FREE, until 31 August 2026

HORRIBLE HISTORIES: Treat the kids to a history lesson they'll actually enjoy: Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain at the Apollo Theatre tackles the nasty side of Boudica, King John, Guy Fawkes, and other figures who shaped this country. Until 31 August 2026

And a reminder that Disney's Hercules dances out of the West End on 5 September 2026.

What does the future hold for London? We've put together a timeline, stretching out into the 23rd century.

The chronology includes real-world plans, but also fictional happenings and skyline visions of the city's future. The fictional entries are given blue dates and italicised, just to be clear.

Obviously, the dates given could slip or projects could be cancelled, but this is our best stab at mapping out the future as it appears in mid-2026 (updated from previous versions in 2019, 2020 and 2023). Almost every non-fictional entry below has changed since 2023, due to delays or cancellations, showing just how tricky it is to predict the future.

2026: (28 November) The London Museum opens in its new home at Smithfield. Details here.

2026: London is a city 'all in the air', as aeroplanes and blimps weave between the tall buildings. That's according to this transport poster from 1926. Full story.

London 2026 (as pictured in 1926 by Montague B Black).

2027: London is on the brink of collapse in a worldwide infertility crisis. Asylum seekers are met with brutal treatment by the police state. Meanwhile, Battersea Power Station has been converted to an art archive. (Children of Men)

2027: London Tunnels, a vast complex of 1940s tunnels beneath Holborn, opens to the public as a visitor attraction. (They've been a bit quiet in recent months, so not sure about this one.)

2030: Fulfilling a pledge he made in 2025, Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has ended rough sleeping in London.

2032: (Speculative) The House of Commons vacates the Palace of Westminster for up to 20 years while essential maintenance is carried out. The new chamber could be in Richmond House.

2032: Work on the British Library's extension is completed.

2032: An underground train packed with explosives is detonated in Westminster, destroying the Houses of Parliament. (V for Vendetta). Fortunately, MPs are still sitting at Richmond House and are thus unaffected.

2033: One London, previously called 1 Undershaft, is completed. It is now the tallest building in London, fractionally loftier than the Shard.

2034: The DLR extension from Beckton to Thamesmead opens.

2036: Death of artist Ralph Steadman at the age of 100. This according to his own plaque in Parsons Green.

Image: Matt Brown

2036: London gets a major expansion of the Overground network, with the opening of the West London Orbital.

2037: High Speed 2 finally opens after years and years of delay. It links Old Oak Common to Birmingham. The new Old Oak Common station connects HS2 to the Elizabeth line and the Great Western Mainline.

2040: The Bakerloo line extension to Lewisham finally opens after years on ice, before construction finally started in the early 2030s (speculative).

2041: The huge Earls Court redevelopment project reaches its conclusion.

Image: Earls Court Development Company

2041: Soho tailor Tom Baker dies, according to his own plaque. Despite the coincidental name, he is not a Timelord.

2051: The largest celebration in London's history, as the city marks its 2000th birthday, plus the anniversary of the Great Exhibition (1851) and Festival of Britain (1951), as well as 150 years since the end of the Victorian era. We called it first, and expect a seat on the organising committee.

2052: The Bakerloo line is further extended to Bromley (highly speculative).

2060: Construction work begins on a replacement for the Thames Barrier.

2061: It's the 2000th anniversary of the destruction of Londinium by Boudica. Expect lots of holographic chariot-racing events along the Embankment.

2070: The Thames Barrier comes to the end of its expected lifespan. The replacement flood defences have to account for increases in sea level caused by climate change.

2092: London abandoned after plague wipes out almost entire population. (Mary Shelley's The Last Man.)

2100: London is dominated by dozens of Shard-sized statues in the form of classical sculptures. The structures were built to filter air quality. (The Peripheral)

2104: Londonist turns 100 years old. Happy future birthday to us. Matt says he's sorry he couldn't be there.

2117: Big Ben (rebuilt after the 2032 atrocity) has gone digital. Meanwhile, the West End is a forest of skyscrapers. One of several visions created to promote an interactive game. Good to see that early 21st century buses, drones and adverts are still part of the city's tapestry.

London 2117

2121: London has become a blurry 'ecovillage', with its surviving landmarks re-erected in new places for some reason. This vision was created by Alan Marshall, and displayed at a previous Museum of London exhibition.

London in 2121

2145: Scientists visit the flooded remains of London after global warming causes sea levels to rise. (JG Ballard's The Drowned World)

2150: London is left ruined by alien invasion. The Dalek aggressors are eventually vanquished by pockets of resistance based in former Underground stations. (Daleks' Invasion of Earth 2150 A.D.)

2210: Birth of Amanda Grayson, mother of Ambassador Spock, who would go on to live on Marnock Road, Brockley. Her life is commemorated by a blue plaque on that street.

Future London resident Amanda Grayson and her slightly better-known son.

2259: Terror attack on a Section 31 facility by genetically engineered superhuman Khan Noonien Singh kills Admiral Christopher Pike. (Star Trek: Into Darkness, not necessarily in our timeline)

2999, 31 December: Crowds gather at Trinity Buoy Wharf to witness the final movements of Longplayer, the 1,000-year piece of never-repeating music, set in motion by Jem Finer on 1 January 2000.

6011: Back in 2011, experts warned that the Elizabeth Tower's slight lean could become a problem between 4,000 and 10,000 years in the future... so this is the earliest date.

Hey Star Trek fans. Did you know that Section 31 is based in Blackfriars? I guess the name goes with their black insignia. Still from Star Trek: Into Darkness

802,701: Richmond, wider London and indeed the whole world appear to have reverted to green wilderness. Humanity has split into at least two sub-species known as the Eloi and the Morlocks. (The Time Machine by HG Wells)

4,500,000,000: The Sun implodes triggering a supernova. Any remnants of London are obliterated as matter from the star blasts into the Earth. There will be no further updates to this article after that date.

Anything to add? Suggest a future event from London fiction, or a real and expected development, and we'll add them to the timeline.

This is a sponsored article on behalf of Wake The Tiger.

Been to Amazement Park®? London's getting its own version! Image: Wake The Tiger

Travel through a portal into a sprawling, zany cityscape which operates on completely different rules.

Europe’s largest immersive art experience, Absurd City, opens its doors here in London in October 2026, the newest creation from the team at Wake The Tiger. That's the company behind immersive theatre and music festival Boomtown Fair, and whose award-winning Bristol attraction Amazement Park® has drawn in more than half a million visitors since 2022.

Amazement Park® centres around the parallel world of Meridia, and now Meridia is extending to this new permanent home in London, creating a parallel world where logic breaks down, and reality refuses to behave.

What's more, Absurd City is bigger both in scale and creative ambition than the Bristol original.

Amazement Park® has been thrilling visitors since 2022. Image: Wake The Tiger

Absurd City consists of four distinct districts, housed under a protective dome, with stories unfolding around you, secret passageways to find — and plenty of unexpected discoveries along the way.

The self-guided, immersive and interactive walkthrough experience is suitable for all ages, with visitors known as 'Daytrippers'. We won't reveal any more surprises, but tickets are available now, and you can be among the first to explore this wacky new metropolis.

Expect trippy, interactive experiences at Absurd City. Image: Wake The Tiger

Says Luke Mitchell, Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of Wake The Tiger:

There is no blueprint for Absurd City. It's been a beautifully chaotic process driven by some of the UK's finest underground artists, robotic experts and makers. We’ve built a cosmic, eccentric and deeply human playground that we can't wait for London to explore.

To celebrate the launch, you can get a first glimpse into the new world of Absurd City right now! A free pop-up installation at Westfield Square (behind Wood Lane station) showcases a Meridia-inspired double-decker bus and taxi from Absurd City. It's an interactive photo booth where you can take a snap with the vehicles. But hurry — it's only in situ until 28 July, after which you'll have to wait until October for the full reveal of Meridia's London outpost.

Image: Wake The Tiger

Wake The Tiger's Absurd City opens at Westfield London on 15 October 2026, with tickets on sale now. Follow @wakethetiger.ldn on Instagram for exciting updates and previews ahead of the grand opening.

Peter Rabbit author Beatrix Potter spent much of her life in London.  Image: Public domain

Beatrix Potter, literary mother of such whimsical creatures as Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck and Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, is more often associated with the rolling hills of the Lake District than the bustling streets of London, but as she was born in Kensington, we're claiming her as one of our own.

As the 160th anniversary of Potter's birth approaches in July 2026, take a look at the London locations that inspired her — including where she found the intriguing names of some of her characters.

Beatrix Potter's London birthplace: Kensington

A plaque marks the site of the west London house where Beatrix Potter was born. Image: Matt Brown via CC BY 2.0

The author was born at 2 Bolton Gardens in Kensington on 28 July 1866, and she and her brother grew up in London. Beatrix lived in the house until her marriage in 1913; the Potter family sold it in 1924, and it was later destroyed in the Blitz. Bousfield Primary School now stands where the house once was. Why not call it Beatrix Potter Primary School? Perhaps because one already exists in Earlsfield.

In 1988, The Beatrix Potter Society teamed up with The Boltons Association and Frederick Warne & Co publishers to erect a plaque on the wall surrounding the school. Find the plaque on the brick wall on Old Brompton Road, just a few metres east of the junction with Bolton Gardens and Bolton Place.

Beatrix Potter's publisher: Frederick Warne & Co.

Frederick Warne's grave in Highgate Cemetery. Image: Simon Edwards Esq via CC BY-SA 4.0

This Bedford Street-based publishing firm (the exact address is thought to be 15 Bedford Street, now home to a coffee shop) was among six that turned down the chance to publish Potter's books the first time round. However, Potter had her story of a rabbit called Peter printed privately in 1901, and when the company saw it, they did a u-turn, publishing The Tale Of Peter Rabbit... and then 23 other books by Potter.

Potter's editor was Norman Warne, son of the company's founder, and the pair got engaged in 1905, but Warne died before they could get married. In 2012, there was an attempt to put up a plaque at his Bedford Square home in Bloomsbury but it was rejected. No other trace of Potter remains in the area today. Warne — played by Ewan McGregor in the 2006 film Miss Potter — is buried in Highgate Cemetery.

The company received the copyright to Potter's stories and illustrations when she died, and it's now part of the Penguin publishing group.

Beatrix Potter's London inspiration: Brompton Cemetery

Mr Tod, is that you? Brompton Cemetery is said to have inspired Potter's characters. Image: Peter Trimming via CC BY-SA 2.0

Rumours have always been rife as to where Potter got the names of her characters. While it's impossible to say for sure, the discoveries of the names Nutkins, McGregor, Peter Rabbett and Jeremiah Fisher on gravestones and in burial records in Brompton Cemetery in 2001 point strongly to this west London graveyard being a strong influence.

Beatrix Potter's archive: The V&A

The V&A held an exhibition about Beatrix Potter in 2022. Courtesy of Frederick Warne & Co.

Although Beatrix Potter's father was a barrister, the family were wealthy enough that he rarely worked. He regularly took Beatrix on trips to London's museums, including the Natural History Museum, where she spent time sketching animals, and the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A).

Today the V&A claims to house the largest collection of Potter's letters, illustrations and photos anywhere in the world, which are on display on rotation. The collection includes the original illustrations for The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and dummy manuscripts.

Beatrix Potter at the Royal College of Art

The very first illustration in Britain of the fungus Tremella simplex was created by Beatrix Potter. Image: Public domain

Being from a wealthy family, Potter was taught at home by a governess. However, in November 1878 her parents arranged drawing lessons and enrolled her at the National Art Training School in South Kensington (now the Royal College of Art's Kensington campus, alongside the Royal Albert Hall).

Beatrix Potter and Kew Gardens

Potter undertook botany research at Kew Gardens. Image: Bryn Holmes via CC BY-SA 2.0

Potter's uncle was Sir Henry Enfield Roscoe, a chemist and vice-chancellor of the University of London. Aware of her growing interest in all thing botanical and her regular visits to Kew Gardens, he introduced Beatrix to botanists here. Through her research at Kew, she wrote a scientific paper, On the Germination of the Spores of the Agaricineae, and submitted it to the Linnean Society, a natural history society based at Burlington House, in 1897.

Beatrix Potter submitted a scientific paper to the Linnean Society. Photo: Londonist

However, being a woman, Potter wasn't allowed to be present at the reading of her own paper. It wasn't published (also due to her gender) although scientists today have confirmed her theories as being correct. According to Kew archives, "her theories were later credited to a male German scientist". Typical.

The Linnean Society's Library and Study Room is open to the public (yes, including women!) these days, though Potter isn't commemorated here. There is, however, a bust of her uncle, Sir Henry Roscoe, on display at the Royal Society of Chemistry in Burlington House.

Adapted from a feature that first appeared in August 2025 on Londonist: Time Machine, our much-praised history newsletter. To be the first to read new history features like this, sign up for free here.

Image: Matt Brown

They say you should always look up in London. But not too far. Leave the rooftops for the pigeons and chimneysweeps. Instead, cast your eyes to the first floor (second if you’re American). Here you’ll find a neglected, orthogonal catalogue of shop signs clamouring for attention on the high street.

Most of today’s signs are humdrum. Every Pret, Poundland and Paddy Power has its perpendicular glowing herald, thrusting out from the brickwork. They’re little more than eye-clutter. Occasionally, though, you’ll find an individualistic gem, like this cheesy pendant in Seven Dials:

Image: Matt Brown

The dominion of the hanging sign has always been bossed by pubs. Their flapping nameplates remain one of the visual joys of London, even if many characterful pub signs have been lost or blandified in recent years. Here, I can’t help intruding on the text-flow to share a few of my favourite pub signs from around London:

The Old Nick in Holborn. That’s Niccolò Machiavelli, by the way. Image: Matt Brown

The Adam and Eve in Mill Hill, included mostly because I’m not entirely sure which one is Adam and which one Eve. Image: Matt Brown

The Chancellor in Hammersmith has two Tudor boffins anachronistically teaching Einstein’s mass-energy equivalence. Image: Matt Brown

The Three Kings of Clerkenwell. The chosen kings are Elvis, King Kong and Henry VIII. This is the pub's old sign. The current one is more tame. Image: Matt Brown

Hanging signs can rise to immortality. Many of the evocatively named passageways of London take their names from lost pubs, which in turn were named for the images on their hanging signs. Witness Hanging Sword Alley off Fleet Street, or Hen and Chickens Court, or Magpie Alley, all in the same area. In the case of Elephant and Castle, an old pub sign eventually denominated a whole neighbourhood.

Creative hanging signs today are nowhere near as ubiquitous as once was the case. Traditionally, almost every business of quality had its own, unique sign. This was a necessity at a time when most of the population could not read. Pictorial identifiers were easy to spot, and could be reproduced on business cards. Find me at the Crown and Three Sugar Loaves, you might say to your illiterate buddy. Or, as Gandalf tells the hobbits, “I’ll be waiting for you at the Inn of the Prancing Pony.” I don’t think that was London, though.

Hanging signs have been around forever, usually marking taverns. But they got a fillip during the reign of Charles I, who commended them “for the better finding out such citizens’ dwellings, shops, pubs or occupations, without impediment, molestation, or interruption to their heirs or successors.”

Thereafter, businesses of all types began to adopt signs. These might occasionally bear some relation to the trade carried on within: a bunch of grapes for a wine shop, for example, or a golden boot for a shoemaker. More often than not, though, the sign had only cryptic relevance, or none at all. Signs were often passed down to succeeding tenants, who might not carry on the same trade as the previous occupant. Sometimes, a merger could precipitate a fresh sign, with unusual combinations like the Sheep and Dolphin, or the Bell and Neat’s Tongue. (I recall a pub in Greenwich, long gone, called the Frog and Radiator… though that is clearly of more recent vintage.)

Almost all barbers still display a striped pole sign, even those named after barber-immune footballers. The three golden balls of the pawnbroker is another surviving example. Image: Matt Brown

The practice of decorating your shop front with an imaginative hanging sign seems to have withered in the 18th century for a number of reasons; and one of those reasons was numbers. Door numbers. They began to creep in around mid-century as a more rational means of identifying properties. The population was also becoming more literate, so the old pictograms were now merely charming rather than necessary.

Hanging signs could also be dangerous. In 1718, a sign came loose on Fleet Street, bringing down a fair amount of brickwork with it. Two young ladies, the king’s jeweller and cobbler were supposedly killed by the falling masonry. That, at least, is the story regularly repeated in books and websites. It may well be true, although I’ve been unable to find an account of this disaster written before 1810, almost 100 years after it purportedly happened.

After incidents like that, the decline and fall of the hanging sign was inevitable as well as literal. An Act of Parliament in 1762 called for the withdrawal of hanging signs on the grounds that they were dangerous. From that point on, shop signs were supposed to be fixed parallel to the wall, rather than cantilevered out over passing heads. I don’t think this was rigorously enforced for long, however, as a quick scan of old photographs and drawings confirms.

If you seek classic hanging signs today, head to Lombard Street in the Square Mile. This features a sequence of evocative signs, none more photogenic than this auric grasshopper:

Image: Matt Brown

The grasshopper, as any Londonophile will know, was the personal sigil of Thomas Gresham (you can see his initials on the hanging sign). This wealthy Tudor banker founded the Royal Exchange (above which another grasshopper presides) and set up Gresham College in his will. He also maintained a goldsmiths on Lombard Street from 1563, hence the date on the sign.

Is the sign itself that old? Does it predate the Great Fire?

Sadly, I don’t think so. A newspaper article of 1844 notes that the building had a grasshopper sign “as late as 1795, until the erection of the present building, when it disappeared”. A similar tale of absence is told in the Illustrated London News of 13 June 1857. For most of the 19th century, then, there was no grasshopper dangling over Lombard Street.

The first clue that the grasshopper had returned comes from an 1892 account which states that the insect is “the sign which still decorates Martin’s Bank”. My reading is that the original sign was long vanished, and Martin’s Bank hung a replica in the late 1880s… though, of course, it’s possible they found the original in storage.

Lombard Street contains more dangle-treasures than this superannuated grasshopper. Further signs depict a fiddling cat, a golden anchor and a king’s head.

Image: Matt Brown

These also look proper ancient but, in fact, they’re 20th century pastiche. 23 mock-Georgian signs were placed here in 1902 as part of the celebrations for King Edward VII’s Coronation procession, as a “unique and historical” decoration. This street had a long association with hanging signs. It was here, for example, that the black horse still used by Lloyd’s Bank has its genesis. It originally hung over a goldsmiths — a popular trade on Lombard Street — but made a suitable rebus for Barnett’s, Hoares & Co. Bank who took over the building. Lloyd’s absorbed this bank in 1884 and appropriated the sign.

Lombard Street's traditional signs had mostly vanished by 1902, but local banker and antiquarian Frederick George Hilton Price hit upon the idea of reviving them as a “unique and historical” decoration for the King’s big day. His book The Signs of Old Lombard Street provides many details about the signs, including the pastiche ones he helped to erect. These are listed below:

From The Signs of Old Lombard Street

As you can see, the Grasshopper is listed among them. This was one of the few signs that was not pastiche, though as mentioned above, this iteration had only been on show for a decade or two.

Sadly, the signs were only considered temporary and the Corporation of London took most of them down the following year. Now only four remain. Perhaps we should bring them back again. I’ll add it to my list of ideas for the Great Exhibition of London of 2051… which I hope to be around to see.

In truth, I think hanging signs are making a modest comeback. I’ve noticed a rise in imaginative signs of late, including a hanging typewriter in Shoreditch, a pendant bulldog at Two Temple Place (indicating the Bulldog Trust charity), and this menacing set-up on the Lord Napier pub in Hackney Wick:

Artwork by the street artist Phlegm. Image: Matt Brown

Meanwhile, Camden High Street has long been famous for its giant fibreglass signs. Doc Martens, Chinese dragons, anthropomorphic fruit and women of negligible clothing all lean out from the brick terraces.

And then we have the Dog and Pot sign on Blackfriars Road. This is a replica, installed about a decade ago, of a sign Dickens recalled seeing here as a 12-year-old in the 1820s.

Image: Matt Brown

As the resurgence of the hanging sign gathers momentum, we should remember that they can still constitute a public nuisance. ⬇️ This is the Duke of York in Fitzrovia ⬇️ — the pub where Anthony Burgess was once mugged, in an incident that inspired the Droogs in his A Clockwork Orange. Until recently, its hanging sign depicted another character of dubious quality:

The Duke of York in Fitzrovia a few years ago. The sign is now gone. Image: Matt Brown

The Duke of York recently stopped swinging. The sign was removed in early 2025. The pub has new owners who are not willing to trade under their predecessor’s sign. And thereby hangs a tale.

Driverless taxis are already on London's streets, and soon you'll be able to ride one. Image: Londonist

Driverless vehicles have existed in London in one form or other since the 1960s. But things are about to step up a few notches, as robotaxis become legal on the capital's streets. When exactly is this happening? Who are the companies behind them? And are London's crop of human taxi drivers quaking in their cabs?

What exactly is a driverless car?

There are six levels of automated car, level zero being fully dependent on a human driver, and the highest levels being where the tech is in control with very little (level four) or no need (level five) for human intervention.

Level four vehicles are already operating in some parts of the United States, but in the UK, we're not yet at level three. That's on the cusp of changing, thanks to the Automated Vehicles Act of 2024. Trials are already taking place across London, and in the second half of 2027, the Act will be fully implemented, meaning driverless taxis will be roaming the streets.

Which driverless cars are currently operating in London?

Waymo is looking to become an integral part of London's taxi market. Image: Waymo

Though there's no option yet for Londoners to hail a driverless taxi, a handful of big companies are busy trialling them:

🚗 Wayve/Uber: British autonomous driving tech company Wayve is working in cahoots with American ride-hailing platform Uber, as they trial driverless taxis in London. Ultimately, writes Wired, Uber wants to be the 'Kleenex' of ride-hailing apps, that is, you'll be able to use the Uber app to book any number of driverless taxis, including the other two on this list. Of course, Uber is already flush with data on driving around places worldwide, which is extremely useful to autonomous car companies. Those interested in riding in a Wayve in London can now register their interest.

🚗  Waymo: This California-based company — a subsidiary of Google-owner Alphabet —  is already operating driverless taxi services in select metropolitan areas in the States, as well as trialling driverless vehicles in London 24/7. It bills itself "The World’s Most Experienced Driver™", having covered some 200 million miles on public roads already. Apparently that's not enough miles for them to know not to wake up east London residents in the dead of night, or drive the wrong way down an underpass. Those interested in riding in a Waymo in London can now register their interest.

🚗  Baidu: Chinese company Baidu has paired up with US ride-hailing company Lyft to trail their Apollo Go driverless cars. They're a little behind, although cars are now in the UK, with trials imminent.

Other autonomous car trials have previously been hosted in London, including Nissan's ServCity project, running from 2020-23.

Does TfL support driverless cars?

TfL says its 'legal duties and responsibilities to keep London moving' means it welcomes CAV (Connected and Automated Vehicles) trials in London. These trials, says TfL, is helping it "understand the opportunities, risks and challenges they present." In short, it's given autonomous cars the green light.

And what do London's taxi drivers think?

"It's like comparing a hotdog vendor to Gordon Ramsay," said one black cab driver on black cabs Vs robotaxis. Image: Londonist

London's black cab drivers have had a lot to contest with recently, one report predicting they could be extinct within 20 years. But if you're to believe general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association, Steven McNamara, the general feeling among cabbies about robotaxis is one of skepticism, rather than fear. He cites London's medieval road system, chock-a-block streets and blasé pedestrians as some of the reasons why a proper cabbie would do a better, and safer, job than an autonomous vehicle.

There is also the small matter of the Knowledge. "It's like comparing a hotdog vendor to Gordon Ramsay," one black cab driver told the American TV presenter Anderson Cooper.

As for Uber drivers: not long ago they were the threat; now they may fear their livelihoods are in the crosshairs — the very company they work for seemingly happy to phase them out. As human drivers become more of a specialist thing, the Knowledge could work against them. But for now at least, some passengers will prefer to stick with a human behind the wheel. Speaking of which...

Do Londoners actually want driverless cars?

42% of Londoners actively oppose the idea of driverless taxis. Image: Matt Brown/Londonist

"I think Londoners are going to love autonomous driving," says Wayve CEO Alex Kendall, which he would do. Driverless car companies are eager to point out the multifarious touted benefits, including 'enhanced safety' (one of the arguments is that technology can't get tired like a human). Detractors would say that driverless taxis are in fact less safe because, well, they don't have a driver — plus anyone who's faced an overheating laptop or gobbledegook-spouting ChatGPT knows technology can get tired.

Environmental sustainability is another key benefit, say the autonomous companies, although most of London's human-driven taxis are already electric or hybrid. As for accessibility: Gabriel Stewart writes in the Guardian that "this is an opportunity for disabled rights that is too great to be missed."

As far as we know, there won't be any cost difference between human-driven and autonomous taxis, although perhaps driverless companies will initially reduce fees to get passengers onside. Ultimately, the cost we have to pay could be much higher, should we find ourselves with tens of thousands of unemployed taxi drivers.

In direct answer to the question Do Londoners actually want driverless cars?: a survey commissioned by the London Assembly Transport Committee found that 42% of Londoners actively oppose the idea of driverless taxis. That's high, although some of that is probably a fear of the unknown, something that will dwindle over time.

Is London getting driverless buses too?

Driverless taxis are all well and good for those who have money/don't like talking to real cabbies. But how about forms of autonomous public transport in London? Might that be a thing?

Well, automated train technology has been in place in London since 1963, although the closest the city has come to implementing it is on the DLR, which is still overseen by train operators.

Recently, London Centric went for a spin in an Ohmio, a pint-sized self-driving bus-like thing, which has already seen action in Milton Keynes (see above). In this case, the Ohmio was being trialled to tackle the very specific problem of a knackered Hammersmith Bridge that can no longer cope with double-deckers. But while proponents of Ohmio and its ilk say this is the future of travel, it's improbable that self-driving London buses will be a widespread phenomenon anytime soon, the many obstacles ranging from limited seating capacity to trade unions.

If you want to ride in a fully automated vehicle in London right now, your best bet is still one of the pods at Heathrow Airport.

A riot of colour and hijinks comes to Thamesmead this August. Image: Thamesmead Festival

In the summer of 1971, the first Thamesmead Town Festival took place, featuring a 'throw the sponge at the vicar' stall.

That particular stall's long gone (good news for today's vicar), but the festival is still a fixture of the Thamesmead calendar, returning on Saturday 8 August 2026.

These days, the Thamesmead Festival is a riot of colour, expressing the artistic roots — and great diversity — of the south east London town's inhabitants.

The festival's been going for several decades. Image: Stephen Chung for Peabody

Multiple stages pitch up at Southmere Park again this year — showcasing an eclectic mix of music, dance, comedy and more. Here's a selection:

🎤 Park Stage: The biggest stage of the lot features performances from the likes of chameleonic singer-songwriter Olivia Rose and four-piece punk-pop outfit Tricky Susan. Natalie Williams and the Soul Family Band headline.

🎤 Unplugged Stage: A stripped back set from Birmingham indie-rockers Sirenity, magic tricks turned by Vincent Gambini and a conversational set from South Sudanese flo-poet Becksy Becks feature.

🎤 Southmere Stage: Expect line-dancing from the Thamesmead Tornadoes, a dance-along with Bollywood Vibes Dance Company — plus the Thamesmead Dog Show.

Have fun for free all afternoon. Image: Thamesmead Festival

Elsewhere across the festival site, you'll find:

🎪 Free to Be Sensory Zone: A space with creative workshops and calm areas where festivalgoers can learn new things and be themselves.

🎪 Kids' Zone: Circus skills and drumming workshops, bouncy castles and a chance to join in with the carnival parade.

🎪 Food and drink stalls: A wide range of goodies to scoff/slurp on site or take home for later.

Possibly taken at the moment Thamesmead was told it was getting the DLR. Image: Thamesmead Festival

And while you're in the hood, look out for six murals painted in 2023 — slathered on lift shafts, tower vents and garage doors. The commissions take their cue from Thamesmead itself; from its urban environment to its majestic swans.

Look out for the six murals. Image: Thamesmead Festival

Thamesmead Festival is at Southmere Park, Thamesmead on Saturday 8 August 2026, 12pm-7.30pm. Entry is free. It's a 15-minute walk from Abbey Wood station.

Image: Matt Brown

What would you photograph if you got the chance to float low over London?

Answer: everything.

I was recently given a flight over London in the Goodyear blimp. I am aware how lucky I am. It was a stunning day, and I took something like 200 photographs of the capital from a privileged vantage point just a little higher than the Shard.

I presented some of my best shots in the article linked above, but the opportunity provided so many golden moments that I thought I'd share another 15 images in a fresh article. So here we go...

1. A shadow falls over Bexley

Image: Matt Brown

As we chugged westwards, the blimp cast a sizeable shadow on the streets below. Here, we're flying over Bexley, with the shadow spanning the gap between Brampton Road and Mayfair Avenue. I would look down wondering if passing motorists and pedestrians would notice the sudden eclipse and look up, though I never saw this happen.

2. A look at the cabin

Image: Matt Brown

A few people have asked what the flight cabin was like. As you can see, we were provided with exceptionally large windows through which to gawp at the passing scenery. The cabin is not pressurised; indeed, two of the windows were partially open. About 15 people can ascend. Seatbelts are worn only at take-off and landing, and we were free to move about at all other times. It is a gentle ride. Note the word Zeppelin on the ceiling. The blimps are still built by the Zeppelin company in Germany.

3. Bostall woods

Image: Matt Brown

It's tempting to include only the well-known sights of central London, but I wanted to share a couple from south-east London. Here, we're looking towards the river, with the bosky Bostall Woods and Plumstead Cemetery in the centre of shot.

4. Parched Blackheath

Image: Matt Brown

We're part-way through the heatwave, and Blackheath is already looking like it could use a downpour. With the grass turning to straw, we can more readily see the various paths and desire lines that criss-cross this historic landscape.

5. Above a classic view

Image: Matt Brown

I didn't quite time this one right — the top is a little cut-off — but my intention was to capture the classic view from Greenwich Hill, but from 300 metres higher. In the foreground is the Queen's House and National Maritime Museum, followed by the Old Naval College. Across the water, most of the Isle of Dogs is visible, with its great barrier of skyscrapers.

6. Greenland Dock

Image: Matt Brown

Rotherhithe is among the most-changed areas of London over the past half century. Before the 1980s, large swathes were given over to docks and connecting channels. Today, only a handful remain, including Greenland Dock and South Dock, shown here. Meanwhile, the new towers of Canada Water rise in the background.

7. Canary Wharf

Image: Matt Brown

As we passed the Wharf, it felt almost as though I could reach out and stroke the passing 'scrapers. This view shows the main cluster, looking east towards the Royal Docks and City Airport.

8. Limehouse Basin

Image: Matt Brown

Note the colour change between the Thames water and that in Limehouse Basin. Something similar can be seen in the Greenland Dock photo. This is the sort of thing you can only notice from height.

9. What's the time?

Image: Matt Brown

I was startled to find that I could read the time by looking down. This is London's largest clock, dubbed 'Big Benzene' because it tops the former Shell building on the North Bank. It was indeed just after 11am as we flew overhead.

10. Spying on the MoD

Image: Matt Brown

Having once ventured into the basement of the Ministry of Defence building (a story for another day), it was a pleasure to see their hulking headquarters from above. Good to see so many solar panels lining that colossal roof.

11. A shadow falls over Parliament

Image: Matt Brown

I managed to time this photograph just as the blimp's shadow passed over the House of Commons Chamber. Sadly, this was taken at 11:04, a full 26 minutes before Hansard records the daily session opening... so probably nobody was in there.

12. Changing the Guard

Image: Matt Brown

As a Londoner rather than a tourist, I don't think I've ever been to see the Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace before. My first experience of the event, then, is to witness it from 300 metres in the air.

13. The pilots' view

Image: Matt Brown

The blimp flew west as far as Nine Elms, giving us epic views of the tower cluster and Battersea Power Station beyond. Here's the scene from the cockpit, which is not screened off from the passenger cabin. The co-pilot seems to be checking her phone, which isn't a problem up here as the blimp is fitted with Starlink. That said, I had a decent 5G signal for much of the ride.

14. Rear-view window

Image: Matt Brown

On the way back, I thought I'd give the rear seats a go. Here, wraparound views of the capital are possible. In this shot, we see the Isle of Dogs and O2 dome.

15. Bluewater

Image: Matt Brown

With time to kill before we were due back at the aerodrome, the pilot decided to circle the Thames in extreme east London. This offered splendid views of the QEII Bridge and Tilbury Docks, but also the gigantic shopping centres of Lakeside (Essex) and Bluewater (Kent). You can tell we're not in London any more from the quite stupendous number of parking spaces.

16. Matt beside the window

Image: Matt Brown

And a farewell from me. As previously mentioned, a couple of the windows were left open, allowing us to take photographs without glare (oh so very carefully, as a dropped camera from this height could be fatal).

Thanks for reading, and see the original article about my flight here.

Image: Matt Brown

It's a museum of two parts: stately home, and wartime espionage bunker.

London has a new museum and it's called 'Trent Park House of Secrets'.

If you're a jaded hack who's sifted through thousands of press releases over the years, you might suspect an element of spin and hyperbole in that enticing name. Not a bit of it. Trent Park was a hub of wartime secrets. It's the real deal.

You'll find it at the eastern end of Trent Country Park, that huge open space near Cockfosters station (also home to London's implausible candidate for Camelot). The museum is housed inside a 1920s mansion called Trent Park, which looks simply gorgeous on a sunny day:

Image: Matt Brown

From 1923, this was home to the Sassoon family, most prominently Sir Philip Sassoon, who had the place dolled up like a Georgian stately home. Sassoon died in 1939, and his majestic pile was requisitioned by the government, who turned it to extraordinary purpose.

Trent Park became a home for dozens of high-ranking German prisoners of war. The men were treated well and some even had personal valets. It was a very agreeable place to see out the war years. What the pampered captives did not know was that every room in the building was festooned with microphones.

This was an intelligence farm. The captive officers were made to feel relaxed and at home, all the better to get their tongues wagging. Down in the basement, dozens of volunteer 'listeners' monitored every conversation, listening for morsels that might help the war effort.

This hidden history — long an Official Secret — is lavishly brought to life at the House of Secrets. We begin on the ground floor, where Sir Philip Sassoon's stately rooms have been recreated in all their mock-Georgian glory:

How the ground floor might have looked in the 1930s, before it was requisitioned for war use. Image: Matt Brown

These rooms are gorgeous, of course, but nothing you can't see at 1,000 National Trust or English Heritage sites across the country. What comes next, though, is a unique contrast. Push through a secret door, and we're into a world of espionage...

You've heard of MI5 and MI6, but the intelligence services had (and have) many further branches. MI19 was concerned with extracting information from prisoners of war, and Trent Park was one of its key sites. An exhibition room on the ground floor shows off some of the kit that might have been used to eavesdrop on the prisoners. At its heart is an astounding model of the building; a doll's house of reconnaissance.

Part of the wonderful model of Trent Park, which also shows the listeners in the basement. Image: Matt Brown

This shows us the German prisoners, going about their limited business on the various upper floors of the building. Unknown to them, the basement was stuffed with operatives and volunteers who were listening in on their every conversation. If you've been watching the excellent Apple TV show Star City, then you'll know the drill.

Then it's down into the basement to visit the rooms in which the eavesdropping happened. A bewildering series of chambers have been refitted to show the listening stations, supervisor's office and store rooms as they might have looked in the early 1940s. The low ceilings and austere wartime decor really do give the place some temporal gravitas.

A model listening station. Key conversations were recorded onto acetate discs, which could only store a few minutes of audio. Another room gives visitors the chance to play at being a 'listener'. Image: Matt Brown

Did the listeners ever hear anything noteworthy from the captured generals and obersts? Oh yes. The Trent snoops were the first to hear rumours about Hitler's V2 rockets, which would bring a last wave of terror to London from 1944. The intelligence allowed the Allies to hit the rocket sites early, holding back the ballistic onslaught by almost a year. The listeners also overheard appalling details about the Nazi concentration camps, but sadly this information was not acted upon — and nor was it brought forward during the Nuremberg Trials after the war (supposedly because the listening technology was too valuable to reveal in open court).

Part of the underground complex where unseen listeners would eavesdrop on the POWs above. Image: Matt Brown

Even the cafe is historic. Painted by Winston Churchill (a copy of his artwork hangs in the house), this was the reception room once used by Sassoon to greet the likes of Charlie Chaplin.

Trent Park House of Secrets has been many years in the making. The house served as a campus for Middlesex University for many years, until they withdrew in 2012. Since then, its fate has remained uncertain. Eventually, the site was picked up by Berkeley Homes who — thanks to a dogged campaign — agreed to turn part of the mansion into a museum.

Actress Helen Lederer is one of the museum trustees. Her grandfather Ernst Lederer served as a listener at the house. As a Czech-Jewish refugee, he was able to understand German. Image: Matt Brown

The House of Secrets is an excellent and important addition to London's crop of war-focussed museums. For many, it'll be a trek to get to — a reasonable walk from either Oakwood or Cockfosters (the first is slightly shorter, but the latter is more scenic) — but it's worth the hike.

We're assured that the house is now free of bugs, but then they would say that, wouldn't they?

Trent Park House of Secrets is open now. Full adult price is £14, with various concessions available.

You could win £100, but you're at least guaranteed to snaffle a scotch egg.

London, we are proud to say, is home to the Scotch Egg Race.

In a summery/breadcrumbed twist on Leadenhall Market's annual Pancake Day Race, Monday 27 July 2026 sees an eccentric dash in which bowler hat-sporting contestants sprint through the ornate Victorian market, balancing a scotch egg on a spoon.

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A post shared by The Lamb Tavern (@lambtavern)

Anyone can take part in the races — happening from 12pm — with the winner receiving a £100 tab for either the Lamb Tavern or Old Tom's Bar, both in Leadenhall Market.

But all competitors are winners really; everyone gets a scotch egg on the house. That's Monday's lunch sorted, anyway.

Anyone can take part in the races — happening from 12pm.

Despite its name, the scotch egg as we know it was actually invented for the posh London department store, Fortnum & Mason in 1738.

Scotch Egg Race, Leadenhall Market, 27 July, from 12pm, free. To take part, email lambtavern@youngs.co.uk

All weekend

Brain Fools are part of Ensemble Festival. Image: Pablo Herrera

HYPER JAPAN: Love all things Japanese? It's your lucky weekend because Hyper Japan, a celebration of Japanese culture, comes to Olympia London. Japanese band Queen Bee and singer-songwriter Eir Aoi are among the performers, alongside a market, cosplaying and a sake experience. 24-26 July 2026

PECKHAM WEEKEND: Eat your way around SE15 while supporting a good cause. 19 local restaurants, bars and cafés take part in this year's Peckham Weekend — organised by legendary local restaurant Mr Bao — offering £10 specials, with £1 from each donated to Peckham Pantry. Participating venues this year include Mr Bao, Rice Paddy, Forza Wine, Shorty’s, Peckham Cellars, Taca Tacos and Janda Diner, with dishes spanning BBQ mackerel, crispy pork belly bánh mì, fried squid brioche, and swordfish tostadas. 24-26 July 2026

WING FEST: Arrive hungry at the London Stadium in Stratford for Wing Fest, apparently the world's largest chicken wing festival, with 45 different street food traders, restaurants and BBQ teams serving up their best wings. Tickets include live music, DJs, bands, entertainment, rides, games, axe throwing and eating competitions. 24-26 July 2026

STEEL SCENES: A weekend takeover at Southbank Centre marks 75 years of the steel pan in the UK, featuring youth ensembles, UK steel bands and new commissions across Riverside Terrace, Royal Festival Hall and Jubilee Gardens. Highlights include Steel Rising (youth performances) and Steel Sounds with Just Vibez on the riverfront. The majority of the weekend is free. 24-26 July 2026

Have a browse at a Craft & Flea Market. Image: Canada Water

ICE WEEKEND: Descend into a 42-foot-deep Victorian ice well, watch ice-cream making demos, go on a family ice trail, hear tales of the ice trade and try the Ice Trade Challenge — at the annual Ice Weekend at London Canal Museum in King's Cross. Boat trips run on the surrounding canals on both days too. 25-26 July 2026

CRAFT & FLEA MARKET: Independent makers, designers and vintage collectors selling ceramics, jewellery, illustrations, homewares, candles and other handmade goods come together at the Craft & Flea Market at Canada Water over the weekend. Browse a curated selection of stalls from across the UK and speak to the people behind the products. 25-26 July 2026

ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL: Free open-air performance festival Certain Blacks Ensemble takes over Royal Victoria Docks for two days of circus, dance and theatre for all ages. Certain Blacks is an arts organisation known for championing artists from different socioeconomic, ethnic, gender and neurodiverse identities. FREE, 25-26 July 2026

LAVENDER HARVEST: For one weekend, Carshalton Lavender invites the public to descend on its allotment, and pick their own lavender. Remember to bring secateurs or scissors to do your snipping with. 25-26 July 2026

Feel the beat of the steel pan drum. Image: Southbank Centre

SUMMER SPLASH: A free lido opens in east London's docks for the summer holidays, complete with lifeguards, kids' lessons and floating platforms to pen swimmers in and keep them safe. Just bear in mind that Summer Splash in Royal Docks is unheated. FREE, 24 July-16 August 2026. Find other urban beaches and outdoor swimming spots to enjoy in London this summer.

THE ART OF MINI GOLF: A playable exhibition of nine mini golf holes by female artists including Miranda July, Kaylene Whiskey, Danielle Brathwaite‑Shirley and Soda Jerk is installed at Battersea Arts Centre until this weekend. Menacing cartoons and swamp flowers are among the obstacles on the course. Until 26 July 2026

BHARTI KHER: British Indian artist Bharti Kher's sculptural works — which explore the body, womanhood, mythology and cultural identity — are brought into conversation with objects from the V&A's historic collections, in a new free display at the South Kensington museum. FREE, from 20 July 2026

Battersea transforms into Rydell High. Image: Danny Kaan

THE ENGLISH CATHEDRAL: A new, free display at Southwark Cathedral, The English Cathedral brings together Peter Marlow's photographs of the naves of all 42 Anglican cathedrals in the country. Shot on large‑format film using only natural light and taken from a consistent east‑facing viewpoint, the images emphasise architectural detail as dawn light streams through the windows. FREE, 21 July-31 August 2026

TRENT PARK MUSEUM: North London gets a brand new museum, as the Trent Park House of Secrets opens to the public on Tuesday. Find out how the Enfield building was used as a state-of-the-art surveillance centre during the Second World War, with bugging devices hidden around the house to listen in on German generals who were being held there. From 21 July 2026

IMMERSIVE GREASE: Don your best 1950s attire for an immersive staging of the 1978 musical Grease. Battersea Park transforms into Rydell High, as a 30-strong cast perform across multiple screens and sets. 22 July-13 September 2026

SUMMER HOLIDAYS: Kids off school for the break? Keep them entertained with our pick of things to do in London in the summer holidays. We've also compiled a guide to free summer holiday entertainment — ideal if you're on a budget — as well as the best family theatre shows on in London right now.

Saturday 25 July

The annual Caribbean Takeover at the National Maritime Museum. Image: Royal Museums Greenwich

MUDLARKING FESTIVAL: Southwark Cathedral hosts a day of heritage crafts and mudlarking with demonstrations, craft stalls, talks, family drop-in activities and an exhibition of finds from the Thames. Meet mudlarks, archaeologists, conservators and craftspeople, and handle selected artefacts. 10am-4pm

CARIBBEAN TAKEOVER: The Caribbean Social Forum returns to Greenwich for a vibrant, family-friendly celebration across the National Maritime Museum and Queen’s House. This fifth-anniversary edition of Caribbean Takeover also honours 60 years of the Notting Hill Carnival with a packed programme of steel pan music, African drumming and calypso dance. Join carnival headwear workshops, watch a screening of the film Milestone: Streets Paved with Gold or challenge experts to a game of dominoes. FREE, 10am-5pm

GLOBAL SHUFFLE DAY: Discover thrilling new games, compete for prizes and enjoy 2-for-1 margs all day long this Saturday at Electric Shuffle. The beloved shuffleboard-slash-cocktail bar is celebrating the first-ever Global Shuffle Day — part of its wonderfully absurd mission to make shuffleboard the world's #1 sport. Seriously, though, shuffleboard is way more high octane than novices might think. Treat yourself to a game of the blackjack-inspired Studio 21 or nerve-shredder The Edge and you'll soon find out. From 11am (sponsor)

WOOLWICH ARSENAL TO ART DECO: Explore the eclectic riverside history of Woolwich on a guided walk from Footprints of London. Woolwich: Arsenal to Art Deco visits 18th century gun factories and palatial Victorian municipal buildings, while revealing the origin story of Arsenal FC. You'll also see the area's recent regeneration projects, starting from the Woolwich Elizabeth line station. 11am-1pm

WINE CAR BOOT: Independent wine retailers, importers and producers take part in the Wine Car Boot in Coal Drops Yard (King’s Cross), offering wines to taste and buy alongside cider, vermouth, beer, food stalls and music. Entry is free, with tasting via purchased tokens. 12pm-8pm

Sip your way around the Wine Car Boot. Image: King's Cross

SWANA SUMMER PARTY: Community production house Hekayyatna takes over the gardens of the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill for Haflah at the Horniman. This family-friendly celebration of South-West Asian and North African cultures features live music at the bandstand, a "souq" market selling Palestinian fair-trade produce and Yemeni silver, and food trucks serving Syrian burgers and Lebanese street food. Plus, join a dabke dance tutorial, listen to a retelling of the Epic of Gilgamesh, or try your hand at Arabic calligraphy. 1pm-5pm

BIG BANG PROM: The legendary BBC Proms are now underway, with dozens of shows scheduled for the next couple of months. Today's performances at the Royal Albert Hall include matinee and evening shows of Horrible Science: The Big Bang Proms Experiment, a live version of CBBC's hit comedy sketch show of the same name, featuring characters including Albert Einstein and Marie Curie, accompanied by some recognisable live music. 2pm/6pm

SECRET GREEK THEATRE: Did you know about Walthamstow's 'Greek' amphitheatre? Tucked away in the grounds of a school, the theatre — built in the 1920s — opens to the public for just a few days every year for performances of a Shakespeare play. This year it's The Merry Wives of Windsor, and today's your last chance to see it. 2.30pm/7.30pm

SOUTH ASIAN CULTURE: Bell Square in Hounslow welcomes the return of ANHAD, a vibrant outdoor celebration of cutting-edge South Asian art and music. The programme features a diverse sonic landscape ranging from Bollywood samples and dream pop to garage and deep club cuts. Live performances from artists including nikhil, Misbah, and Amna Askari are paired with a DJ line-up featuring Manara and Zaleel, showcasing some of the best South Asian talent from across the UK. FREE, 3pm-10pm

Visit one of London's least-known theatres. Image: The Greek Players

RAVE BEYOND REALITY: Taking place in Wapping, Rave Beyond Reality is a daytime medieval-fantasy rave. Expect a live "Wizard" DJ playing fantasy-inspired rave remixes, immersive visuals, themed cocktails, live performers and costume prizes. 4pm-8pm

ARCHDUKE: Catch the final performance of the European premiere of theatre show Archduke, at the Royal Court Theatre. It follows three young men in Belgrade in 1914 who are offered the chance to change history. Their mission: kill Archduke Franz Ferdinand. 6.30pm

BAD BUNNY PARTY: Puerto Rican musician and Superbowl half-timer Benito — better-known as Bad Bunny — is the subject of a club night at Between the Bridges on South Bank. Though the man himself isn't present, DJs spin his tunes, interspersed with reggaetón and Latin trap all night. 7pm-11pm

PERSIAN SOUL: Tehran-born New York-based musician Rana Farhan brings a blend of Persian poetry and American blues, soul and jazz to World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens in Nine Elms. She performs material from her 2025 album, Persian Soul, which sets poet Rumi's words to original compositions. 7.30pm

VIDEO GAME ORCHESTRA: Revisit the 1990s as the London Video Game Orchestra gives a live concert of music from Super Mario 64, Donkey Kong Country, Monkey Island, Theme Hospital, Myst and more. It's performed by a full 60-piece ensemble at Questors Theatre's Playhouse in Ealing, accompanied by gaming visuals. 7.30pm

Sunday 26 July

Watch exciting experiments unfold on stage. Image: Brainiac Live

BRAINIAC LIVE: Keep little minds ticking over during the summer holidays with family science show Brainiac Live at the Garrick Theatre. In the space of just an hour, delve into several mysteries of science, and witness a series of experiments which are definitely not to be repeated at home. 26 July-30 August 2026

CERAMICS MARKET: The Sculpture Garden at Dulwich Picture Gallery hosts its inaugural Ceramics Market, bringing together a curated selection of local potters and special guests. Browse a diverse range of handmade wares, from functional mugs and vessels to intricate sculptural pieces, while meeting the makers to discuss their techniques. 10am-3pm

PHOTOGRAPHY WALK: Professional photographer David G leads a three-hour journey through the capital’s most photogenic landmarks. Get expert advice on manual settings, creative framing and street photography techniques while visiting the London Eye, St Paul's Cathedral and the Millennium Bridge, and learn how to capture high-impact cityscapes and discover hidden architectural oddities along the South Bank before finishing at Tower Bridge. 10.45am-1.15pm

DRINK, DEATH & DEBAUCHERY: Join a Foundling Museum guide for a walking tour tracing 18th century London's boozy and often brutal past around St Giles, Seven Dials and Covent Garden. The walk covers the gin craze, Hogarth's Gin Lane, gallows, plague pits and prostitution — beginning ay the Dominion Theatre and finishing at the Foundling Museum. 11am

BOW FAMILIES: Artist Nicola McEvoy leads a creative workshop at the Nunnery Gallery in Bow, teaching children how to craft hand-sewn drawstring bags and pouches. Using a mix of felt, polycotton and scrap store materials, participants can take inspiration from modern fandoms or ancient cultures to design their own unique accessories. FREE, 11am-1pm

Enjoy free live music in the shadow of a famous arch. Image: Wembley Park

FAMILY BEACH PARTY: Richie Rich Parties brings high-energy entertainment to the sand at JW3 in Finchley Road to celebrate the start of the summer holidays. This Family Beach Party features professional bubble displays, circus skills, and interactive games designed to keep children engaged. Dance and kick back by the water in a vibrant, seaside-inspired atmosphere. 2pm-3.30pm

CHURCH TEA: Islington's Union Chapel puts a global spin on a British classic with Church Tea with a Modern Twist. This community gathering swaps standard fare for a spread of baklava, samosas and scones, celebrating food heritage through shared memories and international flavours. Once you've had your fill, the house band leads a transition from traditional foxtrots to salsa lessons on the dance floor. FREE, 2pm-6pm

WEMBLEY PARK LIVE: Olympic Way transforms into a festival ground for Wembley Park Live, a free afternoon of music staged directly with the stadium arch as a backdrop. The eclectic line-up features eight acts spanning soul, funk and pop, including a special appearance by a string quartet from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Visitors can browse summer market stalls or visit the Feed The Yak mobile bar while catching sets from performers like Scarlette Fever and the Wembley Park Live All Stars. FREE, 2.30pm-8pm

PADDINGTON 2: Everyone's favourite fluffy Peruvian gets the big-screen treatment, as Rooftop Cinema Club's Stratford outpost screens Paddington 2. The marmalade-loving bear, now living with the Brown family, tries to buy a present for Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday only for it to be stolen, in the family-friendly screening. 2pm

BRAZILIAN SESSION: Rachel Haytor (from the band Alvorada) and Jonathan Preiss (Choro Matiz and Caratinga) host the Rodo do Harrison — a free Brazilian music session at the Harrison in King's Cross. Instrumentalists are welcome to join in. FREE, 7.45pm

The British Optical Association Museum is one of over 40 places taking part in 2026's Heritage Open Days. Image: Matt Brown/Londonist

An eye-opening museum stuffed with glasses, a bat walk through a cemetery and a trip to an integrated waste management facility.

All feature as part of the Heritage Open Days taking place this year, running from 11-20 September 2026.

In all, we've counted 44 London-based happenings this year, at the city's museums, palaces, mills, churches, cemeteries and various other cultural nooks and crannies. It's all free, and a lot of events don't even require pre-booking.

Venture into Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park in search of bats. Image: Torsten Reimer, Creative Commons

Here's a selection of events ruffling our truffles:

♻️ "Let's all take a trip to Southwark Integrated Waste Management Facility!" said no one ever... until now, that is. This family-friendly 'Wonder Day' shows you what happens to your recycling once it's taken away, plus there are upcycling and craft workshops; a display of vehicles that work on-site; and a bouncy castle. (12 Sept)

🐟 Visit the moated manor at Scadbury, replete with excavations of Tudor great hall and kitchens. (12-13 Sept)

📻 The place we once suggested might be the best shed museum anywhere, Dulwich's British Vintage Wireless and Television Museum is also home to the terrifying Stooky Bill (12 and 20 Sept)

🦇 Bat expert Kenneth Greenway bids you to bring a torch, in order to light your way through Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park in search of resident bats. (13 Sept)

👓 The British Optical Association Museum is "the only museum where the exhibits look at you!" We visited recently, and would highly recommend this eye-opening experience. (13 Sept)

♀️ From organists to bellringers, and scientists to suffragettes, discover the stories of the women connected to St Alfege Church through the centuries. (20 Sept)

All Heritage Open Days events are free to visit/do, but you'll need to book in advance for some. Peruse the calendar and plan from there.

Mid-September also sees the separately organised Open House Festival (12-20 Sept), which has now published a rundown of 600+ venues/tours which opening to the public.

Heritage Open Days, 11-20 September 2026.

Free things to do in London this week.

Free music festival Wembley Park Live. Image: Chris Winter/Wembley Park

Earth Photo exhibition

This week is your last chance to view the free Earth Photo 2026 exhibition at the Royal Geographical Society in Kensington. On display are 50 images from around the world, highlighting issues relating to the climate and its effect on our planet.

Until 24 July.

Sportropolis

A free six-week programme of family sports and activities, Sportropolis has landed in Ealing Broadway, featuring a giant sandpit, rugby training, football challenges and Saturday Sports Club sessions offering the likes of martial arts, and tennis-inspired games. Check out the full line-up.

Until 4 September.

A new V&A South Kensington display

British Indian artist Bharti Kher's sculptural works, which explore the body, womanhood, mythology and cultural identity, are brought into conversation with objects from the V&A's historic collections, in a new free display at the South Kensington museum, open from Monday this week.

From 20 July.

Outlander auction exhibition

TV series Outlander wrapped up with this year's eighth and final series. Now, costumes and props from the historical fantasy show are being auctioned off, and you can see them in a free exhibition at Bonhams Bond Street before they go. Dresses worn by Claire and Brianna, and Jamie's costume from the Battle of Culloden are among the lots, along with an autographed script.

20 July-4 August.

The Power of Honey

Buzz over to the Bank of England Museum for new exhibition The Power of Honey, created in collaboration with Bompas & Parr. The centrepiece is the Bee-nomics Inspection Hive, managed by Bermondsey Street Bees and full of living bees. Watch the colony patrol, communicate, protect resources and respond to risk — as a metaphor for how trust is built, protected and deceived in financial systems.

20 July-28 August.

English cathedrals

Southwark displays The English Cathedral. Image: © Peter Marlow Foundation/ Magnum Photos

A new, free display at Southwark Cathedral, The English Cathedral opens on Tuesday, bringing together Peter Marlow's photographs of the naves of all 42 Anglican cathedrals across the country. Shot on large‑format film using only natural light and taken from a consistent east‑facing viewpoint, the images emphasise architectural detail as dawn light streams through the windows.

21 July-31 August.

Steel pan sounds

Steel pan drums come to Southbank Centre. Image: Richard Haynes. Courtesy of Kinetika Bloco

Southbank Centre thrums with rhythm over the weekend, for the three-day Steel Scenes celebration of steel pan drumming. Nearly all of the events are free, including a day of open-air performances by youth ensembles on Friday, an interactive exhibition about the history of the instrument on Saturday, and a full day of steel pans in Jubilee Gardens on Sunday. Browse the full loud and lively programme.

24-26 July.

Summer Splash

Dive in! Image: Emma Nathan

Just in time for the school summer holidays, Royal Docks Summer Splash reopens at Royal Victoria Dock. The free open-water lido offers lifeguard-supervised swimming alongside sandpits and deckchairs, making it one of London's most budget-friendly pop-up beaches this summer.

From 24 July.

Caribbean takeover

Celebrate 60 years of Carnival. Image: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.

The annual Caribbean Takeover at the National Maritime Museum is a free, family-friendly celebration of Caribbean culture. It's an extra-special one this year, marking 60 years of the legendary Notting Hill Carnival, with activities including calyspo and soca dancing, African drumming, an African headdress workshop, Black history talks and games of dominoes.

25 July.

Wire-walking and street circus

Daughters of the Wire are on the Ensemble Festival programme, Image: Charles Gervais

Certain Blacks is an east London-based arts development organisation which supports diverse artists from various cultural, socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. This weekend, it takes over Royal Victoria Docks with Ensemble Festival, a free outdoor celebration of circus, dance and theatre. Highlights include Daughters of the Wire, an uplifting, all-female, wire-walking spectacle performed across interconnected multi-level wires, blending circus, music, spoken word and movement; and contemporary street circus duo Nacho Flores.

If the weather's looking decent, why not pair it with a trip to nearby Summer Splash (above)?

25-26 July.

Wembley Park Live

Wembley's known for live music, but it's not often you can experience it for free. Wembley Park Live is a free one-day music festival on Sunday, taking place on a pop-up stage alongside Olympic Way, with the famous stadium and it arch looming in the background.

Eight live acts are scheduled to perform soul, funk, folk, pop, disco and festival classics, with an appearance by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's string quartet too.

26 July.

Free outdoor film

Outdoor cinema season is in full swing (read our full guide here) and there are several free screenings happening this week.

🎬 Canary Wharf's Summer Screens shows superhero story Black Panther on Tuesday evening and family favourite Lilo & Stitch on Saturday.

🎬 Everyman on the Canal in King's Cross has a packed daytime and evening schedule, with highlights this week including The Greatest Showman, Back To The Future, Bend It Like Beckham and Some Like It Hot.

🎬 Vauxhall Summer Screens is back in the Pleasure Gardens showing '90s classic Clueless on Tuesday evening.

Free things to do in the summer holidays

With schools out for summer, finding ways to entertain the whole family, without breaking your budget, can be challenging. Bookmark our pick of free things to do in the summer holidays, to keep the fun coming all summer. It's packed with ideas for days out and special events which won't cost you a penny.

Just nine days to see London like this, without standing on your head. Image: Pinhole London

See the capital from a whole new angle at Upside Down London, a camera obscura opening at Alexandra Palace this summer.

For just nine days, arts organisation Pinhole London offers you the chance to see the famous view from the Terrace of the north London building — with landmarks including the Shard and the BT Tower — turned on its head. The foreground of the view shows Alexandra Palace Park, so expect to see people moving about in real-time too.

What is a camera obscura?

Literally meaning 'dark chamber', the concept of a camera obscura sounds modern, but it's an old technique which led to the invention of photography as we know it. A small hole is made in a dark box or room, resulting in images from outside the box being projected onto the opposite wall of the box, resulting in an upside-down view.

This isn't London's first camera obscura. The Royal Observatory Greenwich has one in its Meridian Courtyard, offering a topsy-turvy view towards the Thames, including the Royal Naval College. Similarly the Photographers' Gallery in Oxford Circus has a camera obscura, looking down neighbouring Ramillies Street, while visitors to the House of Illusions in Edinburgh may have used the camera obscura there to get a view down the world-famous Royal Mile, and the city's rooftops.

Pinhole London is at Alexandra Palace 1-9 August 2026, open 2pm-6pm daily. Tickets are available now (walk-ins also welcome), suggested donation £3.

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Find it on the edge of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. Image: Londonist

In London, it can be hard to find somewhere that'll let you linger.

Most cafes — understandably — want their tables turned over as quickly as possible. Your long-overdue catch-up with a friend cut short by a hovering waiter just as you're getting to the juicy gossip.

So somewhere that not only allows, but actively encourages, lingering is a rarity worth shouting about.

"We are trying to be different. We will not hurry you" proclaims the beautiful laminated opening page of the leather-bound menu at Vauxhall's Tea House Theatre.

"If this is your lunch break, then have one, you will be more productive in the afternoon. If you want to have a meeting, we will not disturb you. If you are 'working from home' we have WiFi. If you have children, we have highchairs, a chest of toys, and milkshakes"

This is not your usual cafe. Image: Londonist

Such a combination of purposes and needs seems impossible on paper... and yet, at the Tea House Theatre, it works. Very well in fact — we're writing this article in situ, surrounded on a weekday morning by a trio having a meeting 'on stage', a young couple tucking into brunch, and a solo woman ploughing through a novel.

A while later, a young man in a suit rocks up and whips out his laptop. A pair of students settle in for a lengthy study session. At some point, a lively dachshund — origin unknown — does a lap of the place, having a quick sniff of everyone's toes before being called away.

Wander the tables to view the day's cakes. Image: Londonist

On entering, a theatrical floor-to-ceiling velvet curtain acts as a holding area while you wait to be seated, surrounded by antique books and a wall of many, many leaflets for local groups and events, a taste of how community-minded the Tea House Theatre is.

Stepping through the curtain though, theatricality slides away as you take a seat in what could be someone's cosy living room. Pleasingly mismatched wooden chairs gather around tables, some just big enough for an intimate lunch for two, others pushed together to accommodate up to 10. A pair of chesterfield-style brown leather armchairs huddles around each of the three fireplaces, turned towards each other as if sharing a secret.

Outdoor seating is available when the weather's good, and while it's lovely to kick back and watch the world passing by in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, the real charm lies inside.

Image: Londonist

Trinkets abound. A marionette puppet hangs from a lighting rig. A cuddly toy Peter Rabbit, perhaps left behind by a young guest and hoping for a happy reunion, takes centre stage on a mantelpiece. An African-style wooden carved mother-and-child statuette adorns a windowsill. Each table has its own mini-display of fresh flowers, a couple of stems protruding from repurposed glass milk bottles, and standalone floor lamps are squeezed in anywhere there's room.

Like a kid in a sweet tea shop. Image: Londonist

On the back wall, a small counter is overshadowed by glass jars of tea, arranged as sweets would be in an old-fashioned confectionery shop. The counter itself is barely visible beneath all manner of paraphernalia, including bottles of beer, jars of jam and honey, the latter from three hives atop the Tea House's own roof.

Handmade cards by a local artist are for sale, and a stack of Holy Bibles lingers nearby ("Please take one if you need it" implores a handwritten sign atop that particular pile). When it comes to paying your bill, there's something very worth knowing: The Tea House Theatre encourages the use of cash, a poster in the toilets promising a discount to anyone who proffers it:

Image: Londonist

As for the menu, the clue's in the name. The Tea House Theatre (wait for it)... doesn't serve coffee. Not a latte, nor a cappuccino, not even a basic coffee-with-milk is available to customers here. They take tea so seriously, its caffeinated rival is blacklisted.

When staff relay this information to surprised customers, it's usually met with a brief glimmer of consternation, quickly swept aside with an accepting chuckle at the quirky rule. Honestly, it's a refreshing change to enjoy such an intimate venue without the grinding and hissing of a coffee machine every few seconds (Classic FM appears to be the soundtrack of choice most days, Aled Jones's voice drifting out from a speaker obscured somewhere behind a bookcase).

Neapolitan cake is the order of the day. Image: Londonist

Tea, on the other hand, comes by the pot, with a staggering 60+ brews to choose from. No wonder they don't hurry you. TL;DR? We've always found the 'peach tea with flowers' hits the spot.

What pairs perfectly with tea? Cake, which they take almost as seriously, an impressive spread of home-baked layer cakes available by the slice each day. Neapolitan, Nutella & orange marmalade, or passion fruit cake were all available on our most recent visit, along with almond flan and pecan pie. Everything is served on charmingly mismatched crockery, teapots covered in hand-knitted cosies.

A cake on each table: wander around to see today's selection. Image: Londonist

Sometimes the vast cake display, unable to be contained by the main counter, spills out onto a cafe table nearby, as if the chef started baking and couldn't be stopped. At other times, a cake sits on each table throughout the room, its glass dome acting as a centrepiece, encouraging gentle interaction as customers explore the walkable menu.

More substantial meals are available too. In fact, the Tea House Theatre serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea and very popular roasts on Sunday (though the rest of the menu is slimmed down on Sundays, so if it's a light lunch you're after, you're best choosing another day). Time's an irrelevance: breakfast is available until 6pm, and we've seen people tucking into afternoon tea — the full tiered-stand shebang — at 10.30am.

Almost all of the Tea House staff are incredibly friendly. Image: Londonist

The 'theatre' part of the venue's name mainly comes into play in the evenings, when scheduled events range from spoken word and poetry evenings to performances by the Tuneless Choir, jazz jam sessions and the occasional murder mystery night.

The stage is a small raised area at the front of the room, barely noticeable by day as it's part of the cafe seating (do heed the warning signs about falling off the edge if you choose to sit there). This near-daily transformation from daytime venue to evening theatre means you may find yourself dining among lighting rigs and other stage paraphernalia. It's all part of the fun.

The small stage area, surrounded by curtains. Image: Londonist

The Tea House Theatre, 139 Vauxhall Walk, SE11 5HL. Vauxhall station (National Rail and Victoria line) is a five-minute walk away. It's just around the corner from Vauxhall City Farm, and across the road from 'Taylor Swift pub' The Black Dog. A short walk away is Vauxhall Park (different from Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens) with its lavender patch.