All weekend
CHARITY SUPER.MKT: Charity Super.Mkt returns to Coal Drops Yard with a curated market of vintage and pre-loved fashion, repair drop-ins and upcycling sessions. The pop-up brings together charity sellers — including stands supporting the British Heart Foundation, Fight for Sight and Havens Hospices — alongside designer and high-street second‑hand pieces, all raising money for good causes. 6-9 August 2026
KERB GOES EAST: For one weekend, street food connoisseurs KERB pop up at Canada Water, bringing together about 50 traders serving East and Southeast Asian street food — from Japanese comfort food and Singaporean curry puffs to Indonesian classics and Korean-Mexican mash-ups. At the same time, Urban Garden Fair holds an East Asian summer market full of independent craft and culture stalls. 8-9 August 2026
WHIPPIES ICE CREAM: Central London gets a new ice cream spot, as Whippies opens in Seven Dials Market on Saturday. From the team behind Carnaby's Big Kid Ice Cream, Whippies specialises in soft serve ice cream with a nostalgic twist: think towering sundaes and brain-freezing slushies. For opening weekend, ninety-nine Flake 99s priced at 99p, are up for grabs each day. From 8 August 2026
CAMDEN FRINGE: The Camden Fringe gets underway, offering a month of theatre, music, comedy and dance at venues across the area. Highlights of this jam-packed first weekend include 7-7-7, a one-man ritual-performance that confronts the illusion of free will; and Killing Swine, a gripping new thriller inspired by Macbeth. Take a look at our picks for Camden Fringe 2026 or browse the full programme. 3-30 August 2026
UPSIDE DOWN LONDON: Pinhole London installs a temporary camera obscura on the Terrace at Alexandra Palace, projecting a live, upside-down view of landmarks such as the Shard and the BT Tower — and this weekend is your last chance to catch a peek. Until 9 August 2026
HOLY POP!: Last chance to see 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
COMEDY FESTIVAL: The laughs keep coming at Roundhouse Comedy Festival in Camden, where this weekend's acts are courtesy of comedy streaming service Dropout. Saturday's Um, Actually takes the form of a trivia gameshow centred around nerdy pop culture, while Dirty Laundry brings four guests to anonymously air their, well, dirty laundry on Sunday. Until 18 August 2026
OUTDOOR CINEMA: Another chance to watch a film in the open air, this time out west at Gunnersbury Park. The pop-up Picturehouse screen enters its second and final weekend, screening Jurassic Park on Saturday and Grease on Sunday. Your ticket includes a £7 credit towards food and drink on site. 7-9 August 2026
COSTA DEL CROYDON: A pop-up beach once again appears on a car park rooftop in central Croydon for the summer. 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
Saturday 8 August
ENCHANTED GARDEN DAY: A Fairy Forest, treasure hunts, storytelling, walk-around characters, face painting, a bouncy castle and craft workshops are all part of the Enchanted Garden Day at Capel Manor Gardens in Enfield. Tickets include entry to the venue's 30 acres of gardens, the mini zoo, daily animal talks and historic maze. 10am-3pm
WALL-E: Kids bouncing off the walls nice and early? Whisk them over to Canary Wharf for a free open-air screening of 2008 Pixar film Wall-E, about a lonely robot who falls in love. FREE, 10.30am
CAMDEN'S LOST CINEMAS: Let Nigel Smith walk you back to a time when Camden Town was dripping with cinemas, including the opulent Camden Hippodrome and the unique Plaza. This (literally) cinematic guided tour also includes a flying visit to the Camden Odeon and the chance to pay tribute to Muppets creator Jim Henson. 11am-1pm
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. 12pm-4pm/5pm-10pm
THAMESMEAD FESTIVAL: The free Thamesmead Festival returns to Southmere Park today. 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, 12pm-7.30pm
THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT: Part of the Hong Kong Golden Age season, Holborn's Garden Cinema screens of Mabel Cheung’s 1985 debut The Illegal Immigrant, about an undocumented Chinese immigrant in New York navigating a sham marriage and the challenges of legal and economic precarity. It's followed by an online Q&A with the director. 1pm
WIND IN THE WILLOWS: Explore the stretch of the Thames that Sir David Attenborough calls his favourite place on the planet, with this Wind in the Willows walking tour from Richmond to Twickenham. Led by Laura Agustín of Footprints of London, the route takes in the Tudor gatehouse of Richmond Palace, the wildflowers of Marble Hill Park, and the rock music history of Eel Pie Island. 1pm-4.30pm
CAJUN APRÈS-MIDI: Head to Jamboree in King's Cross for a lively afternoon of Louisiana-style music and movement. The session kicks off with a dance lesson followed by live waltzes, blues and two-steps from the Là-bas Cajun Band, including rare double-fiddle numbers. Musicians of all levels are invited to join the stage for an "electric jam" during the final hour, with full support from the house band. 1.30pm-5pm
GAY MEN'S CHORUS: For the first time ever, the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles performs on this side of the pond, at St Paul's Church in Covent Garden. Expect a mix of Motown, musical-theatre numbers, anthems and gospel, with repertoire ranging from Stevie Wonder and the Temptations to songs from Dreamgirls, The Wiz, La Cage aux Folles, and Wicked — all raising funds for Terrence Higgins Trust. 2.30pm/7.30pm
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. It's on at the Harold Pinter Theatre, but only until tonight. 2.30pm/7.30pm
REGGAE FOOD FESTIVAL: Celebrate Jamaican Independence Day (6 August) in style as the London Reggae & Food Festival returns to Riverside East in Stratford. DJs Saxon Sound, Seani B, Izzy Bossy, Shayna Marie, Vybz-SR and Tuggzy Onpoint play a soundtrack of reggae and dancehall, alongside authentic Caribbean food traders. 3pm-10pm
MY CHEMICAL HOEMANCE: We Are Still Young returns to Between The Bridges for a summer party featuring a special live set from My Chemical Hoemance — an LGBTQ+ take on My Chemical Romance covers. Expect emo and alternative anthems across The Pier, with street food vendors and bars on site. 6pm-11pm
JAY JURDEN: American comedian and writer Jay Jurden, whose credits include Hulu, Netflix, HBO and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, brings a new hour of stand-up to Soho Upstairs. Expect fast-paced, personal comedy exploring identity and current topics in a 60-minute set. 7.15pm
POUR IT UP: Unpretentious party vibes take over the upstairs club room at The Old Queens Head in Islington for a late-night session of R&B and hip-hop. Expect a genre-spanning soundtrack featuring the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Peggy Gou, Burna Boy and Beyoncé, with DJs keeping the floor moving until the early hours of Sunday morning. FREE before 9pm, until 3am
Sunday 9 August
FAMILY BEACH DISCO: Little ones and their grown-ups can let loose at JW3 on Finchley Road for an uplifting, all-ages dance party. Led by fan favourite Ilana Banana, the Family Disco on the Beach features bubbles, rainbows, parachute games and a specially-curated playlist designed to get everyone from crawling babies to grandparents moving. Crafting activities are also available on-site to complement the sensory musical experience. 11am-12pm
NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL WALK: As the 60th anniversary of Notting Hill Carnival approaches, take part in a guided walk around Notting Hill that covers the Windrush Generation, the murder of Kelso Cochrane, and the Mangrove Nine — to learn how community organising and culture shaped the Carnival. Begins at Ladbroke Grove station. 11am-12.30pm
ITALIAN MUSIC: Fresh from their annual festival in Tuscany, the musicians of Sinfonia Smith Square bring a Mediterranean flavour to Westminster for their final performance of the year. Sinfonia Smith Square’s Guide to Italy features a whistle-stop tour of much-loved Italian music performed across the hall, the gardens and the surrounding square. Grab a gelato and explore the Grade I-listed Baroque venue during this family-friendly musical journey. FREE, 11.30am/1.30pm/3.30pm
ART IN THE PARK: Free, drop-in art and craft workshops for children, families and adults are on offer this afternoon in Windmill Gardens, adjacent to Brixton Windmill. Activities include paper flower making, t‑shirt painting, junk plants, nature collages and kaleidoscope making. Just turn up to take part. FREE, 1pm-5pm
GIRL DINNER: This afternoon's Sip & Paint session at London Art Bar (Holborn) centres around Wyland Tondelier's Summer Table For Two painting. Have a go at creating your own version of the masterpiece, aided with a drink or two, with all art supplies provided. 2pm-4pm
LONDON BRONCOS: Rugby league team the London Broncos are at their home ground, the Cherry Red Records Stadium in Wimbledon, facing Goole Vikings in this round 23 clash in the Betfred Championship. Adult tickets start at £18. KO 3pm
SKOOB BOOKS EXTRAVAGANZA: Bloomsbury's iconic second-hand bookshop is celebrated with an evening of drinks, shop history and literary community at The Horse Hospital. The Skoob Books Extravaganza features a show-and-tell of the shop's ephemera collection and a quiz with "rich prizes" for the well-read. Browse books for sale and meet the team behind the long-running institution. FREE entry, 6pm-10pm
NO FRILLS FOLK CLUB: Musicians of all abilities are invited to pull up a chair at The Windmill in Brixton for an evening of informal, round-the-table music making. The No Frills Folk Club welcomes a vast range of styles, from bluegrass and western swing to Yiddish, Scandinavian and Balkan tunes. Whether you want to swap songs, learn new techniques, or simply enjoy a pint while the house band plays, the atmosphere is relaxed and inclusive. FREE, 7pm
LIVE ACOUSTIC GUITAR: Guitarist Kris Dollimore brings his solo instrumental project, Sirkus Post, to the Golden Hinde, offering an evening of relaxed acoustic music. Expect original solo pieces in alternative tunings, in an atmospheric setting. 8pm
