All weekend
SPIRIT OF ART: The Spirit of Art Whisky & Gin Festival is at Crane Court Gallery near Fleet Street, celebrating the opening of the Square Mile Summer Exhibition. Take part in whisky and gin tastings and masterclasses, while surrounded by contemporary art. 1-3 August
OPEN-AIR SHAKESPEARE: The 'Scottish play' is the latest show being performed in the open-air at the Actors' Church in Covent Garden. See a visceral version of Shakespeare's dark tragedy Macbeth. Make it a double bill: on the same days, the same theatre company also performs its take on Romeo and Juliet. 1-4 August
ELTHAM JOUST: Watch four legendary knights compete for glory in the grand medieval joust at Eltham Palace. Each knight represents a character from myth or legend — The Wyvern, The Wildman, Sir Lancelot and Jason of the Argonauts — so pick one to support, and cheer them on as they compete in the palace grounds. 2-3 August
ICE WEEKEND: Once a year the London Canal Museum in King's Cross holds an ice weekend, celebrating the building's former use as an ice warehouse. Descend by ladder into its Victorian ice well (Sunday only), and take part in all manner of ice-themed activities back above ground. Saturday has lots of family friendly activities, including an ice trail. Basically, if you like ice you've hit the jackpot. 2-3 August
REPETITIVE BEATS: Part of Barbican's summer season of events, In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats is a virtual reality experience taking you back to the Acid House scene of 1989, followed by a small exhibition. Experience it in The Pit at Barbican until the end of this weekend. Until 3 August
CAMDEN FRINGE: Who needs Edinburgh when you've got Camden Fringe? The festival offers new and experimental theatre and comedy performances by emerging artists across north London, with 400+ shows on 2025's programme. Highlights this weekend include genre-blurring epic King Tut's Lover (Saturday) and Kate-Lois Elliott's comedy hour How To Belong Without Joining A Cult (Sunday) — see the website for what's on when, and get booking. 28 July-24 August
PICTOGRAMS: The iconic Japanese design of Pictograms is explored in a new exhibition at Japan House. From street signs and text messages to toilet doors and maps, the symbols are used in communication worldwide, and this is a chance to find out about the role Japan played in developing them. FREE, 30 July-9 November
HORRIBLE HISTORIES: One of our picks for family-friendly theatre shows to see this summer, Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain is at the Apollo Theatre, taking you on a whistle-stop tour through Britain with the nasty bits left in. Boudica, King John and the Magna Carta, and the Gunpowder Plot all feature in a show which'll get kids properly fascinated in history. Age five+. 31 July-31 August
GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR: Will and Grace star Sean Hayes stars in the Broadway transfer of Good Night, Oscar, about the life of pianist and humorist Oscar Levant, particularly the 1958 episode of The Tonight Show with Jack Paar, in which he had "Hollywood's first celebrity meltdown". 31 July-21 September
SECRET CINEMA DOES GREASE: Grease is the word down in Battersea Park, as Secret Cinema's latest venture recreates the world of Pink Ladies and T Birds. Immerse yourself in the halls of Rydell High alongside Danny and Sandy, with live performances of hits such as Summer Nights popping up around you, and the film playing on multiple screens throughout the venue. 1 August-7 September
FELT CHIPPY: Oh my cod! Felt artist Lucy Sparrow strikes again, and there's a special plaice in our hearts for her latest work. The Bourdon Street Chippy is a full-sized replica of a fish and chip shop made entirely from felt — that's the 'food', the counter, and even the artworks on the wall. We can't wait to skate on over and see it. FREE, 1 August-14 September
COSTA DEL CROYDON: A pop-up beach 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... I mean, who needs Brighton anyway? FREE, 1-31 August
BBC PROMS: Twirl your way into the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall with a programme of Viennese Waltzes on Saturday morning. Also on this weekend: Mahler's 'Resurrection' Symphony (Saturday evening), and Soul Revolution, led by Radio 2 presenter Trevor Nelson (Sunday evening). Find all you need to know about the Proms, including how to get tickets, in our handy guide. Until 14 September
Saturday 2 August
RONNIE SCOTT'S STREET PARTY: Legendary jazz club Ronnie Scott's throws its first street party in six years, taking over Frith Street in Soho for an afternoon of live music, DJ sets, family activities, outdoor bars and street food. FREE, 11am-5pm
DRAG BRUNCH: Drag stars Tayce, Rose, and Kiki Snatch headline the Drag Brunch at Between The Bridges. Enjoy an hour of bottomless brunch as live drag performances go on around you, with the option to buy nosh from the many street food options at the venue. 11.30am-3pm
THAMESMEAD FESTIVAL: South-east London is the place to be when the free Thamesmead Festival returns to Southmere Park. Several stages pop up, allowing local performers to showcase their talents, spanning R&B, soul and rap music and more. FREE ENTRY, 12pm-7.30pm
PARADISE IN THE CITY: Four stages make up music festival Paradise in the City, a new event coming to Boston Manor Park today, curated by electronic music visionary Jamie Jones. See artists playing house and techno against a backdrop of cutting-edge sound and state-of-the-art production. 12pm-10pm
SEWING MACHINE MUSEUM: The monthly opening of the London Sewing Machine Museum in Balham gives you a chance to view dozens of sewing machines of different models and ages, including one which belonged to Queen Victoria's first-born daughter. FREE (but donations to charity are encouraged), 2pm-5pm
LES TOURISTES: Swiss pop quintet Les Touristes put on a show at the Half Moon in Putney, blending Swiss-German lyrics with hip-hop and electronic influences. Kick back with a pint and enjoy this rare London appearance. 2.30pm
EVERY BRILLIANT THING: One-person play Every Brilliant Thing comes to Soho Place, with a different famous face on stage every night. Lenny Henry, Ambika Mod, Sue Perkins and Jonny Donahoe take it in turns to star in the story of a seven-year-old who starts a list of everything that's brilliant about the world, and continues it into adulthood. Check the schedule for who's performing on which dates — Lenny Henry takes the first week. 2.30pm/7.30pm (until 22 September)
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY: Ahead of the new football season, Dulwich Hamlet men's team plays a pre-season friendly at home, welcoming Bracknell Town to Champion Hill. Tickets are £10.80 for adults, and kids go free. 3pm
GLASSHOUSE ON THE ROOF: Rooftop bar Glasshouse at NYX Holborn is open late for Hedonist Nights, inspired by the outrageous style and legacy of Leigh Bowery. Drink your way through a specially-concocted cocktail menu, with a live DJ soundtrack. 6pm-11pm
JAZZ ON THE LAWN: Get down with the trumpets, as Jazz on the Lawn returns to the grounds of Fulham Palace. Pack yourself a picnic for an evening of live music performed by the Liane Carroll Trio, led by the eponymous vocalist, pianist and BBC Jazz Awards winner. 7.30pm-10pm
Sunday 3 August
BABY GOSPEL: Soul, Motown and gospel classics are performed by members of the CK Gospel Choir in an uplifting Baby Gospel concert at Woolwich Works. Aimed at under-eights and their families, singing, clapping, and grooving along is encouraged in the 45-minute performance, designed to introduce younger audience members to new genres. 11am
DRINK, DEATH AND DEBAUCHERY: Join a Foundling Museum tour guide for a walking tour focused on the debauched and boozy history of 18th century London. Begin outside the Dominion Theatre and wander through St Giles, Seven Dials and Covent Garden, hearing about the gin craze, inspiration for Hogarth’s famous Gin Lane, as well as gallows, plague pits and prostitution. Enjoy a discounted drink in the Lamb pub on Lamb’s Conduit Street, before continuing on to the Foundling Museum. 11am-1pm
NATIONAL SISTERS DAY: The Florence Nightingale Museum marks National Sisters Day by telling the story of Florence and her lesser-known sister, Parthenope Nightingale. There's a special museum tour and talk delving into the sisters' complex relationship, and the different paths they chose. 11.30am/1.30pm/3.30pm
JAZZ CAFE FESTIVAL: For the second time, Camden's Jazz Cafe curates its own live music festival, spanning a range of genres and playing out in Burgess Park, south London. Soul musician Masego headlines, alongside American rapper Westside Gunn, making his highly anticipated UK stage debut. 12pm-10pm
GRIEF RAVE: Southbank Centre's Grief Rave invites anyone and everyone to dedicate a song to someone or something they may be missing. From personal bereavements and break-ups to releasing some political rage or fury, it's intended as an afternoon of catharsis in a time when we need it most. FREE, 1pm
AS YOU LIKE IT: The East London Shakespeare Festival takes over Big Penny Social in Walthamstow for a charming outdoor production of As You Like It. The family-friendly show offers high-energy music, slapstick comedy and audience participation, with craft workshops for children before the show starts. 1.30pm-3.30pm
BATTLE OF THE STEELBANDS: Get warmed up for Notting Hill Carnival later this month with the UK Steel Band Panorama Battle of the Steelbands at Artsdepot. Enjoy an afternoon of loud and lively Caribbean music as top UK Steelbands go head-to-head in a bid to be crowned champions. 2pm
PADDINGTON IN PERU: The Stratford branch of Rooftop Film Club screens Paddington in Peru, thr third instalment in the franchise about the marmalade-munching bear. Don't write it off as a kids' film — our thirty-something selves had a jolly good chuckle. It stars Olivia Colman as Reverend Mother: enough said. 3pm
GHOST FROM A PERFECT PLACE: Theatre show Ghost From A Perfect Place had its premiere at Hampstead Theatre in 1994 where it was denounced as "pornographic" by the Guardian's Michael Billington and hailed as "a masterpiece" by the Spectator. Sounds like a show that needs to be seen, and you can do so at the Drayton Arms Theatre, tonight and tomorrow. It's the story of a gang leader who terrorised east London returning to his old haunts years later, in the clutches of a new kind of gang. Very different from Paddington in Peru. 5pm/7.30pm
