All weekend
ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL: Ensemble Festival begins in Royal Victoria Dock on Wednesday, but over this weekend there's a whole programme of live performances to enjoy, including a multi-sensory sound installation, and aerial acrobatics by Gorilla Circus. FREE, 19-23 July
HYPER JAPAN FESTIVAL: Love all things Japanese? Get yourself to Hyper Japan, a celebration of Japanese culture at Olympia London. Live performances, a market, food and drink stalls and a sake experience are all part of the fun, along with meet and greets with Japanese celebrities such as musician Miura Ayme and girl group Colorpointe. 21-23 July
SAVOUR FOOD FESTIVAL: 110 exhibitors are scheduled to appear at Savour Food Festival, which takes over Royal Hospital Chelsea for three days. Tuck into over 120 different sample dishes, priced from £3 each, from restaurants including Frenchie Covent Garden, Kricket, The Aubrey, Gaucho, and 10 Greek Street. Live chef demos, cocktail-making experiences, and a shopping area are part of the event too. 21-23 July
ICE WEEKEND: Once a year, the London Canal Museum in King's Cross invites the public down into its Victorian ice well (Sunday only). Descend by ladder into the underground space where ice used to be stored, and take part in all manner of ice-themed activities back above ground. Other Ice Weekend activities across both days include talks, ice cream making demos, and performances by the Camden Town Community Choir. 22-23 July
BIKE RACING: Avid cyclists and casual riders alike are welcome to a weekend of bike-based fun in King's Cross, organised by local bike brand VIA Atelier. Saturday is a day of bike races on a special circuit through the King's Cross area, with spectators invited to watch, and there are workshops, city tours and community rides on Sunday. 22-23 July
BLACK VENUS: This is the first weekend of the latest exhibition at Somerset House, Black Venus. It aims to examine the historical representation and shifting legacy of Black women in visual culture. The work of 18 Black women and non-binary artists — primarily photographs — is on display, with each piece exploring the othering, fetishisation and reclamation of narratives around Black femininity. 20 July-24 September
STARCHITECTS: One of art critic's picks of the best exhibitions to see this month is Herzog & de Meuron at Royal Academy of Arts. It shines a spotlight on architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron, who designed and constructed the extension to the Tate Modern, and more recently, new additions to the Royal College of Art in Battersea, and is a chance to see some of their other projects across the world. Until 15 October
WALTHAMSTOW-ON-SEA: Fancy a trip to the seaside, but can't be doing with the long journey to the coast? One of London's pop-up urban beaches, Walthamstow-on-Sea at Big Penny Social, opens in time for this weekend. Enjoy the sensation of sand between your toes as you relax in a deckchair (or book yourself a beach hut) and tuck into fish and chips. There's a family session every Saturday morning, and an adults-only beach party on Saturday nights. From 18 July
THEATRE ON KEW: See Alice in Wonderland performed in the open air at Kew Gardens throughout the summer holidays, beginning this Saturday. Theatre on Kew brings together a cast of seven for a 70-minute show for ages 5+, and your ticket includes day admission to the gardens. Find other outdoor cultural events in London this summer. 22 July-28 August
PERFORM IN THE PARK: Alternatively, head to Coram's Fields in Bloomsbury for all your family-friendly theatre needs. Perform in the Park has live performances every day, including The Three Billy Goats Gruff, and Mermaids & Pirates, in a specially-built air-conditioned theatre. 22 July-28 August
THOMAS J PRICE: The V&A opens a new exhibition dedicated to sculptor Thomas J Price, the creator of Reaching Out on The Line sculpture trail, and the sculpture of a man checking his smartphone near Old Street roundabout, among others. FREE, 22 July- May 2024
HORRIBLE HISTORIES: Bring the whole family to explore the fascinating (and occasionally gruesome) history of flight at the RAF Museum London. Horrible Histories: Up In The Air Adventure is comprised of six interactive zones, where you can meet aviation legends, watch barnstorming stunts, and even design your own flying machines. Tickets cost £7.50 each, or £25 for a group of five. Until 3 September (sponsor)
BUCKINGHAM PALACE: The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace are now in their annual summer opening, inviting the public to go inside areas including the Throne Room, White Drawing Room, Ballroom and Palace Garden. This year has the added bonus of a special display featuring the outfits worn by Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the Coronation back in May. Until 24 September
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS: If your kids finish school this week, or in the next couple of weeks, start browsing our guide to things to do in London over the summer holidays. We've picked exhibitions, theatre shows, events and free things to do for all ages.
Saturday 22 July
CART MARKING CEREMONY: One of London's quirkier events is the Ceremony of Cart Marking, a 500+ year old tradition by the Worshipful Company of Carmen. See a collection of handcarts, horses and carts, steam-driven vehicles, electric, solar-powered and hydrogen vehicles on display at Guildhall, with Livery Masters and Court Assistants in their official robes, chains and hats. FREE, 10am-12.30pm
BRUNCH: There's a new brunch in town, dished up at Clerkenwell's Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings — with the likes of Portland crab pretzel rolls and salt beef and Stornoway black pudding hash. A bottomless booze option is also on the table, because brunch. 10am-4pm every Sat and Sun
STONE AGE HACKNEY: The Neanderthals and the Stone Age are the subject of the current exhibition at Hackney Museum — and today's the final day to see it. The display explores what the local area was like during this period, and why Hackney is one of the most important archaeological sites from the era. FREE, 10am-5pm
WOMEN'S WORLD CUP: Following on from their success at the Euros last summer, England's Lionesses head out to Australia and New Zealand to compete in the Women's Football World Cup. You can catch all the action at these screenings all around London — just remember that they take place earlier in the day than most football matches, due to the time difference. England's first match is today at 10.30am (UK time)
RADICAL CITY: Museum of London Docklands and urban historian Mike Althorpe — aka The London Ambler — offer a walking tour looking at revolutionary architecture in Finsbury. The old Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury was once one of the most overcrowded places in London, and became an epicentre for urban reformers, progressives and other social agitators whose ideas on housing, healthcare and the public city would leave a legacy across the UK. 10.30am
FIRST WORLD WAR: London Blue Badge Guide Ruth Polling leads a walking tour around Chelsea and the surrounding area, focusing on remembering the first world war. It begins at the National Army Museum and ends at Victoria station. 11am
FAMILY FESTIVAL: Take your children along to Dulwich Picture Gallery for the Mark Makers Family Festival, inspired by the current Berthe Morisot exhibition. Various activity sessions run throughout the day, including a treasure hunt, tape collage workshop, and storytelling. 11am-4pm
DRAG SHOW BRUNCH: Pop-up summer venue Between The Bridges hosts a drag show brunch, with a live performance by a star of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, quizzes, games, bottomless prosecco and a lip sync battle. Food isn't included in the ticket price but the venue has several food vendors on site. 11.30am-3pm
FAMILY OPERA: The BBC Proms 2023 are well under way, and there's a chance for younger music fans to get involved today. Proms 10 and 11 join up the Horrible Histories team with the English National Opera Chorus and Orchestra, for a family-friendly look at the history of opera, featuring the genre's bloodiest and most dramatic chapters. 2pm/6pm
MAYFAIR SPIES: James Bond creator Ian Fleming's haunts, the murder of a Russian spy, and one of Britain's greatest traitors are among the topics covered on this walking tour about the spies of Mayfair. Footprints of London guide Michael Duncan also covers modern-day espionage. 2pm-3.30pm
NIGHT VOYAGE: Families with children aged 6-11 year old are invited to spend the night on board The Golden Hinde, the replica galleon ship dry-docked on Bankside. Become part of the ship's crew for the night, led by three characters in Elizabethan costume who'll teach you about the history of the vessel and the skills needed to sail it. 5pm-9am
CLIMATE POETRY: Spoken word and musical improv show Tongue Fu hosts a special event at Southbank Centre to mark the launch of Hot Poets International, a scheme partnering poets and climate scientists. Hot Poets is part show, part workshop, with special guest poets, scientists and live improvised music. 6pm
DAN WHITLAM: South London spoken word poet and rapper Dan Whitlam counts Fred Again and Arlo Parks among his fans, and tonight he's at Camden's Jazz Cafe for what's bound to be a memorable performance. 7pm
CARNIVAL PARTY: Notting Hill Carnival isn't for another month but you can get an early dose of Carnival vibes at Queen of Hoxton tonight. Guest DJs play a soundtrack of dancehall, Afrobeat and bashment tracks, while down in the basement, the venue's resident DJs play hip hop, R&B and club classics. 8pm
CLUB DE FROMAGE: Meanwhile, there's a completely different soundtrack at O2 Academy Islington for Club de Fromage, which spins pop, rock, indie, power ballads, disco and dance tunes — think S Club, Madonna, Bon Jovi, Taylor Swift, The Killers, Prince and more, along with singalongs, confetti cannons and balloons. 10.30pm
Sunday 23 July
BENGALI CULTURE FESTIVAL: Exhibitions, dance performances, poetry and talks all feature in the Bengali Cultural Festival, taking place at Rich Mix today. It's organised by South Asian cultural organisation Udichi Shilpi Gosthi UK and Bangladeshi organisation Sommilito Sangskritik Jote. FREE, 10am
BLACK NATIONAL GALLERY: Join Black History Walks for a walk around the National Gallery from a Black perspective. Look out for and learn about the many and varied Black presences in artworks dating from 1500-1900, what they meant at the time, and what they can tell us today. 11am-1pm
JENGA CHAMPIONSHIPS: Feeling competitive? Get yourself to Roof East in Stratford for the Jenga Championships. Prizes include an £800 holiday voucher and various vouchers for Westfield, so it's worth practising your block-sliding technique in advance. 1pm
NOISENIGHTS: As part of the noisenights series, the beer garden of Dalston's Speakeasy hosts tango band Tango Siempre (who you may have clocked on Strictly Come Dancing), as they perform authentic nuevo tango and Argentinian classical music. Doors 2.30pm, set starts 4pm
SHELDRAKE ON SHAKESPEARE: James Sheldrake used to be an English teacher. Now, he's preparing to take his podcast, Sheldrake on Shakespeare, to the Edinburgh Festival — and you can catch the live preview show at Barons Court Theatre tonight. Expect an hour of anecdote, insight, performance and analysis about the works of Shakespeare — but in the form of a comedy show, rather than a lecture. 6pm
POETRY LIBRARY: The National Poetry Library at Southbank Centre marks its 70th anniversary with an evening of appearances and readings by renowned poets. CAConrad, Jorie Graham (joining virtually), John Kinsella, Lidija Dimkovska, Belinda Zhawi, Yang Lian and Olive Senior read some of their own work, and choose a favourite poem from the Library's collection. 7pm
30-YEAR PUB CRAWL: Raise a toast to the Georgian-era 'Mayor of Stroud Green', Thomas Legg, on his 250th anniversary. Legg, a tailor, was elected mock mayor at his village pub in 1773, presiding over a pub crawl and feast that lasted 30 years. Local journalist Mike Durham can offer a few insights, while raising a glass to this utterly bonkers history; meet him in the bar of the Stapleton Tavern, 2 Crouch Hill, N4 4AU. FREE, 7pm
BEETHOVEN: Experience Beethoven’s Choral Symphony, with its famous Ode to Joy finale, being performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. The concert is part of the BBC Proms and also features Helen Grime's Proms commission Meditations on Joy. 7.30pm
COMEDY: Kae Kurd, Larry Dean, Sarah Keyworth: three established comedians await to entertain you at Leicester Square's 99 Club tonight — be rude to say no really. 8.30pm-10.30pm
