Things To Do This Weekend In London: 22-23 June 2019

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Things to do this weekend is sponsored by TravlTalk.

All weekend

Free entertainment at West End Live

DOG PHOTOS: For four days only, photos of dogs taken by big names such as fashion photographer Bruce Weber and Hoxton Mini Press founder Martin Usborne go on display. All photos are for sale, with profits going to Battersea Dogs Home and Canine Aid. Christ Church and St Stephen's (Battersea), free entry, just turn up, 20-23 June

GREENWICH FAIR: Greenwich & Docklands International Festival kicks off on Friday, and the opening weekend highlight is Greenwich Fair. Spread out across Greenwich town, the free event offers street theatre performances, games, art, a family-friendly drag show, and Roll Play (pictured below), a blend of hip hop and circus. Greenwich Town Centre, free, just turn up, 21-23 June

WEST END LIVE: Performers from huge West End shows including The Lion King, Mamma Mia, Phantom, Thriller Live and many more perform short sets for free at West End Live. The stage is set in Trafalgar Square, with singers and dancers showcasing well-known tracks, and previews of shows that haven't even opened yet. Trafalgar Square, free, just turn up, 22-23 June

Roll Play is part of Greenwich Fair

EEL PIE ISLAND: There's a rare chance to set foot on Twickenham's mysterious Eel Pie Island this weekend. The artists who work in the studios on the usually-private spit of land in the Thames open their doors for the public to see them at work. You can buy their art directly from them — but take cash, as not all of them can accept card payments. Eel Pie Island (Twickenham), free, just turn up, 22-23 June (and 29-30 June)

LONDON FESTIVAL OF ARCHITECTURE: London Festival of Architecture is still going strong with plenty of events yet to come. This weekend's highlights include National Theatre tours, a look at Hampstead's 20th century architecture, and a boat tour from London Bridge to Wandsworth. Various locations and prices, until 30 June

Saturday 22 June

Join in the Pride Ride

SUMMER FETES: It's that time of year when summer fairs are rife. Your options today are Chelsea Summer Fete in Duke of York Square, Kew Midsummer Fete, and Ruskin Park Summer Fete. All free entry.

NAVY SHIP: There's a rare chance to get onboard a Royal Navy vessel as HMS Enterprise chugs into town. Book a ticket for a free tour of the multi-role survey vessel and find out what it's used for and what it's capable of, from surveying the ocean floor to acting as a floating base for minehunters. Thames Quay, free, book ahead, 10am-4pm

SUMMER SHOWCASE: It's the final day of the British Academy's Summer Showcase, a festival of 'ideas for curious minds'. Attend talks, workshops and performances based on humanities and social sciences research, or just wander among the 15 interactive exhibits. British Academy, free, just turn up, 11am-5pm

Step on board a Navy vessel

MY LONDON: Poet, raconteur and 'walking jukebox' Barrington leads the first ever My London migrant-led walking tour. Barrington hails from Jamaica, but has lived in London for almost two decades. On the tour he showcases the parts of Elephant & Castle that mean something to him, including his favourite park, and a bench where he sits to write. Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre, £10, book ahead, 12pm-2pm

MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL: Celebrate the Summer Equinox at Canary Wharf's Midsummer Festival. Listen to live music, from acoustic tunes to lively DJs, on the festival stage, tuck into nosh from street food traders, and enjoy the decorations in the park. Canada Square Park (Canary Wharf), free, just turn up, 12pm-9pm

Kew Fete has a vintage fairground

PRIDE BIKE RIDE: As part of Pride Month, IBikeLondon hosts a Pride Ride. Hop on your bike and cycle through London's streets to visit areas associated with the LGBT community and celebrate diversity. Rainbow flags and glitter are encouraged, and disco bikes pumping out tunes are part of the fleet. South Bank, free, book ahead, 1pm-8pm

SPACE SPECTACULAR: Lights, lasers and indoor fireworks all feature in Royal Albert Hall's Space Spectacular. Deep space-themed music by the likes of Holst, Strauss and John Williams is performed live by the London Concert Orchestra — think E.T., Star Wars, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Royal Albert Hall, £20-£67.51, book ahead, 3pm/7.30pm

ART NIGHT: Various cultural destinations and institutions stay open late with special events for Art Night 2019. Watch a sound performance created from car sub woofers in Walthamstow, see a novel read aloud in full at British Library, or choose something else from the eclectic programme. Various locations, from 5pm

COMEDY FESTIVAL: Have a laugh at the Shepherd's Bush Comedy Festival, and raise money for charity in the process. Prince Abdi, Archie Maddocks, Steff Todd, Grant Buse and Iszi Lawrence are among the performers in the show, with proceeds going to charity Key4Life. The Westworks (White City), £5, book ahead, 7.30pm-10pm

D-DAY DANCE: It's adults only at National Army Museum's 1940s themed D-Day Dance. Spend the evening jiving away with lessons from SwingDanceUK, and live music from South London Jazz Orchestra. There's plenty of gin too — your ticket includes a cocktail, and the bar's open all night. National Army Museum (Chelsea), £15/£13, book ahead, 7.30pm-11pm

SOLSTICE WALK: Take a midnight walk along the Thames to mark the Summer Solstice. It's led by artist @dyslxicRant & FruitCake Creatives, who specialise in walks using psychogeography and meanderings with public participation, creating celebratory art. London Bridge station, free, book ahead, 11.45pm


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Sunday 23 June

The bloomin' lovely Strawberry Hill House Flower Festival

FLOWER FESTIVAL: Things get even more beautiful at Strawberry Hill House as the Flower Festival begins. Florists and growers have created installations using British flowers, to reflect Horace Walpole's own ideas about design. Strawberry Hill House (Twickenham), £12.50, book ahead, 23-26 June

GREAT GET TOGETHER: A series of Great Get Together events take place up and down the country in memory of MP Jo Cox, including on Bankside. The day-long street party is open to residents, workers and visitors to the area to celebrate and focus on the things we all have in common. Children's games and activities, food and drink, art installations, live music and stand-up comedy are all on the programme. Bankside, free, just turn up, 9am-9pm

Tuck into Spanish food in Portobello

CLASSIC CAR SHOW: Vintage vehicles motor into west London for the annual Belgravia Classic Car Show. Wander among the 300 vehicles, take photos and chat to the owners, or enjoy live music performances and tuck into food from the stalls. Belgravia Square Garden, £10, book ahead, 10am-5pm

SPANISH FEST: Celebrate all things Latino at the Portobello Spanish Festival. Tuck into authentic dishes including tapas and paella from street food traders, browse stalls of Spanish crafts, and watch Flamenco dancing and traditional music performances. Portobello Road, free, just turn up, 10am-6pm

CALLY FESTIVAL: A street market, arts and crafts, live music, dancing and storytelling are some of the activities on offer at The Cally Festival. The free, family-friendly event celebrates the heritage, culture and people of the Caledonian Road area. Caledonian Road, free, just turn up, 12pm-6pm

Belgravia Classic Car Show roars into town

ART CAR BOOT FAIR: An impressive line-up of 120 artists have created work to sell at the Art Car Boot Fair, which the public can buy at very good prices. Love is the theme for this year's artworks, and there's also a raffle, games, portrait sessions and more. Cubitt Square (King's Cross), £10, book ahead, 1pm-6pm

SWING COMMANDERS: Liven up your Sunday afternoon with a trip to Hideaway Jazz Club to see The Swing Commanders perform live. Expect 40s classics, 50s jump jazz, boogie-woogie and Western swing. Hideaway (Streatham), £15, book ahead, 2pm

FEMINIST RIPPER TOUR: Katie Wignall of the excellent Look Up London launches a new walking tour, taking a feminist look at the story of Jack the Ripper. Instead of focusing on the cliched man-in-top-hat, hear the tales of his victims, Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly, looking at the unfair situations they faced in 19th century London. Aldgate East, £28, book ahead, 2pm-4pm