All weekend
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 chicken wings. Tickets include live music, DJs, bands, entertainment, rides, games, axe throwing and eating competitions. 25-27 July
SHORT FILM FESTIVAL: Riverside Studios in Hammersmith hosts Bitesize Short Film Festival, three nights of short films which entertain, provoke and leave a lasting impression. Drinks are held after each screening, giving film lovers a chance to meet and mingle. 25-27 July
ATHEL'S TOWN: A Saxon camp and reenactment pops up at Canbury Gardens alongside the Thames in Kingston. Athel's Town transports visitors back to the year 925, when King of the Anglo-Saxons Athelstan and his entourage crossed the bridge into Kingston-Upon-Thames for his coronation (perhaps surprisingly, the town has been the site of seven coronations, and that may be where it gets its name). Over the weekend, see Saxon-inspired displays, living history, music, performances, talks and storytelling. FREE, 26-27 July
CERTAIN BLACKS: East London arts organisation Certain Blacks curates Ensemble Festival, two days of free outdoor performances in Docklands. The programme includes circus-theatre performance HUG which celebrates the simple act of a hug; Hydropunk, an interactive water installation created with and controlled by the public; and suspended trapeze show Waiting Song. FREE, 26-27 July
JERK COOKOUT: In four sessions across two days, Woolwich Works fires up the grill for a jerk cookout. Munch on African, vegetarian, vegan and jerk foods from a variety of street food traders, with live bands and DJs, comedy, an arts and crafts village, pop-up performances, a chance to view the Windrush Front Room exhibition and access to several bars. 26-27 July
WE CRIP FESTIVAL: Taking place at BFI Southbank, We Crip Film Festival is a weekend celebration of disabled filmmaking through films, talks and industry workshops curated by disabled programmers, including short film selection It's Not You, It's Ableism. The event was named by the BFI Disability Advisory Group, which consists of disabled people working in the film industry, and the festival's title is intended as a bold reclamation of a word which was previously used as an ableist slur. 26-27 July
LAVENDER HARVEST: For one weekend, Carshalton Lavender invites the public to descend on its allotment, and pick their own lavender — just remember to bring some secateurs or scissors to do your snipping with. 26-27 July
LONDON E-PRIX: All-electric vehicles take over the area around Royal Docks and Excel for the London E-Prix. The track partially goes inside the Excel Centre itself, and there's a fan village, live music from Pixie Lott and Rizzle Kicks, and an area for spectators. 26-27 July
SUMMER SPLASH: A free lido opens in east London's docks in time for this weekend (and the summer holidays), complete with lifeguards, kids' lessons, and floating platforms to pen swimmers in and keep them safe. One to remember for the summer holidays — just bear in mind that Summer Splash in Royal Docks is unheated! FREE, 25 July-17 August. Find other urban beaches and outdoor swimming spots to enjoy in London this summer.
CONTRAPTIONS AND CONNECTIONS: Pinner's Heath Robinson Museum opens new exhibition Contraptions and Connections on Saturday, celebrating quirky machines and inventions. View works by a wonderfully eccentric mix of creators who turn the everyday into the extraordinary, from William Heath Robinson's drawings of machines built from everyday household objects, to kinetic creations by automata artists including the legendary Tim Hunkin. 26 July-26 October
NATIONAL BALLET OF JAPAN: Japan's national ballet company makes its UK debut, performing the acclaimed production of Giselle at the Royal Opera House, choreographed by Miyako Yoshida, former Royal Ballet Principal and the company's artistic director. Until 27 July
ARPITA SINGH: Serpentine North hosts the final week of the first solo exhibition of artist Arpita Singh outside of India, spotlighting the artist's 60 year-career. Remembering features her paintings from the 1960s through to more recent years, including large-scale oil paintings and more intimate watercolours and ink drawings. FREE, until 27 July
GHOST OF WHITE HART LANE: Head to Jacksons Lane to see The Ghost of White Hart Lane. It revolves around John White, a talented footballer who tragically died young, telling his story and that of his son Rob, exploring themes of loss, resilience and mental health. The show's previously had successful runs at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Edinburgh Fringe. Until 27 July
VIRTUAL BEAUTY: The latest exhibition at Somerset House is Virtual Beauty, exploring the intersections of digital culture and beauty standards and AI's take on beauty featuring over 20 international artists. Highlights include Amalia Ulman's commentary on social media authenticity. Until 28 September
ROYAL AFTERNOON TEA: The Orchard Room at Conrad London St. James has a new afternoon tea, featuring cakes by baker Fiona Cairns, who created the wedding cake of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge: think mini Victoria sponges and lemon curd-filled fondant fancies. Also on the menu are finger sandwiches, warm scones and bottomless Bollinger champagne. From 23 July
Saturday 26 July
KENSINGTON FLEA MARKET: As part of a new series of Saturday markets in Kensington, Judy's Vintage and The Big Flea team up for a day of shopping on Phillimore Walk (near Holland Park). Browse and buy vintage clothes, jewellery, homeware, furniture, accessories and more. 10am-5pm
WALLABIES VS LIONS: Rugby fan looking for somewhere to watch the Lions Tour match today? Daffodil Mulligan in Shoreditch hosts a special brunch — think Irish bangers, Aussie-inspired bites and breakfast martinis — while screening Australia Vs the British Lions. You'll want to book this one.10.45am
THEATRE OPEN DAY: As part of its 140th birthday celebrations, Stratford East Theatre holds an open day, inviting everyone through the doors for workshops, talks, arts and crafts, face painting and theatre tours. Learn the art of stage combat, take part in spoken word or street dance workshops, and learn how theatre can become more inclusive for those with hearing difficulties. 11am-4pm
JAZZ & FOOD FESTIVAL: Spend this afternoon in a heady blend of music and street food at Greenwich Peninsula's Rhythm & Taste: Jazz & Food Festival. Afropunk and jazz collective Steam Down and rapper and vocalist Shunaji are among the live performers, among a backdrop of street food pop-ups, workshops and markets. 12pm-9pm
SUNDAES IN THE PARK: Ben & Jerry's Sundaes In The Park Festival returns to Chiswick House and Gardens for a day of live music headlined by Fleur East, along with inspiring talks and workshops, cabaret performances and other entertainment. Despite the festival's name, it takes place on a Saturday... but ticket holders do get unlimited free Ben & Jerry's ice cream. 12pm-10pm
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Join a free giant art party in Trafalgar Square
The National Gallery rounds off its bicentenary celebrations — which, with a commitment to revelry we can only aspire to, have been going on for over a year — in spectacular style this weekend. Expect parades, parties, performances and a few surprises (rumour has it that some familiar faces from the National Gallery’s collection will be making an appearance).
This is The Triumph of Art. Created by artist Jeremy Deller, this celebration showcases art's power to connect people, spark joy and foster creativity. It follows participatory events in Dundee, Llandudno, Plymouth and Derry-Londonderry, and features contributions from all four home nations. The event begins with a bacchanalian procession from Whitehall to Trafalgar Square, where the rest of the fun takes place.
The best bit? It’s totally free to attend. There are no barriers to entry — and all ages are welcome here. Just get the family together and head on down.
The Triumph of Art takes place 11am-4pm on Saturday 26 July in Trafalgar Square and is free to attend.
WILD LIFE DRAWING: Try your hand at art with Wild Life Drawing's latest class, taking place at Stepney City Farm and focusing on honey bees. Don a beekeeper's suit and get close to the hives under the guidance of Meetal Patel, the founder of Pearly Queen Honey, a collective of London-based urban beekeepers. Then, artist Jennie Webber teaches you how to sketch bees and honeycomb. 1pm-3.30pm
ROBIN HOOD GARDENS: Been to the delightful new V&A East Storehouse yet? If not, today's as good a day as any, when the venue offers an afternoon exploring Poplar housing estate Robin Hood Gardens, which was built in 1972 and demolished recently. A three-storey section from the estate is the largest object in the museum's collections, and today includes community archives, oral histories, workshops and films centred around it. FREE, 1pm-5pm
NOUGHTS AND CROSSES: Last chance to see the stage adaptation of Malorie Blackman's powerful novel Noughts & Crosses, at Regent's Park Open-Air Theatre, set in a dystopian Britain and telling the story of two young friends divided by racial segregation. It's a tough watch, featuring racism and oppression, violent scenes, sexual references, swearing and depictions of hanging, so may not be suitable for all young people. Age 14+. 2.15pm/7.45pm
THE TRAITORS: Love TV show The Traitors? The Royal Albert Hall has a treat (well, two) for you today, as Claudia Winkleman hosts a BBC Prom featuring melodramatic chart tracks as heard on The Traitors, with a gothic, symphonic twist. For all your info on tickets, highlights, promming and the like, peruse our guide to the BBC Proms 2025. 3pm/7.30pm
SRI LANKAN CULTURE: The Sri Lankan Culture Collective Festival kicks off with an evening celebrating the next generation of Sri Lankan creatives and artists, at Battersea Arts Centre. Broadcaster, journalist and author Nihal Arthanayake makes his comedy debut, performing alongside Eshaan Akbar, Dipak Patel and others. Music comes courtesy of a line-up including Suren Seneviratne and Ushara. 5.45pm-10.30pm
WINESTOCK: Fire-breathers, magicians, bubbleologists, live music and DJs are among the entertainment promised at Winestock, a black-tie wine festival on Clapham Common. Get dressed up and spend the evening sampling 15 wines from around the world, as well as Pimm's, Aperol and beer on tap. Your ticket includes wine refills, and various courses of food depending which package you choose. From 6pm
VIDEO GAME ORCHESTRA: Head to the Questors Theatre in Ealing to hear the 60-strong London Video Game Orchestra performing tracks and themes from video games including Mario and The Legend of Zelda. 7pm
ARTFUL DODGER: UK garage scene pioneers Artful Dodger headline a night of classic garage anthems and underground sounds at Queen of Hoxton. A second room is dedicated to RnB and hip hop. 8pm-2am
ZAINAB JOHNSON: Comedian Zainab Johnson returns to Soho Theatre for an improvised crowd work show where the audience gets to decide what she talks about, meaning no two shows are the same. Expect spontaneous discussions as nothing is written or planned. 8.15pm
GIMME A SIGN!: It's Edinburgh preview o'clock at the Drayton Arms Theatre on Old Brompton Road, and tonight (and tomorrow night), Bailey Swilley performs Gimme a Sign! which features haunted tampons, magical p*ss play and soul-searching at Costco. That kind of thing. 9pm, and same time tomorrow
SHARD SILENT DISCO: Tonight, the View from The Shard stays open extra late for a silent disco with views over the capital. Don a pair of illuminated LED headphones and choose from three channels, each with a live DJ playing a different genre of music. 10pm-1am
MYSTERY MOVIE MARATHON: Leicester Square's Prince Charles Cinema holds one of its Mystery Movie Marathons. Running through the night until about 8am on Sunday, the screening consists of a selection of mystery films, nothing linking them to each other, and no details revealed until you arrive. 11.30pm
Sunday 27 July
HOT AIR BALLOONS: After last week's attempt was stood down, today's the final possible date for the Lord Mayor's Hot Air Balloon Regatta this year. If weather conditions are right, dozens of balloons in various designs (and shapes) will float across the capital from Battersea Park first thing in the morning — from about 5am in fact, so set your alarm early. Check this page for updates — we should know by Friday if it's going ahead or not. FREE, from 5am
KEATS AND BRAWNE: Delve into the collaborative relationship between John Keats and Fanny Brawne, exploring the literary aspects rather than the romantic ties. Led by Kit Freeman, a PhD candidate, the talk at Keats House in Hampstead analyses their communication through letters and poems, and your ticket also includes access to the museum. 2.15pm-3.15pm
THE BIG SING: The summer of free events in Camden Market continues this afternoon with The Big Sing, a free performance by Britain's Got Talent contestants The Big Sing who cover well-known songs in choral form. FREE, 3pm-5pm
SILENT DISCO SKATE JAM: Get your skates on at a free Silent Disco SkateJam at Cygnet Square in Thamesmead. They don't even have to be your own skates: free pairs are available to hire if you don't have your own. Pop on a headset and dance/skate to DJ Shanice Jones, with professionals on hand to offer tips and tricks. FREE, 4pm-5pm
WOMEN'S EUROS: The Women's Euros football tournament comes to a close with the final today. At time of writing, we don't know who will be playing — or indeed if defending champions England Lionesses will make it through their semi-final match against Italy on Tuesday — but plenty of London bars, pubs and other venues are screening the matches, so book your table now, and get down there to support whichever teams make it. K/O 5pm
CHESS: Vauxhall's Teahouse Theatre hosts Kings, Queens & Checkmates — an evening of free chess playing, where you can enjoy a game over a good cup of tea (they certainly know how to make 'em here) and make friends while you're at it. Reserve a spot before coming. FREE, 6pm-8pm
THE SOUND OF WHAT'S LEFT: Windmill Brixton screens The Sound Of What's Left, a documentary celebrating London's precious and few surviving grassroots gig venues (including, of course, itself). There's live music too, from electro punks Star City, punk-with-a-cello Thwack! and hyperpop/electronica artist MM'99. 7pm
COUNTRY NIGHT IN NASHVILLE: Dig out your cowboy boots as A Country Night in Nashville pitches up at Bromley's Churchill Theatre, recreating a buzzing Nashville honky tonk in south London. Hear covers of songs by Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, The Chicks, Willie Nelson and Kacey Musgraves, all performed by Dominic Halpin and the Hurricanes. 7.30pm
QUINTETO ASTOR PIAZZOLLA: The official ensemble dedicated to celebrating the music of the legendary Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla, Quinteto Astor Piazzolla perform live at Barbican. Their repertoire includes Piazzolla’s most iconic works, as well as rare and lesser-known gems. 7.30pm
