All weekend
WIMBLEDON: The Wimbledon tennis tournament 2023 is underway, and you can expect to hear plenty about it, with screenings taking place all over town for those of us who can't make it down to Wimbledon itself. Canary Wharf, King's Cross and Mayfair are just some of the areas offering free open-air screenings — see our full guide to Wimbledon screenings in London this year. Many are FREE, 3-16 July
YOUNG V&A: Three years after the Museum of Childhood closed, the Young V&A is now open in its place. The child-centric museum is divided into three galleries, Play, Imagine and Design, with hands-on exhibits and activities in each. Plus, there's a special (and free!) Summer Festival this weekend. FREE, open now — festival runs 8-9 July
SUMMER IN BATTERSEA PARK: Free festival Summer in Battersea Park continues this weekend. Head to the Bowling Green on Saturday for family-friendly activities including theatre shows and a giant inflatable course. Then, on Sunday, the Battersea Dog Show takes place, along with a celebration for Armed Forces Day. FREE, 8-9 July
WILLIAMS RACING FAN ZONE: Coinciding with the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, a Williams F1 Fan Zone is open on Regent Street. It's a chance to get a closer look at some of the cars, have a go at driving on professional simulators, test your reflexes against those of an F1 driver, and enjoy Q&A sessions with professional drivers. FREE ENTRY, 3-9 July
FUSE INTERNATIONAL: FUSE International is a festival that offers an eclectic programme of music, theatre, dance, comedy, visual arts, spoken word, circus and more, at various locations around Kingston. Highlights of this closing weekend include a songwriting workshop with professional singer-songwriter Izabella Ivanschenko, a performance of satire show Miss Brexit, and the Kpop UK National Championship. Until 9 July
SUMMER SCIENCE EXHIBITION: The Royal Society’s annual Summer Science Exhibition is a free interactive experience for anyone curious about the latest advances in science and technology. Take part in drop-in workshops, meet scientists and researchers, and find out about topics such as predicting volcanic eruptions, life on Mars and how drumming can improve brain plasticity. Some events will be made available digitally for anyone who cant be there in person. FREE, 4-9 July
BALLET FLAMENCO: The annual Flamenco Festival is underway at Sadler's Wells, and this weekend offers three chances to see legendary Spanish dancer and choreographer Sara Baras performing in current show Alma, accompanied by lavish costumes and a live band. 5-9 July
SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL: The 10th London edition of Sundance Film Festival is on at Picturehouse Central, with feature length fiction and documentary films, as well as a programme of shorts. Highlights this weekend include Past Lives, about childhood friends separated when one leaves South Korea, and Mutt, focusing on a young trans guy navigating life in New York City. 6-9 July
OVER A BARREL: The Black Cultural Archives in Brixton (which we visited recently) is currently home to interactive exhibition Over A Barrel: Windrush Children, Tragedy and Triumph. Co-curated by award-winning journalist Nadine White and cultural researcher Jasmine Pierre, it examines the often overlooked stories of the Windrush children, the tensions and traumas of separation and reunion, and the cultural and social adjustments these children had to make in order to thrive in a hostile environment. 'Barrel children' were those waiting to be reunited with their migrant parents. Until 10 July
BALHAM COMEDY FESTIVAL: Paul Tonkinson, Dan Antopolski, Russell Hicks, Chin Wang, Richard Herring and Rich Hall are the comedians on the bill at the Balham Comedy Festival this weekend. Organised by Banana Cabaret and taking place at The Bedford, it features a total of 28 comedians across nine nights. 7-15 July
Saturday 8 July
MIND & BODY: SE5 Forum for Camberwell brings the Feel Good Festival back to the area across two weekends, aiming to improve the health and wellbeing of the community. It begins today with a focus on Mind & Body on Camberwell Green, where activities include mindfulness sessions, yoga, life coaching and exercise classes. The festival continues in Ruskin Park next Saturday, with a focus on Growth & Wellbeing. FREE, 11am-3pm
WESTMINSTER ABBEY SUMMER FETE: Head to Dean's Yard alongside Westminster Abbey for a summer fete complete with live performances, an inflatable obstacle course, food and drink stalls, a birds of prey display, Morris dancing and more. FREE ENTRY, 11am-3.30pm
BRITISH LIBRARY CELEBRATIONS: To mark 50 years since the British Library was established, there's a free open day. Meet the British Library features curator and expert talks, sound performances, workshops and activities around the building, including a chance to learn how the 150 million physical items in the library's collection are cared for, and a tour of the public art in the building. FREE, 11am-5pm
SUMMER PLACE FESTIVAL: The Royal Over-Seas League in St James's hosts its first ever Summer Place Festival, a celebration of food and the arts featuring talks, concerts and workshops — and today's the final day. Browse a makers market, enjoy a musical wine tasting, or immerse yourself in a gong bath, among other events. 11am-6.30pm
CHOCOLATE WORKSHOP: Melange chocolate shop in Peckham offers a chocolate truffle-making workshop for adults. Learn the professional techniques used to prepare, flavour, shape, fill, temper, enrobe and decorate you own goodies. 11.30am-2pm
COCKTAILS IN THE CITY: Today's the final day of the first weekend of this year's Cocktails in the City. The boozy festival takes place over three weekends in July-September, bringing together some of the most popular bars in London (The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town and Hacha, among others) to serve up their drinks in a private garden, Bedford Square, with live entertainment, cocktail masterclasses and more thrown in. 12pm-10pm
TRANS PRIDE: Trans Pride begins in Trafalgar Square at 1pm — though the exact route is TBC at time of writing. It takes the form of "a protest march calling for equality in the UK and beyond", and is open to trans people and allies of the trans community who wish to show support. FREE, 1pm. There's also a T-Boys Club x Byenary special Trans Pride club night at Rich Mix. 7pm
POP ART: Get creative at today's PopUp Painting session at London Art Bar in Holborn, and have a go at making your own piece of colourful pop art. All supplies are provided, and a professional artist is on hand to provide guidance if needed. 3.30pm-6pm
BEARPIT KARAOKE: Head to the mini amphitheatre in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens and strut your stuff with karaoke anthems at Bearpit Karaoke. All sorts of people take part, including professional singers and West End stars, as well as non-professionals, each trying to coax the audience into joining in. FREE, 4pm-8pm
OLIVE JAR: Part of the Shubbak Festival, Olive Jar celebrates the heritage of West Londoners from Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Morocco, and beyond. The play was put together as a result of workshops with the local community and features stories, memories and live music. Takes place at Grand Junction in Paddington. 4.30pm/8.30pm
MANSFIELD PARK: As part of the St Marylebone Festival, a performance of an opera based on Jane Austen novel Mansfield Park comes to St Marylebone Parish Church. 5pm-7.15pm
CANDLELIGHT CLUB: Get your gladrags on and head to 1920s speakeasy-style party The Candlelight Club. The Gatsby-inspired event takes place in an elegant ballroom at a secret London location with live music and DJs, burlesque performances and tarot readings, all overseen by cabaret host Champagne Charlie. 7pm-1am
Sunday 9 July
TURKISH FESTIVAL: Everyone's welcome at the West London Turkish Festival, which celebrates Turkish culture, cuisine and hospitality. Expect live music, stage performances, a football tournament, funfair rides for the kiddies, and food stalls serving Turkish dishes including lots of juicy kebab. 10am-8pm
CRAFTY FOX: Jewellery, tote bags, ceramics and embroidery are among the items you can browse and buy from 100+ traders at the Crafty Fox Summer Market, taking place at Granary Square in King's Cross. There will also be creative workshops taking place throughout the day — details TBC. FREE ENTRY, 11am-5pm
BEYOND RETRO CLOSING PARTY: All week, vintage clothing shop Beyond Retro has been running a pop-up shop at Big Penny Social in Walthamstow, and there's a big closing party today. Head there to bag a final bargain or two, drink in hand, with live musicians providing the soundtrack. FREE ENTRY, 12pm-7pm
PETER PAN: Theatre group the HandleBards — who travel between shows by bike — are at the meadow at Dulwich Picture Gallery for a family-friendly performance of Peter Pan. Bring your own chair or blanket to sit on. 1pm-4pm
PERFECT MOVIE: An interactive comedy show about a love of films, Richard Sandling's Perfect Movie is at The Garden Cinema in Holborn for a charity special in aid of Refuge. Comedian Bec Hill, journalist Helen O'Hara and podcaster Ash Frith are the special guests, interspersed with interviews, trailers and games. 3.30pm
EAT THE SCREEN: The closing screening of SAFAR Film Festival is also part of Barbican's Eat The Screen series, focusing on the food industry. Watch a double bill of films, Foragers, and Food Over Bethlehem, followed by a discussion about food sovereignty in Palestine under occupation. 5.30pm
SHENANIGANS: Bring your week to a close with On Shenanigans, an adults-only games night at pop-up beer garden Between The Bridges. Prepare for battle in the limbo, musical chairs, lip-sync battles and other games, with a DJ playing the soundtrack to the evening. 5pm-10pm
BARTS 900: Head to the Royal Albert Hall where the St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society perform a programme of English Classical and Choral music as part of the Barts 900 celebrations marking 900 years since the oldest working hospital in the UK was established. Find out more about the history of the St Barts Choir from a current member. 7.30pm
