Things To Do This Bank Holiday Weekend In London: 24-26 August 2024

All weekend

SMART WALKS: Vespucci Adventures has a treasure trove of specially designed walks — both digital and on paper — to get you out exploring. Their new self-guided Greenwich route starts with a Thames cruise, followed by an amble through the historic streets and Royal Park at Greenwich, with its spectacular views. The trail then leads on to Blackheath and the charming Hare and Billet country-style pub. The walk, and many others, are available as part of Vespucci Hiking Club, which provides walks all over the UK, complete with pit stops, pub stops, and all the details you need for a worry-free adventure. Start your free trial now. (sponsor)

BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND: Good news! It's a three-day bank holiday weekend. Make the most of the extra day with our guide to spending the bank holiday in London, so you're guaranteed a good time... even if good weather isn't guaranteed. 24-26 August

NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL: Notting Hill Carnival is back on the streets of west London for three days of Caribbean-style entertainment. Expect the usual heady mix of Caribbean culture, samba, mas, soca and calypso, dazzling costumes... and lots and lots of people. Here's everything you need to know about this year's event, including one part which isn't going ahead this year. 24-26 August

FOOD FESTIVAL: Feast your eyes on the surroundings of Hampton Court Palace, and your stomach on goodies from the Hampton Court Palace Food Festival, which is held in the palace gardens. Tuck into street food, browse and buy artisan products including wine, rum, cakes, pastries, coffee and cheese. There's also live music at the bandstand, garden games, and face painting and shire horse and cart rides for kids. 24-26 August

BATTERSEA PARK IN CONCERT: Bank holiday picnics don't get much more spectacular than this… across the long weekend, Battersea Park hosts three world-class concerts, spanning classical music, musical theatre, and jazz. Some big names are involved, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Myleene Klass, Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra, and a few West End stars. (sponsor)

BEYOND THE BASSLINE: The British Library's Beyond The Bassline exhibition — a whistlestop tour through the history of Black music in Britain, from 1511 to the present day — is in its final weekend. Until 26 August

DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR: The Underbelly Festival pop-up in Cavendish Square (near Oxford Circus) hosts a series of Drag Queen Story Hour shows. The family-friendly show combines inclusive stories with fabulously dressed drag queens, led by published children's author Aida H Dee. Suitable for age 3+. 20-26 August

ASTRONOMY PHOTOGRAPHY: Another one closing soon: Reach for the stars at the Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, where you can ogle 100+ stunning photos of stars, galaxies, suns and moons. Until 27 August

BARBICAN OUTDOOR CINEMA: There's an eclectic range of films on offer at Barbican's Outdoor Cinema this weekend; it's Studio Ghibli animation The Boy and the Heron on Saturday, Godzilla vs Hedorah on Sunday, and Prince's 1987 tour film Sign O' The Times on Monday. All films are shown on a giant screen in the open-air Sculpture Courtyard, with food and drink available to buy nearby. 21 August-1 September

GREENWICH AND DOCKLANDS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL: Free outdoor performing arts festival Greenwich and Docklands International Festival begins in time for the bank holiday weekend, with two weeks of theatre, art, dance and circus in outdoor locations. This weekend, see a person balancing on a giant block of melting ice suspended on a crane in climate change awareness show THAW, or take a stroll through family-friendly street theatre, circus, dance and installations in Stratford Park. 23 August-8 September

FORMULA 1 EXHIBITION: Get yourself into pole position for the new exhibition dedicated to Formula 1 racing. The Formula 1 exhibition showcases iconic Formula 1 cars and historic memorabilia, and has state-of-the art racing simulators giving you the chance to experience what it’s like to sit behind the wheel of an F1 car as they race around the Silverstone track. From 23 August

Saturday 24 August

FARMERS' MARKET: Load up on goodies to see you through the weekend at Wembley Park Farmers' Market, which has 25+ traders selling organic produce, homegrown plants, homemade pies, vegan treats, Italian deli goods and more. Find it at Market Square. 9am-3pm

CARIBBEAN CULTURE FESTIVAL: Coinciding with Notting Hill Carnival, the London Museum Docklands holds a family-friendly festival of Caribbean culture, open to everyone. Head along to take part in dance workshops, art and craft sessions, food workshops and more. Note that although the event is free, some of the workshops require booking, so do check before you arrive if you've got something specific in mind. FREE, 11am-4pm

BEER FESTIVAL: Raise a glass to the second and final day of the Big Swig Beer Fest at Big Penny Social in Walthamstow, which claims to be the world's biggest free entry beer festival (pints are £6 a pop once you're inside). Over 120 keg and 75 cask beers from UK breweries are available, along with wine and spirits too, and it's a family-friendly event until 7pm. From 12pm

MARTIN KEMP: Dig out your leg warmers and neon accessories for the Back to the '80s brunch at The Fable in Holborn, hosted by Spandau Ballet star Martin Kemp. He plays a DJ set as you tuck into a two-course meal — or drinks-only tickets are available for the latter part of the afternoon. 12pm-5pm

SUMMER TERRACE BRUNCH: Electric Shuffle Canary Wharf hosts the Electric Summer Festival Brunch, with singer-songwriter Lucas Berloff belting out summer classics accompanied by a live saxophonist. A two-hour bottomless brunch session includes a Paloma slushie cocktail on arrival, a bottle of prosecco (or four beers) per person and unlimited sourdough pizza. 2pm-5pm

MIGHTY CROWN BALL: Ballroom collective Vogue Rites presents an open-air Vogue Ball in the courtyard at Somerset House, shining the spotlight on the Voguing community with dance, fashion and music. The event is a celebration of global Vogue culture, so organisers ask that if you are not part of the Ballroom community, you use it as an opportunity to learn about the scene's history and cultural significance. 3pm-10.30pm

HEART OF BRASS: The No Limit Street Band play a brass-heavy take on popular songs and feel-good classics as well as some of their own original songs, at Queen of Hoxton. Elsewhere in the venue, DJs play hip hop, R&B, garage, reggae and grime. 8pm

CHRISTMAS VARIETY SHOW: Do not adjust your set. Comedian and actor Peter Serafinowicz offers a look at his current work-in-progress show, Christmas Magic with Elvis and Friends, at Soho Theatre. He uses deep-fake technology to bring Elvis back to life in a festive variety show. 9.30pm

SOFAR SOUNDS: Three mystery emerging music artists are on the line-up for Sofar Sounds, which comes to Underbelly Festival in Cavendish Square for one night only. Expect to hear a mixture of genres and styles, hosted by an MC — and make the most of the festival set-up, with pop-up bars and food stalls, while you're there. 9pm

Sunday 25 August

BLACK HISTORY TOUR: Join Black History Walks for a tour of the Wallace Collection in Marylebone, focusing on the often-hidden Black presence in the gallery's collections, including works depicting musicians, princesses, slaves, servants, saints and inspirations. 11am-1pm

BODY MOVEMENTS: Body Movements is a dance music festival, celebrating the full spectrum of Queer club culture. Several artists, including LSDXOXO and Coucou Chloe, take over five stages in Southwark Park for a fully inclusive day of clubbing. 12pm-10.30pm

NORMAN JAY: Legendary DJ Norman Jay parks his Good Times soundsystem bus at Alexandra Palace for an open-air bank holiday party, with views over the London skyline to boot. Dance the afternoon and evening away to house, rare groove, jazz, disco, hip-hop and drum & bass tunes, with bars and street food stalls to keep energy levels up. 2pm

THE SWING NINJAS: New Orleans-inspired band The Swing Ninjas take over the gardens of Strawberry Hill House in Twickenham for an evening of live swing, spirituals, blues, cajun and jazz music. Treat yourself to a glass of Pimm's from the bar, sit back and enjoy the show. Picnic hampers are available to pre-order, if you fancy pushing the boat out (it is a bank holiday, after all). 4pm-7.30pm

CLUELESS SILENT DISCO: As if! Rooftop Film Club in Stratford screens nostalgic 1995 film Clueless, followed by a silent disco dance party with a DJ playing tunes from the '90s and '00s, and taking requests. Pizza is available to order to your seat during the film, with the bar open all night for drinks. 4.45pm

HOLST'S THE PLANETS: Head to the Royal Albert Hall for Prom 46, a performance of Holst's The Planets by musicians from the Royal College of Music Chamber Choir, the Royal College of Music Symphony Orchestra, and the Sibelius Academy Symphony Orchestra. It's preceded by works from conductor Sakari Oramo’s home country of Finland, including Sibelius's The Wood Nymph, and Lara Poe's brand-new work Laulut maaseudulta (Songs from the Countryside), which receives its world premiere here. 7.30pm

JOE TRACINI: Actor and comedian Joe Tracini presents his one-man-show Ten Things I Hate About Me at the Apollo Theatre for one night only. The candid stand-up comedy show is based on his experiences living with Borderline Personality Disorder, a condition he was diagnosed with 10 years ago. 7.30pm

Bank Holiday Monday 26 August

ECO FAIR: Carshalton Park is the place to head for the EcoFair, a family-friendly day out with a focus on sustainability. Watch live music across three solar-powered stages, including acoustic guitar act Gabriel Mesh & The Gas, and browse more than 100 stalls selling eco-friendly goods including art and craft items and veggie and vegan food and drink. 10.30am-8pm

DICKENS MUSEUM: Representatives from the Old Operating Theatre pop up at the Charles Dickens Museum in Bloomsbury for an object-handling session, where you can learn about the health hazards in Victorian London. Get up close to 19th-century medical and surgical objects as you hear tales of stinking rivers and choking smog. FREE, 11am/2pm

SING OUT THE SUMMER: Last chance to catch live vocal performances as part of Southbank Centre's Sing Out The Summer weekend. Head to the venue's Riverside Terrace for free pop-up and roaming shows by the likes of London Show Choir, The Autistic Adult Choir, and British Gospel Arts Choir. FREE, 12pm-6pm

DOCTOR WHO PROM: Fire up the TARDIS and head for the Royal Albert Hall for the Doctor Who Prom. We're promised a show celebrating the latest adventures of the Doctor, with music from the series performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, accompanied by sequences from the series on big screens. There might be a couple of special guest appearances too... Here's everything you need to know about the BBC Proms. 2.30pm

I'M STILL HERE: Summer by the River screens I'm Still Here, a feature documentary film made in March 2020, about homeless people during lockdown. It follows the work of Under One Sky, a volunteer organisation set up to assist London's homeless people who could no longer rely on the kindness of passing strangers in the empty streets. 7pm-9pm

CANARY WHARF VIRTUAL TOUR: Footprints of London guide David Charnick offers a virtual tour around Canary Wharf, which you can join from your own home. Find out how the area has changed in recent decades, from the construction of its first skyscraper, One Canada Square in the late 1980s, through to the community-focused space it is today. 9pm-10pm

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