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Things To Do This Weekend In London: 19-20 July 2025
Free ice cream, a Baileys pop-up and a new fashion exhibition.
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All weekend
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FOOD FESTIVAL: Eat your way around the world at the National Geographic Traveller Food Festival, at the Business Design Centre in Islington. Hear from chefs including José Pizarro, Andi Oliver and Yotam Ottolenghi, and watch live cooking demos and masterclasses, so you can attempt to recreate your favourite dishes at home. 19-20 July
LIONESS: Head to the Canal Cafe Theatre in Little Venice to watch Lioness, a one-woman comedy play following a goalkeeper through the pressure of a WSL Championship season as she juggles a second job, a Premier League striker boyfriend and online trolling. 19-20 July
FREE ICE CREAM:Chin Chin Dessert Club in Soho has created a new mushroom(!) ice cream, just in time for National Ice Cream Day. The roasted chestnut mushroom concoction is served with a hand-rolled chocolate and mushroom flake and candied close cup mushroom chips... and you could try it for free. The first 50 visitors to the parlour (54 Greek Street) each day this weekend, receive a free chestnut mushroom soft serve sundae. FREE, 19 and 20 July (open from 1pm both days)
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BAILEYS TREAT CAFE: The Pink Store in Shoreditch hosts the Baileys Little Treat Café pop up, offering a bespoke menu of Baileys iced coffees and branded merch. Items on the menu include a Baileys Tiramisu Iced Coffee, Baileys Pistachio Chocolate Iced Coffee and Baileys Millionaire Shortbread Iced Coffee, each priced at £3 (though the first 100 served each day are free). 19-20 July, 12pm-6pm
ALICE IN WONDERLAND: Open-air theatre comes to Kew Gardens in the form of Alice in Wonderland, as Theatre on Kew brings Lewis Carroll's wacky tale to life through music, original songs and comedy — in a show that's suitable for all ages. 19 July-31 August
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SOMAYA CRITCHLOW: London-based British artist Somaya Critchlow's debut show The Chamber is at Dulwich Picture Gallery until Sunday, offering a response to the gallery's own collection of historical paintings. View six newly commissioned works, including three large figurative paintings, as well as Critchlow's preliminary sketches. Until 20 July
SUMMER SERIES: The Somerset House Summer Series comes to a close this weekend, offering two final open-air gigs taking place in the building's courtyard. Book for Saturday to see modern R&B trio FLO, or watch British rap artists Giggs and special guests on Sunday. Until 20 July
ESEA ENCOUNTERS: Southbank Centre's newest festival, ESEA Encounters, celebrates East and South East Asian culture through a long weekend of performances, music, poetry, literature, art and a pop-up market. A highlight is Ura Matsuri on Saturday, a take on the traditional Japanese festivals, offering pop music, dance, Benshi (live film storytelling), classical music on traditional instruments, and more. 17-20 July
HYPER JAPAN FESTIVAL: Love all things Japanese? It's your lucky weekend, because as well as ESEA Encounters (above), London has Hyper Japan, a celebration of Japanese culture, at Olympia London. Voice actor and singer Yuka Iguchi and Japanese-fronted band Two Gun Mathilda are among the performers, alongside a market, cosplaying and a sake experience. 18-20 July
TURTLE TRAIL: The Tusk Turtle Trail opens this week, a collection of 16 turtle sculptures, each individually designed by big names including musician and Tusk ambassador Ronnie Wood, photographer Rankin, illustrator Ralph Steadman and comedian John Cleese. Find them dotted through central London including Covent Garden and Carnaby, before they're auctioned off to raise money for the conservation charity. FREE, 17 July-7 September
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GIANNI VERSACE: Fashion designer Gianni Versace is the subject of a new retrospective show and exhibition at Arches London Bridge. It showcases the largest collection of vintage Gianni Versace designs ever to be displayed in the UK, with over 450 original vintage garments, accessories, personal sketches, interviews and photographs. From 16 July
101 DALMATIANS: Follow the twilight bark over to 101 Dalmatians - The Musical at the Hammersmith Apollo. It's an all-singing, all-dancing rendition of the tale of a huge gaggle of spotted dogs doing their best to outwit baddie Cruella de Vil, who wants to make them into a fur coat. The dogs are played by puppets — imagine the chaos backstage otherwise. Age five+. 18 July-30 August
BBC PROMS: Music festival BBC Proms is now underway, offering three shows at the Royal Albert Hall this weekend. Jazz singer Samara Joy makes her Proms debut on Saturday, with a performance by French violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte and another by Nicholas McCarthy — the world’s only professional one-handed concert pianist — on Sunday. For all your info on tickets, highlights, promming and the like, peruse our guide to the BBC Proms 2025. 18 July-13 September
Saturday 19 July
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GROW YOUR GLOW: Aimed at queer, trans and non-binary folks (18+), One Hundred Shoreditch hosts a Grow Your Glow workshop, to shake up how queer folks are seen and celebrated in professional spaces. Take part in creative workshops and style challenges, and leave with a new set of headshots. FREE, 10am-2pm
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-3pm
PAVILION FAMILY DAY: Been to this year's Serpentine Pavilion yet? The temporary structure in Kensington Gardens hosts a Pavilion Family Day. Full programme TBC at time of writing, but expect performances and hands-on creative activities for all ages. FREE, 11am-3pm
FAMILY DANCE DAY: Coram's Fields in Bloomsbury is a very special park where adults must be accompanied by a child. It gets even more special today when The Place theatre hosts a Family Dance Day, with performances, dance workshops, interactive storytelling and arts and crafts throughout the afternoon. FREE, 11am-4pm
CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL: 800+ beers from 100 different breweries are promised at London Craft Beer Festival, which takes place at Magazine London in Greenwich. Buxton, Siren, Tiny Rebel, Bearwood, Montauk and Bold Mariner are among those take part, with all beer included in your ticket price. Cocktails, whisky, wine and cider are also at hand. 11am-4pm/6pm-11pm
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CROYDON PRIDE: Following a pared down Croydon Pride last year, the event returns to its full fat best today. A parade makes its way through town — starting outside M&S on North End at 12pm, before turning off down Church Street, and finishing up in Wandle Park — where a day of entertainment awaits. From 12pm
RUM SHOW: 300+ rums from 50 producers are available to sample at The Rum Show at Glaziers Hall in London Bridge. Your Dream Pour token (included with your ticket) is your chance to try one of the world's rarest and most sought-after rums. Today's the second (and final) day. 12pm-5pm
RIVERSIDE WALK: Laura Agustin leads an historical-minded walk along the banks of the Thames, from Richmond to Twickenham. It's one of the most rewarding walks in London, with gorgeous scenery, history houses, and the delights of Twickenham all part of the route. 1pm
BRIDGERTON ON STRINGS: Have yourself an atmospheric evening at Central Hall Westminster, as a string quartet performs live renditions of tracks from Netflix series Bridgerton, and the venue is illuminated by candlelight. 6.30pm-9pm
ABBA BRASS: For a lively night of live music, Omeara near London Bridge hosts eight-piece brass group The Ambrassadors for renditions of the music of ABBA. Guest singer Ebba Annabell Haastrup joins them for covers of songs including Dancing Queen and Mamma Mia. 7pm
CHOIR JAMS CONCERT: The LCV Choir Jams Summer Concert is at St Alfege Church in Greenwich. Expect an evening filled with a cappella vocal music themed around wanting, needing, longing and hoping. The choir will perform songs by various artists, including Sara Bareilles and George Michael, as well as original pieces. 7pm-10pm
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INDIE DISCOTHEQUE: Join indie lovers at Between The Bridges for the Indie Discotheque, an evening of nostalgic Indie anthems. Dance the night away to tracks from bands such as Arctic Monkeys, Oasis and Blur.7pm-11pm
PEOPLE IN CAGES: A trilogy of dark comedy plays, People in Cages closes tonight at the Drayton Arms Theatre. Topics include a giggle of a killer, a scream of a happy couple, and adorable kids in a deplorable cult — the latter of which is a world premiere performance. 7.30pm
SUMMER IN THE DITCH: Camp, queer and cult festival Summer in the Ditch comes to a close with two final shows tonight. Riss Obolensky: Avrilgänger takes a comedy deep-dive into the 2004 rumour that Avril Lavigne was replaced by a doppelgänger, and The Balloon Dog Bites follows a prestigiously-trained gay clown who finds himself at a disastrous children's birthday party. 7.30pm/9pm
Sunday 20 July
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WODEHOUSE IN WONDERLAND: New play Wodehouse in Wonderland takes the audience into the world of author P.G. Wodehouse, offering an insight into his marvellous tales, beloved characters, and classic songs by Gershwin, Porter, Kern and Novello. See it at Theatre at the Tabard in Chiswick. 20 July-30 August
HOT AIR BALLOONS: Today and next Sunday have been earmarked for the Lord Mayor's Hot Air Balloon Regatta this year, after May's date was cancelled. If weather conditions are right (and that's a big if), 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. Set your alarm early. FREE, from 5am
INTERNATIONAL CHESS DAY: Spitalfields Market celebrates International Chess Day with a free event hosted by the Chess In Schools charity. Everyone from beginners to chessmasters is welcome to pull up a seat at the tables set up near Commercial Street, and get stuck into a game. FREE, 10am-3pm
VINTAGE MARKET: The So Last Century Fair pops up at Beckenham Place Mansion for a vintage fair, with 50 traders selling mid-20th century and vintage furniture, interior decoration, homeware, posters and prints, books, records, vintage clothes and more. Stalls will be both inside and outside the Mansion building. 10am-5pm
SOHO VILLAGE FETE: A tug of war between the police and fire brigade, a best in show where pooches must dress like royalty, and a music stage are all part of the Soho Village Fete. But surely the highlight is the Soho Waiters' Race, which sees serving staff from different restaurants legging it around the area while balancing a bottle of fizz, wine glass and ashtray on their tray. FREE, 12pm-6pm
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LITTLE ITALY: Tour guide 'the Haughty Culturalist' leads a walk around the area of Clerkenwell known as Little Italy, whose notable Italian residents included revolutionary Giuseppe Mazzini, the clown Joseph Grimaldi and even the notorious Darby Sabini, of Peaky Blinders fame. Afterwards, enjoy the Sagra — an Italian fair and food market — followed by the Procession of our Lady of Mount Carmel. This is thought to be the oldest outdoor Catholic procession in Britain. 1pm (walk), 3.30pm (procession)
SPOT'S BIRTHDAY PARTY: Beloved children's book character Spot the Dog celebrates his birthday in a family-friendly show at Woolwich Works. Expect singing, dancing and a free party hat with every ticket. Suitable for age two+, with a running time of 50 minutes. 2pm/4pm
COMEDY CLUB 4 KIDS: Doing just what it says on the tin, Comedy Club 4 Kids brings the best stand-ups, sketch acts and cabaret performers to Park Theatre today for a show that's suitable for ages six+, taking the form of a traditional comedy club, but making the content age-appropriate without being patronising. This week's performers are Abigoliah Schamaun (MC), ventriloquist Max Fulham, Cerys Bradley and more acts TBC. 3pm
AMY WINEHOUSE: Wind up your weekend with a free Amy Winehouse tribute performance in Camden Market, ahead of the anniversary of the singer's death next week. Jazz vocalist Lucy Randell is at Camden Wharf tonight, covering some of the greatest hits. FREE, 5pm-8pm
QUEERCORE: Queercore trio Shooting Daggers co-headline with Supernova at New River Studios near Woodberry Downs Park tonight. There's support from Nylon and So Far So Good. Doors 6.30pm
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