44 superb things happening this weekend in London
[Photo: Sylvia Ciociano]
It’s the summer solstice this Saturday, which means even more hours of sunlight to fill with exciting events, marvellous matches and great gigs. Stuck for what to do? Fear not! Here’s our guide for what’s going on this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
All weekend
Pub crawl around the many gigs happening in Camden at CC14, various venues.
Gin and tonic ice cream anyone? Cool down with the summery flavours of Black Vanilla Gelato’s Pop-Up, Harvey Nichols.
Cheers to a weekend of London’s best brewers at Summer Brew Fest, Space Studios, London Fields.
Visit the Victorian Blackheath Beach for a barbecue, Pimm’s and hopefully a bit of sun!
Check out new start ups, vintage wares and meet the mentors at Pop Up Britain, Eland House.
Beth Steel turns her attentions to miners for Wonderland, Hampstead Theatre.
Celebrate the longest day of the year with The Summer Solstice Two Night Supper Club, Haggerston Espresso Rooms.
See the cast of some of the West End’s best shows perform at West End Live, Trafalgar Square.
You’ll need a pocket full of pennies to play at the luxury amusement arcade in the Fendi Fun Pop-Up, Harrods.
Feast on street food at Model Market, Lewisham High Street.
Wander contemporary garden fair Grow London, offering unusual plants and garden paraphernalia on Hampstead Heath (Lower Fairground Site).
Try a tennis ball-shaped chewing gum at Maria Sharapova’s candy shop Sugarpova Pop-Up Shop, Wimbledon Village.
Taste the colours and sounds at The Valley of Astonishment, which explores the phenomenon of synaesthesia at the Young Vic.
Save yourself the journey up to Edinburgh and enjoy some LOLs at the Balham Free Fringe, The Bedford.
Check out the best new art this week: ’The Human Factor‘, Hayward Gallery, ‘Seen‘, Opera Gallery, Bond Street, ‘Dependency‘, Gasworks, Oval or the fresh talent at London art college degree shows.
Friday
Spend a night at the museum as part of the Dino Snores for Grown Ups, Natural History Museum.
Join the shenanigans and hear the music play at Kettner’s Kabaret, Soho.
Gigs: Jurrasic 5, O2 Academy Brixton; Emilia Mårtensson, Vortex, Dalston; Kate Tempest, Hootananny, Brixton and 26 more.
Saturday
Board The Vengabus as it arrives at the polysexual dance party Sink The Pink Summer Ball, Troxy.
Prepare yourself for some major partying at the Troupe Summer Series Outdoor Day and Night Block Party, location TBA.
Get on your bike for some cycling fun at Lambeth Bike Festival, Brockwell Park.
Head high for the Soundcrash Roof Garden Party Series, Rockwell House, Shoreditch.
Learn how to pole dance at The Midsummer Masked Ball, Adam Street Members Club.
Gigs: Festifeel, London Fields Brewery; Jeff Lorber Fusion, Pizza Express Jazz Club; Capital FM Summertime Ball 2014, Wembley Stadium and 21 more.
Sunday
Join the Flamenco Express for a soulful fiesta of guitars and dancing at the Royal Albert Hall.
Check out the City of London Festival for entertainment in an inflatable Bowler Hat (yes, really), various venues.
Wine and dine canalside at Street Food Sundays at Crate, Hackney Wick.
Gigs: Kings of Leon, Milton Keynes National Bowl; Natalie Williams Soul Family, Ronnie Scott’s; Hank Wangford And The Lost Cowboys, Half Moon Putney and 15 more.
Or why not…
Watch a new film: ‘Chinese Puzzle‘, ‘Jersey Boys‘, or ‘Camille Claudel, 1915‘.
Or catch one of this month’s must-see shows: ‘The Last Days of Troy‘, ‘Fathers and Sons‘, or ‘Skylight‘.
Taste the modernist food trend at Typing Room, Bethnal Green.
And don’t forget the best of the blog!
★ A VHS copy of ‘Hellraiser’ keeps appearing on top of this bus stop, and nobody knows why
★ In pictures: World Naked Bike Ride, London