46 great ways to spend this weekend in London
[Photo: Nicolas Casana]
Whether the weather is rain or shine, you’re rich or skint, a culture vulture or a full on foodie, this weekend is full of exciting events to sort out your social life. There are hot dog eating competitions, 3D printed guns and graduate showcases. Here’s our guide to all of the fantastic things to do this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
All weekend
Immersive new exhibition ’Digital Revolution‘ explores digital art, music, film, video games and more Barbican Centre.
Enjoy the ambience of a Swedish pine forest with live music, cocktails and street art at Kopparberg Urban Forest, Dalston Bootstrap Company.
At the very least ‘The Kindness of Strangers‘ at Southwark Playhouse should be the curio of the season: a play about the NHS entirely staged in a moving ambulance.
See the world’s top cyclists on the big screen at Tour de France Fan Park: Trafalgar Square.
Check out the newly opened exhibition and education space at House of Illustration, King’s Cross.
A formidable creative team hopes to translate the smash 1998 romcom, ‘Shakespeare in Love‘ to the London stage at Noel Coward Theatre.
‘Radical Geometry: Modern Art of South America from the Patricia Pelps de Cisneros Collection‘ opens at Royal Academy of Arts.
Have a mooch around Sperry Top-Sider’s boat shoe pop-up which has dropped anchor in Covent Garden this month.
Watch one of Monty Python‘s last ever gigs at The O2, Peninsula Square.
Edward Thomasson‘s new show sees three narratives performed on a building site at Chisenhale Gallery.
Tropicana-themed illustration event The London Illustration Fair, Hoxton arches.
Bag some bargains at Peter Jensen Sample Sale, Peter Jensen Studio, Dalston, or Preen July Sample Sale, The Music Room, Bond Street.
Watch West Side Story – Film with Live Orchestra, Royal Albert Hall.
Try out the new 18-hole course of jungle vegetation at Dinosaur Escape Adventure Golf Opening Weekend Gala, West London Golf Centre.
No need to trek it up to Edinburgh, watch a shit-load of previews at ARGComFest – An Actually Rather Good Comedy Festival, The Garage.
FreshFaced+WildEyed-2014 showcases graduate work at Photographers’ Gallery.
Martin Freeman tries to shake off Tim from ‘The Office’ for good by taking on the most evil role in the theatrical canon, ‘Richard III‘, Trafalgar Studios.
Check out one of this week’s festivals: Wireless, Finsbury Park, Sonisphere, Knebworth House, or Love Supreme Jazz Festival, Glynde Place.
Friday
Happy July 4! Celebrate Independence Day at one of these great events.
Head to Hackney Wick for a tropical pontoon party at Flamingo Pier.
Get fabulous and filthy watching Julian Clary – Canned Clary, St James Theatre,Victoria.
Travel through time whilst clubbing at Hot Dub Time Machine, London Wonderground, Waterloo.
Gigs: British Summer Time: Black Sabbath, Hyde Park; Ian McLagan, Half Moon, Putney; The Dandy Warhols, Brooklyn Bowl and 24 more.
Saturday
3D printed guns and Primark jeans at Rapid Response Collection, V&A.
Party hard with VIP label Cocoon on the Terrace at mega club Studio 338, Greenwich.
Join the Second Annual Nunhead Beats the Bounds for day of both singing and walking.
Goodie bags, cake, workshops and cheap entry at the Design Museum Birthday Party, Design Museum.
Get ready for club night The XOYO Residency Series: Jackmaster, Old Street.
Gigs: Third Rail, Richfield Avenue, Reading; British Summer Time: The Libertines, Hyde Park; Chuck Loeb, Pizza Express Jazz Club and 23 more.
Sunday
Get involved in The Big Fair, a massive street party organised to raise funds for Age UK, Heath Street, Hampstead.
Ditch the Sunday roast and party on the roof at the Notsosilent Rooptop Parties, South Place Hotel, Moorgate.
Have a boozy brunch on a rooftop with added hot tubs at Rooftop Brewing, Netil House, London Fields.
Gigs: Kacey Musgraves, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire; Luke Styles: The Girl Who Wishes To Marry Stars, Southbank Centre; Vince Dunn Orchestra, Hideaway, Streatham and 15 more.
Or why not…
Watch a new film at the cinema: ‘Tammy‘, ‘A Hard Day’s Night‘ or ‘Here and Now‘.
Slurp some noodle soup at the recently reviewed Koi Ramen Bar in Brixton.
And here are some nuggets from the blog this week!
★ Twelve things you learn when you move to London
★ How to get half-price tickets to hit West End shows every Wednesday in July
★ 60 amazing things happening in London this July
★ There’s life after Glasto, honestly! Ten more music festivals this summer