The Best Things To Do in London This August

With summer in full swing, it can be tempting simply to head to your nearest beer garden or green space and soak up the sun. But we promise your August will be even more memorable if you seek out some of the city’s best events – including outdoor cinema by the water, tasty-looking restaurant collaborations and must-see exhibitions. These are Broadsheet’s top picks.

Broadsheet London’s blockbuster food festival, in partnership with Modelo, is a week-long celebration of the capital’s incredible food scene – and while tickets are selling fast, there are still plenty of ways to get involved. Collaboration is part of Dine Out’s DNA; top London pubs The Pelican and The Marksman are teaming up for a one-night-only feast – and over at queer Dalston bar Roses of Elagabalus, Logma’s chefs will be cooking up a Middle Eastern feast. Beloved bakeries, bars and restaurants like The Dreamery, Fink’s and Day Trip are creating limited-edition treats only available during the festival, too.
From August 4–10; dineout.broadsheet.com

Due to popular demand, the Battersea Arts Centre has extended its run of The Art of Mini Golf, an interactive exhibition melding contemporary art with mini golf. Drawing on the game’s feminist roots (it was invented in the 19th century by women who weren’t allowed to play “real golf”), each course has been designed by leading artists, including Miranda July and Japanese artist Saeborg, to playfully make a point about women’s rights.
Until August 9; bac.org.uk

A live bee colony has made the Bank of England Museum its home for summer. What’s the connection, you might ask? This free exhibition explores the hidden mechanics of fraud; both in the worlds of finance, but also honey, as for thousands of years, honey has been diluted or mislabelled by fraudsters. Visitors are invited to attempt to watch the live bees at work, identify fraudulent honey through smell, and examine banknotes under UV light to learn about modern fraud-detection systems.
Until August 28; bankofengland.co.uk

In a delightfully unexpected partnership, super-popular Malaysian restaurant Roti King has teamed up with music and culture publication Clash to present a club night at Covent Garden’s Stereo, celebrating the city’s food and music. Expect DJs including Andre Power and Talk Nice Collective, plus Roti King chef-founder Sugen Gopal’s signature Malaysian dishes.
August 13; dice.fm

Katherine Ryan, Sam Campbell, Jamali Maddix, Sarah Keyworth and many more top comedians will take to the hallowed Roundhouse stage for two weeks of impressive mixed bills. Catch some of your SNL UK favourites like Ayoade Bamgboye and Paddy Young; last year’s Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Sam Nicoresti; telly regulars Diane Morgan, Phil Wang and Ed Gamble; and much more.
August 1–18; roundhouse.org.uk

Pick up a sundae from the Everyman’s Dream van (or a frozen Margarita), take a seat on the grassy steps by the canal at Coal Drops Yard, and settle in for a free film screening. Nearly every day until August 16, Everyman on the Canal will present up to four films a day, from classics like Dirty Dancing and Jurassic Park to newer hits like Wicked: For Good and Paddington in Peru.
Until August 16; everymancinema.com

When the temperatures soar, cooling off in the water is always a great shout – particularly when it’s a free open water lido. Royal Docks Summer Splash, in Royal Victoria Dock, is back for another year, and it’s part of a free programme of workshops, parties and performances taking place throughout August and September.
Until August 16; royaldocks.london

Suya might just be having a major moment in London right now. It’s the Nigerian delicacy of marinated and barbecued meat, typically cooked on outdoor grills and served with a variety of sides – and while you’ll find it in various restaurants across London, you’ll want to try it at Chishuru. Chef Adejoké Bakare’s Michelin-starred restaurant in Fitzrovia is running weekly Suya Sessions, with an à la carte menu of meat and fish cooked over charcoal.
Until August 26; chishuru.com

The Brutalist surrounds of The Barbican – with the City skyline enveloping you – make for an atmospheric outdoor cinema. Even better when you pair that with street food and cocktails. The programme combines Hollywood blockbusters like Arrival with independent films like The Florida Project (writer/director Sean Baker’s debut before the acclaimed Anora) and Jean-Luc Godard’s French New Wave classic Pierrot le Fou.
August 18–30; barbican.org.uk

The Vinyl Factory in Soho will host two days of tastings, masterclasses, food pairings and live music for The Soho Spirits Festival. It will bring together more than 60 spirits brands, from big-name distilleries to emerging craft producers, and it’s a great way to taste rare pours and discover new brands.
August 21 & 22; sohospiritsfestival.co.uk

In celebration of the excellent debut temporary exhibition for Stratford’s V&A East Museum, The Music is Black: A British Story, Queen Elizabeth Park is hosting four weekends of free music festivals this summer dedicated to celebrating Black British music and culture. Queer Frequencies is a takeover by London’s queer collectives, curated by creatives including DJ Shy One, Donnie Sunshine and DJ Joel Mignott.
August 22 & 23; queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk

If you’re an east Londoner, you can’t help but be aware of All Points East: the multi-weekend festival bringing some massive names in music to Victoria Park. It kicks off on August 21 with Jorja Smith headlining; topping the bill on subsequent days are Lorde, Deftones, Tyler, the Creator and more. But don’t sleep on In The Neighbourhood, either: it’s the festival’s free-entry event happening mid-week, from August 24 to 27, with outdoor cinema, live music and DJs, street food, theatre for families and more.
August 21–30; allpointseastfestival.com

If you missed the chance to catch this rare revival of Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia at The Old Vic earlier this year, then we suggest you jump at the chance to see director Carrie Cracknell’s deeply moving production on the West End. Widely considered Stoppard’s greatest work, it’s a time-bending tale about science, knowledge and romance.
Until September 21; oldvictheatre.com

“It feels important to celebrate her life and vitality as an artist,” curator Elsa Collinson told Broadsheet in a recent interview. For the first time in the UK in over a decade, the Cuban American artist (1948–1985) is receiving a major retrospective. It’s an astonishing collection of Mendieta’s visceral works, often made with fire, earth and her own body.
Until January 17, 2027; tate.org.uk

London’s longest-established free festival of outdoor performing arts is back with a handful of world and UK premieres by leading companies from across the world. Opening the festival will be 360: a large-scale dance “ritual” by French choreographer Mehdi Kerkouche, performed from a towering circular stage in Woolwich town centre. There’ll also be the chance to go behind the scenes of a live action film set with Efectos Especiales, suspended sonic seed pods at the Canopy installation, and more.
August 21–September 6; festival.org

The weather couldn’t be better for Tasca – the roaming food concept by head chef Josh Dallaway and sommelier Sinead Murdoch which is inspired by Portuguese and Spanish food and wine. Following acclaimed residencies at spots like Giacco’s Bar and Cav, Tasca has taken over Shoreditch cafe Project 44. By day, Project 44 will be serving great coffee; by night, it’ll serve classic anchovy gildas, Cornish crab over requeijão (Portuguese curd cheese), Iberian charcuterie plates and more, paired with a low-intervention Mediterranean wine list.
Until September (date TBC). @tasca.london

Here’s yet another reason to head to the Notting Hill Carnival: on Sunday August 30 (aka bank holiday eve), Shepherd’s Bush restaurant Chet’s, located inside The Hoxton, will welcome UK record label Greensleaves Records to soundtrack an after-carnival party in the hotel’s bar and restaurant and on its terrace. This Shepherd’s Bush-founded label celebrates dancehall and reggae music. It’s the perfect soundtrack to enjoy Chet’s Thai American fare; there’ll be barbecue specials like grilled chicken marinated in fragrant lemongrass, and river prawns drenched in smoked chilli oil.
August 30; sevenrooms.com

Say farewell to August in style at Battersea Park’s three days of open-air concerts. Here at this family-friendly festival, you could choose between reimagined party classics played by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, movies and musicals also played by the orchestra, or a Monday of jazz courtesy of Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra and the Amy Winehouse Band. Naturally, there’s loads of street food stalls to choose from, or you could pre-book a luxury picnic from Pique.
August 28–31; batterseaparkinconcert