This August promises sun, fun and plenty to do — from carnivals and comedy to food and festivals, and from open-air cinema and live music to anime and an urban beach.
Notting Hill Carnival
This year’s Notting Hill Carnival is back and bigger than ever. Taking over the streets of London for the August Bank holiday weekend, London’s largest street festival is more family-friendly on the Sunday with a Children’s Parade in the morning.
Monday gets a bit more chaotic as everyone gets into the carnival vibe – expect parades, DJs, steel bands, Caribbean food and LOTS of dancing. The grand finale will feature over 60 bands performing in Powis Square on Monday, although once the parades have finished there are plenty of after-parties to keep the tempo going. A market with crafts, vintage stalls and foodie treats – this is the perfect Sunday afternoon stroll. Held on the first Sunday of the month. This free outdoor performing arts festival has events at a number of locations across London. Check the website for details of the full programme, including theatre, circus, dance and street arts. Don’t miss some breathtaking performance art – all for free! An annual event run by the Campaign for Real Ale, this festival has been running for over 40 years so it attracts the best breweries around. There are over 900 drinks to choose from, along with a range of street food. It’s nicknamed the biggest pub in the world, so grab a stool and spend an afternoon sipping the best of Britain (and the rest of the world too). If you’re rushing around hot and dusty Westminster this month, take a break in this shady courtyard, grab a deckchair and relax to some free live music. Run by the guys at Animeleague, London Anime and Gaming Con returns once again for a full weekend of fun. Despite the name, the event covers a wide variety of anime-adjacent interests, including manga, western animation and lots of gaming stuff. Hit the Bank Holiday weekend running with this four-day freebie in Victoria Park. There’s street food, free outdoor cinema, live music, theatre, family fun, sports activities and loads more. Check out their website for full details. Some of the biggest names in comedy hit Camden’s Roundhouse this August, for what looks to be London’s coolest new comedy festival. This summer there are two huge outdoor screens in Canary Wharf, one in Cabot Square and one in Canada Square Park, showing sporting events and movies for free. Grab a picnic and settle down in the sun/shade/endless drizzle. No need to travel miles for a whole month of edgy, offbeat comedy; come to Camden, have fun, and be the first to catch a star of the future. Chill out over the bank holiday weekend with this classy three-day open-air series of jazz, soul and classical music concerts. Treat your inner child to some amazing performances at the Big Kid Circus: see clowns, acrobats and some adrenaline-fuelled daredevils. Featuring two stages with the hottest new talent from the Latin urban music scene, this is the UK’s largest Latin music festival. Don’t miss Europe’s largest Caribbean food and drink festival with live music, family-friendly fun, cooking demos and LOTS of amazing Caribbean food and drink to try. You don’t have to go to the beach – we’ve brought the beach to you. Classic English seaside vibes with deckchairs, fish & chips and ice cream. Battersea Power Station’s biggest summer event, with loads of free sports and games (plus some ticketed stuff) and a vintage arcade. Challenge your mates to anything from table tennis to giant chess. A new Vegas-themed vodka pop-up with a Monday-Thursday happy hour slot. Take a selfie in front of the wedding chapel, pop it on Insta then sit back and wait for your phone to explode. Let us help you save money for what's really important: a nice cup of cocoa or mulled wine. Add some festive cheer to your winter calendar You can’t squeeze in every festive display in one evening, so we bring you ‘The Twelve Stars of Christmas’. See all the action from centre court without travelling to SW19 this summer. 3 spots offering free Wimbledon screenings. From heated lidos to rooftop pools, and wild(ish) swimming, here are five of London’s best outdoor swimming pools. Summer is a good time to escape the sweaty heat of the capital and explore some of the rest of the country.
West Norwood Feast
GDIF: Greenwich & Docklands International Festival
Great British Beer Festival
Advance sales: £16.00 At the door: £18.00 Summer Stage at St Martin’s Courtyard
London Anime & Gaming Con
In The Neighbourhood (NBHD) from All Points East
The Roundhouse Comedy Festival
Summer Screens
Camden Fringe
Battersea Park in Concert
Advance sales: £40.00 Advance sales: £17.50 Big Kid Circus
LatinoLife in the Park
Taste of the Caribbean
Walthamstow-on-Sea
Battersea Games
Summer Nights in Vegas
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