Take a ride on the Starflyer at London Wonderground

Can you believe it’s August already? Well, as usual the summer is flying by, but I can’t complain as the weather – on the whole – has been pretty damn glorious. The World Cup and Wimbledon bought an extra sense of excitement to July, but with the Commonwealth Games in full swing and the children off school, the choice of things to do in London has gone way up! Here’s a guide to what’s on in the capital this month.

For a guide to pop-up cinemas in London this summer, click here.

For listings of music festivals in and around London this summer, click here.

• 30 July – 3 August : Shuffle Festival

Film and arts festival curated by Danny Boyle. Featuring live music, food and drink and film screenings. Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, Southern Grove, E3 4PX. Nearest tube: Mile End, Bow Road or Devons Road. For more information and tickets, visit the Shuffle Festival website.

• 1 – 3 August : Hackney WickED Festival

Three day festival championing creativity and local culture, featuring galleries, open studios, temporary exhibitions, pop up spaces, site-specific installations and events in the Hackney Wick area. Nearest tube: Hackney Wick (Overground). For more information, visit the Hackney WickEd website.

• 1 – 31 August : The Cornershop

Artist Lucy Sparrow is opening the world’s first pop-up cornershop selling handmade lifesize sweets (made from felt). Open daily, 10am-7pm. The Cornershop, 19 Wellington Row, Bethnal Green, E2 7BB. Nearest station: Hoxton. For more information visit the Cornershop blog.

• 2 August : Africa Centre Summer Festival

Weekend of African music, fashion, dance, food, performances and film in and around Covent Garden Piazza. Free. 12-10pm. Nearest tube: Covent Garden, Charing Cross or Embankment. For more information, visit the Africa Centre website.

• 2 August : Eid Festival

To celebrate Eid, Trafalgar Square will play host to a one-day festival, featuring a food market, live music and performances, and children activities, featuring face-painting, henna, calligraphy and sports. Noon until 6pm. Free. Nearest tube: Charing Cross, Embankment or Leicester Square. For more information, visit the London.gov.uk website.

• 3 August : Brixton Splash

The Cornershop – a pop-up sweetshop comes to Bethnal Green this month
© Lucy Sparrow

Free community street festival taking over various streets in Brixton, featuring live music, poetry, art exhibitions, street theatre, crafts, children’s activities, food and sound systems. Free. Nearest tube/train: Brixton. For more information, visit the Brixton Splash website.

• 6 – 31 August : Free Theatre @ The Scoop

Free theatre performances every night Wednesday through to Sunday in The Scoop near Potters’ Field Park, including The Rhine Gold, The Valkyrie, Siegfried and Twilight of the Gods. 6-10.15pmWed-Sun. Free. The Scoop, Queen’s Walk, SE1 2DB. Nearest tube: London Bridge. For more information and listings, visit the More London website.

• 9 August : RideLondon FreeCycle

Festival of cycling including an 10 mile traffic-free route through the capital and Grand Prix route. Free to register. For more information, road closures and routes, visit the Prudential RideLondon website.

• 10 – 11 August : Chingford Weekender

Disco legends Sister Sledge, Alexander O’Neal and Rose Royce star Gwen Dickey are headlining this two day festival in Chingford. Also features an arts and craft marquee, international food festival, fun fair and children’s activities. Free entry. Sat: 2-7pm, Sun 1-6pm. Ridgeway Park, off Peel Close, Chingford, E4 6XU. Nearest station: Chingford. For more information, visit the Chingford Weekender website.

•  12 – 16 August : Great British Beer Festival

Up to 800 real ales, ciders, perries and foreign beers with be available to try, while there will also be plenty of entertainment and food. Tickets start from £8 (CAMRA members), £10 (non-CAMRA members). Kensington Olympia, Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX. Nearest tube: Olympia. For more information and tickets, visit the Great British Beer Festival website.

• 14 – 17 August : London Craft Beer Festival

Twenty four breweries from London, the UK , Europe and USA will be showing off over 100 bees. Also including food stalls, live music and DJs. Tickets: £35. Oval Space, 29-32 The Oval, Hackney, E2 9DY. Nearest tube: Bethnal Green. For more information, visit the London Craft Beer Festival.

Celebrate Eid in Trafalgar Square

• 15 – 17 August : Feast @ Battersea Park

London’s foodies are invited to join ‘an exclusive picnic extravaganza featuring the UK’s largest selection of restaurant, street and artisan food’ in Battersea Park. Featuring pop-up restaurants, vintage tea tent, real ale and cider tent and more. Entertainment from a mix of Jazz, Folk, Motown/Soul, Acoustic artists and bands. 11am-9pm. Tickets £12-£15. Nearest train: Battersea Park or Queenstown Road Battersea. For more information and tickets, visit the Foodies Festival website.

• 15 – 17 August : Canary Wharf Jazz Festival

The annual jazz festival returns to Canada Square Park again, featuring performances from Riot Jazz Brass Band, Hidden Orchestra with special guest Phil Cardwell, Ciyo Brown’s The Motown Sound featuring Gwyn Jay Allen and special guest James Morton, Yiddish Twist Orchestra and Andy Sheppard Quartet and more. Free. Nearest tube: Canary Wharf. For more information and set times, visit the Canary Wharf website.

• 16 August : The Elephant And The Nun Festival

One day festival in Burgess Park, featuring world music, performances by the National Theatre, cabaret, Africa Live festival, funfair and more. 12-8pm. Free. Nearest station: Elephant & Castle or Peckham Rye. (Check out Metro Girl’s post on Africa Live here). For more information, visit the Southwark website.

• 16 August : Spotlight Festival @ Seven Dials
  

  Enter the Tunnel Of Love at the Royal Festival Hall for the Festival of Love

One day festival at Seven Dials near Covent Garden will see the area go traffic free. Presented by Rick Edwards, the event will feature a range of entertainment, including theatre, dance, comedy and music. Grab a deckchair on the pop-up lawn surrounding the dial or pose for a photo in the Airstream photobooth. There will be a range of food and drinks on offer and the chance to enjoy discounts and special treats at the nearby shops. Noon until 7pm. Free. Seven Dials, WC2. Nearest tube: Covent Garden, Holborn or Leicester Square. For more information, visit the Seven Dials website.

• 16 – 17 August : Bounce

Weekend-long festival for children. It’s mainly designed for 4-12 year olds. Tickets: Age 5 and over: £18, family ticket: £60. Old Deer Park, 187 Kew Road, Richmond, TW9 2AZ. Nearest station: North Sheen, Richmond or Kew Gardens. For more information, visit the Bounce festival website.

• Now until 17 August : The Fashion World Of Jean Paul Gaultier

Exhibition of work by the acclaimed designer, including his iconic conical brassiere worn by Madonna, costumes for Kylie Minogue’s tour and from Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element. Tickets: £14.50, highly recommended to book in advance. Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS. Nearest tube: Barbican or Moorgate. For more information, visit the Barbican website.

• Now until 23 August : Camden Beach

The ‘beach’ returns to Camden again this year, with 150 tonnes of sand, deckchairs, ping pong, BBQ and live music. Located in the grounds of the Roundhouse. Free. Open 12-11pm every day. Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8EH. Nearest tube: Chalk Farm. For more information, visit the Roundhouse website.

• 1 – 24 August : The Garden Gate Pop-Up

Pop-up restaurant and bar in the Oxo2 space in the Oxo Wharf on the Southbank which brings the outdoors in. Featuring entertainment, food and drinks – including cocktails – with a view of the Thames. Oxo Tower Wharf, Bargehouse Street, South Bank, SE1 9PH. Nearest station: Waterloo or Blackfriars. Read Metro Girl’s blog post for more information and opening times.

• 23 – 25 August : BBC Good Food Festival

Food festival in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace. Featuring celebrity chefs and cooks, such as Gennaro Contaldo, Cathryn Dresser, Lisa Faulkner, Steve Groves, Shelina Permalloo, John Torode, Gregg Wallace, Valentine Warner and the Chiappa Sisters, among others. Tickets to the palace include free entry to the festival – Adults £16.50 on the door, £15.50 online. Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU. Tube: Richmond. For more information, visit the BBC Good Food Festival website.

• 25 August : Paw Pageant

A doggy fashion show at Old Spitalfields Market in the City of London. Featuring cute dogs and stylish owners also modelling the latest fashions. 1-3.30pm. Battersea Dogs Home will be on site to offer free micro-chipping and there will also be raffle, with proceeds going to the charity. Old Spitalfields Market, 16 Horner Square, Spitalfields, E1 6EW. Nearest tube: Liverpool Street or Shoreditch High Street. For more information, visit the Old Spitalfields website.

• Now until 25 August : Camden Fringe

The Camden Fringe returns for its eighth year, bringing over 180 productions to 17 venues across the borough of Camden, including Camden People’s Theatre, Canal Café Theatre (read Metro Girl’s review on the adjoining pub The Bridge House) and the London Jewish Cultural Centre. For more information and tickets, visit the Camden Fringe website.

• 25 – 26 August : Notting Hill Carnival

Long-running institution returns to the streets of West London. Plenty of soundstages will be dotted around featuring a wide range of music. Then of course there’s the carnival itself. Free. Sunday is more geared towards children, while Monday is the adults’ day. Check TFL website for transport information because many stations nearby will be closed. For more information, check out the Notting Hill Carnival website.

Check out the pop-up cinema and food festival at Battersea Power Station

• 28 August – 14 September : Portobello Film Festival

Two and half week festival returns to Notting Hill with screenings and events at the KPH, Pop Up Cinema in Acklam Road and Westbourne Studios. Free. Nearest stations: Ladbroke Grove or Westbourne Park. For more information, visit the Portobello Film Festival website.

• 29 August – 7 September : Animals In The Wall exhibition

A unique collection of late American artist William S Burrough’s works, including some never before seen, alongside other contributing artists. 11am-7pm daily. Free. Londonewcastle Project Space, 28 Redchurch Street, Shoreditch, E2 7DP. Nearest station: Shoreditch High Street. For more information, visit the Guerrilla Zoo website.

• 30 August : The Original Oatly BREAK-FEST

A one-day boutique festival that brings a bit of Sweden to Brockwell Park in South London. Featuring music from electro pop sensation Kyla La Grange and support acts Urban Cone and Marigold. The chance for festivalgoers to take part in the  Kaninhop (aka rabbit showjumping), Kubb (aka Viking Chess) or power your smoothies by bike. There is also a banqueting suite and a Lie-In Lounge. 10am-4.30pm. Free entry, but register online. Brockwell Park, Dulwich Road, Herne Hill, SE24 0PA. Nearest tube/train: Herne Hill or Brixton. For more information and to apply for your free ticket, click here.

• 30 August : National Paralympic Day featuring Liberty Festival

The Liberty Festival returns to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which showcases talents of disabled and deaf artists. Includes live music, street theatre, dance and children’s activities. Paralympic GB stars will also be partaking in Boccia, Goalball, Swimming and Wheelchair Basketball in the Copper Box or London Aquatics Centre. The festival is free, but sport spectators will need to buy tickets, starting from £5. Queen Elizabeth Park, Stratford, E20 2ST. Nearest tube: Stratford. For more information, visit the London.gov.uk website.

• 31 August : Mela

Festival celebrating South Asian culture, featuring nine zones, five stages, outdoor arts, DJs,  world food market and more. 1-9pm. Free. Gunnersbury Park, Popes Lane, W3 8LQ. Nearest tubes: Gunnersbury, South Ealing or Acton Town. For more information, visit the Mela website.

• Now until 31 August : The Power Of Summer

Seven weeks of pop-up events in the grounds of Battersea Power Station. Featuring Street Feast food festival, screenings of films (Pulp Fiction, Drive, Jungle Book and more) and the World Cup final. Park open from noon daily. Tickets: free entry before 5.30pm on weekdays, general admission weekends and evenings: £5.50, screening tickets: £16.50. Battersea Power Station, 188 Kirtling Street, SW8 5BN. Nearest train station: Battersea Park or Queenstown Road Battersea. For more information, visit the Everyman Cinemas website.

• Now until 31 August : Secret Cinema presents Back To The Future

Immersive film company Secret Cinema have recreated a life-sized version of Hill Valley from the 1985 film classic Back To The Future. In a secret East London location, film fans will have the chance to dress up and experience good ol’ 1955 America before watching the movie. Tickets £53. (For Metro Girl’s review of the event, click here). For booking, visit Secret Cinema’s official website.

• Now until 31 August : Festival Of Love

The Southbank Centre celebrates love in all its forms with their annual summer festival, with the theme this year as love. Returning are the dancing fountains and Southbank beach, with new events, installations and activities popping up around such as Heartbreak Hotel, the Museum of Broken Relationships and the Tunnel Of Love. Opening times vary. Most things are free entry. Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. Nearest tube: Waterloo or Embankment. (For Metro Girl’s post on the Tunnel Of Love, click here). For more information visit the Festival Of Love micro-site or the Tunnel Of Love information page.

• Now until 14 September : Digital Revolution

An immersive exhibition of art, design, film, music and video games exploring the future of the arts through digital. 11am-8pm. Tickets: £12.50. Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS. Nearest tube: Barbican or Moorgate. For more information, visit the Barbican website.

• Now until 28 September : London Wonderground

The London Wonderground Festival returns to the Southbank for a third year – an entertainment extravaganza in Jubilee Gardens, near the foot of the London Eye and by the Southbank Centre. It includes cabaret, children’s show, comedy, burlesque, funfair (NB: which returns after Udderbelly ends) and alfresco drinking. (For Metro Girl’s blog post on last year’s Wonderground, click here). Open all day until 11pm every night. Free to get in, but entry fee for shows. Nearest tube or train: Waterloo, Embankment or Westminster. For more information, visit the Wonderground website.

• Now until December : Bond In Motion

An exhibition of James Bond vehicles. Tickets – Adults: £14.50, Children: £9.50. Booking in advance highly recommend. London Film Museum, 45 Wellington Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 7BN. Nearest tube: Covent Garden or Temple. For more information, visit the London Film Museum website.

For a review of the play Let The Right One In, which closes on 30 August, click here.

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