The last bank holiday of the summer is just around the corner, bringing with it one final long weekend before autumn starts creeping in. If you’re lucky, that means three whole days of uninterrupted freedom. The question is, what will you fill them with?
From getting groovy with London’s queer community to celebrating Caribbean culture and escaping to Sicily over a long lunch, there’s more than enough to fill your weekend. Here’s our pick of the best things happening in and around London from August 28 to 31.
Hit up Body Movements, one of London’s best queer festivals
One of London’s biggest queer parties, Body Movements, returns to Southwark Park on August 30. This year the one-day festival boasts a stellar line-up of acts including the likes of Horse Meat Disco, Bashkka, Roza Terenzi and Faff. What’s more, for every ticket sold, the festival will donate a percentage to charity – more than £53,000 has been raised so far for London Trans+ Pride, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, Stonewall Housing, Gendered Intelligence and Medical Aid For Palestinians.
August 30; bodymovements.co.uk
Be part of the Tyler The Creator’s “earfquake” All Points East
All Points East has taken over Victoria Park for the final two weekends in August, and Tyler The Creator is headlining for two of the three days over the bank holiday weekend. He’s supported by more than 50 acts, including Rex Orange County, Turnstile and Mariah The Scientist on the Friday, and Daniel Caesar, Baby Keem and Dijon on the Saturday. On Sunday, Twenty One Pilots takes over the stage, with the likes of Wunderhorse, Ren and Gang of Youths playing in the run-up. Be quick if you want to attend the latter, because tickets are almost all sold out.
August 28–30; allpointseastfestival.com
Tune into jazz hits with Ronnie Scott’s at Battersea Park in Concert
Pack a picnic for an afternoon enjoying the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra in Battersea Park. The ensemble will play jazz classics from across the decades, supported by The Amy Winehouse Band, which will pay homage to 20 years of her classic Back to Black album.
August 31; batterseaparkinconcert.com
Celebrate the Caribbean community at Notting Hill Carnival
It’s the 60th anniversary of Notting Hill Carnival this year, which, needless to say, calls for bigger celebrations than ever. The annual celebration of Caribbean culture, music, food and history is Europe’s largest street party. As usual, Saturday is steel band competition day, while Sunday welcomes families and children, and Monday is reserved for grown-ups. Plot your route – as well as where to meet and, crucially, to use the loo – using the festival’s (official map)[https://nhcarnival.org/maps].
August 29–31; nhcarnival.org
Discover one of the summer’s hottest line-ups at Rally Festival
A collaboration between the founders of Gala Festival and Bird On The Wire Events, Rally is a one-day festival on Saturday in Southwark Park celebrating DIY culture and grassroots communities. This year’s headliner is Blood Orange (aka Dev Hynes), who will bring his experimental blend of alternative R&B, funk and synth-pop. He’s hand-picked the rest of the line-up, which includes Daniel Avery, Basic Chanel and Jump Source.
August 29; rallyrallyrally.co.uk
Pick up something special at Independent Label Market x N4 Makers Market
Throughout summer, Canada Water is hosting Round the Dock: a series of free flea markets, outdoor screenings, kids’ workshops and more by the water. The bank holiday weekend will see Independent Label Market – an organisation that brings indie record labels together to sell fresh vinyl – collaborate with N4 Makers’ Market to put on a celebration of independent culture. Browse stalls from artists, designers and local businesses selling everything from vinyl to ceramics, jewellery to illustrations, to the sounds of DJs.
August 29–30; canadawater.co.uk
Watch a film at Barbican’s outdoor cinema
The Barbican is hosting an array of outdoor cinema screenings of films and documentaries in its Sculpture Court throughout the second half of the month. Kick off long weekend celebrations on Thursday night with a viewing of Poetic Justice starring Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur. Then, on Friday, the institution is showing Hettie Macdonald’s queer rom com, Beautiful Thing, on the 30th anniversary of its release. On Saturday, moviegoers can enjoy Madonna and Rosanna Arquette in ’80s classic Desperately Seeking Susan, then, on Sunday, David Byrne fans can catch American Utopia, Spike Lee’s film of the Talking Heads frontman’s Broadway musical.
Until August 30. barbican.org.uk
Catch Maribou State’s feel-good vibes at Lido Festival
Originally scheduled for June, Lido festival was cancelled due to problems with the grass in Victoria Park. Following multiple heatwaves, it’s unlikely it has had much chance to recover, but nevertheless, the rescheduled event will take place at Victoria Park on Monday 31. Maribou State will headline as originally planned, this time with Kelis, Folamour and Theo Parrish and Moodymann in tow.
August 31; lidofestival.co.uk
Join Habibi Funk & Friends for an Open Air Weekender
Habibi Funk is a Berlin-based record label devoted to spotlighting an eclectic mix of music from the Arab world. It’s also the DJ alias of its founder, Jannis Stürtz, who started the project in 2015. After the mega success of a London day party last year, the team has returned to host a two-day festival of live shows and DJ sets in Hackney Bridge Garden on Saturday and Sunday. There’ll be performances and sets from artists and groups including duo Kazdoura, The Scorpios, Dar Disku Records, Machi and Zahra.
August 29 & 30; hackneybridge.org
Catch lunch with Casa Lawa at The Hoxton
Beloved technicolour Sicilian guesthouse and creative residency Casa Lawa has popped up at The Hoxton for a string of long lunch clubs this month. The last one is on Saturday, August 29, when the team will be rustling up the flavours of the southern Italian island. Arrive hungry for arancini filled with green olive and provolone; stone bass crudo; Sutton Hoo chicken with peppers agrodolce; and pasta alla norma with ricotta and rosemary oil. Don’t have time for a sprawling lunch? Pop into The Hoxton’s lobby to grab Casa Lawa’s mortadella sarnie.
August 29; thehoxton.com
Enjoy a Banana Leaf Feast at Hoppers
Line your stomach while simultaneously polishing your halo with a ticket to Hoppers chef and co-founder Karan Gokani’s annual Banana Leaf Feast at Hoppers on August 30, when £5 from every ticket sold will be donated to the Feeding the Future charity. Inspired by the Keralan festival Onam, the abundant lunchtime celebration will see guests served a generous, colourful spread of Keralan dishes including plantain and coconut curry; pumpkin and cowpea dry curry; and drumstick sambhar – a classic, aromatic South Indian lentil stew made with tender moringa pods, pigeon peas, tamarind and spices.
August 30; hopperslondon.com
Join the Pie Party at Quince
On Monday 31, superstar baker Anna Higham is bringing her annual Pie Party back for a third year. It’s a collaborative day when she invites guest bakers to showcase their favourite takes on the deliciously crusty dish, and this year Hai Lin Leung of Lucky Yu Bakery, Stroma Sinclair, Louis Thompson, Hugo Harrison, Chloe-Rose Crabtree of Bake Street, Tom Zahir of Decatur, and Sofia Vasquez of Hamblin Bread are all taking part. Expect everything from classic British bakes and Southern American cakes to Chinese-inspired pastry. Sweet treats will be on sale from 12pm until sold out.
August 31, @quince.bakery
Catch Tracey Emin’s Tate Modern retrospective before it closes
If you’ve been meaning to see Tracey Emin’s major Tate Modern retrospective, this bank holiday weekend is your last chance. A Second Life showcases four decades of the British artist’s work, which is essentially a display of her ability to turn experiences of love, sex, illness, grief and the body into countless different types of art, including painting, sculpture, video, textiles, neon signs and writing. It closes on Bank Holiday Monday.
Until August 31. tate.org.uk
Get stuck into arts and crafts at Two Temple Place
Two Temple Place is flinging open its doors for a free celebration of craft, bringing together makers, students and heritage specialists inside its rather extraordinary neo-Gothic mansion. On Saturday and Sunday, visitors can watch demonstrations of wood and stone carving, gilding, conservation and stained glass, with opportunities to try some of the techniques themselves. Students from City & Guilds of London art school will be showing their work throughout the weekend, while Saturday also sees Crafty Fox Market take over the building with a selection of independent makers and designers selling their wares. There are creative workshops too, plus a pay-what-you-can illustrated talk on the history of City & Guilds on Sunday evening.
August 27–30. twotempleplace.org
Sample Rambutan’s limited-edition Sri Lankan breakfast
Rock up to Rambutan early for a limited-edition Sri Lankan breakfast menu inspired by the morning meals founder Cynthia Shanmugalingam grew up eating. There’ll be hoppers, with classic egg and plain versions joining buttery roti, coconut and lemongrass dal, spicy fish red curry and egg curry. Plus, there’s set to be a breakfast toastie stuffed with Neal’s Yard cheese and sweet, fiery seeni sambol, as well as fresh watermelon juice, mango Mimosas, acharu-spiced Bloody Marys and mutta kopi – a combination of egg and coffee spiked with arrack.
August 25–31. @rambutan_ldn
