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Londonist partner content: bringing you the best events, offers and more around the city.
Have a flower-filled day out at this Garden Festival
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For six days next month, an historic London palace becomes even more spectacular, thanks to RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.
Hear from an impressive range of expert speakers on all manner of garden and horticulture topics, across several stages. BBC Gardener's World presenter Arit Anderson talks sustainable gardening, floral designer Jonathan Moseley offers tips on growing colourful summer blooms, and 'The Cloud Gardener' Jason Williams shows you how to grow a garden on patios, balconies and alleyways — and later turns his attention to making our towns and cities greener.
No garden? No problem! The Houseplant Market is full of indoor gardening gurus helping you to green up whatever space you have, and elsewhere you'll find 200+ shopping stalls selling plants and home decor items. Prefer to simply enjoy the results of other people's hard work? The festival is home to more than 20 ready-designed gardens for you to wander through, on a whole range of themes, from the natural landscape of the US state of Oregon, to Alan Partridge (yes, really!).
That's just the start, at a festival which also includes RHS allotments, an area dedicated to roses, a Floral Marquee, live music, a street food market, children’s activities and loads more.
RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival takes place 1-6 July and is family-friendly, with free tickets for under-16s. Tap the blue button for more info and to book your tickets before they sell out.
Disco fever hits Battersea Park
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Sequins and dance moves at the ready — Battersea Park becomes the ultimate disco destination on Saturday 23 August. Let the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and special guest singers transport you to Studio 54, reawakening disco classics with a symphonic twist under the open sky. Expect dancing, BYO picnics, and fabulous food and drink. Bank holiday weekends don’t get groovier than this…
Family fun in a secret garden
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London’s oldest botanic garden has lots of special events for young ones this summer. Head to the hidden gem that is Chelsea Physic Garden during the school holidays for pond exploration, bee & bug hunts, craft activities, chocolate workshops and a Wizard of Oz immersive theatre experience. Plus, standard entry includes not one but two family trails for you to follow.
Our show of the week
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The Bridge Theatre’s immersive production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is back — and you can save up to 49% on tickets, if you book by 29 June. Follow the story on foot, as you encircle a central stage upon which magic and revelry unfold. Expect aerial acrobatics, pop music and mayhem aplenty.
A slice of social history
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What was it like to start a feminist bookshop in Thatcher’s Britain? Find out with this fascinating memoir by one of its founders, Jane Cholmeley. A Bookshop of One’s Own charts the story of the London institution that was the Silver Moon Bookshop, which became Europe’s biggest women’s bookshop, hosting literary stars like Margaret Atwood, Maya Angelou and Angela Carter.
Our guide to London’s urban beaches
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Your nearest beach might be closer than you realise. From Walthamstow-on-Sea to the Costa Del Croydon, this summer there are plenty of London pop-ups where you can feel the sand between your toes. Expect paddling, penny sweets and no shortage of deckchairs for sunbathing (don’t forget the sun cream!).
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