Things to do this week is sponsored by the Royal Horticultural Society.
All week
BALHAM COMEDY FESTIVAL: The Bedford is the place to head for laughs, as Balham Comedy Festival continues throughout the week. Maisie Adam, Stephen K. Amos, Kerry Godliman, Harry Hill and Alexandra Haddow are among the famous faces taking part. Until 20 July
FANGIRLS: Opening at the Lyric Hammersmith on Monday, Fangirls is an Australian comedy musical about a 14-year-old girl experiencing a concert of her favourite boyband in her home city. 15 July-24 August
AFTER SEX: An intimate new play about human connection — told almost exclusively through post-coital scenes — premieres at Dalston’s Arcola Theatre this week. After Sex by Siofra Dromgoole is a lyrical two-hander with dance-influenced movement direction that follows the trajectory of one couple embarking on a casual relationship. Tickets from £15. 16 July-3 August (sponsor)
THE LAST CARAVAGGIO: The National Gallery's display The Last Caravaggio showcases the last known work of Italian painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. It's the first time The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula has been on display in London for 20 years — and this week is your last chance to see it. FREE, until 21 July
GREAT ESCAPES: Also closing this week is The National Archives' current exhibition Great Escapes, about prisoners of war and civilians who were confined to internment camps during the Second World War. Some managed to escape physically, while others remained trapped but found freedom in creative endeavours such as art and theatre productions, or in writing letters to loved ones. FREE, until 21 July
SOMERSET HOUSE CONCERTS: The Somerset House Summer Series of open-air concerts continues all week, with Smino, The Amazons, Hania Rani, The Big Moon, Cory Henry, Hak Baker and the Patti Smith Quartet each taking their turn headlining a show in the courtyard. Until 21 July
FOOD MARKET OF THE WEEK: Mercato Metropolitano — who you'll know from their food markets in Elephant & Castle, Mayfair and Wood Wharf — have just opened their latest offering in Ilford, east London. One to bear in mind next time you're in the vicinity and feeling peckish.
PUB OF THE WEEK: Chiswick has a new pub from this Wednesday: the Hound is based in an old Victorian police station and describes itself as a 'modern day coaching inn'. Judging from the press shots, it's a splashy, countrified kinda joint with leather armchairs, posh pork scratchings and oysters as bar snacks, and a cocktail menu featuring its own delicious-looking take on the Pimm's summer cup.
Monday 15 July
BEN HART LIVE: Britain's Got Talent finalist, magician Ben Hart performs his latest show at Wilton's. He uses simple props and objects, as well as the audience members' own minds, to perform acts which seem to be impossible. 15-16 July
SAMBOURNE HOUSE TOUR: Take a guided tour of Sambourne House near Holland Park, the former family home of illustrator Linley Sambourne. View stained glass windows, furnishings, ceramics and wallpapers, including some from Japan, spread across five floors of the house. 11am
SHE'S BEEN AWAY: Croydon's David Lean Cinema screens She's Been Away, Peter Hall's 1989 film about the closure of a mental institution. It won five awards at the Venice Film Festival, including a Best Actress award for Peggy Ashcroft, who was from Croydon. 7pm
DIANA FRINGE PREVIEW: Drag, audience interaction and puppetry combine for Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story, a comedy theatre that's "as hilarious as it is tasteless" telling the story of Princess Diana in heaven. It sold out at Edinburgh Fringe last year and this is a chance to preview it before it returns to the Scottish capital this summer. 7.30pm
HAPPY MONDAYS COMEDY: Also offering previews of their Edinburgh Fringe shows are comedians Tony Law and Pete Heat, who headline this week's Happy Mondays Comedy at the Amersham Arms in New Cross. 8pm
MONDAYS IN LONDON: Looking for something else to do, today or any other week? Take a look at our guide to things to do in London on a Monday — we've gathered together live music venues, comedy and cabaret clubs which keep going on what is usually the quietest day of the week, along with guided walks and tours scheduled on a Monday, and a few special offers too.
Tuesday 16 July
THE FUNGARIUM: Artist and self-described 'mushroom nut' Jacqueline Freeman unveils her Fungarium — an exhibition of fungi-related drawings and paintings, at The Gallery at the Playroom in Archway. Over 30 artworks are on display, along with prints and cards available to buy. FREE, 16-21 July
GREEN STORYTELLING: Parents and carers with children under 5 are invited to the Garden Museum for a free storytelling and craft session. Hear the story Green by Nicola Davies and Emily Sutton, then create your own broccoli tree print inspired by the story. FREE, 10.30am-11.30am
CHARTERHOUSE GARDEN TOUR: Join a member of the garden team for a tour of the garden at the Charterhouse in Clerkenwell. Learn about the history of the building and its gardens, as well as work being undertaken to support biodiversity today. 1pm-2pm
WONDERS OF THE WORLD: Guildhall Library offers a free online talk about objects within the British Museum's collection relating to the Seven Wonders of the World. The Museum has the best-preserved sculptures from the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus and the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, as well as artefacts linked to the other wonders. FREE, 2pm-3pm
DULWICH WALKING TOUR: Join Footprints of London guide Richard Watkins for a walking tour around Dulwich. Starting at North Dulwich station, see how the area developed through the 19th century, when new houses, streets, church and park were built, seeing a range of building styles, and visiting an atmospheric graveyard and an iconic Victorian south London boozer as you go. 2.30pm-4.30pm
GO HA!HA! AT FUNNY PEOPLE: Local Ha!Ha! Lounge (which is local so long at you live near the World's End in Finsbury Park) debuts tonight, boasting an embarrassment of great comedians, including Lou Sanders and Will Stone. It's hosted by the equally hilarious Joz Norris. 8pm-11.45pm
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Discover medicinal plants from the desert, explore the unseen world of slime moulds, and feast your eyes on exquisite wildflower illustrations at The RHS Botanical Art & Photography Show 2024. It’s the final fortnight of this Saatchi Gallery exhibition — supported by Clive Christian Perfume — which brings together brand new works from around the globe.
Here, both the beauty and ingenuity of the natural world is celebrated. Each piece was selected on the basis of aesthetic appeal, scientific accuracy and technical skill — with leading artists and photographers representing the UK, Italy, Portugal, Romania, USA, South Africa, Taiwan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Japan competing for a coveted RHS medal.
You’ve got until 28 July to see all of the winners at Saatchi Gallery. Tickets start at just £5, and RHS members can see it for free! Book now.
Wednesday 17 July
PARADOX MUSEUM: 50 interactive exhibits and 25 rooms make up the Paradox Museum, a new venue opening on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge today. Reverse rooms, a giant kaleidoscope and a mirror maze are among the experiences. From 17 July
BOWIE CABARET: David Bowie is the inspiration for Ashes To Ashes, a cabaret night featuring song, dance, circus, and burlesque, raising money for cancer support charity Cabaret vs Cancer. Takes place at Wilton's. 17-18 July
THE BUSH COMEDY FESTIVAL: Big week for comedy fans: In addition to the Balham Comedy Festival (above) and various Edinburgh preview shows, The Bush Comedy Festival takes place at various venues around Shepherd's Bush. Sara Pascoe, Simon Amstell, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Grace Campbell, Morgan Rees, Desiree Burch, Paul Williams, Matt Forde, Sophie Duker are just some of the names taking part in 20 shows across four days. 17-20 July
ASTROPHYSICS FOR SUPERVILLAINS: Matt Bothwell — astronomer and author of Astrophysics for Supervillains — is at the Royal Institution for an event aimed at children aged 10+ and their families. Learn about the solar system, galaxies, the universe, and, most importantly, the answer to the question “which planet is entirely populated by robots?”. 6pm-7.15pm
TASTE OF BRITAIN: Refuel Bar and Restaurant at the Soho Hotel serves a special 'Taste of Britain' menu, focusing on seasonal native ingredients across four courses. Dishes include Portland crab and Nutbourne summer tomatoes, Poole Bay cockles and Beal’s Farm dried ham, and there's the option to add on a drinks pairing too. 6pm-10pm
STATION: Author and architecture expert Christopher Beanland is at Stanfords in Covent Garden to discuss his new book, Station, a whistlestop tour through 50 of the world's most remarkable stations, celebrating rail travel as a more environmentally alternative to flying and driving. Stations in LA, Madrid, Warsaw and even Disneyworld feature. 7pm-8.30pm
Thursday 18 July
DINOSAUR GARDEN: The Natural History Museum unveils its new Evolution Garden — or 'Dinosaur Garden' — outside its main entrance, inviting visitors to wend their way through sunken paths, along an immersive timeline of plants, geology, and representations of reptiles, birds and mammals. Oh, and it'll be home to a huge bronze cast of a dinosaur skeleton too. FREE, from 18 July
TWEEDY'S MASSIVE CIRCUS: If you've been past Cavendish Square recently, you'll have noticed that Underbelly Festival's back. This week's show is Tweedy's Massive Circus, starring Tweedy the Clown from Gifford's Circus and friends, who find themselves in a shrunken circus tent. Age 3+. 18-27 July
MINI GOLF: A colourful mini golf course is unveiled in Greenwich Peninsula today, with tickets costing a rather affordable £2 per person per game all summer long. Wild Swing Mini Golf was designed by Lee Baker and Catherine Borowski of Graphic Rewilding, and is decorated with wildflower motifs in a nod to the plants that once thrived in the pre-industrial waterways near Greenwich Marshes. Find it next to NOW Gallery. 18 July-29 September
LONDON'S VILLAGES: The former villages of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe are the focus of a free talk at Guildhall Library. Hear about a saintly doctor, a bunch of pirates, a prince from a Pacific island, and other stories of these riverside villages. Watch in person at Guildhall Library, or online. FREE, 2pm-3pm
GIN TOUR: The Museum of London Docklands offers a Gin Tour around the West End, telling the story of the 18th century Gin Craze and its impact on Londoners. Wander from the Dominion Theatre through the former slums of St Giles, Seven Dials, Bow Street and Drury Lane to a 16th century pub in Holborn, hearing about Hogarth’s Gin Lane, Covent Garden’s prostitutes and the 1814 Great Beer Flood as you go.3pm
KEATS HOUSE LATE: Keats House in Hampstead stays open later than usual giving you the chance to explore the poet's former home after hours. Visit the Hidden Histories of Keats House exhibition, or join a volunteer-led tour. 5pm-7pm
HABITAT LATE: Also open late tonight is the Design Museum, for an event celebrating its new Changing Spaces display, which marks 60 years of homeware brand Habitat. View the display, then hear a panel discussion around the phrase 'home is where the heart is' featuring representatives from the museum and from Habitat. 6.30pm-9pm
IMPROPERA: The world’s first improvising opera company, Impropera, are at Museum of the Order of St John in Clerkenwell, where they're going to use their surroundings and its history to cook up an entirely new opera from scratch. 6.30pm
Friday 19 July
HYPER JAPAN FESTIVAL: Love all things Japanese? Get yourself to Hyper Japan, a celebration of Japanese culture at Olympia London this weekend. Live performances, a market, food and drink stalls and a sake experience are all part of the fun. 19-21 July
RIVER STAGE: The Rambert Dance Company curates this weekend's programme at the open-air (and free!) River Stage outside the National Theatre. Drop by throughout the weekend for dance performances and workshops including an excerpt from the Peaky Blinders stage adaptation. FREE, 19-21 July
BBC PROMS: We can't even type those words without Land of Hope and Glory firing up on the record player inside our heads — but that's Last Night of the Proms, and there's almost two months' worth of live music to enjoy before that, beginning tonight. For all your info on tickets, highlights, promming and the like, peruse our guide to the BBC Proms 2024. 19 July-14 September
CALL THE MIDWIFE: Take a guided walk around Poplar, including the real-life locations with links to memoir and TV drama Call The Midwife. Walk past the Lansbury Estate, Poplar High St and the site of Poplar Workhouse, and St Frideswide’s Mission House — aka Nonnatus House. 2pm
ZOO NIGHTS: Once again, London Zoo stays open late for the adults-only Zoo Nights, a chance to visit the animals at a time when the zoo is usually closed. Learn more about the inhabitants with a special programme of talks, take part in interactive games, or enjoy food from the market or a drink from the pop-up bars. 6pm-10pm
BLUES KITCHEN BIRTHDAY: The Shoreditch branch of Southern American restaurant and bar The Blues Kitchen celebrates its 15th anniversary with a party. House bands from across the years including The Beekays — The Blues Kitchen’s very first house band — and all-female brand She’s Got Brass perform until the early hours, with confetti drops, free shots and giveaways, and the usual food and drink menus available. 8pm
PARK NIGHTS: Been to this year's Serpentine Pavilion yet? It's open late for Park Nights, a series of artistic lates throughout the summer — tonight it's an evening of poetry by writers including Anne Boyer, Don Mee Choi and Denise Riley. 8pm
PETE & BAS: Grandfathers of UK drill, Pete & Bas team up with rising grime star Window Kid for a night of explosive music at Market Place Peckham. DJs Monaghan, Joe Milli and GAIA keep the beat going all night. 10pm-3am
Saturday 20 July
ICE WEEKEND: Once a year, the London Canal Museum in King's Cross holds an ice weekend, celebrating the space where ice was stored before the days of refrigeration. Go down into its Victorian ice well (Sunday only). descending by ladder into the underground space where ice used to be stored, and take part in all manner of ice-themed activities back above ground. 20-21 July
HENRY VIII'S JOUST: Cheer on your favourite knight — or even a king — at Henry VIII's Joust at Hampton Court Palace. The recreation of a Tudor event from 1533 sees daredevil tricks performed on horseback, along with falconry displays and food and drink stalls. 20-21 July
POLISH UPRISING: A new exhibition at Bush House on Strand recounts the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, which saw the city's inhabitants rebel against the Nazi occupation. The display focuses on the personal stories of the fighters involved in this terrible battle — and the civilians caught up in the conflict, which saw an estimated 200,000 deaths. FREE, Mon-Fri, until 8 Aug
LONDON E-PRIX: All-electric vehicles take over the area around Royal Docks and ExCeL for the London E-Prix all weekend. The track partially goes inside the ExCeL Centre itself, and there's a fan village, live music and kids' area for spectators. 20-21 July
ROUGH MAGIC: Opening just in time for the summer holidays, Rough Magic is a family-friendly show set in the world of Shakespeare's characters, specifically Macbeth's Weird Sisters. Audience members are invited to dress as their favourite mythical creature (think fairies, witches, ghosts, monsters) for the show at Shakespeare's Globe. Recommended for age 5+. 20 July-24 August
CART MARKING CEREMONY: One of London's quirkier events is the Ceremony of Cart Marking, a 500+ year old tradition by the Worshipful Company of Carmen. See a collection of handcarts, horses and carts, steam-driven vehicles, electric, solar-powered and hydrogen vehicles on display at Guildhall, with Livery Masters and Court Assistants in their official robes, chains and hats. FREE, 10am-3pm
CRICK DISCOVERY DAY: Scientific institute The Crick beside St Pancras station invites the public inside for a family-friendly Discovery Day, including hands-on experiments, science shows, and a chance to interview a scientist. FREE, 11am-4pm
JAZZ AND FOOD FESTIVAL: Greenwich Peninsula holds a free-entry Jazz & Food Festival. In addition to live music and New Orleans-inspired food stalls, there's a vinyl market and a children's drumming workshop, among other activities throughout the day. 11am-7pm
RIVERSIDE WALK: The walk from Richmond to Twickenham along the Thames is one of the most rewarding, with historic houses, riverside pubs and lots of leafiness. Guide Laura Agustin leads a tour along this beautiful stretch, including a pub stop. Noon-3.30pm
LATIN MUSIC FESTIVAL: Taking place at Walpole Park in Ealing, Latino Life In The Park claims to be the UK's largest Latin American music festival, with five stages of live music throughout the day — including Colombian Independence Day celebrations on the main stage. Noon-10pm
Sunday 21 July
HOT AIR BALLOONS: Cross your fingers for weather good enough to allow dozens of hot air balloons to take to the skies in the early hours. The Lord Mayor's Hot Air Balloon Regatta was cancelled due to high winds two Sundays ago — if it goes ahead today, the flotilla takes off from Battersea Park in the early hours of the morning, and is a sight well worth seeing. FREE, from 5am
PETER AND THE WOLF: Introduce children to classical music and instruments at Opera Holland Park's family-friendly performances of Prokofiev's composition Peter and the Wolf. Storytelling, dance and spoken word also feature in the show, which lasts just 30 minutes and takes place in Opera Holland Park's auditorium. 10am/1pm
LORD OF THE RINGS: Not feeling Sunday? Miss it entirely by heading to the Prince Charles Cinema for a screening of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Extended Editions. It's all three films, shown back to back, in a marathon screening lasting more than 12 hours. 10.30am-11pm
DEEP DIVE: The newly-opened Museum of Homelessness in Finsbury Park now has an events programme up and running, including the monthly Deep Dive, a current affairs programme about homelessness hosted by the museum's directors Matt and Jess, along with special guests — full details of this month's edition TBC at time of writing. FREE, 11am-12pm
SOHO VILLAGE FETE: A tug of war between the police and fire brigade, a best in show where pooches must dress like royalty, and a music stage are all part of the Soho Village Fete. But surely the highlight is the Soho Waiters' Race, which sees serving staff from different restaurants legging it around the area while balancing a bottle of fizz, wine glass and ashtray on their tray. FREE, 12pm-6pm
JU DOU: Victor Fan from King's College London introduces Zhang Yimou's 1990 film Ju Dou, at the Garden Cinema in central London this afternoon. The erotic, fairy tale-like story of a woman married to a murderous dye mill owner, has been likened to the fantasy worlds of Powell and Pressburger. 1.30pm
CLERKENWELL: Sometimes called 'London's first suburb', Clerkenwell is an endlessly fascinating part of town. Join London on the Ground tours for an historical walk around the area, and a chance to see the actual Clerk's Well. 2.30pm
THIRD WHEELIN': Folky vocals, lush piano and multi-instrumental talents are promised from jazz trio Third Wheelin', who are performing classic jazz standards, plus their own compositions, at ArtHouse Crouch End this evening. 6.15pm
