Things to do this week is sponsored by Hijingo.
All week
STONE AGE HACKNEY: The Neanderthals and the Stone Age are the subject of the current exhibition at Hackney Museum, which explores what the local area was like during this period, and why Hackney is one of the most important archaeological sites from the era. You've only got until Saturday to see it. FREE, until 22 July
THE BIG CITY: Also closing soon is The Big City, a Guildhall Art Gallery exhibition celebrating artists who paint London on a large scale. See some of the biggest artworks depicting the capital, and other pieces in the Gallery's collection, some of which aren't usually on public display. Entry is 'pay what you can'. Until 30 July
BBC PROMS: Make the most of the first full week of BBC Proms 2023, with our guide to tickets, promming, highlights and everything else you need to know. Top picks this week include Beethoven's Fifth Symphony at the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday, and family-friendly Horrible Histories shows on Saturday. Until 9 September
SUMMER BY THE RIVER: Free open-air festival Summer by the River is back, located between London Bridge and Tower Bridge on the south side of the Thames. It's worth perusing the programme to see what's on — this week's events include a screening of Puss in Boots on Tuesday, and live choir performances on Wednesday. FREE, until September
BUCKINGHAM PALACE: The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace are now in their annual summer opening, inviting the public to go inside areas including the Throne Room, White Drawing Room, Ballroom and Palace Garden. This year has the added bonus of a special display featuring the outfits worn by Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the Coronation back in May. Until 24 September
STARCHITECTS: One of art critic's picks of the best exhibitions to see this month is Herzog & de Meuron at Royal Academy of Arts, which is open now. It shines a spotlight on architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron, who designed and constructed the extension to Tate Modern and, more recently, new additions to the Royal College of Art in Battersea, and is a chance to see some of their other projects across the world. Until 15 October
PUB OF THE WEEK: Telegraph Hill's got a new boozer in the shape of the Earl of Derby, a fine looking freehouse serving local ales and organic wines — with Gengelly's manning the kitchen, turning out the likes of Sussex pork chop with Tuscan braised beans, and Yorkshire Tea ice cream.
EAT OF THE WEEK: We're sticking with pubs for this; posh Kentish Town boozer the Parakeet (favoured by Jay Rayner no less) recently launched its inaugural bar menu, with head chef Ben Allen overseeing a cornucopia of plates including homemade trout roll, smoke chicken hot dog, and beef tartare miang. Perfect soakage for all the delicious wines.
DAY TRIP OF THE WEEK: Good views? Excellent plants? Somewhere to tire the kids out? That'd be Riverhill Himalayan Gardens, a small but worthwhile private garden on the edge of Sevenoaks in Kent. As its name suggests, it's perched on a hill, so offers SPECTACULAR views over Kent and beyond — just be aware that it's a bit of a steep walk to get there.
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS: If your kids finish school this week, or in the next couple of weeks, start browsing our guide to things to do in London over the summer holidays. We've picked exhibitions, theatre shows, events and free things to do for all ages.
Monday 17 July
ART DECO HOLLOWAY: Footprints of London guide Jane Parker leads a guided walk around the Holloway area, focusing on the Art Deco history. She points out interwar buildings you may never have noticed before, dating from a time when the area was a major shopping and entertainment destination. 11am-1pm
MENTAL HEALTH: To round off this year's Waterloo Festival, St John's church, together with the Mental Fight Club, host a unique participatory day of fun-filled creative exploration: singing, folk and jazz music, dance, and theatre and mask workshops. Their focus for the day is "finding acceptance in a place where difference is embraced". 2.30-8pm
CABARET & DRAG: Soho Downstairs at Soho Theatre hosts one-off show Cabaret & Drag Lab Sharing, which was put together by participants of the Cabaret & Drag Lab course with the help of cabaret and drag extraordinaire Me the Queen, over the course of 10 weeks. Expect glitter, lip-syncs, queer joy and plenty of dancing. 6.30pm
CHLOE PETTS: The cream of London's comedy crop is preparing to migrate north to Edinburgh, and Chloe Petts is no exception. Catch a preview of her Edinburgh show, If You Can't Say Anything Nice — a follow up to last year's show — at Pleasance Theatre in Islington. 7.40pm
PUB QUIZ: As always, Wembley's White Horse holds its Monday night pub quiz. It's £2 entry per person, and your team could win a £50 bar tab. 8pm-10pm
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 18 July
WEMBLEY PARK TOUR: Take a free guided tour around Wembley Park, led by Julian Tollast. He's Head of Masterplanning and Design for property developer Quintain, and has been working on Wembley Park since 2005, so is able to share some lesser-known facts and details about the regeneration of the area. FREE, 3pm
OUTDOOR THEATRE: Take the kids along to Bartlett Park next to Poplar Union for an outdoor family theatre performance of The Promise, based on Nicola Davies’ children's book of the same name. Music and puppetry are used in the show, which is aimed at age 6+. 6pm
FOLK NIGHT: It's Folk of the Roundtable at Matchstick Piehouse in Deptford tonight, where musicians gather, well, round a table to crank out some folk tunes. If you've got a banjo/fiddle etc handy, you can join in — otherwise just come to soak up the tunes with a pint. FREE, 6.30pm-10.45pm
EVERYDAY SHAKESPEARE: To mark the 400th anniversary of the publication of William Shakespeare’s First Folio, father and son David and Ben Crystal are at the British Library to discuss their book Everyday Shakespeare: Lines for Life. It contains quotes from lesser-known Shakespeare works, along with historical context and trivia. 7pm-8.30pm
FLEABAG: Remember the heady, pre-Covid days of 2019, when everyone was after that black jumpsuit, hair was everything, and Fleabag live on stage was the hottest ticket in town? If you missed out seeing Phoebe Waller-Bridge at Wyndham's Theatre, Barbican Cinema hosts an NT Live screening of the show, recorded in the West End in 2019. 8.45pm
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Wednesday 19 July
ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL: Head to Royal Victoria Dock for four days of free theatre, circus, dance, music and digital art. Ensemble Festival explores themes of ecology, modern living, and reconnection, and includes two days of pop-up performances around City Hall and a two-day live performance programme across the weekend at Western Gateway, including aerial circus performances. FREE, 19-23 July
DOGGETT'S COAT AND BADGE: Yes, it's the name of a pub, but the Doggett's Coat & Badge is also an annual boat race taking place on the Thames between London Bridge and Chelsea. It's been going for over 300 years, with up to six young watermen participating each time. Here's the course, so you can pick a viewing point. FREE, 11.15am
PARENTS' PUB QUIZ: Parents and carers with little ones in tow are invited to the Bring Your Baby pub quiz at The Plough in East Dulwich. There are six rounds including a picture round, but the atmosphere is a bit more relaxed than regular pub quizzes, with breaks built in so you can feed and change your baby as needed. Find other events to take your baby to in London. 12pm-2.30pm
POETRY OPEN MIC: Poems Not Bombs is a free open mic poetry afternoon, where poets of all experiences and levels are welcome to share their work. Takes place at The Spice of Life in Soho. FREE, 3pm
JAWDANCE: Author Yomi Sode hosts Jawdance, a spoken word night at Rich Mix in Shoreditch. Guest acts this time around include Breis and Koko Brown, and there's an open mic session for anyone else who wants to have a go. 7pm
DAVID BOWIE CABARET: Wilton's Music Hall hosts a cabaret tribute to David Bowie, while supporting London-based charity Cabaret Vs Cancer. Ashes To Ashes combines song, dance, comedy, burlesque and performance to celebrate Bowie's many personas, finishing with an audience sing along. 7.30pm (repeated tomorrow)
Thursday 20 July
WOMEN'S WORLD CUP: Following on from their success at the Euros last summer, England's Lionesses head out to Australia and New Zealand to take part in the Women's Football World Cup. You can catch all the action at these screenings all around London — just remember that they take place earlier in the day than most football matches, due to the time difference. 20 July-20 August
BLACK VENUS: The latest exhibition at Somerset House is Black Venus, which aims to examine the historical representation and shifting legacy of Black women in visual culture. The work of 18 Black women and non-binary artists — primarily photographs — is on display, with each piece exploring the othering, fetishisation and reclamation of narratives around Black femininity. 20 July-24 September
SEAFOOD SUPPER CLUB: Chelsea Physic Garden continues its 350th anniversary celebrations with a Seafood Supper Club. For one night only, tuck into salmon tartare, seared scallops, fillet of halibut and chocolate tart while seated in the garden (or the marquee or cafe if it rains). 6.30pm-10pm
EAT THE SCREEN: Barbican Cinema's Eat The Screen series of films focusing on the food industry continues with a screening of 2021 Japanese film Come Back Anytime, which profiles Masamoto Ueda and his wife Kazuko, who've been serving soy-based ramen from their small Tokyo restaurant for over 40 years. 6.35pm
UKRAINE AID: The magical Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley is screening documentary Kyiv Unbroken, about the artistic response to the war with Russia. All funds raised through ticket sales will be used in support of Driving Aid Ukraine and British-Ukrainian Aid to help get aid to Ukraine and reduce human suffering and save lives. 7.45pm (film starts),
CRAYFISH BOIL: It's crayfish season dontcha know — and to celebrate, Bermondsey meadery Gosnell's is hosting a crayfish boil, which means a communal feast of crayfish, spicy sausage, corn and the sundry other Southern morsels — washed down with an ice cold mead or two. 7.30pm-10pm
LIFT LATES: For the first time, Lift 109 — the new elevator inside one of Battersea Power Station's chimneys — hosts Sundown Sessions. It's a chance to enjoy the views from 109m up, accompanied by a live DJ set and a cocktail. Might want to keep your dance moves in check though — we've been inside Lift 109 and it's not the most spacious setting. 8pm-10pm
Friday 21 July
HYPER JAPAN FESTIVAL: Love all things Japanese? Get yourself to Hyper Japan, a celebration of Japanese culture at Olympia London. Live performances, a market, food and drink stalls and a sake experience are all part of the fun, along with meet and greets with Japanese celebrities such as musician Miura Ayme and girl group Colorpointe. 21-23 July
MACBETH: Shakespeare's "Scottish play" gets a new airing at the Globe Theatre. 21 July-28 October
FESTIVAL OF INDUSTRY: Enfield's Dugdale Arts Centre opens its Festival of Industry, which celebrates the area's industrial past over the coming months. It'll include exhibitions, art commissions, theatre productions and more. 21 July-March 2024
BEYONCE EXPERIENCE: Gather the Beyhive! Club Renaissance is a Beyoncé-themed club night/experience taking place at Between the Bridges. It's hosted by Beyoncé drag queen Aaron Carty, with a live DJ, staged choreography, and plenty of Beyoncé tunes. Ring The Alarm! 7pm
FRIDAY NIGHT FUNNIES: The Chickenshed in Highbury hosts a bumper night of laughs from Resistance Comedy, with acts including Junior Booker, Marcus Tisson, Blank Peng, Big Rich and Nicole Harris. 7pm-10pm
BRIAN BILSTON: Poet Brian Bilston is at the Pleasance Theatre to talk about his latest book Days Like These: An Alternative Guide to the Year in 366 Poems. With 200,000 Twitter followers, but writing under a pseudonym, Bilston himself remains something of a mystery — the Banksy of poetry, if you will. 7.30pm
Saturday 22 July
ICE WEEKEND: Once a year, the London Canal Museum in King's Cross invites the public down into its Victorian ice well (Sunday only). Descend 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. 22-23 July
THEATRE ON KEW: See Alice in Wonderland performed in the open air at Kew Gardens throughout the summer holidays. Theatre on Kew brings together a cast of seven for a 70-minute show for ages 5+. 22 July-28 August
PERFORM IN THE PARK: Alternatively, head to Coram's Fields in Bloomsbury for all your family-friendly theatre needs. Perform in the Park has live performances every day, including The Three Billy Goats Gruff, and Mermaids & Pirates, in a specially-built air-conditioned theatre. 22 July-28 August
THOMAS J PRICE: The V&A opens a new exhibition dedicated to sculptor Thomas J Price, the creator of Reaching Out on The Line sculpture trail, and the sculpture of a man checking his smartphone near Old Street roundabout, among others. FREE, 22 July- May 2024
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-12.30pm
BRUNCH: There's a new brunch in town, dished up at Clerkenwell's Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings — with the likes of Portland crab pretzel rolls and salt beef and Stornoway black pudding hash. A bottomless booze option is also on the table, because brunch. 10am-4pm every Sat and Sun
DAN WHITLAM: South London spoken word poet and rapper Dan Whitlam counts Fred Again and Arlo Parks among his fans, and tonight he's at Camden's Jazz Cafe, for what's bound to be a memorable performance. 7pm
Sunday 23 July
BENGALI CULTURE FESTIVAL: Exhibitions, dance performances, poetry and talks all feature in the Bengali Cultural Festival, taking place at Rich Mix today. It's organised by South Asian cultural organisation Udichi Shilpi Gosthi UK and Bangladeshi organisation Sommilito Sangskritik Jote. FREE, 10am
BLACK NATIONAL GALLERY: Join Black History Walks for a walk around the National Gallery from a Black perspective. Look out for and learn about themany and varied Black presences in artworks dating from 1500-1900, what they meant at the time, and what they can tell us today. 11am-1pm
JENGA CHAMPIONSHIPS: Feeling competitive? Get yourself to Roof East in Stratford for the Jenga Championships. Prizes include an £800 holiday voucher and various vouchers for Westfield, so it's worth practising your block-sliding technique in advance. 1pm
NOISENIGHTS: As part of the noisenights series, the beer garden of Dalston's Speakeasy hosts tango band Tango Siempre (who you may have clocked on Strictly Come Dancing), as they perform authentic nuevo tango and Argentinian classical music. Doors 2.30pm, set starts 4pm
SHELDRAKE ON SHAKESPEARE: James Sheldrake used to be an English teacher. Now, he's preparing to take his podcast, Sheldrake on Shakespeare, to Edinburgh Festival — and you can catch the live preview show at Barons Court Theatre tonight. Expect an hour of anecdote, insight, performance and analysis about the works of Shakespeare — but in the form of a comedy show, rather than a lecture. 6pm
COMEDY: Kae Kurd, Larry Dean, Sarah Keyworth: three established comedians await to entertain you at Leicester Square's 99 Club tonight — be rude to say no really. 8.30pm-10.30pm
Museum treasure of the week
One of central London's smaller museums, which opened in the wake of the Covid pandemic, is the wonderful Bow Street Police Museum. Here, you can explore the history of the famous early police force, the Bow Street Runners. The museum's centrepiece is the row of old prison cells, which include exhibitions about the cast of characters who worked at the police station, and those who spent the night behind bars. See the museum's website for details of how to visit.
Good cause of the week
As the cost-of-living crisis continues to affect people across London, the national charity FoodCycle opens its 19th Project in the capital. Located at Togetherness Community Centre in Mitcham, the new centre launches on 20 July, and will welcome anyone who wants to come along for a free, three-course meal and friendly chat every Thursday at 6.30pm.
The charity is looking for local volunteers to help run the Project. And please do help spread the word if you're in the Mitcham area and know anyone who might be struggling or lonely, who might want to come along to the meal.
Details of the Mitcham FoodCycle here, where you'll also find information on the charity's other hubs.
