Things to do this weekend is sponsored by The Brentford Project.
All weekend
PUB IN THE PARK: Food and music festival Pub in the Park pitches up in Chiswick. Scouting for Girls, Busted and Jools Holland are all on the eclectic music line-up over the three days, with a chef demo stage, fire pit, artisan food market and pop-up bars taking care of the refreshment. 28-30 June
FUSE INTERNATIONAL: For 10 days, performing arts festival FUSE International takes over Kingston, with a programme of music, theatre, dance, comedy, visual arts, spoken word, circus and more. Highlights this weekend include family-friendly circus show Little Dragons, and a variety night of climate comedy. Browse the full programme for details. 28 June-7 July
BST HYDE PARK: BST Hyde Park is back, bringing huge music names to the pop-up festival site in Hyde Park. It begins this weekend with SZA headlining Saturday, and Kings of Leon on Sunday. Morgan Wallen, Robbie Williams and Shania Twain are among performers over the coming fortnight. From 29 June
INDEPENDENT CERAMICS MARKET: Over 90 ceramic artists including current students, up-and-coming graduates, and established ceramicists from various studios exhibit and sell their creations at the Independent Ceramics Market at Abney Public Hall in Stoke Newington. 29-30 June
EEL PIE ISLAND: The mysterious art studios on Twickenham's Eel Pie Island open to the public for the weekend, giving you the chance to peruse handmade ceramics, oil paintings, jewellery and the like. Though the island itself is open to visit anytime, the studios — shrubbery-ensconced huts festooned with headless mannequins, skeletons in cages, and other forms of screwball sculptures — are usually kept private. 29-30 June (also 6-7 July)
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY: One of our favourite annual exhibitions, Wildlife Photographer of the Year ends its 59th incarnation at the Natural History Museum at the end of this weekend. See photos of animals and the natural world taken by photographers all over the globe, including the overall winners. It's likely to be busy this weekend, so book in advance. Until 30 June
WHY WOMEN GROW: Last chance to see Why Women Grow, an exhibition at the Garden Museum, telling the stories of women who have been interviewed for Alice Vincent's Why Women Grow podcast, about what gardening means to them. Until 30 June
LONDON FESTIVAL OF ARCHITECTURE: We're in the final weekend of this year's London Festival of Architecture, but there's still plenty to see and do. Hear a Sikh and Punjab history of Hampton Court Palace, visit an 18th-century mansion house not normally open to the public, attend West Hendon Carnival... or catch one of the exhibitions or displays you've been meaning to see all month. Until 30 June
TREASURE HOUSE FAIR: Art, antiques and design pieces — each carefully vetted by a panel of independent experts — are being sold by specialist dealers at the Treasure House Fair, taking place in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. 27 June-2 July
INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL: Along with venues in Birmingham, Manchester and Yorkshire, London hosts an Indian film festival, showcasing Indian and South Asian premieres. This weekend, the programme includes the world premieres of documentary Tight: The World of Indian Bodybuilding, and Before Nikkah, about two British Pakistanis who go on a blind date, as they prepare for a prospective arranged marriage. 26 June-7 July
SPITALFIELDS MUSIC FESTIVAL: Venues around east London host performances for the opening weekend of Spitalfields Music Festival. Join in with renditions of Fleetwood Mac's biggest hits under the guidance of an expert vocal leader (Saturday), or catch cutting-edge classical ensemble Manchester Collective performing at Village Underground in Shoreditch (Sunday). Other highlights this weekend include guided walking tours around De Beauvoir and the Isle of Dogs, with events continuing into next week. 27 June-10 July (sponsor)
EUROS: By the time this weekend rolls around, the Group Stage of the Euros will be over, and the final 16 continue their battle for victory in matches from Saturday onwards (two matches each day on both Saturday and Sunday this week). At time of writing we don't know all the teams going forward, but these London bars, pubs and other venues are likely to be screening all of the Euros action. Until 14 July
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Enjoy a free waterside cinema, floating bands and more
Floating musicians, classic car boot sales and an al fresco cinema by the canal are on the summer line-up at The Brentford Project in west London.
The Brentford Project — a stunning new waterside development by Ballymore — is already in full summer mode! Saturday 29 June sees Festival on the Water, where you can spend the day perusing market stalls, indulging in pop-up food and drink, and dancing to bands playing on a floating stage! There's also a chic car boot sale courtesy of Duke of London, where you can snaffle up vintage clothing, automobilia, artwork and vinyls — sold from classic cars and supercars!
Then, from 1 July-31 August, Everyman on the Water pitches up with its free waterside cinema screen, showing the Wimbledon tennis action from 1-14 July, followed by a series of Hollywood blockbuster hits and family faves. Oh, and it's totally free!
Get stuck into all these free activities and plenty more this summer, at The Brentford Project.
Saturday 29 June
DRINK, DEATH & DEBAUCHERY: The Foundling Museum offers a guided walk through Bloomsbury and the West End, focusing on the debauchery of 18th-century London, including the gin craze of the 18th century, and the story of William Hogarth’s Gin Lane. Gallows, plague pits and prostitution also feature. 11am-1pm
HOMES OF THE FUTURE: What will the homes of the future look like? The Grant Museum of Zoology holds a workshop for all ages, where you can get involved in designing homes which, instead of destroying habitats, help humans to live alongside wildlife more peacefully — think an aardvark tunnel in the basement, or a rainforest in the back garden. FREE, 11am-2pm
ART/MAGIC/LORE: Art, magic and folklore take centre stage in a day of talks and discussions at Conway Hall, led by London Fortean Society. Hear about the Suffragettes who saved Morris dancing, and a Leap Day tradition featuring a circle of bronze mushrooms around the Square Mile. 11am-6pm
PRIDE IN LONDON: Pride in London is the capital's biggest LGBTQ+ party. Some 30,000 participants and 300 floats are expected to take part in the procession from Hyde Park Corner to Trafalgar Square, with stages featuring live performances dotted around the West End. Even if you're not attending, expect central London to be VERY busy (and colourful!) today, with road closures in place to allow for the parade. FREE, from 12pm
TAYLOR SWIFT DRAG BRUNCH: OXBO Bankside hosts a one-off Taylor Swift Drag Brunch, headlined by drag queen, TikTok superstar and die-hard Swiftie, Sophia Stardust. Live performances of her top hits and Swift-themed bingo are on the programme, with themed cocktails — including the Fresh Blonde, Bad Blood and Champagne Problems — available. 12.30pm-3pm
TEA-QUILA PARTY: Celebrate all things Mexican at Mr Fogg's Residence in Mayfair, which throws a Tea-Quila Party. To the soundtrack of a live Mariachi band, tuck into two Patrón Tequila cocktails, a shot of tequila, nibbles, nachos, and bottomless empanadas. 1.01pm-3.45pm
THE GIANT KILLERS: Theatre production The Giant Killers tells the true story of a group of Lancashire mill workers who defied all odds to become the first working-class team in the country to play in the FA Cup. Today's your last chance to see it at Wilton's Music Hall. 2.30pm/7.30pm
CANDLELIGHT CLUB: Travel back to the 1920s with The Candlelight Club, a speakeasy-style event celebrating the glamour of the Jazz Age. The Summer Ball takes place in a south London ballroom, with live jazz music, saucy burlesque performances and tarot card reading, hosted by Champagne Charlie. From 7pm
CONNECTIONS 2024: The National Theatre's Connections 2024 festival shines a spotlight on young people in theatre. 10 youth theatre and school groups have been selected to perform new plays on the Dorfman stage at the National Theatre, spanning topics including neurodiversity, cancel culture and mental health. It's a bargain too — tickets are £5 per performance, or £8 for two performances in the same evening. 7pm/8.30pm
LAUGH FOR LEUKEMIA: Comedian Nick Mohammed brings his beloved alter ego back for one final performance of his show, The Very Best & Worst of Mr. Swallow, in aid of Blood Cancer UK. Takes place at Bloomsbury Theatre. 7.30pm
GAYLI: London Irish Centre gets in on the Pride action by throwing a Gaylí — a completely inclusive take on a ceilidh, with live music by traditional Irish band Shanvaghera and Irene Martin calling the steps. 8pm
Sunday 30 June
SUNDAY FUNDAY: Looking for things to do in London today or any other Sunday? We've compiled a guide to things that happen in the capital on a Sunday, so you can find something to keep you busy, whoever you're with and whatever your budget.
LONDON GAMING MARKET: The London Gaming Market is back at the Royal National Hotel in Russell Square, where you can buy and trade retro video games, board games and merchandise. Note that there's a new ticketing structure to previous events, with different opening and closing times, and no door ticket sales until 3pm. 10.30am-4.30pm
BOOKMARK EMBROIDERY: Take the kids along to the Garden Museum in Lambeth for a free embroidered bookmark workshop. Learn how to use different stitches to embroider floral designs onto felt. For ages 5-12 — all children must be accompanied by a parent or carer. FREE, 11am-12.30pm
CANADA DAY: Trafalgar Square will be awash with poutine, Mounties and maple leaves for London's annual Canada Day celebration. Meet members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, take part in interactive hockey-themed activities courtesy of the National Hockey League, watch live music on stage, and tuck into Canadian-inspired dishes such as poutine. FREE, 12pm-8pm
SPIDER-MAN CONCERT: 2018 film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is shown on a huge HD screen at Southbank Centre, accompanied by music from the score and soundtrack performed by a live orchestra, electronic musicians and a DJ. Age 7+. 2.30pm/6.30pm
SHORT FILM SCREENINGS: Southbank Centre screens a programme of short films telling the stories of migrants and refugees, curated by actress and writer Sarah Agha. Each title has been written and directed by a refugee filmmaker or draws on real life experience, and the screening is followed by a Q&A hosted by Sarah Agha with the filmmakers, live on stage. 3pm
BIYI BÁNDÉLÉ: Brixton House hosts A Night To Remember Biyi Bándélé, in memory of the Nigerian novelist, playwright and filmmaker. The evening celebrates the launch of his final novel, Yorùbá Boy Running, completed just before he died in 2022. 5pm
MARINA SENA: Brazilian singer Marina Sena gives a live performance at the Jazz Cafe in Camden, accompanied by her full band and dancers. Expect a blend of samba, funk, carioca, trap, reggae and axé — and book soon, as her last London show was a sell-out. 7pm
PRIDE BINGO: See out Pride weekend with a Pride-themed bingo night at The Table in Battersea. Try your luck winning prizes at the bingo, before a guest performance by drag act Carmen Emissions. There are prizes for the best dressed, and the venue's happy hour takes place for the two hours prior to the event, so worth getting there early if you want to make a night of it. 7pm-10pm
