All weekend

PLAYTOPIA: Open at Evolution Battersea for two days, Playtopia is an event for children and their families, packed with games and other fun activities to get stuck into. Aimed at 4-13 year olds, it features inflatables, street dance sessions, science workshops, educational animal experiences, a soft play zone, Paw Patrol and Bluey shows, and a colourful carousel. 3-4 August

OLYMPICS: Archery, basketball, canoe slalom, fencing, hockey and surfing are among the sports being contested at the Paris 2024 Olympics this weekend. Keep up to date with the action from across the Channel at these Olympic screenings at venues around London — many of them free. Until 11 August

SYMPHONIC HORIZONS: Science and orchestral music combine in Symphonic Horizons at the Royal Opera House. Professor Brian Cox examines cosmic ideas and links between cosmology and music by Mahler, Strauss and Sibelius, accompanied by the Britten Sinfonia conducted by Daniel Harding. Until 4 August

60 YEARS OF HABITAT: The Design Museum currently has a free display celebrating 60 years of homeware design brand Habitat. See how design influences affect our daily lives, and view archive pieces from the company's history. FREE, until 11 August

SUMMER EXHIBITION: You've only got a couple more weeks to see this year's Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, one of the highlights of the London art calendar. The exhibition displays works by Nicola Turner, Clare Woods, Ibiye Camp... and comedian Joe Lycett. Until 18 August

BRAINIAC LIVE: Brainiac Live is at the Marylebone Theatre, with science experiments and demonstrations performed live on stage. Expect loud bangs, flashing lights, smoke and haze effects. Recommended for age 5+. Until 24 August

CAMDEN FRINGE: Who needs Edinburgh when you've got Camden Fringe? The festival offers new and experimental theatre and comedy performances by emerging artists across north London, with 300 shows on 2024's programme, including more than 20 productions this weekend alone. Namaste Blisters is a comedy take on the nature of yoga, Clean Again is a one-woman play about a night out taking a dark turn, and With A Bang performs a post-mortem on a former relationship. See the programme for what's on when. Until 25 August

FRANKIE GOES TO BOLLYWOOD: New musical show Frankie Goes to Bollywood is at Southbank Centre, telling the true stories of British women navigating the glitzy world of Bollywood. Expect ornate costumes, impressive sets, and live music and dancing. 31 July-18 August

INSIDE OUT FESTIVAL: Inside Out is a month-long celebration of culture and the arts in the City of Westminster, featuring plenty of family-friendly events and activities. Free walking tours by the Westminster Guides Lecturers Association, a Family Day at Tate Britain, and a concert by Jasmine Kahlia are among this weekend's events. FREE, until 31 August

TAYLOR SWIFT EXHIBITION: Keen to see the V&A's new Taylor Swift | Songbook Trail, showcasing an array of the singer's outfits and instruments? This weekend would be a good time to do so, before Swifties descend on London for the second series of Eras Tour shows at Wembley (15-20 August). FREE, until 8 September

Saturday 3 August

WILLIAM MORRIS WALK: Join the William Morris Society for a guided walk from Hammersmith to All Saints' Church Putney, led by William Morris Historian Peter Walker. It ends with a tour of the Morris & Co. stained glass at All Saints — the most extensive glazing scheme by the company in any London church. 11am

ARCADE STREET PARTY: The first street party at new Barbican pop-up Our Street takes place today. The Immersive Arcade Street Party is led by comic art duo, Hunt & Darton, who create a DIY arcade experience which lets you become the game, including human Pac-Man, Street Fighter and Space Invaders. Suitable for ages 10+. FREE, 11am/12pm/1pm/2pm

BLACK UNITY BIKE RIDE: Now in its fifth year, the Black Unity Bike Ride is a 17-mile ride across London, encouraging unity and empowerment among the Black community. It begins in Leyton and ends in Dulwich — and Somerset House is one of the stops along the way where riders can rest and get refreshments. There's also live music and family entertainment here throughout the day. FREE, 11am-8pm

PIRATE ACADEMY: Children's author Justin Somper's new book Pirate Academy is the focus of a day of activities on board the Golden Hinde. Somper himself leads the session for 8-12 year olds, taking them into the future and a new age of piracy. After that, the crew of the ship demonstrate how to load the cannon and raise the anchor. 11am/2pm

SUMMER FESTIVAL: Big Penny Social in Walthamstow hosts a summer festival, raising money and awareness for charity Transcend Sarcoma. Expect live DJs and bands, a craft market, and plenty of food and drink available to buy. 1pm

MOBILE CUBES: Two motorised mobile cubes set on circular rails are used by Le Grand Jeté, for their acrobatic (and free) Répliques show, playing out in Bell Square, Hounslow. There are two shows, and you should book ahead. 1pm and 3pm

LATIN XTRAVAGANZA: Celebrate the London Latinx community at LatinXtravangaza, organised by FLAWA, an organisation which celebrates art created by Latin American women. The event consists of a fashion launch from sustainable label Anciela, as well as DJ sets and live music. Takes place at Southbank Centre. FREE, 2pm

SEWING MACHINE MUSEUM: London's little-known Sewing Machine Museum opens its doors, allowing the public inside to view one man's personal collection of hundreds of the machines — including one which belonged to Queen Victoria's daughter. Read about our visit for an idea of what to expect. 2pm-5pm

CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL POP-UP: Yes, it's August, and no, that's not a typo. Mistletoe Mixer is a Christmas-themed pop-up cocktail bar, open in the City for just over a fortnight. You'll need to book ahead to get your fill of eggnog and fairy lights, as the venue only seats 12 people at a time. 5pm-11pm until 17 August (Tuesday-Saturday)

FLEETWOOD BAC: Fleetwood Mac tribute show Fleetwood Bac perform at the Half Moon in Putney, replicating a full Fleetwood Mac show as they were back in the 1970s-80s — from the setlist down to the costumes. 8pm

CABARET VOLT-AIR: Cabaret Volt-Air is a curated evening of cabaret, featuring classic and neo-burlesque, poetry, acrobatics, clowning, music and more, taking place at the Pen Theatre in Peckham. Acts include burlesque performer Scarlett Whispers, and 'International business mime' Enrico Touché. 8pm

Sunday 4 August

SUNDAYS IN LONDON: The final day of the week can seem a bit quiet in the capital — but not if you know where to look. Our guide to spending Sunday in London covers markets, rarely-open museums, comedy shows, and the capital's best roast dinners. Have a browse to find something to do today, or bookmark it for a future Sunday when you might find yourself at a loose end.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA: Shakespeare's Globe opens its new production of Antony and Cleopatra — the first time this play has been shown at the venue in over a decade. It's the story of Roman general Antony abandoning his duties when he falls for Egyptian queen Cleopatra. 4 August-15 September

PROM 20: The BBC Proms are in full swing, and Prom 20 lands this morning, with brothers Braimah and Sheku Kanneh-Mason performing a concert of folk songs, dances, prayers and incantations, along with Brazilian guitarist Plínio Fernandes and the Fantasia Orchestra. 11am

SOUTH LONDON FLEA MARKET: Traders selling vintage furniture, reclaimed industrial fixtures, lighting, and salvaged electricals, homewares, curiosities, and oddities pitch up at Copeland Park in Peckham for the Big South London Flea. There are food stalls, cafes and bars nearby to keep you fed and watered as you browse. 11am-5pm

MUCH ADO: Another treat for Shakespeare fans today, as the East London Shakespeare Festival comes to a close with a performance of Much Ado About Nothing at Big Penny Social. Doors open an hour before the show so you can get lunch or a drink before settling down in the garden to watch. 1.30pm-3.30pm

BLACK HISTORY BUS TOUR: Board a bus in Brixton, and take a three-hour tour around London looking at some of the city's best-known sights and tourist attractions from an African/Caribbean perspective. 2pm-5pm

LGBTQ BRITISH MUSEUM: The British Museum runs regular LGBTQ tours, focusing on objects in the museum with queer connections, dating from the ancient world to the present day, including some rather famous artworks. Age 12+. FREE, 2.30pm-3.40pm

PUNKS 4 TRANSEXUALISM: Gender Crisis, Third Kulture and Antifa Super Soldier are among the punk groups playing at the New Cross Inn this evening, for the third instalment of Punks 4 Transexualism. All money raised goes towards supporting Transgender Action Block. Doors 5pm

WE ARE WINDRUSH: Reggae Choir performs We Are Windrush, a musical show honouring the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the Windrush Generation. Storytelling, spoken word and visual elements form part of the show alongside the choir's performance. Takes place at Artsdepot in North Finchley. 7pm

THE BOMBADILS: Canadian folk duo The Bombadils take to the stage at the Green Note in Camden, for a performance of their tracks featuring intimate lyrics with string-band arrangements, and tinges of bluegrass. 8.30pm