13 Wonderful Things To Do In London This Weekend (August 19-21)

Not sure what’s on in London this weekend in London this weekend? Whatever the weather, we’ve got you covered. From outdoor brunches and cocktails, to al fresco pop-ups and art installations, all the way to markets and parks – there’s something for everyone on our list of things to do in London this weekend!

Food

From bottomless brunches to food festivals, here are the best ways to satisfy your stomach in London this weekend.

1. Eat your way through the West End’s diverse mix of restaurants, bars and cafés

Soho is a true hotspot for foodies and food-lovers alike, and throughout August, the area is celebrating the large range of dining and drinking spots that offer some of the most exciting and diverse dishes in London. If you’re heading to the area this weekend, you can pop into the newly opened Miznon, which serves up soft, fluffy pittas with fresh, seasonally-inspired ingredients; check out Kricket on Denman Street, which takes inspiration from India’s cooking scene; or perhaps grab a meal at Rita’s Dining, located on Lexington Street, where modern American dining meets seasonal British produce. As part of This Is Soho’s Soho Beats & Eats, many of the independent eateries are offering exclusive promotions, discounts and special menus. All this exploration sound like thirsty work? Head on over to Hovarda for a ‘Fruit of The Season’ drinks selection, or 2-for-1 on Toki Highballs all day, every day, at Shoryu Soho. Find out more here.

2. Visit a sports bar where fine dining meets darts

Darts bar and restaurant Oche The Strand is already on a straight arrow path to become one of the hottest gaming spots in the capital. Named after the line from where players can throw, Oche (which rhymes with hockey, FYI), brings together sensational small plates, original cocktails, and of course, the game of darts – but with a modern technology twist! Oche The Strand isn’t just a sports bar with some light bites to keep you going: just as much care is taken on the food as in a fine dining restaurant – in fact, the head chef previously worked at a Michelin-starred restaurant. So, pick your game, pick your set menu (or gourmet pizza), and get playing. Find out more here.

3. Enjoy the capital’s first ever pasta festival – for free

Here in the capital, we’ve got music festivals, we’ve got craft beer festivals, and now, we’ve got a pasta festival! The Canary Wharf branch of Emilia’s Crafted Pasta will celebrate all things pasta on Sunday, August 21, with a free outdoor festival in the restaurant’s surrounding areas. The riverside terrace and surrounding parks will be transformed into a space celebrating the beloved dishes. On top of the plates of the good stuff, visitors can expect a fill of live music, pasta-themed masterclasses, and kids activities. Find out more here.

Bars & Nightlife

Whether you’re looking to let loose at a day party or dance all night, here are the best drinking and party spots to try this weekend.

4. Sip cocktails and listen to Italian music at Eataly

Every Friday this August, Terra restaurant, located in Broadgate’s Eataly, is offering special Hotel Starlino cocktail tastings, accompanied by live sets from DJs. Hotel Starlino is a fruity aperitivo from Italy, and guests can try a range of flavours at a 6.15pm or 7pm on August 19. While pre-booking is recommended, walk ins are accepted, depending on availability. If you’ve got some time to kill earlier in the day – hello, summer hours – special Hotel Starlino summer cocktails are available at Terra from 3.30pm on Fridays. Find out more here.

Arts & Culture

Here are all of the best art exhibitions, pop-up installations and culturally stimulating things to do in London this weekend.

5. Watch a midnight matinee performance of a Shakespeare play

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is already pretty enchanting, but throw in a play performed under the darkness of the midnight sky, lit atmospherically, and you have something even more ethereal. This Friday, August 19, Much Ado About Nothing will delight audiences from 11.59pm as The Globe Theatre’s Midnight Matinee series continues. Forget the clubs, forget the bars, because when the clock strikes midnight, this is the place to be! Find out more here and snap up the remaining tickets here.

Candlelight Concerts

From timeless classical masterpieces to uplifting pop artists, magical movie soundtracks to smooth jazz, enjoy renditions of popular melodies at a candlelit venue this weekend.

6–7. Celebrate movie magic or the beauty of ballet

From one atmospherically lit venue to two more. This weekend’s Candlelight concerts pay tribute to Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker – with ballet performers accompanying the string quartet for select performances – and the film scores composed by John Williams. At the latter, expect to hear recognisable melodies from the likes of Jaws, Home Alone and Harry Potter.

🕯Candlelight: Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker & More ft. Ballet at Central Hall Westminster (Saturday, August 20)

🕯Candlelight: John Williams’ Best Works at Butchers’ Hall (Sunday, August 21)

New Openings

We’ve rounded up London’s newest bars, restaurants, food markets, and more for you to check out.

8. Grab some brunch at a new grocery-restaurant in Elephant and Castle

RAREBIT, an all-day neighbourhood kitchen, bar and grocery store, has recently opened its doors, bringing modern British food, local producers together under one roof. The intimate indoor-outdoor Elephant and Castle spot serves a ravishing daytime brunch during the week and on Saturdays, which includes sharing dishes like grilled peach, burrata and thyme; shakshouka; and breakfast hash with the staple rarebit. Come evening, the menu changes to feature decadent small plates, like scallop and nduja mac and cheese, and more substantial meals, like seared mackerel. There is even a dedicated children’s menu for younger visitors. Check out their website here. 

9. While away some time at a new, hidden Waterloo speakeasy

Opening its doors today (August 18), Lost Property Office is a new speakeasy-style bar in Waterloo Station. However, the only door to access this secret speakeasy is through the also freshly opened BrewDog outpost… Yes, we’re talking a secret bar within a bar. Lost Property Office is the brainchild of award-winning bartender Rich Woods, who has previously crafted the cocktail menu at the likes of SushiSamba and Duck and Waffle. At Lost Property Office, you can enjoy classic cocktails, reimagined using modern techniques; the Martini Roulette is the bar’s signature experience, featuring a mini trio of martinis that show the evolution of the drink through the decades. Find out (a tiny bit) more about the elusive spot on the website or make a visit yourself this weekend.

Travel

Looking for inspiration for your next day trip, weekend staycation or city tour? You’ll find it here.

10. Plan a super cheap gallivant up to Glasgow

Though they sure do take a while, the thrill of jumping on a long bus journey can be quite the kick, offering a cheap roadtrip across the country with beautiful scenery to take in. And now, you can get to Glasgow from London for as little as £2.99! Coach operator Flixbus began this route back in July, and it’s been very popular to say the least, so while these rates may not be available for this weekend coming, there’s nothing stopping you from planning a cost-effective trip for the coming weeks or months (the route is currently available until October). Seats will be released soon – read more here.

11. Stay at the swanky Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch – or just grab a meal or drink there instead

The Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch stands six storeys tall in East London’s creative district, tucked away on a quiet street off the main thoroughfare. The world-renowned luxury chain of hotels and restaurants boasts 164 guest rooms and suites, a private alfresco terrace, a gym and spa, and for guests and non-guests alike, a famed Nobu restaurant and NAMI bar. Following a two-year hiatus as a result of the pandemic, Nobu reopened its doors to the public mid June and the restaurant is ready to beckon fine diners and Japanese and Peruvian cuisine lovers with a whole host of incredible dishes, unique flavour combinations and unforgettable experience. Alternatively, if you fancy just going for a drink – or the purse strings are set a little tighter this month with all the summer activities – NAMI Bar offers the same exclusive Nobu experience for a fraction of the price, with an al fresco terrace to boot. Read more here.

Secret London Picks

The Secret London team’s top picks for more fun things you can do in London this weekend.

12. Celebrate Leo season at a Locals.org party

Locals.org, the app designed to encourage forming friendships and creating a community in real life, are hosting a special party to wrap up Leo season. All you July and August babies (with a plus 1 each), get down to The Broadcaster pub in the former White City Television Centre on Saturday (August 20) to make some new friends and have a good time. For astrology fiends, there’ll be an astrologer on site, plus a crystal healer too. Find out more about Locals.org here and sign up to the app, and join the “Biggest Leo Birthday Party In London” group for entry.

13. Families, lose yourself in Lego builds at BRICKLIVE

Promoting real-world play, away from screens, kits or instruction manuals, BRICKLIVE will be taking over Evolution in Battersea Park for five days, with over five million Lego bricks. Between August 20–24, mark the end of the summer holidays for your pre-school and primary school aged kids with 80 life-sized Lego sculptures of much-loved characters (including Paddington Bear), iconic wildlife species, fantastic beasts, London landmarks and a deep dive into space history. There’ll be brick-building experts on hand to support with masterclasses, plus there’ll be two free-style brick pits, with a quarter of a million bricks each. Find out more here.

Some features in this article have been paid for by Secret London’s friendly brand partners.

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Also published on Medium.