10 Fun Ways To Spend Your Weekend
The weekend is almost here, and it’s shaping up to be a great one. From cocktail, craft beer and jerk chicken festivals to hot air balloon celebrations, there is so much to explore in London and beyond. Here is everything you should have on your radar this weekend.
Head to this cocktail festival
London’s leading cocktail festival, Cocktails In The City – also known as the most lethal event of the year – is back this weekend. Over 50 of London’s finest bars and mixologists will be serving up a creative mix of classic and innovative cocktails.
Set within a walled garden in Bloomsbury, the event will also include cocktail masterclasses, an ice carving workshop, live music, and a silent disco.
8-10 August
20 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3HH
cocktailsinthecity.com
Get your pre-theatre fixe at Café Kitty
Cafe Kitty in Soho’s iconic Walker’s Court, moments from the West End, has introduced their new pre-theatre menu. From 5:30 pm until 6:30 pm, enjoy a two-course meal for £24 or a three-course experience for £29.
Guests can savour a seasonally changing selection from buffalo chicken to Stavordale cheese salad, featuring Somerset’s finest cheddar. Mains offered include a delicious tarte tartin or slip sole.
6 Walker’s Ct, London W1F 0BT
cafekitty.co.uk
Sample London’s best craft beer
Having a craft beer and cocktail festival on the same weekend might seem like overkill, but we’re into it. With over 800 samples from more than 100 breweries, there is bound to be something for everyone.
Best of all, the beer is included in your ticket price, meaning once you’re in its free reign. Helping to soak up the damage there’s also food and live music, all in London’s trendy Tobacco Deck.
August 9-10
The Quay, Wapping Ln, London E1W2SB
londoncraftbeerfestival.co.uk
Spend an evening with the moon
For the perfect family activity, head to the Royal Observatory for its evening with the moon. It will include a visit to the Peter Harrison Planetarium, where you’ll see the moon up close, as well as a range of activities with astronomers, like having the chance to try your hand with one of the observatory’s modern telescopes.
Throughout the evening, you’ll have the chance to ask our astronomers all your questions about space and astronomy.
10 August
Blackheath Ave, London SE10 8XJ
rmg.co.uk
Explore all things Caribbean at the Horniman
Head to the Horniman Museum in Dulwich for a family-friendly day of food and music celebrating Caribbean culture.
The Bandstand will be hosting music and dancing for all the family to enjoy, plus some of the UK’s top Caribbean and African chefs will be cooking up a storm with jerk, vegan and vegetarian food.
August 10
100 London Rd, London SE23 3PQ
horniman.ac.uk
Head to this immersive exhibition at the Barbican
Head to the Barbican for this new immersive exhibition exploring the universality and ingenuity of play. Ricochets is the largest institutional show by internationally renowned artist Francis Alÿs in the UK in almost 15 years.
Throughout the exhibition, visitors will be immersed in multi-screen film installations focussing on children’s games.
Silk St, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DS
barbican.org
Indulge in this party-fuelled brunch
The Little Violet Door is renowned for its evening parties, but it also does a great brunch. From piles of pancakes to poached eggs and avocado to brunch cocktails, get stuck into an afternoon of indulgent feasting.
With a party soundtrack, fancy dress box and a myriad of board games as well as Mario Kart, there’s no end to the entertainment. You can also enjoy 90 minutes of bottomless Aperol spritz, rum punch, rosé, prosecco or house ‘hop property lager’ for an additional £25pp.
Saturday & Sunday, 12-3pm
9 Kingly Street, Carnaby, W1B 5PH
thelittlevioletdoor.co.uk
Three events worth travelling for
Head to this festival where surfing meets music
The most appropriately named festival of the season, Boardmasters in Cornwall is here. Artists including Sam Fender, Declan McKenna, Stormzy and Maisie Peters will be hitting up the main beach stage. As well as music, surfing will play a major role in the daytime.
It promises to be five days of music, surf, and a celebration of beach lifestyle, all set against the stunning Cornish coast.
7-11 August
Newquay, Cornwall
boardmasters.co.uk
Explore a fiesta of hot air balloons in Bristol
No, it’s not Cappadocia. Bristol is also hosting a showstopping hot-air balloon festival this weekend. This free-to-attend, three-day event celebrates the city and its heritage links to the world of hot-air ballooning.
The rolling hills of Ashton Court on the outskirts of the city play home to a temporary playground of entertainment, and a stage set ready and waiting for over 100 hot air balloons to take flight.
9-11 August
Ashton Ct, Bristol BS41 9JN
bristolballonfiesta.co.uk
Discover Birmingham’s best restaurants
Calling all foodies, Birmingham is the place to be in August. All month, the city is hosting a festival where some of the city’s best restaurants are offering deals, discounts, and experiences.
Every year, participating restaurants create a great-value set menu to be enjoyed during the festival—there is no better time to explore Birmingham’s culinary scene.
1-31 August
Across Birmingham
birminghamrestaurantfestival.co.uk
