What a week! From scorching sun to downpours, it’s been one of the strangest weeks in London. But if you haven’t jetted off and put your OOO on for the summer, you might be wondering what you can do this weekend.
We’ve got you covered as always with our edit of the best activities, from the ice cream pop-up causing a stir to buzzy sun traps to soak up the warm weather.
Check out the Wellcome Collection’s funky free exhibition
Explore the wonderful world of plants and fungi in the Wellcome Collection’s free exhibition, Rooted Beings. On display until 29th August, the collection explores how we, as humans, can learn from plant behaviour and the impact of colonial expeditions on the exploitation of natural resources and indigenous knowledge.
Expect botanical archives from the Wellcome Collection and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on display, as well as works from Gözde İlkin, Ingela Ihrman and Joseca, with new commissions by Patricia Domínguez, Eduardo Navarro, RESOLVE Collective and Sop.
WHEN: UNTIL 29.08.2022
WHERE: WELLCOME COLLECTION, 183 EUSTON ROAD, NW1 2BE
WEBSITE: WWW.WELLCOMECOLLECTION.ORG
Grab a cocktail with a difference
East London cocktail bar Silverleaf is teaming up with Milan-based bar Unseen for a two-day experience packed with innovative drinks and expert cocktail making.
Taking place on Sunday 24th and Monday 25th, the event, sponsored by Disaronno UK, will be held in Silverleaf’s hidden private tasting room and promises to challenge the norm, reinventing the art of cocktail making. Expect the cocktails to pay homage to key flavours of childhood and served on a floppy disk coaster.
When: 24.07.2022 – 25.07.2022
Where: Silverleaf at Pan Pacific London, 80 Houndsditch, EC3A 7AB
Website: www.panpacific.com
Try the world’s weirdest ice cream pop-up
As if London couldn’t get any more strange, not only did it hit peak high temperatures this week but there’s also a pop-up dedicated to weird and wonderful ice cream flavours.
Created by fashion hero Anya Hindmarch, The Ice Cream Project can be found serving up ice cream and sorbet flavours with a twist. Household names, from condiments to store cupboard essentials, will be inspiring the flavours here. Think Kikkoman soy sauce with sesame; PG Tips infused ice cream; Heinz Mayo with zesty lemon and tangy vinegar; Kellogg’s Coco Pops; and Lyle’s Golden Syrup.
When: Until 28.08.2022
Where: The Village, Pont Street, SW1X
WebsitE: www.anyahindmarch.com
See your favourite film with a backdrop of London
Battersea Power Station’s Summer Showtime returns this week, offering another sunny season of the best cult classics under the stars.
Running for a month from this Thursday 21st July, The Cinema in The Arches team have curated a stellar line-up of great films, from classics like Dirty Dancing and Back to the Future to more recent favourites including Bohemian Rhapsody and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
All that’s left to do is grab a box of popcorn and enjoy!
When: 21.07.2022 – 21.08.2022
Where: Battersea Power Station
Website: www.thecinemainthearches.com
Cool off at one of these alfresco spots
We spend all day writing about London’s vibrant culinary scene, from the best places for bao to the finest afternoon tea experiences. But come the summer time, like everyone in London, we long to find that one perfect alfresco spot that’s buzzy and brilliant, and there are several spots that keep the Handbook team coming back for more.
From the hottest new rooftop in East London to unfussy multi storey car parks-turned-rooftop-bars, these are the spots you’ll find the Handbook office reclining at, cocktail in hand.
17 buzzy alfresco spots we love
Celebrate National Tequila Day
Looking for a refreshing cocktail to sip this National Tequila Day? This Sunday is National Tequila Day and to celebrate Double Dutch has launched a pop-up serving the signature spirit serve, the Paloma.
They’ve launched a brand new mixer – the Pink Grapefruit Soda – to coincide with the special day and will be pitching up in their iconic VW bar (right by Sushi Samba) to serve flavourful cocktails.
Cool off from the heat and sample their refreshing take on the tequila Paloma – expect a flavour explosion to go off in your mouth. Tequila not your thing? Fear not as they’ll be serving up their other tonics and mixers, whizzing them into cocktail form.
When: 21.07.2022 – 26.07.2022
Where: Covent Garden Piazza
Website: www.doubledutchdrinks.com
Get your dance on at this new festival
Canary Wharf has launched a brand new four-day cultural arts festival packed with a programme of music, theatre, dance, comedy and children’s activities.
Taking place this weekend, the festival will take place through the iconic London neighbourhood. The main stage will make way for free music acts, including sets from Jocelyn Brown, Grandmaster Flash, House Gospel Choir and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra.
Elsewhere there’ll be theatre performances and comedy acts from Milton Jones, Paul Sinha, Reginald D Hunter, Dane Baptiste and Felicity Ward. As well as kids activities from the Big Fish Little Fish Family Rave.
When: 21.07.2022 – 24.07.2022
Where: Canary Wharf
Website: www.canarywharf.com
See a Shakespeare classic on stage
See Shakespeare’s greatest comedy come to life on the big stage this summer. The Tempest will be running at Shakespeare’s Globe for a limited summer season, offering Londoners the chance to follow the turbulent tale of family, power, reckoning and redemption.
Directed by Sean Holmes, see the shipwrecked journey of Prospero who was once the rightful Duke of Milan before his brother Antonio casts him and his daughter Miranda adrift at a deserted island. Prospero the sorcerer uses the island’s magical inhabitants to invoke revenge…
When: 27 July- 22 October
Where: 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, SE1 9DT
Website:www.shakespeareglobe.com
Kickback at Kellerman’s
The secret’s out… Secret Cinema is back! This time taking guests to the summer of ‘63. Grab your dancing shoes and join in on mambo lessons, tug of war and enjoy plenty of foodie delights at the best summer destination. Kellerman’s is a fully immersive experience where you can dance the night away in true Dirty Dancing style.
Join along with Baby while she navigates her exciting summer with Johnny, and finish off the evening with a fully immersive film screening of the Hollywood classic.
Where: Secret location
Website:www.secretcinema.org/dirty-dancing
