12 Things Every Londoner Should Be Doing This Weekend
The sun is finally returning to London this weekend, and the city is making the most of it. From perusing pop-up art markets in Chelsea to sipping margaritas by the canal in King’s Cross, there is no shortage of ways to fill your Saturday and Sunday. Whether you’re after culture, cocktails, or a reason to escape the city entirely, we’ve rounded up the very best ways to spend the next two days.
Explore this art market
The Chelsea Art Market is returning to Duke of York Square for its Summer Edition this Sunday. Transforming the heart of Chelsea into a vibrant open-air gallery, the partnership between Open Art Spaces and Cadogan will bring together a curated mix of over 50 independent artists showcasing works across painting, sculpture, and photography.
Art enthusiasts can browse and purchase original pieces ranging from £5 to £500, making it an accessible day out for both first-time buyers and seasoned collectors.
Where: Duke of York Square, 80 King’s Rd, London SW3 4LY
Sip margaritas at this newly opened bar
For weekend drinks, head to The Lighterman in King’s Cross to soak up some rays and enjoy its newly opened margarita bar.
Overlooking the bustling Regent’s Canal at Granary Square, guests can pull up a seat on the sun-soaked terrace and sample an expertly curated menu of tequila-laced creations, from a smoky and spiced blend to floral jasmine margaritas.
Overlooking Regent’s Canal, guests can pull up a seat on the sun-soaked terrace and sample an expertly curated menu of tequila-laced creations.
Pair your drinks with a selection of seasonal small plates and wood-fired flatbreads for the perfect al fresco afternoon by the water.
Where: 3 Granary Square, London N1C 4BH
Website: www.thelighterman.com
Browse a new landmark exhibition
The must-see cultural billing this weekend is at The Courtauld, which is unveiling its new exhibition Hepworth in Colour.
The landmark exhibition is the first dedicated to Barbara Hepworth’s lifelong fascination with colour, bringing together around 20 sculptures and 30 drawings to reveal a lesser-known side of her practice. Expect vivid painted carvings, rarely seen works gathered from collections around the world, and a fresh perspective on the artist best known for her abstract forms inspired by the Cornish landscape.
Where: Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN
Website: www.courtauld.com
Visit the latest addition to the Serpentine Galleries
A visit to the Serpentine’s new pavilion is also a must-add to this weekend’s itinerary.
Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum has designed A Capsule in Time, a beautiful wooden structure with a translucent façade that dapples light into the space beneath it in the most serene way. Drawn from the tradition of Shamiyana tents in South Asia, the whole thing is built for lingering, and one of its four sculptural forms can actually move and reshape the space entirely. It’s free, it’s in Hyde Park, and it might just be the most peaceful half hour you’ll have all weekend.
Where: Kensington Gardens
Website: www.serpentinegalleries.com
Celebrate Pride Month
If you’re looking for the ultimate way to celebrate Pride Month, Clays has just launched Drag Bottoms Up, a brand-new bottomless brunch series running every Saturday throughout June.
Each week brings a different drag queen to the stage, alongside 90 minutes of bottomless drinks, pizzette and fries, and a complimentary round of interactive target shooting in the Clays Arcade. At £40 a head, it’s one of the most packed-out afternoons you’ll find in the city this month, and a portion of proceeds goes towards Clay’s Aim For Change campaign supporting LGBTQIA+ communities across London and Birmingham. Book fast, because this one is going to sell out.
Where: On the wharf 1, Cabot Square, W Indi
Website: www.claysbar.com
Attend a literature and wine tasting experience
If you’ve ever fallen down the rabbit hole of Chanté Joseph’s writing, this one’s for you. The award-winning cultural commentator (best known for her viral British Vogue essay “Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?”) is hosting a one-off literature and wine tasting experience at Battersea Power Station this Friday evening.
Expect readings from female authors who have shaped Chanté’s career, with each wine, curated by Sinéad Murdoch of female-led supper club Suppher, paired to the themes of the night.
Where: Circus Rd W, Nine Elms, London SW11 8DD
Website: www.thewinecircuit.com
Soak up Thames views on this terrace
If your idea of a perfect afternoon involves a riverside view, a cold cocktail and a seafood tower, Sea Containers has just delivered exactly that.
The South Bank hotel has launched its new Summer Terrace in partnership with Grey Goose and is bringing French Riviera energy right to the Thames. The drink to order is the Cucumber Fizz (Grey Goose La Poire, elderflower, cucumber, soda), though the Wet Martini served on the rocks runs it close. Pair either with the seafood-led sharing plates, oysters, or the showstopping seafood tower, and you’ve got one of the best golden hour spots in London sorted.
Where: 20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PD
Website: www.seacontainers.com
Pasta Evangelists
Pasta Evangelists has transformed its restaurants for summer, and it might just be the closest thing to an Italian holiday you’ll get without booking a flight. The limited-edition Amalfi menu is the main event, with lemon-shaped Lemon and Burrata Limoncini, best enjoyed with a Frozen Limoncello Spritz.
If you want to make a proper afternoon of it, the two-hour pasta-making masterclass where you hand-shape the limoncini before sitting down to eat them with unlimited spritzers is the move.
Where: venues across London
Website: www.pastaevangelists.com
Enjoy a caviar-fuelled evening here
Michelin-starred Adam Handling has completely reimagined Eve Bar in Covent Garden, and the result is one of the most indulgent spots to land in London this year.
Built around the Three C’s (Caviar, Champagne and Cocktails), the newly transformed space pairs dusky pink art deco interiors with a menu that runs from caviar hash browns to Martini and caviar flights.
Where: 34 Southampton St, London WC2E 7HF
Website: www.evebar.com
Book your ticket to London’s ultimate foodie event
The capital’s ultimate culinary takeover is back this month as Taste of London returns to transform Regent’s Park into a massive, five-day foodie wonderland. Think an incredible lineup of the city’s hottest restaurants serving up exclusive dishes, alongside fire-fuelled cooking theatrics, artisan producers, and plenty of summer festival energy.
While this foodie takeover isn’t taking place until June 17th, this will be a sell-out event, so consider this your official reminder to secure your tickets now. To find out more about this year’s event, click here.
Where: Regent’s Park
Book here
Dance the night away at Hampton Court Palace festival
This weekend marks the return of the Hampton Court Palace Festival, and it is inviting concert-goers to enjoy world-class performances against the backdrop of Tudor architecture and summer skies. To kickstart celebrations, Pete Tong is bringing his Ibiza Classics show to the courtyard, where iconic dance anthems have been reimagined with a full orchestra. Get there early to wander the East Front Gardens before the show starts.
Where: Hampton Ct Way, Molesey, East Molesey KT8 9AU
Book here
Explore this sculpture exhibition
If you’ve been meaning to escape the city for a weekend, this is your excuse. For those who have already visited Kew Gardens’ Henry Moore exhibition, paying a trip to its Wakehurst site is well worth your while.
Kew’s wild botanic garden in the Sussex countryside has just opened its portion of the landmark Henry Moore: Monumental Nature exhibition. The show features Moore’s monumental sculptures set across the spectacular botanical garden landscape.
Where: Selsfield Rd, Haywards Heath RH17 6TN
Website: www.kewwakehurst.com
