10 Ways To Spend This Summer Weekend
It’s set to be another rainy weekend in July, and unless you’re jet-setting off to Spain, don’t leave that trusty umbrella behind. But it’s not all doom and gloom – we’ve got our eyes set on a jazz festival in South East London, and a beauty pop-up we know we’ll be lining up for. Plus, London’s theatre scene has never looked so good, and there are summer menus, activity bars and live music to look forward to. Here’s where to spend this July weekend in London:
Attend this jazz festival
Head to the Rhythm & Taste: Jazz & Food Festival at Greenwich Peninsula this weekend for a full day of genre-defying jazz, along with delicious street food. You can expect live headline sets, vinyl DJs, pop-up dance parties and market stalls – the perfect weekend vibe. On the Live Stage, don’t miss a performance from Steam Down, rising stars Shunaji and Knats, and a special showcase from Queer Jazz featuring Gigi Wilde and Queen Kaltoum. Over in the Vinyl Lounge, there will be vinyl-rich sets from Tina Edwards, Tim Garcia, Kay Suzuki, and Mr. Redley. Plus, there will be fabulous food from Shotengai Japanese Market, a New Orleans-inspired menu from Bureau Restaurant and natural wines from the Black Wine Club.
when: 26th july
where: Design District, Greenwich Peninsula
website: www.greenwichpeninsula.co.uK
Expect the best of sound and flavour at Rhythm & Taste: Jazz & Food Festival at Greenwich Peninsula.
Add a live music night to your calendar
Raffles London at The OWO and Sipsmith have launched Sax & Slings, a summer series in partnership with the Royal College of Music. Taking place every Wednesday evening till 27th August at the elegant The Guards Bar, the experience is all about supporting emerging musical talent, offering a platform for up-and-coming performers to take centre stage. You can expect excellent cocktails like the Singapore Sling (a homage to the classic created at Raffles Singapore in 1915), best paired with some delicious crispy chicken. Or try the London Sling, which spotlights the best of British ingredients (made with Sipsmith Raffles 1915 Gin, Strawberry & Oat, Sipello, Linden Tea and cherry bitters). Pair this one with the farinata (tapenade, pine kernels, heritage courgetti, parmesan) and you’re in for a great night.
where: Raffles London at The OWO, Whitehall, London SW1A 2BX
website: www.raffles.com/london
Book ahead for this free wellness pop-up
Wild Nutrition’s first-ever pop-up store in Notting Hill launches from 30th to 31st July, featuring free expert-led sessions covering weight management, face yoga, movement classes and astrology readings. Join an exclusive panel talk, Redefining: Body, Balance and Breakthroughs, that explores the many sides of weight management, from style and body confidence to movement, sex and nutrition. Plus, you can book nutritional therapy consultations with a Wild Nutrition expert, attend yoga and breathwork sessions with Cat Meffan, do face yoga or attend astrology readings with Astro Déjàvu.
when: Wednesday 30th July 2025, 10am – 8:30pm, Thursday 31st July 2025, 9.15am – 6pm
where: 230 Portobello Road, London, W11 1LJ
website: www.wildnutrition.com
Head to an activity bar for bottomless brunch
If you’re looking for a fun weekend activity for you and your friends, look no further than Bounce. Play a game of ping-pong, sip on craft cocktails, and enjoy freshly made pizzas and top tunes under one lively roof. And on weekends, there’s a great bottomless brunch where you can have unlimited pizza, beer, prosecco and nonstop ping pong from just £30 per person.
where: Old Street, Farringdon & Battersea Power Station
website: www.bouncepingpong.com
Play a game a ping-pong, sip on craft cocktails, and enjoy freshly made pizza.
Check out this art exhibition
Head to Serpentine Galleries to explore Remembering, a solo exhibition from artist Arpita Singh, whose paintings draw from Bengali folk art and Indian stories, interwoven with experiences of social upheaval and global conflict. The exhibition at Serpentine North traces Singh’s works from the 1960s to recent years, showcasing her large-scale oil paintings as well as her more intimate watercolours and ink drawings. The exhibitions bring together elements of surrealism, touching on themes like motherhood, the ageing female form, feminine sensuality, vulnerability and violence.
where: West Carriage Drive, W2 2AR
website: www.serpentinegalleries.org
Spend the afternoon at this day-to-night riverside spot
Open Thursday to Sunday, from 11am to 10pm, ArcadeX is your go-to spot for laid-back weekends by the river. Dig into global street food specials, cold wine and beer on tap and Casamigos tequila cocktails –while you enjoy beats from live DJs, sports screenings, and day-to-night riverside dining, all with views of the Thames and the iconic Battersea Power Station. Nibble on street food from London favourites like BAO London, Gracey’s Pizza, Mexa, and Manna, alongside local gems like Borough 22 Doughnuts and Two Little Giraffes gelato.
where: Electric Boulevard, Battersea Power Station, London SW11 8BJ
website: www.batterseapowerstation.co.uK
Explore a beauty pop-up
Simple is unveiling the Whatever the Weather pop-up this weekend – a bold, multi-sensory experience with interactive moments, games and immersive storytelling. Taking place at Outernet London on the 25th and 26th July, the pop-up celebrates the launch of Simple’s new UV Fluid SPF 50, a next-generation SPF that protects against UV rays and supports the skin’s natural antioxidant defences. Powered by Unilever’s Gluta-Amino™ technology – developed over several years, the formula helps supercharge the skin’s natural glutathione levels, reversing visible sun damage and restoring natural glow.
When: Friday 25th (1pm-8pm) and Saturday 26th July (10am-6pm)
Where: Outernet London, Charing Cross Road, WC2H 8LH
website: www.simple.co.uk
Visit this terrace with a view
Sea Containers Restaurant, located at South Bank’s Sea Containers London, has partnered with the French wild elderflower liqueur brand St Germain to bring a touch of the French Riviera to the city. The terrace has been given a fresh new look with luscious greenery inspired by the Mediterranean, making it London’s ultimate al fresco destination. Highlights on the cocktail menu include the St Germain Hugo Spritz, which blends elderflower liqueur with Prosecco, mint, lime and soda. Or go for the Fleur de Pêche with peach liqueur and prosecco. For something floral, try the Lavender Paloma that’s made with St. Germain, Patrón Silver, lavender syrup, grapefruit and lime.
where: Sea Containers London, 20 Upper Ground, South Bank, London SE1 9PD
website: www.seacontainerslondon.com
Book tickets for this London play
Go back to 1905, New York with Emmy Award winner Samira Wiley, who famously plays Moira in The Handmaid’s Tale. In Intimate Apparel, she takes on the role of Esther, a seamstress who sews exquisite lingerie for women from all walks of life. Successful and fiercely independent, she dreams of opening her own beauty salon, but can’t shake the longing to fall in love. When she begins to receive beautiful letters from a lonesome stranger, it looks like it could just be her ticket to happiness. FYI, we checked and this one’s almost fully sold-out, but there are a few standing tickets available for this weekend.
where: Donmar Warehouse, Seven Dials, London WC2H 9LX UK
website: www.donmarwarehouse.com
Attend a glamorous wine festival
Winestock London is a black-tie festival held on Clapham Common on Saturday 26th July from 6pm onwards, where you can enjoy refills of over 15 wines from around the world, carefully selected by sommeliers, as well as Pimm’s, Aperol and Prime Time beer on tap. On the menu, you’ll find wood-fired pizzas, street food classics, slow-cooked meats and plant-based dishes, so there’s something for everyone. For entertainment, there’ll be fire-breathers, magicians, bubbleologists, live music and DJs throughout the evening, featuring everything from jazz to sing-alongs and disco to house. The dress code is ‘spectacularly formal with a Clapham twist’ – so do with that what you will…Glamorous outfits and bowties are a must.
where: Clapham Common, SW4 9DE
website: www.wokewines.com
The dress code is ‘spectacularly formal with a Clapham twist’.
