Things to do this August in London
Welcome to London in August, a vibrant and exciting month filled with a plethora of activities and events for everyone to enjoy.
FAMILY
Location, W10/W11
Date/time/price: 27th Aug 27 to 28th Aug.
Sunday, August 27: will feature two main events
J’Ouvert – 06.00-09.00 – Sainsburys Ladbroke Grove, W10 6HJ
J’Ouvert morning is one of Notting Hill Carnival’s best-kept secrets. Where hardcore revellers gather in the early hours to celebrate the carnival’s commencement with energetic dancing and colourful paints and powders, creating a party atmosphere.
Official Opening Ceremony – 10.00-10.30
MAS Judging Point, Great Western Road
Traditionally Carnival is opened by residents and participants, accompanied by the organisers and friends of Carnival.
Children’s Day Parade – Parade Route – the next generation carrying the Carnival baton, dancing in the streets wearing their carefully crafted costumes.
Dutty/Fun Mas – Parade Route
Get down and ‘dutty’ – revel in the mayhem. As a spectator, you can expect to be splashed with brightly coloured paints and powder or even melted ‘chocolate’. It has an infectious hyped energy.
Sound Systems – 12.00-19.00
Notting Hill Carnival’s Sound System tradition is rooted in Jamaican culture and Reggae music, at today’s Carnival you can hear everything from Rare Groove to House to Samba.
Live Stages
Soca City – 12.00-19.00 – Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park, W10 5DH
Powis Square Stage – 12.00-19.00 – Powis Square, W11 2AY
Also throughout the day enjoy the array of varied Caribbean foods and over 300 stalls to choose from.
Adult’s Parade – Parade Route
This is the carnival climax, it’s time to free up and just celebrate the joy that is carnival!
If you haven’t bought a band costume, feel free to wear your own (you won’t be alone), grab a whistle or a horn, and find a good position on the parade route map and jump up and dance as the floats pass you by.
Sound Systems – 12:00-19:00
Notting Hill Carnival’s Sound System tradition is rooted in Jamaican culture and reggae music, at today’s carnival you can hear everything from rare groove to house to samba.
Live Stages
Soca City Stage – 12:00-19:00 Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance
Powis Square Stage – 12:00-19:00 – Powis Square, W11 2AY
UK National Panorama Steel Band Competition
“Notting Hill Carnival’s Panorama evening set the standard for the weekend.”
LocationEmslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park, W10 3DH
Date, Sat, 26th Aug, 16:00-23:00, price: adult:£20, child (5-18): £7, under 5 free. Book tickets here
The UK National Panorama Steel Band Competition is a significant event held as part of the Notting Hill Carnival. It brings together steel bands from all across the UK. Seven bands compete. 2023 Competing bands are Croydon, Ebony, Mangrove, Metronomes, Pan Nation, Real Steel and Southside Harmonics. Enjoy this open-air event, watch the sunset, and eat Caribbean street food, bars, large screens and NHC DJs throughout the day bringing you the sounds of Carnival.
Hampton Court Palace Food Festival
Location: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU
Date/time/price: 26 Aug28 Aug, 10am onwards, Adult:£29, Cons: £23.20, Child: 5-15 £14.50, under 5’s free
Experience the ultimate foodie extravaganza at Hampton Court Palace with over 150 speciality food stalls, cocktail-making classes, kids’ activities, and live music. Enjoy the stunning gardens and historic ambience while feasting like Henry VIII.
Dinosaur World Live (aged 3+)
Date/time/price: 11 Aug – 3 Sept, from £17, Performance Times: Mon & Wed: 2.00 pm
Tue, Fri & Sun: 11.00 am & 2.00 pm, Sat: 10.30 am
This interactive show is perfect for all ages and features life-like dinosaurs, including the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, Giraffatitan, and Segnosaurus. You and your family will have a thrilling experience, getting up close and personal with these prehistoric creatures. The show runs for 50 minutes, and after that, you even get a chance for a meet and greet with the dinosaurs!
Greenwich and Docklands International Festival
Location: National Maritime Museum King William Walk, SE10 9N
Date/time/price: 25 AUG – 10 SEP, time vary, free
GDIF 2023 is an exciting outdoor arts festival in London from August 25 to September 10. It features groundbreaking outdoor theatre, performance, art, dance, and circus by UK and international artists in iconic public spaces across the city. It features ground-breaking performances, including the festival opener ‘Open Lines’ on Aug 25, a stunning tight-rope act in General Gordon Square, Woolwich, ‘Sliding Slope’ on Sep 2 and 3, a dance piece on the roof of a submerged house, and the return of GDIF regulars like Greenwich Fair on Aug 26 and Dancing City on Sep 9 and 10. Notable installations include ‘Cygnus’ at the Royal Docks from Aug 31 to Sep 3, featuring illuminated animatronic swans filling the Thames.
Open Water Swimming -Canary Wharf – In partnership with Love Open Water (aged 10 +)
Location: Middle Dock, Canary Wharf, London, E14
Date/time/price: ongoing, £8.50
To enjoy the new spot, swimmers just need to purchase a NOWCA membership for £15 per year – granting them access to all 40 NOWCA UK locations – with sessions running throughout the week including weekends. There is a 200m loop available which may be extended up to 400m. Loops available are dependent on weather conditions and will be determined by the Venue/Duty Manager at the beginning of the session to ensure swimmer safety. Make sure you ask which loops are operating when you check in for your swim and familiarize yourself with the course and direction before you enter the water.
Location: Serpentine Pavilion, Hyde Park
Date/time/price: 9 June – 29 Oct, free
The Serpentine Pavilion 2023, named “À Table,” is an architectural masterpiece by French-Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh. Located in Hyde Park, London, it draws inspiration from Mediterranean dining traditions, creating a space for engaging discussions and dialogue around a dining table. The pavilion’s glulam structure resembles three scalloped-shaped tables, providing a gathering space to foster conversations while sharing a meal. The name “À Table” translates to “sit down at the dinner table or you’re going to get a whack around the ear” in French, emphasizing its role as a place of meaningful exchange. As part of the Serpentine Pavilion tradition, it continues the legacy of showcasing new architectural wonders in Hyde Park each year.
MUSIC
Summer Sounds – free 12-day music festival at King Cross
Location: Coal Drops Yard, Stable Street, N1C 4DQ
Date/time/price: 9 – 20 Aug, evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 pm and from 1 to 6 pm family sundays, free
It’s happening at the beautiful outdoor spaces of Coal Drops Yard for 12 days, and you won’t want to miss it. This inclusive free music festival offers an exciting 12-day program of music and performances, featuring internationally acclaimed singer, pianist, and songwriter Joe Stilgoe, artists from the English National Opera, and the Harrow Community Gospel Choir. The concerts take place every evening from 6:30 to 8:30 pm and from 1 to 6 pm on Family Sundays. There’s a diverse lineup of classical, folk, jazz, and experimental musicians, as well as talented dancers and performers. It’s the perfect event for the whole family to enjoy the summer with live music in the heart of London.
Location: Victoria Park, Grove Road, London, E3 5SN
Date/price: 18 Aug28 Aug, General admission, tier 4: £68.55
Since its inception in 2018, All Points East has become known for its diverse music lineup. This year’s lineup is no different, boasting prominent headliners like Stormzy, HAIM, The Strokes, Jungle, and Dermot Kennedy. The festival also features exciting support acts, including Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Erykah Badu, Angel Olsen, Sampha, and Kehlani, among others. Attendees can enjoy not only great music but also free activities in the local area through In The NBHD, which offers live music, cinema, theatre, dance, workshops, family activities, and street food. The festival’s lineup for this year includes Stormzy (August 18), The Strokes (August 25), Jungle (August 26), Dermot Kennedy (August 27), and Haim (August 28), making it a highly anticipated event for music enthusiasts.
Location: Victoria Park, Grove Road, E3 5SN
Date/time/price: 19th Aug, ticket here from £85
Field Day, the youthful festival, returns with an eclectic line-up featuring Aphex Twin, Bonobo, Kelela, SBTRKT, Fever Ray, and more. Get ready for an audio-visual epic and cool acts in Victoria Park.
OVER 18’s
First floating cinema on the Thames
Location: Tower Millennium Pier, near Traitor’s Gate Tower Of London, EC3N 4DT
Date/time/price: 8 Aug – 26 Aug, 7:30 pm onwards, from £24
Time Out’s Movies on the River offers a unique cinema experience on the Thames in London. Enjoy a sunset cruise with food and drinks, followed by classic and beloved films shown on the open-air top deck near iconic London sights. A couple of highlights include Aftersun at Movies on the River presented by Time Out and Häagen-Dazs,10th Aug and Rye Lane at Movies on the River presented by Time Out and Häagen-Dazs , 23rd Aug.
Experience the magic of great movies at evocative locations, including London’s first-ever cinema on the Thames, and Movies on the River, where you can watch films under the stars on the top deck of a boat while cruising past iconic sights.
Location: Chalk Farm Rd, Chalk Farm, London NW1 8EH
Date/time/price: 5th Aug- 23rd Aug, prices vary
Summer just got a whole lot funnier! From 5 – 23 August, come on down to the Roundhouse to catch performances by top comedy talent! Check out the programme below and more will be announced.
Location: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP
Date/time/price: Until 9 Sept 2023, times vary, from £9
The return of the BBC Proms brings the UK together in celebration of classical music with eight weeks of concerts here at the Hall. The season will run from Friday 14 July – Saturday 9 September 2023 and features a huge breadth of programming, from Berlioz to Bollywood, large scale symphonic and choral work, to intimate chamber concerts and exciting Proms debuts.
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