The 10 best things to do in London this weekend
When searching for the best things to do in London this weekend, it’s hard not to end up more confused and indecisive than when you started. While it’s never a bad idea to secure a booking at one of the best restaurants in the capital, spend an evening in one of the latest innovative bars on the scene or even explore a…
Things to do in London this weekend (4 - 6 September)
- 1. Listen in at Kings Place
3 - 13 September
The London Podcast Festival returns for its 11th edition this year, pulling audiences into Kings Place, the city’s home of live podcasting, as a jam-packed schedule spans almost two weeks.
Opening weekend’s highlights include Thursday evening's The World’s Coolest Disabled, as journalist and broadcaster Jordan Jarrett-Bryan discusses disability through a fresh, funny and unfiltered lens, and Chart Music: The TOTP Podcast on Saturday. Address: Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG Website: kingsplace.co.uk
- 2. Go big on beauty in Covent Garden
4 - 13 September
Covent Garden’s beauty festival welcomes its biggest line-up to date this week, transforming the Piazza, surrounding streets and Seven Dials into a playground for lovers of skincare and wellness.
From 4 September, expect masterclasses, exclusive offers, fragrance experiences and wellness activations from brands including Charlotte Tilbury, Nars, Elemis and SpaceNK. This weekend, follow the new Backstage Beauty trail, collecting treats and expert tips from 10 iconic brands – tickets cost £20, with a portion of the profits supporting Beauty Banks.
Address: Across Covent Garden and Seven Dials Website: coventgarden.london
- 3. Savour BBQ flavours at The Ned
4 September - 4 October
Swanky London hotel The Ned welcomes two Michelin-starred barbecue chefs for a month of flame-kissed flavours from this Saturday.
John Bates from InterStellar BBQ and Ali Clem from la Barbecue transform The Ned’s Electric Bar and Diner with Texan scents and flavours, serving a menu showcasing the craftsmanship, provenance and bold flavours that have made Austin one of the world's tastiest destinations. Think sharing trays uniting highlights from each restaurant’s menu, packed with treats such as peach tea-glazed pork belly, tender pulled lamb shoulder, chimichurri beef short rib and chopped cheese sausage. Address: Electric Bar & Diner, The Ned London, 27 Poultry, City of London
Website: thened.com
- 4. Tuck in at a flavoursome festival
3 - 6 September
The foodie festival adored by fire-cooking lovers is smoking out Tobacco Dock this weekend, as more than 80 chefs set up camp for four days of culinary action.
Each dish at Meatopia is created specifically for the festival, so the most flavoursome of them may have you begging chefs for recipes to take home. Talent in the line-up this year includes Welsh duo Sam Evans and Shauna Guinn of Hangfire BBQ, MasterChef: The Professionals finalist Mark O'Brien of Snake Oil Barbecue and Ana Goncalves and Zijun Meng; the duo behind TÓU and the iconic Ibérico katsu sando. Address: Tobacco Dock, Wapping Lane, London E1W 2SF
Website: meatopia.co.uk
- 5. Get inspired at the UK’s largest tattoo convention
More than 500 international tattoo artists come together under one roof for the Big London Tattoo Show as the UK’s largest tattoo convention returns to Excel. Book times with renowned tattoo artists in pop-up studios, learn about different styles and techniques, roam temporary exhibitions and experience an eclectic range of entertainment including BMX stunts, fire shows and live performances. Address: Excel, London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL
Website: biglondontattooshow.com
- 6. Catch Fringe favourites in Soho
1 - 26 September
There’s good news for anyone suffering from Edinburgh Fringe FOMO, as the return of Underbelly Soho’s Fridge Fix sees a handpicked selection of the festival’s most talked-about shows land in the capital this month.
Trojan comedy Burning Down The Horse kicks things off on Tuesday evening following two sell-out Fringe runs, while Thursday’s Never Let Go: An Unauthorised Retelling of James Cameron’s Titanic is a queer spectacular that condenses the tragedy into a captivating hour. This weekend’s highlights include Penelope, which reimagines the tale of Odysseus’ wife as she speaks her truth, and Raves R Us, which follows Charlie and his friends as they transform an abandoned warehouse and the theatre into a ravers' paradise for the evening.
Website: underbellyboulevard.com
- 7. Grab a slice… with an aesthetic side
How about a slice of culture with your pizza this September? If that sounds up your street, head to Bad Boy Pizza Society as the Bethnal Green pizzeria transforms into a month-long photography exhibition celebrating the people, places and culture behind New York City's slice shops.
Settle in, feast, and look on at the places that have inspired London’s pizza boom through photographer Samuel Ryde’s lens. Address: Bad Boy Pizza Society, 419 Bethnal Green Road, London E2 0AN
Website: badboypizzasoc.com
- 8. Feast at this week’s hottest kitchen takeover
4 - 5 September
Half Cut Market’s head chef Aidan Richardson-Dawkins hands over his kitchen to chefs Hannah Wilson from Camille and Albert Smith from Smoking Goat this weekend for what’s sure to be a tasty spectacular. The duo have curated a bespoke à la carte menu where French precision meets Thailand’s regional flavours across dishes such as fermented sausages, cod cheeks with curried gribiche, and grilled mackerel gaeng som.
Address: Half Cut Market, 396 York Way, Islington, London N7 9LW Website: halfcut.world
- 9. Enjoy tacos and a tipple
Until the end of September
With London’s ‘taco renaissance’ in full swing, we’re constantly on the lookout for a tasty new spot where we can satisfy our cravings. Luckily for us, one of the capital’s swishest hotels is now in on the act, as Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s abc kitchens at The Emory embraces the Mexican staple.
Until the end of September, the restaurant’s tacos de tarde session sees treats including barbecue pork tacos and crispy dover sole tacos paired with zesty cocktails between 2.30pm and 6.30pm. Address: abc kitchens, Old Barrack Yard, London SW1X 7NP
Website: maybourne.com
- 10. Devour stateside flavours in King’s Cross
Until 13 September
Feast on a slice of NYC before summer’s out as Brooklyn favourite Best Pizza has landed at The Standard. The cult pizza spot has taken over the hotel’s ground-floor bar, Double Standard, until 13 September, with chefs serving up signature 14"–16" round pies, including margheritas, white pies and marinaras.
There’s a soppressata coppola pizza created especially for the pop-up, plus a host of picky bits and extras, from sautéed long hot peppers to indulgent tiramisu. Address: The Standard London, 10 Argyle Street, London WC1H 8EG
Website: standardhotels.com
Listen in at Kings Place
The London Podcast Festival returns for its 11th edition this year, pulling audiences into Kings Place, the city’s home of live podcasting, as a jam-packed schedule spans close to two weeks. Opening weekend’s highlights include Thursday evening's The World’s Coolest Disabled , as journalist and broadcaster Jordan Jarrett-Bryan discusses disability through a fresh, funny and unfiltered lens, and Chart Music: The TOTP Podcast on Saturday. Address: Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG Website: kingsplace.co.uk
Go big on beauty in Covent Garden
Covent Garden ’s beauty festival welcomes its biggest line-up to date this week, transforming the Piazza, surrounding streets and Seven Dials into a playground for lovers of skincare and wellness. From 4 September, expect masterclasses, exclusive offers, fragrance experiences and wellness activations from brands including Charlotte Tilbury, Nars, Elemis and SpaceNK. This weekend, follow the new Backstage Beauty trail, collecting treats and expert tips from 10 iconic brands – tickets cost £20, with a portion of the profits supporting Beauty Banks. Address: Across Covent Garden and Seven Dials Website: coventgarden.london
Savour BBQ flavours at The Ned
Swanky London hotel The Ned welcomes two Michelin-starred barbecue chefs for a month of flame-kissed flavours from this Saturday. John Bates from InterStellar BBQ and Ali Clem from la Barbecue transform The Ned’s Electric Bar and Diner with Texan scents and flavours, serving a menu showcasing the craftsmanship, provenance and bold flavours that have made Austin one of the world's tastiest destinations. Think sharing trays uniting highlights from each restaurant’s menu, packed with treats such as peach tea-glazed pork belly, tender pulled lamb shoulder, chimichurri beef short rib and chopped cheese sausage. Address: Electric Bar & Diner, The Ned London, 27 Poultry, City of London Website: thened.com
Tuck in at a flavoursome festival
The foodie festival adored by fire-cooking lovers is smoking out Tobacco Dock this weekend, as more than 80 chefs set up camp for four days of culinary action. Each dish at Meatopia is created specifically for the festival, so the most flavoursome of them may have you begging chefs for recipes to take home. Talent in the line-up this year includes Welsh duo Sam Evans and Shauna Guinn of Hangfire BBQ, MasterChef: The Professionals finalist Mark O'Brien of Snake Oil Barbecue and Ana Goncalves and Zijun Meng; the duo behind TÓU and the iconic Ibérico katsu sando. Address: Tobacco Dock, Wapping Lane, London E1W 2SF Website: meatopia.co.uk
Get inspired at the UK’s largest tattoo convention
More than 500 international tattoo artists come together under one roof for the Big London Tattoo Show as the UK’s largest tattoo convention returns to Excel. Book times with renowned tattoo artists in pop-up studios, learn about different styles and techniques, roam temporary exhibitions and experience an eclectic range of entertainment including BMX stunts, fire points to and live performances. Address: Excel, London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL Website: biglondontattooshow.com
Catch Fringe favourites in Soho
There’s good news for anyone suffering from Edinburgh Fringe FOMO, as the return of Underbelly Soho’s Fridge Fix sees a handpicked selection of the festival’s most talked-about shows land in the capital this month. Trojan comedy Burning Down The Horse kicks things off on Tuesday evening following two sell-out Fringe runs, while Thursday’s Never Let Go: An Unauthorised Retelling of James Cameron’s Titanic is a queer spectacular that condenses the tragedy into a captivating hour. This weekend’s highlights include Penelope, which reimagines the tale of Odysseus’ wife as she speaks her truth, and Raves R Us , which follows Charlie and his friends as they transform an abandoned warehouse and the theatre into a ravers' paradise for the evening. Website: underbellyboulevard.com
Grab a slice… with an aesthetic side
How about a slice of culture with your pizza this September? If that sounds up your street, head to Bad Boy Pizza Society as the Bethnal Green pizzeria transforms into a month-long photography exhibition celebrating the people, places and culture behind New York City's slice shops. Settle in, feast, and look on at the places that have inspired London’s pizza boom through photographer Samuel Ryde’s lens. Address: Bad Boy Pizza Society, 419 Bethnal Green Road, London E2 0AN Website: badboypizzasoc.com
Feast at this week’s hottest kitchen takeover
Half Cut Market’s head chef Aidan Richardson-Dawkins hands over his kitchen to chefs Hannah Wilson from Camille and Albert Smith from Smoking Goat this weekend for what’s sure to be a tasty spectacular. The duo have curated a bespoke à la carte menu where French precision meets Thailand’s regional flavours across dishes such as fermented sausages, cod cheeks with curried gribiche, and grilled mackerel gaeng som. Address: Half Cut Market, 396 York Way, Islington, London N7 9LW Website: halfcut.world
Enjoy tacos and a tipple
Until the end of September With London’s ‘taco renaissance’ in full swing, we’re constantly on the lookout for a tasty new spot where we can satisfy our cravings. Luckily for us, one of the capital’s swishest hotels is now in on the act, as Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s abc kitchens at The Emory embraces the Mexican staple. Until the end of September, the restaurant’s tacos de tarde session sees treats including barbecue pork tacos and crispy dover sole tacos paired with zesty cocktails between 2.30pm and 6.30pm. Address: abc kitchens, Old Barrack Yard, London SW1X 7NP Website: maybourne.com
Devour stateside flavours in King’s Cross
Feast on a slice of NYC before summer’s out as Brooklyn favourite Best Pizza has landed at The Standard. The cult pizza spot has taken over the hotel’s ground-floor bar, Double Standard, until 13 September, with chefs serving up signature 14"–16" round pies, including margheritas, white pies and marinaras. There’s a soppressata coppola pizza created especially for the pop-up, plus a host of picky bits and extras, from sautéed long hot peppers to indulgent tiramisu. Address: The Standard London, 10 Argyle Street, London WC1H 8EG Website: standardhotels.com
