What's on in London this week: 8-14 July 2024
Cocktails in the City
Cocktails in the City returns to Bedford Square Gardens this week with its Summer Series' Games Edition. Featuring 20 of London's top bars, the festival includes unique cocktails, bartending competitions, a sustainable spirits bar, cocktail-making classes, garden games, live music, a silent disco, and international street food.
Date: 11 - 13 July 2024. Location: Bedford Square Garden, Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3ES. Price: £22 per person, including welcome cocktail, live music and tasting sessions.Book now.
Cocktails in the City returns to Bedford Square Garden this week.
Somerset House Summer Series
The Somerset House Summer Series is back with an 11-day lineup of open-air performances. Enjoy a fantastic array of global artists such as Pip Millett, Patti Smith Quartet, Corinne Bailey Rae, and more, showcasing rap, R&B, soul, rock, and other genres in the iconic courtyard.
Date: 11 - 21 July 2024. Location: Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA. somersethouse.org.uk.
UEFA EURO 2024: England v Netherlands
England will take on the Netherlands in the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-finals this Wednesday! The Three Lions are one step closer to bringing it home, and we're here to help you catch all the action. Click here for our guide on where to watch the match and make sure you don't miss out on the drama! #ItsComingHome
Giant screen at The Duke of Greenwich, England, to take on the Netherlands this Wednesday.
BST Hyde Park
BST Hyde Park is in full swing, and this weekend they will have headliners Stevie Nicks, Kylie, and Stray Kids taking the stage. But that's not all – Open House will continue until 14th July, featuring live music, Wimbledon broadcasts, outdoor cinema, and children's theatre.
Date: 29 June – 14 July 2024, Location: Hyde Park, W2 2UH. Book now.
Wimbledon
As the tournament enters its final week, you can catch live action at various London venues, including free screenings, or indulge in tennis-themed afternoon tea and desserts across the city until 14 July. Click here for our guide on where you can watch Wimbledon 2024 in London.
Wimbledon screenings at Islington Square.
Kew the Music
Kew the Music is back at Kew Gardens this week with artists like Mika, Ronan Keating, Passenger, and Beverley Knight, along with a special evening featuring Monty Don. Bring your own picnic chair or blanket, pack a picnic, or buy food and drinks onsite.
Date: 8 -14 July 2023. Price: from £61.25. Locaton: Kew Gardens, Kew, TW9 3AB. Book now.
You Belong Here
This week, Southbank Centre's ongoing "You Belong Here" season will feature several notable events: David Olusoga on 11 July, author Kelechi Okafor and a panel of inspiring women on 13 July, and journalist and author Sathnam Sanghera in conversation with Colin Grant. Don't miss their community day on the roof of the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Click here to discover more events happening this week as part of the ongoing 'You Belong Here' season at the Southbank Centre.
Tavares Strachan, You Belong Here, Prospect.3 New Orleans, 2014. (Installation view from Prospect 3 Biennale, New Orleans, LA). Blocked out neon travelling installation on the Mississippi River. 30 ft x 80 ft on 100-ft barge. Courtesy of the artist.
Kaleidoscope Festival
Kaleidoscope Festival is returning to Alexandra Palace this weekend, combining stunning views from the iconic Ally Pally with great music and entertainment. This year marks the festival's fourth edition, featuring a lineup of renowned artists, including Erol Alkan, Huey Morgan, and Artful Dodger.
Date: 13 July 2024. Price: early bird tickets from £13.43. Location: Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY. Book now.
Arts & Culture
Opening this week
Come As You Really Are
Come As You Really Are is a major exhibition showcasing the UK's hobbies, featuring thousands of handmade objects loaned by hundreds of people from across the UK. The exhibition, commissioned by Artangel and presented by Hetain Patel, explores how people express themselves and assert their identity through their hobbies, which range from traditional crafts like knitting and LEGO to more unusual activities like customising Action-Man dolls and making miniature origami.
The exhibition will run from 18 July - 20 October 2024, with subsequent presentations at partner venues across the UK in 2025.
Location: Grants Building,14-32 High Street, Croydon, CR0 1GT. Price: Free. artangel.org.uk.
Baa’s House (2015) c. Hetain Patel.
Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award 2024
The Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award returns to the National Portrait Gallery, featuring outstanding contemporary portrait painting from artists aged 18 and over. With over 40,000 entries from around the world, this exhibition is a must-see!
Date: 11 July - 27 October 2024. Location: National Portrait Gallery, St. Martin's Pl, London WC2H 0HE. Price: Free. npg.org.uk.
#FLOFavourites: This Week
Lonnie Holley: All Rendered Truth
Lonnie Holley's new exhibition is a poignant exploration of his childhood experiences in Alabama, where discarded objects are transformed into powerful works of art. From his unique perspective, he reflects themes of resilience and renewal.
Date: 5 July - 15 September 2024. Location: Camden Art Centre, Arkwright Rd, London NW3 6DG. Price: Free. camdenartcentre.org.
All Rendered Truth by Lonnie Holley at Camden Art Centre.
Barbie: The Exhibition
Step into the world of Barbie like never before at the Design Museum's exhibition celebrating her 65th anniversary. With exclusive access to the Barbie archives, this show delves into the design evolution and cultural impact of this iconic doll since her creation in 1959. Click here for our review of Barbie: The Exhibition.
Date: 5 July 2024 - 23 February 2025. Location: The Design Museum. 224-238 Kensington High St, London W8 6AG. Price: adult from £14.38. Children aged 6 to 15 from £7.19. Under 6s go free. Book now.
Jo Underhill for the Design Museum .
Joy Labinjo: We Are Briefly Gorgeous
Southwark Park Galleries presents a new body of work by British-Nigerian painter Joy Labinjo, capturing the vibrant spirit of Southwark Park and Bermondsey. Her paintings evoke a sense of familiarity, inviting viewers to connect with the community and its stories.
Date: 6 July - 29 September 2024. Location: Southwark Park Galleries. 1 Park Approach, Southwark Park, London, SE162UA. Price: Free. southwarkparkgalleries.org.
Firelei Báez: Sueño de la Madrugada (A Midnight’s Dream)
Firelei Báez, a Dominican American artist, presents her debut solo exhibition titled Sueño de la Madrugada at South London Gallery. Curated by New Curators, the show explores themes of folklore, gender, power, ecology, and resilience through the lens of the Ciguapa, a mythological figure from Dominican folklore. Báez's vibrant paintings and immersive installations challenge traditional narratives and address climate change and migration experiences.
Date: 28 June – 8 September 2024. Location: South London Gallery, 65 Peckham Rd, London SE5 8UH. Price: Free. southlondongallery.org.
Firelei Báez, Fruta Fina, Fruta Estrana (Lee Monument), 2022. Oil and acrylic on archival printed canvas. Courtesy of the artist and Hauser & Wirth, New York.
#FLOFavourites: Pick of the Week
FREE EVENT OF THE WEEK
Old Royal Naval College’s Summer Big Screen
© Old Royal Naval College Hugh Fox .
The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich is currently showing Wimbledon and the Euros on their Summer Big Screen until 14 July. This free outdoor event offers views of the Thames, set amidst picturesque surroundings, with convenient access to food stalls and The Old Brewery pub. From 26 July to 11 August, the Big Screen will broadcast the Olympics.
Date: until 11 Aug 2024. Location: King William Lawn, Old Royal Naval College, London SE10 9NN. ornc.org.
Interview of the week
In conversation with Halima Cassell
Sculptor Halima Cassell MBE with her installation ‘Virtues of Unity’ on display at her solo show as the winner of the Brookfield Properties Craft Award 2024 | 30 Fenchurch Street, London.
Artist and sculptor Halima Cassell was born in Pakistan, raised in Lancashire, and now lives in Shropshire. Her art reflects her diverse background, blending Asian roots with a passion for African patterns and architectural geometry. Halima’s work is characterised by its intensity and playfulness, structured creativity, and consistent originality and appeal. Click here to read the full interview.
Halima currently has exhibitions on show at 99 Bishopsgate and 30 Fenchurch Street in London, in collaboration with @brookfieldpropertieslondon and @craftcouncil.
Food of the week
Rucola rooftop restaurant
Rucola rooftop restaurant has launched a weekend brunch available on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 4pm. Image courtesy of The Conduit London.
Experience Weekend Brunchissimo at Rucola, the rooftop restaurant located at The Conduit London. Treat yourself to an array of antipasti and sharing mains such as Peperonata, Fritto misto, Aubergine Parmigiana, Cornish market fish, and roast chicken. Enjoy signature cocktails, live music, and breathtaking city views from their fifth-floor rooftop. For £60, two people can enjoy antipasti and mains together. Weekend Brunchissimo is served on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 4pm.
Location: The Condiut, 6 Langley St, London WC2H 9JA. Instagram:@theconduitlondon. theconduit.com.
Cause of the week
The Literacy Pirates
The Literacy Pirates, a charity based in London, is dedicated to empowering children aged 9-12 who struggle academically and face limited opportunities. They are now seeking enthusiastic volunteers to join their mission, offering flexible opportunities with comprehensive training provided.
They run an after-school programme from pirate-themed spaces to help children develop their reading and writing skills, and also their confidence and perseverance. As a volunteer, you'll play a vital role by providing one-on-one or small group support, offering words of encouragement, and celebrating the children's achievements.
If you're passionate about making a difference, please email volunteering@literacypirates.org or visit literacypirates.org to learn more and sign up. You can choose from in-person or online opportunities nationwide.
Additionally, if you'd like to support The Literacy Pirates' mission financially, you can click here to make a donation.