What's on in London this week: 7 – 13 August 2023
Discover our pick of things to do in London this week: 7 – 13 August 2023.
King's Cross Summer Sounds Music Festival 2023
Get ready for the return of the King's Cross Summer Sounds Music Festival this week. Over 12 exciting days, enjoy electrifying music, dance performances, and global artists at the iconic Coal Drops Yard. From Black Voices to jazz, classical, and folk musicians, this inclusive festival offers free concerts daily from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm, with 'Family Sundays' from 1 pm to 6 pm. Experience a celebration of art, culture, and unity in the heart of London.
Date: 9 - 20 August 2023. Location: Coal Drops Yard, Stable Street, N1C 4DQ. Price: Free
Image: King's Cross Summer Sounds Music Festival
BBC Proms
The Proms are in full swing, and this week offers a great chance to experience affordable classical concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. Notable highlights include John Storgårds and the BBC Philharmonic performing with mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly, presenting turn-of-the-century songs by Alma Mahler-Werfel and Croatia’s Dora Pejačević, along with the iconic score from Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. The Proms are perfect for both newcomers curious about classical music and seasoned enthusiasts looking for a delightful treat.
Date: 14 July – 9 September 2023.Price: from £8. Location: mainly the Royal Albert Hall. Click here to discover Proms events.
Image: Barbie extravaganza at Rooftop Film Club in Peckham. Image courtesy of Rooftop Film Club.
The Barbiecore at Rooftop Film Club
Catch the latest Barbie movie this week in a special setting at Rooftop Film Club in Peckham. They've turned their rooftop into a pink-themed oasis with a life-size Barbie box, a pink Chevy bar, palm trees, glitter balls, and inflatables. It's a great way to enjoy the summer's biggest release in a unique atmosphere.
Date: 10-14 August 2023. Time: Film starts at sunset (around 9pm). Tickets: from £16.95. Location: Roof A, Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, Peckham SE15 4ST. Book now.
Roundhouse Comedy Gala with Dylan Moran
This week, don't miss out on the Roundhouse Comedy Galas! Featuring a star-studded lineup of comic talent, including Dylan Moran, Nish Kumar, Sindhu Vee, Reggie Watts, and Zoë Coombs Marr, and hosted by the fantastic Suzi Ruffell, these shows promise to deliver unforgettable nights of laughter and entertainment. Grab your tickets now before they're gone!
Date: Wednesday 8 August 2023. Time: 7.30pm. Price: from £17.50. Book now.
Kate Lois Elliot: Gentrif*cked at Camden Fringe
Watch Kate Elliot’s show, Gentrifcked, as part of Camden Fringe. Kate-Lois Elliott, a British Writers' Guild Award-nominated comedian, is known for her self-deprecating humor and surprisingly profound storytelling. In her debut show, Gentrifcked, Kate explores the theme of finding one's purpose. The performance takes the audience on a humorous journey through village life, grappling with existential crises in one's thirties, and the pursuit of belonging without resorting to joining a cult, a path her grandma had taken in the past.
Date: 13 August 2023. Time: 4.00pm. Location: The Bill Murray, 39 Queen's Head Street. Price: £7.50. Book now.
Image: Photo by Bence Boros.
London Craft Beer Festival
The eagerly anticipated annual craft beer extravaganza is making its triumphant return to Tobacco Dock, boasting an impressive lineup of over 100 breweries. Including the likes of Tiny Rebel, Lost and Grounded, Kelham Island, Unbarred, Beak, Mikkeller, Stone & Wood, and an enticing array of over 40 American breweries courtesy of the Brewers Association. You'll also have the opportunity to indulge in a culinary delight brought to you by food vendors such as ACME Fire Cult, Decatur, Bone Daddies, and Tendril.
Date: 11 - 12 August 2023. Time: 11.30am-4.30pm; 6pm-11pm, or all weekend tickets available. Price: from £52.50, includes all beers. Location: Tobacco Quay, Wapping Lane, Wapping E1W 2SF. Book now.
Wellness
Outdoor Breakfast Club Yoga in King's Cross
Join Fran every Friday until the end of August at 7.15am on the Granary Square steps in King's Cross for an invigorating Breakfast Yoga Class. Strengthen your body and mind through a breath-guided sequence of postures. Plus, enjoy a Frame tote bag filled with goodies!
Location: King's Cross Granary Square Canalside steps (Regent's Canal Towpath, N1C 4PQ). Price: £16, Free for Gold & Frame members.Book now.
Image: Ginny Rose Stewart
Gymshark London Run Club
Join the Gymshark London Run Club every Tuesday for a beginner-friendly 5k run around Central London. The run starts and ends at the Gymshark store on Regent Street. All fitness levels are welcome from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. Come challenge yourself and be part of the running community!
Date: every Tuesday. Time: 6.30pm - 7.30pm. Location: Gymshark Regent St, 165 Regent St, London W1S 3BE. Book now.
Water sports in London
The sun is set to make a comeback in the city this week, presenting the perfect opportunity to explore London's aquatic wonders! Whether you're interested in stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking adventures along the Thames, leisurely boating on the Serpentine, or adrenaline-pumping wake boarding at the Royal Docklands, the options are boundless. Here's our curated selection of water activities in city.
Boating
Discover scenic boating lakes scattered across London's major parks. From Hyde Park's Serpentine to Ally Pally, in the north and Victoria Park in the east, you're spoiled for choice. Richmond offers a tranquil havens for a leisurely day on the water, while Dulwich Park and Crystal Palace in the south provide idyllic settings for relaxation.
Image: Boating in Richmond. August 2023. © MTotoe.
Sailing
Experience the thrill of sailing on the River Thames or London's picturesque lakes. For beginners, the London Corinthian Sailing Club offers courses, while Croydon Sailing Club at South Norwood Lake is perfect for competitive racing and sailing classes. The Docklands Sailing and Water Sports Centre provides comprehensive sailing, windsurfing, and power boating courses. Wimbledon Park offers serene sailing sessions for all skill levels.
Image: Sailing in Crystal Palace. July 2023. © MTotoe.
Paddle boarding
Embrace a new perspective of London through stand-up paddle boarding. Glide through tranquil scenes while getting a fantastic workout that enhances balance and endurance. Kew Bridge in Richmond and Paddington Basin are ideal spots, with Active 360 offering group and private sessions, along with board rentals.
Click here to discover more water sports and activities to do in London this summer.
Arts & Culture
Opening this week
Simone Brewster: Woman of Parts
Artist and designer Simone Brewster presents her final works from debut collections in an intimate pop-up exhibition at the J/M Gallery in Notting Hill for one week. Titled Woman of Parts, the exhibition explores personal relationships with shape and form, inviting viewers to reflect on connections to gender, race, and body image. Curated by James Marshall, the exhibition offers a chance to experience Brewster's unique language.
Date: 7 - 13 August 2023. Location: J/M Gallery, 230 Portobello Rd, London W11 1LJ. Price: Free.
Image: Simone Brewster. Women of Parts exhibition at J/M Gallety.
Intuition Goes Before You
Intuition Goes Before You is an exhibition curated by Vittoria Beltrame, featuring artists Isabella Lolita Amram, Helen Bermingham, Ashley Cluer, Eva Dixon, and Rebecca Hardaker. These artists share a common thread of expressive and physically engaging works that highlight the process of creation. The exhibition emphasises the performative aspects of their art-making, inviting viewers to appreciate the journey as much as the final product.
Date: 11 - 20 August 2023. Location: 13 Soho Square, W1D 3QF. Price: Free.
Image: Imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth by Rebecca Hardaker. 2023.
#FLOFAVOURITES: THIS WEEK
Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own
Currently on display at Sotheby's is a showcase of 1,400 personal items belonging to the legendary Queen frontman. These items, including iconic stage costumes, handwritten song drafts, and his cherished baby grand piano, offer a unique insight into his life. The exhibition, titled Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own, will run until 5 September, coinciding with what would have been Mercury's 77th birthday. It serves as a tribute to his passion for collecting. His close friend Mary Austin, overseeing the auction of these items, plans to donate a portion of the proceeds to charity.
Date: 4 August - 5 September 2023.Location: Sotheby's London, 34-35 New Bond St, London W1S 2RP. Opening hours: Monday- Friday: 11am - 4.30pm; weekends: Noon - 5pm.On 1 September the exhibition will remain open until 7pm, and it will conclude on 5 September at 1pm. Price: Free. The auction will run 6-13 September 2023. Website: sothebys.com
Image: Freddie Mercury: A World Of His Own. Sotheby’s London. August 2023. Photo by MTotoe.
Illusionaires: Multisensory Art Odyssey
Illusionaries, the UK's first story-based multi-sensory art experience, is now open in Canary Wharf. Explore an enchanting fusion of art and technology, with light, sound, and movement creating mind-bending illusions. The premiere exhibition, Memories of a Dead Poet, features three galleries and a network of tunnels, offering otherworldly imagery and soulful soundscapes. Illusionaries is the perfect after-work activity or date spot.
Location: Illusionaries, Crossrail Place, London E14 5AR. Price: from £27. Book now.
Image: Illusionaries
Painting Matters
Painting Matters at Alice Amati, showcases Manchester School of Art graduates who foreground matters within painting. The exhibition challenges norms, exploring painting's relevance, history, and materiality. From evocative works by Robin Megannity to Louise Giovanelli's rejection of theoretical constraints, the show celebrates painting's essence. Tommy Harrison resists nostalgia, while Fisher Mustin sees painting as a collective cultural tradition. Rafal Topolewski's journey reflects painting's exploration. Together, they reaffirm painting's importance and certainty in the art world.
Date: until 25 August 2023. Location: 27 Warren St, London W1T 5NB. Price: Free.
Patrick Hughes: The Newest Perspective
Alon Zakaim Fine Art presents The Newest Perspective, a new exhibition featuring celebrated British artist Patrick Hughes. The exhibition showcases twenty-five new works, including the pioneering ‘Solid Hollows’ series and the multiple edition ‘Paree’. Hughes, a key figure in contemporary British painting and the mastermind behind reverspective art, challenges perceptions with his mesmerising illusionary works. The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to explore Hughes's world of illusion and narrative, inviting viewers to question their understanding of space and vision.
Date: 17 July - 8 September 2023. Location: Alon Zakaim Fine Art, 27 Cork St, London W1S 3NG. Price: Free.
Image: Patrick Hughes. All Over. Alon Zakaim Fine Art.
Pop-up & Venues
My Runway Group pop-up shop
From August 11 - 24 September, the East Wing at Somerset House will host a curated shop by My Runway Group, featuring products from over 200 Black-owned businesses. This retail experience celebrates Black creativity and entrepreneurship, offering diverse offerings for all. My Runway Group nurtures emerging Black talent and businesses, with the aim to inspire the next generation of creatives.
Date: 11 August - 24 September 2023. Location: East Wing, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA. Website: somersethouse.org.uk.
Image: My Runway Group pop-up shop.
#FLOFavourites: Pick of the week
FREE EVENT OF THE WEEK
Lungs of Our City
Image: 2Faced Dance. Lungs of Our City. Photo by Finn Beales.
Three male performers take on roles in a futuristic setting, where wanderers from a desolate world unite to experience life in our polluted cities. The emotional and athletic performance delves into our collective hopes and fears for the future, making it a timely and impactful exploration of the human experience.This is event is part of Kensington & Chelsea Festival.
Date: 12 - 13 August 2023. Location: Kensington Memorial Park, St Mark's Road, London W10 6BZ. Price: Free. Website: kcfestival.co.uk.
Meet the Designer in the Shed: Clara Chu's Design Process
Step into Clara Chu's Design studio and gain insight into her creative process. Visit 'The Shed' at Young V&A for an open studio experience, where you can explore her fashion accessories, materials, and design techniques. Discover Clara's work in progress, get a behind-the-scenes look at her bustling design studio, and enjoy drop-in show and tell sessions.
Date: Tuesdays and Thursdays over the summer, from Thursday, 10 August 2023, to Saturday, 2 September 2023. Location: Young V&A, Cambridge Heath Road in Bethnal Green, London, E2 9PA. Price: Free.
Food of the week
Hotel AMANO Rooftop
London welcomes the Whispering Angel Terraces this summer. We explored the charming Hotel AMANO Rooftop nestled in Covent Garden, savouring their tapas menu complemented by Whispering Angel rosé wine. This hidden gem on the seventh floor provides sweeping views of the cityscape and sunset. With an array of exceptional rosé wines, including Whispering Angel, Rock Angel, and Les Clans, and a tapas menu featuring dishes like Green Fattoush Salad, Tiradito with salmon and passionfruit tigermilk, and Pan Con Tomate with Cantabrian Anchovy and coca bread, an unmatched blend of scenery, fine rosé, and tasty tapas awaits you at AMANO Rooftop this summer.
Location: The Trafalgar St. James London, 2 Spring Gardens, Trafalgar Sq, St. James's, London SW1A 2TS. Date: until end of Summer 2023. Website: trafalgarstjames.com
Image: Tapas and Whispering Angel at Hotel AMANO. August 2023. © MTotoe.
Click here to discover more Whispering Angel Terraces in London.
INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK
Discover the remarkable stories of Londoners who have developed their businesses, triumphed in their respective fields, or shared their love for the city. Click here to watch seasons 1-3 of our interview series, FLO London Meets.
Cause of the week
City Harvest London
City Harvest London
City Harvest London is a dynamic food redistribution charity that rescues surplus food from waste and delivers it to over 350 charities across the city. In the face of the UK's cost-of-living crisis and the alarming food emergency, with 1 in 4 Londoners struggling to afford meals and the city generating almost 2 million tonnes of food waste annually, their contribution is invaluable. By volunteering with City Harvest, you directly impact their mission – for every hour you dedicate, 530 meals can be delivered.
Click here to discover more about volunteering with City Harvest London.
Website: cityharvest.org.uk. Instagram: @cityharvestlondon
UPCOMING EVENTS
Hospitality in the Woods Returns
Image: Hospitality in the Woods. Photo by Danny Cozens.
Hospitality in the Woods returns to Beckenham Place Park on 19 August 2023, featuring headliners like Netsky, High Contrast, A.M.C, Calibre, Roni Size, and more across five stages. Embracing community spirit, the festival offers a day of music and camaraderie, recapturing past magic. As a global Drum & Bass powerhouse and the UK's premier event of its kind, it promises an unforgettable musical journey for all Drum & Bass enthusiasts.
Date: 19 August 2023. Location: Beckenham Place Park,Beckenham Hill Rd, Beckenham BR3 1SY.Price: from £33.25. Book now.
