We’re in the midst of the summer, experiencing a European heatwave, and there’s a bank holiday on the horizon – what more can we ask for? A guide to London’s highlights in August, that’s what! With August being the last bank holiday of the year, it’s important to make it a good one. There’s no better place to enjoy the sun than in London, so we’ve compiled the ultimate guide to the capital’s Bank Holiday offerings.
From Notting Hill Carnival, to new theatre shows, to outdoor cinema, pick an attraction, get yourself booked into a Dorsett Hotel, City of London, and make the most of your weekend.
Notting Hill Carnival
Europe’s largest street festival, the Notting Hill Carnival, takes over west London over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Join more than one million people for a huge Caribbean party, with the colourful floats and parades guaranteed to entertain all the family. The 2019 Notting Hill Carnival kicks off at 6am on Sunday the 25th August, ending at 10pm on Monday the 26th. Celebrate with the costume-clad Caribbeans as they move to traditional calypso, rumba, meringue, reggae, and zouk music.
Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens
Transport yourself back to the 19th century this Bank Holiday, as on the 24th of August Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens are exhibiting ‘We are the Fair – Discovering Victorian Vauxhall’. This free day out will feature distinctly Victorian fun and games, with performances from tightrope walkers, stilt walkers, and strong men. Perfect for a family day out that’s a little more traditional.
Green Rooms Market
Head for Peckham on Sunday the 25th to get your green fingers on pots and plants. At the Green Rooms botanical market, you’ll come across succulents, cacti, terrariums, and 3D printed pots, provided by the highly experienced independent sellers. They give talks on houseplants, and run terrarium and plant hanger making workshops. Even the kids can enjoy horticultural craft activities with child-friendly workshops on offer.
Covent Garden Cool Down
The Bank Holiday is shaping up to be a scorcher, so cool off in Covent Garden’s Piazza. From August 22nd, they’re hosting a four-day ice cream festival. The traditional ice cream flavours on offer are plentiful, but there are also some fruitier concoctions – fruit and vegetable mixes which take their inspiration from the Piazza’s heritage. They’re even offering alcoholic frozen cocktails – the perfect way to unwind in the sun this August.
Morden Park House
On Monday the 26th of August, Morden Park House’s outdoor cinema pays homage to the 1990s by offering an eclectic set of films for the Bank Holiday weekend. At 11am you can enjoy the children’s cult classic, Jumanji, with a 1pm showing of Clueless appealing to a teenage audience. At 3pm, the family can all laugh and cry at Baz Lurhmann’s Romeo and Juliet. On the evening, things take a more adult turn, with 90s classics Pretty Woman and Pulp Fiction still delighting audiences even as they approach their third decade.
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