What To Do This Weekend 06.07.23
FIND A RARE GEM:
English National Opera Costume Sale
For the first time in a decade, the English National Opera will open its costume and props archives for a sale that’s open to the public. From 10am to 4pm on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th July, visitors can shop a selection of unique pieces including elaborate costumes from various ENO productions over the years, as well as suits, wedding dresses and vintage furniture. There’s also a range of weird and wonderful props on sale, from shoes and hats to masks and giant lizards.
601 Woolwich Road, Greenwich, SE7 8LU
Visit ENO.org
HAVE A FAMILY DAY OUT:
RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival
If you didn’t get to Chelsea Flower Show this year, the RHS is hosting its annual garden festival at Hampton Court Palace this weekend. To celebrate its 30th anniversary, there will be hundreds of exhibitors around the showground, as well as flowers to buy in the Plant Village. Little ones can take part in activities and workshops, including den building, foraging, exploring plant life and gardening activities at The Mini Gardeners Club. Families can also listen to live music and stop at the food and drink stalls, including waterside picnics by Fortnum & Mason. Tickets start from £29.85.
Hampton Court Way, Molesey, East Molesey, KT8 9AU
Visit RHS.org.uk
GET YOUR CULTURE FIX:
Sundance Film Festival
London’s Sundance Film Festival will celebrate its tenth anniversary with a series of screenings at Picturehouse Central from Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th July. It will present 11 feature films that premiered at Sundance showcases around the world, including fiction and documentary films, as well as a curated programme of UK-produced shorts. The festival opens on Thursday with the UK premiere of Scrapper by Charlotte Regan, which tells the story of 20-something Jason who returns from his life in Ibiza to live with his 12-year-old daughter Georgie, who he has never met, after her mother Vicky dies. Other highlights include Passages starring Ben Whishaw, indie film Past Lives, and Mutt which tells the story of a young trans guy bustling through life in New York City. Tickets start from £17.90.
Piccadilly Circus, Corner of Great Windmill Street & Shaftesbury Avenue, West End, W1D 7DH
Visit Picturehouses.com
MEET THE GIRLS:
R&B Bottomless Brunch at Café Koko
Camden’s iconic Koko reopened last year after a three-year £70m restoration. The state-of-the-art music and arts venue also now houses day-to-night Café Koko, which serves breakfast from 8am and New York-style pizza through the day. To celebrate its one-year anniversary, the restaurant has launched an R&B brunch on Saturdays from noon to 5pm (£35pp). The ‘On & On Bottomless Brunch’ (named after an Erykah Badu song) includes bottomless prosecco, mimosas or bloody marys alongside two classic brunch dishes or pizza – all enjoyed as DJs play 90s R&B and hip-hop from the likes of TLC, Biggy, 2Pac, Destiny’s Child, Boyz II Men and Jay-Z.
Ground Floor, 74 Crowndale Road, Camden, NW1 1TP
Visit Cafe-Koko.co.uk
TRY NEW FLAVOURS:
Cocktails in the City
Cocktails in the City returns to Bedford Square Gardens with drinks, masterclasses, tastings, street food, live music and interactive games from some of London’s best bars. The first event in the series takes place today until Saturday 8th July when visitors can try drinks from Blue Bar at The Berkeley, Zetter Townhouse and Hacha Agaveria. The theme is ‘inspiration’ so expect drinks that showcase the latest cocktail trends and flavours. Once you’ve ordered drinks, take part in workshops – which range from The Art of Hosting to TT Liquor and Ice Carving Cool.
Bedford Square, West End, WC1B 3ES
Visit CocktailsInTheCity.com
TAKE TO THE MIC:
Bearpit Karaoke
Vauxhall One is hosting a free karaoke afternoon on Saturday 8th July at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. Choose your best song and challenge your friends to a sing-off in front of a live crowd. Guests can watch others take the mic on deck chairs or set up for the day on a picnic blanket. Tickets are free – just register at the link below which will also enter you into a prize draw for local meals, drinks, show tickets and more.
139 Vauxhall Walk, Lambeth, SE11 5HL; 4-8pm
Visit Eventbrite.co.uk
Paco Villalta
BE TRANSPORTED TO SPAIN:
Flamenco Festival at Sadler’s Wells
The two-week Flamenco Festival returns to Sadler’s Wells this month with performances from leading female choreographers and acclaimed guitarists. Festival highlights include ‘Alma’, a traditional flamenco show by Olivier-winning dancer Sara Baras (5th-9th July); a concert by Grammy-winning flamenco guitarist Vicente Amigo (10th July); and the all-male production of ‘Gala Flamenca’ (14th-15th July). The festival will close with a DJ night on Saturday 15th July, when the audience will be invited to join in on the dancefloor. Tickets start from £15.
Rosebery Ave, Islington, EC1R 4TN
Visit SadlersWells.com
CATCH A GIG:
Somerset House Summer Series
Across 11 nights of open-air gigs, the Somerset House Summer Series brings a fun festival atmosphere to Zone 1 – and a host of chances to see big names and up-and-coming artists in an intimate setting. This year’s line-up includes Olivia Dean, Young Fathers, Jordan Mackampa, Interpol and The Lounge Society. Courtyard bars will serve drinks all evening, while the San Miguel pop-up will be on hand with beers and Spanish snacks. Tickets start from £25.
Strand, Covent Garden, WC2R 1LA; 6th-16th July
Visit SomersetHouse.org.uk
CELEBRATE 75 YEARS OF THE NHS:
FUJIFILM House of Photography
The National Health Service turns 75 this week. Mark the occasion at the FUJIFILM House of Photography which has opened a free exhibition to celebrate and commemorate the NHS. Curated in partnership with NHS England, it includes uplifting and inspiring shots taken by staff and volunteers – each person submitted a photo that demonstrates what the service means to them, from smartphone selfies to photos taken with professional photography equipment.
8-9 Long Acre, Covent Garden, WC2E 9LH; until 31st August
WATCH A CABARET SHOW:
Riviera
Mayfair hotspot Riviera is hosting a free cabaret show at its restaurant on Saturday 8th July. Guests can enjoy dishes inspired by the Côte d’Azur like niçoise salad, seabass carpaccio, lobster brioche rolls and turbot meunière. There’s also a great cocktail menu featuring the classics and French-inspired drinks. Meanwhile dancers, singers and acrobats will provide entertainment in the dining room, before guests a continue the party into the early hours in the new lounge.
23 St James’s Street, St James’s, SW1A 1H
Visit Riviera-London.co.uk
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