Things To Do In London This Weekend: 20-21 August 2016

Looks like this article is a bit old. Be aware that information may have changed since it was published.

Things to do in London this weekend is sponsored by Alexandra Palace's Street Food Craft Beer Festival. Scroll down for more information.

All weekend

The London Halal Food Festival is in town.

JAZZ FESTIVAL: Head to Canary Wharf to celebrate a decade of the area's free jazz festival. There will be performances from Julia Biel, Gospel Singers Incognito and Nerija. Free, just turn up, 20-21 August

HALAL FOOD FESTIVAL: There's everything for meat to marshmallows at the London Halal Food Festival in Tobacco Dock. On Saturday there's a performance by Qawaali band, the Hussain Brothers. £10-£20, book in advance, 20-21 August

SHANGHAI BALLET: The English National Opera and Shanghai Ballet collaborate for this performance of the romance between the 8th century Emperor Ming and his favourite concubine — a story which many believe led to the downfall of the Tang Dynasty. Takes place at London Coliseum. £7.50, book in advance, 20-21 August, 7.30pm

FLOATING CINEMA: There'll be screenings, workshops and talks galore at The Floating Cinema which is docked in Hackney Wick this weekend. Curated in collaboration with journalist Hari Kunzru, Another Country's weekend of events looks at London's position in the world, especially following the EU referendum. Free (some events charge), book in advance, 19-21 August

ROMAN RUINS: Take a 45-minute guided tour of the remains of a Roman bathhouse, hidden beneath office buildings in the heart of the city. £8, book in advance, different times from 10.30am (Saturdays & Sundays until mid-December)

SECRET GARDEN FOOD FEST: Chomp on honey BBQ chicken from Chick & Fish Shop and bacon and maple brownies from Bad Brownie while you sip on champagne at Library x Urban Food Fest near Charing Cross. There'll be games, DJs and an outdoor cinema from 9pm. £20-35, book in advance, all day from 11am (every weekend until 10/11 September)

Saturday 20 August

Photo: Camberwell Fair

DUTCH BIKES: Amsterdam cycling company The Dutch Depot is selling its bikes and wares in Shoreditch for three days (last day today). Prices from £100. Free entry, 18-20 August, 9am-8pm

CREATE A PLAY: Produce a play in a day, with the help of theatre director Russell Lucas. Explore improvisation and other theatre-making activities to produce a 20-minute play. Age 16+. £30, book in advance, 10am

SHAKESPEAREAN GARDEN: Rediscover A Midsummer Night's Dream through a series of workshops which use Southwark Cathedral and the Bankside area as the backdrop for the play. £7 adult (children free), book in advance, 10am

WATER WALK: Uncover the water history of Angel and Islington with The New River and Regent's Canal on a 90-minute guided walk. £10, book in advance, 11am

MODERNIST ARCHITECTURE: Discover the 1930s architectural triumph of Hornsey Town Hall with a guided tour. £7, book in advance, 11am

WOOD WALK: Discover the Great North Wood — a wildwood established over 10,000 years ago — with the London Wildlife Trust. The two-hour walk ends in Crystal Palace Park. Free, just turn up, noon

AFROBEATS FESTIVAL: Listen to Afrobeats artists from the UK and Africa across two stages in Barking Park. Dance workshops, acrobats and go-karting also on offer. £15, book in advance, from noon

CAMBERWELL FAIR: Head to Burgess Park for Camberwell Fair 2016, with live music, dance workshops, games and a market. Free, just turn up, noon-9pm

GALAXY TALK: Molecular astrophysicist Clara Sousa-Silva will speak at Yellow Pavilion Wembley about Twinkle, the mission using spectroscopy to find out the history and composition of the planets orbiting distant stars. Free, book in advance, 3pm

LITERARY PUB CRAWL: Visit the watering holes of literary geniuses including Dylan Thomas, Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf and George Orwell on this literary pub crawl, beginning at The Wheatsheaf in Fitzrovia. £24, book in advance, 5pm

SUMMER SHINDIG: Hornsey Town Hall's summer shindig features James Whelligan, a roller disco, croquet and a lot of beer. £10, book in advance, 5pm

STAR TREK SPOOF: Watch 1999 classic Galaxy Quest starring Sigourney Weaver and Tim Allen in the Royal Observatory's Planetarium. The film is followed by a talk from an astronomer discussing the science behind the film. £6-£8, book in advance, 6pm

ELECTRO-CLUB MUSIC: Electronic music website Wunderground is taking over McQueen in Shoreditch for a night of partying. £10, book in advance, 8pm


Sponsor message

Last Chance For Street Food And Craft Beer With A View

Eat some of London's best street food, and drink the city's best beers while you look over Ally Pally's beautiful panoramic view.

As summer all-too-rapidly draws to a close, this weekend is your last chance to celebrate the season at the free Alexandra Palace Street Food and Craft Beer Festival.

The festival features over 20 types of local and international craft beer along with a huge range of range of London's best street food such as Iberico Jack, Grill My Cheese, and Smokestak to name but a few.

Enjoy all this with the backdrop of live music, and Ally Pally's stunning panoramic views.

Alexandra Palace Street Food and Craft Beer Festival takes place at Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY on 20-21 August, from 11am-late. Everyone is welcome, and entry is free.


Enjoy a free concert at Horniman Museum.

Sunday 21 August

3D PRINTED SUNGLASSES: Make your own shades to protect you from the summer sun using a 3D printing pen that lets you draw with plastic. Takes place at Netil360 in Hackney. £24, book in advance, 10.30am

CONWAY HALL TALK: Indra Adnan, The Downing Street Project's founder, talks about leadership and soft power. Benin City's Joshua Edehen will perform spoken poetry and there'll be a singalong too. Free, just turn up, 11am

WATER TOWER: Discover Carshalton Water Tower's 18th century sunken bath and the remains of the restored water wheel. When you reach the roof, take in the beautiful views of the surrounding area. £2, just turn up, from 2.30pm

BANDSTAND CONCERT: Head to the gardens of Forest Hill's Horniman Museum for an outdoor concert of Brazilian dance music, performed by Brazilian/Latino band Viramundo. Free, just turn up, 3pm-5pm

DRY SHAMPOO WORKSHOP: Make your own dry shampoo using natural ingredients at this workshop in Bethnal Green. £10, book in advance, 3.45pm

DANCING BOAT: Dance to music from the 80s to the present day on a boat floating down the Thames. £26.50, book in advance, 6.30pm

MOONWALKER: To mark Michael Jackson's birthday, Ritzy Picturehouse screens 1988 film Moonwalker, which stars the singer. The screening is followed by a Michael Jackson dance-off. £6/£8, book in advance, 7pm

COMEDY GIG: Have a laugh at The Lordship Pub in East Dulwich with MC Sion James and an award-winning comedian whose name you won't find out until the night. £8/£10, book in advance, 8.30pm


Sponsored message

Our daily pick of Funzing events

KIMONO WRAP MAKING: Make a kimono wrap tailored to your body and tastes in a 90 minute workshop. £19, 26 August/8/14/23 September

ROOFTOP YOGA: Start your weekend refreshed with a rooftop yoga class at Qbic London. £10, 20/27 August

MURDER MYSTERY: Help Sherlock Holmes stop an assassin before it's too late in this interactive team street game around Baker Street. £15, 20 August