All weekend
RAZE COLLECTIVE WEEKEND: Celebrate the best in queer arts and culture with The Raze Collective's summer takeover. Expect live music, world record attempts, and even line dances from the finest LGBTQI+ artists in town. Southbank Centre, free, just turn up, 10am-11pm, 10-12 August
SUMMER IN THE CITY: Plenty of your favourite YouTubers will be stepping away from the webcam this weekend to share their insights and meet the fans at Summer in the City — the annual London festival for online content creators. See the likes of vlogger-turned-West End star Carrie Hope Fletcher and comedian/producer TomSka, and get tips for becoming a viral sensation yourself. ExCel London,from £15, book ahead, 10 August-12 August
PLAY EXPO LONDON: Attention, gamers. All your arcade, indie and retro gaming dreams are about to come true, because PLAY Expo is making its London debut. Head to Printworks and play your favourite childhood arcade and pinball machines, step into another world in the VR zone, and check out the most innovative new indie releases. Printworks (Canada Water), from £20, book ahead, 10am-6pm, 11-12 August
BECOMING CHAC MOOL: The whole family is invited to transform into a version of Chac Mool, an ancient Mayan and Aztec figure associated with water, rain and lightning. Artists Harold Offeh and Veronica Cordova de la Rosa have a range of reflective surfaces and body adornments for your costume while you learn more about the reclining sculpture that is found all over Mexico. Serpentine Gallery, free, just turn up, 1pm-5pm, 11-12 August
COMIDA FEST: It's the last event of the season for this Latin American street food festival, which plans on going out with a bang. Over 30 traders will be serving up your favourite snacks from Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru and beyond, so get ready to overdo it on tacos and Margs. Potters Field Park (Tower Bridge), free entry, just turn up, 11-12 August
Saturday 11 August
EALING CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL: It's the last day of Ealing Children's Festival, which closes with a trinity of fun and free activities for your little ones. Have a chilled morning with kids' yoga, before letting their imaginations run riot at animal-themed arts and crafts, while the under fives are kept entertained in the storytelling corner. Multiple venues (Ealing), free, book ahead for yoga class, 10.15am-3pm
ROOKERIES, RAILWAYS, AND RADICALS: When you follow the path of the now-subterranean River Fleet, you're not just tracking a lost waterway, you're also discovering the revolutionary urban developments of the 19th and early 20th centuries. From hidden viaducts to Grecian-style villas, you'll find plenty of architectural gems with the help of The London Ambler. Meet at King's Cross station, £12, book ahead, 10.30am-12.30pm
WALTHAMSTOW WALK: Whether you're local to Walthamstow or a complete newbie, you're bound to learn something new with the help of Footprints of London. For instance, ever heard about the plagiarist who gave his name to a local park? What about the hidden Greek theatre? Discover all this and more on this guided walk. William Morris Gallery, £12, book ahead, 11am-1pm
CHINGFEST: What if we told you that you could see The Supremes, Whitney Houston, Kool and the Gang and the Temptations all on one stage? If you answered 'too good to be true', you'd only be half right. See top tribute acts for the superstars of soul and R'n'B perform live at Chingford's free music festival, Chingfest. Ridgeway Park, free, just turn up, 1pm-8.30pm
FEMINIST LIBRARY PARTY: To mark the end of its residency at The Showroom, the Feminist Library is throwing a free community party. See performances of all the creative work produced during the exhibition, browse zines at the mini market, and enjoy feminist-themed cocktails. Plus, if you fancy a free lunch, get down there early for vegan-friendly Creole cuisine. The Showroom (Marylebone), free, just turn up, 2pm-6pm
RIDE OF THE WAGNERIAN: Discover the dwarfs, giants, Walkyries and love potions that make up Wagner's Ride of the Nibelung without sitting through all 15 hours of it. Comedian Giancinto Palmieri has long nursed an obsession with late Romantic operas and he's here to share it with you in suitably humorous fashion. The Bill Murray (Islington), £5, book ahead, 2.15pm-3.15pm
BELT UP: Never again face the fear of a builder's bum with this leather belt making workshop. Get insight into basic leather skills and decoration techniques, before leaving with a perfectly fitting belt that's customised to your taste. The Barge House (Haggerston), £40, book ahead, 3.30pm-5.30pm
UPSET THE RHYTHM: Post-punk trio Shopping headline the latest edition of Upset The Rhythm's eclectic music night. See them make some noise alongside self-proclaimed 'mutant synth punk' act ES and synth wave duo Katy & Nick. OSLO (Hackney), £10, book ahead, 6.30pm-10pm
CRAYFISH CRAZY: No one knows crayfish like Crayfish Bob. Join his all-you-can-eat Louisiana-style Crawfish Boil and get your teeth into as much seafood as you can stomach. There's live music, and he'll even throw in a free lagerita. LimitedLDN (Harringay), £33, book ahead, 6.30pm-11pm
JAHMENE DOUGLAS: You might remember soul man Jahméne Douglas from the 2012 series of the X Factor, where he made it as far as the finals. He's since cultivated an impressive reputation for his soul and gospel-inspired vocals. Join him for the release of his new single tonight. Hideaway Jazz Club (Streatham), £15, book ahead, 9pm
ICE ICE BABY: Stay up late at The Shard for a seriously cool Shackleton takeover. The scotch distiller is taking inspiration from its Arctic adventurer namesake with a frozen-themed fiesta, featuring live ice-carving and frozen cocktails. Oblix (The Shard), £10, book ahead, 11.30pm-3am
Sunday 12 August
HOPE TO NOPE: It's the last day of The Design Museum's exhibition exploring the relationship between graphics and politics. In the wake of this debacle, some of the artwork has already been removed, and the museum has since taken the decision to make the exhibition free for the rest of its run. The Design Museum (Kensington), free, just turn up, 10am-6pm
CREATIVITY AND YOGA: Been feeling a little uninspired lately? This yoga workshop is specifically designed to help you unleash your creativity. After you've sufficiently prepped you mind, body and spirit, you'll be guided through creating your own vision board to take home as lasting reminder to stay centred and creative. Geffrye Museum (Hoxton), £20, book ahead, 10.30am-12.30pm
PETER PAN: The Golden Hinde is setting off on an epic voyage to Neverland, and your little ones invited too. There's pirate training with Hook and Smee, arts and crafts with Tiger Lily, and story time with the boy legend himself. The Golden Hinde (Bankside), from £5, just turn up, 10.30am-4.15pm, until 22 August
RUBBISH TRIP: This guided walk will be dishing the dirt on London's muck. Visit historic dumps, hear stories of castaway communities, and discover the marvellous ways in which our trash is transformed. Meet at Mudchute DLR station, £15, book ahead, 11am-1pm
GAINSBOROUGH GARDENS: Take the kids to paint a mini masterpiece inspired by the techniques of painter Thomas Gainsborough. Like the RA artist, they get to create their own miniature gardens using imaginative props and then use it as inspiration when putting paint to paper. Royal Academy (Piccadilly), free, just turn up, 11am-3pm
REGGAE ON THE LAWN: Enjoy the chillest of Sunday vibes at Forty Hall's one-day reggae festival. The grounds of this Jacobean manor house will host both celebrated reggae acts and emerging talent, with a bit of comedy thrown in for good measure. Forty Hall (Enfield), £35, book ahead, 12pm-6pm
ANJUNADEEP OPEN AIR: Deep house label Anjunadeep is hosting its first ever festival, with sets from founder James Grant, Jody Wisternoff, Yotto, Moon Boots, and many more. There's plenty of street food and cocktails promised, too. Three Mills Island (Bromley-by-Bow), £35, book ahead, 12pm-10pm
PIE N MASH UP: Don't miss out on the chance to stuff your face with the East End delicacy and iconic culinary duo that is pie and mash. As well as London's best traditional purveyors of pie, this charmingly niche food festival offers a right knees up in the form of singalongs, rhyming slang battles and (shudder) jellied eels. The daytime tickets may be gone but there are still some evening sessions up for grabs. Studio 338 (Greenwich), £12.50, book ahead, 6pm-11pm
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