Things to do this weekend is sponsored by Museum of London.
All weekend
NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL: The Carnival begins in a small way on Saturday, although most of the action takes place tomorrow and Bank Holiday Monday. Here's our complete guide to Notting Hill Carnival 2017 — what's on, when it's happening, and how to get the best out of it. 26-28 August
BANK HOLIDAY: Make the most of the last bank holiday of the summer with our guide to how to spend your extra day, from museums to self-led walks, cycling routes and secret gardens. Or, just head to the pub — we've spent a long time seeking out London's finest.
SUMMER HOLIDAYS: Not long left of the summer holidays. If you're running out of ways to keep the kids busy, this may help.
FANCY A BREW: Peckham-based meadery Gosnells Mead is hosting a celebration of south east London’s breweries, bringing together five local breweries, each producing a unique, barrel-aged brew. Gosnells Mead (Peckham), £7-£12, book ahead, 26-27 August
FANTASTIC FISH: Are you a foodie and a lover of fish? Historic Billingsgate market will once again see return of amazing fish filleting skills as the British Fish Craft Championships gets underway with the UK's top fishmongers. Billinsgate Market, London, free, just turn up, 26-27 August
LITTLE ITALY: Strap on your walking shoes and get on the move with this walking tour exploring the heart of London’s Italian community in the 19th and 20th centuries. You'll visit sites connected to the revolutionary nationalists Mazzini and Garibaldi and hear about the Risorgimento – the struggle for a united and independent Italy. Meet at the bright orange information kiosk outside Holborn tube station, free, 26-27 August
SILENT DISCO: DJs Shane McPherson and Scott Chester fight to take over your headsets at this Silent Disco to remember on One New Change's rooftop terrace, against the backdrop of St Paul's Cathedral. Madison London (One New Change), free entry, book ahead, until Sunday 27 August
CAMDEN FRINGE: Forget the Edinburgh Fringe— Camden is hosting a festival full of the best comedy, opera, Q&A's and poetry this side of Hadrian's Wall. Various locations and prices, book ahead, until 27 August
GASTRONOMIC GLASTONBURY: Foodies get your stomachs in gear for a three-day feast at Alexandra Palace's 'gastronomic Glastonbury', Foodies Festival. Meet top chefs, take part in masterclasses, treat yourself to great produce at the artisan markets or indulge in the Street Food Avenue and Cakes & Desserts Village. Alexandra Palace, £16, book ahead, 26-28 August
LEGO MINI MISSIONS: Join top City Police detectives to form a heroic crime fighting team — completing missions, finding clues, and solving puzzles — in this immersive LEGO experience for all the family, featuring brick pits to spark imaginations. The Queen's Walk (Lambeth), free, just turn up, 10am-6pm, 26-28 August
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The Gladiator Games are coming to Londinium
This August bank holiday, the Museum of London is taking visitors back to Roman times with a full-scale Gladiator Games in the city’s only Roman amphitheatre. Think magnificent battle-gear and clashing swords. The battles will be performed by Britannia, a collective that has worked on things like Horrible Histories and the film Gladiator.
As well as the Gladiator Games, there will be a Roman festival from 25-28 August for all the family. It's a chance to handle real Roman artefacts and get up close to the actual ruins of London's amphitheatre. As well as craft demos and live music, there will be food and drink to keep spirits up.Get ready for some serious crowd participation — it’s up to the audience to persuade the emperor to save or spare the gladiators after the battle. Check out what’s on, and book your tickets here.
Saturday 26 August
POOCH PICNIC: Celebrate your four-legged best friend at Deptford Market Yard's Pooch Picnic and Pampering for National Dog Day. There will be complimentary dog biscuits, while humans can enjoy food from Indian inspired fast food and Jamaican street fare to all day brunch style dining. Deptford Market Yard, free entry, just turn up, all day
ROMANTIC WALK: This walk takes in landmarks in the lives of Romantic poets Percy Bysshe Shelley and Mary Shelley, from their first meeting to their notorious elopement and exile in Europe — we're guessing a trip to Europe isn't included in the price though. Meet outside King's Cross Station by the Henry Moore statue, £12, book ahead, 11am-1.30pm
VILLAGE FETE: Big fans of dog are in for a treat as Hackney Downs Park hosts a dog show where you can cheer for your favourite. Other events at the village fete include a plant sale by the Community Gardeners and a retro vintage market. Hackney Downs Park, free entry, just turn up, noon-8pm
WEST END SECRETS: The secrets of the West End stage are revealed in this walking tour by Museum of London. Delve into the iconic and internationally renowned world of London's theatre scene, with stories from behind the curtain. £13, book ahead, 2pm-3.30pm
CITYDASH: Once the business people go home for the weekend, the City of London is a quiet place. Liven it up with Fire Hazard's Citydash to Monument. Players have to run, sneak, and scheme their way through the streets cracking cryptic clues to find as many hidden checkpoints as they can. But be wary of the Citydash guards who will chase you if they spot you. Cannick Tapps (Monument), £20/£15, book ahead, 2pm-3.45pm
HIGH ON HEELS: Head up to the roof on One New Change for a powerful performance from the all-female line-up of High On Heels. The musical notes from the DJ, percussion, vocals, electric violin and saxophone should set the tone exactly right for your weekend. Madison London (One New Change), free, book ahead, 2pm-4pm
CARNIVAL ART: Paint Jam is London's quirky pop-up art studio, and this time they're getting you in the mood for Notting Hill's annual party with a carnival special. Live steel pans, sweet Reggae beats and oodles of colour for your canvas should set you up for a good night of painting. Secret west London venue, £29-£55, book ahead, 7pm-10pm
INTO THE WOODS: Your favourite fairy tale characters are weaved into an unexpectedly dark and twisted adventure in a performance of Into The Woods. Can a baker and his wife reverse the curse placed on them by a witch and find their happily ever after by venturing into the woods? The Stockwell Playhouse (Lambeth), £14, book ahead, 7.30pm
STRING QUARTET: Let the sounds of strings soothe your Saturday with a programme of Haydn and Brahms from performers Arisa Fujita and Timothy Crawford on violin, Alinka Rowe on viola and Deni Teo on cello. There will be a collection for the Aidan Woodcock Charitable Trust. St. Anne's Church (Richmond), free, just turn up, 7.30pm-9.30pm
FUNK PARTY: What do you get when you cross a nice sound system, a great drink selection, a big garden, friendly staff and a kitchen churning out delicious food? Only a party featuring some of the best in soul, funk and jazz beats. The Sun of Camberwell, free entry, just turn up, 8pm-1am
Sunday 27 August
FOOD FESTIVAL: Expect a bounty of good food, drink and and fun for all the family in the atmospheric setting of Forty Hall Farm. Join them for inspiring talks, masterclasses and cooking demonstrations plus fun food craft and cooking activities for kids. Forty Hall Estate (Enfield), £5/£2, just turn up, 27-28 August
IT'S CLOBBERING TIME: Spend the early hours of Sunday at Waxy's to see the live showdown of the Mayweather vs McGregor fight with an all-day breakfast (served from 3am) included in the ticket. Waxy O'Connor's (Soho), £15, book ahead, 1am-10am
MERMAID YOGA: Calling all mermaids and lost boys, it's yoga with a twist with Breath Body Mind on the rooftop focusing on animal and superhero poses. Glitter face paint provided, of course. Bring your own mat and your mermaid glittery outfits. Queen of Hoxton (Shoreditch), £10/£12, book ahead, 11am-noon
WANDER-FUL: If you're planning to eat your way through Bank Holiday Monday then this secret Wandle wandering should help burn those calories ahead of time as you explore the magical hidden gems that lie on the banks of the river Wandle. Meet at Colliers Wood Station, £4, book ahead, 11am- 2pm
LET'S BRUNCH: Have brunch with Club D&D on a rooftop terrace to make the most of the bank holiday weekend. Brunch bites, cocktails and a stellar line up of entertainment and live music from celebrity DJ Vogue Williams against the backdrop of St Paul's. What's not to love? Madison London (One New Change), £35, book ahead, noon-5pm
ART EXHIBIT: It's you last chance to catch the Republic Gallery's Structures of Being, an exhibition by Marie-Louise Jones composed of sculpture, film and prints of transient sculptural installations. Republic Gallery, free, just turn up, noon-6pm
PARTY FEVER: Dinerama plays host to a big bank holiday bash from noon till night, filling your eardrums with the beats from a huge line-up of DJ and filling your bellies with all the food and booze you could ask for. Good job you'll have Monday to recover. Dinerama (Shoreditch), £11, book ahead, noon-midnight
CUBAN CARNIVAL: A killer brunch, tasty mojitos and dropped beats await at Barrio Brixton where carnival comes to life for what they claim is the Cuban party this side of Havana. Barrio Brixton, free/£5, book ahead, noon-3am
OH INDY: Try this real-world museum puzzle adventure on for size and become the Indiana Jones you always wanted to be Raiders of the Lost Archive. Solve cryptic clues relating to exhibits at the V&A in order to find a mysterious lost treasure. The Hoop and Toy (Kensington), £20, book ahead, 2pm-4.15pm
AFROBEAT: Chilean afrobeat orchestra Newen Afrobeat and London Afrobeat Collective are coming together for an evening of live global afrobeat, heavy brass, hypnotic chant and infectious dance in Shoreditch. Kamio at Red Gallery (Shoreditch), £15, book ahead, 7pm-12am
Monday 28 August
LONDON TRENDING: Guildhall Art Gallery’s exhibition #LondonTrending showcases the collaborations between groups of artists from the mid-20th century through to the early '00s that made London the heart of a cultural explosion. Today's your last chance to see it. Guildhall Art Gallery, free, just turn up, 10am-5pm
PURE ARTISTRY: It's your last opportunity to catch the best of the world's illustrations for 2017 at Somerset House, showcasing 50 shortlisted projects from advertising and design to books and editorial. Somerset House, free, just turn up, 10am-6pm
ENVIRONMENTAL FAIR: Down at the outer reaches of south London, is a family-friendly environmental fair. Along with the usual music, food, face-painting and usual festival malarky, there's some responsible saving the planet stuff too. Everybody wins. Carshalton Park (Sutton), £5, just turn up, 10.30am-8pm
PUMPING STATION: Witness a restored piece of Victorian engineering in action, at this open day for an 1886 sewage pump. Markfield Beam Engine and Museum (South Tottenham), free, just turn up, 12.30pm-4.15pm
CITY SCULPTURE: The modern City of London is not just about business. It's also home to an urban sculpture park with works by world class artists. Visit each of the 18 works, by 16 different artists, that have been selected for Sculpture in the City 2017. Meet at Liverpool Street station, £8/£10, book head, 2.30pm
SUMMER SCREENING: London's season of deck chair films is almost over, but summer's not quite done yet. Get some sand between your toes and catch the last of Roundhouse's outdoor summer screenings set on the urban beach in the heart of Camden. Roundhouse, £14, book ahead, 2.30pm/7.30pm
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