12 Cool Things To Book Around The UK This Summer
Canopy & Stars x Oliver Bonas: Summer Solace
SL favourite Canopy & Stars has teamed up with Oliver Bonas to create a cool glamping pop-up in Devon. From Monday 19th July to Thursday 2nd September, guests can glamp in a meadow on Flete Estate, with a beach and vast woodland area just a short walk away. Six bell tents have been kitted out with stylish Oliver Bonas interiors, while a communal kitchen is housed in a horsebox nearby. Outside, there’s a firepit with a grill for each tent, two compost loos and two gas-heated showers. There's also a communal dining tent for rainy days, with haybales and tables where you can play boardgames. The tents have been kitted out with double beds, blankets and hot water bottles – ideal for relaxing after a day of paddle boarding on the lake or walking in the woods. On arrival, you’ll even receive a bottle of gin from The Botanist, plus a box of wellbeing goodies to use during your stay.
Tickets: From £90 per night
Flete Estate, Holbeton, Devon PL8 1JZ
Visit CanopyAndStars.com
Dodge At Somerset House
On Wednesday 15th July, Somerset House will welcome back visitors with an exciting new open-air experience in its courtyard. Featuring retro-style dodgems and cool installations from a range of artists, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy. Yinka Ilori, who recently created the new pop-up screen on Greenwich Peninsula, is behind the design, so we’re expecting big things. You can challenge your friends to a dodgem race on the track, then enjoy a selection of food and drink from ‘Jimmy’s Pop-Up’. Choose the ‘Doge & Drink’ package (£10) which includes a dodgem token and the choice of a pint of San Miguel, glass of house wine or two soft drinks, or go all out and order the ‘Bumper Summer Feast’ (£50) which includes drinks plus a picnic basket of hot mezze food, sharing salads, and a DIY sundae.
Tickets: Entry is free; packages start from £10
Strand, WC2R 1LA
Visit SomersetHouse.org.uk
Taste Of London Festival
Taste of London is returning to Regent’s Park for two weekends of feasting this summer. Taking place from Wednesday 7th to Sunday 11th and Wednesday 14th to Sunday 18th July, visitors can eat their way around dozens of pop-up stalls from some of London’s best street food vendors and restaurants. Confirmed names include Blondie’s Kitchen, Napoli Gang, Gaucho, Mob Kitchen, Rudy’s Vegan Diner, Juici Jerk and Lobster & Burger – to name a few. Don’t miss the tasty seafood from Mexican restaurant Santo Remedio or the sticky Japanese bites from Temaki. You can also take part in gin and craft beer tasting sessions or practise your cocktail skills at a masterclass hosted by Laurent-Perrier. Be sure to visit the Two Keys summer terrace to try the brand’s signature Paloma cocktail (a SL favourite) where legendary DJ Fat Tony will set the vibe with a house music set.
Tickets: From £23
Visit London.TasteFestivals.com
The Luna Cinema At Hampton Court Palace
From Wednesday 21st to Friday 25th July, Hampton Court Palace will host a special cinematic experience with a series of screenings in collaboration with The Luna Cinema. A huge screen will take centre take on the East Front Lawns, with Henry VIII's palace providing a stunning backdrop. Whether you’re after a family blockbuster or an 80s classic, films include The Dark Knight, Top Gun, Dirty Dancing and Bohemian Rhapsody, as well as a special sing-along to The Greatest Showman. In terms of food, Pulled will serve a selection of low-roasted, hand-pulled, British meats with fresh slaws and sauces served in a brioche bun, while Häagen-Dazs will provide the ice-cream. Visitors can also buy popcorn, crisps, sweets, and beers from Birra Moretti. Tickets also grant you access to the gardens, so be sure to arrive in plenty of time to make a day of it.
Tickets: From £16
Hampton Court Way, East Molesey, KT8 9AU
Visit TheLunaCinema.com
Park Proms
On Friday 27th and Saturday 28th August, Park Proms returns to Hampshire for a fun weekend of music. Taking place on the beautiful and historic Broadlands Estate – home of the Mountbatten family – the festival will be headlined by the world-famous Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, conducted by Pete Harrison. The 78-piece orchestra will perform a classical concert with several pieces from films including Harry Potter, James Bond and Star Wars. If you’d rather enjoy pop classics, head to Broadlands on the Saturday, when Pixie Lott, James Morrison, Scouting for Girls and Eliza & the Bear are due to perform. Hampshire Fare will supply the food and drink, with a range of street food vendors, and there will also be a Pimm’s pop-up tent, too. If you want to go all out on the bank holiday weekend, opt for a VIP ticket which includes access to exclusive bars and terraces, plus fast-track entry to the festival.
Tickets: From £59.50
Broadlands Park, Romsey, SO51 9ZD
Visit ParkProms.com
The Mitre Hampton Court x Sweaty Betty
It’s no secret how much we love The Mitre hotel in Hampton Court, so we were excited to hear that they’ve created a new series of workout sessions in collaboration with Sweaty Betty. At 9am every Saturday until the end of summer, a series of PTs and instructors will lead a range of workouts on the hotel’s riverside deck overlooking the Thames – think Pilates, kickboxing and yoga. After your workout, relax at the hotel’s restaurant Coppernose for a hearty brunch, then browse the Sweaty Betty pop-up shop – tickets include a £15 voucher to spend on the day, or at one of the brand’s other sites. Tickets will be released at the start of July, so be sure to check the website later.
Tickets: £50, including brunch
Hampton Court Road, East Molesey, KT8 9BN
Visit MitreHamptonCourt
Nomadic x Honey & Co
For a cool, immersive dining experience in the middle of the woods, Nomadic Dinners is collaborating with Middle Eastern restaurant Honey & Co for special evening. On Friday 9th July, guests can head down to Buckinghamshire for a four-course al fresco meal and a ‘fireside chat’ with the Honey & Co chefs who are celebrating the release of their new book, Chasing Smoke. Both the exact location of the dinner and the menu is kept a secret, but the meal will be a Levantine-inspired feast cooked over fire. Once at the woodland venue, you’ll be welcomed with a drink’s reception. Ideal for a special occasion or fun weekend activity, we can’t think of a better way to spend a Friday night.
Tickets: £150
Visit ExperienceNomadic.com
Between The Bridges
If you’re looking for a new cool spot for a weekend brunch of post-work drinks with the girls, London’s biggest beer garden, Between the Bridges, has just opened on the Southbank. From the team behind Clapham’s Winterville and Brockwell Park Festivals, the garden will welcome regular entertainment from DJs and musicians with live sets of funk, disco and house music. Eat your way around the vendors – including Burger & Beyond, Club Mexicana, Urban Falafel and The Cheese Wheel – then challenge your friends to a game of mini golf or tejo (a Columbian throwing sport). The garden will also host weekly themed markets where shoppers can scour upcycled, retro and vintage finds, and drag brunches hosted by queens like Ru Paul’s Drag Race contestants Lawrence Chaney, Baga Chipz, Tayce, and Ginny Lemon – expect games, lip sync battles, live performances and death drops.
Tickets: Entry is free, except on Friday and Saturday nights where tickets cost £5
Queen's Walk, Southbank, SE1 2AA
Visit BetweenTheBridges.co.uk
Cocktails In The City
On Friday 20th and Saturday 21st August, Bedford Square by Tottenham Court Road will be transformed into a cool festival pop-up for a cool drinking festival – Cocktails In the City. During the weekend, visitors can expect an immersive and interactive cocktail celebration alongside live music, street food and games for the ultimate party. Some of London’s best bars will be showcasing exclusive drinks, including London Cocktail Club, Barrio, Coupette, Dalloway Terrace and Bar Swift. The Piano Works will set the tone with live music, while Graucho and Club Mexicana will serve a selection of tasty street food. Tickets also include a refreshing welcome drink.
Montague Street, WC1B 5BL
Tickets: £20
Visit CocktailsInTheCity.com
Pub In The Park With Tom Kerridge
Another foodie festival to add to your diary this summer, Pub in the Park is making its way around the UK until August. Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge will host a series of weekend events in Dulwich, Warwick, Tunbridge Wells, Chichester, Chiswick, St Albans, and Marlow. Each festival celebrates the best of British pubs and their food where visitors can make their way around the various pop-up stalls and bars. See your favourite chefs whip up a dish on the demo stage and if you’ve got little ones in tow, take them to the dedicated kids’ area with arts and crafts. Each site will also have a shopping village and artisan food market so you can take something home with you. If that wasn’t enough, there will also be live music from the likes of Gabrielle, Basement Jaxx and Beverley Knight.
Tickets: From £20
Visit PubInTheParkUK.com
Ham Yard Hotel x Third Space Rooftop Yoga & Brunch
Returning for another summer, Ham Yard Hotel will host a series of yoga sessions every Saturday morning in July on the hotel's leafy Roof Terrace, in partnership with luxury gym Third Space. Set amongst olive trees with views over the rooftops of Soho, the rooftop is a stunning location for a morning class. Led by one of Third Space's top instructors, guests can take part in a 45-minute Hatha yoga session which aims to boost balance and strength. You’ll be taken through a series of postures and breathing exercises to help you focus the mind and body and improve flexibility. The class also includes a healthy brunch, like avocado and poached eggs on rye bread, granola with yoghurt and berries, or coconut chia seed pots with mango. After the session, visit the on-site spa for a luxurious treatment or manicure.
Tickets: From £39
1 Ham Yard, Mayfair, W1D 7DT
Visit DesignMyNight.com
Mahiki At Henley Royal Regatta
From Wednesday 11th to Saturday 14th August, Mahiki is hosting a tropical pop-up party at its bar on the shores of Henley Royal Regatta. Guests can choose from a range of fruity cocktails throughout the day, then dance the night away after the annual boat race. Go all out and book a VIP table which overlooks the race from a perfectly positioned platform, then order a bottle of champagne from the bar. Guests can take in the stunning views and enjoy a house mix from one of Mahiki’s resident DJs.
Tickets: From £95
Mahiki Henley, Remenham Field, Henley on Thames, RG9 3DA
Visit DesignMyNight.com
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