What To Do Over The Bank Holiday Weekend
What To Do Over The Bank Holiday Weekend

What To Do Over The Bank Holiday Weekend

Looking for things to do over the bank holiday weekend? Look no further – from pop-ups and new menus to a cultural festival at Somerset House, our guide has options for everyone.

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Notting Hill Carnival

GET READY TO DANCE:

Notting Hill Carnival

After a two-year hiatus, Notting Hill Carnival returns for another year of music, dancing and epic street food. From Saturday 27th to Monday 29th August, visitors can enjoy the parades, dance at various pop-ups from Ladbroke Grove to Kensal Road, and watch the annual steel band competition. Head to the main stages for performances over the weekend – don’t miss the legendary Calypso Tent – and try Caribbean street food from over 300 vendors, including pop-ups at Trini Corner which has the best selection. On Sunday 28th August, rum brand Wray & Nephew will take over Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park stage with special guest performances, DJ sets and plenty of rum punch for the crowd. If that wasn't enough, hair stylist and Notting Hill local Charlotte Mensah is hosting a talk at the V&A on Friday 26th August at 6.45pm to discuss the history of Carnival hair, before hosting a braiding pop-up at the Charlotte Mensah Hair Lounge on Portobello Road on Monday 29th August from 12-9pm where you can get your hair done at the braid bar while enjoying an Equiano Rum cocktail. 

Various sites

Visit NHCarnival.org

DISCOVER NEW HOMEWARE:

Great Objects Pop-Up

Great Objects offers a curated range of home and lifestyle goods all made by independent artisans –championing ethical and sustainable brands, as well as biodegradable and recyclable materials. Until Sunday 18th September, the brand is hosting a pop-up at Netil Market in London Fields where shoppers can browse a range of homeware and accessories including handmade vases and crockery, scalloped napkins, candles and artwork. Don’t miss the colourful jugs by Sophia Alda. 

4 Broadway Market, London Fields, E8 4QJ; Wednesdays-Saturdays from 10am to 6pm, and Sundays from 11am to 4pm

Visit Great-Objects.com

BEN QUEENBOROUGH

PLAN A FUN DAY OUT:

This Bright Land at Somerset House

Somerset House has turned its courtyard into an open-air venue with a series of cultural events happening over the bank holiday weekend. During the day, kids can watch films on the huge outdoor screen by Everyman, while adults walk through the Wonder Garden created in partnership with Jo Malone London. There are also immersive beauty pop-ups from M·A·C, Dr.Jart+, Bobbi Brown, Aveda and Clinique – to name a few – plus an outdoor food market by Black Eats LDN. Other weekend highlights include a DJ set on the main stage on Friday night from 7.30pm (£10pp), an open-air vogue ball on Saturday night from 6pm (£16.50pp) and a street party on Sunday featuring dance performances and workshops. 

Strand, Covent Garden, WC2R 1LA

Visit SomersetHouse.org.uk

BRING THE GIRLS:

Number 90 Bank Holiday Weekender

Canalside bar Number 90 in Hackney Wick is throwing its biggest bank holiday party to date, over four days from Thursday 25th to Sunday 28th August. Meet your mates to tuck into two-for-one burgers and drinks before listening to DJs on the decks all night. Confirmed acts include resident DJs The Disco Express, as well as East End kingpins S.A.S.H and Half Baked Records who will set the vibe at Number 90’s sister venue next door, 9294. On Sunday, don’t miss the jazz and soul night with roast dinners served all evening. Tickets are free.

Main Yard, 90 Wallis Road, Hackney, E9 5LN

Visit Dice.fm

SAMPLE NEW FLAVOURS:

Tidal Rum x The Melusine ‘Taste of the Sea’ Menu

Botanical-infused Tidal Rum has teamed up with east London restaurant The Melusine for a tasting menu to showcase the best of British seafood. From tonight until Wednesday 31st August, diners can enjoy a range of Tidal Rum cocktails with three special courses made with British seafood and local produce. The menu is strictly under wraps, but if the restaurant’s regularly changing menu is anything to go by, we’re expecting good things. Tickets cost £55pp. 

Ivory House, East Smithfield, St Katharine Docks, England E1W 1AT

Visit TheMelusine.co.uk

SPOIL YOUR POOCH:

GoBoat & Poke House for International Dog Day

Tomorrow is International Dog Day – a great excuse to spoil your best friend. To celebrate, GoBoat is offering free one-hour trips to anyone who brings their dog to any of its London sites, including Paddington, Canary Wharf and Kingston-upon-Thames. From 9.30am until 7.30pm on Friday 26th August, you can enjoy a cruise along the river with your dog – groups of up to eight can also charter a boat together. Once you’ve enjoyed the ride, take your dog to a Poke House restaurant in London to claim a free poke bowl for yourself and a special dog-friendly bowl for your pup. Simply quote the phrase ‘poke pups’ to a member of staff for the free meal. 

Various sites

Visit GoBoat.co.uk & Poke-House.com

GET YOUR CULTURE FIX:

V&A

The V&A has created a series of free tours for visitors who want to learn about the history of the museum and its exhibitions. The ‘Highlights Tour’ takes place every day (until January) when visitors can learn about the history of the V&A while finding out more about the treasures in its extensive collection. There are also tours on female art, African heritage and a fashion tour which covers changing shapes and tastes in style from 17th-century fashion to haute couture. 

Cromwell Road, South Kensington, SW7 2RL

Visit VAM.ac.uk

TREAT YOURSELF:

Happy Endings Pop-Up at Goddard & Gibbs

Ice-cream brand Happy Endings has opened a pop-up takeaway hatch at Goddard & Gibbs – the seafood restaurant at the One Hundred Shoreditch hotel. Open for the next few months, the hatch will serve a selection of the brand’s sweet treats, including ice-cream sandwiches and soft serve. You can also choose from ice-cream sundaes and weekly changing dishes. Right now, we’ve got our eye on the whipped mango passion sorbet and ‘Float Your Boat’ sundae which features vanilla soft serve, fresh banana, palm sugar honeycomb, morello cherries, whipped cream, pecans and sprinkles.

Happy Endings at The Hatch, Goddard & Gibbs, 100 Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch, E1 6JQ

Visit HappyEndingsLdn.com

KRIS HUMPHREYS

LISTEN TO LIVE MUSIC:

All Points East

All Points East continues at Victoria Park this week. Disclosure, Fred Again.. and H.E.R are set to
perform on Saturday night, while Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are front and centre on for Sunday’s
line-up. More tickets for both days have just been released – a great excuse to get the girls involved.
In between sets, make a beeline for Cointreau’s margarita bar for to try frozen and fruity margaritas,
cosmopolitans and low-ABV options.

Victoria Park Road, Hackney, E9 7DD

Visit AllPointsEastFestival.com

JUSTIN DE SOUZA

TRY A NEW BRUNCH:

Le Petit Beefbar

Chelsea's neighbourhood restaurant Le Petit Beefbar has a new weekend brunch menu. Available on Saturdays (12-3pm) and Sundays (12-4pm), there are sweet and savoury dishes to choose from, as well as two new bloody marys – we recommend the ‘Kobe Mary’ made with vodka, tomato juice and a special Le Petit spicy mix. Choose from buttermilk pancakes with berries and honey, cinnamon rolls with chocolate sauce, ham and cheese croissants, and ‘The Beefy Benedict’, which comprises an English muffin with pulled beef, poached eggs and truffle hollandaise. 

27 Cale Street, Chelsea, SW3 3QP

Visit LePetit.Beefbar.com

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