What's On in London This August
August in the Capital: Discover London's Hottest Events, Exhibitions & Adventures.
If you think London's summer is winding down, think again. August arrives with a final flourish of festivals, cultural spectacles, and outdoor adventures that make it impossible to stay indoors.
The crown jewel of the month is undoubtedly Notting Hill Carnival – Europe's largest celebration of Caribbean culture transforms West London into a vibrant street party across the bank holiday weekend. Picture steel drums echoing through Ladbroke Grove, the aroma of jerk chicken filling the air, and thousands of revelers dancing in elaborate costumes that sparkle under the late summer sun.
Music lovers have an embarrassment of riches to choose from. All Points East continues to draw international headliners to Victoria Park, while Body Movements and Boiler Room Festival bring cutting-edge electronic sounds to London's green spaces. Meanwhile, UK Black Pride marks its milestone 20th anniversary with what organizers promise will be their most spectacular celebration yet.
Theatre enthusiasts shouldn't miss their final opportunities to catch this season's blockbuster productions. Rachel Zegler brings star power to Evita, Rosamund Pike commands the stage in Inter Alia, and Tate Modern's Leigh Bowery! exhibition offers a last chance to experience one of the year's most talked-about art shows.
As summer's curtain call approaches, make the most of London's outdoor offerings. Dive into the refreshing waters of Hampstead Heath's lidos, sprawl across Hyde Park's sun-dappled lawns, or settle in for an enchanting evening at one of the city's pop-up cinema screenings under the stars.
August in London isn't just the end of summer – it's summer's grand finale.
1. Dance your way around W11 at Notting Hill Carnival
For a lot of Londoners, Notting Hill Carnival on the August Bank Holiday Weekend flashes by in a blaze of feathers, Red Stripe and tinnitus. To those who make it happen, it’s a year-round operation to create one of the biggest and oldest street parties in the world. More than two million people usually flock to the streets of W11 for Carnival weekend. It’s free to join the family day on the Sunday, as well as the Monday street party which is for the hard partiers. It’s a celebration of freedom and Caribbean culture, with an iconic parade showcasing the best of mas, soca, calypso, steel bands and soundsystems. What are you waiting for?
2. Watch your favourite indie and electronic artists at All Points East
All Points East returns to Vicky Park for its seventh edition in 2025. Since debuting in 2018, the festival has garnered a reputation for building some of the most exciting line-ups in the UK. Its headliners are often indie or dance-focused big-hitters, while its undercards are packed with cult heroes and rising stars you can say you saw first. If your music preferences lie in the Venn diagram of indie and electronic then this is the festival for you, with the likes of Barry Can't Swim, Confidence Man, Shygirl, RAYE , the Maccabees, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Cribs, and Nilüfer Yanya on the bill this year.
3. Be dazzled at one of summer’s biggest open-air gigs in Battersea
After two sell-out years, Battersea Park in Concert is back this August bank holiday weekend, and you can nab tickets for just £25 (usually £50). On Saturday 23 August, it’s Symphonic Disco featuring dancefloor classics of ABBA, Dua Lipa, Chic and more, reimagined by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. Then on Monday 25 August, music legend Jools Holland takes to the stage with his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra and a stellar line-up of guests including Chris Difford, Yolanda Brown and Louise Marshall.
4. Head to Greenwich for brand new festival Labyrinth on the Thames
Labyrinth On The Thames – masterminded by promoter Labryinth – will see different artists from the world of electronic music take over the Old Royal Naval College (a UNESCO World Heritage Site!) for six days of unmissable performances. The headliners confirmed so far? South African DJ and producer Black Coffee, legendary techno DJ Solomun – playing a marathon five-hour set, Australian tech-house producer Fisher, and London-based dance music label Anjunadeep – whose artists include Lane 8, Yotto, and Dusky.
5. Frollick in a sunflower field near London
Nothing says summer quite like the towering stalks and glowing yellow petals of the noble sunflower. Get neck-deep in heliotropic heaven at these golden fields full of custard-yellow blooms, which are at their peak from August to September.
6. Enter a foodies’ haven at Hampton Court Palace Food Festival
If a trip to Hampton Court has been on your to-do list, why not time your visit to coincide with this foodie extravaganza? Over the August Bank Holiday weekend entrance tickets to Henry VIII’s former gaff give you access to more than 150 speciality food stalls, so you can feast like like a Tudor king in the palace's gorgeous green spaces. There's also pop-up bars, kids’ activities, and an array of local musicians taking to the bandstand to soundtrack your culinary adventure.