All eyes are on football this weekend, but places to watch the World Cup final are fast selling out. We’ve got the lowdown on places accepting walk-ins. Including this, plus the bars, restaurants and exhibitions to book, these are the best things to do in London this weekend (17 – 19 July 2026).
Sport aside, there’s a light-filled show inside Westminster Cathedral; a new open-water swimming spot in Canary Wharf; and what looks like the perfect weather for drinks and nibbles at one of the city’s best outdoor restaurants or rooftop bars.
Take a (tasty) break with Anya Hindmarch’s viral ice-cream flavours, delve into London’s underground spa baths, or make a beeline for one of the city’s best exhibitions which, among other themes, explore everything from the life and legacy of Marilyn Monroe and Frida Kahlo, to Black British music, Ancient Egypt, and Elsa Schiaparelli‘s style.
These are the best things to do in London this weekend.
Out And About
Watch the Word Cup Final at these restaurants and bars (walk-ins accepted)
German Kraft at Mercato Metropolitano Elephant & Castle will be home to a 500-person open-air World Cup Fanzone
The World Cup final takes place on Sunday 19 July at 8pm, and places to watch it are booking out at speed. However, there are a few places left in London accepting walk-ins: Mercato Metropolitano in Elephant & Castle has created a 500-person open-air screening area inside German Kraft (sit by the bar because the first 10 pints after every England goal are free!). Otherwise, head to Idalia at Pillar Hall in the brand-new Olympia complex, The Guinness Bar at The Ned, or Arcade at Battersea, Tottenham Court Road or Covent Garden. Alternatively, every match is streaming across BBC and ITV in the UK – and your local pub might have space too. See you at the game! Katie Silcox
See Westminster Cathedral’s unfinished domes come to life with light, music and storytelling
Did you know that the mosaic domes inside Westminster Cathedral were never completed? Architect John Francis Bentley died before finishing the designs, but from now until 26 September they will come to life spectacularly every evening. After five months in Manchester, the light-filled Luminescence show comes to London, projecting 360º video-mapping onto the cathedral’s domes. Alongside it there’s live performances of Beethoven, Vivaldi, Bach et al by the Lux Aeterna choir, and a story-filled adventure scripted by Olivier Award-winning writer Tim Whitnall and narrated by Downton Abbey star, Hugh Bonneville. A percentage of every ticket contributes to the upkeep of the cathedral. Katie Silcox
Now until 26 September 2026
Tickets start from £32.50; book here
Go wild swimming at Canary Wharf’s brand-new Sea Lanes London
Open water swimming has become one of wellness’ biggest summer crazes and with Sea Lanes Canary Wharf officially open, beginner-friendly ways to (quite literally) dip a toe into it are coming to the capital. The 50-metre, six-lane natural swimming concept (the first outpost of which opened in Brighton in 2023) is designed to encourage people into the water – perhaps for the first time – and you get breathtaking views here too, surrounded by Canary Wharf’s signature skyscrapers. The addition of two saunas alongside food and drink pods – and with rumours of water-based activities such as paddle boarding on the horizon – turn the concept into a fully social experience. The site is completely powered by renewable energy and filled with natural dock water. Becki Murray
Address: Newfoundland Place, Canary Wharf, Heron Quays Road, London, E14 4HD
Prices start from £10 for adults for a one-hour session; book here
Try weird and wonderful ice cream flavours at the Ice Cream Project by Anya Hindmarch
OXO-flavoured ice cream anyone? No? How about Lurpack, Mini Cheddars, or Green Giant? All of these cupboard essentials (and many more) are being scooped up in ice-cream form at the Anya Hindmarch Ice Cream Project. The UK’s most outrageous ice-cream shop is back in London for its fifth year, with 15 tongue-tingling flavours to try, including the perhaps more palatable Walker’s shortbread, Capri-Sun and McVitie’s Ginger Nut biscuits. Can’t decide? Book the ‘Blind Tasting Tea’, where every version will be brought to your table allowing you to taste test each (it’s a nifty way to skip the queues, too). Can you tell your Kikkoman soy sauce from your Euthemol toothpaste? There’s only one way to find out… Katie Silcox
Now until 16 August 2026
Address: 11 Pont St, London SW1X 9EH
Book the Blind Tasting Tea here
Wander around one of London’s prettiest neighbourhoods
Notting Hill is one of those places where you can easily spend a sunny day wandering aimlessly. Start by walking all the way down Portobello Road market – picking up antiques, vintage clothing, jewellery and art – before stumbling onto Golborne Road to browse Berber rugs and handcrafted ceramics at Moroccan interior stores like Fez. If you’re staying for dinner, make a reservation at Michelin-starred The Ledbury, or go for Detroit-style pizzas at Ria’s, vegetarian plates at Holy Carrot, Palestinian dishes at Akub, or modern European at Straker’s. Katie Silcox
Watch an open-air screening with Rooftop Cinema Club
With two open-air venues (Roof East in Stratford and the iconic Bussey Building in Peckham), Rooftop Cinema Club is back for its 2026 season. Showing the classics and new releases all summer long, tickets start at a very reasonable £14 for adults and £8 for children, and it’s worth the money for the views alone – especially in Peckham where you can see The Shard and St. Paul’s Cathedral, among other London landmarks. Arrive early to take it all in over pizza and cocktails, before your chosen film begins. Katie Silcox
Various times and prices
Address: Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, London SE15 4ST (Peckham); Floors 7 & 8, Stratford Multi Storey Car Park, Great Eastern Way, London, E15 1XE (Stratford).
Book here
Discover the global culture and influences on your doorstep
Travel to Saudi, India, Sri Lanka or Ethiopia this weekend, all without leaving London. Women in Travel CIC’s intimate, female-led tours take you on a multicultural journey throughout our city, each through the eyes of women. Food is a big part of each tour, but so are personal insights into the traditions of each country, via history, art, architecture, literature, music and more. Brought to life by guides with real-life knowledge, understanding, ties and connections to each culture, these tours go beyond sightseeing and delve deep into the stories and fabric of each society, showcasing how they have influenced the UK capital. You might drink Saudi coffee for breakfast, eat Ethiopian misir alicha and injera for lunch, or eat Indian sweets for dessert, all while tracing the global influences – trade, migration, design and cultural ties – that make London, well, London. Katie Silcox
Saturday 11 July, times and prices vary
Book here
Flow into the weekend at a yoga class with a view
Start your weekend as you (perhaps) mean to go on: sunrise yoga on the rooftop is back at both art’otel Battersea and Sky Garden. In Battersea, yoga kicks off at 7.30am on 11 July, on the hotel’s 16th floor rooftop. This one-hour gentle-flow yoga class is led by @jinisyogi and overlooks the Battersea Power Station chimneys. Included in the price is the class plus breakfast (coffee or juice and a pastry from TOZI). At Sky Garden, classes take place every Saturday and Sunday at 8am. Held in the beautiful City Garden Bar, 36 storeys above London, these classes offer a unique chance to start the weekend surrounded by lush greenery and panoramic skyline views. Katie Silcox and Becki Murray
Address: art’otel 1 Electric Boulevard, London SW11 8BJ; 1, Sky Garden Walk, London EC3M 8AF
Pick up a limited-edition AIRE Ancient Baths x Jo Bird Illustration gift box
If you need an excuse to indulge in – or gift – a London spa day this weekend, AIRE Ancient Baths has collaborated with leading British illustrator Jo Bird to bring the London-based thermal bathing experience to life through a series of illustrations. Bird’s artwork, which is designed to capture the shift from the capital’s busy streets to the calm, candlelit sanctuary hidden beneath Covent Garden, now decorates AIRE’s first-ever limited-edition gift boxes, with each box offering a selected experience from the brand’s menu. The designs offer a tantalising peek at the relaxation to come at AIRE’s signature hydrothermal circuit, which features seven thermal baths including the Flotarium salt bath, eucalyptus steam room and Frigidarium. Becki Murray
Available now while stocks last
Address: 2-3 Robert Street, London, WC2N 6BH
Prices start from £140 for the entry-level AIRE experience, The Ultimate Bath.
Find out more here
Take a day trip
Escape the heat of the capital: while not technically in London, all of these trips are very easy to reach from London – whether for the day or overnight. Top spots include Oxford to spot the university (and Harry Potter) landmarks; Canterbury to see the cathedral; Winchester to shop on a historic high street; The Cotswolds for summer rambles; Margate for a day at the beach; and Brighton to shop the pretty lanes (and Laines) before heading straight to the sea. All are less than two hours from London. Katie Silcox
Drink And Dine
Drink and dine al fresco at London’s outdoor dining spots
Make the most of the sun by seeking out London’s best outdoor drinking and dining spots – this is a city with plenty of them. Some of our favourites include Yasmin’s sixth floor terrace, where Middle Eastern mezze comes with a view; Petersham Nurseries’ Floral Court, with quaint Mediterranean village vibes; and North London’s The Lighterman, where long lunches with friends take place canalside. But this is only the start of London’s best outdoor restaurants and bars – we’ve curated a list of CF’s favourite restaurants here and rooftop bars here. Katie Silcox
Stay out late in Soho
Sink into Soho and watch as mixologists craft your drinks with finesse at the statement stainless-steel counter inside Soma. Serving cocktails with an Indian twist (think chicory, hibiscus and jamun flavours), our favourite is ‘Paan’ – mixed with East London Gin, rose and betel Leaf, oyster and Champagne vermouth and a wine blend. For an intimate evening, book a spot in the lounge area and let the ambient jazz soundtrack set the mood; curtains at one end of the bar create a sense of privacy, making it ideal for lingering over drinks. Soma is open until 3am on Friday and Saturday, giving you plenty of time to get lost in conversation. Justine Neyrand
Address: 14 Denman Street, London, W1D 7HJ
Open 6pm-3pm Friday and Saturday; 5pm-10.30pm Sunday
Secure a table at Nikita Pathakji’s new restaurant in Clapham
You may recognise chef Nikita Pathakji from her stints on MasterChef: The Professionals (2022) and Great British Menu (2026) or, perhaps, from attending her always-sold-out supper club, held at her family home in Clapham (if you were one of the lucky ones to secure a place). Tasting Nikita’s dishes just became easier as she, alongside her mum Rima and sister Isha, have opened their very first restaurant, MAAI by Nikita on Abbeville Road in Clapham. Using seasonal British produce to create dishes including chaat tartlets, BBQ paneer with palak purée, and her signature octopus ‘tako yaki’ doughnuts, the family will offer an à la carte menu or tasting menu, with vegetarian options available. Katie Silcox
Address: 33-35 Abbeville Road, London, Sw4 9LA
Book a table at All Roads, the permanent home of London’s cult supper club
All roads lead to Brixton this weekend: Malika Greene and Paschelle Brown have opened the doors to their first permanent restaurant, located on Atlantic Road. With the same warm energy and thoughtful tastes that made their supper club so popular, at All Roads Brixton dishes like torched mackerel on toast, wings marinated in a sweet black tea, and pork chop with a pimento peppercorn sauce reflect their Caribbean heritage and are designed for sharing – although we’re willing to bet you’ll wish you didn’t have to. Growing up, food was “always about people,” the couple reflected as they opened their restaurant doors, “it was how we connected, celebrated, gifted and marked moments”. Now, they say, they’re ready to “welcome our longstanding supper club guests, new faces and the wider community to All Roads.” And this is reason enough to jump on the Victoria line and (re)pay a visit to Brixton this weekend. Katie Silcox
Address: 44 Atlantic Road, Brixton, London, SW9 8JN
Go Greek at these two new London restaurants
New Greek restaurants Maza Mayfair and Taverna Ermou bring a taste of Athens to central London. Expect old Athenian charm, elevated and time-honoured Greek dishes, and a big dose of filoxenia – aka friendly hospitality – in both. Maza Mayfair is inspired by co-owner Christina Mouratoglou’s heritage, while Taverna Ermou is a direct implant from the streets of Athens (one of its Greek counterparts, Ergon House, sits on Ermou street in the centre of the Greek capital). Katie Silcox
Addresses: Maza Mayfair, 21-23 Bruton Place, London W1J 6NB / Taverna Ermou, 38-40 James Street, London W1U 1EU
Dine at Mayfair’s newest Chinese restaurant
You’ve probably heard of MiMi Mei Fair – Samyukta Nair’s Chinese restaurant on Curzon Street in Mayfair – but now, London has welcomed MIKO Mei Fair, a Thai dining spot on the ground floor of the same building. With a menu created by Soonthorn Apaipat, former head chef of Koyn Thai, and rooted in fire-cooked dishes, expect sharing-style plates of grilled meats, Thai curries and stir fries. We’ve got our eyes (and tastebuds) firmly set on the 12-hour slow-cooked lamb shank massaman, the tiger prawn pla-ra, and the minced chicken, hot basil, chilli and fried egg kra pow gai. Katie Silcox
Address: 54 Curzon Street, London,W1J 8 PG
Exhibitions
Trace the life and legacy of Frida Kahlo at Tate Modern
Frida Kahlo,
Untitled [Self-portrait with thorn necklace and hummingbird]. 1940. Nickolas Muray
Collection of Mexican Art.
Now until 3 January 2027
Address: Bankside, London SE1 9TG
Book here
See more than 1,800 artworks at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
Gallery view of the Summer Exhibition at Royal Academy of Arts.
Photo: © David Parry/ Royal Academy of Arts
The world’s largest open-submission contemporary art show has opened. Back for its 258th show (yes, really – it’s been going since 1769), contemporary art – painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, digital and more – fill wall after wall, room after room at the 2026 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Curated by Ryan Gander and with more than 1,800 pieces to take in, it’s hard to pin down a highlight, but if you do spot a piece you love, you can also buy it to take home (browse and buy here). It opens at 10am (every day except Monday, when the Academy is closed): arrive early, there’s a lot to get through. Katie Silcox
Now until 23 August 2026
Address: Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BD
Tickets start from £23.50; book here
…And book tickets to see the RA’s winning entries from 4-18 year olds too
Starting this weekend, young artists are in the spotlight at the Royal Academy too: enjoy a cultural outing with your own children at the Young Artists’ Summer Show (14 July – 20 August). Now in its eighth year, the great imaginations of children aged 4 – 18 comes to life in this showcase of 526 artworks, selected for display from over 2,600 entries. There;s Picnic in Space with my Mum by Demetrius, aged 6; Magic Garden by Olivia, aged 8; and a very lifelike oil painting named Miss Akintunde by Robin, aged 18, depicting his high-school Head of Chemistry. A wonderful day out for all the family, and a great way to show children that the sky is the limit. Justine Neyrand
Now until 30 August 2026
Address: Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BD
Tickets start from £23.50; book here
Celebrate Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday at the National Portrait Gallery
Marilyn Monroe, 1946, by André De Dienes, © André de Dienes / MUUS Collection.
The National Portrait Gallery is marking Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday with a major new exhibition dedicated to one of the most photographed women in history. Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait looks beyond the blonde-bombshell image, tracing how Marilyn worked with photographers, artists and image-makers to shape the star power that still surrounds her today. Expect iconic portraits, rare archival material, works by artists including Andy Warhol and Pauline Boty, and personal items too – from costumes to shoes – that bring you closer to the woman behind the legend. Mark the moment yourself, with a keepsake from the museum gift shop – whose collection spans prints to take home, a hardcover coffee table book, and accessories inspired by the icon. Bibiana Obahor
Now until 6 September 2026
Address: National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, London, WC2H 0HE
Book tickets here
Visit the V&A East Museum’s first exhibition: The Music Is Black: A British Story
Photo: © David Parry/ V&A
It’s been almost 10 years in the making, but the V&A East Museum has opened, and its first temporary exhibition, The Music Is Black: A British Story, spotlights and celebrates 125 years of Black music and how it’s influenced British culture. Photography by Dennis Morris, Jennie Baptiste and Eddie Otchere is showcased alongside clothing worn by Little Simz, Seal and Dame Shirley Bassey, and objects like Joan Armatrading’s childhood guitar. But that’s not all. There are also two permanent, and free-to-enter galleries that explore global culture through fashion, art, architecture, performance and design. Fuel up at Café Jikoni, brought to life in partnership with Ravinder Bhogal and Nadeem Lalani Nanjuwany, the founders of Jikoni, and informed by the V&A East’s Youth Collective (16–24-year-olds from Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest) to ensure a space that’s affordable and welcoming to all. Katie Silcox
Now until 3 January 2027
Address: V&A East Museum, 107 Carpenters Road, London, E20 2AR
Book here
See the Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style exhibition
What does 10 decades of dressing look like as a monarch? Coinciding with the 100-year anniversary of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s birth, Caroline de Guitaut, Surveyor of the King’s Works of Art, attempts to answer the question. Including more than 200 items from 10 decades of her wardrobe – many never-displayed-before – this is the largest ever showcase of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch’s wardrobe, and an insight into the history, artistry and diplomacy behind royal dressing. Highlights include her christening robe, her silver lamé bridesmaid dress, plus her Norman Hartnell-designed wedding dress and Coronation dress. But don’t miss the smaller details, like design sketches and fabric swatches. Katie Silcox
Now until 18 October 2026
Address: The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London, SW1A 1AA
Book here
Visit the V&A’s must-see Schiaparelli exhibition
Elsa Schiaparelli is a superstar in fashion circles, but her name is lesser known outside of it. The V&A is set to change that with the first ever UK exhibition dedicated to the designer. Schiaparelli is famed for her playful, witty and shocking styles that kickstarted fashion’s relationship with the art world. She collaborated with Dalí, Cocteau and Man Ray, proving that what we wear doesn’t have to be limited to looking conventionally pretty. Schiaparelli showed women that fashion could also be interesting, funny, demanding and desirable. Find out about her legacy through the 400 objects that the V&A has unearthed, including her iconic lobster dress and upside-down shoe hat. Ella Alexander
Now until 1 November 2026
Address: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL
Book here
Go Back in time to Ancient Egypt at Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold exhibition
Gold-plated Wooden Mask from the Coffin of Amenemope – Ramses & The Pharaohs’ Gold Exhibition © NEON_World Heritage Exhibitions
We know you’ve heard about Tutankhamun, but what do you know about Ramses II? Three thousand years ago, this Ancient Egyptian pharaoh ruled for almost 67 years (far longer than ‘The Boy King’s’ 9-10 years). In his time he led the Battle of Kadesh, built temples such as Abu Simbel, and signed the world’s first recorded peace treaty – living until roughly 90 years old and fathering more than 100 children, Ramses II left quite a legacy on the world. That legacy has been brought to life in this thoughtfully curated exhibition that takes you up close and personal to more than 180 ancient artefacts including gold masks; 3,000-year-old statues (some showcased just centimetres away, and without glass casing); amulets, rings and necklaces; silver coffins from the royal tombs of Tanis; and – arguably the star of the show – Ramses II’s carved cedar coffin. Presented in a way that allows visitors the time, space and information to take it all in, this stand-out historical exhibition also utilises modern tech at times, notably in the immersive depiction of the Battle of Kadesh and the VR experience at the end, which takes you back in time to meet his first wife, Queen Nefertari, as she takes you on a tour of Abu Simel. Katie Silcox
Currently booking until 30 August 2026
Address: NEON at Battersea Power Station, 2 Circus Road East, London, SW11 8DQ
Book here
Visit Tracey Emin’s largest ever exhibition, A Second Life, at Tate Britain
Life, love, heartbreak, pain, suffering and hope – you’ll feel all of this and much more throughout Tracey Emin’s new (and largest ever) exhibition, open now at Tate Britain. Emin’s work has always been all encompassing of human nature, and in this landmark exhibition we’re invited – no drawn – further into her world, heart and feelings with such real and raw human emotion that it would be futile to try to escape its intensity. Through more than 100 of her mixed-media works – paintings, textiles, sculpture, video, and her globally recognised neon pieces – and spanning 40 years of her career, this is about as moving as an art exhibition can get. Emin is without a doubt one of the most significant artists of our generation, yet her work has come to define us all; the way we love and cry, work and grieve. The way we live. This is one of the must-see exhibitions of 2026. Katie Silcox
Now until 31 August 2026
Address: Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG
Book here
Step into the wonderful world of Wes Anderson at The Design Museum
Wes Anderson’s characteristic visual symmetry, funky colour schemes, tongue-in-cheek exaggeration, but often serious plot lines, are known to all – avid fans or not, his films are inescapable. This Design Museum exhibition is a behind-the-scenes snapshot into the incredible productions, as over 700 items from the archives are on display for the first time ever in the UK, marking the first ever retrospective of the filmmaker. The exhibition is arranged largely chronologically, sectioned out by film. In each, marvel over everything from the colourful costumes, clips from the movies, mini set replicas (the entire Darjeeling Express included), on-set BTS stills, soundtrack snippets, and all the props you could think of, from sketches, to books, to typewriters to perfume bottles, and even the iron tasseled keys from The Grand Budapest Hotel near a scaled model of the entire hotel. As co-curator and chief curatorial director of the Design Museum, Lucia Savi explains, Wes Anderson’s “extraordinary archive is testament to his unique cinematic approach,” and this exhibition is a wonderful prompt to revisit your favourites from his work. Ella Mansell
Now until 26 July 2026 at the Design Museum.
Address: 224-238 Kensington High St, London W8 6AG, United Kingdom
Book here
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