The capital’s love affair with agave spirits continues to burn with the launch of Little Fires, a moody mezcal bar bringing a taste of Oaxaca to Bethnal Green Road. Co-founded by a trio of Shoreditch locals from the music, design and hospitality scenes, it’s a two-floor space that pairs small plates with seriously smoky cocktails and a stellar sound system. Upstairs it’s all low lighting and natural wine; downstairs is a vinyl-spinning mezcal workshop and hi-fi bar. The food’s not to be overlooked either – Top Chef Mexico winner Rodolfo Castellanos has curated the menu, so you’ll want to stay late.

125-127 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E2 7DG

Visit LittleFires.Bar

For one night only, cult taco crew Sonora Taquería is taking over Toklas Bakery for a summer fiesta. From 6pm, the central London bakery will serve confit pork belly, slow-braised beef and cactus-leaf tacos – plus handmade tortillas, fiery salsas, and free mini burritos with every ticket. Expect mezcal, tequila cocktails and bold Sonoran flavours, all without the usual East London queue.

9 Surrey Street, Temple, WC2R 2ND; Thursday 7th August

Visit ToklasLondon.com

Cheese maestro Mathew Carver has expanded his empire with a second Pick & Cheese – this time in Camden Market. Just like the Covent Garden OG, the new outpost puts a British cheese twist on conveyor-belt dining. Expect a steady stream of plates showcasing the UK’s best small-batch cheeses and producers. There’s a grilled cheese sandwich for good measure, and Wednesdays mean bottomless plates for £29.50pp.

Unit 93-94, Chalk Farm Road, Camden, NW1 8AH

Visit TheCheeseBar.com

You might have heard Oasis are back. To coincide with the reunion tour, Wembley Park is hosting a striking open-air photo exhibition featuring the Gallagher brothers in their early days. Captured by legendary music photographer Kevin Cummins, these rarely seen large-scale shots span studio sessions, backstage antics and 90s street scenes. 

Olympic Way, Wembley Park, Wembley, HA9 0GU; until 30th September

Visit WembleyPark.com

Only in Soho… Chef Dom Fernando of Paradise has launched Miris y Maíz, a pop-up bringing together Sri Lankan spice and Mexican street food in what might be the world’s first taco fusion of its kind. Expect punchy, playful flavours and creative combos that put a new spin on both cuisines. It's only here for a few weeks, so get in while you can.

61 Rupert Street, Soho, W1D 7PW; until 1st September

Visit ParadiseSoho.com

Inspired by the memoir Live At The Brixton Academy, Brixton Calling tells the story of how one man bought a derelict cinema for £1 and turned it into one of London’s most iconic live music venues. Directed by Bronagh Lagan, the play features a live soundtrack spanning reggae, punk, rave and more – a powerful tribute to the capital’s underground scene.

77-85 Newington Causeway, Borough, SE1 6BD; until 16th August

Visit SouthwarkPlayhouse.co.uk

Think of this as classical music’s Glasto – only indoors and with better acoustics. The BBC Proms runs all summer at the Royal Albert Hall, with standout concerts taking place nearly every night. August’s highlights include the legendary Edward Garner conducting the London Philharmonic through Debussy to Ravel, a sci-fi-themed film night and a tribute to the greatest thriller scores ever created.

Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP; until 13th September

Visit BBC.co.uk

The world’s biggest arts festival is back for another year. This August, over 3,000 shows will take over Edinburgh’s theatres, pubs and street corners, covering everything from late-night stand-up to one-man Greek tragedies, absurd musicals to live podcast recordings. Acts to catch this year include Comic Mark Thomas and his subversive play Ordinary Decent Criminal, a musical about the relationship between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, plus plenty more fledgling comedians to sink your teeth into.

Various venues, Edinburgh; until 25th August

Visit EdFringe.com

Sneakerheads, this one’s for you. The cult trainer meet-up Kicks & Coffee is popping up in the capital for a day of rare kicks, streetwear drops, DJs, local brews and global street food. Expect to meet collectors and resellers showing off the latest heat from New Balance, Nike SB, Salomon and ASICS. Alongside the sneaker showcases, there’ll be barbers on-site, customisation workshops and limited-edition releases to get your hands on. It’s free to attend – just register in advance.

Big Penny Social, 1 Priestley Way, E17 6AL; 10th August, 12pm-6pm

Visit KicksCoffee.co.uk

To celebrate ten years of the Metcon line, specialist training brand WIT is hosting an exclusive launch at its new Nike × WIT Training Lab in Battersea. The space opens to the public this week, offering workouts, workshops, recovery pop‑ups, community programming and the debut sale of Nike Metcon 10 – available first in the Lab. The initial weekend sees The Nike Epic Games, a community fitness competition featuring early WIT members. Training Lab slots also include appearances from Nike athletes and Hyperice‑led recovery experiences – all bookable via the WIT website.

Unit 74/75 Queen’s Circus, 326‑342 Queenstown Road, Battersea, SW11 8NE; until 24th August

Visit Wit-Training.com & Nike.com

Here’s where we spotlight some of London’s tried-and-tested hangouts. From top‑drawer boozers to cultural icons, these are the classic spots worth having on your radar this weekend…

A proper hidden gem under St Giles’ church in Camberwell, this atmospheric basement venue hosts live jazz nights with serious soul. Expect candlelight, closely packed pews and some of the best musicians on the circuit. Hit The Camberwell Arms beforehand for steak and a Guinness.

Visit JazzLive.co.uk

The original V&A’s cooler younger venue is a must-visit in east London. Expect boundary-pushing exhibitions, design-led installations and events that mix art with fashion, gaming and tech. It’s stylish, spacious and a smart move for a date that doesn’t involve another overpriced brunch.

 Visit VAM.ac.uk

For a culture hit that doesn’t feel try-hard, head to this architect’s house-turned-museum that’s full of curiosities, antiquities and secret doors. It’s compact, moody and best explored solo or with someone who’ll appreciate seeing a giant sarcophagus in the middle of London.

Visit Soane.org

A top-tier pub just off Regent’s Canal, this place strikes the right balance between proper pints and grown-up dining. With 20 rotating taps, a beer list worth exploring and pub classics that go hard on flavour, it’s exactly what you want from a north London local.

Visit EarlOfEssex.net

If you fancy swapping boozing for bouldering, The Climbing Hangar is a sociable spot with neon holds, decent coffee and a solid crowd. There’s a recovery café for post-climb protein and you don’t need to be a pro to get stuck in.

Visit ClimbingHangar.com