Bethnal Green has a new pizza joint – and it’s causing all the right kind of noise. Bad Boy Pizzeria does proper NYC-style slices by day, then leans into a more intimate, sit-down vibe by night. Expect Italian-American classics done well: carbonara supplì, deep-fried burrata in spicy marinara, and 16-inch pies made with top-tier ingredients.

419 Bethnal Green Road, Bethnal Green, E2 0AN

Visit @BadBoyPizzaSoc.Ldn

The Nash Conservatory – a 19th-century glasshouse that usually plays host to orchid lectures and discreet weddings – is once again opening its doors to a series of candlelit concerts. Think choral, classical and jazz performances in a setting of flickering candles and vaulted glass ceilings. The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars and the London Session Quartet are lined up already, with more to come. 

Kew Gardens, Richmond, TW9 3AE 

Visit Kew.Org

It’s not winning any awards for originality in naming, but this isn’t just any photo show. First launched in 1854, the International Photography Exhibition is the longest running of its kind in the world. Its 166th edition opens at Chelsea’s Saatchi Gallery this month, featuring 51 standout photographers. Expect boundary-pushing work across portraiture, reportage and fine art. Whether you're into street scenes or surreal visuals, there’s something here worth a detour.

Duke of York's HQ, King's Road, Chelsea, SW3 4RY; until 20th September

Visit SaatchiGallery.Com

High above the City, Madison is giving Ibiza classics a classical upgrade. For one night only, a ten-piece orchestra, live DJ and singer will reimagine dancefloor favourites as the sun sets over St Paul’s. Remember the violins on ‘Insomnia’ and the strings on ‘One More Time’? This is house music done elegantly.

1 New Change, St Paul’s, EC4M 9AF; Friday 15th August

Visit MadisonLondon.Net

Secret Cinema’s latest is hitting town this month at Battersea’s Evolution London venue – a space so vast it might soon qualify as its own borough. Expect a full-on fairground, Americana-style diners, themed food and drinks, live music, dancing, and a screening of the film itself – all cleverly woven into a three-and-a-half-hour immersive theatre experience.

Battersea, SW11 4NJ; until 7th September

Visit GreaseTheImmersiveMovieMusical.com

With Blondie in Camera 1978, the Barbican Music Library shines a spotlight on Blondie’s breakthrough year. Featuring 50 backstage and on-stage images by photographer Martyn Goddard, the show captures the energy, style and attitude that propelled Debbie Harry and her band to global fame. Alongside the photographs, visitors can explore rare memorabilia, album artwork and posters from PR Alan Edwards’s private archive. The upshot is an evocative portrait of a band at its creative peak.

Barbican Music Library, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS; 14th August 2025 – 5th January 2026

Visit Barbican.org.uk

Regularly voted among Lima’s best restaurants, Fan has brought its inventive ‘neo-Nikkei’ cuisine to W11. Friends and founders Romina Parra, Santiago Won and Jorge Sasaki blend Japanese precision with Peruvian flair – and a dash of Chinese influence – in an ever-evolving menu of refined small plates. Expect razor clams with smoked yellow chilli, prawn and truffle gyoza with fungi butter, and hamachi tiradito with scallop emulsion. It’s BYOB until the licence lands, but we hear pisco sours will follow shortly.

6 Chepstow Road, Notting Hill, W2 5BH

Visit @Fan.Ldn

Old Spitalfields Market’s free summer workshops are keeping young minds busy with hands-on LEGO sessions. This weekend’s ‘London Landmarks’ theme invites little builders to recreate the capital’s icons with expert guidance from Bricks McGee. Next weekend, the focus shifts to fantastical creatures – so there’s every reason to return.

The Market Mezzanine, Old Spitalfields Market, 16 Horner Square, Spitalfields, E1 6EW; 15th-18th August

Visit OldSpitafieldsMarket.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 vinyl bar with a cool, relaxed vibe, Jumbi pairs expertly mixed cocktails and natural wines with a soundtrack of great records. Ideal for a low-key night out in Peckham.

Visit JumbiPeckham.com

Few places do long lunches like Cafe Cecilia. Park up outside, where its terrace overlooks the canal, order the dish of the day (from its Italian-inspired menu) and don't skip dessert. 

Visit CafeCecilia.com

The upstairs bar at Ronnie Scott’s serves cocktails and small plates with – as you'd expect – a killer playlist of jazz essentials. 

Visit RonnieScotts.co.uk

Head here for a generously topped hotdog after a stroll on the Heath. You'll also find a selection of traditional cuts perfect for throwing on the BBQ.

Visit HampsteadButcher.com

A quiet nature reserve along the Thames where you can escape the city for a few hours. Take the kids to spot wildlife and follow its interactive trails. 

Visit WWT.org.uk