London Living’s Bank Holiday Bucket List
Who else is rejoicing at the arrival of the August Bank Holiday? After a month of being back in the office and doing that gruelling London commute, the thought of these 3 lovely days off work have put a spring in our step, and unlike the last Bank Holiday, when we were all struggling to secure a coveted spot in a beer garden, this August we are free to do as we please and there are so many options!
Read on to discover what’s on the London Living agenda this August bank holiday..
Friday 26th
Going ‘Out Out’
If it’s a serious dose of Caribbean vibes you’re after, then you may want to head to the BIGGEST Notting Hill inspired party in London at Ma Dame, an intimate, French-inspired, live music nightclub & late-night dancing venue close to Royal Oak and Hyde Park. You can expect to join 100s of ravers for the craziest celebration of culture, music and identity with all your favourite DJs playing the best in Reggae, Bashment, Soca and more. Attractions include: Flags, Whistles, Hula Necklaces, Shisha, Immersive Decorations & your fav DJs & the best Dancehall, Reggae & Soca riddims.
For a part bar, part restaurant, part concert, part party, we recommend going to, Piano Works in Farringdon. It's a dinner and live music venue, where in-house musicians take centre stage and only play songs requested by the audience! Boasting 2 piano vocalists and accompanying musicians that form a 6-piece band, every night plays host a non-stop repertoire of music decided by the audience. On each individually designed table, a set of song request slips can be found. Write your song request on these slips and the musicians will perform. If you really love it on Friday then you can even return on Sunday for their Bank Holiday 'Brunch To The Beat'.
Festival Time!
The Notting Hill Carnival may have been cancelled, but not to worry, the first-ever UK Yam Carnival will be coming to Clapham Common on Saturday August 28th. Yam Carnival is London’s newest festival celebrating Black culture, created by the team behind Afronation. It was due to debut in Clapham in 2020, but didn’t go ahead, for obvious reasons. One of the headline acts this year is Nigerian-American star Davido, whose song ‘Fem’ evolved into something of a protest anthem for the #ENDSARS movement.
Indoor Adrenalin
If however, you want to try a new indoor activity on Saturday then we highly recommend grabbing tickets to Gravity Southside in Wandsworth. Set over three floors, this newly opened indoor entertainment centre is packed with fun things to do – whatever the weather is doing. There’s a go-kart racetrack, a 14-lane bowling alley with augmented reality, a golf course that sees you putt against iconic New York sights, and an e-sports gaming arena, which has the best games on the latest consoles.
London Eats
Are you more about food and fun than indoor sporting activities? Then we recommend booking a spot at Crazy Pizza in Marylebone. Running on Saturday (and Sunday too) the party style brunch offers bottomless champagne with pizzas and entertainment to get you dancing, including shot shows, traditional napkin waving performances and pizza spinning shows. Brunch is from 12pm-3pm for a set price of £100pp, with drinks included.
Food Heaven
Another foodie haven occurring this weekend is the Hampton Court Palace Food Festival. Set in the home of Henry VIII, the Hampton Court event boasts a huge line-up of street food vendors and bars, as well as live music, face painting, and hours to explore the palace’s stunning gardens and maze.
Slow Down and Look Up
Sundays are all about slowing down the pace and what better way to do that than beneath a spectacular Borealis installation, inspired by the experience of the Northern Lights. Shining over two locations in the Royal Borough of Greenwich during this year’s festival. Time does seem to slow down as eyes look up with Dan Acher’s second incredible installation at GDIF 2021. Borealis offers a mesmerising must-see moment of awe and wonder in two extraordinary locations. Why not head down for the day make the most of all that Greenwich and Woolwich Town Centres have to offer? Look out for special Borealis offers, in partnership with Visit Greenwich.
Afternoon Tea for The Mini’s
For the littler members of the family, Bluebird Chelsea at 350 King’s Road, are offering afternoon tea for minis! Think Malteser milkshakes, Jammy Dodgers and kid friendly cheese sandwiches. Parents can choose from a more grown up selection of smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwiches with macrons, strawberries and cream tarts. It’s £12 for the Tiny Tea and £26.50 for the grown-up afternoon tea.
Last Chance Lavender
Lavender season is soon drawing to end, and this weekend could be your last chance to inhale that gorgeous purple haze. The Mayfield Lavender farm in Banstead is welcoming guests until Tuesday 31st August, and even though the front fields have now been harvested, it’s well worth the trip. No advance booking is required. Entry Tickets are available at the gate. We are open everyday from 9am to 6pm Monday to Sunday.
‘Techno Techno’
For those of you with the energy to go hard on Sunday, there’s another festival occurring in Victoria Park, with a Sunday Field Day, that is perfect for the techno heads and ravers amongst us. Make sure you’ve got your vaccination documentation or have taken a PCR or lateral flow test before putting on your party shoes!
Tickets are £65.40 and available via allpointseastfestival.com
Something Different
To experience something a little bit outside the box this bank holiday, immerse yourself in wildlife at ZSL London Zoo are offering overnight stays in lodges inspired by homes traditional to Gujarati, India. Imagine waking up (and going to bed) with the sounds of jungle animals all around you! Included in the sleepover package is an after-hours tour of the zoo giving you the opportunity to explore, discover, and learn about all the animals that call the zoo home. Tickets include a drink on arrival, breakfast and dinner on your lodge veranda, free entry for two days to ZSL London Zoo with the option of using up one of those days at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, car parking and an exclusive after-hours tour. Prices start at £345 for two adults.
What are your bank holiday plans? We'd love to hear about them in the comments below, and if you found this blog post useful don't forget to share it!
Have a GREAT bank holiday!
The London Living Team