Best bank holiday events in London and Surrey
Best Things to do this August Bank Holiday
Seven top bank holiday events taking place on our doorstep in SW London and Surrey, or if you’re staying home enjoy some top digital entertainment
1
Outdoor Shakespeare at Cannizaro Park
Incredibly popular and hilariously funny, the Mayhem Theatre group return to Wimbledon with The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [Abridged]. That’s right – the entirety of the Bard’s stage-works condensed into just 97 minutes! All sixteen comedies have been cleverly revamped into ‘Four Weddings and a Transvestite’, the history plays are transformed into a game and Hamlet is staged in a matter of minutes … and for the finale, performed backwards! Staged in the beautiful Italian Gardens with amplified sound and COVID safe seating, there is a limited 6 performance run this August bank Holiday weekend. There are two shows per day at 1pm and 5pm, with entry to the Italian gardens opening 1 hour prior to ‘curtain up’ – so there’s still plenty of time to enjoy a pre-show bottle of wine. 29-31 August.
2
Notting Hill Carnival goes digital for one year
In 2020, the Carnival experience goes digital. You can Access All Areas and enjoy the Carnival experience at home. With steel bands, sound systems, mas bands, Brazilian bands, Calypso and Soca performances, food and drink shows and some big name performances alongside emerging artists, there truly is something to spice up everyone’s bank holiday weekend.
29-31 August; free
3
Hampton Court Palace Food Market
This August Bank Holiday weekend, visit the palace for a selection of artisan producers, street food and boutique drinks companies for the first Hampton Court Palace Food Market. Visitors will be able to sample delectable treats and enjoy live entertainment in the palace’s gardens, all with social distancing and safety measures in place to make the day safe and stress free. Hungry visitors will be able to feast their way around the world, with everything from Cluck London to the Crispy Duck Rotisserie, BEYRoots Lebanese Street Food and Bayou New Orleans Kitchen, all washed down with a tipple from some of Britain’s finest artisan drinks producers. For those with a sweet tooth, treats from Cookies and Cream, Churros Garcia and The Brownie Bar among those on offer. 29-31 August, entry included with tickets to Hampton Court Palace.
4
Chiswick House Festival
An outdoor festival is coming to Chiswick House to help raise money for the building and grounds given the financial devastation caused by the pandemic, which threatens its survival. A special Bank Holiday double bill on Monday 31 August will feature the UK’s leading Gypsy Jazz & Swing ensemble, Trio Manouche, plus a very special guest, the internationally celebrated jazz trumpeter, Quentin Collins, followed by some funky Country and Urban blues from the award winning Blues Engineers Band. Enjoy a night out in the open air Chiswick House Festival, while supporting a great cause.
5
Fulham Road Picturehouse cinema and bar
Fulham Road Picturehouse is a 6-screen cinema, with a cracking line-up of films over the August bank holiday weekend. Plus this month the Picturehouse have reopened the gorgeous first-floor Lounge Bar at Fulham Road which has an ever-changing menu of cocktails. This weekend there are a host of great movies to enjoy: Tenet, Babyteeth, My Rembrandt or if you fancy an old classic – Back to the Future.
6
Drama workshop and story telling with the Polka
Polka Online continues it’s fantastic online series with In the Winter Woods. exploring the folk tale of ‘Hey Little Cat’. Join storyteller Jan Blake as she tells the story a Jamaican lady and her naughty fat cat. There is a creative family activity pack to download, make your own balloon drum so you can join in with Jan, and prepare to make the best breakfast EVER. And enjoy a drama workshop at home with Varshini for a journey into the wonder of The Winter Woods!
7
Garden Gin at the Brewery Tap
Wimbledon Brewery are launching their new Garden Gin this weekend, which can be sampled exclusively available at their Brewery Tap this weekend. The gin is the latest in their portfolio celebrating local provenance of SW19. Adding local honey in the distillation to give hints of floral spice from nectar the bees have harvested throughout the gardens of Wimbledon. Order over £30 in the Tap shop and you be rewarded with free pint while you’re there. Open: Friday 5pm – 9pm, Saturday 11am – 9pm, Sunday 12pm – 7pm and Bank Holiday Monday 12 – 7pm.
