Outdoor events in August: summer calendar 2019

CULTURE

Take a trip to a Lavender field

It doesn't get much more picturesque or more fragrant than a field full of Lavender. London has a choice of Lavender farms, all within a short distance. The flowers peak in August, so time your trip for maximum beauty.

Click here to read our guide to finding your nearest Lavender field.

See the rainbow at the Colour Palace

The leafy grounds of Dulwich Picture Gallery have come to life with colour. London-based designer Yinka Ilori has teamed up with Pricegore architects to create Colour Palace, a 10 metre high cubic structure sporting a polychromatic facade. This is your last chance to see the rainbow structure before it is sold in September.

Get involved with Totally Thames

The 22nd annual Totally Thames festival is spans the 42-mile stretch of the river and incorporates art installations, music, dance, sporting events and more, all in celebration of one of London’s greatest and enduring assets.

Travel back to Elizabethan times

Travel back in time to Elizabethan England at Oxfordshire’s Blenheim Palace where Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre is putting on four of the bard’s plays in a pop-up theatre. Immerse yourself with with frothy ales served from thatched stalls, performing minstrels and a garden maze.

Reflect upon glass art at Kew Gardens

Have you ever seen a garden made of glass? Reflect upon Dale Chihuly’s luminous sculptures, which are scattered across the parklands, greenhouses and galleries of Kew Gardens. There are 32 artworks to take in, each showing the intricacy of glass-blowing.

Treat kids to an immersive experience at London Zoo

ZSL London Zoo's new interactive experience gives kids a chance to play zookeeper, gardener, builder and more in celebration of the Zoo's new Animal Adventure play zone.

Laugh along to As You Like It

This sighing pastoral comedy, filled with exiled lovers, cross-dressing heroines and poetry hidden in the trees, is definitely one you'll want to savour in late summer. And the open-top Globe Theatre gives you a sense of how As You Like It was originally staged.

Explore the art at Frieze Sculpture Park

Frieze Sculpture brings fine art to the great outdoors. Spend a sunny afternoon perusing the sculptures and look out for our favourites from Tracy Emin and Barry Flanagan.

Re-discover a modern classic musical

The Open Air Theatre's annual musical has become a highlight of the summer season. This year Buenos Aires comes to Regent's Park with a new production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber's 1978 hit Evita.

Zoom through the sky on a zip wire

Thrill-seekers can see the city from a new perspective at Zip Now's urban zip wire. It launches from 35 metres high (that's the height of nine double-decker buses!), travels across 225 metres and reaches thrilling speeds of 50km per hour.

SPORT

Say Howzat at The Ashes

Few sports encapsulate the national character better than cricket, and where better to watch it than its ancestral home of Lord’s? This summer the stadium hosts the second test in what is the sport’s biggest grudge match – The Ashes between England and Australia.

FOOD & DRINK

Feast among the flowers

The West End can be a sticky, stressful place in the heat. Find peace and find dining among the flowers in Petersham Nurseries' charming courtyard. After a few cocktails and some seasonal Italian dishes, it almost feels like you're on a Mediterranean holiday.

Graze away a day at Pergola Paddington

Round up friends and head to Pergola Paddington. Soak up rounds of frozen margaritas and Frosé (yes, frozen rosé) with street food from the likes of Honi Poké, kabab connoisseurs Babek Brothers, and a new venture from burger specialists Patty & Bun. Or book for the new bottomless brunch on Sundays.

London Brunch Fest 2019

If you like nothing more than the ritual of a lazy weekend brunch, we have the event for you: the London Brunch Festival takes over Truman Brewery with a surfeit of eggs, avocado and prosecco.

FESTIVAL

Soak up reggae at Camberwell Community Fair

With Wormfood record label curating one of the stages, Camberwell Fair is a hidden gem for vibey live music. Soak up rising stars of reggae, soul and disco and discover new talents from the local community.

Jam along to Jazz

The EFG Jazz Festival's first ever Summer Stage pops up for an outdoor concert showcasing Jazz stars from all around the world. Performers including party-starting band The Turbans, vocal collective Urban Flames and ecclectic award-winners Kefaya accompaniced by MOBO-nominated saxophonist Camilla George.

Join the party at Regent's Canal

The annual Angel Canal Festival brings a hive of activity to the water. From food trucks to puppet shows, expect all the frivolity of a summer fair, plus the chance to explore the canal with pedalos, kayaks and boat trips.