Things to do in London: August edition

Go dancing in the streets

For two days every summer, the leafy, distinguished quiet of West London’s ice-cream coloured squares is blown apart. On August Bank Holiday weekend, Carnival comes to Notting Hill, bringing with it goat curry, steel drums, rum punch, coconuts, jerk chicken, and a whole lot of joy. In recent years, the event has been handed an unfair reputation for violence, but don’t be cowed: carnival is for everyone, and we’ll tell you how to do it properly. Click here to read Culture Whisper’s guide to getting the most out of London’s biggest and best street party.

See where Matisse's magic happened

‘The object is an actor. A good actor can have a part in ten different plays; an object can play a role in ten different pictures,’ said Henri Matisse. Now you can explore the artist’s studio, meet the objects that inspired the art and discover the context of creativity. Matisse in the Studio is the first exhibition to consider how the artist's personal collection of objects were both subject matter and point of origin for his work. Over 65 of Matisse’s artworks are displayed alongside personal items, detritus, and treasures. To him, these things were alive. Now you can meet the objects behind the pictures.

Meet the new lady Doctor

Jodie Whittaker has been making waves lately. Whether or not you’re a fan of the cult series, her ascent to the top of the sci-fi food chain as the very first female Doctor in Doctor Who has been almost impossible to miss. But Whittaker’s doctoral qualifications don’t end there. In Trust Me, BBC One’s latest psychological drama coming out this August, she plays Cath Hardacre, a fraudulent senior doctor with more than her share of dark secrets.

See musical theatre at its most momentous

It's a big number, this show,' declared head of the National Theatre Rufus Norris when announcing the revival of Follies. Imelda Staunton in the title role only adds to the excitement.

First staged in 1971, the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical captures a moment in theatre history when the mainstay Broadway revue shows, which dominated entertainment in the interwar years, reached the end of their reign. Stephen Sondheim's songbook is stuffed with modern classics, including 'Broadway Baby', 'I'm Still Here' and 'Who's That Woman'.

Buy basics that are anything but basic

Some hardcore shopping’s in store as Skandi brand Weekday gets a London flagship store. Already popular overseas, the brand is by H&M group, who helm high street heroes including & Other Stories, Cos, Monk, Cheap Monday and, of course, H&M. Weekday is affordable, and street smart rather than smart – think short skirts, long sporty sweaters, chunky boots, and crisp, deconstructed shirts.

Find zen and zing at Wilderness Festival

Stay wild, flower child! Embrace the great outdoors and dance the night away – with an added dose of fine dining, naked swimming, secret theatre and much, much more – at Wilderness Festival. Headliners Two Door Cinema Club and Grace Jones are just the beginning; a myriad of creative opportunities, world-class chefs and the picture-book pretty countryside make Wilderness the loveliest place to lose yourself this summer.

Silicon Valley and self-discovery on stage

Ben Whishaw returns to the stage as part of a season of post-truth drama at Islington’s Almeida Theatre. Whishaw plays Luke, an outrageously successful aerospace entrepreneur who believes he is being directed by god. Against a futuristic Silicon Valley backdrop, Luke sets out to change the world.

Botanical bliss comes to Covent Garden

Petersham Nurseries is London's very own rural retreat. Tucked away down a sweet little street in Richmond, the space is sound-tracked by birdsong, scented by fresh flowers, and covered by a bougainvillea-strewn canopy. Along with an abundance of plants, it sells a panoply of homewares and accessories, serves swoon-worthy nature-inspired dishes in the on-site cafe, and hosts a selection of hands-on workshops. Now, a second Petersham Nurseries opens its doors in Covent Garden's Floral Court. This vast new 16,000 square foot West End outpost features a lifestyle shop, a delicatessen with its own cellar of Italian wine – and, of course, a florist. Two restaurants will follow in September.

Cocktail 'o' clock

Inside Mayfair’s fine-dining hotspot Corrigan's, there’s a quirky new spot for cocktail enthusiast: Dickie's. Decked out like post-modern hunting lodge – mirrored and wood panelled walls, a metal antler sculpture, feathered lamps with birds feet sticking out – it has a ‘Game Book’ cocktail menu. Master mixologist Gregory Buda serves up a thoughtful selection of seasonal drinks, each with its own charming twist. We recommend the Syd 782 – sparkling wine, vermouth, strawberry, rosehip, grapefruit, lime, bitters, and armagnac – it’s known (unofficially) by the staff, as 'the party starter'.

Silly costume, scary film

Relatively few movies employ the 'sheet over the head' effect when it comes to representing ghosts. New indie film A Ghost Story, from director David Lowery, actually manages to restore a certain amount of spookiness to the 'last minute halloween costume sheet on head’ aesthetic – partly by making it obvious that the sheet in question is a cowl they use to cover bodies in the morgue, and partly by using moody cinematography and a subdued ambiance to raise the hairs on the back of your neck. Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck star as a couple divided by death in this intriguing tale of grief, longing, and chills.