The heatwave is over, at least for now, and Londoners can cool off this week with more great events in the capital.
There's the chance to head to live comedy shows for the first time in months, play sport and enjoy world-beating exhibitions.
There’s also the first of a new batch of outdoor cultural events to check out and the welcome return of live theatre, plus the return of bowling alleys and casinos.
Here's our pick of what to get up to this week.
Head to the Bussey Building for live comedy
Comedy is back in the capital after months away and the first gig to check out this week is taking place on top of the roof at the Bussey Building in Peckham. Award winning comedian Simon Amstell is performing a special outdoor show on Tuesday, with plenty more big names set to perform over the coming weeks.
August 18, 133 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4ST, seetickets.com
Enjoy a socially distanced social at Brixton Jamm
South London favourite Brixton Jamm has teamed up with party-starters Percolate for a “summer-long series of socially distanced socials”. The DJ line-up is a strong one, with Horse Meat Disco performing on Wednesday. There will be a number of safety measures in place: all groups will stay seated at their tables and booths, with food and drink delivered via an app.
August 20, 261 Brixton Road, SW9 6LH, thebrixtoncourtyard.co.uk
Book a spot for stand-up at Ally Pally
There are more laughs to be had this week at Ally Pally, with the venue’s new Comedy on The Terrace series welcoming some massive names to perform. The outdoor series takes place inside one of the biggest beer gardens in the city and continues on Thursday night when Andrew Maxwell, Helen Bauer, Michael Akadiri and Elf Lyons all perform.
August 20, Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY, alexandrapalace.com
Take a Shoreditch Street Art Tour
London’s street artists haven’t let lockdown stop them from creating new pieces, and fans can now take socially distanced tours of the city’s scene. Shoreditch Street Art Tours has now started taking groups of up to five around east London, with two-hour tours taking place at 10am and 1pm and costing £20.
Various locations around Shoreditch, E1, shoreditchstreetarttours.co.uk
Improve your baking skills with Bread Ahead
Fancy taking your banana bread skills to the next level? Bread Ahead is helping people up their baking game during lockdown with a series interactive classes and learning resources. As well as daily live sessions on Instagram, the bakery chain has launched a new E-Learning platform, with E-workbooks and live workshop bookings available for £25.
Head to the park for Jesus Christ Superstar
The Evening Standard Award-winning revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock musical is back against all the odds this month, with theatre fans enjoying the show under social distancing last weekend. It’s a chance to see one of the most popular shows in new surroundings, following sell-out runs at Regent’s Park and a summer season at the Barbican last year – let’s just hope the weather holds up.
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, NW1, Until Sep 27, openairtheatre.com
Get more bang for your buck with London’s best restaurant deals
The Eat Out To Help Out scheme has seen scores of Londoners head out for a bite with a bit of money off, but there are other offers to entice foodies back too. Top deals include a Cocktail Passport at Vinegar Yard, free English wine at The Harwood Arms and discounts on drinks at Simmons. Read our full guide here.
Various locations
See Titian: Love, Desire, Death at the National Gallery
The National Gallery is one of the leading London galleries to reopen after lockdown, and there’s a special exhibition to entice art lovers back this week. Six masterpieces reunite for the first time in 300 years in Titian: Love, Desire, Death, examining the renaissance master’s works created in the 1550s and 1560s for Philip II of Spain.
Until January 2021, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN, nationalgallery.org.uk
Get your game on with outdoor sports in London
After a summer where fans missed out on the Olympics, Euros and the London marathon, more and more people are getting their fix by getting back out there and picking up a sport again. Whether its Finsbury Park tennis and basketball courts, swimming at Parliament Hill Lido, football at Powerleague’s many London locations or even white water rafting at Lea Valley White Water Centre, there’s so much to get stuck into this week. Read our full guide here.
Various locations
