Things are starting to open up; shops are welcoming customers again and zoos are back, even if we're still having to work out which pub doing takeaway pints is closest to the park.
While we're a way off things returning to normal, theatre, comedy and art exhibitions have all headed online and there are plenty of online cocktail and wine masterclasses to get stuck into as well.
More restaurants are opening for delivery and cinemas are hopeful of opening soon, with lockdown continuing to loosen.
For the time being, it's still a mix of staying inside and getting out there, but these are our top picks of things to get up to this week.
Celebrate Glasto's 50th anniversary
This week would have seen thousands head to Worthy Farm for Glastonbury, and while Covid-19 scuppered festival plans, there are still virtual events to look forward to. Highlights include the V&A’s new seven-day digital celebration of Glastonbury to mark what would have been the festival’s 50th anniversary. A host of extra performances from the archives will be added to the BBC iPlayer from Thursday too, including Dave’s memorable set from 2019.
Grab an ice cream in the sun
The weather is looking fantastic this week, so as well as heading to London’s green spaces for a spot of socially distanced sunbathing, it’s the perfect time for a few scoops of ice cream. Check out our list of our favourite ice cream parlours currently operating, from Gelupo on Archer Street to Marine Ices on Chalk Farm Road.
Tune in to the National Theatre at Home series
The National Theatre continues to dig into its archives, sharing its plays for free. This week, fans can watch Andrea Levy’s Small Island, before the London Theatre Company's production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream arrives on Thursday at 7pm. Gwendoline Christie and Hammed Animashaun star in the Shakespeare adaptation, which ran at the Bridge Theatre in 2019.
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.
Tune in for a lecture in mental health from Ruby Wax
Ruby Wax is leading a free online lecture on mental health and the impact of coronavirus and lockdown with City Lit. The comedian and mental health campaigner – who also has a masters degree in mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy from Oxford – will be joined by principal Mark Malcomson for the talk, which takes place this Wednesday at 1pm.
Head to one of London’s open attractions
Things are beginning to open up across the capital, meaning Londoners can head for a socially distanced day out. Kew Gardens, London Zoo, Hampton Court Palace gardens, and a selection of National Trust properties have all reopened their doors, meaning some of the most idyllic spots in the capital are ready to be explored once again – read our full guide here.
Get the beers in
Relaxed pints in the sun is one of life’s simplest pleasures, and more and more pubs are opening up for takeaway across the city. There are plenty of places bordering parks which are idea for socially distanced drinks with friends, from The Red Lion and Sun in Hampstead delivering beer to picnickers in Waterlow Park, to the takeaway beer and pizza from the Clissold Park Tavern. Read our guide here.
