It’s been tough, but London is now closer to normality than it has been in months.
Social distancing is still in place and venues are staying Covid-secure, but pubs, cinemas and restaurants are now open to the public with the government taking bigger steps to ease lockdown.
Thousands of people have been heading out to spend time in their favourite haunts and see loved ones for catch-ups. There'll be more of the same this weekend.
Still, after months indoors, if can be a touch overwhelming to work out when, where and what to get up to. Here's our pick of what to get up to this weekend.
Head to Five Points’ new Mare Street Taproom
One of the best independent breweries in the capital is launching a brand new venue this weekend. East London’s Five Points is opening its new Mare Street Taproom for socially distanced pints, and it looks like a real treat for beer lovers. It's found right around the corner from London Fields and open 4-9pm on Friday and 1-9pm on Saturday. Make sure to pre-book a table, with tickets costing £5 per person and including a free drink.
From July 24, 61 Mare St, Hackney, E8 4RG, fivepointsbrewing.co.uk
Get mindful at Eccleston Yards’ Virtual Wellness Festival
Eccleston Yards in Belgravia is usually home to wellness session throughout the year, but this weekend, it’s moving online. Head to Instagram from Friday for a series of yoga, fitness, meditation and mindfulness sessions. Best of all? It’s totally free.
July 24-26, mayfairandbelgravia.com
Go axe-throwing at Boxpark
Boxpark Wembley is back in action after a long time away, welcoming back its indoor leisure series from this Saturday. It’s the chance to try something a little different, with axe-throwing, VR experiences and the family-friendly PlayBox area all ready to check out.
18 Olympic Way, Wembley Park, HA9 0JT, boxpark.co.uk/wembley
Check out London’s street art scene
Street art is alive and well in London, with Banksy making headlines after revealing a new mural on the tube recently. While many of the artist's originals in the capital have been vandalised or moved into galleries, there is still a thriving art scene for the family to discover in London. Shoreditch is a hotbed for some of the most inspiring pieces and murals, including Roa’s giant crane piece on Hanbury Street and Stik’s endearing stick-like figures on Princelet Street. Check out our guide to the best street artists to follow on Instagram – take inspiration, and check out their work on London’s streets. If you feel like getting out there and discovering more, book in for a socially distanced art tour.
Various dates and locations
See Charles Dickens like never before
A flagship new exhibition is bringing Charles Dickens to life with a series of brand new colourised images. Technicolour Dickens: The Living Image of Charles Dickens begins this Saturday when the Dickens museum in Bloomsbury reopens after a four-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. The museum is found at 48 Doughty Street – the London residence where the author wrote Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby – and is a must see for lovers of literature in the capital.
48 Doughty Street, Holborn, WC1N 2LX, dickensmuseum.com
Head to The Terrace at Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace recently transformed its outdoor terrace into a huge beer garden, letting punters take in the incredible views with a pint or two. The space covers 1500 square metres, offering drinks and music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer, with plenty of street food options to soak up the pints.
Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY, alexandrapalace.com
Book yourself a table at a ‘no reservations’ restaurant
Some of London’s restaurants are changing the way they do things and taking reservations for the first time. With walk-ins impossible during the pandemic, the likes of Barrafina (Dean Street and Coal Drops Yard) will offer an inaugural booking service. Gloria and Circolo Popolare are also taking reservations for all group sizes, after only previously allowing bookings of groups bigger than six. Read the full guide here.
Various locations
Head to Costa Del Tottenham
There’s a new outdoor site in north London to check out, and it looks like a cracking spot. Costa Del Tottenham is a new venture from clubbing favourite The Cause, described as an “all-weather tropical industrial paradise”. The area doubles the size of the Tottenham club’s existing outdoor space, which hosted its first socially distanced DJ event this month.
Ashley House, Ashley Rd, Tottenham Hale, N17 9LZ, costadeltottenham.co.uk
Get your art fix at one of London’s open galleries
Art lovers have been starved for months, but things are looking up. The National Gallery is back open and welcoming guests to see it’s incredible, world-beating collection of artwork from the likes of Van Gogh, DaVinci and Rembrandt. There are plenty plenty of other places open to visitors too. The likes of Thomas Dane Gallery will permit four viewers per room at any one time and David Zwirner is also open to guests this weekend – check out our guide here.
Various locations
Learn how to cook the perfect BBQ
Brits have been making up for lost time outdoors after lockdown, and when the sun’s out there’s only one thing for it – fire up the BBQ. Buffalo Trace Distillery has teamed up with Spitalfields’s HotBox to create a new video series on creating the perfect meal at home, helping viewers prepare and cook the best BBQ chicken. Check it out this weekend and take inspiration before firing up the grill at home.
