What to do in London in August: ZIMA poster

Jazz on the Lawn

When: Aug. 2 and 3
Details and tickets here.

Jazz on the Lawn, a two-day jazz music festival, will take place on the Fulham Estate in south London in early August. The event is organized by London jazz club-restaurant 606 Club. On the first night, a duo – one of the UK’s premier saxophonists, Derek Nash, and performer Noel Mccalla – will perform for guests. The artists came up with their joint show as a tribute to Stevie Wonder, an American musician, composer and soul singer who made a huge contribution to the music industry of the last century. The second night will feature a concert by The New Orleans Clarinet, a jazz quintet coming to England from New Orleans, which is considered the birthplace of jazz as a distinct musical genre. A food court and bar will be open at Fulham Palace during the festival, but visitors are also welcome to bring their own drinks and picnic baskets.

Masters through the ages: Hockney and Pierrot at the National Gallery

When: August 8 to October 27
Where: The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN
Details and tickets at the link.

David Hockney and the early Renaissance master Piero della Francesca may seem an odd couple. Hockney’s paintings are purely personal – one of those to be presented depicts the artist’s parents and another his friend Geldzaler, while Piero’s work is dedicated to the baptism of Christ – very different works, but equally moving. The National Gallery offers to connect the two artists’ points of view across the centuries and trace the thread that unites these paintings. The exhibition will be timed to coincide with the celebration of the museum’s 200th anniversary, and its curators have already proven themselves in creating one-room expositions – visitors lined up for Caravaggio’s work until the very close of the shows.

London Craft Beer Festival

When: August 9-10
Where: Tobacco Dock, Wapping, 50 Porters Walk, London E1W 2SF
Details at .

One of the biggest beer festivals will return to the British capital in August. The event will take place across two floors of London’s Tobacco Docks and promises visitors two days of “non-stop beer bliss”. Guests will be able to choose their favorite brews from among London’s finest producers and enjoy international classics including Gipsy Hill, Orbit, Queer Brewing and more. Those who like to top off their pint with a decent appetizer shouldn’t worry either, this year’s festival will feature corners from restaurants such as Flesh & Buns, Bone Daddies and Chick N’ Sours and more. A £54.50 ticket will allow you to drink as much as you want for four hours (on each of the days), and there are discounts for group visits.

The 2024 Summer Olympics at an outdoor venue in London

When: until August 11

Paris is hosting the Olympics until August 11, which means that for almost half a month you can still spend your summer leisure time with sports content at one of London’s public outdoor venues. Many of the locations supplement the broadcast of games with DJ sets, organize their own sports activities and amateur competitions for everyone. And, of course, there is always a wide range of food and drink on offer – from refreshing ales complemented by quality street food to fine sparkling wine combined with grilled seafood. A full list of venues can be found in a special ZIMA article.

Prosecco Weekend

When: August 17-18
Where: Chiswick House and Gardens, Burlington Ln, Chiswick, W4 2RP
Details and tickets at the link.

This weekend at the stately Chiswick House and Gardens mansion, Prosecco DOC UK brand ambassador Neil Phillips, Italian mixologist Sonia Elia, who is capable of creating amazing and unique flavor combinations, and culinary expert Angelo Coassin will host free masterclasses on how to make the sparkling Italian wine. In addition to learning all about the iconic drink – from pairing Prosecco with food to using it in cocktails – visitors will also be able to take home some of the best Prosecco DOCs or have a large-scale tasting during the event.

Camden Fringe Theater Festival

When: July 29 to August 25
Details and full list of events at the link.

In August, the British capital will host the Camden Fringe theater festival, which was founded in London in 2006 as an alternative to the Edinburgh Festival. This is a great opportunity to see what trends are being seen in the more “young” theater in the British industry, as the festival program includes mostly works by emerging artists and directors. This year Camden Fringe will present over 300 different shows and productions. Of particular note is a new play directed by Anya Ostrovskaya, a Jewish woman with Ukrainian roots who grew up in Moscow. Ostrovskaya has immersed herself in a study of the history of the 1920s and 1930s, drawing on Stefan Zweig’s memoir “Yesterday’s World: Memoirs of a European.” The result will be The World of Yesterday, a cabaret performance that will take the audience through the writer’s life journey against the backdrop of radical change on the European continent, from the turbulent but liberal 1920s to the Nazis’ rise to power in the early 1930s. What other plays you should have time to see before the end of summer in London, read in a special material “ZIMA”.

Osterley Park and House Cinema

When: August 8 to 11
You can buy tickets at link.

The Georgian estate of Osterley Park in the west of the British capital hosts several screenings of world cinema classics each year. The calling card of the Osterley Opener is live music concerts with tunes from the movies. This season’s movie and musical show includes “Pretty Woman,” the musicals “Mamma Mia” and “The Greatest Showman,” and the 1985 cult science fiction film “Back to the Future.” This summer in Osterley you can not only refresh your memory of world-favorite movies, but also listen to, for example, the famous compositions of ABBA performed by an orchestra under the stars.

Field Day

When: August 24
Where: Victoria Park, London, E3 5TB
More details and tickets at the link.

Founded in 2007, Field Day has established itself as not only one of the best music festivals in London, but in the whole of the UK. More than solid, it has traditionally brought together a variety of genres on its stage, from dance music and indie rock to art pop. The main attraction of 2024 is the electronic line-up of artists: the iconic duo Justice, who are back with a new album and a fresh set of house mixes, as well as Vegyn, Yaeji, Shygirl, Brutalismus 300, PinkPantheress, Charlotte de Witte, Romy, Mura Masa.

Vogue Rites: The Mighty Crown Ball.

When: August 24
Where: Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA
More details and tickets at the link.

For the third year in a row in the courtyard of Somerset House, London’s Vogue Rites dance company presents the ultimate open-air ball, only in its modern and extra-fashionable reading. Organized in the style of a carnival show, the event is a celebration of global vogue culture. Talented dancers from different countries take to the catwalk and compete for trophies in extravaganza vogue-battles to the rhythm of incendiary music and in the open air. Organizers warn that some numbers will include “adult” content, so young audiences should be careful when planning their visit.

Battersea Park in Concert

When: August 24 to 26
Booking tickets at link.

On the final, long weekend of the summer, Battersea Park will host a three-day festival of music from a variety of genres. On Friday, August 24, there will be a classical music show featuring compositions ranging from Mozart and Bach to Tchaikovsky performed by the Royal Philharmonic Concert. The Alex Mandham Jazz Orchestra will also present its Great Gatsby-inspired show that day. The following day, festival guests will be able to take part in a musical journey through the main compositions of iconic West End musicals – from Mary Poppins to Back to the Future – also performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra. On August 26, one of the most famous British jazz groups Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra will perform on stage at the end of the festival – the ensemble will present the music of Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Stevie Wonder.

Sunflower fields an hour’s drive from London

When: August 2024
Where: Tulleys Sunflower Fields, Turners Hill Road, Turners Hill, Crawley, West Sussex
You can plan your visit by clicking here.

If you’ve had enough of the hustle and bustle of the city and want a new experience, here’s an idea – less than an hour’s drive from London you can visit a huge sunflower field. This is Tulley’s Farm, which is located deep in the West Sussex countryside. The flowers usually start blooming in full force just in August, and every year Tulley’s Farm holds a festival in honor of this. There are over 25 thoughtfully designed photo zones and selfie stations scattered amongst a sea of sunflowers, the Potting Shed bar offers refreshing drinks and Bentley’s BBQ Shack will keep visitors hungry. In addition to the natural beauty, guests will also be treated to live music concerts. Admission tickets start from £8 per person.

Hampton Court Food Festival

When.: 24-26 August
Where: Hampton Court Palace, Hampton Ct Way, East Molesey KT8 9AU
Tickets here.

If you don’t have plans for a bank holiday weekend at the end of August, we suggest heading to the Hampton Court Palace Gastronomic Festival. Guests can expect food from all over the world (more than 150 corners in total): from Lebanon, Italy, India, Portugal, the Philippines and even Scandinavia. In addition, if you buy a ticket to the festival, you can not only enjoy a meal surrounded by the idyllic gardens of Hampton Court, but also walk among the interiors of the famous residence of Henry XIII – all the pleasures at once. There are also bars, children’s entertainment and live music.

Notting Hill Carnival.

When: Aug. 25 and 26, Sunday is “Family Day” and Monday is “Adult Parade.”
More details about the event can be found at this link.

One of the largest and oldest street parties in the world, which originated as a demonstration of Caribbean emancipation. More than two million people are expected to descend on west London for the carnival weekend. Sunday is the day known as Dutty Mas, when participants cover themselves in paint, oil, mud or chocolate, and children, as well as adults, dress up in their homemade costumes and join the Children’s Parade. Monday – Pretty Mas – features shows with an emphasis on the adult crowd – spectators can expect the most spectacular costumes, multiple sound systems with DJs playing everything from house and dancehall to samba, “floats” with dancers and bands and individual performances celebrating Caribbean culture. The parade is scheduled to officially open at 10:00 a.m. on August 25.

Queens Park Book Festival.

When: August 31 to September 1
Where: Queen’s Park, Harvist Rd, London NW6 6SG
More details and tickets at the link.

What many book festivals lack is a festive and laid-back atmosphere, namely entertainment content, parties and fun dancing with drinks in the company of fellow “fellow book lovers.” Queen’s Park Book Fest has taken this important aspect into account and combined this year’s literary luminaries with stand-up comedy, local history, and lectures on current topics. Best of all, each of the two days will culminate with a party into the night. Keynote speakers include legendary playwright and author Alan Bennett, ‘Monty Python’ Michael Palin, former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, food critic Jay Rayner and many more.