Looking for the best things to do in London this weekend and the week ahead? Whether you are into festivals, art, food, or just soaking up summer in the city, there is no shortage of adventure in store.

First up, today you need to head to Trafalgar Square for the culmination of the National Gallery's 200th birthday celebrations. According to Time Out, artist Jeremy Deller is animating central London with The Triumph of Art. Picture a joyful street procession up Whitehall at eleven, rolling into a massive party in Trafalgar Square till four. Look for live music, surprise performances, art workshops, wild costumes, and DJs spinning tunes from inside Quingo Starlequinn, a colossal puppet by learning disability collective Do Your Own Thing.

If food is your passion, the world’s biggest chicken wing festival lands at London Stadium this weekend. Londonist says Wing Fest is serving up wings from over 40 traders, with live music, eating competitions, axe throwing, and all sorts of fun games packed into three days. Tickets are flying but it runs until Sunday so wing it to Stratford soon.

For a cooler, hands-on summer treat, head east to the Royal Docks where Summer Splash opens its floating lido — free and open every day through mid-August. Bring your swimsuit and brave the unheated waters while lifeguards keep an eye out. Don’t forget your towel.

Culture lovers can catch Burlesque the Musical at the Savoy Theatre, where new songs by Christina Aguilera and Diane Warren light up the stage. If you prefer laughs, Hold On To Your Butts at Charlotte Street Hotel is a Jurassic Park parody with a cult following. Over in Regents Park, the brilliant stage adaptation of Malorie Blackman's “Noughts & Crosses” unfolds in the open air, mixing romance and serious social commentary.

Film buffs note that BFI Southbank is hosting the We Crip Film Festival this weekend, spotlighting disabled creatives, or you might want to hit the Riverside Studios for Bitesize Short Film Festival each evening with post-screening drinks and mingling.

For free family-friendly fun, Carshalton Lavender is hosting its annual lavender harvest where you can pick your own blooms for a small entry fee. Meanwhile, the Saxon Festival in Kingston features parades, historical displays, and hands-on activities, and model rail enthusiasts will be thrilled by the open day at the Edroy Garden Line in Raynes Park.

On Sunday, Certain Blacks Ensemble Festival offers open-air circus, trapeze, and interactive arts at Docklands free of charge, while foodies and music fans can keep festivities lively at the Woolwich Works Jerk Cookout with African and Caribbean eats, live bands, DJs, craft stalls, and more.

For art that provokes, Somerset House’s Virtual Beauty exhibition explores how digital tech is shaping our ideas of beauty, blending sculpture, photography, and AI-generated portraiture in one dazzling show.

London is thriving with theatre, music, festivals, food, and outdoor joy this late July. Whether you are here for the city’s quirks, cultural scene, or the simple pleasure of a summer day out, there’s something calling your name.

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