Listeners, welcome to your ultimate guide for what to do in London from today through this lively weekend.

Today kicks off with the buzz of Harry Potter fans: free tickets for a Harry Potter birthday event, set for July 31st, are being released this morning. If you’re in central London, witness the regal tradition of military gun salutes in Green Park and at the Tower of London to mark the Queen’s Birthday, running late morning through early afternoon.

For those hungry for knowledge, the Bank of England Museum invites you to Layers of Time, a special late opening featuring crafts and talks for the Festival of Archaeology. Over in Piccadilly, scientist Friederike Otto speaks about tackling climate injustice at the Linnean Society, perfect for listeners interested in climate change and social justice. The Massed Bands of the Household Division bring their impressive Military Musical Spectacular to life tonight with marching and music.

Catch some of London's finest live theatre. Highlights include Burlesque The Musical at the Savoy Theatre, packed with electrifying songs by Christina Aguilera and Diane Warren, and the high-energy Sing Street at the Lyric Hammersmith, following a teenager's attempt to find love and music in 80s Dublin. For a classic, don't miss Shakespeare’s raucous The Merry Wives of Windsor at the Globe Theatre.

The weekend explodes with unique events. This Saturday, the ancient Cart Marking Ceremony returns to Guildhall Yard — a 500-year-old spectacle where all manner of handcarts, horses, and the latest net-zero vehicles parade past judges in full regalia. Over at Coram’s Fields, Family Dance Day brings free dance shows, hands-on workshops, and art for children and their adults. The temporary Serpentine Pavilion in Kensington Gardens also hosts Pavilion Family Day, promising performances and creative fun for everyone.

Islington heats up Saturday and Sunday with the National Geographic Traveller Food Festival at the Business Design Centre. Expect to meet top chefs like José Pizarro and Yotam Ottolenghi, enjoy tasting sessions, and sit in on food-filled demonstrations. For the dog lovers, Battersea Power Station presents London’s biggest free dog festival, Napo’s Four-Legged Fête, featuring playful activities, expert tips, and even a chance to score your pooch some free insurance.

If art and culture call your name, don’t miss the ESEA Encounters festival at Southbank Centre, celebrating East and South East Asian culture with performances, music, art, and food stalls, while the fresh Tusk Turtle Trail turns central London into an open-air art gallery, with painted turtle sculptures by stars like Ronnie Wood and John Cleese.

Thanks for tuning in and joining us for another whirlwind week in London’s vibrant heart. Remember to subscribe so you never miss out on what’s happening around the city. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.