Things To Do This Weekend In London: 9-10 July 2022
All weekend
WIMBLEDON: As the biggest tournament in tennis enters the final weekend, don't fret if you haven't got tickets for Centre Court. Plenty of places around the capital are screening the action for free, including Canary Wharf, Mayfair and King's Cross. Just bear in mind that these screenings will be busy over finals weekend (especially if the weather's decent) so you'll want to get there in plenty of time if you're keen to bag a deckchair. Until 10 July
KEW THE MUSIC: A stage and large screen has been set up in Kew Gardens for live music this week, with the final two gigs taking place this weekend. Bananarama headline on Saturday, with Gypsy Kings taking to the stage on Sunday. Take your own picnic chair or blanket, pack a picnic or buy food and drink on site, and enjoy live music in a relaxed and (hopefully) sunny setting. 5-10 July
SUMMER SCIENCE EXHIBITION: The Royal Society's annual Summer Science Exhibition is a free interactive experience for anyone curious about the latest advances in science and technology. Take part in drop-in workshops, meet scientists and researchers, and find out about topics such as the taste of chocolate, and virus-fighting llamas. 6-10 July
WOMEN'S EUROS: The UK hosts the 13th edition of the UEFA Women's Euro football tournament, with some of the matches held here in London. Matches this weekend include Portugal vs. Switzerland, Netherlands vs. Sweden, Belgium vs. Iceland, and France vs. Italy. No ticket? No problem — see if any of these places are screening your match. 6-31 July
SUMMER LIGHTS: Head to Canary Wharf for a free art trail which makes use of natural light. Summer Lights consists of 11 new installations and six permanent artworks, including a flock of carbon-neutral colourful birds fluttering above visitors' heads, using natural light to create mesmerising shadows on the ground. Until 20 August
THE SECRET GARDEN: The Garden Museum's summer exhibition centres on beloved children's book, The Secret Garden. Step into the immersive show, with interactive trails for kids, and see how different artists have illustrated the story since it was first published. A good one for the school holidays, we reckon, and kids go free! 6 July-4 September
BALHAM COMEDY FESTIVAL: Sara Pascoe, Shappi Khorsandi, Zoe Lyons, Carl Donnelly and Mark Steel are among the acts on the line-up at Balham Comedy Festival this weekend. The festival is now in its 10th year and takes place in the Club Room at The Bedford. 8-16 July
BRENT BIENNIAL: Kilburn, Willesden, and Harlesden are among the areas hosting this year's Brent Biennial, which has a theme of: In The House Of My Love. Artists and community groups present work on the theme of homemaking, and how the idea of home and belonging can take many shapes. 8 July-11 September
WHITECROSS STREET PARTY: It hosts a lively street food market most week days, and Whitecross Street near Barbican really comes alive for the annual Whitecross Street Party. The theme this year is reclaiming public space, with live painting and street art, a music stage and a words stage, family activities and food stalls. 9-10 July
SPORTS DAY: As part of its summer events programme, Hawley Wharf at Camden Market hosts a family-friendly sports day weekend to coincide with the Wimbledon final. Family yoga, a tug-of-war and games of pass the water bomb are all part of the fun, as well as a chance to watch the Wimbledon action on a large screen. 9-10 July
OUR TIME ON EARTH WEEKENDER: Barbican hosts a weekend of events to tie in with the current Our Time On Earth exhibition. Across three days, take part in guided walks and rewilding workshops around the estate, watch a panel discussion about digital nature, enjoy a sound installation and watch live performances. 9-11 July
Saturday 9 July
GARDEN FESTIVAL: Didn't make it to the Chelsea Flower Show? Head to the final day of the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival instead. Wander the palace grounds to see specially designed gardens, and enjoy demos on gardening, floristry, design, food, craft and health from experts including Monty Don and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. 10am-5.30pm
FOOTBALL IN THE CITY: Museum of London hosts a walking tour on the topic of 'football in the City', looking at the history of the beautiful game in the City of London, from medieval 'mob' football to the creation of the offside rule. 11am
NATURAL HISTORY IN ISLAM: Celebrate Eid at a family-friendly festival at the Natural History Museum, exploring the relationship between natural history and Islam. Learn about how the natural world inspires henna designs, which plants are prominent in the Arab world, and how the Islamic calendar is connected to the cosmos. 11am-6pm
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: Get a taste of Major League Baseball, as the Home Run Derby X comes to Crystal Palace Park for one day only. Watch four teams go head to head in a mini tournament, eat your way around the Ballpark Food Village, get swinging in the batting cages, and catch a performance by British rapper AJ Tracey. 12pm-9pm
COCKTAILS IN THE CITY: Cocktails in the City is back. The boozy festival takes place over three weekends this summer, bringing together some of the most popular bars in London to serve up their drinks in a private garden, Bedford Square, with live entertainment thrown in. Today's the final day of the first event this summer. 12pm-10pm
GIN & RUM FESTIVAL: Gin + rum, with tequila thrown in — what could possibly go wrong? Oh, and it all takes place in a church. That's the deal at the Gin & Rum Festival, which is a chance to meet the makers behind your favourite tipples, and maybe try a few new ones. Today's the second and final day. 12.30pm-10pm
SUMMER SIZZLER: Head to Artsdepot in Finchley for a family-friendly mini festival. Summer Sizzler consists of live DJs accompanied by lights, projections, confetti, parachute dancing, balloons, inflatable balls and free flower garlands, along with arts and crafts, face painting, a ball pool and plenty more. 2.30pm-4.45pm
LONDON CLOWN FESTIVAL: That's right, there's a London Clown Festival — and it wraps up today at Soho Theatre. After six days of international acts, physical comedy and clown-influenced contemporary performance, catch Lachlan Werner, Garry Starr or CLOWNTS as the festival draws to a close. 3.30pm-9.15pm
WOMEN COMPOSERS FESTIVAL: Southbank Centre celebrates women in music with the Women Composers Festival. Choirs from around the UK come together to perform choral music written by women, including Annie Lennox, Kate Rusby and Hannah Kendall. 7.30pm
Sunday 10 July
LONDON 10K: Note that the London 10K run takes place in central London today, with several roads closed as as result, so factor that into your plans. Full details here.
EALING BROADWAY: Join Footprints of London guided Alan Fortune to explore the area at the end of the Central and District lines, Ealing Broadway. Hear about the film industry at Ealing Studios, and Pitzhanger Manor, Sir John Soane's country home, as well as dark events in Ealing's history and the area's Doctor Who links. 11am-1pm
COMIC AND ZINE FAIR: Head to the Stanley Arts Cafe in South Norwood for the South London Comic & Zine Fair, with cartoonists, self-publishers, small press, zine makers and book artists all showing and selling their creations. There are also free workshops and talks (register in advance), and a chance to contribute to a self-portrait drawing wall. 11am-6pm
THE CITY PAVEYARDS: Cemetery Club guide and historian Sheldon K Goodman leads a walk through the old churchyards of the City of London. Find out about the people who lie buried beneath the paved churchyards — or paveyards — and hear their stories. 12pm-2pm
SOHO VILLAGE FETE: A dog show, a spaghetti eating contest, a Police vs Fire Service tug of war, and the famous Soho Waiter's Race are all part of the Soho Village Fete, which takes place at St Anne's Gardens on Wardour Street. A raffle, community and food stalls also feature. 12pm-6pm
DR WHO DOUBLE BILL: Calling all Whovians! Watch a double bill screening of Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965) and Daleks Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. (1966) on the big screen at Barbican, with Peter Cushing playing the role of the Doctor. Though not part of the official BBC collection, the films are much loved by Doctor Who fans and have recently been restored. 1.45pm
SENSORY TOUR: Once a month, visitors with sight loss (and their carers) are invited to take a sensory tour of Kew Gardens. It's led by a specially-trained tour guide and is a chance to experience elements of the gardens through touch and smell. 2pm-3pm
PINK JUKEBOX: Aimed at members of the LGBTQ+ community and their friends, Pink Jukebox is a Ballroom and Latin dance club. It's open to dancers of all abilities, and starts with classes to familiarise you with steps, followed by an evening of social dancing. 2pm-7pm