25 brilliant ways to celebrate the August bank holiday in London

Summer in London wouldn't be summer in London without the Notting Hill Carnival. Taking place on August bank holiday weekend each year since 1966, it’s grown into Europe’s largest street festival, attracting more than two and half million people annually.

With parades, masquerade, floats, dancing, steel bands and soundsystems, as well as dozens of Caribbean food stalls, Carnival is proper treat for every one of your senses. Click through to find everything you need to know about this year’s event, including the parade route, details on the different sound systems in attendance, and a schedule for proceedings.

There might be a lot to be said for London’s outdoor swimming spots, but sometimes you can’t beat a paddle in the waves, some refreshing sea air, and a hearty portion of fish ‘n’ chips. You’ve probably already been on a jaunt down to Brighton, but the British seaside has plenty of more secluded, photogenic destinations absolutely steeped in charm, too – and many of the UK's best beaches can be found within two hours of the capital. Hop on a train and soak up some sun, stat. 

Lavender season is here and as August draws to a close, the richly-scented purple blooms – tough enough to survive the hotter days – are in full form. Enjoy them at London’s glorious lavender fields, where the mauve flowers on mass create epic backdrops, perfect for a scenic picnic or your Instagram feed. Kennington Park, Kew Gardens and Vauxhall Park are top destinations for lavender-fanciers. Or make a day of it and head to whole farms dedicated to the mauve blooms just outside the capital, in Kent, Surrey and Hertfordshire.

Nestled round the back of Elephant & Castle in a former workhouse that was once home to a young Charlie Chaplin and his family, Lambeth’s Cinema Museum is an Aladdin’s cave of movie memorabilia, artefacts and film-making equipment. But the museum is under threat and faces potential closure. Help support it by heading along to this screening of 1982’s Creepshow hosted by Ghost Light Cinema. 

Settle in for a big viewing session at the legendary Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square. As ever, the picture house’s wild-card programming is on point this bank holiday weekend, and they’re treating cinema-goers to back-to-back screenings of every episode of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks season one. Starting at 10.30pm, strap in for an all-night marathon, and yes, there’ll be plenty of damn coffee available to keep you awake all night.