6 Things Every Londoner Should Be Doing This Weekend

The sun is finally returning to London this weekend, and the city is making the most of it. From open-air art in Chelsea to caviar-led cocktails in Covent Garden, riverside terraces, landmark exhibitions and palace concerts, there are plenty of stylish ways to spend the next few days. Whether you’re after culture, cocktails or a reason to dress up for dinner, these are the six weekend plans worth booking now.

Explore Chelsea’s open-air art market

The Chelsea Art Market returns to Duke of York Square this Sunday for its Summer Edition, transforming the heart of Chelsea into a vibrant open-air gallery.

Created in partnership between Open Art Spaces and Cadogan, the market will bring together more than 50 independent artists showcasing works across painting, sculpture and photography. Pieces range from £5 to £500, making it an accessible way to discover new talent, whether you are a first-time buyer or a seasoned collector.

Where: Duke of York Square, 80 King’s Road, London SW3 4LY

See Hepworth in Colour at The Courtauld

For a more considered cultural moment, The Courtauld’s new exhibition Hepworth in Colour is one of the standout openings of the weekend.

The landmark exhibition is the first dedicated to Barbara Hepworth’s lifelong fascination with colour, bringing together around 20 sculptures and 30 drawings to reveal a lesser-known side of her practice. Expect vivid painted carvings, rarely seen works gathered from collections around the world, and a fresh perspective on the artist best known for her abstract forms inspired by the Cornish landscape.

Where: Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN

Website: www.courtauld.com

Soak up Thames views at Sea Containers

If your idea of a perfect summer afternoon involves a riverside view, a cold cocktail and a seafood tower, Sea Containers has delivered exactly that.

The South Bank hotel has launched its new Summer Terrace in partnership with Laurent-Perrier Champagne Terrace returns to 12th Knot. Made for golden-hour drinks and skyline moments, sip champagne by the glass or bottle, enjoy seasonal champagne cocktails, and take in sweeping views across the river and city as dusk drifts into night. A relaxed, open-air escape in the heart of the South Bank, this is your hidden gem above the buzz of London.

Where: 20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PD

Website: www.seacontainers.com

Attend a literature and wine tasting experience

For something more intimate, award-winning cultural commentator Chanté Joseph is hosting a one-off literature and wine tasting experience at Battersea Power Station this Friday evening.

Best known for her sharp, viral cultural essays, including British Vogue’s “Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?”, Joseph will lead an evening of readings from female authors who have shaped her career. Each wine has been curated by Sinéad Murdoch of female-led supper club Suppher and paired to the themes of the night.

Where: Circus Road West, Nine Elms, London SW11 8DD

Website: https://batterseapowerstation.co.uk/the-wine-circuit/

Book a caviar-fuelled evening at Eve Bar

Michelin-starred chef Adam Handling has reimagined Eve Bar in Covent Garden, and the result is one of the most indulgent new drinking spots in London.

Built around the Three Cs — Caviar, Champagne and Cocktails — the newly transformed space pairs dusky pink art deco interiors with a menu that runs from caviar hash browns to Martini and caviar flights. It is glamorous, grown-up and exactly the kind of place that makes “just one drink” feel like the start of a very good evening.

Where: 34 Southampton Street, London WC2E 7HF

Website: https://www.evebar.co.uk/

Dance the night away at Hampton Court Palace Festival

This weekend also marks the return of Hampton Court Palace Festival, inviting concert-goers to enjoy world-class performances against the backdrop of Tudor architecture and summer skies.

To begin the celebrations, Pete Tong brings his Ibiza Classics show to the palace courtyard, reimagining iconic dance anthems with a full orchestra. Arrive early to wander the East Front Gardens before the show starts, then settle in for one of the most atmospheric live music settings of the summer.

Where: Hampton Court Way, Molesey, East Molesey KT8 9AUWebsite: www.hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com