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Outdoor events in August: summer calendar 2019

By CW Contributor on 28/8/2019

Spend August outdoors with our guide to best open air culture, al fresco dining, sporting events and festivals.

CULTURE

Take a trip to a Lavender field

It doesn't get much more picturesque or more fragrant than a field full of Lavender. London has a choice of Lavender farms, all within a short distance. The flowers peak in August, so time your trip for maximum beauty.

Click here to read our guide to finding your nearest Lavender field.

WHERE

Various locations in and around London

See the rainbow at the Colour Palace

The leafy grounds of Dulwich Picture Gallery have come to life with colour. London-based designer Yinka Ilori has teamed up with Pricegore architects to create Colour Palace, a 10 metre high cubic structure sporting a polychromatic facade. This is your last chance to see the rainbow structure before it is sold in September.

WHEN

12 Jun 2019 – 22 Sep 2019, Tuesday – Sunday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

WHERE

Dulwich Picture Gallery
Gallery Road, London, SE21 7AD

Get involved with Totally Thames

The 22nd annual Totally Thames festival is spans the 42-mile stretch of the river and incorporates art installations, music, dance, sporting events and more, all in celebration of one of London’s greatest and enduring assets.

WHEN

01 Sep 2019 – 30 Sep 2019, Times vary for specific events

WHERE

Various locations

Travel back to Elizabethan times

Travel back in time to Elizabethan England at Oxfordshire’s Blenheim Palace where Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre is putting on four of the bard’s plays in a pop-up theatre. Immerse yourself with with frothy ales served from thatched stalls, performing minstrels and a garden maze.

WHEN

08 Jul 2019 – 07 Sep 2019, TIMES VARY

WHERE

Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, OX20 1PP

Sapphire Star, 2010. Dale Chihuly © Chihuly Studios

Reflect upon glass art at Kew Gardens

Have you ever seen a garden made of glass? Reflect upon Dale Chihuly’s luminous sculptures, which are scattered across the parklands, greenhouses and galleries of Kew Gardens. There are 32 artworks to take in, each showing the intricacy of glass-blowing.

WHEN

13 Apr 2019 – 27 Oct 2019, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

WHERE

Kew Gardens
Kew, Richmond, , Surrey, TW9 3AB

Zoo it Yourself at ZSL London Zoo this summer

Treat kids to an immersive experience at London Zoo

ZSL London Zoo's new interactive experience gives kids a chance to play zookeeper, gardener, builder and more in celebration of the Zoo's new Animal Adventure play zone.

WHEN

24 Jul 2019 – 01 Sep 2019, various

WHERE

London Zoo
Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY

Laugh along to As You Like It

This sighing pastoral comedy, filled with exiled lovers, cross-dressing heroines and poetry hidden in the trees, is definitely one you'll want to savour in late summer. And the open-top Globe Theatre gives you a sense of how As You Like It was originally staged.

WHEN

7 August - 21 September

WHERE

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT

Robert Indiana, ONE through ZERO, 1980-2002, Waddington Custot , Frieze Sculpture 2019 Photo by Stephen White. Courtesy of Stephen White/Frieze.

Explore the art at Frieze Sculpture Park

Frieze Sculpture brings fine art to the great outdoors. Spend a sunny afternoon perusing the sculptures and look out for our favourites from Tracy Emin and Barry Flanagan.

WHEN

03 Jul 2019 – 06 Oct 2019, 12:00 AM

WHERE

Regent's Park
Chester Rd, London, NW1 4NR

Re-discover a modern classic musical

The Open Air Theatre's annual musical has become a highlight of the summer season. This year Buenos Aires comes to Regent's Park with a new production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber's 1978 hit Evita.

WHEN

02 Aug 2019 – 21 Sep 2019, Monday - Saturday 7:45 PM | Thursday & Saturday 2:15 PM (gates open 90 mins before start)

WHERE

Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park
Inner Cir, Westminster, London, NW1 4NU

Zoom through the sky on a zip wire

Thrill-seekers can see the city from a new perspective at Zip Now's urban zip wire. It launches from 35 metres high (that's the height of nine double-decker buses!), travels across 225 metres and reaches thrilling speeds of 50km per hour.

WHEN

12 Jun 2019 – 15 Sep 2019, various

WHERE

Archbishop's Park
Carlisle Lane, Lambeth , London, SE1

SPORT

Say Howzat at The Ashes

Few sports encapsulate the national character better than cricket, and where better to watch it than its ancestral home of Lord’s? This summer the stadium hosts the second test in what is the sport’s biggest grudge match – The Ashes between England and Australia.

WHEN

12–16 September 2019

WHERE

Oval Cricket Ground

FOOD & DRINK

Feast among the flowers

The West End can be a sticky, stressful place in the heat. Find peace and find dining among the flowers in Petersham Nurseries' charming courtyard. After a few cocktails and some seasonal Italian dishes, it almost feels like you're on a Mediterranean holiday.

WHEN

Open 11:30am - midnight

WHERE

Petersham Nurseries, Covent Garden
Floral Court, London, WC2E 9FB

Graze away a day at Pergola Paddington

Round up friends and head to Pergola Paddington. Soak up rounds of frozen margaritas and Frosé (yes, frozen rosé) with street food from the likes of Honi Poké, kabab connoisseurs Babek Brothers, and a new venture from burger specialists Patty & Bun. Or book for the new bottomless brunch on Sundays.

WHEN

Wednesday 12PM - 3:30PM & 6PM - 11PM; Thursday - Saturday 12PM - 11PM; Sunday 12PM - 10:30PM

WHERE

5 Kingdom St, London, W2 6PY

London Brunch Fest 2019

If you like nothing more than the ritual of a lazy weekend brunch, we have the event for you: the London Brunch Festival takes over Truman Brewery with a surfeit of eggs, avocado and prosecco.

WHEN

31 Aug 2019 – 01 Sep 2019, Sittings from 10AM - 1:30PM and 2PM - 6:30PM

WHERE

Old Truman Brewery
Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL

FESTIVAL

Soak up reggae at Camberwell Community Fair

With Wormfood record label curating one of the stages, Camberwell Fair is a hidden gem for vibey live music. Soak up rising stars of reggae, soul and disco and discover new talents from the local community.

WHEN

Saturday 31 August, noon - 9pm

WHERE

Camberwell Green

Jam along to Jazz

The EFG Jazz Festival's first ever Summer Stage pops up for an outdoor concert showcasing Jazz stars from all around the world. Performers including party-starting band The Turbans, vocal collective Urban Flames and ecclectic award-winners Kefaya accompaniced by MOBO-nominated saxophonist Camilla George.

WHEN

Performances start at noon, Saturday 31 August

WHERE

Royal Albert Dock by Beckton Park DLR, E16 2YP

Join the party at Regent's Canal

The annual Angel Canal Festival brings a hive of activity to the water. From food trucks to puppet shows, expect all the frivolity of a summer fair, plus the chance to explore the canal with pedalos, kayaks and boat trips.

WHEN

Sunday 1 September, 11am - 5pm

WHERE

City Road Lock Islington London N1 8JY