Things to do in London this week

What to do and see in London this week, Wednesday 23rd to Wednesday 30th of July:  The coolest, cultural, current events in London as selected by the Culture Whisper team.

Grand openings

With a three-day heatwave upon us and every Lido in London heaving with sweaty swimmers, it's about time Camden Beach finally opened. Welcoming the public from this Saturday until 23 August, this small inner city space has been transformed into as authentic a seaside experience as humanly possible, with 150 tonnes of sand, a few token beach huts, a swimming pool, fish and chips, ping pong, live music, and all the trimmings. (Find more watersideside London, best beaches can be found here).

Another highly anticipated opening this week comes in the form of the curiously titled Disobedient Objects, V&A. Out of the many exhibitions in London, this is the first of its kind – an illuminating exploration of the art of rebellion, bringing together a selection of objects that have all played a role in movements for social change. From Suffragette teapots and protest robots to an inflatable general assembly (a sort of marquee-esque structure), this is a thought-provoking study of the tendency of political activism to drive design ingenuity and collective creativity.

Food

Continuing in a cultured vein, but on a foodie slant, the Radical Dining Society's wild food pop up  Walk on the Wild Side opened yesterday and will run until this Saturday, hosted in the scenic surroundings of Battersea's Embassy Gardens. Centred around up-and-coming chef Toby Cartwright's phenomenal culinary skills, the wild menu offers varied, luxuriant but robust dishes that make the most of the finest British untamed ingredients, including venison with wood sorrel, wild fennel and nettle risotto and wood pigeon. All accompanied by cocktails and entertainment, and set amidst an exhibition of wild-themed art that will be available to purchase at the end of the evening. Ah, the excitement of food in London! 

For an equally thrilling treat for your tastebuds, the Foundling Museum are putting on a special Gin Tasting evening on 24 July in the Picture Gallery. Guests will be led through the history of 'mothers' ruin', from 1690 to the present day, paying particular attention to the mid-eighteenth-century 'gin craze' and the nineteenth-century gin palaces, with six taster shots to look forward to. If you're looking for cool places to drink in London, the Foundling Museum is unlikely to disappoint.

Music

In terms of music, there's a lot going on this week. 

The superb George Clinton and his soul and rock music collective Parliament Funkadelic (whose influential musical style is so distinctive that it has merited its own genre, being dubbed P-funk) are back with a bang on the 26 July at The Forum, ready to unleash a three-hour intergalactic funk spectacular on their legion of UK fans.

And as  this year sees the 25th Anniversary of the award winning vocal ensemble The Cardinall’s Musick, the group will take to the stage to celebrate, with musical highlights from their extensive repertoire at the Wigmore Hall on 26 July.

For free festivals in London you can't do much better than the  Walthamstow Garden Party - co-programmed by the Barbican Centre but hosted in Lloyd Park, and one of the week's biggest attractions. This exciting event boasts a mixed line up with something for all age groups, including The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, retro soul from The Excitements, acid jazz, afro-dance music and reggae melodies from singer Tiken Jah Fakoly – as  well as tasty food and art market stalls, and various other creative activities and entertainment.

Oh, and though it may seem a daunting and impossible task, free tickets for the iTunes Festival are available to book as of this week. We've broken down the process with a step-by-step insider's guide to give you the best chance of getting some live music tickets to see the stellar line-up (including Blondie, Pharrell and Kylie) live at the intimate Roundhouse, one of the best music venues in London.

Theatre

For top London theatre, tickets are still available for the limited run of The Events at the Young Vic, following a sold-out run in 2013 and before heading to New York for 2015. David Greig's daring play studies our destructive desire to fathom the unfathomable and questions how much we can forgive in the face of brutality.

Cinema

Starting this week and already rapidly selling out, Secret Cinema's summer run is a definite cultural highlight, particularly when compared with most of the films on in London cinemas. The latest offering from the pioneering immersive and experiential film company is set to be their biggest event yet, as they present multiple screenings of Back To The Future , plus their very own new Hill Valley site.

For kids

And now that the summer holidays are in full swing, here's some fun stuff to do in London for kids. The Children's film club at the Soho Hotel is a great way to keep the little ones stimulated and entertained over that vast expanse of free time. Providing an intimate and decadent experience, this special Kids' cinema event will run every Saturday morning throughout summer, and will screen blockbuster hits including Frozen , The LEGO Movie  and colourful adventure film  Rio . Featuring a picnic buffet lunch prior to the film, ample popcorn and ice cream, and a more sophisticated buffet spread with Prosecco for accompanying adults, to transform your average family cinematic experience.

Enjoy.

The Culture Whisper team

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