The best events and things to do in London this week, August 24-28

It’s summertime in the city, and while the heatwave has come and gone for now, Londoners can cool off this week with what's on around the capital.

There's the chance to head to rooftop bars, enjoy pop-up restaurants and check out world-beating exhibitions.

A new batch of outdoor cultural events are ready to check out including the welcome return of live theatre, plus the recently re-opened bowling alleys and casinos.

Here's our pick of what to get up to this week.

Tuck into an oyster brunch at Vinegar Yard

Vinegar Yard has been busy welcoming back guests after lockdown, offering a cocktail passport promotion that's well worth checking out. Now, the Bermondsey venue is offering an oyster and fizz brunch, with expert shuckers from Oyster Boy Events pitching up from August 28 to August 31. Prices start from just £25 for six oysters and two glasses of prosecco.

August 28-31, 72-82 St Thomas St, Bermondsey, SE1 3QX, designmynight.com

Head to Meatless Farm’s M*** F*** drive-thru

There’s a veggie pop-up to look out for this week, with Meatless Farm taking over London’s American Car Wash on Hackney’s Great Eastern Street for six days. There are plenty of plant-based options on the menu, including excellent burgers and their very own McBluffin – a fresh take on the most popular fast food breakfast dish in the world. Head down and tuck in from Wednesday.

August 26-31, 35 Great Eastern St, Hackney, EC2A 3ER, meatlessfarm.com

Enjoy a 48-hour Notting Hill pop-up with Hip Hop Brunch

The Carnival might be moving online this weekend, but Notting Hill is still the place to be from this Friday. Hip Hop LDN, the team behind Hip Hop Brunch and Garage Brunch, is taking over private members club Laylow for a celebration of the area and its history. There’ll be a five course Caribbean tasting menu from chef Collin Brown as well as £465,000 ($600,000) worth of hip hop memorabilia, DJs spinning tunes and plenty more.

August 28-29, 10 Golborne Road, W10 5PE, hiphopkitchen.co.uk

Check out a charity gig for Chiswick House & Gardens

There's the chance to enjoy live music in one of the most beautiful houses in London, with a "socially distanced outdoor festival" being held to raise money for Chiswick House and Gardens this week. Jazz ensemble Trio Manouche, trumpeter Quentin Collins and the Blues Engineers Band will all perform over bank holiday weekend, with tickets available now. The concert starts at 7.30pm on Monday, and it’s the chance to take part in one of the earliest outdoor performances back after lockdown.

August 31, Chiswick House and Gardens, Burlington Lane, Chiswick, W4 2RP, chiswickfestival.com

Book in for Shakespeare in the park

Jesus Christ Superstar is being staged in Regent’s Park, and there are more outdoor productions to seek out this week. The Butterfly Theatre is helming a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream in three of London’s city farms. Book in for shows at Deen City Farm and Riding School in Merton (August 29), Oasis Farm in Waterloo on (August 30) and Freightliners Farm in Islington (August 31).

Various dates and locations, butterflytheatre.com

Head to a English country garden at Skylon

South Bank restaurant Skylon has transformed its bar into a beautiful English country garden, teaming up with Laurent-Perrier Rosé to create an idyllic dining space. There are plenty of spritz cocktails on offer, as well as a seasonal British menu including grilled artichoke with pine nuts, confit tomatoes and mint, sea bream tartare with capers, gherkins and lime powder and blackberry panna cotta with roasted plums with blackberry sorbet.

Open now, Belvedere Rd, Royal Festival Hall, SE1 8XX, skylon-restaurant.co.uk

Head to the reopened Harry Potter studio tour

Few film franchises have ever captured imaginations around the world quite like Harry Potter, and no other experience in Britain lets fans get as close to the magic as the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. After moving online during lockdown, the experience has now reopened to visitors, with guests able to explore Hogwarts and beyond once again. Book in this week.

Open now, Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, WD25 7LR, wbstudiotour.co.uk

Head to Five Points’ new Mare Street Taproom

One of the best independent breweries in the capital has launched a new venue, ready to check out this week. East London’s Five Points has opened Fire Points Mare Street Taproom, for socially distanced pints around the corner from London Fields. It’s open 4-9pm on Friday and 1-9pm on Saturday. Make sure to pre-book a table for £5 per person, which includes a free drink.

Open now, 61 Mare St, Hackney, E8 4RG, fivepointsbrewing.co.uk

Get more bang for your buck with London’s best restaurant deals

The Eat Out To Help Out scheme has seen scores of Londoners head out for a bite with a bit of money off, but there are other offers to entice foodies back too. Top deals include a complimentary glass of Bollinger in Galvin At Windows, free English wine at The Harwood Arms and discounts on drinks at Simmons. Read our full guide here.

Various locations