What’s On in London: August 2026 | A Guide for International Students

Like Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, summer is slowly drawing to a close – but London hasn’t lost its magic yet. From rooftop beaches and open-air theatre to the iconic Notting Hill Carnival, there’s still plenty of sunshine to soak up before autumn arrives. And if studying has got you feeling restless, dust off your dancing shoes, because the city is blessed with even more festivals this month, from jazz legends to LGBTQ+ raves and huge pop headliners.

Here’s our pick of the best things to do in London this month 🕶️✨

🏖️ SUMMER SPOTLIGHT: Artificial Beaches in London

Hot summer days got you feeling lazy? We don’t judge. There’s no need to leave London to enjoy a day at the seaside thanks to the capital’s pop-up beaches:

• Big Penny Beach Club in Walthamstow (£5 entry) – Everything you might need for a beach day (minus the sea): retro cabanas, gelato, cocktails, DJs, volleyball, and of course, a giant sandpit to sink your toes into.
• Costa Del Croydon, Centrale Car Park (Free entry) – For one month only, the rooftop of Croydon’s Centrale Car Park transforms into an urban beach with tonnes of sand, street food, games, and even beach club nights. Don’t forget your bucket and spade!

🏙️ AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS

• Notting Hill Carnival, Aug 30th to 31st – London’s legendary celebration of Caribbean culture returns with spectacular costumes, steel bands, and over 300 food stalls. As Europe’s biggest street festival, it’s an absolute must-see.
• Greenwich + Docklands International Festival, Aug 21st to Sept 6th – Named one of the best free festivals in the UK, this annual festival in Greenwich is right on our students’ doorstep! Expect an inspiring lineup of circus, theatre, and dance.
• Sunflower Picking at Garson Farm – August is peak sunflower season in the UK. Venture a little outside of the city to Garson Farm in Esher, Surrey, to wander through golden fields and pick your own bunch to brighten up your room.
• Hampton Court Palace Food Festival, Aug 29th to 31st – Hampton Court Palace’s annual food festival will take over the pristine palace gardens with live music, food stalls, and live cooking demonstrations from talented chefs. Who hasn’t wanted to sip a craft beer in Henry VIII’s former home?
• Laughterama at Somerset House, July 29th to Aug 2nd – The UK’s funniest comedians come together for five nights of stand-up, from Sara Pascoe to Sam Campbell.
• South London Wine Fair at Crystal Palace Park, Aug 22nd – Sample more than 100 wines in the beautiful surroundings of Crystal Palace Park. Whether you’re a wine expert or just enjoy pretending to know what ‘notes of blackberry’ means, you’ll fit right in.
• Camden Fringe, Aug 3rd to 24th – Edinburgh a little too far? Head to Camden for hundreds of new performances in theatre, comedy, music, opera, and dance – all at reasonable prices (yes, in London!).
• Electric Summer Festival at Battersea Power Station, until Aug 31st – A free summer funfair with a roller rink, pétanque courts, and classic retro rides. After a go on the dodgems, relax with a pint at the Boardwalk Bar for views of the River Thames.
• Outdoor Cinema at the Barbican, Aug 18th to 30th – Grab a blanket and settle in for a series of classic and contemporary films beneath the stars in one of London’s most iconic cultural venues.

🖼️ EXHIBITIONS

• Portrait of a City at Dulwich Picture Gallery, July 28th to Oct 4th – Journey through a century of American city photography, with works by 34 photographers from 1907 to 2012.
• Summer Exhibition at The Royal Academy, until Aug 23rd – An open art exhibition with over 1,800 works by everyone from members of the public to well-known celebrities.
• VR Experience at The Science Museum, until Aug 30th – Zoom all the way from space back to earth in Space Descent, a 3D VR experience narrated by British astronaut Tim Peake.

🎶 MUSIC

• All Points East at Victoria Park, Aug 21st to 30th – One of London’s biggest music festivals returns with headliners Lorde, Twenty One Pilots, and Tyler, The Creator.
• Rally at Southwark Park, Aug 29th – An eclectic festival mixing electronic music and art, inspired by DIY culture and grassroots movements.
• Body Movements at Southwark Park, Aug 30th – London’s LGBTQ+ music festival showcasing queer electronic music.
• Maiden Voyage at Burgess Park, Aug 8th – More electronic music! Maiden Voyage brings the biggest names in contemporary electronic music to Burgess Park.
• Lido Festival at Victoria Park, Aug 31st – Grab tickets to the recently-announced Maribou State, or head to In the Neighbourhood, Lido’s free-entry festival with live music, fitness sessions, theatre, street food, and bars.
• BBC Proms, until Sept 12th – The world’s largest classical music festival continues throughout August, with concerts ranging from orchestral masterpieces to film music and contemporary performances at the Royal Albert Hall.
• Thamesmead Festival at Southmere Park, Aug 8th – A free community festival with live music, food, and local performers.
• Jazz Café Festival at Burgess Park, Aug 2nd – A one-day festival bringing live jazz music and impeccable vibes to Burgess Park.
• Labyrinth On the Thames at the Old Royal Naval College, until Aug 16th – Watch your favourite artists right on the River Thames in this summer series of outdoor performances, from The Kooks to Dom Dolla. Plus, it’s not far from our English Centre.

🎭 LONDON THEATRE

• Cats at Regent’s Park, July 25th to Sept 12th – T.S. Elliot’s surreal tail gets yet another life in this open-air production.
• Trainspotting the Musical at Theatre Royal Haymarket, July 15th to Sept 5th – Travel back to the 90s with this cult classic story of addiction in working-class Edinburgh.
• Death Note the Musical at the Barbican, July 30th to Sept 12th – Manga fans will love this adaptation of Light Yagami’s descent into anti-heroism.
• The Oresteia at Bridge Theatre, July 2nd to Sept 19th – Simon Stone transforms this legendary ancient Greek tragedy into a modern-day myth.
• Electra/Persona at the National Theatre, Aug 19th to Oct 10th – Two powerful psychological masterpieces collide in this bold production inspired by Greek tragedy and Ingmar Bergman’s classic movie.
• The Story at the National Theatre, Aug 27th to Oct 24th – A new drama exploring journalism, truth, and the stories we choose to tell.
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Shakespeare’s Globe, until Aug 29th– Experience Shakespeare’s enchanting comedy exactly where it belongs: beneath the setting sun on the banks of the Thames.

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