The ianVisits guide to August's unusual events, tours, lectures and exhibitions happening around London.
Saturday 1st August
£5.00
earn the traditional skill of scything in two-hour workshops.
All Day
Leyton
Tibet Relief Fund is hosting an exhibition of photos of the Tashi Lhunpo monastery in south India.
10am to 5pm
Hackney
This one-off special walking tour explores how London's landscape was influenced by the needs of the population for supply of food and water.
2pm to 4pm
Clerkenwell
Monthly open day at one of London's more unusual, and delightful museums.
2pm to 5pm
Occasional open day at the private gardens within Regent's Park.
2:30pm to 5:30pm
Camden
An interactive walk with staff from the Museum's archive, taking in sites in the City and the Roman amphitheatre. Also a chance to handle objects.
8pm to 9pm
£5.78
Learn all about these fascinating mammals of the night sky.
8:15pm to 10pm
Bow
More London events on Saturday 1st August
Sunday 2nd August
£5.00
earn the traditional skill of scything in two-hour workshops.
All Day
Leyton
Join the fun as Gunnersbury Triangle Nature Reserve celebrates 30 years since it opened it's gates to the public for the very first time.
1pm to 4pm
Chiswick
The guided tour of the Albert Memorial gives you exclusive access inside the memorial railings,
Starts at 2pm
South Kensington
Occasional open day at the private gardens within Regent's Park.
2:30pm to 5:30pm
Camden
More London events on Sunday 2nd August
Monday 3rd August
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Monday 3rd August
Tuesday 4th August
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Tuesday 4th August
Wednesday 5th August
Lambeth Palace Garden will be open on the first Wednesday of the month between March and October,
12pm to 3pm
Southwark
More London events on Wednesday 5th August
Thursday 6th August
£24.00
Expert gin tastings in the original Victorian kitchens, craft your own handmade notebook and soak up the atmosphere in a gin bar.
Starts at 6pm
An evening of toxicology and intoxication.
Starts at 7pm
Barbican
More London events on Thursday 6th August
Friday 7th August
A guided walking tour of the lower part of the River Fleet’s course from Blackfriars to St Pancras.
11am to 2pm
City of London
On the first Friday of every month in Summer the whole of Marsden Road will be closed to traffic and the Centre for Wildlife Gardening will open specially for the evening.
4pm to 7pm
Peckham
More London events on Friday 7th August
Saturday 8th August
£10.00
A tour to mark the 100th anniversary of London Underground's Johnston typeface, designed by Edward Johnston in 1916.
tba
Free
A unique, temporary tower for Deptford is coming. Built by you. Assembled without cranes or machines, only human power and cardboard boxes galore,
All Day
Deptford
This exhibition presents some of the most striking images of London and Londoners from the mid 1800s onwards
9:30am to 4:45pm
Hundreds of military vehicles across all eras and nationalities to see - from push bikes to massive trucks that even make the tanks look small.
10am to 5am
Upminster
This tour views the exteriors of sites covered in Paul Talling's Derelict London website & book.
11am to 2pm
Victoria Dock
£15.00
Recreation of roman gladiator tournaments on the site of London's own roman amphitheatre.
12pm to 1pm
A note that the UK's newest steam train, the 60163 Tornado will be running a loop around South London.
Starts at 12:20pm
More London events on Saturday 8th August
Sunday 9th August
£8.40
Tunnel Boat Trips through the Islington canal tunnel. The tunnel is around three quarters of a mile long and it was opened in 1820.
All Day
Free
A unique, temporary tower for Deptford is coming. Built by you. Assembled without cranes or machines, only human power and cardboard boxes galore,
All Day
Deptford
Hundreds of military vehicles across all eras and nationalities to see - from push bikes to massive trucks that even make the tanks look small.
10am to 5am
Upminster
A walking tour of London’s brewery heritage and numerous other historic sites.
10:30am to 1:30pm
Moorgate
Starts at 2pm
Richmond
More London events on Sunday 9th August
Monday 10th August
An evening bat walk at Walthamstow Wetlands, where London Wildlife Trust is developing a brand new urban wetland nature reserve.
8:15pm to 10pm
Tottenham
More London events on Monday 10th August
Tuesday 11th August
A talk about the history of Sydenham Hill Wood & Cox's Walk at Dulwich Library.
2pm to 3:30pm
East Dulwich
An afternoon for budding architects and conservators with National Trust specialists.
2pm to 5pm
Bexleyheath
This illustrated talk by art historian Karen Hearn gives a fascinating insight into the work of renowned 17th century artist Cornelius Johnson (or Janssen).
7pm to 8pm
Becontree Heath
£2.00
8pm to 9:30pm
Morden
More London events on Tuesday 11th August
Wednesday 12th August
A lecture about the history of the docklands areas around Whitechapel.
All Day
Clerkenwell
A drinks reception with 'the Michael Moore of the right.'
Starts at 6:30pm
£5.50
Discussion about significant and inspiring nightclubs and music venues with a panel including DJ Andrew Weatherall, club promoter Patrick Lilley, etc
Starts at 7pm
Soho
An evening talk from the team that created the incredible Gravity Light.
7pm to 8:30pm
Strand
More London events on Wednesday 12th August
Thursday 13th August
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Thursday 13th August
Friday 14th August
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Friday 14th August
Saturday 15th August
This is the annual Great North Wood walk in partnership with London Wildlife Trust, the Friends of One Tree Hill, The Horniman Gardens and The Conservation Volunteers.
12pm to 4pm
Forest Hill
Londoners invited to create giant clay sculpture as tribute to the unsung builders of the capital.
12pm to 4pm
Kings Cross
As part of the VJ Day commemorations in Central London, there will also be a military flypast.
Starts at 2pm
Free
To celebrate SpaceVR’s launching a virtual reality camera to the International Space Station, an inaugural event exploring current state of the art in democratising space exploration.
6:30pm to 10:30pm
South Lambeth
More London events on Saturday 15th August
Sunday 16th August
Londoners invited to create giant clay sculpture as tribute to the unsung builders of the capital.
12pm to 4pm
Kings Cross
There will be access to ground floor displays about the history of the tower, and a chance to go up to the belfry.
3pm to 5pm
Erith
More London events on Sunday 16th August
Monday 17th August
The tours offer a unique insight into the history of the site and the people who have shaped it.
Starts at 6pm
More London events on Monday 17th August
Tuesday 18th August
An exclusive pre-screening talk with Michael Palin in conversation with Dan Jones.
7pm to 10:30pm
Camden
More London events on Tuesday 18th August
Wednesday 19th August
£15.00
Whispers of advertising past are the focus of this walking tour through Stoke Newington, taking in some of London's best ghostsigns
10:50am to 1pm
Stoke Newington
More London events on Wednesday 19th August
Thursday 20th August
Cocktails, croquet, music and lawn games. Come and join us in the enchanting walled garden at Fenton House and discover more about London Shh, and the city's hidden gems.
6pm to 8pm
Hampstead
More London events on Thursday 20th August
Friday 21st August
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Friday 21st August
Saturday 22nd August
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Saturday 22nd August
Sunday 23rd August
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Sunday 23rd August
Monday 24th August
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Monday 24th August
Tuesday 25th August
Starts at 6pm
Holborn
More London events on Tuesday 25th August
Wednesday 26th August
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Wednesday 26th August
Thursday 27th August
A stroll around Mabey’s Meadow and Frays Island in West Drayton, looking for insects and other wildlife.
2pm to 4pm
West Drayton
Explore the spaces of 2 Willow Road in the evening light, and a talk with 2015 Artist in Residence, Haidée Drew.
6:30pm to 9pm
Hampstead
A talk about a forgotten world of ships, prayers for good fortune, satirical cartoons, charms, curses, windmills, word puzzles, architectural plans and heraldic designs.
Starts at 7:30pm
Whitechapel
Three evenings of outdoor films in the main courtyard of the British Museum.
Starts at 8:15pm
As part of the tall sailing ship events, there will be fireworks in Greenwich each evening.
9:15pm to 9:30pm
Greenwich
More London events on Thursday 27th August
Friday 28th August
10am to 6pm
Kensington
Free
Simon Owen, lead Researcher at Hornby will give an insight into the world of Airfix.
Starts at 1pm
Three evenings of outdoor films in the main courtyard of the British Museum.
Starts at 8:15pm
As part of the tall sailing ship events, there will be fireworks in Greenwich each evening.
9:15pm to 9:30pm
Greenwich
More London events on Friday 28th August
Saturday 29th August
Visit the c.1397 Grade 2 listed ‘threshing’ barn, over 100ft x 40ft in size, with a fine crownpost roof.
Starts at 10:45am
Rickmansworth
Three evenings of outdoor films in the main courtyard of the British Museum.
Starts at 8:15pm
More London events on Saturday 29th August
Sunday 30th August
Guided tours of the 1930s modernist town hall, currently being converted into an arts centre.
Starts at 2pm
Hornsey
As part of the tall sailing ship events, there will be fireworks in Greenwich each evening.
9:15pm to 9:30pm
Greenwich
More London events on Sunday 30th August
Monday 31st August
Over 150 stalls, children's activities, local craft, interactive demonstrations, farmers' market, music, etc
10:30am to 8pm
Carshalton
Hear about the the events of the Great Fire: the sacking of the Dutch-held island Terschelling and its destruction;
Starts at 7:30pm
Southwark
