Inside Out events
Church Street Masquerade from Dende Collective
The hit project returns, this time with giant masks. Join free drop-in workshops for ages 18 and over and 60 and over to create bold papier-mâché masks and perform in a joyful street parade through Church Street Market. No experience needed.
Workshops from Monday 18 to Friday 29 August, 1pm to 5pm, at Penfold Community Hub, 60 Penfold Street, NW8 8PJ. The final performance is on Saturday 30 August, 1pm to 5pm.
Green Art Trail from SouthWestFest
Head out on the Green Art Trail, take in local artistic talent and explore the south of the borough. All artwork is created by Westminster creatives of all ages, and inspired by the environment. There will also be two creative workshops to take part in, date and times to be confirmed.
The trail takes place from 4 to 24 August, all day across south Westminster.
Head Out from the National Portrait Gallery
Image credit © Mykola Romanovsky
Head Out is the National Portrait Gallery’s free, outdoor summer spectacular. Meet on the Gallery’s forecourt and experience portraiture through hands-on, drop-in workshops. Experiment with new and familiar materials, contribute to evolving collaborative artworks and create portraits that are anything but traditional.
8 and 22 August, 4:30pm to 8:30pm, in the Gallery Forecourt, sessions are free and you can drop-in at any time.
Family Fun on Chapel Square
Join us on Chapel Square for a fun-filled, guard-themed family event, giving you a taster of The Guards Museum, a cultural hidden gem, all timed for Changing of the Guard. Enjoy dress-up fun, craft workshops, live music, and relaxing deckchairs.
20, 21 and 22 August, 11am to 2pm, The Guards Museum, Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, London, SW1E 6HQ
Fashion Alive '25 from Avenues Youth Project
Celebrate creativity, culture, and community at Fashion Alive ’25, a fun, free summer project featuring youth-led fashion workshops and a photography project that ends with a spectacular event showcasing everyone’s work.
1 to 29 August, 12pm to 4pm, The Avenues Youth Project, 3-7 Third Avenue, London W10 4RS.
Email hello@avenues.org.uk to register your interest
Fitzrovia Fête from Fitzrovia Community Centre
Fitzrovia Fête is a fun day of free activities, music and performance. Closed to traffic, the streets will belong to residents and their families to dance and play safely. Come and say hello to local groups to find out how to get involved, make new friends, and enjoy delicious food.
2 Foley Street W1W 6DL, between Cleveland Street and Ogle Street, Sunday 10 August, 1pm to 5pm
Plastique Fantastique at The Photographers Gallery
Photo courtesy of Plastique Fantastique
A performance-fiction with London-based collaborators Plastique Fantastique using song, improvisation and storytelling that draws on Hollywood cinema, science fiction and folk traditions.
Friday 8 August, 4pm to 7pm, the Soho Photography Quarter, 16-18 Ramillies Street, London W1F7LW
London Unseen Collective walking tours
Join one of a series of walking tours from four Westminster guides sharing diverse and multiple perspectives. Exploring Legacies of the British Empire, Sikh history, Muslim history, Black history, Women and Power and the story of the Partition of India and Pakistan in London.
9 walks talking place across the month.
Regent's Park open air theatre
Join us for puppetry, dance, drama or craft workshops after experiencing The Enormous Crocodile, a mischievous musical based on Roald Dahl’s snappy book. For ages 4 to 11. Snap up your free tickets today.
Extra events take place after the performances on 20, 22, 26, 27, and 29 August, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4NU.
Email education@openairtheatre.com to register your interest in free tickets.
Scenes in the Square
The Scenes in the Square trail is honouring the home of film premieres and the most renowned theatre shows, Leicester Square. Two-days of free events including a silent disco, crafts, face painting and more.
Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 August.
Queen's Park Bangladesh Association
A cultural celebration event that enhances inter-community understanding and cohesion to reduce isolation and exclusion of minority groups, as well as celebrating Westminster’s diversity and culture.
Young people's event, Sunday 3 August and public event on Sunday 17 August, both events at The Happy Hub, 23 Third Avenue, Queen's Park,W10 4RS.
Email info@queensparkba.org to find out more
Soho Sounds
Pull up a deckchair and soak up the sounds of Soho’s resident orchestra and The Academy of St Martin in the Fields, as they present an afternoon of classics in the gardens of St Anne’s Soho. Event is free and you can come and go as you please. All are welcomed including dogs who must remain on leads. Coffee, tea and cakes will be served from Sacred Grounds Soho.
St Anne's Gardens, Wardour Street, Saturday 17th August, midday to 4pm
Sounds of Reggae at The Photographers Gallery
Image courtesy of Dennis Morris, Admiral Ken with Box Men, Hackney, London, 1973 © Dennis Morris
A vibrant outdoor party in the heart of London with DJ sets and short talks celebrating the enduring sounds, roots and influence of reggae music through the years.
Saturday 16 August, 12pm to 4pm, the Soho Photography Quarter, 16-18 Ramillies Street, London W1F7LW
Strut the Triangle from Arbeit Studios
Image credit: Ross Kernahan
This August "Strut the Triangle" will transform the Church Street Triangle, NW8 8ET into a vibrant runway, where local talent will shine in a dazzling celebration of fashion, performance, and community.
Workshops from from 1 to 28 August, with the final show on Saturday 30 August, from 2pm to 4pm.
Storytelling trails and workshops by The National Gallery
Children have created Take One Picture artwork displays, that can be enjoyed as a digital augmented reality trail across sites including Jubilee Walk and St James’ Market.
From 4 to 15 August you can create your own unique art works, visit the exhibition, take a tour and share a story. Read the full free family programme.
Westminster Abbey Creation series
Discover Westminster Abbey in new and unexpected ways this summer. Be inspired with creative workshops, poetry, live music and hidden stories waiting to be uncovered. Some events in the series require a ticket to the Abbey, but City Save card holders can get discounted access and a free child's ticket.
Events throughout August.
Westminster Guides
Wonderful Westminster, a cultural treasure trove. Come on a free walk with a qualified City of Westminster guide throughout the month of August.
20 to 25 walks talking place across the month.
Union Dance workshops and performances
Live performances from Westminster’s emerging musicians and dance artists. Union Sound Open Air performance and movement workshops offer chances to see and immerse yourself in the vibrant performance arts of young Londoners.
Workshops on 2 and 9 August, 12:15pm to 1:45pm at Charing Cross Library, with performances on 10 August, from 1pm to 5pm at Fitzrovia Fête, W1W 6DL and 23 August, 1pm to 2:30pm at Victoria Embankment Gardens.
