Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Updates:

London's best street food Jul 31 2009
London's best pub barbecues Jul 27 2009
London's major parks Jul 2 2009
Outdoor swimming in London Jun 25 2009
London's best alfresco dining Jun 16 2009
London’s best local parks Aug 29 2008
Great London walks Jul 22 2008
Alfresco restaurants Jul 15 2008
Outdoor theatre Jun 24 2008
Outdoor film screenings in London 2009 Jun 17 2008
London festivals 2009 May 29 2008
London’s best food markets Apr 1 2008
London's peaceful bank holiday alternatives Aug 21 2007
London's best beer gardens Jul 23 2007
London's secret cycle routes Jul 18 2006
Summer nights in London 2009 Jul 11 2006

Outdoor London - how to go alfresco in the capital

Summer sunshine means alfresco entertainment, and London is full of fresh-air fun. We've compiled a handy guide to all the things you can do outdoors this summer and all year round - including eating and drinking, festivals, film, theatre and outdoor swimming

Outdoor eating and drinking
Laze away a summer's day with a drink in one of London's best beer gardens, or supersize your seasonal dining experience with a sizzling pub barbecue. If you'd rather be waited on then there are plenty of restaurants offering fine alfresco dining. Markets are a reliable source of outdoor snacking, playing host to exciting, great-value street food. Meanwhile, head to London's food markets for picnic-time treats - or eat on the hoof with some great tasting street food.
See more restaurants.

Enjoy parks and gardens
Going green in London has never been a problem. Its major parks provide picture-perfect locations for escaping the city traffic, with handy local parks serving the fringes - and if you want somewhere to take the hamper, then take your pick from the best picnic areas in London.

Festivals
London's vibrant and diverse culture is reflected in its eclectic festival line-up - from the river-happy Thames Festival to Watch This Space's summer of street theatre and the ever-spectacular Notting Hill Carnival.
See all London summer festivals.

Outdoor entertainment
Dust off your picnic blanket and take in some culture under the sun, stars (or clouds) with one of the alfresco theatre performances or film screenings happening this summer. For art-lovers, there's the annual Serpentine Pavillion to check out, or a day Banksy-spotting on our tour of the street art dotted around the East End.

Get active outdoors
We've steadily built up a comprehensive collection of great walks that will keep you enthralled and inspired as you explore London. If you fancy taking your bike off the beaten track, test out one of our secret cycle routes, or cool off in the sun and splash down with some outdoor swimming.