London

Two major arts festivals open this week on the South Bank: the London Literature Festival (July 5-19), which returns for a second year, now features a strand programmed by the House Of Homosexual Culture, and Watch This Space (July 6-Aug 31) takes over the square outside the National Theatre for two months of free alfresco street theatre, cabaret, music and film screenings. Feature continues

Other outdoor attractions include Jeppe Hein's fabulous interactive fountain 'Appearing Rooms' (until Sept 28) and on Friday July 11 'Skate City Live', a night of live music, DJs and film screenings celebrating urban street culture, in the undercroft of the Southbank Centre that has become home to skateboarders, free-runners and graffiti artists.

July 11 also marks the Hayward Gallery's fortieth birthday. To celebrate, the gallery will be open late and, best of all, admission to the 'Psycho Buildings' exhibition will be just 40p.

The South Bank will be bursting with entertainment all summer long – too many shows, events and exhibitions to mention in detail here, but see below for individual venue listings. Highlights include the Royal Festival Hall's new stage version of 'The Wizard of Oz' (July 23-Aug 31) plus an accompanying after-hours cabaret season 'Dorothy Nights' (weekly July 25-Aug 29), a free Sunday afternoon concert from the London Community Gospel Choir (Aug 17) and BFI Southbank's two-month season of super hero and comic book films (July-Aug).

Eating and drinking options are also in plentiful supply on the South Bank. Here's our guide to the best restaurants and bars in the vicinity.

BFI Southbank | Hayward Gallery | National Theatre | Purcell Room | Queen Elizabeth Hall | Royal Festival Hall