Matilda Egere-Cooper

Some days experiencing the city from a plain old horizontal perspective just isn’t enough. And London provides a solution to your outlook needs: strapping yourself in and climbing up a pretend mountain, obviously. Slightly more serious than the adult play areas and Ballie Ballerson’s of the city, climbing walls sit somewhere neatly between being an actual sport and still being a really good way to have a laugh with your mates on the London fun Venn diagram. That seems like a pretty good place to be, so we’ve put together a list of some of the best vertical excitement the capital has to offer. RECOMMENDED: Activities in London for big kids

Londoners love cycling. More than 150,000 of us pass through central London on two wheels each day, which means that there are an awful lot of bikes knocking around in this city, and by extension an awful lot of lovely London bike shops out there too.  Whether you want to try a new way of commuting, take your trusty old fixie for a service or upgrade with a swish new set of wheels, these brilliant independent bike shops in London can hook you up – from fixing that custom two-wheeler to teaching you how to do it yourself. And when you’ve bagged yourself a shiny new bike, treat yourself to a coffee at one of London’s best bicycle cafes.  RECOMMENDED: Nine dreamy bike rides in and around London

If you’re talking about musical legends from the past 20 years, it would be wrong to omit Erykah Badu – the queenly singer-songwriter, born Erica Abi Wright, who changed the musical landscape when she released her debut album in 1997. A glorious, Grammy-winning union of laidback jazz, hip hop, sass and pre-millennial wokeness, ‘Baduizm’ led to the birth of neo-soul. And the Texan’s influence went on to touch a new generation of singers, including Janelle Monáe, FKA Twigs and Amy Winehouse. These days, Badu is much more than a singer-songwriter. The 47-year-old mother of three is also a DJ, actor, producer, fashion icon and visual artist. She’s no stranger to controversial debate, either. Never one to sugarcoat her thoughts, Badu has aired some pretty polarising opinions on everyone from Bill Cosby to Hitler. When Badu’s not causing a Twitter storm, she’s devoting her energy to raising a family, helping mums give birth (she’s a qualified doula) and touring her epic stage show. Ahead of her headline slot at Field Day in Brockwell Park, we caught up with Badu to talk about how R&B has changed, dealing with trolls and what it’s like to have such diehard fans. What’s a typical day like for you at the moment? ‘Waking up at 6am, getting the kids up for school, working and going to the gym. I’m a caregiver for my grandmother, too. If I get a chance, I write lyrics to instrumentals for an album that’s taken me eight years.’ Does that mean new music is coming soon? ‘Could be!’ The susp

Contributors in the network love to cover new openings and launches on their social channels - and we've already enjoyed meetups with Jackson + Rye, the Royal Academy of Arts, Boondocks, Coin Laundry, The Library Member's Club and Kerb street food market. If you'd like to invite us down to an event or host a meetup email londonblognetwork@timeout.com.

If there's anyone who knows what's banging about Balham, cool about Camden, hip about Hackney or excellent about Erith – it's in Zone 6, if you're wondering – it's you guys: the good folks who call this beautiful city home. So as part our new annual 'The Places To Be' list, we asked you to share what makes your stomping grounds better than the rest. Cheers for your hilarious, heartfelt and epic responses - here they are in their full, hometown glory.

Women devoted to the natural hair journey will find an ally in Charlotte Mensah – an award-winning hair stylist and founder of Hair Lounge, a stylish Ladbroke Grove salon that’s expertly nurtured kinky coils and curls since 1999. Considering Mensah’s A-List clientele – think Erykah Badu and Janelle Monae – and the heaps of gongs she regularly collects, there’s nothing pretentious about Mensah, her youthful staff or her warm, Afrocentric haven, where fittingly, Badu’s live album plays soothingly in the background. In fact, the boss lady offers me a piece of pound make she made earlier in the day, between effortlessly tending to two other clients who are getting braids and a trim. For those looking to give their hair an extra bit of TLC, the results from Mensah’s Manketti oil treatments are sublime, with my notoriously dry 4c hair feeling softer and more moisturised than it has been in ages. Still, the exfoliating scalp treatment (£30), which involved a junior stylist vigorously working a sea salt scrub all over my head for 15 minutes, initially scared the life out of me. Surely this was a recipe for disaster? But Mensah, who developed the treatment, explained that the scalp is just skin after all – and it works like having a face scrub. Plus, the scrub would be good for promoting better circulation and encouraging hair growth. The luscious, 15-minute oil steam treatment (£80) eased my scepticism, and as Mensah gave my hair a trim, it was hard to deny how clean my scalp looked

The original 'Smiths' of Smithfield is across the road from the titular meat market in Farringdon. This Cannon Street branch may be a junior version, but the fabulous, top-quality meat remains. The aroma of charred, meaty goodness hit me as soon as I walked through the venue’s brawny, pop-style bar and into the classier restaurant. Getting the steak here is a no-brainer – there are nine cuts to choose from, including a 12-ounce, 30-day-aged chunk of rump. It was paired with a tangy wild salad and the best chunky chips I’ve had in ages. Spinach, nicely heated with a liberal seasoning of chilli and garlic, was a great side to round it all off. If you’d rather kick things off with a starter, you can’t go wrong with a fancy pick like the octopus carpaccio with passionfruit dressing. Not only was this multicoloured flavour-fest gorgeous enough for the ’gram, but it tasted divine. A shame, then, that a few balls were dropped come dessert time. A brill-sounding espresso soufflé with brown-butter ice cream should have been a party in my mouth. Instead, it was hot and watery. Oops. Not a good vibe given the prices, so do yourself a favour and just splash out on the main event – joyful meat sweats, guaranteed.  

Please note, Temple and Sons has closed. Time Out Food editors, August 2018. It was a bold move for Jason Atherton to plant his latest eatery right next door to his Michelin-starred City Social. But there’s no sibling rivalry here. Temple and Sons eludes its big bro’s suave demeanour and sky-high views for something a bit more down to earth (literally). The relaxed philosophy extends to the retro decor and a menu chock-full of the sort of old-school English comfort food you devoured as a kid. Think hearty sausage rolls. Or chips drenched in vinegar. But it’s all done in such a clever way that it’s practically fine dining, albeit without the breathtaking bill. Still, that didn’t stop me putting my decorum to one side, and polishing off a hearty bowl of prawn cocktail that was clearly meant for sharing. I couldn’t help myself. That tart combo of dill, capers, sun-dried tomatoes and fat prawns was incredible. And if no one had been looking, I would’ve licked the gravy off an extra-tasty plate of sausage and mash with HP gravy. The sweet-toothed will be charmed by a selection of desserts so exciting-sounding it was difficult to whittle down. After weighing up the trifle with gingerbread, poached rhubarb and ginger, and the frozen yoghurt topped with ‘PBJ’ (peanuts, morello cherry jam and roasted brioche crumb yoghurt), I settled on the latter – not that it was much of a compromise. Save for a few floundering waiters at the start of dinner, everything about Temple and Sons was the

Bankers desperate to let their hair down after crunching numbers all day seem like the right sort of crowd for The Kitty Hawk, a glitzy, two-floor goliath of a venue that encompasses a restaurant, café, bar, private dining room and dining counter. As you might guess, it’s a busy spot – on my Thursday night visit, I got a call beforehand to warn me that a party of 70 would be descending on the place. Dinner at the beginning of the week might have meant less amateurish service, but the consolation was a fancy, well-presented selection of dishes. There’s the full gamut of steak on the menu: rump, sirloin, rib eye, marinated rib eye and fillet, plus hefty cuts of côte de boeuf, chateaubriand and tomahawks for sharing. A juicy, medium-cooked 8oz fillet was faultless and came with a smoky tomato, a glazed red onion and a liberal portion of chunky chips cooked in beef dripping. My medley of steamed greens was a better choice of side dish than the dauphinoise potatoes – they were a tad dull and needed more cream. Both cocktails and desserts, such as a wonderful seasonal berry meringue, were ace. And by the end of the meal, the restaurant bods were kind enough to lop off the service charge to compensate for the lack of polish. Prices aren’t exactly bargainous, so this was appreciated. It also goes to show that while The Kitty Hawk may have a few kinks to work out to live up to its flashy façade, at least it’s on the right track.

In the five years since she died, there’s been little homage paid to Whitney Houston – the New Jersey kid who sang in the church choir and became a megastar chanteuse (she broke The Beatles’ record for consecutive US Number Ones). This doc from Nick Broomfield (‘Kurt & Courtney’, ‘Biggie and Tupac’) could have been that tribute – and during this glum account of her rise and fall, there are breathtaking reminders of just how sensational Houston was in her prime, before drugs eclipsed her talent. Instead, Broomfield picks up where the tabloids left off, rehashing details of Houston’s marriage to Bobby Brown, closeness to her PA and cocaine habit. His interviews – mainly with bandmates, backing singers and bodyguards – begin to feel like filler. At least there’s plenty from Whitney herself in incredibly poignant TV interviews where she talks about her struggles with fame and addiction.

Holy hell! Not another chicken restaurant! Afraid so – except this massive, 1960s-style spot in the City serves a little bit of duck and likes its poultry pulled, roasted, barbequed, smoked or with a beer can up its bum (yep, whole beer butt chickens are on offer). But are these chicks really as divine as they claim? Well, if you like your rotisserie, you’ll be in finger-lickin’ chicken heaven, that’s for sure. A hefty, tender half of a garlic’n’herb-coated bird was delectable and nicely balanced. It came with gravy, but was better paired with a buttery side of mash and seasonal greens. You’d be forgiven for passing on the starters. A duck sausage roll with date chutney was heavy on the paprika and cold in the middle. Heritage root veg with goat’s curd and curry oil was only okay. Nothing I had broke the bank, though. Desserts were far better. If you’ve got room, try the house Eton Mess; a wonderful jumble of chunky meringue and strawberries that didn’t overdo the cream. Throwback cocktails are also a must, if only to take the edge off a venue so orange it might’ve been decorated by an Oompa Loompa. HB’s colour scheme might send you a little loopy, but keep your eyes on the chicken and you’ll be just fine.

If the Afropunk festival was a person, it’d probably be Solange Knowles: youthful, gorgeous, fearless and just a little bit weird. It’s also one of a kind, and that that’s why this increasingly revered music festival – which began in 2003 as a cosy gathering in Brooklyn to celebrate the black punk scene – has spread its wings, broadened its ethos (less ‘punk rock’, more ‘power to the people’), roped in more heavyweight acts and gone global. The festival in London last year and returns to the city with an awesome line-up. Musical offerings aside, the festival will host a bunch of foodie pop-ups, art stalls and exhibitions, all in the name of non-conformity and self-expression. Even if the art doesn’t impress you, the fashionistas that this event attracts will – expect septum rings, colourful get-ups and towering headwraps that would put Erykah Badu to shame. If you fancy an eclectic fest where you’re free to just do you, then get ready, people: we predict a riot.

A stylish chicken shop with a retro music theme? That’s not exactly groundbreaking stuff for Camden, though being literally metres from the tube station is genius. After all, the American soul food dished up by Bea Vo (Bea’s of Bloomsbury, Stax Diner, Boondocks) is everything you’d want from wallet-friendly stodge. Perfect for soaking up the booze before crawling on to the night tube. She’s carried over the chicken and waffles from her previous joints and there are chicken tenders on the menu too. But the main draw here is multi-flavoured wings, some slicker than others. The General Tso was the obvious bigshot: a lip-smacking soy, sesame, garlic and red chilli number with a nice sweet/sour balance. The spicy buffalo wings, served with a tart blue cheese dip, were also a memorable treat. The only faults appeared with the Saigon Caramel (too much fish sauce) and the Nashville Hot. Toasty, yes,but not much more. Saying that, it was nothing the excellent waffle fries and the apple poppy-seed coleslaw couldn’t fix, especially as the portions were ample. Just don’t expect to loiter here for hours on end. Vibes are cool and the service is friendly, but there’s no alcohol on the menu and seating is minimal. It is a chicken shop, after all. But for finger-licking munchies that mostly hit the spot, you’ve come to the right place.

Who knew you could get to Morocco with an Oyster card? Okay, so you won’t exactly find yourself smack dab in the middle of the buzzy North African country – but the award-winning Spa at Dolphin Square could of had us fooled if it wasn’t hidden away in a swanky building complex in Pimlico. This gloriously lush haven hasn’t spared any details in recreating the time-honoured traditions of hammam culture, where butt-naked Moroccans regularly chillax in steamy communal baths as they wash and scrub all their cares away. Getting your bits out is definitely a no-no here, but everything else is pretty authentic - from the exotic interiors in the changing rooms and chill out areas draped in moody reds, golds and browns, to the zillions of treatments on offer. There’s the standards - manis, pedis, waxes - but that isn’t what you come here for, not when you can get a 23 carat gold facial or the two-hour long, ancient Moroccan oil scalp ritual and an Arabian ceremony. I go for their signature Luxury Hamman cleansing ritual, which ain’t cheap at £82, but it’s just the thing for brides-to-be, mums-to-be, or anyone after some much needed stress relief. A gorgeous staff member introduces me to Ahmed, who for the next hour, proceeds with a five step treatment which starts with a mint leaf foot soak in the warm and cosy hamman room, followed by a cleansing with delicious-smelling concoctions. He’s clearly a dab hand at this, and makes sure to explain each bit of the process, which also includes

  Considering it’s smack-bam in the middle of the seriously posh Knightsbridge, it’s only natural that Errol Dougla’s famed salon would drip with glamour – from the glossy, couture interiors to the modelesque receptionist who quickly takes my coat on my arrival and offers me tea. Customer service is exceptional here, but so it should be, as the award-winning Douglas has been in the game for over 20 years. There’s even an MBE to prove it. He’s only floating around on our visit, but his staff of stylists are on the ball, working their magic on both caucasian and black hair types in the buzzy, two-floor space. As far as afro hair treatments go, women after hair extensions, cuts, blow drys,  colour or a relaxer, are well catered for. A moisture treatment for my kinky afro hair is relaxing and well-executed - but it’s nothing a more specialist salon couldn’t do, for a less eye-watering price. Moisture treatments are just £20, but with the blowdry, it quickly shoots up to £120. At least the products are good. Eve, my stylist, saturates my nourished coils with intense curl cream and oil treatment from the popular Moroccanoil line.   It’s also helpful that the salon doesn’t just stick to the business of hair. Other services include mani and pedis and make-up - and if you’re peckish, you can grab a quick bite from the salon’s bespoke menu of healthy sandwiches and salads. Classy.   For afro hair, prices start from £70 for a relaxer to £220 for a relaxer and cut combo.

With seven branches (an eighth is about to open in Kensington) and a residency at crazy-golf bar Swingers, it’s safe to say Patty & Bun knows what it’s doing by now. Judging by this latest opening at Hackney’s Arthaus Building, that’s certainly the case. The set-up is the usual – grungy urban interiors, head-nodding playlists – and the burgers are as good as they were when P&B first arrived on the scene. My flavoursome Jose Jose chilli number – dripping with cheese and squashed into a toasted brioche bun – was polished off in minutes. And the rosemary fries? Those went within seconds. Sadly, the cheese balls just didn’t cut it. They were runnier and sharper than expected, but the combo of cheddar, gruyère and blue cheese could have used a bit of macaroni to hold it all together. Drinkswise, a lemony Redchurch Reviver improved things, as great gin cocktails generally do. The odd hiccup is pretty easy to forgive thanks to the charming service, my waiter checking in to see how I felt about those sides (my face must’ve been a massive giveaway). Consider yourself lucky, Hackney: you couldn’t have asked for a better addition to the neighbourhood.

It’s fair to say dating in London is a slog. But if you’re willing to ‘finger dance’ or stare into a stranger’s eyes, you could strike it lucky with Shhh Dating. It’s an unusual event where participants mingle without saying a word, in the hope they might meet ‘the one’. No cringey convos? Phew! But of course, there’s a catch. It’s more full-on than you’d think. Founder Adam Taffler says it’s all about exploring intimacy and sexual boundaries – not exactly what I had in mind for a Wednesday night in a bar in Dalston. But he’s a brilliant host and makes the 40 singletons attending feel as comfortable as possible. He explains that rather than being paired-up with someone, we’ll be doing a series of ‘party’ games that eventually lead up to the mysterious ‘Level 9’. We kick off with yoga-style breathing to relax, then shake everyone’s hand at arm’s length. This progresses to air kisses, staring at each other and, if we want, a ‘British hug’ where we stand at a distance and politely tap each other on the back. The second round is more touchy-feely, with games including ‘kung fool’, where you gently try to poke someone in the arm or leg before they get you. Then there’s the finger-dancing: index fingers are stuck together, moving in sync. Believe me, it’s tricky. Inevitably, there are a few nervous giggles. And, as the guy-to-girl ratio is skewed towards the ladies, there’s a scramble to connect with someone you don’t mind bumping fingers with. The final stage is where things, qui

See one of the largest steel band competitions outside of the Caribbean just before Notting Hill Carnival kicks off Polish your whistle and dust off your comfiest dancing shoes: Notting Hill Carnival weekend is upon us. Still, if you’re tempted to swerve a full two days of shenanigans, but don’t want to miss out on the music, head over to Panorama instead. Based in a modest park between Ladbroke and Westbourne Grove, the steel band clash takes place on Carnival Eve (Saturday), and has been a local institution for the past 40 years. And yes, it’s kind of a big deal: the national competition pits the UK’s biggest bands against each other for the title of Champions of Steel, offering spectators an incredible display of banging calypso tunes. While you can also expect plenty of tasty Caribbean nosh  to tuck into throughout the night, the only catch this year is that organisers have decided to make it a ticketed event for the first time. But not to worry: it’s only a fiver for adults, a quid for teens, nada for the kiddies and it’s all for a good cause. A full 100 percent of the proceeds will be shared between the bands as a thank-you for taking part, helping them cover the expenses bill they’d usually foot themselves. It’s a joyous, pre-Carnival warm-up that’s giving back to the community itself, and that really is something worth celebrating. Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance. Tube: Westbourne Park. Sat Aug 25, 6pm-11pm. £5, £1 five-18s, free under-fives. Meet the bands Alamy Ebony

After Grenfell Tower, this year’s Notting Hill Carnival will be an unusually poignant event. Matilda Egere-Cooper hears from the locals about what the area means to them.  Think of west London around this time of year and three words probably spring to mind: Notting Hill Carnival. A weekend of jaw-dropping costumes, smoking barbecues, huge tunes and endless rum punch. A portrait of London multiculturalism in all its glory. And, of course, a fantastic community effort.  But this year, Europe’s biggest street party will take on a new meaning. Its route runs near Grenfell Tower, whose charred shell continues to serve as a reminder of the tragic June 14 fire. Despite some calls to move or cancel Carnival, organisers are going ahead; this year’s event will honour the 80 people who died with a one-minute silence on bank holiday Monday at 3pm. Ahead of the big weekend, we talked to locals who told us what they love about the area, how’s it’s been affected by recent events and why it will continue to stand strong. Everyone we spoke to highlighted the area’s powerful sense of identity and how people came together to help in the aftermath of Grenfell. Carnival aside, Notting Hill’s residents are proving that this bit of west London is an extraordinary community all year round. Matthew Phillip, director of The Tabernacle W11 ‘I was kind of raised in Ladbroke Grove. I was born in Paddington and I’ve always been in the area. My dad used to live on All Saints Road and he founded – along

Looking for a cool new way to get fit? Matilda Egere-Cooper tries ice climbing When it comes to anything ice-related, let me be blunt, I don’t do it. Skiing, figure-skating, even the rapper Ice-T. It means that while ice climbing’s a skill that will come in handy if global warming triggers a new Ice Age, for now, not so much. Being a sporty type, though, I’m always compiling a mental bucket list of adventurous things I should do, and it’s how I end up heading to a -5C room at Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports shop in Covent Garden to scale a frozen wall. The store is home to Vertical Chill –  an indoor space where climbers can clamber up eight metres of ice. My wonderfully named instructor Nacho assures me it’s not as hard as it looks. That doesn’t stop me peering helplessly through the window of the freezing room as  I get kitted up in thermal gear, a helmet, a harness and crampons, those freaky-looking spiked plates you clip on your feet. It looks like it’s had a  visit from Queen Elsa of Arendelle. What the frozen hell have I got myself into?   Andy Parsons         We head inside the room and Nacho demonstrates how to mount. It’s easy-peasy for him. Me? I can just about keep my balance. There’s a skill to gripping the ice which involves whacking the picks into the wall with your arms outstretched above your head. The next step is to squat, kick your feet into the ice with the crampons, then push your hips into the wall, praying to dear God you don’t drop. And I don’t: I’ve g

London’s gained a whole host of interesting new exercise classes recently. Here are the most exciting ones Chromayoga Colourful light therapy and pretty aromas offer a magical backdrop to this alternative, modern approach to yoga.   A post shared by ChromaYoga (@chromayogauk) on Jul 25, 2017 at 9:22am PDT AK Fit Club Remember how much you loved skipping? Relive your childhood with this bouncy, HIIT-inspired sesh. A post shared by AK Fit Club (@akfitclub) on Jul 22, 2017 at 11:20am PDT   Swimsanity Fans of Shaun T’s famous Insanity workout will love this water-based version aimed at improving your swimming technique as you get fit. A post shared by Paul Taaffe (@swimsanity_uk) on Mar 21, 2017 at 10:26am PDT   Paceline at One10  This is a next-level spinning class where riders compete as they’re put through their paces. No guts, no glory!  A post shared by One 10 Cycle (@one10cycle) on Jul 6, 2017 at 4:54am PDT   Meta-Row at Metabolic London Bye-bye, bingo wings: that gym rowing machine you used to ignore takes pride of place in this hardcore class, which claims to make you lean and mean.    A post shared by Metabolic London (@metabolicldn) on Jul 24, 2017 at 5:03am PDT 12x3 With one teacher to every four students, these boxing classes could soon be the most in-demand in the city. Especially since the gym owners have bagged some of the best instructors in the city.        Fit-Ski Who needs snow when you can hit the slopes on home turf? Th

Get your fit on this month with our round-up of fun classes and workouts taking place around the capital. HIITBOX at Ministry of Sound Clubbing at the weekend might leave you with a sore head in the morning – but HIITBOX promises all the benefits of a night on the tiles minus the pesky hangover. A live DJ and MC will provide the entertainment for a one-hour hardcore session combining boxing and HIIT. There will also be yummy post-workout treats from Pip & Nut, Soulmate Food and Botanic Lab for your efforts.  Date: July 7 Cost: £30 (and £5 for wraps – or bring your own) Time: 6.45pm-8.30pm Booking info: ministrydoesfitness.com/events/hiitbox The Arches, Ministry Does Fitness, Arches 80 and 81, Newington Court, SE1 6DD Lululemon Sweatlife Festival This month. the city’s keenest fitties can look forward to having a blast at one of London’s biggest fitness events. Lululemon’s Sweatlife returns to Tobacco Dock for another year of adrenalin-pumping classes, power-packed yoga, quality food and insightful workshops on all things wellness.  Date: July 22 Cost: £30 Booking info: thesweatlife.co.uk Tobacco Dock, E1 Boom Cycle Hammersmith West Londoners! You can finally get your ‘boom’ on much closer to home as the party-on-a-bike pros open their first studio in Hammersmith. The brand spankin’ new spin studio comes with with a state-of-the-art soundsystem, top-notch bikes and a schedule chockfull of fun and sweaty classes. Cost: 18 per ride or 3 rides for £29 (current introductory offe

Get your fit on this month with our round-up of fun classes and workouts taking place around the capital. A post shared by HEX (@hex_london) on May 31, 2017 at 11:19pm PDT Wake Up London at the Gardening Society  Rise and shine every Tuesday and Thursday as fitness gurus Hex has organised an early doors series of HIIT style workouts at John Lewis’s pop-up rooftop garden. But if you’re worried you’ll make it into the office late, you’ll be done and dusted in 45 minutes. No sweat!  Date: June 10 Cost: £15 per class Time: 7.30-8.15am Booking info: hexlife.co.uk/wakeuplondon John Lewis, Oxford St, EC4M 9AF A post shared by Rapha Nocturne (@raphanocturne) on May 30, 2017 at 11:07am PDT Rapha Nocturne: Ride The Course Get on yer bike and give the Rapha Nocturne Series circuit a trial run before the hardcore elites and amateurs take over in the afternoon and into the night. All bikes and abilities are welcome. Sessions kick off from 2.30pm. Date: June 10 Cost: FREE Time: 2.30-3:15pm Booking info: ti.to/rapha-uk/rapha-nocturne-open-course Cheapside, EC4M 9AF A post shared by The Felix Organization (@felixorganization) on Oct 27, 2016 at 10:12am PDT Om This Way at The Hospital Club What do you get when you put together a DJ, top instructors from Equinox and a member of the legendary Run DMC in a room? One helluva fitness party – and this one’s for a great cause. Th

Another month, another awesome round of pop-ups – so get ready to revel in Indian culture, nab a Harry Potter-inspired piece of art or catch the Wimbledon action on a deck chair in King’s Cross.  Pop-up India at Proud East Ever binge-watched Bollywood classics? Do you like your nosh with a heavy dose of spice? Evenings at Proud East are honouring all things Indian with a pop-up celebration of the country’s culture. The canal-side venue will host dance workshops, DJs and film screenings – and there will be plenty of grub on offer, courtesy of Indian street-food connoisseurs Chit Chaat Chai. 2-10 Hertford Rd, N1 5ET. Jul 6-Sep 24 Pottermore Art Collection Pop-up Harry Potter’s wizarding world has been recreated in an impressive collection of art for you to ogle or buy at the Graffik Gallery in Ladbroke Grove. Works range from clever renderings of all seven Potter book covers to 3D paper models of JK Rowling’s ‘Fantastic Beasts’. Graffik Gallery, 284 Portobello Rd, W10 5TE. Until Jul 7   Free film at British Summer Time  Don’t worry if you haven’t sorted out tickets for the mega headliners at this year’s British Summer Time. You can still have a ball in Hyde Park as the fest has organised a load of freebies – including a week of free outdoor cinema. Catch the remaining double bills of fun flicks on July 5 and 7 from 6.30pm (and don’t forget the snacks). Parade Ground, East side of Hyde Park, W2 2UH. Jul 5 and 7 Open Collective’s Pop-up Shop Brixton A savvy collective of c

A post shared by Third Space (@thirdspacelondon) on Jan 7, 2016 at 6:39am PST In the weeks since the tragic Grenfell Tower fire, Londoners have done a brilliant job rallying together to help those affected. To help keep the momentum going, Third Space Canary Wharf is doing its bit with a fitness fundraiser on Saturday. It’ll be running a mega circuit class for members and non-members. To do the class, you just need to donate at least a tenner to the Red Cross’s relief fund via Third Space’s Just Giving page – and Third Space will match all donations up to £5,000. Find out more about the fundraiser. Looking for more ways to help? Check out this website.

Get wavey on a movie boat, bag exclusive rock star merch or chow down on crêpes into the early hours at some of this month’s top pop-ups.  OUR/SUMMER at Our/London vodka distillery It’s summertime, so sit back and rewind at this boozy series of neighbourhood get-togethers hosted by the Our/London micro-distillery in Hackney Downs. Expect fiver cocktails, big tunes on blast and buff bites from a rotation of top chefs including Robin Gill and Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen. Our/London Vodka Ltd., Arch 435 & 436, Spurstowe Road, E8 1LS. Every Sat from Jun 3.    Depeche Mode pop-up shop   If ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’ is your karaoke jam, get your fill of all things Depeche Mode at this one-off pop-up shop at Camden Market. The ‘Spirit’ Store will stock limited edition merch and accessories to mark the iconic band’s comeback gig at the London Stadium this weekend. Provender, Camden Stables Market, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AH. Jun 2-4. Fri: 12-7pm; Sat: 10-7pm; Sun: 12-4pm. U&U pop-up shop at 67 York Street Need to spruce up the crib? Swing by this week-long pop-up gallery and showroom in Marylebone to ogle snazzy homeware. Design brand Utopia & Utility will be showcasing their ‘Stacking Vessels’ collection, with prices starting from £30. 67 York St, W1H 1QB. Jun 16-24. 11-6pm.   Holy Crêpe This brilliantly-named pop-up off Brick Lane will be serving late-night, gluten-free savoury, sweet and vegan crepes for anyone who’d rather steer clear of the post-pub kebab crawl (not the worst idea). They’

Whether you want to party for Prince, take a trip to Japan or pimp an Easter egg, we’ve got you covered with the best pop-ups in town this month.  Pimp My Easter Egg! at We Built This City  You can never have enough chocolate eggs at Easter, so once you’ve scoffed your way through the mini eggs and the cream ones, get over to We Built This City on Carnaby Street to pimp one of your own. The Cocoa Den is hosting an egg-decorating workshop where you get to make a Belgian chocolate egg all nice and fancy with edible adornments. And here’s the best bit: if you give Time Out a mention, you get a free bar of chocolate. Egg-cellent! 56b Carnaby St, W1F 9QF. Apr 8. £8 per egg. Matthew Lee  Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen residency at The Sun & 13 Cantons If you’ve ever wondered what West African food with a twist tastes like, you can find out at The Sun & 13 Cantons where Zoe Adjonyoh (of Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen) will be cooking up a storm for the next six months. Expect a menu of her eclectic dishes from her forthcoming cookbook and her current spot at Pop Brixton. 21 Great Pulteney St, W1F 9NG. From Apr 4. Tue-Sat.   Pop-Up Japan at Proud East  Who knew you could get to the (Far) East on an Oyster card? Well, not quite, but if you’re strapped for cash, this impressive pop-up is close enough. Get yourself down to Proud East this month where can immerse yourself in fine Japanese food, booze and flicks. Tonkotsu will be taking care of the grub while you catch iconic films every Sunday, Tuesday an

Strike a warrior pose on a rooftop, sort out your houseplants, or tuck into milk and cookies at this month’s selection of the top pop-ups in town.  Grace & Thorn pop-up at Habitat  If the foliage in your flat could use a little TLC, East London florist Grace & Thorn are bringing their botanical knowledge to Habitat on Tottenham Court Road this month. Alongside an eye-catching installation, G&T founder Nik Southern will be running a series of workshops to mark the launch of her new book ‘How Not To Kill Your Houseplants’. Habitat, 196-199 Tottenham Court Rd, W1T 7PJ. River Island x MeeBox pop-up nail bar River Island in Marble Arch are setting up their very first beauty hub in collaboration with MeeBox, a fun subscription box company devoted to all things nails. To mark the occasion, they’ll be serving up freebie manis on May 5 and 6, inspired by the shop’s latest collections. River Island Marble Arch Parkhouse, 473 Oxford St, W1C 2AU. Fridays and Saturdays from May 5. 10am-6pm. Babek Spitalfields Love kebabs? Love cocktails? Enjoy the best of both from May 10 as the meat and liquour-loving Babek Brothers will be rocking up to Spitalfields for three weeks. Expect slick drinks and a fancy selection of kebabs to soak up all the booze. The Canvas Cafe, 42 Hanbury St, E1 5JL. From May 10 to June 2.   Fat Buddha Yoga at Coq d’Argent Add a little namaste to your day with Fat Buddha Yoga’s new series of early morning sessions at Coq d’Argent’s rooftop garden. The 60-minute session

Get your fit on this month with our round-up of fun classes, events and workouts taking place around the capital.  Blossom City Workouts with lululemon  Lululemon has teamed up with the Gynaecological Cancer Fund’s Lady Garden campaign for a weekend series of ‘Blosssom City Workouts’ taking place in – you guessed it – a secret garden. The ticket price gets you a one-hour HIIT session, a PRESS juice and a goody bag – and all proceeds go to the charity. How’s that for flower power? Date: Every Saturday, May 6-Jun 24 Time: 10am-11am  Cost: £15 Booking info: southplacehotel.com/event/blossom-city-workouts South Place Hotel, 3 South Place, EC2M 2AF  Gyal Flex – Hip Hop Yoga and Meditation   Here’s something for the homies: a new hip-hop-inspired yoga and meditation class where the beats and mantras are as fresh as the chilled-out moves. If you’re looking to go with the flow in good company, this is the ticket. Date: May 6 Time: 10am-12pm Cost: £15.01 Booking info: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gyal-flex-hip-hop-yoga-meditation-tickets-33599820969 Ace Hotel London Shoreditch, 100 Shoreditch High St, E1 6JQ  The Ivy x Another_Space Brunch  Another Space is putting on back-to-back cycle and yoga classes and a lavish, two-course brunch. Once you’ve finished up, you’ll be whisked away to nearby The Club at The Ivy to recover in style. Fancy!  Date: May 13 Time: 10am-2pm  Cost: £50 Booking info: info@anotherspace.london 4-10 Tower Street, WC2H 9NP Balance Festival Foodies and fitsters un