All weekend It's the first weekend of the new Friends ExperienceAFTERNOON TEA WEEK: Not that we ever need an excuse to tuck into a scone and a couple of cakes, but this week is Afternoon Tea Week. Why not celebrate this weekend at one of London's best themed afternoon teas, or perhaps the best afternoon teas near London's tourist attractions, and combine it with a day of sightseeing? We also know the best afternoon teas for children, and, if it's all sounding a bit expensive, we've got a guide to London's most affordable afternoon teas too. 12-18 August LAIKA FRAME X FRAME: The BFI's new free exhibition LAIKA: Frame x Frame tells the story of stop-motion studio Laika through the lens of its five feature films to date (Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Missing Link) using storyboards, costumes, puppets, props and sets. It's part of the BFI's wider stop-motion season, which runs until October. FREE, 12 August-1 October FRIENDS EXPERIENCE: Oh. My. GOD! A new Friends experience opens at the ExCeL Centre, celebrating the beloved US sitcom, in a new, permanent home. Experience recreations of the Friends set, including the two main apartments in which the show is based. Relax on Chandler and Joey's recliners or take on your own friends in a game of foosball. From 12 August BIG FUN ART ADVENTURE: 30 large, uniquely designed owls — and 20 smaller owlets — appear around north London this weekend, for the Big Fun Art Adventure. Download the app and collect rewards as you seek them out, or pick up a paper map to follow this free art trail, visiting iconic spots such as Alexandra Palace, as well as local hidden gems. Each owl was painted by a different artist, with designs from some famous faces including Matt Lucas. It's organised by North London Hospice and aims to raise awareness and funds for the charity. FREE, From 17 August (sponsor) It's the first weekend of LAIKA: Frame x FrameSUMMER EXHIBITION: This weekend is your last chance to see one of the highlights of the London art calendar. This year's Royal Academy Summer Exhibition displays works by Nicola Turner, Clare Woods, Ibiye Camp... and comedian Joe Lycett. Until 18 August SUMMER SOUNDS: Summer Sounds free music festival is back at King's Cross, with live concerts every evening, and plenty of other entertainment. This weekend, Queer Tango London offer dance sessions on Saturday, and there's a drumming workshop on Sunday, along with performances by Brazilian quintet Alvorada, and the London Show Choir. FREE, 15-26 August WIZARD OF OZ: We're off to see the wizard... the stage adaptation of L. Frank Baum's beloved book is at the Gillian Lynne Theatre (Drury Lane) for a limited run. JLS member Aston Merrygold plays The Tin Man, with RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner and Dancing On Ice star The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West. 15 August-8 September PROSECCO WEEKEND: Raise a glass to National Prosecco Weekend at Chiswick House and Gardens. Across two days, take part in masterclasses to learn more about the bubbly beverage, and hear from experts including UK Ambassador to Prosecco DOC Neil Phillips, popularly known as the Wine Tipster. 17-18 August Saturday 17 August Take a guided walk around Florence Nightingale's London. Photo: Matt BrownIMBERBUS: Alright, so it's not in London, but it is a top-notch — and very popular — event featuring London buses, so indulge us for a second. Imberbus is an annual parade of double-decker London buses from Warminster to Chitterne, via Salisbury Plain and a collection of bucolic villages. Why? It all dates back to residents of the small village of Imber being turfed out of their village by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 1943, and never being allowed to return... full story here. 17 August BSL TOUR: The National Army Museum offers a tour of its current Shakespeare and War exhibition, for BSL users. Expert BSL guide Edward Richard highlights specific items within the gallery and shows how Shakespeare’s famous plays have long been used as both a tool for propaganda and a weapon of critique. 11am FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE'S LONDON: Join a guide from the Florence Nightingale Museum on a walk visiting London locations linked to the pioneering nurse. Begin on Park Lane, and pass the house where she spent her last days, the hotel where she wrote Notes on Nursing, the statue of the Lady with the Lamp, and the hospital where she founded her nursing school. 11am CLASSIC CARS: Head to Lower Marsh at lunchtime for Waterloo Classics, when owners of classic cars park them on the road, to be admired by members of the public. FREE, 11am-2pm POPLAR PICNIC: Poplar Union's annual festival is a family-friendly event featuring live music, flamenco and puppet performances, stalls showcasing work by local artists, face painting, games, food and drink stalls, and other activities to bring the local community together. FREE, 12pm-4pm GARDEN PARTY: Throwback party experts Back in Time pitch up at the Half Moon in Putney for an afternoon of soul, funk, R&B, reggae, house and club classic tunes. It takes place in the garden, with a smart/casual dress code, and food and drink available throughout. 1pm-7pm LONDON BATTLE: Celebrate breaking's inaugural appearance at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024, at London Battle at Somerset House. Watch breaking showcases, take part in workshops, enjoy live DJs and a big outdoor party. It all culminates in a head-to-head dance battle between the four corners of London. FREE, 2pm-8.30pm WE ARE STILL YOUNG: Emo and alternative party We Are Still Young pitches up at Between the Bridges on South Bank for an evening of tunes by the likes of My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Blink 182, Avril Lavigne, All American Rejects and Sum 41. Street food is available to purchase from the various stalls on site. 5pm-11pm BOWIE EXPERIENCE: A treat for David Bowie fans: The Bowie Experience concert combines sounds and visuals to recreate a David Bowie concert. See it at Fairfield Halls in Croydon. 7.30pm Walt Disco guest DJ at Scared To DanceCOCKFOSTERS: After three sold-out runs, tube-based comedy show Cockfosters returns, at the Turbine Theatre in Battersea. It's the story of two strangers who meet at Heathrow and encounter various commuters and characters at each tube stop. We spoke to the show's creator, Tom Woffenden, about the inspiration behind it. 2.30pm/7.30pm (and other dates until 31 August) POLARISING: Rising comedian Ola Labib performs her debut hour comedy show, Polarising, at Soho Theatre, based on her Sudanese upbringing in Portsmouth, her experiences working as an NHS pharmacist, and a near death experience. 7.15pm BRITTEN'S WAR REQUIEM: Today's offering at the BBC Proms is a performance of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem, by the London Symphony Orchestra, three choirs, and solo vocalists Natalya Romaniw, Allan Clayton and Will Liverman. First performed 62 years ago, Britten wrote the piece as a response to the bombing of Coventry during the second world war. Takes place at the Royal Albert Hall. 7.30pm IMPROV DEATHMATCH: Two teams go into battle to see who can make the audience laugh hardest at Improv Deathmatch at Aces and Eights in Tufnell Park, part of Camden Fringe. Spectators provide suggestions for scenes, sketches and songs, which are then improvised right in front of you. 9.30pm SCARED TO DANCE: Members of indie band Walt Disco guest DJ at tonight's Scared to Dance, an alternative club night playing post-punk, indiepop, new wave and art rock music. Takes place at the Shacklewell Arms in Dalston. 11pm Sunday 18 August Take a tour of the garden at Fulham Palace. Photo: LondonistDISCO STORYTELLING: Picture book author Sarah Tagholm is at Horniman Museum for a series of dance and storytelling sessions. Begin by learning some funky songs and dance moves, before settling down to hear Tagholm read her picture book, Sam Francisco King of the Disco. 10am-3pm DEEP DIVE: Every month, the new Museum of Homelessness in Finsbury Park hosts Deep Dive, a current affairs programme which takes a look at specific aspects of homelessness. This time around, the issue of second homes and AirBnB properties is discussed by the museum's directors Matt and Jess, as well as journalists Oliver Bullough and Samir Jeraj. FREE, 10.30am FITZROVIA CHAPEL: Take the opportunity to visit the magnificent Fitzrovia Chapel at one of its regular open days. Tucked away in a newish development in Fitzrovia, it's a glittering gold building with an Italianate rib-vaulted ceiling, encrusted with many thousands of gilded mosaic tiles, lined with green onyx. Find out more about it. FREE, 12pm-5pm GARDEN TOUR: Fulham Palace offers a guided tour of its magnificent gardens, which were developed and used by various Bishops of London until they moved out of the palace in the 1970s. Find out about some of the more unusual plants growing here, and what the gardeners are currently working on. Age 14+. 12.30pm-1.45pm FITZROVIA FETE: Fitzrovia Community Centre is the venue for Fitzrovia Fete, part of Inside Out Festival. Watch the likes of Chris Leeds and the Valentino's Jazz Band live on stage, and take part in drama, giant knitting and cartoon workshops, build a Lego city, view a special exhibition, and several other ways to keep the family occupied. FREE, 1pm-5pm Visit Fitzrovia Chapel. Photo: LondonistFAMILY RAVE: As part of Barbican's Our Street programme of summer events, two Big Fish Little Fish family raves take place, aimed at 0-8 year olds and their families. DJ David Minns plays a club classics set from acid house to drum and bass, for the whole family to enjoy on the dancefloor together. Bubbles, foam and balloons are among the family-friendly adaptations from a regular club night. 2pm/3pm STUDIO GHIBLI CONCERT: Spirited Away, The Wind Rises, Princess Mononoke, and Howl's Moving Castle are among the films showcased in a concert of Studio Ghibli theme music. Ponyo, Kiki's Delivery Service, Castle in the Sky, and My Neighbor Totoro also feature in the concert at the Royal College of Music in Marylebone. 6.30pm KANE BROWN: Comedian Kane Brown marks his 50th birthday with a special show at Backyard Comedy Club in Bethnal Green, after almost two decades in the industry. We're promised some special guests on the evening too, though details are being kept under wraps. 8pm-10pm MENOPAUSE PARTY: Part of the Camden Fringe, Menopause Party is a comedy show starring Debbie Baisden as pub landlady/wannabe cougar Dolly Slatemen. Expect standup meets theatre menopause journey. Age 16+. 9pm (and other dates) | 