The best things to do in London this weekend (11-13 May)

We might not be getting a Bank Holiday this weekend, but that just means you’ll need to cram more into a shorter space of time.

We’ve got a broad selection for you this weekend, including a couple of Friday night options if you want to stretch out the fun.

Xtra Mile BBQ

As you no doubt learned from literally every third person at your local park over the Bank Holiday weekend, it’s BBQ season. If you don’t fancy trying out cooking some new meats just yet, head on over to the Monarch in Camden, where record label Xtra Mile will be putting on live music from Oxygen Thief, Rob Lynch and The Homeless Gospel Choir with a backdrop of food deals all day. Last year’s event was one-in-one-out, so there’s likely to be high demand once more.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1824316814292660/ - Free, Saturday 1-5pm, Chalk Farm Road NW1

Chick ‘n’ Sours Brixton Pop-up

Chick ‘n’ Sours do two things – fried chicken and sour cocktails – and they do them very well. They’ve killed it in Haggerston and Seven Dials, but the guys there have a few new recipe ideas they want to try so they’re giving the good people of Brixton the chance to act as guinea pigs while the Haggerston branch is in the middle of a refurb. There’s going to be plenty of space for walk-ins (plus limited reservations) in their new pop-up, which will serve new cocktails and ‘development dishes’, as well as a few of the classics.

http://www.chicknsours.co.uk/ - Friday from 5pm, Saturday and Sunday from 12pm, Coldharbour Lane SW9

Great Hampstead Bark Off

If you don’t have a dog, the chance to surround yourself with dogs is not to be sniffed at. Even if you do have a dog, a chance to see more dogs is always better. A whole host of pups will be descending on Parliament Hill to meet celebrity judges and compete for awards including Mr Heath and Miss Heath, which seems to be like a homecoming king and queen for dogs. You can pay £5 to enter your pup, or just come along to watch.

https://alldogsmatter.co.uk/event/the-great-hampstead-bark-off-2018/ - £5 per dog, Saturday 12-3pm, Parliament Hill NW3

The Flipside

The Old Selfridges Hotel is home to a ‘multi-sensory exhibition’, featuring installations and exhibitions from brands such as Thom Browne, Louis Vuitton and Google Pixel 2, while there will be photography tours running for free over the weekend. A series of special events are also going to be cropping up before the exhibit comes to an end on 20 May.

http://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/features/articles/radical-luxury/the-flipside - Free, All weekend, Orchard Street W1H

Nordic Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest is in Lisbon this year, after Portuguese singer Salvador Sobral won last time out, but you won’t be found wanting if you’re looking for somewhere to watch in London. Nordic Bar will be cheering on all the Nordic nations involved, with all the glamour you’ve come to expect from the contest, plus Scandinavian beers and cocktails.

http://www.nordicbar.com/nordic-eurovision/ - £5-7, Saturday all evening, Newman Street W1T 

Sara Pascoe at Camden Comedy Club

You probably recognise Sara Pascoe from QI, and Mock the Week among other programmes, and she’s got a tour coming up later in the year. That tour isn’t quite ready yet, so she’s performing some new work-in-progress material in Camden and it’ll only set you back a fiver. Sounds like a deal, doesn’t it?

https://listings.camdencomedyclub.com/events/2018-05-13-sara-pascoe-work-in-progress-camden-comedy-club - £5, Sunday 8pm, Camden High Street NW1

London Nights

The Museum of London is giving people the chance to explore London nightlife through a variety of media, including film, photography, documentary and more. The exhibit features more than 200 photographs in order to provide an authentic look at what goes on in the capital after dark.

https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london/whats-on/exhibitions/london-nights - £11 (£12 on the door), All weekend, Various time slots, London Wall EC2Y

Notting Hill Pizza Festival

Look, we’re not going to beat around the bush here, you get unlimited pizza with your ticket to this event. Unlimited. Pizza. There will be a few ‘experimental combos’, as well as more traditional toppings, plus drinks and live music, all taking place at Porchester Hall in West London. Oh, and did we mention there’s unlimited pizza.

https://www.designmynight.com/london/whats-on/food-drink/notting-hill-pizza-festival?t=tickets - £15, Friday 6pm, Saturday 12pm or Saturday 6pm, Porchester Road W2

Wandsworth Arts Fringe

Those of you in south or south-west London will be treated to a range of art, theatre, comedy and more at this festival, which began last weekend and is running until 20 May. A whole host of different events are taking place at venues in Wandsworth Town, Balham, Battersea, and other locations, so there’s likely to be something in there that takes your fancy.

https://www.wandsworthfringe.com/ - Various Prices, All weekend, Various locations

Tabasco Global Kitchen

We’re spoilt for hot sauce these days, but Tabasco has held its own for a century and a half and is marking the occasion with a one-night-only food festival at Hoxton Docks. Some of London’s best chefs will be involved, with collaborative dishes from Breddos Tacos x Smokestak and Andrew Clarke x Shaun Whitmore, while your ticket includes whatever food you can get your hands on before they run out. The last batch of tickets are released on Friday morning, so you’ll need to be quick.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tabasco-sauce-celebrates-150-years-of-flavouring-food-drinks-tickets-45055275542 - £20, Friday 7-10pm, Laburnum Street E2

London Whisky Weekender

It’s not just cricket at the Oval this weekend: there’s a lot of whisky. Ticket-holders will have the chance to sample more than 100 different whiskies, along with an opportunity to listen to experts answer any questions you might have about the different drams on offer. There’s a chance to try whiskies from Scotland and some from halfway across the globe, while a coveted black token will get you a dram from a bottle that would normally retail at £500.

http://thewhiskylounge.com/whisky-tasting-london - £25-50, Friday-Sunday (various time slots), Kennington Oval SE11

(Images: Pixabay/Chick ‘n’ Sours/Tabasco)