Things to do on the August bank holiday weekend 2025 in London
You’re visiting London during the August Bank Holiday weekend 2025—a fantastic time to explore the city! The summer bank holiday in England and Wales falls from Saturday, 23 August to Monday, 25 August. This long weekend is perfect for sightseeing. Expect lively crowds, street performances, and sunshine (hopefully).
For a memorable trip, book one of our London vacation apartments and enjoy the city’s vibrant spirit right at your doorstep.
Notting Hill Carnival: London’s biggest street party
Imagine a West London neighbourhood transformed into the largest dance floor. That is the Notting Hill Carnival, happening on Sunday, 24 August and Monday, 25 August.
Sunday is family-friendly, colourful, and fun. Monday features the adult parade, with costumes, soca music, huge steelbands, and dancing. Caribbean culture comes alive, and the energy is contagious. It’s a free event, but arriving early is recommended due to large crowds.
Tip: wear comfortable shoes, bring water, and select a meeting point with your friends in case your phones lose connectivity.
Festivals and open‑air cinemas
London is more than just carnival vibes! This August, catch open-air cinema screenings at stunning spots like Barbican Sculpture Court, Stratford rooftop venues, and Peckham rooftops—showcasing everything from timeless classics to the hottest new releases.
Music fans, mark your calendar for All Points East in Victoria Park (22–24 Aug)—a festival mixing indie, electronic, and chart-toppers with rising stars. Plus, the city comes alive with DJ-led dance parties, brass bands, and steel drum beats along the Southbank Centre and buzzing riverside bars.
You can also read: Halloween in London 2025: How to Experience it Fully
Art trails, galleries, and culture walks
London shines in summer with art outdoors and indoors. A free trial is the Sculpture in the City trail, which takes place at any time and in which dozens of installations are distributed throughout the City of London in open spaces and small streets. Or stroll the mega-outdoor sculpture at Canary Wharf, where plenty of mini-golf is on Montgomery Court.
Check riverfront culture at the Southbank Centre, pop along and keep your ears peeled for the Hayward Gallery or free shows at the Royal Festival Hall. Pop-up and poetry or theatrical performances along the River Thames also appear in the evenings.
Free museums and historic sites
Many world‑class museums are always free in London. British Museum, Tate Modern, Tate Britain, and Natural History Museum allow you to wander galleries without spending money. On bank holiday weekends, however, they will become crowded, so you might have to go earlier.
Want a bit of science or history? Greenwich Royal Observatory is where you must stand on the prime meridian!, or spend some time on Cutty Sark, a famous tea clipper ship on the Thames.
Picnics, parks, and Thames walks
You can use a chill-out period, and at such a time, August in London is the best month to relax in the city's green spaces. The ideal parks to snuggle down in a takeaway or go under the trees are Victoria Park, Hampstead Heath, or Greenwich Park. After-work walks on the Thames Path, perhaps from Westminster to Tower Bridge, will enable you to enjoy classic vistas with the city lights turning on.
Family‑friendly and indoor play
Travelling with kids or just young at heart? There is so much to do indoors, whether it is taking the Shrek's Adventure London tour, the fun and interactive galleries of the London Transport Museum, or the interactive science demonstrations at the Royal Observatory, there is a lot to do, and these are all rain-proof alternatives. In the meantime, indoor summer vibes with sand, inflatables, and games are spread in new street‑festival style beach clubs at Westfield malls, in case the weather goes wet.
New Event: Thames River Cruise Experiences
Add a unique perspective of London with a Thames River Cruise over the Bank Holiday weekend. From sightseeing cruises passing iconic landmarks like the Tower of London and London Eye to themed evening dinner cruises with live entertainment, this is a relaxing yet memorable way to soak in the city. Perfect for couples, families, or solo travelers looking for a different vibe away from crowded streets.
Final Thought !
The August Bank Holiday weekend in 2025 sees London with a blinding diversity: the multi-coloured and festive Notting Hill Carnival, the outdoor music festivals, art all over the city, open-air cinema, green parks and illustrious museum culture, and it is all in the same weekend. Easy itinerary, relaxed tempo, you have an adventurous spirit, and you will feel raring to go when you leave London.
It doesn't matter whether you are here to party, or are here to see the art, or just for the city buzz, you will have the best few days. Enjoy a great Bank Holiday weekend, and a joyous London in all its vibrant hues. Get ready to see large crowds, street enlivenment and sun rays (hopefully).Stay at a Presidential Kensington Serviced Apartment to enjoy a central location, great comfort, and easy access to the city’s best events.
