Great days out: An A-Z of ways to spend summer in London

High energy: FELA! promises a mesmerising night of entertainment

Lost for ways to spend your holiday in the city? Sarah Marshall and Kate Whiting offer some direction, with a wide range of fabulous suggestions.

A is for Africa
Even if musicals aren't your bag, you'd struggle not to fall in love with highlife extravaganza, FELA!. Following a successful sell-out run at the National Theatre, this energetic tribute to Nigerian musician and political activist Fela Kuti returns to Sadler's Wells. Explosive music, electric dancing and razor-sharp humour combine to create a show that hits all the right notes.
Sadler's Wells, Rosebery Avenue, EC1. Performances from Tuesday to Wednesday at 7.30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2.30pm and 7.30pm until August 28. Tickets: £15 to £50. To book, visit sadlerswells.com or call 0844 412 4300. Suitable for ages 14-plus

B is for Bonnie & Wild
Alongside Beefeaters and Routemasters, pie and mash shops are a London institution. Thank goodness, then, for Scottish restaurant Bonnie & Wild, who have given us an excuse to recall these forgotten pieces of history. The eatery has taken up a Saturday night residence at M.Manze's on Chapel Market, serving a mixture of seafood and meat dishes from the Highlands. Diners sit in wooden booths in this 1905 listed building, while a guitar-strumming minstrel provides entertainment.
M.Manze, 74 Chapel Market, N1. Open every Saturday from 7pm until late. Cash only. BYOB, a £5 corkage charge applies. To book a table, visit bonniewild.co.uk or email bookings@bonniewild.co.uk

C is for Carlos Acosta
At 38, Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta could be considered too old for dynamic ballet roles, but this mesmerising and emphatic powerhouse in tights still continues to delight audiences. He returns to the Coliseum with a limited run of Premieres Plus, an extension of his sell-out 2010 staging. New works include his debut in Memoria by Rambert Dance Company's Miguel Altunaga with a score by Mexican electronica composer Murcof.
London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane, WC2. Until July 30. Tickets: from £10. To book, visit eno.org or call 0871 911 0200

D is for Dragon Boating
For a totally oar-some experience, head to the Kingston Royals Dragon Boat Club on August 13. The ancient Chinese sport, which sees up to 20 paddlers row a 40-foot boat, is now one of the largest team sports in the world and recently got the royal stamp of approval from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their Canadian tour. The Thames-side club will be throwing open the doors to their boathouse for an open day of beginner sessions on the river, followed by tea and cake.
The Royal Canoe Club, Trowlock Way, Teddington, TW11. Tickets: £3. Ages 18-plus. Visit kingstonroyals.com

E is for Emu
Let your creative side take flight on July 27 and 28 by joining a team of textile artists to make a giant emu sculpture as part of the City of London Festival. Drawing inspiration from an aboriginal Dreamtime story, the Australian bird (best known in the UK for being attached to Rod Hull's arm) will be made from recyclable waste. This summer's City of London festival is going down under and celebrating Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, with an environmental focus on birds.
Paternoster Square, EC4. 10am to 6pm. Free entry. Visit colf.org

F is for Film
School's out for the summer and movies are most definitely in. But rather than spending hot nights in a stuffy cinema, there are some more exciting options on offer. Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford are set to walk the red carpet for the premiere of Cowboys & Aliens at the first ever Empire Presents BIG SCREEN from August 12 to 14 at The O2 in Greenwich (empirebigscreen.com). Alternatively, take to the skies to watch some cult classics at the Rooftop Film Club, on the roof of Shoreditch's Queen of Hoxton until September 30 (rooftopfilmclub.com). For something different, try Films on Fridges. East London's legendary 20 foot fridge mountain has been resurrected for a series of screenings until August 13 ().

G is for Glamour
Nostalgic for the Golden Age of screen sirens? Head to Glamour of the Gods: Hollywood Portraits, a celebration of Tinseltown style at the National Portrait Gallery. Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Collins are just some of the screen legends featured in the collection of 70 vintage photos taken between 1920 and 1960. Running until October 23, the exhibition includes previously unseen portraits.
National Portrait Gallery,
St Martin's Place, WC2. Tickets: £6, children £5. Visit npg.org.uk or call 0844 248 5033

H is for Hard Hats
Digging for dinosaurs, whizzing around on scooters, and building a soft brick wall are just some of the fun activities for families at Bob's Big Build this August bank holiday weekend. On Saturday August 27, Bob the Builder, Wendy and friends will be meeting fans and handing out hard hats at the O2 Arena, where there are nine different activity zones to enjoy.
The O2 Arena's Live Quarter, Millenium Way, SE10. To register for free tickets, visit bobthebuilder.com

I is for Imagination
Once embraced by literary greats - and more recently American rappers - gin is back in vogue on the capital's cocktail lists. Celebrating the spirit's intellectual origins, Bombay Sapphire is holding a night of high-brow entertainment in conjunction with hip collective, Book Slam. Inspired by late-Victorian gin palaces, the event will feature book readings, impromptu raps, DJs, performances and cocktails.
Village Underground, Shoreditch, EC2. Thursday August 4, 7pm to 11pm. Free entry. Apply for free tickets at facebook.com/bombaysapphire

J is for Jazz
With the cost of tickets for music festivals on the rise, it's refreshing to find an event where all performances are free. Now in its fifth year, The Canary Wharf Jazz Festival promises the best line-up to date. Gwyneth Herbert, The Herbaliser, Kit Downes and trumpeter Jay Phelps all feature on the bill. A series of jazz documentaries will also be screened in collaboration with Rich Mix Cinema and Arts Centre.
Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf, E14. August 12 to 14. Free entry. Visit mycanarywharf.com or call
020 7001 3016

K is for Kids
Kids and festivals can be a tricky mix. In theory, it's fun for all the family, but in practise, children often end up tired, filthy and leaving you wishing you'd booked a babysitter. Following on from a sell-out event in 2010, Lollibop festival prides itself on being "the big bash for little people". This year, there will be live performances from Rastamouse, Peppa Pig and Charlie and Lola. Other highlights include Horrible Histories, The Roald Dahl Museum and the Science Museum Live.
Regent's Park, NW1. August 5 to 7, 11am to 7pm. Advance tickets: from £23 (£1 from every sale goes to Oxfam). To book, call Ticketmaster on 0844 844 0444 or Ticketline on 0844 888 9991. For more details, visit lollibopfestival.co.uk

L is for Lunchtime
Food on the move is part and parcel of today's busy lifestyles, but with a gourmet workforce demanding more than a kebab on the run, London's eateries are being forced to up their game. Cue the emergence of mobile street kitchens. Those in the Canary Wharf area can take advantage of Wahaca's mobile van (wahaca.co.uk), serving Mexican street food (£5.50 for a burrito). Meanwhile, workers in the city should seek out Street Kitchen's silver vintage Airstream (streetkitchen.co.uk), manned by Jun Tanaka and Mark Jankel (meals from £4.50).

M is for Multi-storey car park
A multi-storey car park in Peckham is an unlikely location for a Friday night soiree, but the re-opening of Frank's summertime rooftop café will have even cynics from north of the river galloping south. A tasty menu (all under £10), fabulous views of London's skyline, and the Bold Tendencies art show will provide the main draws.
Frank's Café and Campari Bar, Level 7-10, Peckham Multi-storey Car Park, 95A Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15. Open Thursday to Sunday 11am to 10pm until September 30. Visit boldtendencies.com or frankscafe.org.uk

N is for Nautical
Climb aboard The Love Boat this summer, for a watery celebration of all things kitsch. Cruising the Thames on The MV Royalty, one of the river's oldest vessels, The Love Boat will host five vintage socials a day. Each event includes either a cocktail or complimentary bubbly. Dance under the disco ball, with DJ sets from Anna Greenwood
(Guilty Pleasures), Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze) and Mark Collison (The Saturday Fry Up).
The Love Boat will be setting sail from Festival Pier on the Southbank from July 29 to 31. Tickets: £20 plus booking fee. Visit

O is for Old Vic Tunnels
For an underground night out - both physically and metaphorically - book a ticket for Boom Boom Club's latest production, performed in disused railway tunnels under Waterloo station. Known for their debauched, twisted and highly entertaining shows, this break-all-boundaries cabaret troupe has raised the bar once more. Roam between two performance spaces, encountering some surprising pop-ups along the way.
Station Approach Road, SE1. Performances on July 28 to 30 at 8pm. After-party, 10pm-12pm (until 3.30am on July 30). Tickets: £15.50. Over-18s only. To book, visit oldvictunnels.com or boomboomclub.co.uk

P is for Picnic
With sunny days few and far between, there's no time to waste preparing picnics in a kitchen. Get someone else to do the job for you, with a gourmet hamper from one of the city's top hotels. The Mandeville Hotel can arrange to have the goods chauffeur driven to your chosen spot. Choose from a wide range of dishes, such as asparagus wrapped in Parma ham and spinach pancake swirls.
£79 for two (including a Pommery Pop each) from The Mandeville Hotel, Mandeville Place, W1. Chauffeur service from £40. Call 020 7935 5599

Q is for Quidditch
If there's one sport the kids would love to learn over the summer, it's got to be quidditch. On August 21, CBBC's Dan and Jeff, stars of stage show Potted Potter, will be hosting an interactive workshop based around the game. Only return tickets are now available, but there's still a chance to enjoy other events being held as part of Kids Week In The West End. Any child up to the age of 16 can see a selection of shows for free, when accompanied by a full-paying adult.
August 12 to September 4. To book, visit kidsweek.co.uk or call the Ticketmaster 24 hour Kids Week hotline on 0844 248 5151

R is for Relax and Unwind
Squeeze a trip to the Cotswolds into a busy mid-week schedule by escaping to The Berkeley hotel's pop-up summer roof garden. Quirky beauty brand Green & Spring (stocked in the spa at country bolt-hole Cowley Manor) has taken up residence in the five-star Park Lane hotel. A grass lawn covers the terrace, decorated with flowers, birds and animal topiary - all designed by florist, McQueens. Book a relaxing Green & Spring Indulgence treatment (£185 for 90 minutes), where warm linseed and rosemary compresses are used to massage the body. Afterwards, take a dip in the swimming pool with retractable roof.
The Berkeley, Wilton Place, SW1. Half-day access to facilities costs £45. Treatments extra. Available 8am to 9pm, Monday to Friday; 9am to 7.30pm, Saturday and Sunday until September. Visit the-berkeley.co.uk or call 020 7201 1699

S is for Sing Song
Bringing the Greenwich Summer Sessions to a close, Songs In The Key Of London on July 31 is a musical event certain to get the capital city singing. Squeeze's Chris Difford is curating the evening and has invited the likes of Gary Kemp, Pee Wee Ellis and Kathryn Williams to celebrate London in song. From the Kinks' Waterloo Sunset to London Calling by The Clash, the diverse array of tunes will both entertain and amuse. Set in the intimate and open air surroundings of the Old Naval College, it's a great way to celebrate the city.
Old Royal Naval College, West Gate, Greenwich, SE10. Tickets: from £27.50. Visit greenwich.gov.uk

T is for Tim Minchin
Rock 'n' roll star Tim Minchin will host the BBC's first comedy prom on August 13. The comic and pianist will orchestrate the collision of comedy and music with a little help from BBC Two Maestro winner Sue Perkins, soprano Susan Bullock and musical cabaret duo Kit and the Widow.
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7. Prom 40, the Comedy Prom starts at 7.30pm. Seats currently sold out. Check for returns or prom on the day for £5. Visit royalalberthall.com

U is for Upsy Daisy
If you have small children, the names Upsy Daisy, Igglepiggle and the Ninky Nonk will probably make you smile, rather than frown. Now the characters from In The Night Garden can be seen live on stage in a spectacular musical experience for the whole family. Taking place in a custom-built inflatable showdome, Upsy Daisy et al are brought to life with full-size costumes and panoramic projections, to make the audience feel like they're entering the magical garden itself.
Old Deer Park, Richmond, TW9 from July 30 to August 13; Bewl Water, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 from August 20 to September 3; Brent Cross Shopping Centre, NW4 from September 10 to 24. Tickets: from £10. To book, visit nightgardenlive.com or call 0844 581 1248

V is for Vintage
Indulge a passion for all things retro with fashion designer Wayne Hemingway's three-day vintage festival on the South Bank. This year, the event will celebrate British style throughout the past 70 years, exploring fashion, food, film and art. Bring whistles and white gloves for a 90s rave with A Guy Called Gerald, or learn to jitterbug with 50s-style Teddy Boys. British Airways will be holding a catwalk show featuring uniforms from their aviation vaults, while vintage clothes will be sold in a pop-up high street.
Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1. July 29 to 31, 12pm to 1am. Tickets: £60 for a three-day and night pass. Visit vintageatsouthbankcentre.co.uk or call 0844 847 9910

W is for Waterside dining
Located in a quiet corner behind Canary Wharf, gastropub The Gun is an unlikely success story. But the friendly east London local is the perfect riverside watering hole, especially with the addition of al fresco dining terrace, A Grelha. Serving Portuguese specialities such as piri piri chicken and seafood cataplana, it's a pleasant spot for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Fish is sourced daily from Billingsgate market and sold by weight.
27 Coldharbour, Canary Wharf, E14. Open daily for lunch and dinner, times vary. Visit thegundocklands.com or call 020 7515 5222

X is for marking the spot
It's all about maps at the London Transport Museum this summer, where kids can become mini-navigators over the school holidays. Every week, they'll be set a new challenge. Once each task is complete, they'll receive a stamp in a Young Navigators log book, which will lead to a certificate.
London Transport Museum, Covent Garden Piazza, WC2. Tickets: £13.50 (valid for 12 months), free for under-16s. Visit ltmuseum.co.uk or call 020 7379 6344

Y is for Yoga
Any downward dog-loving yogis or yoginis should head to Kensington Gardens this August for the second mass yoga event of the year. Launched to highlight the benefits yoga can offer, Yeo London! Let's Yoga! is a collaboration between Yeotown Radiant Health Retreat and The Royal Parks Foundation. It's a taster for what is hoped will be the biggest yoga class in the UK, ahead of the 2012 Olympics, when an expected 5,000 yogis will descend on London.
Round Pond, Kensington Gardens, SW7. August 31 at 6pm. Tickets: £5. Register at yeolondon.com

Z is for ZingZillas
Kids have been grooving to the ZingZilla sound since they first hit TV screens last year and, having rocked the Kidzfield at Glastonbury, Zak, Panzee, Tang and Drum will be wowing crowds at Camp Bestival on July 28 to 31, Lollibop on August 5 to 7 and Hampton Court Palace on August 26 to 29.
Visit zingzillas.com for details

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