What's on in August in London and the South West

With the school summer holidays well underway, bank holiday weekend approaching, and warm weather encouraging a host of outdoor activities, it’s time to fill up your August calendar and make the most of the last full month of summer!

Parents - don’t fret about how to keep the kids entertained. We’ve done the heavy lifting for you by finding fantastic family-friendly activities to suit every taste and budget. Prepare yourself for some spectacular experiences in our beaming capital including the infamous Notting Hill Carnival which returns at the end of the month. Football fans - why not catch a live game as the new premier league season starts? Or, have a ball at a music festival instead if that’s more your jam. 

We’ve put together all the details on these events and plenty more below. Read on to find your perfect days out this August, and don’t forget to grab a treat with SWR Rewards when you book direct with us.

Dance the day away at Notting Hill Carnival

Head to Europe’s biggest street party on 25-26 August. Notting Hill Carnival is an annual Caribbean festival event that’s been taking place in the capital since the mid-60s. The streets of Notting Hill become filled with lively music, fabulous floats, and an array of food vendors serving up scrumptious jerk chicken and more. Plus, it’s totally free to attend!

Take the whole family to ‘children’s day’ on the Sunday, or enjoy ‘adults day’ on the Monday -  the big day of partying which features the main parade. Read more about the carnival in our dedicated guide which details how to make the most of it.

Keep the kids entertained on the cheap

Last month, we shared a whole host of things to help you keep the kids entertained during the summer holidays. Hit this link to go to our recommendations.

Summer holidays can get quite expensive. So this month, we’re focusing more on how to make your money go further. Save cash on popular days out like this with SWR Rewards:

- Get cheap theatre tickets, including dinner, drinks and a show bundles 

- Enjoy 1/3 off visits to Thorpe Park, LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort, SEA Life London and Chessington World of Adventures

- Enjoy 20% off day passes at Gripped London

- Get 22% off a family visit to Kew Gardens

There are plenty more money-off deals, including on food, drink and hotel stays. Have a browse on our SWR Rewards website.

Head to an open-air event

There are plenty of open-air events to enjoy this month including festivals and family-friendly fairs. We’ve included some top picks below that will leave you spoilt for choice!

Music festivals

All Points East, London - Spread across 2 weekends (16,17,18 and 23, 24, 25 August) head to Victoria Park for one of London’s biggest music festivals.

RALLY, London - Head to Southwark Park on 24 August to catch this one, especially if you like electronic and/or rap music!

Boomtown, Winchester - This one’s become wildly popular in recent years. If you’re after a quirky camping festival with a super diverse lineup, it’s worth considering. Find out more in our Boomtown guide, including how to buy tickets, and the best way to get there.

Food and drink festivals

Hampton Court Palace Food Festival - Join in on some tasty August bank holiday fun here! There’s plenty of delicious food, drink and live music to enjoy for the whole family. Travel to Kingston with us to get there.

New Forest Festival - Taking place on 17-18 August, this one boasts the presence of internationally-renowned chefs and restaurants. There are heaps of pop-ups to check out including ones serving fresh fruit juices, buddha bowls and sweet treats.

Sausage and Cider Festival - Take a trip to Winchester for this one on 17 August. There’ll be bars serving craft cider from around the UK, cocktails, and beers. Food-wise, you’ll be able to choose from 20 types of sausage flavour and other street food vendors on site.

Family-friendly events

South Downs Show  - Head to Queen Elizabeth Country Park in Petersfield to catch the South Downs Show  on 10-11 August. There will be arena acts, dog shows, an animal petting zoo, children's rides and fun zone, country life stalls, beer tents, plenty of food vendors, live music and more.

Salisbury Summer Fair - The 10th annual Salisbury Summer Fair takes place on 3 August. There will be live music, children’s activities, and lots of other entertainment to enjoy. Stallholders will be displaying crafts and local produce, and you’ll be able to purchase raffle tickets to be in with a chance of winning some prizes. You can also take advantage of the wellness village dedicated to boosting people’s health and well-being. Head to Wilton House Estate in Salisbury to catch all the action.

Make the most of the August bank holiday

Explore London

London’s got an endless amount of things to see and do. Why not head to the capital for a well-earned weekend break? If you want some inspo for things to do, we’ve got some guides that can help you make the most of your time there:

- Visit the city’s top London sights and attractions including Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, and Southbank
- Take a self-guided London walking tour
- Visit London’s quirkiest museums
- Discover the best record shops in the city

See the best royal things to do in London

Catch the train to London Waterloo to begin your adventure!

See the South West

There’s also plenty to explore in the rest of the South West. If the weather’s hot, you could try a lido for a holiday-at-home vibe, go for a picnic, or visit a stunning South West park or garden. If you want to get away for a whole weekend see our top South West staycations, which includes details on the network’s glorious seaside towns.

Don’t forget to check SWR Rewards for deals on hotel stays, entertainment, and food and drink!

Catch a live Premier League football game

London and the South West are home to many of the nation’s Premier League football teams. As the new season starts on 12 August, plenty of football fans will be heading to their home stadium to catch the live games. Thinking of going? Travel with us to avoid traffic and get there with ease.

Travel to Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium with us, or head to one of these London stadiums from London Waterloo: 

- Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- Chelsea F.C.’s Stamford Bridge
- Crystal Palace F.C’s Selhurst Park Stadium
- Brentford F.C.'s Gtech Community Stadium
- Arsenal F.C.’s Emirates Stadium
- West Ham F.C.’s London Stadium
- Fulham F.C’s Craven Cottage

Book your train tickets with us to save even more. Explore our flexible range of ticket types to find the best one for your journey, take a peek at our GroupSave options and make extra savings with a Railcard.

That’s it for our what’s on in August guide. If you want to keep up-to-date with our latest news, offers, competitions and inspiring days out, be sure to sign up to our newsletter. We’ll catch you next month with more things to see and do on our network in September!