Dior pops up at Harrods, Knightsbridge

Following the success of last year’s pop-up boutique, Dior has once again unveiled an exclusive space at Harrods until 31 August. The pop-up celebrates the French maison’s new velvet accessories collection, which restyles iconic silhouettes including the Saddle, Lady D-Lite and Dior Book Tote in autumnal shades of velvet, including a deliciously dark Harrods green. The boutique also offers a curation of ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories, and purchases can be personalised by an in-house artisan.

When: until 31 AugustLocation: 87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XLNearest station: Knightsbridge Website: harrods.com

Ronnie Wood x Ashridge House, Hertfordshire

If you fancy venturing beyond the M25 this weekend, be sure to make a beeline for Ashridge House, where Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood is hosting a summer exhibition of his paintings. The country estate will present a collection of Wood’s original artworks, including some of his most treasured paintings, a series of sculptures and a selection of etchings. Many of the works have previously been unseen by the public, and several of them have been created during lockdown. Alongside depictions of Wood’s band members and a fresh interpretation of Michael Joseph’s Beggar’s Banquet album shoot (pictured above), there will be paintings of Ashridge House and its expansive grounds.

When: 22-27 AugustLocation: Ashridge House, HertfordshirePrice: £10, with all ticket proceeds donated to the NHSWebsite: ashridgehouse.org.uk

Steve McQueen at Tate Modern, Bankside

Due to run until May but cut short thanks to the pandemic, Steve McQueen at Tate Modern has been extended until September. For those who missed it the first time round, the exhibition charts the director’s incredible 20-year career, featuring 14 major works spanning film, photography and sculpture. The show, which is McQueen’s first at the Tate Modern since he won the Turner Prize in 1999, coincides with his latest project at Tate Britain, Year 3, a photographic series depicting every Year 3 class in London.

Read more: Steve McQueen at Tate Modern

When: until 6 SeptemberPrice: £13 / free for membersLocation: Tate Modern, BanksideNearest station: SouthwarkWebsite: tate.org.uk

Camille Walala’s public art installation, White City

French artist Camille Walala has brought her bright and cheery artworks to west London for the first time. White City is now home to several of Walala’s eye-catching geometric-inspired pieces: a zany installation that transforms the pedestrian crossings on South Africa Road and Wood Lane, and a series of murals which adorn the façade of the WestWorks building. Commissioned by Stanhope, Mitsui Fudosan and Aimco, Les Jumeaux, or The Twins, is Walala’s first major public outdoor artwork in the area and is part of White City Place’s wider cultural programme. Instagram at the ready…

When: ongoingLocation: White City Place, White CityNearest station: White CityWebsite: whitecityplace.com

Summer Showtime on The Coaling Jetty, Battersea

From Alexandra Palace to Chiswick House, the outdoor cinema sector has been thriving this summer with each venue offering a more impressive backdrop than the last. The latest is Summer Showtime on The Coaling Jetty, a Grade-II listed pier in front of Battersea Power Station, where from 21 August you can enjoy open-air film screenings of Back to the Future, Gladiator and Dirty Dancing. There will also be theatre performances from The Turbine Theatre, and drinks and snacks served by Battersea Brewery, Vagabond Wines and Birdies.

When: 21 August — 20 SeptemberPrice: from £27 for a two person pitchLocation: The Coaling Jetty, BatterseaNearest station: Battersea ParkWebsite: batterseapowerstation.co.uk

Pétanque on the Square, Chelsea

Visit France by way of Sloane Square — no quarantine necessary. In partnership with wine apéritif brand Lillet, Corbin & King’s Colbert has launched Pétanque on the Square, an open-air bar complete with French-style boules in a nod to the nation’s favourite pastime. Practise your best shot on the specially-created pop-up sandpit while sipping on a Lillet spritz cocktail — our pick is the Lillet Pamplemousse, a grapefruit, honey and rose water concoction.

When: every Wednesday to Friday 12pm-9pm, Saturday 12pm-9:30pm and Sunday 12pm-8pm until 14 SeptemberLocation: Sloane Square, ChelseaNearest station: Sloane SquareWebsite: colbertchelsea.com

Cao Fei: Blueprints at the Serpentine Gallery, Chelsea

For her first large-scale solo show in the UK, Beijing-based multimedia artist Cao Fei debuts the latest work in an ongoing exploration of virtual reality. Blueprints is an immersive installation that expands on the artist’s favoured themes of automation, virtuality and technology, and includes an augmented reality visible on visitors’ smartphones, available to view only within the Serpentine Gallery. The exhibition is free but time slots must be booked in advance via the gallery’s website.

When: until 13 SeptemberPrice: free but time slots much be booked in advanceLocation: Serpentine Gallery, Kensington GardensNearest station: KnightsbridgeWebsite: serpentinegalleries.org