Saturday, 15 August 2026

Things to do this weekend in Leeds, Bradford, London, Scotland, Ireland and more

Got plans for the weekend? Here are a few ideas of things to do this weekend in Leeds, Bradford, London, Scotland, Ireland and more:


Drabfab

Sunshine, shopping, food and fun? Sounds like a fabulous day out! 

Shop new-season fashion from your favourite brands, refuel with delicious flavours at Trinity Kitchen, then keep the good times going with a blockbuster at Everyman Leeds or a few friendly games at Lane7. 

Whatever your summer plans, we've got everything you need for a fab day out.

Craft Club

JOIN OUR CRAFT CLUB!

Looking for a fun way to fill the summer holidays? Our Summer Craft Club is open throughout August with free drop-in crafts where little imaginations can run wild. 

Looking for something a little different? Book a Chocolate Workshop with Bake Off: The Professionals contestant, Oli The Choc and create delicious treats to take home.

Trivial Pursuit

TRIVIAL PURSUIT HAS LANDED

Think you've got what it takes? Don't miss your chance to take on the free TRIVIAL PURSUIT trail before it finishes.

Explore the city, put your knowledge of Leeds to the test, collect all six wedges and see if you can conquer the final challenge. It's the perfect excuse for a fun day out with family and friends. How many can you get right?

Trinity Leeds - PLUS






Shops  |   Visit  |   |   What's On

Solar Eclipse • Castle Howard • 12th August 2026

Spectacular days out, all year round

From long summer days full to the brim with adventure, to cosy winter days bursting with festive cheer, Castle Howard provides memorable days out all year round, where memories are made to last a lifetime.

Christmas tickets on sale now

Save on days out this summer

Tranquil days out at the Arboretum

New arrivals at the Stable Courtyard











City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council · Bradford Council · City Hall · Bradford · BD1 1HY

Don't miss the final HAF parks events of the summer

HAF

Join us for free family fun, outdoor activities and plenty of opportunities for children to get active and make new friends.

📍 Peel Park – Tuesday 18 August

📍 Horton Park – Wednesday 19 August 

No booking required – just register on arrival and enjoy the day.

✅ Free to attend for children aged 5–14

🍎 Free healthy packed lunches available for children receiving benefits-related free school meals (while stocks last)

Find out more

Live at the courtyard header image

It’s your last chance to secure their tickets for Live at the Courtyard at Darley Street Market

Festivalgoers will also be able to enjoy a fabulous outdoor bar, as well as delicious food from Darley Street Market traders pre-show in the Street Kitchen. 

Doors open at 7pm on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 August, while doors open at 1.30pm on Sunday 16 August. Music is expected to start approximately 45 minutes after doors open. 

Book now





























The Archers Live at 75 

03 Sep - 26 Nov 

  

★★★★★ “A brilliant evening for any Archers devotee” Radio Times

Make sure to don your best hat and join us for an unforgettable celebration of 75 glorious years of BBC Radio 4's The Archers. 

Yotam Ottolenghi 

Simple Too: LIVE 

06 Sep - 09 Dec 

  

Yotam will be cooking live on stage, sharing the inspiration behind this  collection of vegetable-forward meals, tray-baked options, and delicious desserts—all made in under 30 minutes. 

Gillian Anderson presents MORE: An Evening of Uncensored Conversation 

07 Sep 

  

To meet this intimate book on its own terms, Gillian sits down with a very special host and brilliant expert guests to discuss and explore the erotic lives women live, and the ones that exist only in our imaginations. 

Jay Rayner 

Nights Out in the Kitchen 

25 Aug - 04 Oct

  

In this all new show, Jay faces some serious questions and in Nights Out in the Kitchen, the show marking publication of his fabulous new cookbook, he’s finally going to answer them. A couple of hours of intense foodie insight. 

Xand van Tulleken 

Make Me Well 

07 - 24 Sep 

  

Join Oxford-trained medical doctor, Fulbright scholar, and BBC science presenter as he helps us navigate the Wild West of the wellness industry and investigate the question at the heart of his new book: is any of this actually making us well?    

Adalyn Grace and The Wretched Divine 

05 Oct 

Presented by Fane in partnership with FairyLoot, celebrate Adalyn Grace’s most ambitious fantasy world yet. Gain an insider’s perspective on Adalyn’s creative process and the storytelling secrets that make her craft unique. 

The Blindboy Podcast LIVE 

18 Oct - 01 Nov 

  

Described as a "cultural phenomenon" by The New York Times, The Blindboy Podcast is an award-winning storytelling podcast in the Irish tradition of the Seanchaí, which seamlessly intertwines history, fiction, cultural critique, and politics. 

McLaren Racing LIVE in Conversation 

14 Dec 

  

McLaren Racing arrives at The O2, London, for a first-of-its-kind event, with current McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, Team Principal Andrea Stella, and McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown. 

Letters to Our Sons with Stephen Graham & Orly Klein 

24 Sep 

  

Stephen and Orly will be joined by host Amol Rajan and special guests Danny Dyer and Ashley Walters. Celebrating the highs and lows of fatherhood this enlightening event continues a vital conversation between fathers and sons.

Owen Jones in Conversation with Carla Denyer

29 Sep

  

Owen explores how the West came to believe that its rule, its economic order, its moral values, would endure for ever—and how this self-mythologising narrative collapsed in on itself. Presented by our friends at Book Haus.

Video

My Royal Life 

An Audience with Lucy Worsley 

01 Sep 2026 - 30 Oct 2027 

  

Chief Curator Lucy will take you into the history of the royal residences she came to know so well, from Hampton Court’s Haunted Gallery, to the gilded apartments of Kensington Palace.  

 

General or Ticket Queries

faneonline@fane.co.uk

Find out more visit fane.co.uk

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August 14, 2026   |   

 

 

Dear Reader,

The New Forest is my spiritual home. It's where I spent endless summers as a child, making jumps for horses (or dogs); swimming at Barton beach with the promise of a Toffee Crumble ice cream afterwards and, my favourite, playing the 'Wood Game'. You needed at least 10 people – five per team. After a barbecue under the stars, when the light was fading, each team would strategise their approach. Some would blacken their faces with wine corks burnt in the fire; others would change into khakis for camouflage. The aim was for one team to defend a tree; the other team had to touch it to get home – but they had to do this across acres of woodland and garden, and in the dark. As soon as the attacking team tramped down to the end of the field to their starting position the game would begin. Throughout the years, we had black eyes from crashing into our pursuers, people coming in on ponies, over walls, on a tractor... playing it danced around that delicious line of being just scary and dangerous enough to make it feel daring (especially when you were 10), but knowing you weren't really under any real threat. This week's wildfire there is, of course, real danger on our doorstep. The fear is real and I'm scared.

Lucy Cleland
Editorial Director

 

 

Staying In

PLAN: A Bathroom Renovation

C&TH Partnership

A large chunk of summer might be spent outdoors enjoying the sunshine, but the season also gives us plenty of time to slow down and fall back in love with our homes. Long weekends and open windows encourage us to refresh the spaces we spend the most time in. And if a bathroom renovation has been on your wish list, you’re in luck. Now’s the perfect time to put plans for your dream bathroom into action, thanks to the Ripples Summer Sale. Whether you're planning a complete renovation or a few simple refreshes, leave it up to the brand’s award-winning designers to create a beautiful bathroom centred around everyday luxury. (And enjoy some excellent savings while you’re at it.) You can book a complimentary design consultation with an expert designer or visit your nearest Ripples showroom to explore its collections and discover limited-time offers today. Explore summer savings at ripplesbathrooms.com

 

MAKE: Santiago Lastra’s Choriqueso

Santiago Lastra’s debut cookbook is all about making Mexican cooking more accessible, using ingredients you have in the cupboards. Below, we share a recipe for choriqueso, which sees a pan of melted cheese and spicy chorizo served hot with corn or flour tortillas.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

  • 20ml (4 teaspoons) vegetable oil 

  • 300g (10½ oz) fresh cooking chorizo, roughly chopped and any casing removed 

  • 200g (7 oz) Emmental cheese 

  • 150g (5½ oz) fresh mozzarella 

  • 200g (7 oz) pre-grated mozzarella 

  • 6 large flour tortillas

  • ½ onion, finely chopped 

  • 30g (1 oz) coriander (cilantro) leaves, finely chopped 

Method:

  1. Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat (you want to render the fat slowly) and fry the chorizo for 8–10 minutes until it starts to fall apart. 

  2. Remove from the heat. Preheat the grill (broiler) to high or preheat the oven to 190°C fan (400°F). 

  3. Combine all the cheeses and the chorizo with your hands and place on an ovenproof plate or in a baking dish. Place under the grill for 7 minutes or bake in the oven for 10–15 minutes until the cheese has melted and is caramelised on the top. 

  4. Heat a large dry frying pan over a high heat. Warm the tortillas by frying them for 10–30 seconds on each side until golden but without drying them out. Wrap in a cloth to keep them warm. 

  5. Remove the choriqueso from the oven and finish with the onion and coriander, then serve hot with the warm tortillas.

Recipe from Mexican Soul Food

 

WATCH: The Shards

The new TV show everyone’s talking about right now? The Shards, a nine-part drama currently streaming on Disney+. Based on the semi-autobiographical book by Bret Easton Ellis and directed by Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story), it follows a group of privileged LA teenagers during the 1980s. Protagonist Bret (Igby Rigney) is shaken up by the arrival of a mysterious new student, Robert Mallory (Homer Gere) – as well as the growing fear surrounding a serial killer in the city nicknamed The Trawler. While his friends – including Kaia Gerber as Susan Rynolds – remain unphased, Bret begins to unravel. New episodes dropping weekly on Disney+

 

Going Out

SEE: Tony At The Cinema

Tony, the micro-biopic of Anthony Bourdain’s younger years, is coming to the big screen in the UK today. Select theatres will be showing the depiction of Bourdain learning the tools of the trade as a chef in New York City while he struggles to build relationships within his new community in Cape Cod. Now remembered as one of the most influential chefs of the 20th century, Bourdain first developed his passion for cooking while working in restaurants during his summers as a young adult. Tony gives audiences an imagined look into Bourdain’s summers in Massachusetts, where he worked at multiple restaurants in the early 1970s. Out today in select cinemas.

BOOK: New Retreat Replenish

A new wellness retreat is coming to the Cornish coast, Replenish, taking place at Tregulland Estate and Barford Beach House and built around three key pillars: body, mind and planet. At its core is the idea that wellbeing isn’t solely inward-gazing, hence why the retreat places a strong focus on conservation – think beach cleans and woodland restoration. Alongside this, you’ll take part in activities like surfing, wild swimming, sauna sessions and breathwork, listen to talks from top neuroscientists on happiness and behavioural change (Mo Gadwat featured at the pilot event), and enjoy plant-forward food from a former Soho House chef. Come evening time, guests can relax with live music, long dinners, storytelling and astronomy sessions. Replenish launches on 21 September 2026, with further dates to be announced, find out more here.

ATTEND: Camden Fringe

As everyone scoots up to Edinburgh for the annual Fringe, we’ll be enjoying the comedy right on our doorstep. Until 30 August, Camden Fringe is taking over 39 venues across North London, with more than 450 shows on the agenda. Considered a southern rival to the famously career-launching Scottish affair, Camden Fringe dates back to 2006 and always clashes with Edinburgh (by design). As such it’s even more amateur and ramshackle, but that’s a big part of the appeal. Expect music, theatre, comedy, drag and so much more. camdenfringe.com

 

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Staying in Forever…

Property Of The Week

This Mediterranean-facing property is set within a secure, gated private residence in Ramatuelle, France. Designed by Claude Misbach in the 1970s, the modernist villa boasts a distinctive honeycomb shape –  plus seven en-suite bedrooms, an independent apartment, wellness area, pool and pool house, mooring buoy, garage and carport. 

On the market for €28,500,000, engelvoelkers.com

 

Competition Time

  1. Win a one-night bed and breakfast stay for two at at Penmaenuchaf, Wales

  2. Win a one-night stay for two at new London hotel Hyde & Seek

  3. Win three of NIANCE’s bestselling products from the Glacier Platinum Collection worth over £1,000

 

Psssst…

A new 10-minute oral genome test could flag the risk of developing diseases like Alzheimer’s and heart disease. C&TH’s Rebecca Cox gave it a try – here’s her take.

 

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Sign up for 12 print issues and instant access to every digital edition for only £39

 
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© 2026 Country & Town House

Studio 2, Chelsea Gate Studios
115 Harwood Road, London SW6 4QL, United Kingdom

Elevate your free time


Trying to make more memories before summer ends? It doesn't get any easier than at our Riverside Sessions – free weekend takeovers to get you to groove, think and spend quality time together, all with the Thames as a breathtaking backdrop.

Looking for even more? Scroll on and you will find.


This just in

A diverse choir in white clothing sings passionately in front of a giant black and white sketch of a fish and flora.

New guest added to London Oratorio

SAT 19 SEP

Jacob Collier joins this larger-than-life celebration of our capital from visionary artist and designer Es Devlin, brought to life at full volume by the city’s choirs.

A young man in a brightly coloured sweater turns to face the camera. He is playing a piano, and is surrounded by a variety of other musical instruments

Who is Jacob Collier?

Seven-time Grammy winner Jacob Collier brings pure collective magic to the stage. Famous for turning entire audiences into giant, improvised choirs, his live shows are a joyous, boundary-pushing celebration of sound.


More gigs

A man in a white t-shirt looking directly at the camera

A High Room with Storefront Church & Friends

FRI 13 NOV

LA’s best-kept secret brings his raw and intimate sound to London.


Talk of the town

Colson Whitehead wearing a leather jacket against a light blue background.

Colson Whitehead: Cool Machine

SAT 22 AUG

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author discusses his exuberant novel that brings 1980s New York to vivid, unforgettable life, in conversation with Irenosen Okojie.


Free riverside fun

Musicians in matching red outfits and patterned hats smile while playing saxophones and flutes on a crowded dance floor.

Kinetika Bloco: Beats by the Bank

THU 20 AUG

A crowd of people on the Riverside Terrace with the London Eye in the background

Raze Collective: Friday

FRI 21 AUG

A crowd silhouettes against a stage with bright purple and white lights at an outdoor nighttime music event.

Arts Emergency: Explore

SAT 22 AUG

A woman holding a folder speaks into a microphone on stage alongside other performers.

Arts Emergency: Express

SUN 23 AUG


Last chance to book

Chicane behind the decks

Chicane

SAT 22 AUG

All the hits, a full orchestra and a live band – it’s time to go big and celebrate 30 years of Chicane.

Kenny G in a blue suit holds a soprano saxophone, standing against a split white and dark blue background.

Kenny G

SUN 23 AUG

The greatest-selling instrumental musician of the modern era and one of the bestselling artists of all time returns to the UK for a live show.


Coming up

A woman in a black-and-white striped dress plays a grand piano set outdoors on a platform surrounded by glowing circular moons and stylized, rocky formations.

Playing with Fire

WED 9 SEP – SUN 3 JAN

Get closer to the explosive talent of pianist Yuja Wang at a groundbreaking concert combining live piano with a stunning virtual world that you can roam.

Five figures dressed in matching blue outfits stand in a symmetrical row against a fiery backdrop, each holding a large pair of scissors raised above their head.

Fire in My Mouth

TUE 22 SEP

A semi-staged concert of epic proportions, the Philharmonia Orchestra and a 146-strong all-woman choir present Julia Wolfe’s highly anticipated act of protest.


More to experience online

Artist Ivan Michael Blackstock wearing a black jacket, black baseball cap and sunglasses.

Ivan Michael Blackstock: ‘Dance became my outlet before I even knew I needed one’

The dancer, curator, choreographer and Southbank Centre Associate Artist talks to Chiara Wilkinson about transitions, Traplord and learning to listen to his body.

Rolling gif of sales items on a red background with the word 'sale' all over it

Launching our summer sale

Summer just got a whole lot brighter. Our summer sale is officially live – shop your favourite design-led pieces at prices you’ll love. Once they’re gone, they’re gone!


From our friends


Film Night, with Soudade Kaadan

THU 10 SEP | LEIGHTON HOUSE

Explore how tracing cultures, histories, and myths can be reimagined through the moving image at an evening screening of two works by award-winning Syrian film-maker Soudade Kaadan.

Playing with Fire is supported by VIVE Arts, and is written and directed by Pierre-Alain Giraud.

Southbank Centre logo

Thanks for reading. We hope you enjoyed your specially selected highlights. Share your comments and photos with us by mentioning @southbankcentre or @haywardgallery.


Southbank Centre is a charity registered in England and Wales No.298909. Registered office: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX






Exhibitions and events

Browse our programme of current and upcoming exhibitions and events.

Plan a visit

Find out more about our four museum sites and plan your next visit.




Ireland Logo
 
DESTINATIONSTHINGS TO DOTRIP IDEAS
Want to know Ireland’s best kept secret?
Want to know Ireland’s best kept secret?

Life runs at a slower pace in County Leitrim. But when you're surrounded by enchanting landscapes and inspired artists, we wouldn't have it any other way.

AUTUMN SPLENDOR IN IRELAND
A riverbank surrounded by trees with autumn leaves
Golden landscapes, cozy temps

Fill your heart with Ireland this autumn! With landscapes at peak beauty and crisp weather setting the scene, the Emerald Isle is simply magical during the harvest season.

I’m Ready To Visit
Attractions For You
Get to know Westmeath

Get to know Westmeath

Jealous walls... stepchildren who were turned into swans... and water that doesn't boil... County Westmeath has some WILD stories for you to discover.

Read on 
Amazing places to stay in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands

Amazing places to stay in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands

Wake up to idyllic views of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, sleep in a romantic treehouse or go off-grid on an eco-farm... We've got a round-up of some great places to stay.

Count me in! 
Here's where you need to go...

Here's where you need to go...

Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, where you’ll find adventure, history and most of all, great stories. Here’s why your next trip should be to Ireland's beating heart!

The adventure starts here 

PLAN YOUR VISIT

How to do Belfast in style

Old-style elegance, quirky boutique charm or chic contemporary design – whatever your choice, Belfast's luxury hotels can make your stay in the Titanic city first class.

Let's Go 
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"Pub food every time."

Michele

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Join our community forum, a place where you can ask questions and share trip experiences.

Join Today 

Tourism Ireland
4th Floor Bishop's Square, Redmond's Hill, Dublin, D02 TD99, Ireland

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Ireland Logo
 
DESTINATIONSTHINGS TO DOTRIP IDEAS
The ultimate Ireland trip
The ultimate Ireland trip

A 12-day spectacular that takes you all around the island, this trip takes in the big hitters but doesn't forget those hidden gems.

AUTUMN SPLENDOR IN IRELAND
A riverbank surrounded by trees with autumn leaves
Golden landscapes, cozy temps

Fill your heart with Ireland this autumn! With landscapes at peak beauty and crisp weather setting the scene, the Emerald Isle is simply magical during the harvest season.

I’m Ready To Visit
Attractions For You
Pedal power in Ireland

Pedal power in Ireland

Calling all cyclists! Whether you want quiet greenways, fun city bike rides or thrilling mountain bike adventures, Ireland has you covered.

On your bike! 
Amazing Ireland road trips

Amazing Ireland road trips

Want to experience it all? Well, you can with our collection of trips featuring everything from blustery Atlantic cliffs to city spectaculars!

Pick your trip 
All about the weather

All about the weather

There's a good reason we are obsessed with the weather on the island of Ireland – it's constantly changing. Here's what you need to know.

Read on 

PLAN YOUR VISIT

How to do Belfast in style

Old-style elegance, quirky boutique charm or chic contemporary design – whatever your choice, Belfast's luxury hotels can make your stay in the Titanic city first class.

Let's Go 
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Special offers
 
 
Quote Mark

"Explore the back roads, small towns and local pubs."

Janet

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Join our community forum, a place where you can ask questions and share trip experiences.

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4th Floor Bishop's Square, Redmond's Hill, Dublin, D02 TD99, Ireland

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What's On

A cold plunge in Wiltshire, a fondue in the Highlands or a long luncheon in Wales. Something new has arrived at nearly every corner of the British Isles. There’s rather a lot to choose from, actually. 

Bishopstrow Hotel & Spa
Bishopstrow Hotel & Spa

Swim, soak, sauna, plunge. Take a sneak peek at the outdoor wellness village adding hydrotherapy, hot tubs, studio cabanas, and an outdoor bar to 30 acres of Wiltshire estate. Nothing on the agenda, exactly as it should be. 

Oysters, champagne and a dram by the fire pit. The Flying Stag has moved into the courtyard for summer. Then from 19th October, the Fog House goes full Swiss Alpine fondue hut. Two reasons to visit Braemar. Book both. 

The Atlantic
The Atlantic

Spa, terrace lunch, then an hour lost in the gardens, which have just been named Best Hotel Garden of the Year at the 2026 All Island Garden Competition. Jersey at its best. 

Bodysgallen Hall & Spa
Bodysgallen Hall & Spa

Head to Bodysgallen Hall for a seasonal luncheon. A long, unhurried meal in one of Wales' finest dining rooms with the grounds to wander off into afterwards. What a way to weekend. 

Northcote
Northcote

Six transformed rooms open this summer. Chalk tones, Hypnos beds, Bamford bathrooms. The kind of room that makes unpacking feel worth doing properly. 

Royal Crescent
Royal Crescent

On 3rd September, the private gardens host a curator-led sculpture tour, a live stone carving demonstration and afternoon tea on the lawn. A rather good way to spend a Tuesday in Bath. 

Bovey Castle
Bovey Castle

Falconry, archery, off-road driving, Junior Rangers. Then the Flame & Grill BBQ on Smith's Brasserie Terrace as the sun drops over Dartmoor. Not a bad day out. 

Sopwell House
Sopwell House

Spa first, then retreat to one of Sopwell's newly renovated mews suites, which have a habit of making going home feel like an inconvenience. The ultimate unwind. 

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