Things to Do in London: Sunday Brunch, Theater, and Urban Forest Adventures with Oly Bennett

Welcome listeners to Things to Do in London with your globe-trotting sports nut Oly Bennet, coming to you from a city that’s currently buzzing with that classic Sunday mix of lazy brunch vibes and “shall we do something epic today?” energy. The Met Office reports mild temps, patchy sunshine, and a small chance of showers later, which in London-speak means: pack an umbrella, wear sunglasses, and be ready for both in the same five minutes. Let’s dive into what’s on today. Over on the South Bank, the National Theatre continues its summer programme, with matinee performances pulling in crowds along the river and plenty of street performers outside turning the whole area into an open-air circus of music and acrobatics. The Barbican Centre is hosting a major art exhibition today, drawing culture fans underground into that concrete jungle of cool for a day of modern art and live talks. For music lovers, listings from Time Out London show a stacked night of gigs in Camden and Shoreditch, including indie bands at the Camden Assembly and DJ sets rolling late into the night in Shoreditch’s club basements. Family crews, you’re covered too: the Science Museum and Natural History Museum in South Kensington are running hands-on Sunday sessions and special exhibitions that are perfect for curious kids and secretly curious grown-ups. And if your idea of culture is a cold drink and sunshine, several London parks like Hyde Park and Victoria Park are hosting informal community picnics, fitness meetups, and pick-up games of football and cricket. On the local news front, Transport for London reports planned engineering works on parts of the Tube and Overground today, especially on some sections of the District and Metropolitan lines, so check TfL’s live updates before you dash out or you might end up on an accidental mystery tour. According to London Eater and other local food blogs, several new restaurant and street-food spots have opened recently in Soho and King’s Cross, including a buzzy small-plates joint near Coal Drops Yard and a dessert bar that’s already causing queues for its over-the-top sundaes. Meanwhile, city announcements highlight ongoing Cycleway improvements, so expect a few temporary diversions but smoother rides coming soon for cyclists. If you’re planning your perfect London Sunday, here are some must-do moves. Start with a stroll or cycle along the Thames Path between Tower Bridge and London Bridge, grabbing coffee from one of the riverside kiosks and taking in views of The Shard and the Tower of London. Swing by Borough Market earlier in the day before it gets too packed, grab a pastry or street-food lunch, and pretend it’s your personal global tasting tour. For a quieter twist, head to Little Venice near Paddington for a canal-side wander or boat trip that feels like you’ve teleported out of the city. As evening rolls in, consider catching a West End show—today’s performances still have last-minute tickets floating around on official ticket sites—or hit one of the rooftop bars around Waterloo or Shoreditch for sunset views and cocktails. Local tip from Oly’s playbook: if you’re bouncing around town, using a contactless bank card or phone on buses and the Tube gives you daily and weekly fare capping, which often works out cheaper than buying paper tickets. And if you want to feel like a true Londoner, stand on the right on Tube escalators, walk on the left, and don’t stop at the top unless you want to trigger a human traffic jam. Fun fact to impress your friends: London has enough green space that, according to the Mayor of London’s office, it’s technically classed as a forest under UN definitions. So yes, when you’re lounging in Hampstead Heath or Richmond Park dodging overly confident ducks and deer, you’re basically exploring an urban forest. Before we wrap, keep an eye on tomorrow: event listings from Visit London and Time Out flag more open-air cinema screenings, weekday gallery late openings, and the build-up to summer festivals ramping up across the city. Tune in next time for more quirky picks, fresh events, and maybe a strange sport or two hiding in a London park. Thanks for listening, please subscribe, and remember—this episode was brought to you by Quiet Please podcast networks. For more content like this, please go to Quiet Please dot Ai. For more check out https://www.quietperiodplease.com/ and make sure to jump on these great deals https://amzn.to/3V0gjPt For more on Oly check out https://www.instagram.com/olybennet/