From swimming in a pop-up outdoor lido at the Royal Docks to hoffing smoky fire cooked burgers at a street party, here are five of the best things you can do in London this week, August 14-20.

1 Royal Docks Summer Splash

If summer ever comes or for a truly British summer experience otherwise, the Royal Docks Summer Splash returns for free paddling and aquatic pootling. The outdoor lido comes with deckchairs, “super sandpits” alongside other various pool-side play. Also look out for a programme of creative workshops on things like dream shoe design and an upcycling class on transforming waste bottles into attractive self-watering plant pots. Children aged 8 or under need to be accompanied an adult in the lido.

Dates: July 31-August 2o

Address: Royal Victoria Dock, E16 1AG

Website: royaldocks.london

2 SMOKESTAK’s 10th birthday street party, Shoreditch

Taking over the car park opposite the Sclater Street restaurant, smoking and open fire restaurant SMOKESTAK will throw a mega bash for its 10th birthday. Expect DJs and a 40ft shipping container bar and dishes such as pork rib tip burnt-ends, grilled greens with tahini and pomegranate and brisket buns. Crew from British-Afghan BBQ joint Que Point and live fire pop up Lagom and Eld Pizza will also serve up some special dishes for the event.

Date: Saturday, August 19

Time: Session times starting at 12pm, 2.30pm, 5pm and 7.30pm

Tickets: From £6.50

Address: 35 Sclater Street, Shoreditch E1 6LB

Website: smokestak.co.uk

3 British Street Food Awards, Hackney Wick

Canalside Hackney Bridge plays host to the 2023 edition of the British Street Food Awards which is hosted by Sophie Ellis Bextor and Andy Beynon and Tom Brown chefs from Hackney three Michelin-starred restaurants, Behind and Cornerstone. Following regional heats, 15 traders are cooking up a storm for their chance to win, and this is your chance to feast on top nosh of the likes of  Cajun chicken bowls, Iraqi fusion dishes and pork and tiger prawn rolls by the next big thing. Previous winners include BAO, Wingmans and Meatliquor.

Date: Friday – Sunday, August 18-20

Tickets: From £8 includes a vote, welcome drink

Address: Hackney Bridge, Units 1-28, Echo Building, East Bay Lane, E15 2SJ

Website: britishstreetfood.co.uk; hackneybridge.org

4 Greenwich + Docklands International Festival, London-wide

From a vertical dance performance held on the side of St Paul’s Cathedral, to a performance on a to-scale roof of a house submerged in the Thames, London’s biggest free theatre and arts festival returns to inject the capital’s streets with colour and fun. Performances respond to this year’s festival theme, Acts of Hope, and all in all there’s more than 35 events including two world premieres and 14 UK premieres, as well as the popular Greenwich Fair and Dancy City in Canary Wharf.

Dates: August 15 to September 10

Tickets: Free, but check programme for ticketed events

Address: Various locations in Greenwich and London

Website: festival.org/GDIF-2023/

5 UK Black Pride, Stratford

Marking its 18th birthday this year, UK Black Pride is the biggest celebration of queer people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American and Middle Eastern descent, and the organisation’s Pride Event celebrates, champions and advocates Britain’s diverse Black LGBTQI+ community. Expect performance and music, food and drink vendors, stalls and workshops all celebrating Black queerness. Please note, this event was originally scheduled for Sunday, August 20 but has now moved.

Date: Saturday, August 19

Address: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford

Website: ukblackpride.org.uk