Words by Kasia Hastings

Whether you’re strutting your stuff at Notting Hill Carnival or becoming the next Voga guru in Shoreditch, there's lots to keep you busy this Bank Holiday weekend.

Notting Hill Carnival

Getty

If you’re after a party this weekend then head to west London for Europe’s biggest street festival. Shake your stuff alongside the carnival’s world famous parade or if you’re after an all-day party join the revelries at one of more than 40 sound systems. They’ll be thumping out everything from Reggae, Dub, Hip Hop, Soca and Dancehall. There’s also the chance to taste some of the best jerk chicken, curried goat and fried plantain London has to offer. Bring rum, bring loo roll and bring plenty of change because chances are you’ll be paying to use a local resident’s facilities.  Oh, and don’t forget your whistle.

Looking for an after party? On Sunday night the Deadly Rhythm Carnival After Party at the Bussey Building in Peckham for the best after party south of the river.

(24-25 August. Tube stations: Latimer Road, Holland Park, Notting Hill Gate, Bayswater (Westbourne Park) thenottinghillcarnival.com)

Voga, The Book Club Shoreditch

Lucy Andrew

Voga (Vogue/yoga) your way into the bank holiday weekend this Saturday at Shoreditch social hub - The Book Club. For those of you too fabulous for the downward facing dog, there’s Voga. Think Gwyneth Paltrow meets Ru Paul. The clever people behind Voga fused yoga and vogue-ing to prove you can achieve inner-zen to an 80s soundtrack. If you haven’t hit Friday night too hard class starts at 2pm and will set you back £12 (advance bookings only). Throw aside your baggy t-shirts and slip into your brightest Lyrca. It’s time to break out of your cobra, strike a pose and vogue.

(The Book Club, 100-106 Leonard St, London EC2A 4RH, 020 7684 8618, vogalondon.co.uk.)

An Evening With Noel Fielding: Work-in-Progress

Dave Brown

Saturday night is your last chance to catch goodtime Goth Noel Fielding at Jacksons Lane in Highgate. Camden’s coolest eccentric will debut his latest comedy incarnations before he takes his funny freak show on the road. Expect the to see old Boosh favourites and newer faces amongst the usual mix of surreal silliness. His one-man-show doesn’t kick off till the end of October so grab your chance to reignite your weird crush in this most intimate of settings – it could get pretty… weird. We’ll be donning our silver knee-high boots and sashaying our way to north London.

(Jacksons Lane, 269a Archway Road, London, N6 5AA, 020 8341 4421, jacksonslane.org.uk)

FILM4 FrightFest

Film4

If a three-day hangover isn’t scary enough for you, Film4’s annual FrightFest starts this Thursday. Darkness will descend over Leicester Square’s Vue Cinema as more than 100 international filmmakers, performers, writers and producers take part in this four-and-a-half-day festival. The event opens with gorgeous Downton Abbey star Dan Stevens’ latest film, psychological thriller The Guest. And on Sunday evening horror classic A Nightmare on Elm Street is playing to mark the film’s 30th anniversary. Come face-to-face with Freddy Krueger himself as actor Robert Englund joins the fun to make your worst nightmares come true.

(21-25 August 2014, Vue Cinema, West End, Leicester Square, London, 020 8296 0555, frightfest.co.uk)

Paw Pageant

Calling all dog lovers. This Monday, Crufts is given the east London treatment at Old Spitalfields Paw Pageant. Some of man’s most fashionable friends will strut their stuff down the runway in aid of Battersea Dogs Home. In the morning there are new season collections from the likes of NW3, Oliver Bonas and Hackett and canine couture from prestigious puppy designer Lilly Shahravesh of LoveMyDog. After lunch you and your four-legged friend can take part in the competition for a donation of just £8 (in advance) or £10 on the day. Battersea Dogs Home will also be offering free micro chipping.

(Old Spitalfields Market, 16 Horner Square, Spitalfields, London, E1 6EW, 0207 375 2963, oldspitalfieldsmarket.com)

Carnival del Kerb

If you’ve got food on the brain this weekend, street-foodie collective Kerb is taking over The Paperworks, south London’s newest hotspot. Kerb has been ‘making cities taste better’ since 2012 with gigs at King’s Cross, the Southbank Centre and outside the Gherkin. Carnival del Kerb brings the party vibes to Elephant and Castle with food via Sri Lanka, Kolkata, The Philippines and Jamaica. Avoid the madness of carnival and dance the night away with your bellies full to the disco groves of Love Glove at Corsia Studio’s cool outside party.

(48-50 Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6DR, kerbfood.com)