Things to do in London to get in the bank holiday mood early

The August bank holiday is approaching, and it’s bittersweet: bitter, because it signals a tipping point into the more serious part of the year; sweet, because first, you get three whole days to party (and a four day week back at work). The run up starts now: London’s urban beaches, summer terraces and rooftop cinemas are still in full-swing and this is your final week to be hungover at work before the boss gets back. Here’s how to max out and have a last August hurrah.

Rave on

It starts at dawn: tomorrow St James’ Market is hosting a pre-work sunrise dance party with wireless headphones and uplifting tunes from 6.45am, and on Saturday the Ace Hotel is putting on a daytime rave on its rooftop with Latin club rhythms from Manchester-based DJ Floretino. It’s all a warm-up for the main event this weekend: Notting Hill Carnival. It kicks off on Saturday and to get you in the mood, Paint Jam is putting on a special tropical-themed art party at a secret London venue in the evening. Don your brightest carnival garb and listen to live steel pans while you throw paint at a canvas. The rum will be flowing across the capital even once the Carnival sound-systems shut down: head to the Bussey Building in Peckham on Sunday for a house and disco after party with DJs Donna Leake, Mr Mendel and Romare.

Green screen

Long evenings mean maxing out on alfresco offerings while you have the chance: Fest Camden is showing Shaun of the Dead at its rooftop cinema tonight and John Lewis rooftop on Oxford Street is showing School of Rock tomorrow evening. Wednesday is the closing night of Somerset House’s outdoor screenings and it’s going out with a bang, hosting the UK premiere of true-crime film American Animals, introduced by director Bart Layton. On Thursday, head to Rio Cinema in Dalston for a preview of Idris Elba’s directorial debut Yardie where he’ll be discussing it with BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter Yasmin Evans.

Step up

The world’s largest inflatable assault course is coming to Ally Pally and it’s fittingly called The Monster – take it on if you dare: a 300 metre long bouncy castle with 42 obstacles, an 18-metre mega-slide and a giant ball pit at the end. One lap takes about 20 minutes and it runs until Monday (alexandrapalace.com), while Plonk Golf’s neon-themed island paradise has arrived at Peckham Levels for tropical, late-summer round of mini-golf.

Show stoppers

Edinburgh isn’t the only city with a Fringe: Camden’s Fringe is on and you can catch it after work this week – Greek tale Zeus on the Loose has its final show at 9pm on Thursday, while Chiswick House’s outdoor performance of Wind In The Willows runs until Friday. Elsewhere, you can still catch Little Shop of Horrors at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and we heard it on the grapevine that Motown the Musical is soon to close, so get your groove on now.

Barbecue summer

Thursday is national burger day and more than 300 restaurants are taking part so grab a fried buttermilk chicken burger from Galvin HOP (it’s 20 per cent off all day), or there’s a Caribbean street food fest at Southbank. Pair with carnival-themed cocktails at Queen of Hoxton, above, and round it off at an Ab Fab-themed brunch at Quaglino’s on Saturday.