EXHIBITION

Gianni Versace Retrospective, Throughout August
High drama, high fashion and a heavy dose of star power – this landmark retrospective brings Gianni Versace’s era-defining vision to the Capital in spectacular style. With over 450 original pieces on show, including iconic looks worn by Princess Diana, Naomi Campbell and Elton John, it’s the most extensive exhibition of the designer’s work the UK has ever seen. Expect archival footage, rare sketches and unforgettable silhouettes, all curated to reflect Versace’s fearless approach to glamour and the city’s role in inspiring it. From baroque excess to sharp, sculptural tailoring, the show charts a career that redefined fashion for the celebrity age – and continues to influence the way we dress, pose and perform today. A must for anyone still dreaming in gold lamé and leather.
Arches London Bridge, 8 Bermondsey Street, SE1 (gianniversacelondon.co.uk)

Exhibition Photography – Netherlands | Naomi Campbell Backstage Spring_Summer Milan 1992 © Paolo Castaldi | Gianni Versace, Elton John and George Michael at the Bond Street Versace store, 1995 © Peter Macdiarmid | Malaga, featuring Kate Moss © Paula Caballero

THEATRE

Born with Teeth, 13 August-1 November
Creative sparks fly in this tense and intoxicating imagining of what happens when two of literature’s biggest names are forced into collaboration. In the shadowy backroom of an Elizabethan pub, Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare face off in a battle of wits, words and willpower – all simmering with danger, desire and dark humour. Ncuti Gatwa and Edward Bluemel lead the charge with pitch-perfect performances, in a new play by Liz Duffy Adams that fizzes with intelligence and swagger. Directed by RSC co-artistic director Daniel Evans, this West End debut is anything but traditional – part thriller, part love story, part literary showdown. Expect shifting allegiances, loaded glances and plenty of verbal fi reworks in a gripping two-hander that cuts to the bone.
Wyndham’s Theatre, Charing Cross Road, WC2H (0344 482 5151; delfontmackintosh.co.uk)

Photography by Felicity McCabe

NIGHTLIFE

Cocktails in the City, 7-9 August
Expect a heady mix of innovation, indulgence and expertly shaken fun as Cocktails in the City returns. For three glorious summer evenings, some of the Capital’s most creative bars will bring their A-game to the al fresco setting, serving up seasonal pours and globally inspired mixes alongside live music, masterclasses and lawn games. New for 2025 is The Bartender’s Edit – a curated space featuring standout drinks from the city’s top talent – plus a DJ-led silent disco, tasting rooms, and hands-on ice carving sessions for those who like their cocktails with a twist. Whether you’re there for the classics or keen to explore something more experimental, this is London’s cocktail scene at its most vibrant.
Bedford Square Gardens, WC1B (cocktailsinthecity.com)

THEATRE

Four Play, Until 17 August
What happens when a long-term couple invites a third into their perfectly balanced relationship? Emotional chaos, it turns out. Jake Brunger’s sharp, sexy comedy returns to the London stage a decade after its debut. Reworked for 2025, the new production brings an all-singing, all-acting cast to the King’s Head Theatre under the direction of Jack Sain. Expect whip-smart dialogue and tangled feelings. Set entirely within a queer universe, but with themes that hit close to home for everyone, this is a play that toys with the rules of intimacy and then tears them up.
King’s Head Theatre, 116p Upper Street, N1 (020 7226 8561; kingsheadtheatre.com) 

FILM

Sophia Loren Season, 1-31 August
A trailblazer from the moment she stepped in front of the camera, Loren has always managed to fuse the strength of her Neapolitan roots with a wardrobe that made Hollywood sit up and take note. Whether bringing emotional weight to post-war dramas or stealing the show in glossy comedies, she did it all with magnetic ease. This summer, the BFI celebrates her iconic career in full Technicolor, with a season of carefully curated classics and 4K restorations. Expect the sultry swagger of Too Bad She’s Bad, the emotional punch of Two Women, and an illuminating talk delving into her life on and off screen. The perfect opportunity to re-live her cinematic legacy.
Belvedere Road, SE1 (020 7928 3232; bfi.org.uk)

Arabesque © BFI National Archive.