Your guide to London's best events over the August bank holiday 2012

It’s 2012’s last bank holiday. Leaving the house is mandatory, so peruse our line-up of London’s most life-enhancing events

Floating Market Little Venice

Barges and narrowboats line the canal that cuts through picture-postcard Little Venice.

Selling food, antiques, books, vintage clothes, jewellery and many more wallet-emptying temptations, the Bangkok-meets-London floating market moves to Little Venice as the Paralympics begin. Great if the weather’s nice.

Aug 20-Sept 2. 10am-8am, £15
Regent’s Canal, W9 2PB
Tube | Warwick Ave
http://www.floatingmarket.co.uk

The Tanks: Art In Action

Have a gander at Tate Modern’s new space, The Tanks. For 15 weeks, these huge, industrial spaces offer a line-up of performance and events.

July 18-Oct 28. 10am
Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG
Tube | Southwark
tate.org.uk

Brixton Windmill Open Day

A totter off busy Brixton Hill, the Brixton Windmill, set in its own gardens, has something surreal about it.

In 1816, the mill was powered by wind but was later adapted to steam to accommodate the public’s growing desire for white bread. Even in 1917, this was a rural area and the mill was described at the time as “approached by a small roadway over which nods acacias, limes and lots of fowl.”

Find out more on the windmill’s open day.

Aug 26. On the hour and half- hour from 1pm to 3.30pm, free
Windmill Gardens, SW2 5BZ
Tube | Brixton
brixtonwindmill.org

Festival of Flowers

Need a break from hedonism? Take a tranquil drift around Southwark cathedral, which will be filled with flowers in designs overseen by top florist Mig Kimpton. Money goes to a Leprosy Mission.

Aug 23-26. 10am
Southwark Cathedral, SE1 9DA
Tube | London Bridge
tlmewfestivalofflowers.org.uk

Bookstock: Leonard Street Party

Don’t let the slightly worthy name put you off, the Bookstock street party, put on by The Book Club, will not be the least bit studious.

During the day, the street will be taken over by DJs, bands, food stands, cocktails, fancy dress and more. After dark, head to the basement for a glow-in-the-dark neon Nineties ping-pong rave.

Sun, Aug 26. 12pm-8pm, free
The Book Club, 100 Leonard St, EC2A
Tube | Old St, Shoreditch High St
wearetbc.com

Zombie Soundsystem

If a Bank Holiday for you means an extra day of debauchery, then this all-dayer may fit your bill. Deep house and techno
will be pumping and, in the unlikely event you are hungry, there will be a BBQ.

Sun, Aug 26. 2pm-2am, free
Cargo, EC2A 3AY
Tube | Old St, Liverpool St
cargo-london.com