Looking for the best things to do in London in June? Don’t miss the best things to see and do in the capital this month with this handy guide.
Summer is now upon us, and it’s looking like it’s going to be a goodun. From foodie festivals to interesting exhibitions, there’s heaps of events you need to have on your radar for June.
Navigating all of them can be a total hassle, and not to mention – a buzz kill. So we’ve compiled all of our favourite things to do in London in June into one handy guide. From new bar openings to the Design Biennale, where to watch open-air movies and the best music and foodie festivals, it’s all here in one simple place.
Things to do in London in June
Check Out London Design Biennale
Somerset House
From the 1st – 25th June
Throughout June, Somerset House will be hosting the return of London Design Biennale, a massive exhibition/celebration of all things design and innovation.
The festival runs pretty much all month and includes entries from over 40 countries. The works on display swing from the artistic to the down-right practical and are centred around the theme of collaboration.
In honour of that, each of the nations taking part are collaborating on an online game which you can also have a spin on if you attend. If you’re into design, this is something you don’t want to miss in June.
Hit Up Mighty Hoopla Festival
Brockwell Park
3rd + 4th June
The advent of summer means several things for London. One of the most anticipated is the start of festival season. An early comer to the events calendar is no less than the Mighty Hoopla Festival – a throwdown of the best of pop.
The festival is always a big draw for the LGBTQ+ community and you know they love to party. To play the backing to this wild weekend you’ll have Vengaboys, Years and Years, S Club’s Rachel Stevens, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and a whole load more.
You can see the full line up and grab your tickets here
Watch Films in Open-Air Cinemas
Citywide
Various Dates
Summer in London is always heralded by the sound of movies drifting in on that warm-evening breeze, open-air cinemas abound. A whole heap of them will start opening in June, so you’ll have plenty of films to choose from.
The Luna Outdoor Cinema kicks off its season in Wandsworth Park with a screening of The Banshees of Inisherin on the 28th of June and the big screen on the canal in Coal Drops Yard will open from the 22nd of June.
Of course there’s also the Rooftop Film Clubs in Stratford and Peckham that’ve already opened for the year so you’re pretty much spoilt for choice.
Check Out The Garden Museum British Flower Week
The Garden Museum
8th – 12th June
Fresh off the back of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, The Garden Museum returns in 2022 with a bloomin’ beautiful week dedicated to British flowers. In partnership with New Covent Garden Market (one of our favourite floral spots in the capital), this festival is a celebration of British growers and creative floristry.
This year’s theme is The Future, and five wonderful florists will be installing magical creations to help immerse visitors into this flowery world. The best bit? The sculptures will be crafted from sustainable materials, using eco-forward methods.
Head to Christine and the Queens’ Fabulous Meltdown Festival
Southbank Centre
9th – 18th June
Meltdown is the annual London Southbank Centre festival that invites a rotation of stars to curate their dream line-up of acts – and this year, it’s the turn of Christine and the Queens. Previous curators have included David Bowie, M.I.A, and Nile Rogers, so it’s no wonder we’re a little bit excited.
From afrobeats and jazz to dancehall and R&B, Christine and the Queens’ line-up does not disappoint. You can read our guide to the festival here, as well as the events we’re most excited about.
Head to the Zoo After Hours
Regent’s Park
From 9th June
Ever fancied hitting the zoo but been put off by all the crowds of families and screaming kids? Well now’s your chance to visit in peace.
London Zoo are bringing back their late-night series for June and July this year. It’s an adult-only session running from 6pm-10pm where you can tour the enclosures without any pesky kids getting in your way.
Being adult only, they can lean into the more x-rated side of nature, and so the zoo will be offering a ‘Birds and the Bees’ tour that goes into the juicy details of what animals get up to after dark.
This can be accompanied by a fine instigator of nature’s most carnal act: champagne – enjoyed with a full view of London Zoo’s penguin enclosure.
Catch the London Symphony Orchestra Playing Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square
10th June
The London Symphony Orchestra has announced they will be playing a concert in Trafalgar Square this June – best of all, it’s entirely free.
The concert will be a run through some very famous pieces of classical music, kicking off with Igor Stravinsky’s Fireworks but centred around a new piece by contemporary composer Eloise Gynn titled Light Dancing.
You won’t need a ticket, just show up on the night where you’ll also be able to see them perform Claude Debussy’s La Mer and Maurice Ravel’s Boléro.
Celebrate National Beer Day
15th June
In this month’s edition of special dates that are most definitely marketing tactics, but we love it anyway is National Beer Day, dedicated to the good stuff.
Luckily, we’ve done our fair share of partying research over the years – so we like to think we know a thing or two about the London beer scene. Some of our favourite places to drink include Bermondsey Beer Mile, Vinegar Yard, and Flat Iron Square. Though, you need to check out these historic boozers for an authentic London experience.
Stuff Yourself at Taste of London Festival
Regent’s Park
14th -18th June
June is always a very culinary time of year in London. Not only do we start to get a heap of new menus taking advantage of the change in season but we also get London Restaurant Festival and the ever-fantastic Taste of London Festival.
Taste of London takes over Regent’s Park and fills it with a multitude of pop-up food stalls run by London’s finest eateries. The amount of food on site in this place is almost staggering, and always hella delicious.
Throw in the live music and (fingers crossed) a good bit of sunshine and you’re on for one of the best weekends of the year.
Appreciate Your Papa on Father’s Day
Citywide
19th June
You can thank us for reminding you later. June marks the celebration of our fathers in the UK. The date: June 19th.
As usual, London businesses will be looking to cash in on this once-special occasion by offering you a host of dad-related deals. From bottomless drinking deals to big feeds and everything in between, we’re sure there’s something for every dad on the horizon.
As usual, watch this space for more info.
Be Inspired at The Last Word Festival
Various Dates
The Last Word Festival kicks off this month celebrating its ten-year anniversary. Each go round has been a roaring success so far – and 2023’s line-up is no less epic.
With a poetry slam final, talks and live podcast recordings, the month is jam-packed with excellent events. We’re really excited about the finale piece, a performance of Ezra England’s hilariously macabre play Nuclear Children on the 18th.
Check out the full line-up and book tickets here.
Read More: The Best Jazz Venues in London
Sip Cocktails at New Bars in London
You already know we’ve got the lowdown on the hottest new bars opening up in London this year, and June is no different.
Topping the list of our most anticipated openings is Underland, a new bar and immersive experience that is set to open in the arches in Waterloo. The bar looks as crazy as you’d expect from a place themed like Alice’s trippy adventure.
Another one we’ve got our eyes on is Kwant, the reopening of a bar that stormed its way into the World’s Fifty Best Bars. It’s not been announced exactly when this place will open but it’s said to be coming in Spring so it could be a matter of weeks.
Shakespeare in the Squares
Citywide
Various Dates
London’s public spaces are set to come alive again with Shakespeare in the Squares, and this year’s production is a dazzling take on Twelfth Night. From St James’s Gardens and Queen’s Park to Camden Square, the theatrical tour will reach far and wide across the capital this summer.
Ticket prices start at £14 – book your tickets here.
Visit the Newly Reopened National Portrait Museum
From 22nd June
Art lovers among you will probably have been mourning the loss of the National Portrait Gallery over the past year or so, but we’ve got some good news for you: The grand reopening is set for June.
Doors open on the 22nd and then it’s back to business as usual – with a whole shiny new wing of course. It’s the biggest redevelopment the building has had since 1869 and it cost a whopping £10 million.
The new Blavatnik Wing is going to house portraits of historical figures – expect to see portraits of folks like Charles Darwin and Virginia Woolf painted, framed and hung from the walls.
Scoff at London Restaurant Festival
Citywide
Various Dates
Ready for the capital to be flooded with (even more) delicious meals? Hell to the yeah.
The summer edition of London Restaurant Festival returns for 2023, bringing with it a whole array of toothsome feasts.
From special tasting menus to masterclasses, there are so many events to get involved in. We’re super excited about the Top Ten series they’re putting together. It takes ten top-tier chefs from around London and has them showcase the best of their cooking in a specific world cuisine.
Alex Webb’s British menu at Park Lane looks stunning… just sayin’.
Check out the entire line-up here
See a Free Show at West End Live
Trafalgar Square
17th + 18th June
Trafalgar Square is really hotting up for the start of Summer. As well as cramming in all those tourists (and pigeons) they’ve announced the return of West End Live – a weekend of West End musical numbers performed on stage for all to see, completely free.
The full schedule with timings and all hasn’t been released yet but they’ve confirmed songs from nearly 40 of the biggest musicals in the West End.
Tunes from Hamilton, The Book of Mormon, Wicked are all there to be seen, as are some from new numbers like Ain’t Too Proud – The Life And Times Of The Temptations and Operation Mincemeat. It’s set to be a literal all-singing-all-dancing bonanza.
Spend a Night with Nick Offerman
Theatre Royal
27th June
Star of Parks and Recreation and the down-right excellent (but highly tangential) episode of The Last of Us Nick Offerman is coming to London in June for a one-night-only show at the Theatre Royal.
What does this man do when he takes to the stage? We’re not too sure either but with his charisma it’s hardly going to be a dull night. We have been promised good vibes, music and, of course, a lot of contemplative ramblings.
More information and tickets here
Practical Tips for Exploring London in June
- The weather in June is pretty good, British weather jokes aside. Bring comfortable shoes to walk in and a light jacket for the chillier evenings.
- Check out our guide to summer in London for more ideas on what to get up to this month in the capital.
