London is an exciting city with lots to do, especially in the summer. When the sun is out, the parks are full of people having picnics, watching plays, and enjoying music festivals. The River Thames looks beautiful, making boat rides and walks along the river very enjoyable. Famous places to visit in London like the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace are busy with visitors, and summer events make them even more fun.Summer in London is also great for outdoor markets and food festivals. Borough Market and Camden Market are perfect for food lovers, offering all kinds of tasty treats worldwide. You will get the best local foods in London during this time. Oxford Street and Covent Garden have summer sales and street performers for shopping and one of the best things to do in London this summer.
London’s culture is alive in the summer. Museums and galleries have special exhibits and stay open late. You can watch movies outside under the stars at outdoor cinemas. If you like theatre, you can see Shakespeare plays at the Globe Theatre or catch a musical in the West End.
The city’s parks, like Hyde Park and Regent’s Park, are perfect for a relaxing day. You can rent a paddleboat, have a picnic, or just enjoy a walk. Summer is also festival season, with events like the Notting Hill Carnival bringing lots of color and music to the streets.
Whether you live in London or are just visiting, summer offers a mix of activities that show off the city’s lively spirit. There’s always something new to see and do in this busy city with our Europe Tour Packages!
Top 20 Best things to do in London this summer
- Tricolor Pride Parade
- Notting Hill carnival
- Catch a movie at an outdoor film screening
- Visit the Royal Academy for its 256th summer exhibition
- Visit Tom Kerridge’s Pub for the food festival
- Watch talents at the Last Word festival
- Attend Wireless Festival
- Attend the Taste of London
- Attend a new festival organized by the legend Skepta
- Visit Kew Midsummer Fete
- Catch live music at Somerset House
- Watch Wimbledon Tennis Championships
- Watch Jamie Lloyd’s new version of Romeo & Juliet
- Visit London’s best beer gardens
- Attend Field Day 2024
- Watch Shrek the Musical
- Attend Lambeth Country Show
- Visit Pick Your Fruit farm
- Attend Sundance London
- Attend the Great Exhibition Road festival
1. Tricolor Pride Parade
London is home to a lot of queer bars, clubs, and other spaces so no wonder the city’s LGBTQ+ is among the most fabulous in the world. But it is the pride month when the LGBTQ+ celebrations start. It fills the city with LGBTQ+ theme events, protests, and parties. The jewel in Pride Month’s crown is the annual Pride Parade, which typically comprises around 600 groups and over 30,000 participants. The mayor of London usually leads the parade, and there is a variety of free entertainment across different stages in the city center. This year the route will begin in Hyde Park, heading down to Piccadilly Square before ending in Whitehall Palace. It is one of the best things to do in London this summer.Date: Saturday, July 1
Suggested Read: Best treks in London
2. Notting Hill Carnival
The Notting Hill Carnival, the largest street party in Europe, attracts around 2 million fans of Caribbean partying for a single weekend every August. Watch the 3-mile parade showcasing soca and calypso music and more or try the delicious offerings of hundreds of food stalls. The Jamaican sound systems are sure to get your feet moving when you listen to everything from reggae to house to samba.One of the best things about the Carnival is that it is completely free. You should prepare to do some walking, however, as the roads of Notting Hill will be closed off during the weekend. Take the Tube to a nearby station and walk from there. It is one of the best Festivals and events in London. It is one of the best things to do in London this summer.
Location: Notting Hill, London
3. Catch a movie at an outdoor film screening
Alfresco movie spots pop up all over the city as the weather gets warmer, from canals and parks to rooftops overlooking the city skyline and the manicured gardens of stately homes. If there’s space for a screen, someone is putting one up.
4. Visit the Royal Academy for its 256th summer exhibition
The Royal Academy annual showcase of all the artists will return for its 256 edition to brighten up the summer holidays. The world’s oldest open submission exhibition which means anyone can enter their work to be considered for inclusion, the artist with the big job of sifting through the works and curating them this year is sculptor Ann Christopher. Expect work from plenty of familiar names as well as newly elected Royal Academicians, alongside a selection of interesting stuff from thousands of entrants. It’s a good opportunity to spot an art star of the future. It is one of the best things to do in London this summer.
Location: Piccadilly Square
Date: 18th June to 18th August
5. Visit Tom Kerridge’s Pub for the food festival
Presented by Michelin-starred chef and longtime ‘Great British Menu’ judge Tom Kerridge, this touring food and music festival aims to bring a convivial public house atmosphere to the great outdoors with loads of delicious pub grub and equally enticing live performances. This year, it’s back for four weekends in and around London throughout the summer: Marlow May 16-19, Chiswick June 28-30, Reigate July 12-14, and St Albans September 6-8. On the menu is an exciting roster of new chefs, ranging from ‘Bake Off’ judge Mary Berry to Jeremy Chan of Ikoyi, alongside returning favorites like Michel Roux Junior, Simon Rimmer, Andi Oliver, Angela Hartnett’s Cafe Murano, and Kerridge’s own The Hand & Flowers. Music-wise, the pop-heavy line-up features the likes of Scouting for Girls, Paloma Faith, Jools Holland, McFly and Olly Murs. It is one of the best things to do in London this summer.
Location: Chiswick
Date: 28th June to 30th June
6. Watch talents at the Last Word festival
The Last Word Festival is back for its brilliant eleventh edition. The fest is one of the best in the UK for championing exciting voices and emerging talent in the world of spoken word, and what better live venue could there be to host it? This year, there’ll be a poetry slam heat, where 18-25-year-olds can compete for a cash prize, and a session called ‘redacted’ where poems are created by removing words from articles, chapters magazines, and much more.Location: Chalk Farm
Date: 6th – 30th June
7. Attend Wireless Festival
Wireless returns to Finsbury Park for 2024 with a line-up that’s positively bulging with hip-hop, R&B, and grime talent. Spanning trap, grime, experimental, and beyond, there’s more A-list talent here than the Met Gala. Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat, 21 Savage, J Hus, and Future – all bona fide superstars. That’s not all though, you’ve got a crowd-pleasing array of rising artists like Ice Spice, Asake, Rema, Gunna, Sean Paul, Sexyy Red, Tyla, and Digga D who could quite possibly provide those ‘I was there when’ moments. It is one of the best things to do in London this summer.
Location: Finsbury Park
Date: 12-14th July
8. Attend the Taste of London
Munch your way through dishes from the great and some of the best restaurants in London at this culinary festival in the surroundings of Central London’s Regent Park. Korean Rabat restaurant Roka, South American fusion from YOPO, and Big Mamma’s quintet of Italian Joints are among the line-up of restaurants peddling plates to celebrate the event’s 20th anniversary.
If you’re not in a food coma by the end, there’ll also be kitchen masterclasses, chef talks, and tastings to get involved with. Our advice? Have some Rennies on hand. It is one of the best things to do in London this summer.
Location: Regent’s Park
Date: 13-15th June 2024
9. Attend a new festival organized by the legend Skepta
We know Skepta is a man of many talents. He’s a rapper, a DJ, a record label head, and a fashion designer. And now he’s a festival curator. This July, the famous Londoner has curated two stages personally, assembling a star-studded, multi-genre lineup of artists for an unmissable celebration of the music he cares about. Catch his only UK performance of 2024, alongside unmissable sets from The Streets, Mahalia, JME, Lancey, K-Trap, Odumodublvck, The Den featuring Frisco, Flowdan, Sir Spyro, Infamousizak, Manga, Thafirst and a special guest. You’ve also got some of house and ama piano’s biggest stars taking over The Más Tiempo Stage, with the likes of Loco Dice, Uncle Waffles, Syreeta, and Kitty Amor all locked in.Location: Crystal Palace
Date: 6th July
Suggested Read: Party places in London
10. Visit Kew Midsummer Fete
With over 100 stalls, a traditional Victorian fun fair, a beer tent and a tea tent, a dog show with a VIP judge, tug of war, and live local bands, Kew’s Midsummer Fete is a brilliant way to chill out on the village green this month. But there’s plenty more to 2024’s edition of the popular afternoon, including a karate display, inflatables, and a charity raffle, too. The best part? Entry is free, but all your well-spent cash will be going to some very worthy causes. Last year raised more than £22,000 for local charities like Richmond Food Bank and the Riverbank Trust. It is one of the best things to do in London this summer.
Location: Kew
Date: 22 June
11. Catch live music at Somerset House
Somerset House Summer Series is back for another year. Held in the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court amid the iconic Neoclassical building, this open-air series of gigs has long held space for both exciting up and newcomers and well-known trailblazers from the UK and beyond. This year’s series will run for 11 days in mid-July and some of the famous likes of The Patti Smith Quartet, Corinne Bailey Rae, The Big Moon, Hak Baker, and some special guests are yet to be announced.
Location: Aldwych
Date: 11- 21st July
12. Watch Wimbledon Tennis Championships
Visiting the Wimbledon Tennis Championship this summer is a must-do for any sports fan. Held every year in London, Wimbledon is the oldest and most famous tennis tournament in the world. It’s where you can watch exciting matches on perfect grass courts. While there, enjoy classic British treats like strawberries and cream, and Pimm’s. The grounds are beautiful and full of history, with famous spots like Centre Court and Henman Hill. Besides the tennis, you can also explore London’s many attractions. Whether you love tennis or just want to see a world-class event, Wimbledon offers a mix of great sports and British culture, making it a fantastic summer outing. It is one of the best things to do in London this summer. Some of the best hotels & Resorts in London are present in this area.
13. Watch Jamie Lloyd’s new version of Romeo & Juliet
Super-director Jamie Lloyd is renowned for his powers of celebrity wrangling. But even by his standards, this is quite the coup: his production of Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo & Juliet’ will star Tom Holland, aka Spider-Man himself, in his first stage role since a lengthy stint in ‘Billy Elliot’ as a child actor. Holland will, of course, be playing Romeo alongside the relatively unknown Frances Amewudah-Rivers as Juliet. Stylistically, we can expect a contemporary setting and stripped-back aesthetic, though last year’s peerless ‘Sunset Boulevard’ did see Lloyd get back to his more maximalist roots with its gargantuan video wall and copious use of gore.Location: Covent Garden
Date: Until 3rd August
Suggested Read: Adventure Activities in London
14. Visit London’s best beer gardens
Beer gardens are one of the best things to do in London this summer. There are few better ways to make the most of a sunny or not-so-sunny afternoon in London than by spending it in a beer garden. Sipping on a couple of cold beers with your friends or partner feels good anywhere but in the Great British outdoors. There’s something seriously special about pints under London’s famous skies.And this city certainly has no shortage of spectacular beer gardens. Some have greenery and peaceful vibes, while others are ideal for booming open-air day parties. Some serve up marvelous cocktails, while others provide gorgeous city and river views. It is one of the best things to do in London this summer.
15. Attend Field Day 2024
Drawing in over 50,000 ravers to its soirée in Victoria Park, the festival is back with an electronic-leaning line-up for 2024, and The biggest draws are Justice, who’s back with a new album and a fresh set of house bangers, and Gen Z garage-pop girlie PinkPantheress. There are also achingly cool acts like Vegyn, Yaeji, Shygirl, Brutalismus 300, Romy, Charlotte de Witte, and Mura Masa. Some of the popular Airbnbs in London are situated in this area.Location: Victoria Park
Date: 24th August
Suggested Read: Homestays in London
16. Watch Shrek the Musical
The musical version of DreamWorks’ hit nineties franchise about a tempting Scottish ogre returns to London for six weeks this summer, thirteen years after its first stint on the West End. The production company’s first attempt to imitate Disney’s success with stage adaptations wasn’t exactly a roaring success last time around, but this touring version of ‘Shrek the Musical features a completely different cast and arrives in town just as the swamp-dweller appears to be having some sort of ironically cool revival among the Gen Z audience who first watched the films as kids.Location: Hammersmith
Date: 19th July- 31st August
17. Attend the Lambeth Country Show
The Lambeth Country Show is back. Just as it has done since 1974, this year’s show will bring countryside pursuits to Brockwell Park. Get a glimpse of Vauxhall City Farm’s alpacas, downing a massive carton of Chucklehead’s super-strong cider, and joining the long queue to see the wonderful entrants in the vegetable sculpture competition. Look out for sheep-shearing, sheepdog and owl displays, an on-site mini farm, and lots, lots more. Live music will be heard from two stages over the weekend. It is one of the best things to do in London this summer.Location: Herne Hill
Date: 8-9th June
18. Visit Pick Your Fruit farm
Heading into the fields is a great idea for day trips in London. Head to pick your farm to get as close as you can get to the process without growing your fruit and vegetables yourself. The core picking season is May to August, but production depends on the season. It is also a brilliant way of boosting your sustainability by cutting out all that extra plastic packaging at the supermarket. It is also one of the top photography spots in London. 19. Attend Sundance London
The renowned Sundance Film Festival returns to London to give film buffs the chance to view more thought-provoking, emotion-stirring movies. The 2024 festival will open with ‘Kneecap’, the first-ever Irish language film to premiere at Sundance, which tells the story of a rising Belfast rap group and their mission to save their native language. Closing night will boast the UK premiere of ‘Dìdi, Oscar-nominated director Sean Wang’s ode to first-generation teenagers in the Bay Area. Stay tuned for the full program, which will be announced in late April. It is one of the best things to do in London this summer.Location: Piccadilly Circus
Date: 6-9th June
20. Attend the Great Exhibition Road festival
Prince Albert might be best known for the debate over whether he had ‘that piercing’. But he also helped devise the Great Exhibition, an embarrassment of world riches and inventions that drew 6 million visitors to Hyde Park in 1851. Albert then used the funds raised by the exhibition to help develop the V&A, the Natural History Museum, and the Royal Albert Hall. Those grand institutions are once again joining forces this June for two days of events inspired by the 1851 bonanza. Everything is free if you register, and the program is as mixed as a family bag of Revels. It is one of the best things to do in London this summer.Location: South Kensington
Date: 15-16 June
