Fun things to do in London this June
In June, London comes alive with a vibrant atmosphere and a diverse range of activities and events to suit various interests. Whether you’re a fan of theatre, art exhibitions, food festivals, or social causes, there is something for everyone to enjoy. It’s a time of celebration, exploration, and engagement, where you can immerse yourself in the magic of live performances, workshops, talks, and thought-provoking art installations. London in June offers an abundance of opportunities.
The Great Exhibition Road Festival
Location:Exhibition Road, South Kensington,SW7
Date:17th & 18th June , 12pm-6pm, free,
Time :click here fo the full program
Enjoy a weekend of free events including workshops, talks, shows and experiences, there is something for all ages, celebrating how awe and wonder can inspire science and the arts. The Imperial College London, the Natural History Museum, Royal College of Music, Science Museum, V&A, Royal Albert Hall and many more have partnered in South Kensington – London’s home of science and the arts. Kids can create their own mini earthquake in The Earthquake Space: by building an earthquake-resistant structure, and take part in the earthquake shaking challenge! There is Watery Wonders (British Geological Survey)(all ages) – explore a model of the water cycle to discover how water gets from the clouds in the sky to the tap in your home. Those aged 5+ can try the inflatable Bungee Gut Run and explore how the length of your gut changes throughout your life and how this affects what you eat! Challenging Pseudoscience: Spotting bad information online(young adults), to learn about false and misleading information online, what the risks are, what it can look like, how it spreads, and what you can do to tackle it. Or head over to the Dangoor Plaza Bandstand, where throughout the day there will be performances from Royal College of Music, Imperial College, and London-based performers.
Location: Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL
Date: opens 24th June, price: £20
Immerse in the DIVA Exhibition at V&A South Kensington! Celebrating iconic performers, it explores the evolving concept of ‘diva’ across opera, stage, music, and film. Experience stunning costumes, mesmerizing photos, and breathtaking artwork showcasing the rich history and cultural impact of legends like Maria Callas, Cher, Elton John, Janelle Monae, and Marilyn Monroe.
The London Design Biennale 2023
Location: Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA
Date: 1st – 25th June
Price: Adult: Mon: £23, Tues -Thurs: £25 , Fri- Sun: £27.50. Cons (includes Students, Unwaged, Seniors (60+) and Teachers/Tutors) : £18, Children 12-16yrs : £13.
An interactive, musical and kinetic exhibition of design and design-led innovation from across the globe. Bake Bread, witness an AI Robot designing, weave a tapestry, get inside a space pod, find inner peace and visit a virtual garden and more. 40+ designers from around the world respond to the theme – The Global Game: Remapping Collaborations.
The London Festival of Architecture
Location: check full program
Date: Month of June , price
The London Festival of Architecture is an awesome month-long celebration of architecture happening all across London. It’s a time when people come together to talk about architecture, explore new ideas, and showcase emerging talent. The festival is open to anyone who’s interested in London’s architecture and the built environment, whether you’re a professional or just a curious individual. It’s not just about the buildings themselves, but also about the spaces in between and the people who use them. The festival embraces diversity and inclusivity, and it constantly evolves to tackle real-world issues and challenges. The whole event is organized by New London Architecture, a leading center for the built environment industry.
Zoo Nights – London Zoo is back. (ages : over 18)
Date:9th June – 28th July
Location: Outer Circle, Regent’s Park, NW1, 4RY
Price: £21,50 Time:6pm – 10pm every Friday,
The zoo is offering fun talks and tours for adults, including The Birds and Bees tour, which reveals the secrets of animal behavior at sunset. Visitors can also enjoy giant animal-themed games and compete against friends. Food vendors offer unique dishes from around the world, and visitors can even pop champagne at Penguin Beach for a VIP experience. London Zoo is offering a BSL-adapted Zoo Nights tour on June 23rd, led by deaf presenter John Wilson. The VIP Sleepover experience allows visitors to stay in en-suite lodges in Land of the Lions after Zoo Nights, with a buffet breakfast and exclusive tour included. The experience also includes dinner vouchers, free entry to London Zoo for two days, free parking, and discounts on animal experiences and gift shop items.
Kings Coronation – Trooping the colour
Location: Horse Guards Parade, SW1A 2AX
Date: 17th June
Trooping the Colour is the official celebration of the British Sovereign for more than 260 years. The parade is a grand spectacle, featuring over 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians, showcasing the utmost military precision, horsemanship, and fanfare. Led by His Majesty King Charles III, the parade commences at Buckingham Palace, proceeds down The Mall, and culminates at Horse Guards Parade, where it is joined by members of the Royal Family on horseback and in carriages. The festivities conclude with an RAF fly-past, observed by the Royal Family from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
Location: Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD
Date: 13 Jun -20 Aug, Tues – Sun: 10am – 6pm, Fri: 10am -9pm
Price: £22–24.50
Held every year since 1769, the Summer Exhibition displays works in a variety of mediums and genres by emerging and established artists. It is the world’s oldest open submission exhibition – which means that anyone can enter their work to be considered for inclusion.Each year a Royal Academician, such as Yinka Shonibare RA, Grayson Perry RA and Jock McFadyen RA, coordinates the exhibition. showcasing new works by renowned artists like David Hockney, Tracey Emin, and more. The exhibition features a mix of established artists and emerging talent, representing various art forms, including painting, sculpture, photography, and film. Over 5,000 works have been sold in previous years, and you can browse and purchase the artworks online. The Summer Exhibition provides a unique window into the contemporary art world and supports artists and the Royal Academy’s charitable work.
Location: W2 3XA
The latest addition to the annual Serpentine Pavilion series has just burst into existence. This year, the pavilion was designed by the talented French-Lebanese architect, Lina Ghotmeh, and it draws inspiration from the Mediterranean tradition of gathering around a dining table for meaningful conversations. Aptly named ‘À table,’ which translates to ‘sit the f**k down at the dinner table or you’re going to get a whack around the ear’ in French, this pavilion aims to stimulate visitors’ thoughts about the table as a space for discussion, engagement, dialogue, and exchange, all while sharing a meal.
Location: National Theatre ,SE1 9PX
Dates: now until 11th August
Price : £20-£89
It’s time to change the game. The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t England’s men win at their own game? With the worst track record for penalties in the world, Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take the team and country back to the promised land. Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid’s Tale, The Mother) plays Gareth Southgate in this new play by James Graham (Best of Enemies, Sherwood). Following their acclaimed productions, Tammy Faye and Ink, he reunites with director Rupert Goold (Spring Awakening, Judy) for this gripping examination of both nation and game.
Location: Regent’s Park, Outer Circle, London, NW1 5HA.
Date: 14th – 18th June
Price: from £24
Shout out to all foodies, because the count down to taste is on! London’s Taste Festival is bringing together 36 of the City’s best restaurants in one place with 50 chefs, 150 artisan producers, and eight long sessions of deliciousness So you can eat your way round a world full of flavours and deliciousness.
Counterpoints Arts and the Southbank Centre celebrate the 25th year of Refugee Week UK
Location : Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX
Date: 19th June – 25th June
Price & times: vary – check program here
This year’s theme, Compassion, prompts a day of music, talks, workshops, film screenings and a new public art commission by artist Murugiahhttps, a collaboration with Choose Love. With exciting new commissions from poets; short film screenings with the Arab Film Club; conversations and talks with Radical Ecology; music and dance workshops, such Mix & Move, free for all ages on 23rd June, or Notes on Compassion: Words, Music and Us, on the 25rd June, price £10 with performances from AWATE, FaceSoul, Vanessa Kisuule, Kaia Laurielle, Rachel Long, Momtaza Mehri and Sukina Noor, and an original choral performance from Woven Gold, coming together to their responses on Compassion. The events hopes to help us create a safe space and share what Compassion means today and how we can extend compassion beyond our own networks. The event is an opportunity for artists to present their work in a supportive showcase, there are events for all interests and ages.
The events taking place at the Southbank Centre are part of a wider festival across the country, in partnership with Counterpoints Arts. Counterpoints Arts is a Southbank Centre Associate Artist and the leading national organisation in the field of arts, migration and cultural change.
Location: Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX
Date: 21st June – 3rd Sept
Price & Time: vary – please check program here
This season’s inspiration comes the pioneering Hayward Gallery exhibition, Dear Earth: Art and Hope in a Time of Crisis, a group show itself inspired by artist Otobong Nkanga’s suggestion that ‘caring is a form of resistance’. Hopefully it inspiring us all into making change together. With powerfuk talks and perspectives from Greta Thunberg, Mikaela Loach and Cerys Matthews to name a few. Theatre, musical contributions include: Earth Makes No Sound’s fusion of choral singing, movement and body percussion and more. Plus free events on the Riverside Terrace from Pedal Power parties with DJs BORN N BREAD, Guava Jamz and Heart n Soul and a free night of cabaret performed by Bi-Curious George and guests.
Photo exhibition – National Portait Gallery
Location:St Martin’s Place, WC2H 0HE
Date & Price : open from 22nd June , free
The National Portrait Gallery is finally reopening its doors after a long three-year closure. Things have changed inside, with a swanky new entrance, artwork have been rearranged and the East Wing is making a grand comeback too! It’s all part of their exciting transformation to inspire visitors once again.
Location: in and around Mayfair
Date & price: 29th June – 1st July , free
Get ready for an art extravaganza at the Mayfair Art Weekend 2023! This annual celebration in the renowned gallery district offers a jam-packed program of free events, from family activities to the Mayfair Sculpture Trail, as well as a chance to visit all of participating galleries.
Location: City of London’s financial district
Date & time: from the 27th June, free.
Sculpture in the City is a free annual open air exhibition that uses the urban realm as a rotating gallery space. Explore the upcoming 12th Edition in the City of London’s financial district. Check out the weird and wonderful sculptures by Emma Louise Moore, Emma Smith, Jesse Pollock, Jocelyn McGregor, Pedro Pires, Ugo Rondinone and Victor Seaward, alongside permanent works by Elisa Artesero and Oliver Bragg.
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