As we are now finally in summer, with the school holidays fast approaching, all sorts of events and things to do are coming out of the woodworks.
July normally has nice sunny weather, meaning an increase in outdoor activities and London offer some great shows, events, and sports throughout the month.
So read more, for your go-to-guide for what to do in July in London.
Across London, including Battersea Park, there will be big screens streaming the matches underway at this years Wimbledon tennis tournament. For adults, you can grab your can of Pimm’s, and for kids put together a picnic, head to your local park and enjoy the matches unfold. The tournament runs from 2-16 July.
With the British Grand Prix in Formula One fast approaching, Williams have set up a fan zone on Regent Street! Entry is free between the 3 and 9 July, and visitors will get the chance to look at some of the cars up close, and have a go at driving professional simulators. There will even be Q&A sessions with professional drivers.
Running from 3-29 July, Riverside Studios will be hosting the Bitesize Festival where short plays, musicals, comedy shows, dance displays and much more will all be available to watch.
A great one for literary lovers is Shakespeare in the Garden. Performed in pub gardens, the series of performances will take place outside numerous of Fuller’s hostelries. The series runs from 3 July to 15 September.
5. RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Festival
Missed out on the Chelsea Flower Show? Well, it does not matter because between the 4 and 9 July, the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival will be taking place. There will be incredible show gardens, expert growers, and much more.
From the 5-15 July be ready to flamenco dance and enjoy a programme full of great choreographers and musicians.
Sh!t-faced Shakespeare returns to Leicester Square Theatre between 5 July and 9 September to deliver Much Ado About Nothing. Watch professional actors, one of whom has had a bit too much to drink, take the stage and perform a rough script to deliver a drunken improv. Sounds fun? Definitely.
Ready for a laugh? From the 7-15 July, comedians such as Ed Byrne, Richard Herring, Tiffany Stevenson, Rob Newman, Milton Jones, Rich Hall, Darran Griffiths and Janey Godley are all performing at the Balham Comedy Festival.
Barbican Cinema is launching a new series of film screenings, called Eat the Screen. The screenings will include shorts and documentaries focusing on the food industry and issues including farming and food waste. It takes place from 1 July to 24 August.
The Fashion District Festival takes over Spitalfields for 40 different events, all celebrating fashion, sustainability, innovation, and community. They will be styling masterclasses and upcycling workshops, and also pop-up shops and swap shops. It will take place 11-16 July.
11. Croydon Pride Fest and Mela
Taking place in Wandle Park following a parade through town, Croydon Pride Fest and Mela will have stalls to peruse and live performancws to enjoy. The Croydon Mela is the followind day; a free celebration of the borough’s Asian communities. It takes place 15-16 July.
12. National Geographic Traveller Food Festival
What is better than food? Food from around the globe! National Geographic Traveller Food Festival will be held at the Design Centre in Islington, where you will be able to hear from cookbook authors, watch live cooking demos and more. It takes place 15-16 July.
This is no ordinary village fete… Soho takes it to the next level with a tug of war between the police and the fire brigade, a spaghetti-scoffing contest, dog show and Soho Waiters’ Race (waiters from restaurants in the area run around with a bottle of fizz, glass, and ashtray on a tray). The event is completely free and takes place on July 16.
The Lionesses are at it again, but this time in Australia and New Zealand to take part in the Women’s Football World Cup. There will be numerous screenings around London. It will take place from 20 July to 20 August.
15. Macbeth
One of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays, Macbeth, is being performed at the Globe Theatre. Not one to miss! 21 July – 28 October.
16. Theatre on Kew
Another performance-based event is the open-air theatre at Kew Gardens between 22 July and 28 August. This year’s performance will be Alice in Wonderland.
The London Art Biennale hosted at Chelsea Town Hall will present over 350 artists from all over the globe. It is free to visit and will be held from 27-30 July.
18. London E-Prix
The end of July (29-30 July) sees all-electric vehicles take over the Royal Docks and ExCel for the London E-Prix. It has more than cars too, and offers a great inside fan village to explore
19. Camden Fringe
Can’t make it to Edinburgh this year? No worries because there is Camden Fringe. The festival offers new and experimental theatre and comedy performances, from emerging artists across North London. Around 20 shows will hold their first airing on the last day of July. It will take place 31 July to 27 August.
20. Power Up
Last but not least is the new interactive gallery, Power Up, which will open on July 27 at the Science Museum. Featuring 160 consoles dating back to 50 years ago, the interactive gallery will allow visitors to play games either by themselves or as multiplayer.
