Summer 2025, curated

Editor’s note
London truly peaks in the summer, there’s no city like it. It feels like the older we get the more fleeting this time of the year feels, but it also makes us ever more grateful for those days in the sunshine. It's also the best season for spontaneity because we don’t need to pencil in theatre shows or dinner dates weeks in advance to have a good time. A golden hour pint by the river with some good company feels like a warm hug and reminds us to savour the small things in life.

That being said, summer also is the season of the social calendar so we’re curating the best events where you can make the most of the city when she’s looking her absolute best.

Over at the gorgeous Gunnersbury Park, Soho House Festival returns to celebrate its 30th year with performances from The Streets and a DJ set by Groove Armada (3 July).

LIDO is making waves with headliners like Jamie xx, Charli XCX, Massive Attack and London Grammar, promising a blend of genres at Victoria Park (6-7 | 13-15 June).

For those more laid-back, the Somerset House Summer Series remains a solid inner-city gig. Architectural charm, open air, perfectly lit and a crowd that doesn’t try too hard. Featuring St. Vincent, Giggs and FLO (10-20 July).

Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich | 31 July - 2 August | 8-10 August

For the first time ever, the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich is going to be transformed into a stylish open-air stage. Picture riverside views of a gorgeous London skyline, 17th century architecture and some sick DJ sets over the sunset. Featuring Ibiza staple, Black Coffee, a five-hour set from Solomun, Fisher, Anjunadeep and even Empire of the Sun if you’re looking for a more wholesome outing. It’s the type of line-up that hopes to warden off the type of crowd who would rather film a whole set on their phone than get lost in the music and moment. Tickets are sold out, but keep an eye out for resales and the waiting list.

Barking Park | 6-8 June

Elderbrook, Gorgon City and Mathame set stage at High Lights, one of the best open air music experiences in London. Picture a brutalist grey slab in between the treetops of Barking Park meshed with geometric light installations. 

Shoreditch | 2-7 June

SXSW is heading from Austin, TX to London for the first time ever. Part creator conference, part music festival, part film/fashion event. Expect networking, thought-provoking talks by industry crème de la crème’s, installations by super-creatives and live performances from Tems and NAO. You won’t be in one spot, the event is being hosted across multiple iconic spaces in Shoreditch you would notice in an instant, incl. Protein Studios, The Barbican, Curzon Hoxton, Shoreditch Church, Spitalfields & The Truman Brewery. 

Royal Ascot keeps the dress codes tight and the champagne flowing; go early, skip the grandstand, and watch it all unfold from the rails (17-21 June).

Over at the Henley Royal Regatta, it’s less about rowing and more about linen, rosé, and a well-timed exit before things get too Henley (1-6 July).

Wimbledon’s cousin / warm-up event, Queen’s Club, expands its tournament to the women’s game this year. Less theatrical than SW19, but more intimate, easier to exit out of and with plenty of big names including Emma Raduncanu, Jack Draper, Carlos Alcaraz and Naomi Osaka (7-22 June).

The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon | 30 June - 13 July 

Wimbledon is back and it still holds court like no other. Timeless, iconic and best enjoyed with a ground pass on the first couple days of play to catch some big names up-close and Pimms on Henman Hill. Head back later in the championships in your best navy, cream or chino attire and enjoy a priceless hospitality experience provided by Keith Prowse. From complimentary show court seats where you can witness gripping action by the sport’s best to intimate à la carte dining and a selection of the best vintage champagne in between matches. Limited hospitality packages remaining.

The Oval, Kennington | 9 - 25 | 30 August

Cricket, but faster. And better dressed. The Hundred flips the format - 100 balls per team, DJs between overs, and back-to-back men’s and women’s games that move with actual energy. Think less drawn-out commentary, more Saturday night pace. The Oval Invincibles are the home team, and The Oval itself is the perfect summer stadium: big energy, solid food stalls and a crowd that’s more rooftop drinks than diehard stans. Key date to circle? 30 August, the eliminator. 

Not everything needs a headliner. Some of the best moves this summer are the quieter ones with less crowd and more mood. A Leap of Sympathy, by Anna Perach, is showing at Richard Saltoun Gallery and it’s weird in the best way. Sculptural, textural, surreal - think wearable carpets meets Soviet folklore (15 May - 24 June).  

Richmond’s Marzamemi Festival is the other wildcard to watch. Less food fest, more Sicilian daydream. Imagine: patterned parasols, striped deck chairs, sun-washed tents, Aperol in hand, belly full of arancini. It’s a local-first event with design brains behind it, rooted in Sicilian heritage but built with London taste (5-6 July). 

Whether it’s the gardens at Kew or a one-off drive out to a 15th century Tudor country home dream, Adventure Outdoor Cinema is one of those nights that feels like a break from the busy life. Rosé in hand, sunset rolling in and a classic screening to wind-down (August - September). 

For the inevitable rainy day, make the most of some exciting theatre coming to the stage. Catch Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic Evita starring Rachel Zegler and directed by Jamie Lloyd (14 June - 6 September). The iconic voice behind Lord Farquaad, John Lithgow, hits the Harold Pinter Theatre for Giant, an Olivier Award-winning play that delves into the controversial past of iconic author Roald Dahl (closes 2 August).