Editor’s note
July always feels like peak London to me. I’m a big summer and daylight person, I could happy live in 27+ degree heat forever - so when we move past Summer Solstice I get this fleeting feeling that I need to make sure I savour every single moment. Every sunset, bike ride across the river, the green trees that arch over the roads, evening drinks on the terrace. A bit romantic to some, but when we inevitably get back to regular programmed weather scheduling and dark days in the winter, I look back fondly on why I love London so much. London in summer is what it’s all about.
That said, the city at this time is most rife with tourists and big crowds. I can’t imagine spending a lot of the little free time I have on weekends feeling like a Tetris block trying to shuffle my way from A to B. Timing is everything, I like to make the most of zone 1 during weekdays and leave weekends a little room for things on the outskirts. This curation has that intention, a little bit for every cadence of the week.
Culture
For when you want to feel something and think about it after.
Theatre, film, exhibitions, talks - where meaning meets mood.
National Theatre | Opens July 10
Rosamund Pike (Saltburn) makes her National Theatre debut as a Crown Court Judge when her life turns completely upside down. Set across fragmented domestic scenes, Inter Alia builds its emotion gradually. From the team behind Prima Facie.
The Gabrielle Jungels-Winkler Galleries, Burlington Gardens
Kiefer’s monumental works hang beside Van Gogh’s intimate, expressive studies, drawing out a shared sense of internal storm. It’s not an easy exhibition, but it lingers. A palette of ash, ochre, and urgency. Go alone, take your time, and come out slower.
Emerald Theatre
Opulent, choreographed fantasy with razor-sharp detail. Dita Von Teese’s show blends classic burlesque with a kind of cinematic polish - sequins, smoke, and total control. It’s sensual, but not for spectacle’s sake. The artistry’s in the restraint.
The Barbican
A tactile, sonic installation that invites you to move with your ears. It’s less about music, more about sensation: low pulses, echo chambers, and textured silence.
Savoy Theatre | Opens July 10
Velvet, spotlight, and a score that sways. This is a stage version that doesn’t just rehash the film - it leans into sensuality with humour and spectacle. Expect full-feathered glamour at the Savoy, with enough camp to charm even the theatre-adjacent.
Food & Drink
Menus worth moving for.
Restaurants, bars, and everything between - chosen for their mood, their craft, and what lingers after the last bite.
Bedford Square Garden, Bloomsbury | July 10-12
Nicely tucked away in Bloomsbury, this open-air cocktail crawl feels like the closest escape from central frenzy whilst still being in the beating heart. Iconic townhouses surround the garden and summer fairy lights and bunting make it a cosy occasion. Each pop-up bar has its own mood - smoky mezcal here, floral fizz there. The joy is in the meander, with plenty of pauses for olives, live music and watching people flirt badly.
Cloth, City of London | July 12
A dimly lit room, a small group of strangers, and a set menu built around depth and warmth. Gem Supper Club is paving the way for a lot of community dining. This time, they’re hosting at Cloth.
Magazine London, Greenwich | July 18-19
Expect craft pours, DJs, food trucks, and buzz. It can get crowded - especially late. But a few beers in by the sunset could convince you to stay for another round.
Not Your Everyday
Seasonal, sensory, or beautifully off-centre.
Petersham Nurseries, Richmond | July 3
The greenhouse light at Petersham is reason enough to go. This workshop is slow, meditative, and full of tactility - pressing flowers into art, learning to notice what you’d normally pass by. Perfect if your home could do with some new artwork.
Flying across the city | July 20 or 27
It’s early, sometimes before the city even wakes. But when the balloons rise over London’s skyline, it’s a once in a blue moon kind of spectacle. There’s no tickets or even a set location. Pack a thermos, find a hill, and take in the sight of twenty technicolour giants floating in the sky.
Garson’s Farm, Esher
Strawberry season is among us. Garson’s offers rows of ripe berries and it makes for a lovely slow-down Sunday. Go in the morning before the sun gets strong, and leave sticky-fingered and lightly sun-kissed. Pair it with an ice cream on the journey back.
In Motion
To move or to be moved.
Departing London Victoria | July 25
Start at Victoria, sink into plush upholstery, and let the countryside roll by. The British Pullman ride to Simpsons Winery is full of slow luxury - expect a gastronomic feast, linen tablecloths, sparkling wine and spellbinding scenery. Dress to impress.
All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, SW19 | June 30 - July 13
The ultimate British sporting event is back again and it’s got something for all. Whether it’s hospitality at centre court, strawberries and cream for the family or a Pimms at Henman Hill - can Carlos Alcaraz win his third straight Wimbledon?
Departing Richmond Stage | July 19
Live jazz played slow as the river curves. These Thames river cruises aren’t loud, but they’re atmospheric - horns and bass echoing under bridges as the city passes by. Ideal at golden hour, glass in hand. It’s not pompous or brash, but more wholesome. One of those evenings where nothing happens, and that’s the point.
Where the setting’s good, but the people are better.
Stadium Tours Hit Summer Peak
July’s big shows come with big feelings. Oasis reunite at Wembley for five nights - louder, older, and still packing out stadiums like it’s 1997.
Lana Del Rey is playing two evenings just before with Addison Rae opening.
Over at Tottenham, Kendrick Lamar and SZA are fusing their acts for a two-set showpiece.
Festivals This July
Junction 2 in West London is rolling out techno under the open sky, industrial beats meeting green parkland.
A State of Trance at Silverworks Island will be throwing lasers across the river.
Soho House Festival will be keeping it calm and curated for its members at Gunnersbury Park.
Social Hours