Somehow, the middle of the year is already upon us. But this is no time to despair. Instead, it’s time to look forward to making the most of the rest of the year. We’re hardly even getting started at this point! And June has plenty on offer to fill our days and nights in London with fun as we welcome summer with open arms.
Whether you’re keen to explore London’s newest exhibitions, celebrate Pride month, or boogie the month away, we’ve got you covered with this guide to the best things to do in London this June.
Celebrate Pride
June is Pride Month, following in the tradition of the first four Pride Marches held in America in June 1970, a month after Stonewall. And while London’s Pride March doesn’t take place until July 4, there is still plenty to do in London to mark the occasion.
You could take the chance to support LGBTQIA+-owned businesses like Gay’s the Word or the Queer Comedy Club. Or you could visit Queer Britain, the UK’s first and only museum dedicated to LGBTQ+ history. You can even explore the queer history of London’s most famed museums with the LGBTQIA+ Tours at Tate Britain.
Did you know you can take in the splendour and majesty of the Sistine Chapel without heading to Italy? You can even see it without even leaving London! That’s because Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition brings the majesty of the world-famous artwork to the capital. Stunning high-definition reproductions of the 34 frescoes bring the masterpiece to within touching distance.
Pay a visit to the SEA LIFE Aquarium this June, where you’re transported below the ocean to discover hundreds of marine species across 14 immersive zones. Walk directly next to sharks and jellyfish and learn what makes each species special – plus find out about some of the incredible conservation efforts that are being made to ensure they continue to thrive.
It’s stand-up comedy with a side of wine-tasting. An Idiot’s Guide to Wine provides 6 wines from across the world and a comedic expert to walk you through them. It’s a night out for grownups, and it’s not one of those stuffy swirl around your mouth and spit out affairs. You get to actually enjoy yourself and have a tipple whilst you ugly-laugh. Joking, there are no ugly laughs.
An enormous celebration of burgers will touch down in London this summer, taking over the Richmond Athletic Ground with a different kind of beefy showcase. Forget beefcake athletes, Burger Fest is serving up beef-y (and chicken-) behemoths from some of the country’s best patty flippers.
The event will also feature craft beer and cocktails, as well as live entertainment, giveaways, DJs and more. You can even participate in burger-eating competitions or take in live cooking demonstrations.
At Shrek’s Adventure, you’ll embark on a journey through the kingdom of Far Far Away to find Shrek, interacting with all of the characters from the movies along the way. Expect lots of hands-on activities and interactive scenes, plus plenty of songs from the iconic Shrek soundtrack.
Whether you’re accompanying a child or you’re a kid at heart here for nostalgia’s sake, we can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t be entertained here.
Following its debut in the capital last year, Texas-born festival SXSW is back for 2026. This year, the festival will feature performances from an enormous range of artists, such as Rachel Chinouriri, Earl Sweatshirt, Pete Tong, DJ AG, Giles Peterson, and Shame. Alongside the music, attendees can check out talks, workshops, conferences, and other activities taking place across each day of the event.
You can buy a music wristband day pass here for £25, or pay £79 for access to each day across the festival.
London’s wackiest ice cream parlour is returning this June for a 5th year, exploring wild and wonderful flavours – inspired by store cupboard ingredients and sauces. The Ice Cream Project by Anya Hindmarch will pop up for just a few months, with ice creams that could include pesto, baked beans, Jaffa Cake, and even Sriracha.
The London Dungeon takes you through some of the darkest stories in London’s past. Here you’ll encounter plague doctors, figures like Jack the Ripper, and plenty of twists and jumpscares. It’s not one for the squeamish or faint of heart, but if you love scary setups and can’t wait for Halloween, you’ve found yourself the perfect activity to scare yourself silly this June.
An immersive dream experience has landed in London, bringing with it a fairytale forest and a giant, pink ball pit. Immersing you in 16 otherworldly installations, The House of Dreamers uses vibrant colour, magical designs and interactive technology to inspire visitors of all ages. Are you ready to unlock the power of your dreams?
The Magnolia Bakery’s pop-up at Café Ciel allows Londoners to try out the brand’s legendary banana pudding alongside a special British-influenced creation. They’ve made a special sticky toffee version of their famed pudding, only available at the limited-time pop-up. You’ll have to act fast to try it, because it’s only in town for a few weeks!
Indulge in unlimited ice cream at the Ben & Jerry’s Sundaes in the Park music festival
Ben & Jerry’s Sundaes in the Park Festival is back this month, and we are simply ice-screaming with excitement. With Pixie Lott headlining the Main Stage, and a whole host of other fantastic artists and musicians booked to perform, it’s set to be a truly unforgettable day of live music. You can even catch ‘I’m Grand Mam’ recording a live podcast on the Talk Stage. And to keep you cool and refreshed throughout the day, there will be unlimited Ben & Jerry’s ice cream – including all of your old favourites, as well as this year’s newest flavours. Get one of the last few tickets now!
Head down to the waxwork red carpet and strike a pose with your favourite London celebrities, be it a GRAMMY award winner or one of our national treasures. Madame Tussauds is home to countless stars who were born or built up their careers right here in London, whether they’ve been immortalised for their vocals, like Amy Winehouse and Dua Lipa, or for their iconic status as fictional characters, like Paddington.
A fearsome new exhibition at the Natural History Museum brings visitors face-to-face with the ocean’s deadliest predators from 200 million years ago. Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep plunges guests into prehistoric waters, exploring the predators that ruled the seas.
Among the creatures featured in the exhibition, you’ll come face to face with the likes of ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs and the terrifying T. rexes of the sea, the mosasaurs. While you’re there, you can get up close to an awe-inspiring mosasaur tooth,
touch a cast of a Baryonyx claw, measure up against a complete plesiosaur, hold Jurassic poo, and more.
Get lost in a lavender farm
Mayfield’s Secret Lavender Garden will return for the summer this June. It’s the most picturesque (and fragrant) spot around for daytime strolls and special live events. Situated just minutes away from the larger and more popular Mayfield Lavender Farm, the Secret Lavender Garden is the IYKYK lavender spot for more intimate and relaxed days out. And it’s just an hour away from the city!
Find out more here.
Putt your way through a mini-golf exhibition
A playable mini golf exhibition will land in London this summer. The Art of Mini Golf will take guests into the activity’s past, exploring its feminist roots as a subversive response to women being banned from playing ‘real’ golf. Refusing to sit on the sidelines, a group of Scottish women invented the game in the 19th century.
The exhibition features nine interactive golf hole artworks designed by leading women artists from around the world. These “range from surreal video environments and fortune telling, to pop icons and playful reimagining’s of fairground games.”
Find out more and book your visit here.
Explore these special exhibitions in London
Thanks to London’s wealth of museums and galleries, there are always lots of fascinating new exhibitions to check out. Here are some of the newest exhibitions coming to the city, and some to catch before they close this month:
EXHIBITIONS OPENING IN JUNE
💚 Infinities Commission: nora chipaumire: Gadzi (June 3 – August 23): Tate Modern – “nora chipaumire, will present a visionary new work titled Gadzi for the Tanks, Tate Modern’s unique spaces dedicated to performance, installation and film“
🩷 Kyotographie: Kawada Kikuji x Iwane Ai (June 3 – October 18): Japan House – “Thought-provoking photographic exhibition featuring two major living Japanese photographers“
💜 Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait (June 4 – September 6): National Portrait Gallery – portraits of the Hollywood icon from some of the most renowned photographers and artists, celebrating what would have been the star’s 100th birthday.
💛 Quentin Blake: Performance (June 5, 2026 – April 1, 2027): Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration – over 100 works from Quentin Blake exploring his theatrical influences and collaborations.
🩵 Queer as Comics (June 5 – October 4): Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration – “comics, strip cartoons, graphic novels and zines that have represented LGBTQIA+ perspectives since the 1940s”.
🩷 MURUGIAH: Ever Feel Like… (June 5 – August 31): Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration – the first solo show for the architect-turned-illustrator, featuring a “kaleidoscopic, sometimes macabre world of fantastical characters and scenes”.
🤍 Julio Le Parc (June 11, 2026 – May 3, 2027): Tate Modern – interactive installations, striking kinetic sculptures, and geometric abstract paintings
🖤 Anish Kapoor (June 15 – October 18): Hayward Gallery – the influential and polarising artist “returns to the Hayward Gallery, where he staged his first major UK survey almost 30 years ago.“
❤️ Kulpreet Singh: Indelible Black Marks (June 16 – August 2): Hayward Gallery – painting and filmed performance that explore “the urgent link between climate change and agricultural crisis”.
🧡 Frida: The Making of an Icon (June 25, 2026 – January 3, 2027): Tate Modern – a deep dive into the incredible life and legacy of Frida Kahlo, featuring over 130 items.
EXHIBITIONS CLOSING IN JUNE
🩷 Skate 50 (Ends June 21): Undercroft, Queen Elizabeth Hall – exploring 50 years of skateboarding history at the iconic Southbank skatepark
Explore art in Hackney
Hackney Art Week returns this June for its second event, and it’s bigger and better than before. Art aficionados can explore work from more than 130 artists and creatives across 60 Hackney venues. Pieces will range across building-spanning projections, photography, live performance, sculpture, ceramics, and more. There will even be a borough-wide art treasure hunt, with artwork hiding in otherwise ordinary places.
Find out more here.
Catch the World Cup action
With news that pubs can stay open late to screen World Cup fixtures, and with both England and Scotland qualifying to take part, London is set to be taken over by FIFA World Cup 2026 fever this June. But where will you be watching? London has no shortage of venues to check out, including the following lively spots for sports screenings:
⚽ The Auld Hag Scottish Fanzone at Club 360 – London’s only Scottish Fanzone
🍻 Vinegar Yard, London Bridge – one of London’s best sports screening destinations with multiple screens, open-air bars, street food, and more
⚽ Hackney Bridge, Hackney – an enormous canal-side food and drink destination, which will transform its courtyard into an immense fan park
🍻 Flat Iron Square, Southwark – sometimes called ‘London’s Home of Sport’, this ticketed experience promises to be London’s liveliest fan hub
⚽ The Alma, Wandsworth – with a Gareth Southgate lookalike competition to boot
🍻 The Wigmore at The Langham – with a special menu of host-city-inspired hot dogs and regional beers
⚽ The Ship, Wandsworth – this riverside pub boasts indoor and outdoor screens
🍻 Cinnamon Kitchen, Battersea – guess the winner or the final score for a discount on your meal
⚽ Grand Junction Arms, Harlesden – this pub is “transforming into one of North London’s largest World Cup fan parks”
🍻 Roof East, Stratford – an adult playground with DJs, street food, cocktails, crazy golf, batting cages, and more, as well as World Cup screenings…
⚽ Spring Street Pizza, Southwark – a relaxed alternative to traditional sports bars and fan zones, with New York-inspired pizzas from a MICHELIN-starred chef
🍻 Rae’s, Borough – this one-time legendary nightclub will transform into Rae’s Summer Sports Lounge, featuring large screens, a club-level sound system, and an after-hours atmosphere
This June, it’s a chance for the nosey and the green-fingered among you to explore some of London’s most secretive spots. Over 120 secret gardens across London will open their gates to the public for one weekend only as part of the annual London Open Gardens event. Among them are some of the city’s most exclusive green spaces, ranging from farms and food gardens to allotments and ancient squares.
Celebrate the influence of Pan-Africanism on contemporary arts and culture
This June, the Barbican will kick off a new season that explores the “rich influence of Pan-Africanism on contemporary arts and culture”. Project a Black Planet ranges across a variety of activations, including free installations, live events, workshops, exhibitions, cinema screenings, and more. It’s a stunning way to immerse yourself in “artists, thinkers, and communities from across the African continent and its global diasporas.”
Find out more here.
Browse giant London flea markets
If there’s one thing London does well, it’s thrift shopping. Whether hitting up your local charity shop or browsing the wares at a market, Londoners love a second-hand bargain. And this June, there are plenty of chances to find a pre-loved treasure at these pop-up flea markets.
- The Big South London Flea (June 6): Unit 8, Copeland Park, SE15 3SN
- Peckham Salvage Yard (June 7): Unit 8, Copeland Park, SE15 3SN
- Drumsheds Spring Flea (June 14): Drumsheds, 6 Glover Drive, N18 3HF
- Hackney Flea Market (June 20-21): Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0AS
Find out more here.
Attend an outdoor cinema screening
When the weather warms up and the sun starts to set later in the evening, one of the simple joys in the city is an outdoor cinema screening. And June is when screens start to go up all around the city, with both free and ticketed outdoor cinema screenings. Check out the screenings for a unique cinematic experience as the sun sets:
🎥 Rooftop Cinema Club – Peckham and Stratford
🎞️ Summer Screens – Canary Wharf
🍿Lower Marsh Lates – Waterloo
🎥 Everyman on the Canal – King’s Cross
🎞️ Summer By The River – London Bridge
See a dazzling spectacle on the West End
Nothing really beats a play on the West End, right? And sure, we love Broadway too, but does it really stack up to these stunning West End productions this June?
NEW OPENINGS
🎙️ Sinatra The Musical (Opens June 3): Aldwych Theatre – “the rise, fall, and comeback of one of music’s greatest voices.”
🎭 Glengarry Glen Ross (June 4 – July 18): The Old Vic – David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama is staged by Tony Award-winning director Patrick Marber with an all-female cast.
🤫 THE TRUTH a comedy by Florian Zeller (June 9 – September 12): Apollo Theatre – award-winning and -nominated comedy legends helm this play where two couples navigate a web of hidden truths.
📜 Cyrano de Bergerac (June 13 – September 5): Noël Coward Theatre – the Royal Shakespeare Company production transfers to the West End following a sold-out run.
💣 Archduke (June 20 – July 25): Royal Court – the “occasionally accurate tale” of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
🧠 Arcadia (June 20 – September 12): Duke of York’s Theatre – the same country house sees two similar stories of genius unfolding, separated by two centuries.
ENDING SOON
🎤 TEETH ‘N’ SMILES (Ends June 6): Duke of York’s Theatre – Rebecca Lucy Taylor (AKA Self Esteem) hits the stage as the explosive lead singer of a failing band in the 50th anniversary of David Hare’s rebel play.
🎭 Romeo and Juliet (Ends June 6): Harold Pinter Theatre – Sadie Sink and Noah Jupe make their West End debuts in the timelessly tragic tale of love, loss, and innocence.
🎩 An Ideal Husband (Ends June 6): Lyric Hammersmith – a “bold new production of Oscar Wilde’s enduring comedy”.
🤘 The Last Man (Ends June 13): Southwark Playhouse Elephant – a one-person, post-apocalyptic rock musical
👩⚖️ Inter Alia (Ends June 20): Wyndham’s Theatre – Rosamund Pike helms this acclaimed production, playing a career judge trying desperately to balance her work and personal life, as it moves to the West End.
Or explore the city’s boundary-pushing theatre
There’s more to London than the West End. Indeed, some of the most exciting theatre in the world can be found right here in the capital, thanks to a wealth of small theatres and boundary-pushing theatre makers. Check out these shows this June:
🪖 Under the Shadow (June 2 – July 4): Almeida Theatre – a mother is left alone with her young daughter as Tehran is bombed, during the 1980s Iran-Iraq War.
🚽 FLUSH (Ends June 6): Arcola Theatre – one night in the women’s bathroom of a club, across the stories and conversations of 16 women.
👀 Tender (Ends June 6): Soho Theatre – a failing strip club struggles to compete with a nearby club, and opts to try something different.
🎤 I’m Not Being Funny (Ends June 13): Bush Theatre – a married couple work on material for their first attempt at stand-up, but some jokes cut too close to the bone.
☎️ CAMDENWALLA (June 17 – July 4): Camden People’s Theatre – in 1994, the Camden Monitoring Project fields calls amidst growing racist attacks.
Eat dinner in a hydroponic farm
One of London’s most unique dining experiences is found right in the middle of the city. The Orangery offers farm-to-table dining, where the (hydroponic) farm is right next to you. The chef’s table meal treats diners to a six-course meal, where much of the produce is grown just metres from your plate. With wine pairings, incredible food, and even the chance to cut your own salad from the table, this is truly one-of-a-kind dining.
Have a laugh at the London Clown Festival
The London Clown Festival returns in 2026 for its 10th year, “celebrating contemporary clowning, physical comedy and visually inventive performance from artists across the UK and internationally.” But these aren’t your typical circus clowns with water-squirting flowers, big rubber noses, and tiny cars. Instead, “the festival focuses on contemporary clown and physical performance rooted in comedy, theatre, bouffon, audience interaction and absurdity.”
Check out the full roster of clowning performances here.
Enjoy summer by the river
The annual London Bridge celebration of warm weather and sunny days has returned to the city with a jam-packed roster of events. Summer by the River features everything from an open-air cinema to live music, sports screenings, padel, a pop-up bar, and more.
Find out more here.
London boasts a revolving door of live music every day of the year, with some of the biggest names in music performing at world-class venues. You can also find up-and-coming artists performing throughout the city at all manner of live events. Here are some of the best gigs to check out in London this June:
A Perfect Circle (June 3-4) – Brixton Academy
Mac DeMarco (June 10-12) – Brixton Academy
Olivia Dean (June 11-12) – The O2
Marmozets (June 11) – Scala
letlive. (June 16-17) – Camden Underworld
Jessica Sweetman (June 18) – St Pancras Old Church
Hayley Williams (June 19-20) – The Roundhouse
Harry Styles (June 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 23, 26, 27, & 29 and July 1, 2, & 4) – Wembley Stadium
The Dillinger Escape Plan (June 22) – Brixton Academy
Take That (June 25, 26, 27) – The London Stadium
Lily Allen (June 27-28, July 7) – The O2
Orville Peck (June 29 & 30) – The Roundhouse
Delight in a Candlelight Concert
If you’re looking to beat the heat this June with a picturesque setting, stunning music, and candlelit environs, then we’ve got just the thing for you. These Candlelight Concerts will whisk you away from London to a world of peace and tranquillity as you enjoy stunning renditions of your favourite music.
🕯️ Candlelight: Hans Zimmer’s Best Works – Central Hall Westminster (June 13)
🌟 Candlelight: Queen vs. ABBA – Central Hall Westminster (June 13)
🕯️ Candlelight Babies: Classical Sounds to Stimulate Little Minds – Andaz London Liverpool Street (June 20)
Harry Styles was chosen as the curator for this year’s Meltdown Festival at the Southbank Centre, and yes, the main man himself will also be performing. But in addition to Styles’ own performance, attendees can explore the likes of:
- Warpaint
- Stephen Fretwell
- Ninajirachi
- Kamasi Washington
- Getdown Services
- Devonté Hynes Ensemble
- Jon Hopkins with Maddie Ashman & Leo Abrahams
- and more
Get lit-erary for Independent Bookshop Week
Independent Bookshop Week will take over London’s indie book scene with its 20th annual celebration this June. Book-lovers are encouraged to patronise their local indie shop, organise a bookshop crawl with friends, and share their favourite independent books and bookshops on socials. Check out your nearest indie store to find out what they’ve got planned to celebrate the occasion.
Find out more about Independent Bookshop Week here.
(Truly) Feel the breeze at the World Naked Bike Ride
Depending on how you feel about nudity (and cyclists), the World Naked Bike Ride London is either one of your most anticipated or feared events each June. This year, the un-clad bike-riders will be streaking their way through the city on Sunday, June 14, advocating for an alternative to car culture and the “global dependency on oil”.
Find out more here.
Ever wandered around a museum and thought to yourself, ‘This would be an incredible place for a party’? Well, you’re in luck, because clearly someone from the Natural History Museum saw the potential of the place for late-night soirees. They throw special events throughout the year, treating visitors to silent discos where they can dance among the dinosaurs.
So, what do you say? Fancy a boogie under the watchful eyes (and bones) of the humongous blue whale skeleton, Hope?
Canary Wharf’s brand new floating lido, Sea Lanes, will open this June. It’s set to be London’s first Olympic-sized floating lidom and will be open 364 days a year. It’s a chance to swim in crystal-clear natural water, surrounded by the skyscrapers and stroppy commuters of Canary Wharf.
Sea Lanes is far from the city’s only lido. In fact, there are plenty of places for Londoners to swim when the mercury hits its peak. These include some of the best lidos in Britain! Check out these spots for a refreshing dip:
🏊♀️ Summer Splash, Royal Docks
🏊♂️ London Fields Lido, Hackney
🏊♀️ Hampton Pool, Hampton
🏊♂️ Parliament Hill Lido, Hampstead
🏊♀️ Brockwell Lido, Herne Hill
Chow down on an art-inspired feast
Santiago Lastra, founder of Michelin-starred KOL, has joined forces with the Tate Modern on a special menu inspired by the upcoming Frida Kahlo exhibition, Frida: The Making of an Icon. Available in the Tate Modern Restaurant for just two months, the set menu is “a bold, sensorial dining experience that explores the artist’s world through creativity and flavour.”
Find out more and book here.
Enjoy tranquil evenings of live music in Chelsea
Want to attend a world-class gig from some of the biggest names in music, but don’t really fancy getting caught out in the crowds at the O2 or Wembley Stadium? Then head on over to Chelsea, where tranquil evening concerts await. Live in Chelsea will present 5 brilliant nights of music in the stunning surroundings of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Bask in the musical stylings of:
- Holly Johnson + Tony Hadley + Heaven 17 (June 10)
- Blue (June 11)
- Sparks (June 12)
- The Proclaimers (June 13)
- The Beach Boys (June 14)
Find out more here.
For one day only this June, a heritage bus day will take over the capital, courtesy of the legendary London Bus Museum. Londoners will be able to jump aboard a vintage bus – completely for free – to take a trip back in time. Keep an eye out for the open-platform buses (complete with a real conductor!) along the 213 route between Kingston and Sutton Bus Garage.
Afternoon tea just might be the most delightful, quintessentially British meal one can have. And if one would like to treat oneself to a special afternoon tea this June, one could do much worse than exploring these special offerings:
🫖 Fête de Versailles Afternoon Tea, Royal Albert Hall (June 1 – November 2)
☕ Wimbledon Afternoon Tea, InterContinental London Park Lane (June 15 – July 12)
🫖 Strawberry Afternoon Tea, The Peninsula London (June 29 – September 6)
☕ Afternoon Tea in the Gatsby Room, The Beaumont Mayfair
🧀 Afternoon Cheese, Covent Garden Hotel
🚌 Or you can climb aboard a themed afternoon tea bus!
Spoil your dad for Father’s Day
Father’s Day (June 21) is fast approaching, so be sure to pick the best way to spoil your dad rotten – just for one day. Here are a few ways to treat yer ol’ dad to a delightful day out in London:
🥃 Ruffian’s, the award-winning luxury barbershop group, is pairing a full haircut and styling session with an Elijah Craig Old Fashioned served tableside. (June 1 – 21)
🥞 Head to Riding House Café’s Fitzrovia, Bloomsbury, or Victoria locations for a lively, food-led celebration. Dad can enjoy a complimentary cocktail, a special Father’s Day Cook-Out (Bloomsbury only), and Sunday Soul Roasts.
🥩 Head to the newly-opened Cooper’s Cut for a Father’s Day Sunday Roast.
🍺 Raise a glass with dad at the Great Central Pub at The Landmark London, where fathers dining will receive a complimentary draught pint with their Sunday lunch.
🥃 Dads dining at Cinnamon Kitchen Battersea, Cinnamon Bazaar Richmond, and Cinnamon Bazaar Covent Garden on Father’s Day will get a complimentary shot of whisky alongside their Indian dishes.
Try top-notch Thai food for less
Farang is far and away one of the best Thai restaurants in the city. And to welcome in the summer, the Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant has launched a special lunch set menu. Guests can enjoy four courses of chef Sebby Holmes’ favourite dishes from the menu, for just £35 per person.
The dishes include Tiger prawn Miang bites, Shrimp, cucumber and lime salad, Pad Kee Mao, and Farang’s Banana, condensed milk and cassia roti. The offer is available on Thursdays and Fridays from 12-2:30pm.
Attend an all-night movie marathon
London’s Picturehouse Cinemas are once again inviting cinephiles to grab a seat and enjoy the movies all night long at the 5th edition of the Picturehouse All Nighter. Billed as “The World’s Biggest All Nighter”, 7 Picturehouse cinemas will be presenting 7 different all-night movie marathons.
Find out more here.
Crown London’s best houmous
A dedicated houmous competition, The Houmoffs, will take over Brother Marcus in Victoria this June, with 10 competitors serving up 20 houmouses to taste. Attendees can try them all before judging and voting on who takes home the prize for serving up the very best houmous in the city.
Find out more and grab a ticket here.
Grab a free margarita
A pop-up cocktail cornershop will arrive in Shoreditch this June, courtesy of ready-to-drink cocktail legends MOTH. And visitors can claim a free cocktail just by visiting the store! MOTH will be giving away 10,000 ice-cold Margarita cocktails on a first-come, first-served basis. The store will also be home to “convenience-themed surprises”, which you can scout for as you enjoy live DJ sets, vie to win prizes, and nab goodies from brand partners.
Try out celeb-loved tacos – for FREE
Miami-born taco spot, Coyo Taco, is soon winging its way across the ocean to London. And you could be among the very first people in the city to try out their wares. They’re popping up in East London this June to give away hundreds of free tacos and frozen margaritas.
Stay up to date here.
Sip on a taste of Asia
Here’s one for the curious cocktail-lovers among you. 45 Asian bars and restaurants across London are inviting you in to ‘Taste the Orient‘, as a city-wide cocktail festival descends and finds venues shaking up exciting cocktails with daring ingredients.
Drinks could include anything from dried fermented tuna to fresh mangosteen, Okinawan black sugar, Buddha’s Hand grated tableside, and sake kasu, the pressed lees from sake production.
Find out more here.
Head to one of London’s newest openings
New restaurants, bars, and venues of all stripes are constantly opening up in our fair city. If you want the newest of the new spots to check out this June, head to these new openings:
🍸 Nancy’s (opens June 1) – London Bridge gets a brand new late-night cocktail bar.
🍣 Temaki (Opens June 1) – the Brixton-born hand-roll sushi bar transfers to the glitzy streets of Mayfair with a larger site and a larger menu.
🥖 No. Forty Nine – “a bakery, all-day bistro and wine bar from the team behind Cinder”. (opens June 2)
🌽 Appalachia (opens June 3) – “a new restaurant inspired by the rich culinary traditions of the Appalachian region in the United States”.
🥐 Lockdown Bakehouse (opens June 3) – the family-run artisan bakery opens its 6th location in South West London, with a new site in Putney.
🍸 Wolves of Tokyo (open June 15) – “a noir-inspired Japanese restaurant and cocktail bar” at the new Olympia venue. Oh, and naturally, it has a rooftop.
🍷 Lillie’s (opens June 15) – rooftop wine bar and restaurant at Olympia that will serve up British small plates, British sparkling wines and champagne and panoramic views.
🌮 Bar Arriba (preview night June 12) – yet another rooftop at Olympia, this one serves Mexican-inspired dishes, agave-led cocktails and panoramic skyline views. Get a free chilli mango margarita when you join the guest list for preview night.
🍹 Circle13 (opens June) – the pop-up pétanque and cocktail bar launches its first permanent location in a London Fields arch.
🍨 Ice Cream Union, Soho (opens June) – the 30-year-old ice cream brand opens their second parlour in London.
🥐 TOAD, Deptford (opens June) – the ultra-popular bakery from Camberwell opens a second, much larger, site in Deptford market.
🍝 Rosina (opens June) – one Michelin-starred chef Adam Byatt opens his first new restaurant in 10 years, serving up elegant Italian cooking.
Have a unique meal
London’s hordes of chefs love to collaborate and experiment, so you’ll often find restaurants serving up special meals and limited-edition menus. If you fancy an exclusive offering that might only be around for one night, check out these unique dining opportunities this June:
🍕 Hot Saint launches its new pizza supper club with a collaborative offering with the cult Londis N16. Expect veggie pizzas, mezcal mango margs, and ice-cold beer and wine. (June 1)
🍔 Galápagos-born chef Ana Ortiz will serve a special guest burger, The Chimi Burger, at Zula Burger for two weeks only, with just 20 available each day. (June 1-15)
🍽️ A series of exciting chefs are taking over the kitchens at Salt Yard Group restaurants throughout June, with menus available for one week only:
- Georgina Hayden at Salt Yard Fitzrovia (June 1-7)
- Neil Rankin at Ember Yard (June 8-14)
- Ixta Belfrage at Opera Tavern, Covent Garden (June 15-21)
🌇 The Culpeper is launching a summer series of ticketed supper clubs, ‘Sundown Suppers‘, with its first event featuring food from Ivan Tisdall-Downes. (June 2)
🌶️ Rita’s will join the team at the Parakeet to serve up a menu of both kitchens’ classic dishes – such as Rita’s Jalapeno popper gildas and Ben’s Lamb chop with burnt pepper sauce. (June 3)
🍲 Firangi will drop down at Hackney wine bar Bruno for a two-week residency, serving up playful Indian cooking. (June 3 – 14)
🍻 Belgravia pub Prince Arthur, which boasts a Basque restaurant, is partnering with wine brand Antinori for an exclusive tasting menu paired with their wines. (June 4)
🥳 Bar Douro London Bridge is bringing the atmosphere of Portugal to London with Festas dos Santos Populares celebrations on its terrace throughout the month. The spirit of the Portuguese street festival will come to life with grilling, cold wine and beer, and live music. (June 7, 14, 21, 28)
🌞 Vivek Singh will mark 25 years of “redefining Indian dining in London” with a special one-off summer supper club at Cinnamon Kitchen City. (June 13)
🍨 Badiani and The Yards Covent Garden have joined forces on ‘Scoop The Yards’, a limited-time pop-up serving gelato with Med-inspired flavours such as Cacio e Pepe and Olive Oil & Salt. (June 13-14 & 20-21)
🍅 Michelin-starred restaurant, The Ninth, is celebrating tomato as part of its Single Ingredient Series of tasting menus, “celebrating a single ingredient at its peak”. (June 15 – July 11)
🔥 Chet’s is teaming up with Thai street-food specialist & YouTube personality Gary Butler (aka @the_roaming_cook) on a summer-long Bangkok BBQ terrace takeover. (June 15 – September 6)
Treat yourself to a ‘Notti’ happy hour deal
Notting Hill neighbourhood restaurant, Caia, has launched a ‘Notti’ new happy hour food and drink offering that you won’t want to miss. As they roll out the terrace furniture, they’re treating Londoners to £8 freezer martinis, spritzes, and cocktail specials. To match, they’re also serving a small burger menu to munch on. It’s the perfect start to a balmy summer evening.
Notti Hour runs from 5:30-6:30, Tuesday to Saturday.
Or enjoy some special drinks
It’s not just London’s chefs who love a collab or a limited-edition menu. The city’s bartenders can’t resist getting in on the action either. So head to the following events for some special sips this June:
🍷 ‘Wine Guy’ Tom Gilbey is hosting a special 5-course meal at Sam’s Waterside, with carefully-selected wine pairings of some of his favourite grape juice. (June 2)
🥳 Club Bisou’s rosé-fuelled Saturday brunch series will take over The Anthologist, in partnership with Ultimate Provence Rosé. Expect free-flowing rosé, European-inspired plates, and live music across the special Saturday sessions. (June 6, July 4)
🖼️ TOZI Pizzeria & Cicchetti Bar is teaming up with Pinot & Picasso for a one-night-only sip and paint experience at Battersea Power Station. (June 9)
🍹 Pérola is hosting a one-night-only event with Cloakroom – Cocktail Lab from Treviso, with a bespoke cocktail menu incorporating Italian precision and contemporary flair, created exclusively for the evening. (June 16)
🥂 TOZI Restaurant & Bar in Victoria is marking Lambrusco Day with a special menu of bites that pair with the fizzing aperitif. (June 16 – 20)
🍾 The Lanesborough is hosting an exclusive Champagne tasting evening with Perrier-Jouët. (June 26)
🍷 Belgravia’s Bar Flor has introduced an Aperitivo Hour, with house wines, Negronis, port & tonics, and beers all for just £5 each. (5–7pm, Wednesday to Friday)
Check out London’s first “Olive Oil Bar”
Following its launch last year, Citizens of Soil is bringing back its “Olive Oil Bar” with a month-long residency on Monmouth Street in Covent Garden. Head on down to try out free daily olive oil tastings and learn more at Extra Virgin Olive Oil masterclasses. Guests can also shop Citizens of Soil’s full range of fresh, traceable extra virgin olive oils, as well as related goods such as cookbooks, ceramic pourers, limited-edition products, and more.
Find out more here.
