London’s summer kicks off in earnest in June, and not a moment too soon. The city is waking up once more, with plenty of incredible things on the horizon for this month, including art exhibits, brunches galore, and festival season starting to pump up the volume. That’s just scratching the surface of all the wonderful things to do in London in June 2022 – you can find even more below!
1. Prepare for a right royal knees-up
Yes, it’s the event on everyone’s lips, so what better way to kick off the month than with a four-day weekend in celebration of the Queen’s 70 years on the throne. You’d better believe London is ready to party, so here are our best suggestions:
👑 Follow an adorable trail of colourful corgi statues
👑 Wander through a sea of flowers in the Tower of London moat (or slide down into them!)
👑 Salute the occasion by riding the newly-opened Elizabeth line (bonus points if you switch to the Jubilee after)
👑 Pop down to Petersham Nurseries in Richmond for a charming summer fête (June 3-4)
👑 Catch the star-studded tribute concert on the BBC – or in real life if you’re lucky! (June 4)
There’s even more inspiration waiting for you in our full roundup of the Jubilee weekend events here!
6. Experience a whirlwind of colour and art at an immersive Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera exhibition
Get yourself down to Dock X in Canada Water for a magical art experience, as Mexican Geniuses has now thrown open the gates to a world of dazzling art. You’ll learn about the lives, loves, triumphs, and tragedies of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera’s relationship and careers, and see their works come to life with spectacular digital projection tech. Definitely one you won’t want to miss! Tickets are available here.
7. Show your Pride!
The annual parade won’t take place until July, but Pride will nevertheless hit the ground running this month. Talks, parties, brunches, and poetry nights are just some of the Pride festivities running during June, celebrating all things LGBTQ+. As anyone who’s been to a Pride event will freely tell you, they’re literally too fun to be missed! See a selection of events here.
8. Treat your tastebuds at Taste of London
Occupying Regent’s Park for five hopefully sunny days in June, one of the capital’s favourite food festivals is back to titillate your senses. There are over 100 dishes for you to try, and London foodie legends such as Gloria, Dumplings Legend, Hoppers, Brindisa, and Santo Remedio will be cooking up a storm. Check out the festival website for more.
9. Lose yourself at London’s breathtaking lavender farm
Mad about the lav? Happily, Mayfield Lavender Farm will reopen their gorgeous gates on June 11, welcoming you into a sea of purple. It’s extremely popular with the ‘grammers, who’ll most likely be waiting towards the end of the month for peak lavender season to begin. Read all about it here.
10. Marvel at tiny art with a big impact at Small Is Beautiful
London’s XXL exhibition of XXS art has had stellar reviews since opening, so it’s high time you paid Small Is Beautiful a visit. South Kensington is now home to artworks inside the eye of a needle, miniature cities in incredible detail, and even more titchy bewitching creations. Tickets can be found here.
11-18. Throw yourself head first into festival season
Finally, the moment is here for the weekends to fill up with good vibes, good music, and good company. These are the festivals you can’t miss in June 2022!
🌟 GALA (June 2, 3 & 4): back in Peckham and extended to three days; Dan Shake, Josey Rebelle, Gilles Peterson and more feature.
🔥 Mighty Hoopla (June 3 & 4): the next up in a long line of Brockwell Park festivals, this one is all about pop. Jessie Ware, Anastasia, and Steps are amongst the acts bringing the fun.
✨ Junction 2 Festival (June 3 & 4): Four Tet, Nina Kraviz, Seth Troxler and more bring the dance music back to Boston Manor Park, after a year’s switch to Tobacco Dock.
🌟 Cross The Tracks (June 5): back to Brockwell Park for a festival of soul, jazz, funk, and food. You’ll want to be front and centre for headliners Khruangbin and Macy Gray!
🔥 Meltdown (June 10–19): Grace Jones’ long-awaited Meltdown Festival is finally set to arrive, two and a half years after it was initially announced – and we’re in no doubt it’ll be worth the wait.
✨ Hampton Court Palace Festival (June 10–25): Elbow, McFly, Kasey Musgraves, Crowded House and more are on the bill for a festival with arguably the most dramatic setting in town.
🌟 One Out Festival (June 18): back after last year’s debut, you’ll find this festival in Walton-on-Thames with the likes of Eats Everything, Skream, and Arielle Free in tow.
🔥 BST Hyde Park (June 24–July 10): one of the biggest festivals in town returns with two weekends of concerts from Pearl Jam, Adele, Elton John, Duran Duran, The Eagles, and The Rolling Stones. Bring your parents!
See Secret London’s full summer festival guide here.
19. Counter the sizzling summer weather at an ice cream parlour
When the heat is on, your body just screams out for the cool refreshment of gelato, soft-serve, and sorbet. Luckily, our guide to the city’s best ice cream parlours will keep you cool as a cucumber. (Which you can probably get in ice cream form at one of these!)
20. Immerse yourself in books at Stoke Newington Literary Festival (June 3-5)
Back for a tenth year (albeit with a slightly different venue in Newington Green), the cult literary festival is set to welcome the likes of Daisy Buchanan, Will Sergeant, Emma Kennedy, and many more to N16. Check it out here.
21. Be enchanted by a breathtaking candlelight concert
Fever’s dazzling array of candlelight concerts have taken London by storm, and with huge range of musical styles and incredible venues on offer, there’s something for every music lover here. Our pick for this month? It has to be an open-air tribute to Hans Zimmer’s finest soundtracks, sure to stir up some powerful emotions – you can find tickets here.
22. Perch ten stories up at a swish new rooftop bar
Glasshouse sits a nifty 125ft above ground level, so lush views of the city are virtually guaranteed. It’s destined to become Holborn’s favourite new hangout, and there’s even a retractable roof to cope with the vagaries of the British weather. Get the details here.
23. Marvel at the new Serpentine Pavilion (June 10)
What happens when the architecture of chapels meets a Stoke-on-Trent pottery kiln? Find out at Black Chapel, the next Serpentine Pavilion installation! It’s come from Chicago-based artist Theaster Gates, who’s worked with Adjaye Associates to create a sanctuary-like space that’s reminiscent of wandering around a giant vase. Read more here.
24. Find your ideal G&T at a massive gin festival (June 11-12)
Sunny weather is the perfect excuse to nurse a G&T through the afternoon, and at Junipalooza, you’ve got the perfect opportunity to do just that. Sixty distillers will be in residence, and you’ll even get a complimentary glass to take home afterwards. Tickets are available here.
25. Snag a space in these luxury riverside dining pods
The Glass Rooms, available to book from June 1, promises a spectacular dining experience for up to 8 people in exclusive, private glass dining pods right by the Thames. Offering up a seasonal, evolving selection of food, the menu takes inspiration from British growers and farmers. No surprise, then, that the whole affair is launching as part of a collaboration with Tower of London’s Superbloom.
26. Raise your glass to World Gin Day (June 12)
It’s the happiest day of the year (probably)! Expect a bevy of events across the capital, with various offers, special products and tastings from London’s gin distilleries. Or maybe you just make your way to your nearest gin bar and prop up the bar for the evening?
27. Sample elixirs from around the world at the new Mr Foggs Apothecary
You’ve got to respect a bar that leans as heavily into the theme as the Mr Foggs team does. Once again capturing the spirit of the fictional adventurer, this new hangout features a list of potions and tonics collected on Phileas Fogg’s travels, all carefully brewed for social drinking. Expect the eccentric adventurer vibes to be immaculately designed when Mr Foggs Apothecary opens this June.
28. Scoff all the wings at London’s fave chicken wing festival (June 17-19)
It’s wings for days at WingJam festival, returning to The Vaults in Waterloo with a stellar lineup of wing-slingers and beers from Signature Brewery. The classics (hot, BBQ, Korean) are all available, but they’re pushing the boundaries with efforts like strawberry wings, doughnut wings, and even Pot Noodle wings… Intrigued? Find your tickets here.
29. Pop along to one of the city’s best museums
From blue whale skeletons to overstuffed walruses, and from state-of-the-art science displays to retro medicine exhibits, London’s museums can keep you entertained all month long. See our guide here.
30. Take the Secret London pub crawl challenge
Look, it’d be irresponsible of us to condone a full day of drinking, but all I’m saying is that if you’re going to do it, make sure you do it in style. We’ve rounded up twelve epic pub crawls based around locations and themes, and it’ll give you plenty of inspiration. Check it out!
31. Spoil yourself (and maybe your Dad too) rotten this Father’s Day (June 19)
Treat your dear old Dad this year, whether that takes the form of a slap-up meal at a Michelin-star spot, a lost evening in a London cocktail bar, or just a really nice pair of socks.
32. Feast by the waterfall at Shoreditch’s new foodie yard
Filling the empty space left by Dinerama, LALALAND is a new street food market promising a dose of escapism to go along with all that food. It’s got 25,000 square feet of drinking and dining space, housing fifteen food vendors, four bars, fire pits, and even a waterfall. Luxe dining at its finest – more here.
33. Let your star sign decide your drinks
Well, maybe your choice of drink was written in the stars all along. It certainly is at Farzi, where a new menu of drinks themed around the signs of the zodiac is providing a fun new way to express your personality through drinks. Which will you choose? Find out here.
34. Spend a summer’s evening enjoying the cricket
I’m making it a personal mission to get more people going to evening T20 cricket matches this summer – honestly, with sun-soaked evenings, a jug of Pimms, a roaring crowd, and live sport unfolding before you, what more could you want? The capital’s two teams Surrey and Middlesex have both kicked off their seasons, so there’s drama aplenty to be found at the Oval and Lords this summer.
35. Visit the London bar home to the ‘Cocktail of the Year’
A bar so achingly cool, it’s known only by three symbols: 
. For the sake of ease, it’s also known as A Bar with Shapes for a Name, and it’s their Pastel cocktail (made with vodka, clarified rhubarb juice, recomposed lime, and raspberry eau de vie) that’s scooped the accolade. One for your bucket list, for sure – see more here.
36. Chill out next to a London lake
The great outdoors is there to be explored, and these London lakes offer fresh air, dreamy views, and a calming break from interminable Zoom chats.
37. Soak in sumptuous views of London from a luxe new rooftop bar and restaurant
Wagtail has joined the ever-growing lineup of rooftop bars in town, and we’ve got to say it’s a damn fine addition. St Paul’s, the Walkie Talkie, the Shard, the Monument – they’re all in your eyeline from this tenth-floor perch, and with Phil Kearsay and Angelos Bafas setting the menus, you’re going to feast on more than the views. See more.
38. Tuck into the city’s best afternoon teas
Whether you’re after a quirky afternoon tea, a casual affair, or a flamboyantly fancy day out, London’s array of afternoon teas have something for everyone. Find your afternoon delight here.
39. Enjoy plant-powered dinners at these vivacious vegan restaurants
We consulted London vegans for their dinner choices, and here are the vegan restaurants they think you should be trying in 2022! With both fine dining vegan restaurants and tasty junk food spots finding a home on our list, there’s something for all. Check ’em out here.
40-52. Join the crowd at a top London gig
Yep, we’ll have some of that thank you! There are some big names hitting the capital this month, and not just at the festivals – here are our picks of the month:
Lorde, Roundhouse (June 1, 2, 3) & Ally Pally (June 28)
Run The Jewels, O2 Academy Brixton (May 3)
The Killers and Sam Fender, Emirates Stadium (June 3 & 4)
Crowded House, Roundhouse (June 4, 5, 6 & 7)
50 Cent, Wembley SSE (June 10)
Billie Eilish, O2 Arena (June 10, 11, 12, 25 & 26)
Alicia Keys, O2 Arena (June 13)
Harry Styles, Wembley Stadium (June 18 & 19)
Macy Gray, Ronnie Scott’s (June 21, 22, 23)
Tems, KOKO (June 22)
Ed Sheeran & Maisie Peters, Wembley Stadium (June 24, 25, 29 & 30)
Elton John, BST @ Hyde Park (June 24)
Ziggy Marley, O2 Academy Brixton (June 26)
53-55. Soak up some culture at a brilliant art exhibition
The art world is abuzz once more with brilliant London art shows, so here are our picks of the month!
😵 Picasso Ingres: Face to Face, National Gallery (opens June 3)
🎨 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition (opens June 21)
🖤 In the Black Fantastic, Hayward Gallery (opens June 29)
56-62. Keep on exploring our wonderful city
It’s all well and good us writing about it, but it doesn’t matter if you don’t get out there and see it! Have a gander at the best places we wrote about recently:
❤️ Behind This Wall: Hackney’s hidden cocktail bar where you set the menu
❤️ Corrochio’s: late night Mexican joint with a huge tequila list
❤️ Sadie’s: coffee and cocktail spot with a mission to spotlight female owners & producers
❤️ The Beaumont Hotel: home to a delectable American-inspired afternoon tea
❤️ 40FT Brewery x Acme Fire Cult: pop-up using their brews in their cooking, and fire in their beers
❤️ W/A Kensington: chow down on Belgian-inspired fare at this charming brasserie
❤️ Mat & Jack’s Fat Subs: messy sandwiches aplenty from a railway arch in London Fields
More things to do inspiration…
200 fab and FREE things to do in London
The 500 best things to do in London
All our ideas for unusual places to visit in London
Also published on Medium.