Not only does July bring about the warmer weather, but it also comes with an explosion of open-air events and incredible things to do in London in July taking place all around the city. Whether you want to have a picnic with the city skyline as your backdrop or watch a movie under the stars at a rooftop cinema night, here’s our list of our favourite events taking place in London this July.
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(WA = Wheelchair Accessible)
Image courtesy of Merchant Square Paddington
Watch Wimbledon on screens across the city
Wimbledon is one of the most quintessentially British events you can attend in the city and is certainly one of the top things to do in London in July. You can buy tickets on the day (but be prepared to queue from the early hours, but that’s part of the fun), or do as the locals do and find one of the many outdoor screens across the city broadcasting the matches. Just pull up a deck chair, grab a glass of Pimms and some strawberries and watch as world-class players battle it out in live time. Some of the most well-loved screens are at Canary Wharf, Merchant Square in Paddington and King’s Cross. You’ll also find them dotted across other venues in the city.
Wimbledon Championship | Wimbledon | 29th June – 12th July 2026
Watch the Pride in London Grand Parade
The Pride in London Parade is the city’s biggest and most iconic Pride event. Scheduled for the 4th of July (the closest Saturday to the anniversary of the Stonewall riots, a pivotal moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement), you can expect a sea of rainbow flags, glitter, music and high-energy vibes. The parade features floats from community groups, charities and local businesses, as well as dancers, cabaret performers, live music stages and so much more. Feel free to dress for the occasion. Rainbow gear, glitter and expressive outfits are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.
Pride in London Parade | WA | 4th July 2026
Image courtesy of BST Hyde Park via Facebook
Sing your heart out to Lewis Capaldi and Maroon 5 at BST Hyde Park Festival
Summer in London wouldn’t be complete without British Summer Time Festival. The series kicks off on the 27th of June with country legend Garth Brooks playing his first UK show in nearly 30 years. The full run also includes Maroon 5, Mumford & Sons, Duran Duran, Pitbull, and Lewis Capaldi across the two weekends in July. Tickets are selling fast, so don’t wait to buy them!
BST Hyde Park | WA | Westminster | 27th June – 12th July 2026
Image courtesy of London Fields Lido via Instagram
Go for a swim in one of London’s outdoor pools
We’ve got quite a few public pools here in London (with small entrance fees), so if you find yourself needing a refreshing dip, find the pool nearest to you and head there early if it’s a hot day, to beat the queues! Just an FYI – some make you book time slots, so make sure you check that out before leaving.
Some of the city’s most popular public pools are:
- London Fields Lido, London Fields (WA)
- Brockwell Lido, Brixton (WA)
- Hampton Pool, Hampton (WA)
- Parliament Hill, Hampstead (WA)
Have a picnic in one of London’s lush green parks
Pack your hamper and head for one of London’s lush green parks – from Brockwell Park with its pretty ponds to Primrose Hill with its iconic panorama of the city, there are countless places to enjoy a packed lunch al fresco in the city, an activity that has forever been one of the best things to do in London in July. A few other favourites are Greenwich Park for awesome views of Canary Wharf, Richmond Park for shaded ancient trees, and Victoria Park for the best coffee and Sri Lankan breakfast from local hot spot, Pavilion.
Image Courtesy of Rooftop Film Club via Instagram
Head to an outdoor cinema
When July comes around, the outdoor cinema season in London is already in full-force, and there’s a couple of places where you can enjoy a movie under the stars all around the city. Catch a film at outdoor cinemas, which are located all over London. If you’re heading East, one of our favourites is Rooftop Film Club (WA) in the heart of Stratford. They also have a sister venue down south in Peckham. It’s the ideal spot for crowd-pleasers at sunset (make sure you grab one of their wood-fired pizzas).
Adventure Cinema (WA) also has a cracking screen in the heart of Kew Gardens, which is definitely worth a visit, and over in King’s Cross, there’s a free outdoor cinema that opens up on the canal every summer.
Visit during Spring/Summer
Grab a pint and get behind your team at World Cup watch parties across London
The FIFA World Cup runs from the 11th of June right through to the 19th of July 2026, and London is going fullllll fan-zone. Belushi’s bars in London Bridge, Hammersmith, Camden, Greenwich and Shepherd’s Bush will be showing every match live on HD screens, while Shoreditch’s Old Blue Last and Flat Iron Square in London Bridge will inevitably be hosting screenings again with loads of food and drink options.
England’s first fixtures are:
- 17 June vs Croatia (9pm)
- 23 June vs Ghana (9pm)
- 27 June vs Panama (10pm).
PSA: try book a table early if you can because it gets packed out real fast.
World Cup fixtures | Various venues | From 11th June 2026
Image Courtesy of BBC
See a performance at the Proms
The BBC Proms Classical Music Festival has been returning to the Royal Albert Hall every summer since 1941 for 8 weeks of performances, talks, classes, and more. Performances take place in the grand Royal Albert Hall, one of London’s most remarkable venues and tickets for concerts start at just £8 (if you purchase on the day). The concerts are a wonderful way to get acquainted with Western classical music in an iconic London space and is one of the best things to do in London in July for music-enthusiasts.
Proms | WA | Kensington | 17th July – 12th September 2026
Image Courtesy of Country on the Common via Facebook
Dust off your boots for a weekend of country and blues in south London
If you’re not done with all the singing and dancing, Country on the Common returns to Tooting Common on the 4th and 5th of July, with a jampacked programme of live music, family activities and lots of fun, themed entertainment for all ages.
Grammy-nominated Seasick Steve headlines Saturday, with Kezia Gill, Twinnie and One Night in Nashville in support, while Sunday is led by US country rising star Cody Pennington. Vernon Kay also makes his festival debut with his Country Jukebox DJ set.
Come for the brilliant acts, but stay for the line dancing, barn dancing, axe throwing, rodeo bull riding and BBQ food trucks.
Country on the Common | WA | Tooting | 4th – 5th July 2026
Image Courtesy of Hyper Japan via Facebook
Transport yourself to Tokyo at the UK’s biggest Japanese culture festival
HYPER JAPAN Festival 2026 is bringing the best of Japanese culture to Olympia in Kensington from July 24th – 26th. We’re talking everything from manga and anime to live music, fashion, street food stalls, gaming, traditional culture workshops and so much more. There will also be headline performances from Japanese artists Queen Bee and Avantgardey to put a fun twist on the day. Entry to the festival is paid, so make sure you check out ticket options before visiting.
Hyper Japan | Olympia London, West Kensington | From 24th – 26th July 2026
Spend an afternoon browsing David Hockney’s free Serpentine Gallery Exhibition
In his first exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington, David Hockney invites you to slow down and notice the extraordinary within the everyday. The exhibition brings his celebrated panoramic frieze A Year in Normandie to London for the first time, a monumental work inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, that captures the changing seasons at the artist’s former studio in Normandy.
The show also features 10 new paintings alongside Moon Room and his Sunrise body of digital work. Entry is completely free, but it’s worth booking a time slot to visit, so you don’t miss out.
Serpentine Galleries | Serpentine North, Kensington Gardens | 12th March – 23rd August 2026
Interested in more ways you can spend an afternoon wandering around London? Here are our favourite unique museums worth a visit.
Image Courtesy of Go Boat
Take a GoBoat
When the sun comes out in London, people tend to flock to the waterways. Whether that be for a picnic or a bike ride along the canal, there’s something about the warmer weather that makes people want to be by the water. If you’re one of these people that prefer to be on the water, then GoBoat is an excellent way to explore London from the comfort of a self-drive boat. Don your sailor cap and hop aboard down Regent’s Canal from their Paddington location, or explore London’s Docklands from Canary Wharf. Don’t forget to pack some beers or Prosecco for the ride (if you’re not the designated driver!).
Go Boat | Paddington | Visit during Spring/Summer
We featured GoBoat in our video about fun things to do in the warm weather in London:
Image Courtesy of ChessFest
Nerd out at ChessFest
Whether you’re an experienced chess player or you’re keen to learn the basics, ChessFest is a free event for all levels taking place at London’s iconic Trafalgar Square. There will be life-sized chess boards, as well as a game of living chess with actors taking on the role of chess pieces. You can also expect free chess lessons for everyone and anyone, as well as hundreds of chess tables for people to compete on.
ChessFest | Trafalgar Square | 12th July 2026
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