30+ brilliant things to do in London in June 2024

After two bank holidays and a half term you would be forgiven for thinking that London might be taking it easy for about now. But no, the city is as busy as ever with lots of things to do in London in June.

June in London is always great fun. Open-air theatre performances, alfresco dining, fun festivals and plenty of opportunities to spend time in the city’s parks, playgrounds and on the water make this a great month to discover the city. 

June is also a good time to explore London’s famous landmarks and major attractions before the schools break up for summer. 

See the Changing of the Guards without the crowds, take a tour on the London Eye, marvel at the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, take a walk over Tower Bridge, snap photos of famous figures at Madame Tussauds, marvel at Big Ben, or simply enjoy the street performers in Covent Garden. 

Don’t forget to book your tickets to the Sky Garden either – London’s highest public garden is always busy during the summer months. If you can’t get tickets however, don’t worry, there are lots of other places to catch a free view of London.   

​Read on to discover our top picks of the best things to do in London in June. 

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June dates for your diary

• Father’s Day takes place on 16 June – don’t forget to buy your dad a gift!
• The London Sundance Film Festival takes place from 6 – 9 June
• Peek inside some of London’s private square and gardens during Open Square Gardens weekend on 8 – 9 June.
• The Royal Academy’s annual Summer Exhibition opens on 18 June and runs until 18 August 
• Foodies will be happy to know that Taste of London is back, taking place from 13 – 15 June in Regent’s Park. 
• A fun one for teens in London is the Mighty Hoopla, a perky pop festival taking place 1 – 2 June. 
• June 1 – 30 marks the month of Pride but the city’s famous annual pride parade doesn’t take place until 1 July. 
• The Hampton Court Palace Festival always has a cracking line up – last year Grace Jones performed. This summer you can enjoy performances by Nile Rodgers & Chic, Tom Jones and Paloma Faith and other artists. The festival runs between 11 – 22 June. 
• This is the final month when you can see the Accidentally Wes Anderson exhibition. 
• Be prepared to see some flesh if you’re in town on 8 June when the World Naked Bike Ride returns to London. 
• International Sushi Day is a thing and it takes place on 18 June. Our favourite are the Dragon Rolls…
• Book now for BST Hyde Park, one of many music festivals taking place in London over the summer months. Artists including Andrea Bocelli and Robbie Williams will be performing. Performances take place between 29 June – 14 July.
• Book now for a major Barbie exhibition that opens at the Design Museum on 5 July.
• Kew Gardens programme of outdoor theatre returns this summer. Book now for The Dream Fairies and Wind in the Willows 

For more ideas on things to do, join our London with kids Facebook group. You can also sign up for our monthly newsletter sharing fun things to do in the city.

Our Highlights for June in London (2024)

Can’t decide what to do? The following are our top picks for things to do in London in June.

• The much anticipated The Paddington Experience opened on 31 May; join the lovable bear from Peru on what promises to be a fun-filled immersive experience. 
• The Lambeth County Show is always a fun day out with the kids – make sure to get your vegetable sculpture ready!
• Taste of London Food Festival is a tasty way to spend the day for foodies young and old.
• Explore the wonderful worlds of science and the arts at the Great Exhibition Road Festival.
• The Appearing Rooms at the Southbank Centre is back! This is one of our favourite splash parks in London.

Things to do in London in June

The Paddington Bear Experience

The much-anticipated The Paddington Bear Experience opened at at County Hall at the end of May and is welcoming fans of marmalade sandwiches through its doors into a ‘multi-room, immersive experience’ based on the life and adventures of the world’s most famous bear.

West End Live

Get ready to sing along to some of your favourite musical numbers at West End LIVE in Trafalgar Square.  Taking place in central London this free event is always great fun and the perfect place to hear some of your favourite show tunes from the Lion King and Mamma Mia! to The Phantom of the Opera and SIX. Entry is on a first come, first served basis. 

This year, West End Live takes place on 23 and 24 June. 

Trooping of the Colour, Horse Guards Parade 

The Trooping of the Colour, otherwise known as the King’s Birthday Parade, is an incredible display of pageantry performed by the King’s personal troops, the Household Division.

Over 1,400 officers and men are on parade along with 200 horses, over 400 musicians from ten bands, and some 113 words of command are given by the Officer in Command of the Parade.  This year, the Trooping of the Colour takes place on 15 June. 

Legion: Life in the Roman Army at The British Museum 

This is the final month that you can enjoy Legion: Life in the Roman Army at The British Museum. From family life in the fort to the realities of the battlefield, discover if you have what it takes to make it in the Roman army. 

Legion: Life in the Roman Army runs until 23 June. 

Lambeth Country Show 

The Lambeth County Show has been taking place in Brockwell Park every year for the last 50 years.

Celebrating the quirky, unique and wonderful world of countryside pursuits, this is the place to come if you want to see the resident alpacas of Vauxhall City Farm, to watch historical reenactments, to take part in a drumming workshop or an origami class, and to dance to live music. There are sheepdog displays, an on-site mini farm, food stalls and much more. Our favourite is the vegetable sculpture competition.

This year the free Lambeth Country Show takes place on 8 and 9 June from 1pm – 9pm.  

Kew Fete

Taking place on 22 June is the Kew Fete with over 100 stalls, a vintage fairground, live entertainment, and the infamous Kew Fete Tug of War. The annual festival raise money for 14 local charities and is a fun, family-friendly day out. 

The Southbank Summer Market 

Taken place every Sunday over the summer months is the South Bank Summer Market. Over 60 traders will be selling everything from jewellery and clothing to art, kids’ toys and more. 

Family events at the V&A 

Family Activities at the V&A this month include a family origami challenge, a sound workshop with School of Noise, a pop up dance performance about waste and the environment, a photography workshop and more. 

Most of these events are free, check dates and details on the V&A website. 

​Starlight Express

Possibly my favourite musical from when I was a child returns this summer to London. The story of competitive trains – played by actors on roller-skates zooming around specially constructed tracks – will be performed at the Troubadour Theatre in Wembley Park. Starlight Express opens on 8 June.  

Beyond the Baseline at The British Library

Charting 500 years of history, Beyond the Baseline opened last month at The British Library and is the first major exhibition exploring Black music in Britain. Enjoy over 200 exhibits – from original records and carnival costumes to film footage and photographs, this extensive exhibition celebrates both black music and the places where this music was born.

Beyond the Baseline runs until 26 August

Book tickets for Buckingham Palace

If you fancy taking a look inside Buckingham Palace, the most famous of London attractions, then now’s the time to book your tickets. Sure, the palace always looks rather splendid but in order to be really impressed you should take a tour inside too. The State Rooms open for visitors on 11 July until 29 September and tickets are available now. 

Medieval Mayhem at the Tower of London

June is the perfect time to head to the Tower of London where fairytales and frolics are taking over the South Lawn. Step back in time and watch medieval Londoners as they tell their stories and get ready to serve the Queen. Expect a mini pageant about the ravens and even a magical giant.

Don’t miss a walking tour with one of the Yeoman warders while here.

Medieval Mayhem runs until June 23 and is included in admission tickets.

Art in Mayfair

Enjoy art in all its forms during Art in Mayfair when the upscale neighbourhood transforms into an open-air gallery with sculptures, colourful flags and pop-up events. The annual event, a collaboration between Mayfair and the Royal Academy of Art, lasts for one month from 12 June to 9 July. 

Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre at the Natural History Museum 

The new exhibition at the Natural History Museum opened at the end of May, exploring the weird and wonderful world of birds. Meet the wonderchicken, the oldest modern bird in the world, discover what a pigeon has in common with the T.rex  and which birds bathe in acid to survive. 

Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre runs until 5 January 2025

Taste of London at Regent’s Park

Enjoy five days of feasting at the Taste of London Food Festival taking place in Regent’s Park, one of the Royal Parks. This year marks the 20th anniversary of this foodie festival and restaurants  taking part this year including Santo Remedio, Roka, and Circle Populare. Meet chefs, talk to artisan producers, discover delicious food stalls and street food, check in at cookery school and much more. Arrive hungry! 

Marylebone Summer Festival

Marylebone’s annual summer festival returns on 9 June with a dog show, a wellness hub, a Ferris wheel, live performances and family-friendly activities. 

Great Exhibition Road Festival

If you’re looking for free things to do then make a note of the Great Exhibition Road Festival. Taking place on the  15 and 16 June, the weekend of free events welcomes all ages exploring how awe and wonder can inspire science and the arts. 

Dedicated themed spaces packed with creative activities, live experiments and interactive displays will be open to explore including the Engerise Zone, Brilliant Bodies Zone and the Future Food Zone. There is also a dedicated Family Fun Zone where children under 12 can meet scientists, musicians, engineers, artists and doctors.

Appearing Rooms at the Southbank Centre

One of our favourite splash parks in London, the Appearing Rooms at the Southbank Centre, opens on 5 June. The shooting jets of water appear and disappear at random creating “rooms” within them and ensuring that you will come away very, very wet! 

Turn It Up: The Power of Music at the Science Museum 

You still have a couple of months to enjoy the Science Museum’s exhibition, Turn It Up: The Power of Music. The exhibition explores how and why music drives us to create, perform, feel and connect with others.

Enjoy plenty of interactive exhibits including a musical playground and Haile the musical robot, discover weird and wonderful instruments and take a musical Turing test – and more! 

Untold Lives at Kensington Palace 

Ongoing at Kensington Palace is this exhibition showcasing the lives of the many servants, courtiers, cooks, seamstresses, and pages who ensured that the royal palaces ran like clockwork. Untold Lives explores the many people and roles who diligently behind the scenes to maintain, protect and promote the monarch and the royal palaces. Afterwards, take a wander around Kensington Gardens and stop by the Diana Memorial Playground. 

Outdoor Cinemas

Summertime means it’s time for open air films again. Take a look at the Luna Cinema, the Rooftop Film Club, Kew the Moviesand the Backyard Cinema.