Things To Do in London This Month: July 2023

Culture / 4 weeks ago

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It’s summer. Even if it isn’t yet (summer officially starts 21 June, mark your calendars). Celebrate the return to spritzers, picnics and lounging outside with these exciting events, say Tessa Dunthorne and Olivia Emily. From discovering new experiences and places in the capital, festivals galore, to exploring thought-provoking exhibitions, this is the C&TH guide to the best things to do in London right now. Here’s what to see, eat and do in London this month. 

The C&TH Culture Hub

Things To Do In London This Month: At A Glance

Click to skip to the event…

• Rooftop Film Club
• Luxury and Power: Persia to Greece at the British Museum
• See Spongebob: The Musical
• Visit the brand new Hackney Bridge Flea Market
• Go to a festival: Community Festival 7 July; Wireless 7-9 July; Kaleidoscope 15 July; Elrow Town 22 July
• Visit the Dear Earth exhibition at the Hayward Gallery
• Play a free game of Pétanque in King’s Cross
• Learn about the world of bees at Ham Yard Hotel
• Try Theo Randall’s new summer terrace at InterContinental Park Lane
• Rent a boat in Canary Wharf
• Get immersed in the BBC Earth Experience
• Go for an outdoor swim
• Explore London’s Kyoto Garden
• Head to the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic

Things To Do In London This Month: July 2023

See Spongebob: The Musical

From 26 July to 27 August at the Southbank Centre

The psychedelic Broadway transfers from across the pond – Spongebob: The Musical brings the pineapple under the sea to the shores of the Southbank. As a volcano’s impending eruption threatens the residents of Bikini Bottom, Spongebob and friends must save the world. The family-friendly rock-pop musical gently comments on the power of community in creating the conditions for climate justice. southbankcentre.co.uk

Go To A Festival This Month

Festival season is back, and it’s back with a vengeance. Don’t sit tight at the weekends while your friends are out having fun – soak up the atmosphere of a packed crowd at a mega music stage. Here are the London festivals on this month:

• For the throwback: Community Festival 7 July, communityfestival.london
• For hip-hop fans: Wireless 7-9 July, wirelessfestival.co.uk
• For the panorama: Kaleidoscope 15 July, alexandrapalace.com
• For immersive stages and electronic music: Elrow Town July 22, elrowtown.com

Rooftop Film Club

From 28 April at Roof East in Stratford and 1 May at Peckham’s Bussey Building

You know summer is on its way when the outdoor cinemas start opening their doors again. Kicking off the season is Rooftop Film Club, which has two outposts across the city: one atop Peckham’s Bussey Building, another at Roof East in Stratford. The 2023 programme includes a mix of new releases such as The Menu and Everything Everywhere All At Once, alongside old classics such as Clueless and Notting Hill. rooftopfilmclub.com

Discover more outdoor cinemas in and near London here

Explore A Climate Exhibition

Until 3 September at the Hayward Gallery

‘Caring is a form of resistance,’ says featured artist Otobong Nkanga in Dear Earth: Art and Hope in a Time of Crisis at The Hayward Gallery. This hopeful exhibition takes a peek across continents at how contemporary artists help us reframe our responses to climate change – and asks us how we can be more mutually compassionate. Part of the wider Planet Summer season at the Southbank Centre. southbankcentre.co.uk 

Read our full review of Dear Earth: Art and Hope in a Time of Crisis

Play A Free Game Of Pétanque In King’s Cross

Lewis Cubitt Square

Fan of the French game? Even if you’re more into Crown green bowls, this summer game has popped up and is a perfect outing for a family or friends get-together. Just show up to Lewis Cubitt Square and get pointing those boules.

Classic: Explore Luxury and Power: Persia to Greece at the British Museum

From 4 May–13 August 2023

The British Museum’s Joseph Hotung Great Court Gallery will host a series of exceptional items on loan from across the globe – as well as in-house treasure displayed once in a generation – to explore the relationship between luxury and power in the Middle East and southeast Europe between 550-30 BC. britishmuseum.org

Learn About The World Of Bees At Ham Yard Hotel

Sunday 16 July

Want to learn more about bees? Fancy tasting some incredible honey? Head down to Ham Yard Hotel for a talk by honey sommelier and author Sarah Wyndham Lewis and her husband Dale Gibson – co-founders of Bermondsey Street Bees. Sarah will be discussing her brand new book, The Wild Bee Handbook, as well as giving guests an overview of bees in the UK. She will also lead a tasting of six outstanding global honeys before treating guests to a Q&A session, which will be finished off with some tea and cake. firmdalehotels.com

Dig Into A Summer Plate At The New ‘Theo’s On The Terrace’

Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 10pm

The ex-River Café chef, Theo Randall, has opened a glorious summer terrace in collaboration with Campari – meaning long lounging lunches (expect seasonal antipasti plus Sicilian-style pizza and pasta) with negronis in hand, while the sun spills onto the table. parklane.intercontinental.com

Get Immersed In The BBC Earth Experience

Until 7 Jan 2024

Journey through the natural world in awe-inspiring and dizzying detail, with David Attenborough’s narration in your ears. The BBC Earth Experience immerses you in the sights and sounds of the biodiversity that populates our planet’s landscapes – from the ocean floor to the very tippy top of the mountains. Be warned, though: the biodiversity might bring you face-to-pincer with some real creepy crawlies. bbcearthexperience.com

Visit The Brand New Hackney Bridge Flea Market

Every Sunday from 14 May 2023

On 14 May, Flea London, the team behind Vinegar Yard’s popular market in London Bridge, will launch a brand-new Sunday market at Hackney Bridge in collaboration with Hackney Council’s Markets. That’s your weekend sorted! hackneybridge.org

Discover more of London’s markets here

Rent A Boat in Canary Wharf

From £85 via GoBoat at the London Docklands

Aye, aye, Captain. Soak up the summer sun (or hide in the shade of the dizzying Canary Wharf landscape) from the comfort of an electric boat, and explore the London Docklands from an alternative perspective. From £85 for one hour, seats eight, goboat.co.uk

Splash Around: Go For An Outdoor Swim

Across London

Dare to swim outdoors, as the weather creeps slowly in the 20s. London is well provided with its vast choice of outdoor pools and lidos – so it might be time to dust off your swim gear, don some goggles and take to the water. Read our full guide to the capital’s outdoor pools, lidos and ponds.

Explore Holland Park’s Kyoto Garden

Holland Park

Forget the big ticket trip to Japan – the Kyoto Garden in Holland Park is a quick dopamine fix for Japanophiles in the capital. The garden, originally built to celebrate the Japan Festival in 1992, is a tranquil and traditional landscape sporting a pond filled with koi carp and a roaming muster of peacocks. Perfect for a wander just moments from High Street Kensington station.

Warm Up For Wimbledon at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic

27 June–1 July at the Hurlingham Club

Ahead of Wimbledon, you can catch world-class tennis players at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic, an annual event which takes place at the Hurlingham Club. In its 27-year history, names like Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, Andy Murray and Boris Becker have played there – and this year the line-up includes Xavier Malisse and Thomas Enqvist. It’s a beautiful venue, and you can always guarantee a great summer’s day out, with plenty of hospitality packages available to book. Alongside the tennis, there will be a pop-up showcasing the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic capsule, plus the summer linen capsule and an array of seasonal accessories. giorgioarmanitennisclassic.com

Featured image: Goboat, Canary Wharf