The best things to do in London this July

While London laps up some much-deserved sunshine, an exciting roster of new openings and events are happening across the British capital this July. The month gets underway on a sporting foot as England compete in the Euro 2024, and the world’s top tennis players take on the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. Food and drink launches include a chic bistro in Covent Garden, a farm-to-fork restaurant in Notting Hill and a slick rooftop kitchen and bar in Shoreditch. There’s also plenty of new exhibitions (hello, Barbie at the Design Museum) and a dazzling line-up of festivals, too. Read on to discover our pick of the best things to do in London this month.

Seasonal things to do in London

2024 Wimbledon Championships

When: 1 – 14 July 

The 2024 Wimbledon Championships kicks off on 1 July with a record prize of 50 million GBP up for grabs. If you missed out on securing courtside tickets through the ballet, there are a number of different outdoor spots across the capital that are screening the tournament. A handful of our favourites include the floating pontoon at St Katharine Docks, the screen on the canal in Granary Square, and the summer screen in Canada Square Park. You’ll also find showings in Borough Yards, Covent Garden and Hackney Bridge, as well as most pubs (in between screening the Euro 2024 knockout stages). It’s worth noting that some locations have limited seating available, and operate on a first come, first served basis, so come prepared with a picnic blanket to avoid disappointment – strawberries, welcome.

Food and drink happenings in London

Henri, Covent Garden

Location: 14-15 Henrietta Street, London, WC2E 8PS
Price: Small plates from 4 GBP; large plates from 12 GBP 

Chef Jackson Boxer of Orasay in Notting Hill and Brunswick House in Vauxhall has just launched Henri restaurant at the Henrietta Hotel in Covent Garden. Successfully combining the best of British and French cooking, menu highlights include oysters with champagne mignonette, tender roast duck with blood orange and olives, and a coffee-soaked almond sponge with buttercream and chocolate. If it’s a lunchtime reservation, don’t miss the steak frites with fried egg, or the playful cocktail menu inspired by French icons. Interiors are a nod to the historic Covent Garden fruit and vegetable market with botanical shapes and art nouveau accents courtesy of designer Dorothée Meilichzon.

Kolamba East, Spitalfields

Location: 12 Blossom Street, London, E1 6PL
Price: Small plates from 8.70 GBP; large plates from 15.80 GBP 

Spitalfields is in for a treat this month when Soho staple Kolamba officially opens its doors on Blossom Street. Housed in a restored Georgian townhouse, the 92-cover space carries the same stripped-back palette as its sibling outpost: bare-brick walls, exposed wooden beams and wood finishes. There will also be two private dining rooms, and a central bar – marking an exciting venture into the mixology world for the Kolamba team. Signature modern Sri Lankan dishes remain a nod to founders Eroshan and Aushi Meewella’s childhoods, while a larger selection of snacks, feasting platters and vegetable plates will debut. The jaffna lamb shank served in a rich and spicy tamarind sauce, and the vegetable medley with diced broccoli, onion and grated coconut in a lime dressing are sure to impress.

Kaso, Shoreditch

Location: 100 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6JQ
Price: Cold mezzes from 4 GBP; hot mezzes from 11 GBP 

One Hundred Shoreditch is one of the most-talked about addresses in east London, partly for its killer line-up of events (drag icon Bimini Bon Boulash recently took to the decks at its weekly lobby lates series), but largely for its rooftop flaunting sweeping views across the city. This month, new rooftop bar and kitchen Kaso opens with Turkish-born chef Ilknur Celik plating up fresh East Mediterranean flavours in the form of hot and cold mezzes. The flatbread with chilli-drizzled hummus pairs perfectly with the feta cheese borek (a traditional pie from the Balkans), and grilled lamb cutlets. There’s also a stellar cocktail list featuring Greek wines and fruity concoctions designed to complement the food. Make it your choice for an alfresco date night on the plant-lined terrace.

Holy Carrot, Notting Hill

Location: 156 Portobello Road, London, W11 2EB
Price: Small plates from 11 GBP; large plates from 17 GBP 

Irina Linovich’s Holy Carrot has been turning heads for its plant-based pop-ups and intimate supper clubs over the last few years, but this month marks the official opening of a permanent space on Notting Hill’s Portobello Road. Vegetable-led menus are headed up by Daniel Watkins (co-founder of Acme Fire Cult), and fire and ferment-focused dishes are based upon locally sourced ingredients. Bold plates like the smoked beetroot, hazelnut cream and sweet and sour dill, and the grilled pineapple and miso butterscotch soft serve are refreshingly light and delicious. Decor reflects the nature-rich menu with earth tones and tables decorated with custom ceramics from various independent UK studios. There’s also a feel-good techno playlist hand-picked by Linovich that sets the vibe across the outdoor terrace and bar.

Labombe, Bermondsey

Location: 36 Snowsfields, London, SE1 3SU
Price: Small plates from 6.50 GBP; wine by the glass from 7 GBP 

Two Michelin-starred restaurant Trivet in Bermondsey has recently announced the addition of its intimate wine bar Labombe, which takes over the restaurant space every Monday. Sommelier Isa Bal brings the best of his award-winning 450-strong bottle list with an exclusive by-the-glass offering for guests, which showcases rare and low-intervention wines. Wine enthusiasts will note that the menu is ordered by chronological age, and spans varieties from Italy, France, Georgia, and Turkey. To accompany, a new menu of elevated light bites from head chef Jonny Lake includes focaccia with pink salami, homemade skinny fries, butter tarts, and bestsellers from the Trivet lunch menu.

The best exhibitions in London

Barbie: The Exhibition at the Design Museum

Location: 224-238 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6AG
When: 5 July 2024 – 23 February 2025
Price: From 14.38 GBP 

One year on since Greta Gerwig’s Barbie made history as the highest-grossing film directed by a woman, Barbie: The Exhibition has arrived at the Design Museum. This plastic-fantastic show draws together 250 objects including a rare first edition from 1959, unseen prototypes and bestselling accessories like such as Barbie dream houses (mojo dojo casa house not included). Through charting the evolution of Barbie’s appearance, visitors will trace themes of diversity, representation and major cultural shifts with boundary-breaking dolls like the day-to-night Barbie – a 1985 design that championed the era’s workplace revolution. Costumes worn by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the 2023 film will also feature in the eight-month exhibition.

Tropical Modernism: Architecture and Independence at V&A 

Location: Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL
When: Until 22 September 
Price: From 16 GBP 

A thought-provoking exhibition on the bold 1940s architectural style of Tropical Modernism is taking place at the V&A this summer. Originally developed in West Africa by British architects Jane Drew and Maxwell Fry, the modern aesthetic was quickly adapted by local architects during the anti-colonial period. Often recognised as a structural symbol of independence in India and Ghana, the exhibit pays homage to the country’s first prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Samia Nkrumah, while also examining the complex power dynamics of the time period. Browse an insightful collection of various models, drawings, letters, photographs, and a 30-minute film installation spotlighting 16 key modernist structures.

Serpentine Pavilion 2024

Location: Serpentine South, London, W2 3XA
When: Until 27 October
Price: Free

The Serpentine has unveiled its 2024 pavilion on the verdant lawn of Serpentine South gallery in London’s Kensington Gardens. Designed by Seoul-based Korean architect Minsuk Cho of Mass Studies, the structure – titled Archipelagic Void – consists of five unique spaces that meld into the shape of a star around a circular, open-air void. Cho took inspiration from the layout of traditional Korean houses that feature a courtyard at their core. Inside, a soundscape commissioned by Korean musician Jang Young-Gyu uses sounds of nature and human activities recorded in the surrounding grounds, while traditional Korean vocal music and instrumentals aim to depict the transition of seasons. There’s also a library of donated books by artist Heman Chong and archivist Renée Staal. Various conversations on art and design will take place in the pavilion over summer – visit the website for more information.

Summer Exhibition 2024 

Location: Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BD
When: Until 18 August
Price: 22 GBP 

Featuring more than 1,200 contemporary artworks and architecture from emerging and established creatives, The Royal Academy’s eagerly awaited Summer Exhibition has just opened for its 256th edition. This year’s theme is ‘making space’, as chosen by British sculptor and exhibition coordinator Ann Christopher, allowing a breadth of interpretation for artists to explore what space means to them. In the courtyard, a striking textile sculpture by British artist Nicola Turner explores the intersection between life and death, and has been built from organic matter such as horsehair and wool. Elsewhere, pieces from Vivien Blackett, Rachel Whiteread, Diana Copperwhite and Permindar Kaur slot alongside public submissions.

Cultural happenings in London

Somerset House Summer Series

Location: Strand, London, WC2R 1LA
When: 11 – 21 July 
Price: Event prices vary

Rising R&B artist Pip Millett kicks off Somerset House’s annual Summer Series in its open-air courtyard, against its iconic neoclassical building on 11 July. An eclectic line-up of live performances will follow from Corinne Bailey Rae, The Amazons, Smino and Hak Baker – to name a few. The series will draw to a close with a takeover from the legendary singer-songwriter Patti Smith, who has released 11 studio albums and authored over 20 books in her impressive 48-year career. Events take place daily from 7:30pm, and various ticket types are available such as an exclusive access ticket which includes a complimentary drink.

Big Smoke Festival 

Location: Thicket Road, London, SE19 2GA
When: 6 July
Price: 72.80 GBP 

Genre-defying artist Skepta launches his inaugural Big Smoke Festival on 6 July. Taking place in southeast London’s Crystal Palace Park, the one-day festival will feature a stage dedicated to his record label Más Tiempo, as well as marking his only 2024 UK performance. The line-up also features performances from The Streets, JME, Mahalia, and K-Trap, plus a special guest appearance from American singer-songwriter YG Marley – the son of Lauryn Hill and grandson of Bob Marley who is making waves for his modern reggae. Revellers can expect to discover new talents as Skepta and the Boy Better Know collective put the spotlight on emerging voices.

River Stage 2024

Location: National Theatre, Upper Ground South Bank, London, SE1 9PX
When: 5 – 28 July
Price: Free

The National Theatre’s River Stage returns for 2024 with its biggest and boldest line-up of live music, performance and dance to date. Kicking off on 5 July, the month-long event gets underway with a joyful performance from the icons behind new LGBTQ+ venue The Divine in Hackney, while the Big Gay Songbook are set to close out the first weekend. Standout events across the four weekends include a performance from Britain’s oldest dance firm Rambert, an excerpt of Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby, and a screening of James Graham’s award-winning show Dear England. London’s street food pioneers Kerb are set to bring the finest flavours to the South Bank, from Baba Dhaba, Hackney Gelato, Chicken Bandits and Poke Nom.

Junction 2 Festival 

Location: Boston Manor Road, Brentford, TW8 9JU 
When: 26 – 28 July
Price: From 67.20 GBP 

Junction 2 Festival has expanded into a three-day format this year, showcasing cutting-edge performances including techno, disco, and house beats from Artbrat, Lanna, Joplyn, Fideles, and Hot Since 82 – and that’s just the Friday line-up. While the event will take place at its usual location in Boston Manor Park in Brentwood, J2 is striving to reach a net-zero carbon emission status by 2025, and has carefully measured its footprint. This year, a 1.75 GBP climate levy is included in ticket prices to offset the festival’s emissions and prioritise an earth-conscious approach. Sustainability can also be found in the food stalls, with meat-free and organic alternatives, and small independents using locally sourced ingredients.

Continue your cultural tour of London with our insider guide to the city’s greatest galleries and museums.