July is one of the best times to visit London, with some fantastic outdoor events as well as a whole array of indoor activities and places to visit. Whether you’re staying in the capital for a weekend or longer, our handpicked guide highlights the best things to do in London this month.
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
This beautiful outdoor theatre was established in 1932 and provides seating for 1,300 guests. Set in picturesque Queen Mary’s Gardens, the season runs for 18 weeks each summer. During July, there will be performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (until 18 July), Boy Blue in the Park (12 July) and CATS (from 25 July).
Buckingham Palace State Rooms and Gardens
The State Rooms and Palace Gardens will be open for tours from 9 July until 27 September. Highlights include the ballroom, throne room, grand staircase and palace gardens.
Museum of Youth Culture
Visit London’s newest museum in the trendy Camden area of the city. This fantastic new attraction explores youth culture over the past century. The interactive space is a wonderful archive of fashion, technology, photos, written stories and oral histories. A perfect slice of nostalgia for every generation to enjoy!
Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration
The UK’s first dedicated centre for illustration (and the largest in the world) has just opened in historic Clerkenwell. Created by iconic illustrator Quentin Blake, the archive holds an archive of over 40,000 drawings. The opening exhibitions are MURUGIAH: Ever Feel Like… (until 31 August), Queer as Comics (until 4 October) and Quentin Blake: Performance (until 1 April 2027).
Luminiscence at Westminster Cathedral
Luminiscence has created a breathtaking 360 degree projection for the cathedral; using 24 projectors, it portrays what the space would look like if covered with mosaics. The experience is enhanced with a curated selection of music and a poetic narration.
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
This prestigious open submission exhibition features the works of both emerging and established artists. Typically, two-thirds of the entrants are non-Academicians and 5,000+ works are sold.
Proms 2026 at the Royal Albert Hall
This annual series of classical music concerts offers a fabulous variety of music performed in the historic Royal Albert Hall. Starting on 17 July, this month’s shows include From the Alps to the Auvergne, Elgar’s First, Korngold’s Violin Concerto and Sibelius’s Second.
Frida: The Making of an Icon at Tate Modern
One of London’s hottest exhibitions for 2026 has just opened at Tate Modern. Frida: The Making of an Icon studies 30 of the artist’s most iconic works alongside 200 works by artists inspired by her. It will run until January 2027.
