20 brilliant events to book on a UK stopover this summer

London comes alive in summer. The capital’s parks are in full bloom, restaurant tables spill out on to sunny pavements and rooftop bars buzz with a cocktail crowd. And that’s before we even get to the season’s sporting and cultural calendars, which incorporate everything from ace tennis to a behind-the-scenes peek at Buckingham Palace.

Plus, of course, it isn’t summertime without a world-class festival or carnival (or two). And not forgetting the arrival of a certain Ms Taylor Swift, who swoops into town with the global phenomenon that is The Eras Tour. If ever there was a reason to spend a few days in London en route to your final destination, this packed summer calendar is it. Are you ready?

MAY

Dance like no one’s watching at Outernet

5 May
Imagine throwing shapes beneath a glitter ball… in the afternoon. Day Fever brings its daytime disco to the Outernet on Tottenham Court Road. The brainchild of actress Vicky McClure and her husband, it promises no-holds-barred fun. Whoever said dancing was for after dark?

Pull strings in Covent Garden

12 May
The first Covent Garden May Fayre & Puppet Festival was held in 1976. Puppeteers still gather at St Paul’s Church on the second Sunday of May to perform in the very place where Samuel Pepys first recorded seeing Mr Punch in 1662. Music and maypole dancing add to the general merriment.

Get on the ball at Wembley

12 May
Catch all the thrills and triumphs of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. If last season’s game is anything to go by – which saw a record crowd of 77,390 at Wembley – it’ll be an edge-of-the-seat experience. Can’t get tickets? Watch it in one of the capital’s many sporting pubs.

Say it with flowers at Chelsea

21-25 May
Every year, the green-fingered descend on SW3 for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show’s floral displays, show gardens and horticultural exhibitors. For extra flower power, check out Chelsea and Belgravia in Bloom, when the streets are transformed with fragrant installations.

Put your foot down on Savile Row

22-23 May
The third edition of Concours, celebrating the synergy between motoring and tailoring, brings va-va-voom to Savile Row, with more than 40 cars and motorcycles on display. Expect a few dream machines (last year’s Huntsman-designed Bentleys and a Jaguar E-type art car caused quite a stir). 

JUNE

Explore the city’s green and pleasant land

8-9 June
You’ll dig London Open Gardens. What began as an opportunity to see some of the capital’s fabled (but locked) garden squares has morphed into a weekend when you can peek inside these secret green spaces, from rewilded urban oases to community allotments.

Feast your eyes in Regent’s Park

12-16 June
It’s the 20th anniversary of the Taste of London Food Festival, with the city’s best chefs, restaurants and artisan producers convening in Regent’s Park. From the chance to cook with Michelin-starred heroes to cocktail masterclasses, there’s plenty to get your teeth into.

Indulge in horseplay at Ascot

18-22 June
Few social events are as storied as Royal Ascot in nearby Berkshire. It continues to be a highlight of the summer calendar, as well as a chance to watch the finest horse racing in the world. Whether you’re at the heart of the action or cheering from across the track, you’ll have a galloping good time. 

Sing your heart out with the Swifties

21-23 June
Taylor Swift arrives in town for the UK leg of her record-smashing The Eras Tour at Wembley Stadium (she’s also playing dates in London in mid-August). Channel your inner Swiftie on a ‘London Boy’-inspired tour, which takes in all the sites mentioned in the singer’s hit song.

Celebrate with pride and joy

29 June
The annual Pride in London parade – part of the UK’s biggest LGBTQ+ festival celebrating diversity and inclusivity – sees the streets come alive with 30,000 participants from across 600 organisations creating a brightly coloured procession of floats, performers and dancers.

Get festival ready for American Express presents BST

30 June-14 July
American Express presents BST is one of the capital’s best-loved festivals, set across three weekends in June and July, and this year’s line-up is a stonker with Stevie Nicks, Shania Twain, Robbie Williams and Andrea Bocelli set to grace the stage.

JULY

Set forth to Wimbledon

1-14 July
With the scent of strawberries hanging in the air in SW19, it can only be Wimbledon. Will Carlos Alcaraz and Markéta Vondroušová defend their titles? You don’t have to be Centre Court to get all the action with alfresco screenings of the tennis, from Mayfair to Marylebone.

Think pink at the Design Museum

5 July 2024-23 February 2025
This year marks the 65th anniversary of the Barbie brand, so be one of the first to see the Design Museum’s celebration of the famous doll. With dozens of rare items on display, Barbie: The Exhibition charts the story of the Mattel heroine through a design lens.

Hit the right notes at Kew

8-14 July
Can there be anything more joyful than a summer evening picnic concert in the glorious surrounds of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew? Kew The Music prides itself on its eclectic line-up, which this year sees Mika, Richard Ashcroft and Monty Don entertaining crowds.

Feel majestic at Buckingham Palace

11 July-29 September
Buckingham Palace is one of the monarch's best-known London residences. Visitors can explore 19 of the State Rooms as well as the palace garden during summer. This year, a special display features outfits worn by King Charles III and Queen Camilla during the coronation.

See the big picture

Summer months
Aim high with the Rooftop Film Club, which shows screenings on rooftops across London. Doors open early so you can watch the sun sink behind the city skyline before snuggling beneath the stars. Comfy deckchairs and state-of-the-art wireless headphones further set the scene.

AUGUST

Follow your art in Trafalgar Square

1-28 August
The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square celebrates its bicentenary year with an ambitious series of events and exhibitions. Summer on the Square festival is a month-long programme of free, family-friendly creative activities and sessions to inspire the next generation of artists.

Have a barrel of laughs in Tobacco Dock

9-10 August
More than 100 breweries will be pulling pints at the London Craft Beer Festival in Wapping’s Tobacco Dock. As well as sampling everything from pale ales to darker pilsners, there’ll be snacks and tunes. But the best bit? All your beer is included in the ticket price. Cheers to that!

Embrace the music in E9

17-25 August
Just when you thought festival season was over, All Points East brings a cracking line-up to Victoria Park. Headliners include Loyle Carner, LCD Soundsystem, Field Day, Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service, plus there'll be street food vendors and pop-up bars.

Be a good sport at Lord’s

18 August
Get ready for nail-biting action as the final of The Hundred (a 100-ball cricket competition for men and women) rolls into Lord’s, St John’s Wood. The atmosphere will be electric as two world-class teams battle it out for the trophy. You won’t like the cricket, you’ll love it. 

Get into the groove in Notting Hill

25-26 August
The end of August sees Notting Hill Carnival, a vibrant celebration of Caribbean culture, arts and heritage. With around two million attendees enjoying sound systems, steel bands, flamboyant costumes, jerk cooking and more, it’s the biggest street party in Europe.