How To Avoid Euro 2016 In London

Will Noble
By Will Noble Last edited 93 months ago
How To Avoid Euro 2016 In London

Like Europe but can't stand football? Here's how to enjoy the culture of every one of the 24 countries taking part in the competition, without having to look at a single ball. Well, maybe a cricket ball.

Cricket at Lord's: the antidote to all football. Photo by DncnH in the Londonist Flickr pool

Albania

Hmm. Ever tried finding Albanian things to do in London? We've settled for Cafe Koha in the West End — a convivial place to eat, set up by two Albanians. Maybe you'll meet them and have a chat about Albania.

Austria

London has a few dedicated Austrian restaurants, but The Tiroler Hut in Westbourne Grove has been peddling the likes of schweinsbraten mit semmelknödel und sauerkraut dazu viel bratensaft since 1967. And they wear lederhosen. Go here.

Belgium

The work of Belgian surrealist Henri Michaux has been interpreted into a dance performance, which gets its first UK airing at Sadler's Wells on 20 and 21 June.

Croatia

Marin Cilic is Croatian, and will probably be playing at the Wimbledon Championships this year. Sorted.

The only leather you'll find here is lederhosen. Photo by PROonenil v2 in the Londonist Flickr pool

Czech Republic

From 10-15 June, Covent Garden's Czech Centre is screening D.O.V — a 15-minute film about the decommissioning and cultural regeneration of Dolni Vitkovice, an ironworks in Ostrava.

England

Easy one, this. Go and watch football's nemesis, cricket. Plenty of the stuff happening at Lord's this June and July.

France

Learn where to be French in London.

Germany

Find out how there's more to German cuisine than bratwurst sausages and pork knuckles, at Claudia's four-course supper club in north east London.

Pretend to be a Frenchman who hates football, like this chap

Hungary

Until 9 July you can catch 6 out of 5 — an exhibition by avant garde Hungarian artist Dóra Maurer, spanning over 50 years, and mediums including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography and filmmaking.

Iceland

Ogle rocks that are actually younger than you, namely those created during 2010's Eyjafjallajökull eruption in Iceland. From 4-10 July at The Royal Society.

Italy

Give football the finger while diving into one of the hedonistic party brunches held every Saturday at Battersea's Bunga Bunga.

Northern Ireland

If you like fancy footwork of a non-footballing kind, give Irish set dancing a go at Cecil Sharp House.

Stare at Dóra Maurer's work at 6 out of 5 and you'll soon forget all about offside traps

Poland

Soak up Polish jazz at Cafe Posk, throughout Euro 2016.

Portugal

Gorge on grilled meat and port in Little Lisbon, Stockwell. Although be warned — some of these restaurants may be screening a certain football tournament.

Republic of Ireland

The London Irish Centre has a weekend of Irish arts on 24-26 June.

Romania

Discover Romanian cinema at the BFI until 30 June.

Soak up jazz at Cafe Posk

Russia

If you're already flagging in the first day or two of the tournament, escape with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, at the Royal Albert Hall until 12 June.

Slovakia

Gorge on Slovakian roasted duck leg and wild boar with dumplings at Gambrinus Czech & Slovak House in West Hampstead. The bar may be showing footie, but the restaurant shouldn't be. Bring ear plugs. (This can, of course, be your Czech option too.)

Spain

Learn Spanish language, and absorb Spanish culture... by making and scoffing tapas in someone's kitchen in Worcester Park.

Sweden

Spend a Sunday morning at the Svenska kyrkan in Edgware Road. You can repent for scoffing your face here.

Forget the Russian football team - watch some Russian ballet instead

Switzerland

Go and ponder the surreal work of Alberto Giacometti at Tate Modern.

Turkey

Go on, treat yourself to a Turkish bath in Stoke Newington.

Ukraine

The Ukranian Insitute is hosting its monthly book group on 18 June. Last Woman, Last Man is the book, written by Lyudmyla Taran, a writer known for her stories exploring gender roles and stereotypes, combining trivial and sublime, irony and romanticism, mystery and realism. Not football.

Let's just hope they don't know any Welsh football chant

Wales

On 2 July, the Welsh Centre on Gray's Inn Road is celebrating 70 years of the Welsh National Opera, with a hearty sing song. They'll be singing even harder if Wales are still in the tournament by then.

Decided you'd actually like to watch the footie? We've got that covered too.

Last Updated 09 June 2016