1. HALF TERM: May half term runs into the first few days of June for most London schools. Peruse our guide on things to do in London in half term for ways to keep kids and teenagers amused. Until 4 June
2. LONDON DESIGN BIENNALE: Bake bread, witness an AI robot designing things, weave a tapestry, get inside a space pod, find inner peace and visit a virtual garden — just some of the activities available at the 2023 London Design Biennale. The theme this year is The Global Game: Remapping Collaborations, and Somerset House hosts work from more than 40 designers around the world, created in response to the theme. 1-25 June
3. LONDON FESTIVAL OF ARCHITECTURE: A celebration of architecture and 'city-making', the London Festival of Architecture programme is packed with more than 400 events throughout the month, from public installations to talks, tours, debates and performances — plus some family-friendly events too. Highlights include tours of the UK Supreme Court, an exhibition of photos of the Thames Barrier, and a gaming cafe. 1-30 June
4. PALACE OPEN GARDENS: Once a month throughout the summer, the gardens of Lambeth Palace are opened to the public, to raise money for charity. It's a chance to explore the usually-private gardens of the Archbishop of Canterbury — which we did, a few years ago. 2 June (and monthly until September)
5. MELTDOWN FESTIVAL: The 28th edition of the UK’s longest-running artist-curated music festival, Meltdown, is at Southbank Centre, and French singer-songwriter Christine and the Queens is at the helm this year. Events include live performances by artists include Afropop star Yemi Alade as well as DJ sets, workshops, dance battles and queer Asian cabaret. 9-18 June
6. WANDSWORTH ARTS FRINGE: Shakespeare plays, a mobile farm, a Windrush concert, and a calligraphy exhibition are among the items on the rather eclectic Wandsworth Arts Fringe programme this year. 9-25 June
7. RIVER STAGE: Free outdoor festival River Stage is back outside National Theatre on South Bank, for four weekends of themed entertainment featuring a wide range of performers. It kicks off with The Glory, a weekend of cabaret hosted by drag acts Jonny Woo and John Sizzle. FREE, 9 June-2 July
8. STOKE NEWINGTON LITERARY FESTIVAL: Celebrate the area's radical and literary history at the Stoke Newington Literary Festival, which kicks off with a gala night and continues with appearances by the likes of Rob Delaney and Robin Ince, along with kids' events, and the occasional walking tour. Browse the full programme. 2-4 June
9. WITNESSING HISTORY: Cine Lumiere at the Institut Francais in South Kensington runs a series dedicated to Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa's 25-year career. In his feature films and documentaries, he specialises in portraying the painful pages of history without compromising the current social and political agenda, and the programme includes the UK premiere of one of his latest films, The Kiev Trial. 2-10 June
10. WE WILL ROCK YOU: Queen musical We Will Rock You headbangs its way back into to the West End for the first time since 2014, to mark 21 years since it debuted in 2002. This time around it's at the London Coliseum, and director Ben Elton and Queen member Brian May are on board once again, but bear in mind it's only here for a 12-week run. 2 June-26 August
11. GREASE: Another classical musical returning to the West End this month is Grease. As with last summer, Jason Donovan and Peter Andre are scheduled to appear in some performances, with Louise Redknapp added to the schedule this year too. 2 June-28 October
12. LONDON PETANQUE CHAMPIONSHIP: You can find anything in London if you know where to look, and that includes petanque. The London Petanque Championships are held in Crystal Palace, with international champions and UK club level players going head-to-head over the course of one weekend. 3-4 June
13. TROOPING THE COLOUR: After a year of change at Buckingham Palace, the first official King's Birthday Parade celebrations, also known as Trooping the Colour, take place across three Saturdays in June. As you'd expect, security is tight and tickets are in high demand. Across the three weekends, the parade is reviewed by Major General C J Ghika, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and His Majesty The King, respectively. 3-17 June
14. LONDON CONCOURS: Luxury cars meet garden party at the London Concours, taking place at the Honourable Artillery Company in the City. The classic car show brings together 80 of the world's most unique cars, including a celebration of the Porsche 911 RS. 6-8 June
15. HAMPTON COURT PALACE FESTIVAL: It's a music festival, but not as you know it. Hampton Court Palace Festival is a rather civilised affair, taking place in the palace grounds, with the option of enjoying a picnic before the music starts. Artists performing this year include Grace Jones, Kool & The Gang, Kaiser Chiefs, Tom Jones, Björn Again and Rick Astley. 6-17 June
16. TARANTINO LIVE: An immersive theatrical musical, Tarantino Live is a celebration of director Quentin Tarantino's work, featuring visuals, and new arrangements of classic songs from his films. The plot sees the 'Fox Force Five' — a group of superwomen based on five of Quentin Tarantino's most iconic female characters — take on the Tyranny of Evil Men. 6 June-13 August
17. 42ND STREET: Sadler's Wells hosts a brand new production of classical musical 42nd Street, about singer and tap dancer Peggy Sawyer who arrives in New York City dreaming of seeing her name up in lights. 7 June-2 July
18. PLAY FOUNTAINS: It's a sure sign that summer's here when the play fountains outside Southbank Centre are switched back on. Officially known as Jeppe Hein's Appearing Rooms, the water feature is a favourite with kids on hot days, as they try to catch the water jets as they spurt on and off. Parents: a change of clothes and a towel are advised. FREE, 7 June-3 September
19. FILM ON FILM FESTIVAL: The BFI presents a series of classic movies, shown as they were originally designed to be shown — projected on film. Jaws, Malcolm X, Working Girls and Rebel Without A Cause are all on the programme at the BFI Film on Film Festival. 8-11 June
20. SCHOOL GIRLS: School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play, to give it its full title, is set in Ghana’s prestigious Aburi Girls Boarding School in 1986, and focuses on 'Queen Bee' student Paulina and her friends, whose place in the social hierarchy seems to be threatened by the arrival of a new student. It highlights the similarities and issues faced by teenage girls all over the world, and you can see it at the Lyric Hammersmith. 8 June-15 July
21. ZOO NIGHTS: London Zoo stays open later than usual almost every Friday in June and July for Zoo Nights, an adults-only event, with tours, games, street food tours, and a chance to see the animals at a time when the zoo is usually closed. 9 June-28 July
22. SERPENTINE PAVILION: It's the time of year when a new building appears overnight in Kensington Gardens. It is, of course, the Serpentine Pavilion, an architectural commission by the nearby Serpentine Galleries, and this year's is À table, designed by French-Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh. We're promised 'notions of memory, space and landscape' in a low, modest and skeletal structure. FREE, 9 June-29 October
23. TEQUILA AND MEZCAL FESTIVAL: La Piñata is a celebration of agave spirits, Mexican culture and an opportunity to taste a diverse range of Tequila and Mezcal from over 20 producers side by side, taking place at Tobacco Dock. Masterclasses, live entertainment and food stalls are present across both days. 9 June-10 June
24. PUB IN THE PARK: Food and music festival Pub in the Park pitches up in Dulwich Park. Tinie Tempah, Heather Small, The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club and The Dolly Parton Experience are all on the eclectic music line-up, with a chef demo stage, fire pit, artisan food market and pop-up bars taking care of the nosh. 9-11 June
25. WORLD NAKED BIKE RIDE: If you're prudish, you may wish to avert your eyes as the World Naked Bike Ride comes to town. Cyclists let it all hang out as they ride in a group on a pre-agreed route. Don't forget your suncream. 10 June
26. BOSFEST: A huge free, unticketed street party, Bankside Open Spaces Festival takes place across venues including Red Cross Garden, Crossbones Graveyard and Flat Iron Square. Inspired by Elephant & Castle, there's a Latin twist to this year's event, with a procession, live music, sports and craft workshops, face painting, historical activities, a dog show and more. FREE, 10 June
27. BIG DOCKLANDS STREET PARTY: While its bigger sibling is closed for relocation, the Museum of London Docklands has its own celebration to mark its 20th anniversary. The Big Docklands Street Party takes its inspiration from London's East End, with live performances, street food and pop-up bars and other entertainment, hosted by Drag Race royalty Vanity Milan. 10 June
28. LAMBETH COUNTRY SHOW: The annual two-day Lambeth Country Show pitches up in its usual spot in Brockwell Park for all manner of entertainment spanning sheep shearing, vegetable sculptures, live music, chocolate making, and... a wall of death. FREE, 10-11 June
29. JUNIPLAOOZA: Gin has its moment in the spotlight at Junipalooza, a gin festival at Tobacco Dock where you can meet distillers and brand reps to learn more about their products. There are plenty of tasting opportunities too, as well as food and water to keep you fresh — and note that the first day of this festival overlaps with the final day of La Piñata (above) at the same venue. What could possibly go wrong? 10-11 June
30. FESTIVAL OF COMMUNITIES: Created by Queen Mary University London, the Festival of Communities is a celebration of everything great in east London. Taking place in Stepney Green Park and the QMUL Mile End campus, events include sports trial sessions, hands-on science, craft activities and more. FREE, 10-11 June
31. JAIPUR LITERATURE FESTIVAL: William Dalrymple, Shashi Tharoor, Vauhini Vara, Tom Holland, Tahmima Anam, Vishal Bhardwaj, Asma Khan and Sathnam Sanghera are among the speakers on the line-up for the London Jaipur Literature Festival, a satellite event of the huge Jaipur Literature Festival which takes place in India each January. 10-11 June
32. OPEN GARDENS WEEKEND: London Square Open Gardens Weekend is a chance to explore the city's green spaces via open days, tours and talks. They range from allotments to small private gardens, to the larger gardens in the likes of Eaton Square Garden, usually only accessible to local residents with a key. 10-11 June
33. BARNET MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL: See re-enactments of the Battles of Barnet 1471 and the Second Battle of St Albans 1461, as well as displays by the gunners, archers and mounted knights at this year's Barnet Medieval Festival. New for 2023 is a medieval fashion show and craft demonstration. 10-11 June
34. CAMBERWELL ARTS FESTIVAL: At time of writing, full details haven't been announced, but we know that the Camberwell Arts Festival will be back, celebrating creativity in the local area. 10-18 June
35. DEAR ENGLAND: The National Theatre debuts new play Dear England, starring Joseph Fiennes as England football manager Gareth Southgate. It asks what needs to change, in both the team and the country, to lead the side back towards the glory of 1966. 10 June-11 August
36. QUEEN'S READING ROOM: Hampton Court Palace hosts the Queen's Reading Room Festival, a literary event which combines music and history in rather flash surroundings. Dame Judi Dench, Gyles Brandreth, David Olusoga and Ben Macintyre are all on the line-up, and there's also a chance to take literary-themed tours of the palace. 11 June
37. CLASSIC CAR SHOW: Rare and unusual cars gather in Norman Park for the Bromley Pageant of Motoring. Wander among vehicles of various ages and makes, meet fellow enthusiasts, and have a rummage at the autojumble. There's also a funfair and inflatables for kids, and a live action arena with displays going on all day. 11 June
38. ROYAL ACADEMY SUMMER EXHIBITION: A highlight of the London art calendar every year, the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition brings together established and rising artists to display their work. Prints, painting, film, photography, architectural works and sculpture all feature, and the theme this year is Only Connect, from the famous quote in Howards End by E.M. Forster. 13 June-20 August
39. TASTE OF LONDON: Foodies will want to head to Regent's Park for Taste of London, the huge, food-based festival which brings dozens of London's best-known restaurants together to feed the hungry visitors. It's also a chance to discover up-and-coming London chefs and food businesses, take part in tastings and watch masterclasses. 14-18 June
40. CINDERELLA: The Royal Albert Hall hosts the English National Ballet for the first time since 2019, performing a production of Cinderella in-the-round. Watch 90 dancers and a live orchestra bring the fairytale to life. 15-25 June
41. RICHMOND ARTS AND IDEAS FESTIVAL: Dance, music and exhibitions all feature on the programme for the Richmond Arts and Ideas Festival, which takes place at venues around the borough. Highlights include an exhibition of portraits of 50 LGBTQI+ people who changed the world, and a tour of Grove Gardens Chapel. 16 June-2 July
42. GAIA: Luke Jerram's Gaia — a model of the Earth covered in NASA satellite imagery — has popped up at several venues in London and beyond, and now you can see it at the Landmark Arts Centre in Teddington. Part of the Richmond Arts and Ideas Festival (above). FREE, 16 June-2 July
43. WAR TO WINDRUSH: The Imperial War Museum hosts an afternoon of talks and performances to mark the 75th anniversary of the Empire Windrush docking in Tilbury. Hear from historians, actors, broadcasters and poets about Caribbean contributions to the second world war, and how the Windrush generation has shaped Britain as a modern multicultural society. 17 June
44. BRITISH ACADEMY SUMMER SHOWCASE: The Windrush legacy, the importance of green space in cities, little-known women who shaped the world, the necessity of refugee camps, and aerial archaeology are just some of the topics covered in the wide-reaching and free British Academy Summer Showcase. It offers the public a chance to hear from researchers in the social sciences and humanities, through workshops, talks and panel debates. Free, 17 June
45. LEE VALLEY ICE CENTRE: After being announced four years ago, the brand new Lee Valley Ice Centre opens this month. It's a whopper, with two Olympic-sized ice rinks, a cafe, gym and other facilities. Plus, they're offering skating for £1 on opening day. From 17 June
46. GREAT EXHIBITION ROAD FESTIVAL: South Kensington institutions including the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Imperial College, Royal Geographical Society and V&A come together for the Great Exhibition Road Festival, a weekend celebrating science and the arts. FREE, 17-18 June
47. WEST END LIVE: Musical theatre fans should head to Trafalgar Square for West End Live, a free, two-day festival starring the cast of all manner of West End shows. Exact details are TBC at time of writing, but in the past, cast members from the likes of Jersey Boys, The Lion King Mary Poppins and Tina The Musical have strutted their stuff on the stage. FREE, 17-18 June
48. FATHER'S DAY: Consider this your reminder to pick up a card, and maybe a box of chocolates or a new book, for your dad on Father's Day. 18 June
49. A PINCH OF VAULT: You may have heard... the people behind VAULT Festival have curated a mini version of the festival — A Pinch Of Vault — running from the end of May until mid-June. It takes place at The Glitch in Waterloo, featuring the usual top-notch mix of comedy and theatre. Until 18 June
50. LAST WORD FESTIVAL: Camden Roundhouse's The Last Word Festival is a celebration of spoken word and music, with poetry slams, film screenings, live music performances and more. Until 18 June
51. KNOLLYS ROSE: The Knollys Rose Ceremony is one of those bizarre ancient rituals that London does so well. See a single red rose cut from a garden in Seething Lane, placed on an altar cushion from All Hallows-by-the-Tower and taken Mansion House where it is presented to the Lord Mayor of London. Why? To signify a symbolic peppercorn rent dating back to 1381. FREE, 19 June
52. REFUGEE WEEK: The annual Refugee Week is back at Southbank Centre, with a theme of Compassion for 2023. Join in with film screenings, workshops, live music, talks and more, exploring what compassion means today. 19-25 June
53. MORPH TRAIL: Just in time for the summer holidays, a trail of up to 70 sculptures of TV character Morph is being unveiled around South Bank and the City. A map and app will be available, with fun facts for kids to unlock along the way, and a programme of accompanying events to be announced. Crucially, the trail is step-free, to make it accessible to as many people as possible, and afterwards, the many Morphs will be auctioned off to raise money for Whizz Kids. FREE, 19 June-20 August
54. SCOUTS! THE MUSICAL: The Other Palace hosts family-friendly comedy musical Scouts! The Musical. It's exactly what it sounds like — a show about the Scout youth movement, when members from all over the world meet up to compete, until someone tries to sabotage the competition. The show comes with a warning of audience participation, so have your Ging Gang Goolies well-rehearsed. 20 June-9 July
55. ELLIOT PAGE: Trans actor Elliot Page is at Southbank Centre to discuss his debut memoir, Pageboy, with writer Shon Faye. Hear about his struggles in discovering himself as a queer person at the same time as he shot to fame for his role in Juno, forcing him into the unwanted role of glossy young starlet. 21 June
56. LONDON ACTION FESTIVAL: All things action film and TV are celebrated at the London Action Festival, with screenings, panel events, exhibitions and more. It debuted last year, and this year's highlights include a chance to hear from Bodyguard writer Jed Mercurio, and film director Gareth Evans. 21-25 June
57. PLANET SUMMER: Climate hope is the focus of Planet Summer, a season of events at Southbank Centre which begins this month. Theatre, exhibitions, live music and talks all feature, including an appearance by Greta Thunberg, pedal-powered DJ sets, and displays of objects from previous climate demonstrations. 21 June-3 September
58. WINDRUSH DAY: 22 June is Windrush Day, an event introduced in 2018 to mark the anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush from the Caribbean, bringing with it many people who settled in London and made the city their home. It's a special one this year as it's the 75th anniversary. Browse Windrush Day 2023 events in London. 22 June
59. NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY: Finally, after a three-year closure, the National Portrait Gallery reopens its doors to the public this month. It'll look a different from how we remember it, with a brand new entrance, a complete rehang of the artworks (so your old favourites might not be in the same place) and the reopening of the East Wing. FREE, from 22 June
60. LONDON INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL: Europe's largest South Asian film festival returns to BFI Southbank for a week of screenings, including several UK premieres. LGBTQIA+ short film programme Too Desi Too Queer is back, accompanied by a Q&A session, and there's also a celebration of up-and-coming British Asian filmmakers. 22-29 June
61. MAASAI MARA PHOTOGRAPHY: See an exhibition of photographs taken in the Masaai Mara by wildlife photographer Matthew Williams-Ellis. Individuals portray the animals he photographed as independent and emotional creatures, rather than just one in a whole species, and includes elephants, lions, hyenas and cheetahs. FREE, 22 June-2 July
62. ILLUSIONARIES: Apparently 'London's first-ever story-based immersive art experience', Illusionaries opens at Crossrail Place in Canary Wharf. That basically means it combines light, sound and movement — and the first show is Memories of a Dead Poet, a 40-minute experience across three galleries featuring wraparound projections, an infinity cube mirror, and a soundscape room. 22 June-24 September
63. ENGINEERS GALLERY: Science Museum unveils its brand new major gallery, Engineers, designed to challenge misconceptions about what engineers do, and offer a new look at the range of topics the role can cover. Stories from more than 60 engineers feature in the gallery FREE, from 23 June
64. THE BUBBLY SHOW: Restaurant brand Searcys hosts its first ever Bubbly Show, a two-day celebration of all things fizz, including exhibitors from champagne houses and English sparkling wine producers, as well as tastings, talks, masterclasses and even a lesson in sabrage. 23-24 June
65. WIZARD OF OZ: It's curtains up on the long-awaited production of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium, starring Jason Manford as the Cowardly Lion and Ashley Banjo as the Tin Man. 23 June-3 September
66. GREAT WILD WALK: Sign up to take part in a six- or 10-mile walk through Epping Forest, raising money for the World Wildlife Fund. The Great Wild Walk is a family-friendly event, and dogs are welcome, with a fundraising target of £150 per person, and money raised going to the WWF's conservation projects around the world. 24 June
67. BST HYDE PARK: BST Hyde Park is back, bringing Guns 'N' Roses, P!nk, Take That, Bruce Springsteen and others to the huge pop-up festival site in Hyde Park. Some gigs have sold out, others still have tickets available, and the Open House midweek events will take place again this year with outdoor cinema, live music, and other events for anyone who didn't get tickets to the main shows. 24 June-8 July
68. DIVA: One of the biggest exhibitions opening this month is DIVA, the V&A's deep-dive into the power and creativity of iconic performers from the 19th century onwards, looking at the origins of the term 'diva' and how it has been subverted and embraced. It features costumes worn by Maria Callas, Cher, Elton John, Janelle Monae and Marilyn Monroe. From 24 June
69. CRAZY FOR YOU: The Gillian Lynne Theatre is the place to head to see Crazy For You, a romantic comedy musical about a man torn between his show-business dreams and running the family bank. From 24 June
70. SUMMER IN BATTERSEA PARK: Wandsworth hosts a free series of outdoor events, Summer in Battersea Park, across four weekends in June and July. Events include live music from the bandstand, free screenings of sports events, kids' activities, a dog show and plenty more. FREE 24 June-16 July
71. LONDON JAZZ SUMMER SERIES: The musically-astute among you will know that the EFG London Jazz Festival takes place in November, and you're right, but we're also being treated to a Summer Series, for anyone who can't wait that long. It kicks off with world music ensemble Shakti headlining the Eventim Apollo Hammersmith. 27 June-15 July
72. MAYFAIR ART WEEKEND: Mayfair isn't short of art galleries, a fact celebrated during Mayfair Art Weekend. Events this year include family activities and the Mayfair Sculpture Trail, as well as a chance to visit all of the participating galleries. 29 June-1 July
73. FUSE INTERNATIONAL: For 10 days, performing arts festival FUSE International takes over Kingston, with a programme of music, theatre, dance, comedy, visual arts, spoken word, circus and more. Browse the full programme. 30 June-9 July
74. SCULPTURE IN THE CITY: All sorts of weird and wonderful creations land in the Square Mile for Sculpture in the City. The free, open-air art trail has works by several different artists, though we're still waiting for this year's details TBC. FREE, from late June (dates TBC)
75. ROSES: Make time to smell the roses this month, as they bloom all over town. Visit one (or more) of these eight beautiful places to see roses in bloom in London.
76. LAVENDER: If you're willing to travel a bit further afield for your outdoor fix, plan a trip to one of these six pretty purple lavender fields near London — including one within London itself.
77. MUSIC FESTIVALS: As summer heats up, so does the London music scene — peruse our guide to the best music festivals in London 2023 and get booking.
78. AFTERNOON TEA: Bali, Sri Lanka, China and London itself are some of the inspirations behind the newest afternoon tea menus in London right now. Tuck into a tiny edible Big Ben or black cab, cocoa-inspired treats, dim sum afternoon tea and more — in hotels, restaurants and cocktail bars all over town.
79. OUTDOOR CINEMA: It wouldn't be summer in London without an onslaught of pop-up outdoor cinemas and rooftop film screenings. Some are already under way, others begin in June, and others still make an appearance later in the summer — here's the full guide to outdoor cinema in London.
80. OUTDOOR CULTURE: In addition to film screenings, theatre shows, live music and even art, go al fresco for summer in London. Have a look at our guide to outdoor culture in London this summer.
LAST CHANCE: A few things are closing this month too. It's your last chance to see:
- 81. DONATELLO: The V&A's Donatello: Sculpting the Renaissance is the first major UK exhibition of the works of Renaissance sculptor Donatello. Until 11 June
- 82. SOULS GROWN DEEP: The Royal Academy's Souls Grown Deep like the Rivers is a celebration of Black artists from the American South, featuring sculpture, paintings, reliefs, drawings, and quilts, most of which are seen in the UK and Europe for the first time. Until 18 June
- 83. KOREAN WAVE: It's time for Hallyu! The Korean Wave to Gangnam-Style its way out of the V&A. It celebrates all aspects of South Korean popular culture, including cinema, fashion and music. Until 25 June
- 84. YINKA ILORI: 100 objects are on display in Yinka Ilori: Parables for Happiness at the Design Museum, which showcases the colourful and vibrant aesthetic that Ilori is known for. Until 25 June
