Looking for something fun to do today? Something eye-opening to watch tonight? Something delicious to eat tomorrow? Our guide on things to do this week in London is personally curated, ensuring there's always a diverse range of events for you to choose from. Get stuck in!
All week
WORLD CUP: We're down to the nitty-gritty of the 2026 World Cup now, with eight matches scheduled this week ahead of the final next week. At time of writing we don't know which teams will be playing, but whoever makes it through, check out these pubs, bars and other venues for screenings of the matches.
GRACE PERVADES: Ralph Fiennes plays Victorian actor Sir Henry Irving opposite Miranda Raison as actress Ellen Terry in David Hare's latest play, Grace Pervades at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, closing this weekend. Until 11 July 2026
CARE: Writer Alexander Zeldin makes his Young Vic debut with CARE, a domestic drama about a family forced to confront care, loss and small moments of joy. Another one that closes this week. Until 11 July 2026
HER COURT: Drawing on Wimbledon Museum’s local history collections and archives, Her Court is an exhibition by contemporary artists, exploring the relationship between Wimbledon and the women's suffrage movement, and touching on themes of courage, resistance, erasure and the public voice. A programme of events accompanies it. FREE, until 11 July 2026
TRELLICK54: Do you swoon over the brutalist Trellick Tower? Then you'll want Trellick54 on your radar: this almost-week-long festival features film screenings, graffiti battles and silent discos in the shadow of the Ernö Goldfinger-designed tower block in west London. FREE, 6-11 July 2026
WIMBLEDON: The Wimbledon Championships enter their second and final week down in south-west London. Keen to be there in person? Check out our guide to snagging on-the-day tickets. Otherwise, find one of these public screenings (many are free) dotted around town, but expect them to get busier as we approach Finals weekend. Until 12 July 2026
GRADUATE SHOWCASE: Postgraduate dance students from Trinity Laban present a festival of new choreography and creative exploration in Deptford. The Graduate School Showcase 2026 features a curated programme of site-specific events, screenings, and live performances developed through recent research. FREE, 6-24 July 2026
HIGH SOCIETY: Last chance to see Call The Midwife actor Helen George starring in Cole Porter's High Society at Barbican playing a glamorous socialite, as plans for a society wedding descend into chaos. Until 11 July 2026
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER: See the winning images from the National Geographic Traveller (UK) Photography Competition 2026 displayed on double-sided art benches across King's Cross — including Granary Square, Lewis Cubitt Square, Battle Bridge Place and Canal Square. The free outdoor exhibition showcases winners across categories such as Urban, People, Landscape, Wildlife, Food, Aerial, Rising Star and Portfolio. FREE, until 12 July 2026
SHAKESPEARE IN THE SQUARES: Every summer, a single Shakespeare play is performed in open-air gardens and squares all over the capital. For 2026, Shakespeare in the Squares tackles Love's Labour's Lost, popping up in venues including St James's Square and Chiswick House and Gardens in this final week. Until 12 July 2026
BONSAI TREEHOUSES: The Museum of Architecture brings living bonsai specimens together with miniature treehouse designs by architects and designers in a special exhibition in Oxford Square, curated with Paolo Cocco and bonsai specialist Peter Warren. As well as viewing the display, you can take part workshops and masterclasses, with kids' activities too. Until 31 August 2026
Today's events: Monday 6 July
EAST END TOUR: As this year's Spitalfields Music Festival enters its final couple of days, students from Whitechapel lead a walking tour around Spitalfields Market and Brick Lane, sharing local music, art, food and social history developed through the Neighbourhood Schools programme. They worked with geographer, teacher and East End guide Kate Amis to design the route, which begins at Christ Church Spitalfields. 1pm
MAMMA MIA!: Here we go again... Peckham's Rooftop Film Club films musical favourite Mamma Mia!. Be transported to a Greek island as Sophie tries to work out which of three men is her father, accompanied by an ABBA soundtrack. 6.15pm
BRAVER NEW WORLD: Award-winning journalist John Kampfner joins ITV’s political editor Robert Peston at The Conduit in Covent Garden to discuss global solutions to the world’s most urgent problems. Drawing on his travels to 10 different countries, Kampfner explores innovative models ranging from Taiwan’s efficient healthcare system to Vienna’s successful subsidised housing projects. 6.30pm-7.45pm
VASILY GROSSMAN: Paddington's Frontline Club hosts the launch of a new book about Soviet dissident and Second World War reporter Vasily Grossman. The tome includes 49 articles he wrote for the Red Star newspaper, and is discussed by Russian translator Robert Chandler, Guardian senior international correspondent Luke Harding, and writer and Ukraine expert Julian Evans. 7pm
MINORITY WRITES: Layla McCay and AJ West appear in conversation at the British Library, chaired by Damian Barr, to discuss the social and cultural history of queer writing and independent bookshops, from banned paperbacks and back-room shops to how queer readers have found and shared stories. 7pm
Today's events: Tuesday 7 July
SUMMER IN THE SQUARE: Free Wimbledon screenings, a Wellness Den with breathwork and pilates, drawing and watercolour sessions, plus family workshops and Marylebone Youth Theatre classes take place in Portman Square Garden as part of the free Summer in the Square festival. A curated KERB street-food market feature local traders including The Zetter Marylebone, The Montagu Kitchen, Roketsu, Cafe Murano, Cantoast and Donostia. FREE, 7-12 July 2026
7/7 MEMORIAL SERVICE: The 21st anniversary of the 2005 London bombings is marked with an annual wreath-laying ceremony at the 7 July Memorial in Hyde Park. The Mayor of London and emergency service representatives pay tribute to the 52 victims, followed by a commemoration service featuring the London International Gospel Choir. Members of the public are invited to join the remembrance by watching the 7/7 Memorial Service 2026 livestream, rather than attending in person. FREE, 11.50am-1.15pm
GLOBE TALKS: Members of the creative team behind the current production of Shakespeare’s sun-soaked rom-com Much Ado About Nothing gather at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse for The Globe Talks. This hour-long session features a panel discussion exploring the play's key themes of secrets and status, followed by a Q&A where the audience can pose their own questions to the makers of the show. FREE, 5pm
HUMAN EVOLUTION: The Natural History Museum hosts Dig Deeper: Rewriting the Story of Human Evolution in the Attenborough Studio. Leading researchers Professor Chris Stringer and Silvia Bello examine how recent discoveries regarding stone tools and the control of fire are challenging long-held assumptions about our early ancestors. Tickets include a free drink and the chance to join a live Q&A session. 6.30pm-8pm
OPEN MIC BUBBLEBATH: Camden grassroots venue The Fiddler's Elbow opens its stage to a monthly showcase of London's rawest talent. This Open Mic - Bubblebath session welcomes soloists and duos across all disciplines, including musicians, poets, magicians, and comedians, open to both seasoned performers and first-timers, with sign-ups starting an hour before the show begins. FREE, 7pm-11pm
ALEC HARPER QUARTET: Head to Eastcheap Records in the City for an evening of high-energy jazz featuring the Alec Harper Quartet. Part of the venue's Inside Out series, the performance showcases uptempo swing and bop from a lineup of regulars including Ferg Ireland, Nick Costley-White, and Will Cleasby. Catch top-tier musicianship in an intimate setting without a cover charge. FREE, 8pm-10.30pm
Today's events: Wednesday 8 July
DRAGON BOAT RACE: South Dock in Canary Wharf hosts two days of dragon boat racing in support of Water Aid. The deadline to sign up to take part has now passed, but everyone's welcome to head down on the day to watch and support. FREE to watch (charity donations welcome), 8-9 July 2026
BEATING RETREAT: The Massed Bands of the Household Division present a "military musical spectacular" at Horseguards Parade, in the form of a Beating Retreat ceremony. The theme is 'Inspiring a nation', with the NATO Jazz Orchestra and the Top Secret Drum Corps among the musicians taking part. 8-10 July 2026
ALLEGRA: Peter Quilter's Allegra is a heart‑warming comedy with music, opening at the Harold Pinter Theatre and starring Maureen Lipman, John Middleton, Bailey Patrick and Elizabeth Bower. Expect a mix of song and dance in a funny-yet-tender story following an exuberant woman who bursts into song regularly, unsettling her village. 8 July-8 August 2026
HIT MACHINE: Josh Radnor and Noah Galvin star as two estranged brothers who reunite for one explosive night, in Hit Machine at Soho Theatre. The intimate drama explores creativity, memory and the cost of turning pain into art. 8 July-15 August 2026
BENEATH THE STONES: Descend into the undercroft of St Mary Magdalene’s Church in Paddington for a subterranean tour of its hidden sanctuary. The guided walk explores the Chapel of St Sepulchre, an early masterpiece by architect Sir Ninian Comper featuring intricate 15th-century style stone carving, gilding, and stained glass. Learn about the inventive Victorian engineering required to create this memorial space and see the results of its recent restoration. 11am–12pm
SPIRIT OF SPAIN: Virtuoso guitarist Graham Anthony Devine opens the Royal Greenwich Guitar Festival 2026 with an evening of classical melodies at St Alfege Church. This intimate classical guitar recital features historical Spanish instruments from the early 20th century, specifically those crafted by luthiers Enrique Garcia and Francisco Simplicio. Devine, who serves as the Head of Guitar Studies at Trinity Laban, will perform a programme that brings the traditional sounds of Spain to the heart of Greenwich. 7.30pm
TUNELESS CHOIR: Singing enthusiasts who have been told they cannot carry a tune are invited to the Tea House Theatre in Vauxhall for a judgment-free vocal session. The Tuneless Choir celebrates the pure joy of singing regardless of ability, held within a charming Victorian public house on the site of the historic Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. It is a chance to belt out classics in a relaxed environment where hitting the right note is strictly optional. 8pm
Today's events: Thursday 9 July
SUMMER IN THE DITCH: Summer in the Ditch brings a cavalcade of queer and experimental performance to Shoreditch Town Hall, including "unhinged" ventriloquist show Sleeper Hit and the highly unpredictable Trainwreck, an ever-mutating satire of emergency dance breaks, surprise exits and unsolicited karaoke. 9-18 July 2026
HEATHERS THE MUSICAL: Adapted from the cult 1980s film, the popular Heathers the Musical opens at The Arts at Marble Arch. It follows 'it girl' Veronica Sawyer, the three Heathers and the mysterious J.D. at Westerberg High. 9 July-27 August 2026
BUCKINGHAM PALACE: Take the opportunity to go inside Buckingham Palace at the annual summer opening of the State Rooms. The Throne Room, Ballroom Grand Staircase and Palace Gardens are among the areas open to the public for just a few weeks from today — we've been inside, and it is spectacular. 9 July-27 September 2026
CARIBBEAN DRESS: African Heritage Guides Joy Johnson and Pennie Mendes visit the V&A South Kensington to examine the intersection of global trade and personal style in the 18th and 19th centuries. This Lunchtime Lecture reveals how Creole women used textiles and accessories as a form of quiet defiance against colonial regulations, and how these self-styled garments became powerful tools for negotiating independence and cultural freedom across the Atlantic. FREE, 1pm-2pm
GOLDEN HINDE LATE: Dry-docked replica vessel The Golden Hinde keeps its doors (portholes?) open for a free museum late about survival at sea. Through talks and displays, learn about storms, navigation, food and illness on long Tudor voyages. FREE, from 6pm
'BROWN BABIES': The Mixed Museum is at Senate House for a special evening bringing together former residents of Somerset’s Holnicote House, a National Trust building that became home in the 1940s to dozens of Britain's so-called ‘Brown Babies’ – the children born to Black American GIs and white British women during the Second World War. The panellists will share memories of childhood, family, identity, belonging and the lasting impact of a little-known chapter of British wartime history. FREE, 6.30pm-8pm
THE ARTERY JAM: An open stage and open format take over the MAP Studio Cafe in Kentish Town for an evening of spontaneous performance. Sitting between the venue's regular open mic nights, The Artery Jam invites anyone to jump on and get involved or simply sit back and enjoy the collaborative results. FREE, 7pm
BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM: Revisit the turn-of-the-millennium classic at Nunhead’s community-owned pub, The Ivy House, for a special screening of Bend It Like Beckham presented by Deeper Into Movies. The film follows Jess, a British-Indian teenager navigating cultural expectations and her passion for football, offering a nuanced portrait of multicultural Britain that remains a defining piece of youth culture. FREE, 7.30pm
CHORAL GALA: Four local vocal ensembles join forces at the Landmark Arts Centre in Teddington for an uplifting evening of shared song. The Sing Out! Landmark Choirs Summer Gala Concert features resident groups Landmark Sound, Landmark Singers, Mansong, and the Lunchtime Singing Club. The diverse programme ranges from pop classics and folk traditions to world rhythms, celebrating the collective energy of the centre's creative community. 8pm
Today's events: Friday 10 July
BLUE MIST: After aspiring journalist Jihad wins the chance to make his own documentary, he makes a point of challenging stereotypes by giving voice to his community. It isn't long, though, before a cynical media landscape has other ideas... The darkly funny Blue Mist begins its limited run at Stratford East tonight. 10-14 July
IDLER FESTIVAL: A genuine Archbishop; authors Irvine Welsh, Jojo Moyes and Charlie Higson; and Bake Off legend Prue Leith are among the speakers at this year's Idler Festival, at Fenton House in Hampstead. Festival goers are invited to do "as much or as little as they please" in a laid-back environment — but with a chance to hear from those big names, it's worth packing in as much in as you can. 10-12 July 2026
TEST CRICKET: England play India in the first ever Women's Rothesay Test match, taking place at Lord's. Exactly 50 years since Rachael Heyhoe Flint first led out an England Women's team at the Ground, Nat Sciver-Brunt will lead out her England side, with two of the biggest international teams in the sport going head-to-head. 10-13 July 2026
BATTLE OF THE BANDS: Young musicians from across south-east London take to the stage at Blackheath Halls for the Battle of the Bands 2026. Singer-songwriters and groups aged 11–17 perform a mix of hit covers and original material before a panel of industry specialists. The stakes are high, with the winning act securing a professional recording experience to help launch their musical career. 6.30pm
THE PEOPLE, THE PLACE: Hackney Wick’s canalside hub, Grow, hosts a night of soulful underground rhythms featuring Beringei, Footshooter, and special guest Ruby Francis. The session explores the intersection of broken beat, jazz, and neo-soul, with The People, The Place collective focusing on creative independence and community-led dancefloors. Expect a mix of ethereal productions and forward-facing house that stays rooted in London’s independent music scene. 7pm
SEBRIGHT KARAOKE: Grab the mic at the Sebright Arms for a lively Friday night session of communal singing where you can channel your inner pop star. Entry to Sebright Karaoke is free, making it a staple for local night owls looking for a boisterous start to the weekend. FREE, 10pm
Today's events: Saturday 11 July
POWER & RESPECT: The second free festival weekend of The Music is Black Festival in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is Power & Respect — featuring two afternoons of performances from the likes of Jamz Supernova and Yazmin Lacey x TYSON. You can also take to the dance floor at Sadler's Wells East for DJ sets from Jade Hackett, L'attise Rhoden & Glade Marie, and BORN N BREAD. FREE, 11-12 July 2026
FREE.HER: Polish-born artist and ethnographer Anna Jochymek presents a powerful series of community portraits at Bell Square in Hounslow. The project, Free.Her, explores contemporary definitions of freedom through the personal histories and migration experiences of Polish women living in the local area. Originally commissioned by Watermans, this outdoor exhibition uses visual storytelling and social anthropology to reflect on the identities of a specific migrant community. FREE, 11am-6pm
OPEN STUDIOS: Explore the workspaces of 18 unique multidisciplinary creatives as Bow Arts opens its doors for the Leyton High Road Open Studios 2026. Meet a diverse range of painters, sculptors, photographers, and framers, including multidisciplinary artist Natasha Awuku and material culture researcher Ellen Sampson. The event also forms part of the community-led Leytonstone Arts Trail, offering a rare chance to see new works-in-progress and finished pieces within a professional studio setting. FREE, 11am-5pm
FAMILY DAY FOR PRIDE: Storyteller Luke Saydon leads a celebration at Vestry House Museum for this year's Waltham Forest Pride. Families can join interactive storytelling sessions and a hands-on art workshop to create self-portraits for a collaborative display inspired by William Morris’s poem, Love is Enough. Aimed at children aged 5-12, though all LGBTQIA+ families and allies are welcome to attend. FREE, 12.30pm/1.30pm/2.30pm
KALEIDOSCOPE FESTIVAL: Musicians Groove Armada, MJ Cole, Black Grape, the Amy Winehouse Band and DJ Paulette are all on the eclectic line-up at Kaleidoscope Festival. The one-day event takes over Alexandra Palace with live music, DJ sets, comedy and spoken word performances, plus magicians, games and workshops for families — all with incredible views over London. 1pm-10.30pm
CAJUN APRÈS-MIDI: King's Cross venue Jamboree hosts an afternoon of lively Louisiana rhythms featuring the Là-bas Cajun Band. The session kicks off with a dance lesson to get you up to speed with two-steps and waltzes, followed by live music including rare double-fiddle numbers. Musicians are invited to join the stage for the final hour during a supported "electric jam" session. FREE, 1.30pm-5pm
KILL BILLIONAIRE: Radical politics and revenge-fuelled storytelling collide at Housmans Bookshop in King's Cross for the launch of Anders Lustgarten’s propulsive new thriller. Kill Billionaire follows a 14-year-old Australian genius and a giant ex-soldier from Tuvalu as they hunt down the corporate figures responsible for climate destruction. 7pm-8.30pm
MIDSUMMER POETRY: Four acclaimed writers gather at The Poetry Café in Covent Garden for an evening of contemporary readings. The line-up features Bridport Prize winners and shortlisted poets including Rosalind Easton, Elizabeth Parker, Tim Scott, and Natalie Whittaker, whose debut collection was released last year. A Midsummer Night’s Poetry offers a deep dive into themes of identity and resilience, with several performers drawing on their experiences as educators and editors in London and Bristol. FREE, 7pm-9pm
Today's events: Sunday 12 July
HACKNEY BRIDGE FLEA: More than 60 traders are expected at this summer market taking over Hackney Bridge, with vintage and designer fashion, furniture, homeware, records and posters across indoor and outdoor spaces. There’s an indoor bar and terrace, and outdoor stalls spill into the courtyard and riverside garden. 10am-4.30pm
HIDDEN GARDENS: Discover the City’s unexpected oases on the Hidden Gardens of London walking tour, which explores some of the 200 gardens tucked away among the Square Mile's high-rises. Led by historian Bridget Chandler, the route visits churchyards transformed after the Great Fire and the Blitz, including a "garden in the air" at Alphage Highwalk and the reputedly haunted Christchurch Greyfriars. 11am
CHESS FEST: Trafalgar Square hosts a free chess festival, open to all, whether you're a seasoned player or want to learn the game. This year's Chess Fest has a living chess set with 32 actors taking on the role of the pieces, recreating famous games of chess with live commentary, as well as free beginner lessons and a chance to challenge a master at speed chess. FREE, 12pm-7pm
NINA SIMONE: Inspired by the life of Nina Simone, Apphia Campbell's acclaimed play Black Is The Color Of My Voice follows a singer and civil rights activist as she seeks redemption after the death of her father. See it at the Garrick Theatre for one night only. 3.30pm/7pm
BOY BLUE: Boy Blue, the UK hip-hop dance company, brings a 25th‑anniversary celebration to Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, with performances, a pre-show DJ set on the picnic lawn and a post-show DJ set after the main performance. 6.30pm
PAUL FOOT: The exceptionally funny Paul Foot is WIP-ing his latest hour-long effort, The Future, at the Bill Murray this evening. In it, he asks the (relatable) question: "When did optimism end?" 7pm-8pm
