Looking for something fun to do today? Something eye-opening to watch tonight? Something delicious to eat tomorrow? Our guide to things to do this week in London is personally curated, ensuring there's always a diverse range of events for you to choose from.
All week
WOMEN'S EUROS: The Women's Euros football tournament comes to a close this week, with semi-finals on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the final on Sunday. At time of writing, England are scheduled to play Italy on Tuesday (8pm), but we don't know who will play in the other semi, or who will make it through to the final, but plenty of London bars, pubs and other venues are screening the matches, so book your table now, and get down there to support whichever teams make it. Until 27 July
ZAINAB JOHNSON: Comedian Zainab Johnson returns to Soho Theatre for an improvised crowd work show where the audience gets to decide what she talks about, meaning no two shows are the same. Expect spontaneous discussions as nothing is written or planned. 21-26 July
GHOST OF WHITE HART LANE: Head to Jackson's Lane to see theatre show The Ghost of White Hart Lane. It revolves around John White, a talented footballer who tragically died young, telling his story and that of his son Rob, exploring themes of loss, resilience, and mental health. It's previously had successful runs at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Edinburgh Fringe. 21-27 July
NOUGHTS AND CROSSES: Malorie Blackman's powerful novel Noughts & Crosses plays at Regent's Park Open-Air Theatre until the end of this week, set in dystopian Britain and telling the story of two young friends divided by racial segregation. It's a tough watch, featuring racism and oppression, violent scenes, sexual references, swearing and depictions of hanging, so may not be suitable for all young people. Age 14+. Until 26 July
ARPITA SINGH: Serpentine North hosts the final week of the first solo exhibition of artist Arpita Singh outside of India, spotlighting the artist's 60 year-career. Remembering features her paintings from the 1960s through to more recent years, including large-scale oil paintings and more intimate watercolours and ink drawings. Until 27 July
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM: There's only a month or so left to see the Bridge Theatre's unique take on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The comedy is performed in the round to immerse the audience fully in the party atmosphere. Choose a standing ticket and follow the action as it shifts around the space, with aerial silk stunts, confetti cannons and dancing to bring the fairy-inhabited forest to life. Until 23 August
BBC PROMS: This is the first full week of this year's BBC Proms live music festival, with plenty of concerts to see at the Royal Albert Hall (and other venues around the country). London highlights include French Night with the Orchestre National de France (Wednesday), a celebration of 20th-century composers Pierre Boulez and Luciano Berio (Wednesday) and a rendition of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony (Friday) but do browse the full schedule to see what takes your fancy. For all your info on tickets, highlights, promming and the like, peruse our guide to the BBC Proms 2025. Until 13 September
SUMMER HOLIDAYS: Got kids on school holidays, or breaking up this week? Our guide to things to do in London in the summer holidays has entertainment ideas for tots through to teens, spanning special events, exhibitions, and family-friendly activities. We've also curated a list of free things to do for all ages, useful if you're on a budget, and shared our team's pick of family-friendly theatre shows on in the capital right now. That little lot should see you through to September, no bother.
FILM OF THE WEEK: Know the Boogaloo in Highgate? Its staff and customers have created a short, slightly surreal film, Here Comes A Regular, which speaks of the pub's storied past, and the spirits that frequent it. It's sort of EastEnders meets Ghosts meets Made in Chelsea. Watch it for free here, then plan to pop in for a pint next time you're in the area.
PUB OF THE WEEK: Plenty of decent weather right now — and if you find yourself having a kick about in London Fields/taking a dip in London Fields Lido, we heartily recommend a reviving pint at the taxidermy-strewn Cat and Mutton on Broadway Market, which we've just revisited for our ever-growing pub database.
LONDON DAY BY DAY: At a loose end today? Tomorrow? Whatever day of the week it is, take a look at our day-by-day guide to regular events in London, from guided walks and comedy shows to pub quizzes, live music, dance classes and so much more. In short: never be bored in London again, just by bookmarking this page.
Monday 21 July
THE IMPOSSIBLE BOMB: Journalist Nicholas Witchell interviews author Gareth Williams about the latter's new book, The Impossible Bomb. It tells the story of forgotten British scientists who — alongside Nobel Prize winners and Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany — enabled Oppenheimer and the Manhattan Project to create the atomic bomb. Hear all about it at Waterstones Trafalgar Square. 7pm
SEVERED HEADS: Australian cult electronic music group Severed Heads give their last ever live performance, on stage at Camden's Jazz Cafe. One of the most celebrated industrial/EBM/synth-pop acts of all time, Severed Heads began in Sydney in 1979, and though now officially disbanded, this is a one-off opportunity to see them perform live. 7pm-10.30pm
AMY MASON: In her latest show — an Edinburgh Fringe preview, at Islington's Pleasance Theatre — comedian Amy Mason reflects on her experience of being hacked and the bizarre gifts she received as a result. 7.40pm
LONDON'S FOOD FACTORIES: Footprints of London guide Rob Smith offers a virtual tour through some of London's historic food factories. From the comfort of your own home, learn about the buildings that kept Victorian London supplied with food, from those which still remain, like the Lyle's Golden Syrup factory in Silvertown, as well as those which have been converted to other uses, such as the Gordon's gin distillery. 8pm-9pm
SCREAM: Spooky season's still a few months away, but you can scratch that horror film itch with a screening of Scream at Rooftop Film Club in Peckham. The 1997 film stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Sarah Michelle Gellar and others in the first instalment of the slasher franchise. 9.30pm
Tuesday 22 July
JOE STILGOE: Join renowned UK jazz musicians Joe Stilgoe and Giacomo Smith as they celebrate the characters found in jazz clubs with their band The Entertainers. Guest vocalists Emma Smith and Pete Horsfall join them on stage at Wilton's, covering songs inspired by the world of jazz clubs. 22-24 July
FOLK ALBUM LAUNCH: Folk group the Andrews Massey Duo launch their new album, with a live performance of traditional folk songs at the Hemingford Arms in Islington. FREE, 6.30pm
ROB COPLAND: Comedian Rob Copland is doing a WIP of his latest show at Camden Comedy Club tonight — expect sharp, boundary-bothering comedy with added moustache action. 7pm
LONDON'S LOST PUBS: Author and Londonist contributor Sam Cullen joins publisher and CAMRA member John Seaton at Stanfords Covent Garden to discuss Cullen's recent book, London's Lost Pubs. Hear about some of the memorable boozers the capital has lost in recent years (and get a feel for the book with this snapshot article). 7pm-8.30pm
CONTEMPORARY VOCAL SÜNDS: A one-night-only concert of experimental vocal music, Contemporary Vocal Sünds comes to Lauderdale House in Highgate, offering a rare chance to hear two of the UK’s most distinctive contemporary singers Eleanor Westbrook and Oskar McCarthy in a genre-bending show. 7.30pm
Wednesday 23 July
EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN: Compton Mackenzie's 1928 comic novel Extraordinary Women comes to the stage for the first time, at Jermyn Street Theatre from today. The new musical is set on the Mediterranean island of Sirene, peaceful in the aftermath of the First World War, until a group of extraordinary women arrive, bringing song, dance, laughter and tears. 23 July-10 August
BRIXTON CALLING: Opening at Southwark Playhouse Borough tonight, play Brixton Calling tells the true story of the 23-year-old who bought a derelict cinema for £1 in 1983, called it The Academy, and built legendary music venue, the Brixton Academy. 23 July-16 August
VIRTUAL BEAUTY: The latest exhibition at Somerset House is Virtual Beauty, exploring the intersections of digital culture and beauty standards and AI's take on beauty featuring over 20 international artists. Highlights include Amalia Ulman’s commentary on social media authenticity. 23 July-28 September
DICKENS SHOWTIME: Hot on the heels of its 100th birthday exhibition, the Charles Dickens Museum in Bloomsbury opens another new exhibition today, called Showtime! It explores the theatrical lifetime of Dickens, his friends and family — from the books that hit the stage before they were fully published, to Oliver!, the Muppets and far beyond. Included in general entrance price. 23 July-18 January 2026
ROYAL AFTERNOON TEA: The Orchard Room at Conrad London St. James launches a new afternoon tea today, featuring cakes by baker Fiona Cairns, who created the wedding cake of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge: think mini Victoria sponges, and lemon curd-filled fondant fancies. Also on the menu are finger sandwiches, warm scones and bottomless Bollinger champagne. From 23 July
PULP FACT: Join Mark Webber in conversation with author Travis Elborough as they discuss Webber's unique journey from a passionate Pulp fan to the band's tour manager and guitarist. Tonight's event at Owl Bookshop in Kentish Town celebrate Webber's book I’m With Pulp, Are You?, which combines personal anecdotes, memorabilia, photographs, and insights from his extensive experience with the band. 6.30pm
COLLYWOBBLERS COMEDY: Get a double bill of Edinburgh Fringe preview shows at Collywobblers Comedy, at The Albany in Fitzrovia. Bec Hill shares Guess Who's Bec, Bec Again?, detailing what she's been up to in the six years since her last solo show, followed by Emmanuel Sonubi: Life After Near Death, tackling life after surviving heart failure. 7pm-10.30pm
AS YOU LIKE IT: The East London Shakespeare Festival heads north to Highgate, with two consecutive nights of al fresco theatre at Lauderdale House. Watch a family-friendly production of As You Like It on the Tea Lawn, with a pre-show garland and headband-making workshop for children. 7.30pm (repeated tomorrow)
Thursday 24 July
HERBIE HANCOCK: Barbican's Summer Jazz Series comes to a close with three nights of shows by Grammy-winning jazz legend Herbie Hancock. It's a rare chance to see the American musician performing in the UK, and this residency marks 51 years since his first ever London show. 24-26 July
NATIONAL BALLET OF JAPAN: Japan's national ballet company makes its UK debut today, performing the acclaimed production of Giselle at the Royal Opera House, choreographed by Miyako Yoshida, former Royal Ballet Principal and the company's artistic director. 24-27 July
BLOOMS WITH A VIEW: Join a Royal Parks guide for a walking tour through St James's Park, focusing on the flowers currently in bloom. Meet the expert gardeners who maintain the busy park, and learn how they adapt their planting schedule through the seasons, to keep it looking fresh all year. 11am-12.30pm
METROPOLITAN RAILWAY: Watch an illustrated talk about the early history of the Metropolitan Railway – the world’s first underground railway – at the London Archives in Clerkenwell. Can't make it in person? Watch the online livestream. 12.30pm-1.30pm
VICTORIA'S SECRET: Cultural historian Dr Fern Riddell is at the British Library for a discussion challenging the traditional narratives surrounding Queen Victoria and her relationship with John Brown. Drawing from her new book, Victoria’s Secret: The Private Passion of a Queen, Riddell presents a compelling portrait of Victoria as a vibrant figure navigating midlife, rather than solely as a grieving widow. 7pm
HOT CLUB: Oriole cocktail bar in Covent Garden hosts a Thursday instalment of Hot Club — with live jazz manouche (think Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli) to accompany your drinks. Note that a cover charge applies. 8pm-10pm
Friday 25 July
WING FEST: Arrive hungry at the London Stadium in Stratford for Wing Fest, apparently the world's largest chicken wing festival, with 45 different street food traders, restaurants and BBQ teams serving up their best chicken wings. Tickets include live music, DJs, bands, entertainment, rides, games, axe throwing and eating competitions. 25-27 July
SHORT FILM FESTIVAL: Riverside Studios in Hammersmith hosts Bitesize Short Film Festival, three nights of short films which entertain, provoke, and leave a lasting impression. Drinks are held after each screening, giving film lovers a chance to meet and mingle. 25-27 July
SUMMER SPLASH: A free lido opens in east London's docks from today, complete with lifeguards, kids' lessons, and floating platforms to pen swimmers in and keep them safe. One to remember for the summer holidays — just bear in mind that Summer Splash in Royal Docks is unheated! FREE, 25 July-17 August. Find other urban beaches and outdoor swimming spots to enjoy in London this summer.
SONGS ON THE STEPS: For the final time this season, performers from Opera Holland Park give a free lunchtime recital in Holland Park, open to everyone. Songs on the Steps consists of a range of new and familiar songs and arias, including music from the 2025 season. FREE, 1pm
KIDS' PARTIES: Normally an adults-only venue, ballpit bar Ballie Ballerson in Shoreditch hosts a few kids' sessions throughout the summer. Choose between sessions for seven-12 or 13-16 year olds, and let them loose to let off steam in the ballpits. 3.30pm/5.30pm
SUMMER AT THE O2: Watch the sun set from atop The O2 with Sunset Sessions. Do an Up at The O2 evening climb over the dome, and enjoy cocktails, mocktails and a live DJ at the top, as you enjoy the views over London. 7pm/7.30pm/8pm
Saturday 26 July
ATHEL'S TOWN: Today and tomorrow a Saxon camp and reenactment pops up at Canbury Gardens alongside the Thames in Kingston. Athel's Town transports visitors back to the year 925, when King of the Anglo-Saxons Athelstan and his entourage crossed the bridge into Kingston-Upon-Thames for his coronation (perhaps surprisingly, the town has been the site of seven coronations, and that may be where it gets its name). Over the weekend, see Saxon-inspired displays, living history, music, performances, talks and storytelling. FREE, 26-27 July
WE CRIP FESTIVAL: Taking place at BFI Southbank, We Crip Film Festival is a weekend celebration of disabled filmmaking through films, talks and industry workshops curated by disabled programmers, including short film selection It's Not You, It's Ableism. The event was named by the BFI Disability Advisory Group, which consists of disabled people working in the film industry, and the festival's title is intended as a bold reclamation of a word which was previously used as an ableist slur. 26-27 July
LAVENDER HARVEST: For one weekend, Carshalton Lavender invites the public to descend on its allotment, and pick their own lavender — just remember to bring some secateurs or scissors to do your snipping with. 26-27 July
LONDON E-PRIX: All-electric vehicles take over the area around Royal Docks and Excel for the London E-Prix. The track partially goes inside the Excel Centre itself, and there's a fan village, live music from Pixie Lott and Rizzle Kicks, and an area for spectators. 26-27 July
CONTRAPTIONS AND CONNECTIONS: Pinner's Heath Robinson Museum opens new exhibition Contraptions and Connections today, celebrating quirky machines and inventions. View works by a wonderfully eccentric mix of creators who turn the everyday into the extraordinary, from William Heath Robinson's drawings of machines built from everyday household objects, to kinetic creations by automata artists including the legendary Tim Hunkin. 26 July-26 October
WALLABIES VS LIONS: Rugby fan looking for somewhere to watch the Lions Tour match today? Daffodil Mulligan in Shoreditch hosts a special brunch — think Irish bangers, Aussie-inspired bites and breakfast martinis — while screening Australia Vs the British Lions. You'll want to book this one. 10.45am
JAZZ & FOOD FESTIVAL: Spend this afternoon in a heady blend of music and street food at Greenwich Peninsula's Rhythm & Taste: Jazz & Food Festival. Afropunk and jazz collective Steam Down and rapper and vocalist Shunaji are among the live performers, among a backdrop of street food pop-ups, workshops and markets. 12pm-9pm
SUNDAES IN THE PARK: Ben & Jerry’s Sundaes In The Park Festival returns to Chiswick House and Gardens for a day of live music headlined by Fleur East, along with inspiring talks and workshops, cabaret performances and other entertainment. Despite the festival's name, it takes place on a Saturday... but ticket holders do get unlimited free Ben & Jerry's ice cream. 12pm-10pm
GIMME A SIGN!: It's Edinburgh preview o'clock at the Drayton Arms Theatre on Old Brompton Road, and tonight (and tomorrow night), Bailey Swilley performs Gimme a Sign! which features haunted tampons, magical p*ss play and soul-searching at Costco. That kind of thing. 9pm, and same time tomorrow
SHARD SILENT DISCO: Tonight, the View from The Shard stays open extra late for a silent disco with views over the capital. Don a pair of illuminated LED headphones and choose from three channels, each with a live DJ playing a different genre of music. 10pm-1am
Sunday 27 July
HOT AIR BALLOONS: After last week's attempt was stood down, today's the final possible date for the Lord Mayor's Hot Air Balloon Regatta this year. If weather conditions are right, dozens of balloons in various designs (and shapes) will float across the capital from Battersea Park first thing in the morning — from about 5am in fact, so set your alarm early. Check this page for updates — we should know by Friday if it's going ahead or not. FREE, from 5am
KEATS AND BRAWNE: Delve into the collaborative relationship between John Keats and Fanny Brawne, exploring the literary aspects rather than the romantic ties. Led by Kit Freeman, a PhD candidate, the talk at Keats House in Hampstead analyses their communication through letters and poems, and your ticket also includes access to the museum. 2.15pm-3.15pm
THE BIG SING: The summer of free events in Camden Market continues this afternoon with The Big Sing, a free performance by Britain's Got Talent contestants The Big Sing who cover well-known songs in choral form. FREE, 3pm-5pm
CHESS: Vauxhall's Teahouse Theatre hosts Kings, Queens & Checkmates — an evening of free chess playing, where you can enjoy a game over a good cup of tea (they certainly know how to make 'em here) and make some friends while you're at it. Reserve a spot before coming. FREE, 6pm-8pm
THE SOUND OF WHAT'S LEFT: Windmill Brixton screens The Sound Of What's Left, a documentary celebrating London's precious and few surviving grassroots gig venues (including, of course, itself). There's live music too, from electro punks Star City, punk-with-a-cello Thwack! and hyperpop/electronica artist MM'99. 7pm
COUNTRY NIGHT IN NASHVILLE: Dig out your cowboy boots as A Country Night in Nashville pitches up at Bromley's Churchill Theatre, recreating a buzzing Nashville honky tonk in south London. Hear covers of songs by Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, The Chicks, Willie Nelson and Kacey Musgraves, all performed by Dominic Halpin and the Hurricanes. 7.30pm
QUINTETO ASTOR PIAZZOLLA: The official ensemble dedicated to celebrating the music of the legendary Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla, Quinteto Astor Piazzolla perform live at Barbican. Their repertoire includes Piazzolla’s most iconic works, as well as rare and lesser-known gems. 7.30pm
