June means it’s officially summer, along with (hopefully) sunny days. There’s plenty of variety on offer this month, with markets, booze cruises, country shows, open-air concerts and the annual Naked Bike Ride – just take your pick.

The London Craft Gin Cruise

London used to be filled with Gin Palaces; these days you can take a leisurely cruise down the Thames to sip spirits and hear gin experts talk about its infamous history in the capital. Tickets include a souvenir glass and four serves or artisan gin. There will be more gin to buy on board, plus Neal’s Yard cheeses for pairings (and to soak up the booze). Cruises run one Saturday a month through the summer, at 12.30pm and 3.30pm, with a different line-up of distilleries for every cruise date.

London Naked Bike Ride
Photo by WNBR

World Naked Bike Ride London

This massively popular annual event in protest against car culture and global oil dependence is back this June. Full nudity is optional (flesh-coloured underwear could save your blushes and solve your chafing issues) but expect over a thousand naked cyclists to take to the streets.

Photo by Doug Peters/PA Wire

London Symphony Orchestra Open-Air Concert

Hear London’s oldest symphony orchestra conducted by Sir Simon Rattle in a free open-air concert in Trafalgar Square. The BMW Open Air Classics concert is a performance by the LSO and 50 young musicians from the LSO On Track programme and musicians from the Guildhall School of Music.

Photo by Rafael Holanda Barroso used under CC

Lambeth Country Show

There really is something for everyone at the free Lambeth Country Show: two music stages with a whole range of live bands and DJs, horticultural shows, craft and food stalls, diggers, birds of prey displays and an urban farm. It’s a day well spent wandering around and enjoying it all.

London Square Open Gardens Weekend

Every year, London’s secret gardens are open to the public for two days in June. Grab a ticket to visit over 100 participating spaces from private garden to roof terraces, wild spaces and community allotments. You can plan your visits by browsing the website for the full list of this year’s gardens or filter by area.

brixton windmill
Photo by Kevan used under CC

Brixton Windmill Open Days

You can take a tour of the over 200-year-old Windmill in Brixton from April until October. Tours cost a fiver, take 30 minutes and run on the second weekend of the month. You have to book ahead, and once there you can see the original wind-powered machinery and find out about the windmill’s history. To visit the top floor there are narrow stairs to climb but, for visitors with accessibility needs, the tour guides can explain as much as possible from the ground floor.

London Tech Week 2023

London Tech Week started ten years ago to promote the city as a European tech hub with hundreds of events across tech-related fields. Previously held over multiple venues across the city, this year’s key events will be held at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster.

Unseen Tours

Unseen Tours supports vulnerably-housed individuals to develop, curate, and lead guided walks in different neighbourhoods of London. Tours currently run in Brick Lane, London Bridge, Soho, Covent Garden and Kings Cross; check out their website for more details and to book a tour.

Photo by Black-Owned Hackney Market

Black-Owned Night Market

Hackney’s Black-owned Night Market is a monthly collaboration with Black Eats LDN showcasing Black-owned street food and artisan traders. Expect vegan (and non vegan) street eats, rum punch and other cocktails, craft bears and sustainable clothes, gifts and skincare.

West End Live | Photo by Pamela Raith Photography

West End Live

Watch performances from some of the West End’s biggest musicals for free. The annual musical theatre is back, so expect outlandish costumes and big show tunes to fill Trafalgar Square once more. This year’s line-up is yet to be announced, but past years’ events have included performances from shows including The Book of Mormon, Dreamgirls UK Tour, Heather The Musical, Rock of Ages UK tour and Matilda The Musical. Entry is on a first come, first served basis.

Other Events

Written by:
BIO: Freelance writer, flâneuse and former blogger at London Girl About Town, Amanda is dedicated to sharing the latest on London's restaurants, bars, hidden quirks and general wonderfulness.
Filed under: Things to Do

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