Summer in London: 88 top things to do in London

1. Take your pick of cool museums for kids, iconic buildings and action-packed adventures with the best family attractions in the capital.
2. Tick off the capital's top 10 attractions, including family favourites Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, the SEA LIFE London Aquarium and the London Eye.
3. Feel the wind in your hair as you glide down The Slide at ArcelorMittal Orbit, the world's longest and tallest tunnel slide.
4. Inspire the little ones with a trip to Kidzania, where they can take part in immersive play and try out different careers as journalists, doctors, firefighters and more.
5. Ride the dodgems and take part in plenty of family-friendly activities over Somerset House with Dodge. 15 Jul-22 Aug
6. Get creative at Tate Modern by drawing your own creations on the floor of Turbine Hall with UNIQLO Tate Play. 24 Jul-29 Aug
7. Learn about wildlife, go pond dipping and get crafty with themed Discovery Days in Hyde Park. From 3 Aug
8. Design and build your very own go kart with the kids, with Formula Fun, in locations across London. 21 Aug-4 Sep
9. Spot your favourite stars of the screen on the Scenes in the Square statue trail in Leicester Square.
10. Plan a London break with a stay in London's best hotels for families, and find plenty of ideas to do each day with these family activities.
11. Or keep coming back to make memories that last forever by working your way through these 101 things to do with the little and not-so-little ones.

Find more family experiences and things to do with kids this summer holiday in London.

1. Wander the Great Broad Walk Borders, seek out Japanese gardens and spot roses in bloom at Kew Gardens. Can you find the Gruffalo? 
2. Marvel at pretty city views from an iconic double-decker bus on one of London’s best bus tours.
3. Book your spot to scale the new Marble Arch Mound for sweeping views of Oxford Street, Hyde Park and the West End.
4. Grab a blanket and a bottle of fizz, and head to the city’s leafy parks when the sun shines. Enjoy a picnic and have a go on a pedalo in Hyde Park, or spot the resident deer in Richmond Park.
5. See the variety of exotic animals and hang out with penguins at the famous ZSL London Zoo by Regent's Park.
6. When the mercury rises, take a dip in one of the city’s azure-blue lidos or venture north for a swim with leafy views in Hampstead Heath.
7. Snuggle up during a summer film at one of London’s great outdoor cinemas, including Rooftop Film Club’s iconic venues, or hop in the car for a drive-in cinema experience. 
8. Hop on your bike and ride some of London's best cycle paths. 
9. Get some of the best uninterrupted views in London and scale The O2 with the Up at The O2 climb.
10. Sing along to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel or enjoy Shakespeare's acclaimed Romeo and Juliet under the stars at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre this summer. 17 Jun-25 Sep

Discover more things to do outdoors in London.

1. Celebrate iconic Royal Albert Hall’s 150th anniversary with performances from multi-award-winning composers and performers, from David Arnold to Patti Smith, Jon Hopkins, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and more. 19 Jul
2. Or see Groove Armada perform high up on a hill, at Ally Pally’s one-day Kaleidoscope Festival, also featuring comedy, immersive theatre and more. 24 Jul
3. Experience the magic of some of the most popular Studio Ghibli films, including Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, with Joe Hisaishi Symphonic Concert, live at Wembley’s SSE Arena this summer. 6-7 Aug
4. See one of the prettiest parts of town transform into Europe's biggest street party during the world-famous Notting Hill Carnival. TBC
5. Bag yourself tickets to some of London's hottest music festivals to see your favourite bands perform as the sun sets over incredible venues, such as Hampton Court Palace Festival (13-24 Aug).
6. Celebrate Black culture at YAM Carnival in Clapham Common, a new festival featuring some of the biggest names of afrobeats, hip-hop and R&B across the globe and London's best African-influenced street food vendors. 28 Aug
7. Celebrate London's LGBT+ community at the colourful Pride in London parade. Sing and dance along, as more than 300 floats wind their way through central London. 11 Sep

Return to London's theatres

1. Hop on the Emirates Air Line cable car for a selfie with a backdrop. Top tip: travel through the London sky at sunset for perfect snaps.
2. Snap colourful floral displays and see impressive garden designs at the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show (21-26 Sep) and RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival (6-11 Jul).
3. This year, the Queen's annual birthday parade, Trooping the Colour, has been cancelled. Instead, join a Buckingham Palace tour to exclusively visit the State Rooms during its summer opening, or explore the royal gardens and hear more about its history at Buckingham Palace Garden Tours. 9 Jul-19 Sep
4. Get the perfect shot of the city, more than 500ft (152m) above the streets, in Sky Garden. Enjoy the show-stopping views alongside summer dishes at its restaurant Darwin Brasserie.
5. Soak up knockout views of the capital from high up at the classy Sushisamba City, located on the 38th and 39th floors of the Heron Tower.
6. Walk up Primrose Hill for sweeping views of Regent’s Park and the London skyline. For the perfect shot, don’t miss the William Blake quote eetched into the stone at the top: “I have conversed with the spiritual sun. I saw him on Primrose Hill.”
7. Get creative with your snaps at Somerset House's stunning courtyard, which is home to the dramatic Forest for Change installation highlighting sustainability, as part of  the London Design Biennale. 1-27 Jun

1. Love a good food market? Sink your teeth into heavenly treats in the surrounds of a former church at Mercato Mayfair, enjoy street food bites from KERB traders at Seven Dials Market, or hang out near the Thames at the Southbank Centre Food Market.
2. Discover some of the city’s best rooftop bars for sunset drinks with killer views, including The Nest at Treehouse London Hotel, catch a sunset at Bar Elba with views of the London Eye and The Shard or at laidback Frank’s Cafe atop a multistorey car park in Peckham.
3. Head to Lost in Brixton and satisfy all your cravings with food from downstairs Brixton Village. Chill with a local beer or a colourful spritzer, while waiting for your food to be brought straight to your table. Who said you couldn't have it all? 
4. Enjoy browsing Borough Market on Sundays for the first time with We Love Sundays, between 10am and 2pm. From 27 Jun
5. Experience high-dining in a literal sense! Have a meal 100ft (30m) above ground at The O2, with London in the Sky. 1 Jul-26 Sep
6. Sit outside and enjoy a meal in the summer sunshine at some of London's best alfresco restaurants.
7. Work your way around as many of the food and drink stalls and cooking demonstrations as you can at Taste of London in Regent's Park, the capital’s ultimate alfresco feast. 7-11 and 14-18 Jul
8. Feast on all things Italian at new food hall Eataly in Broadgate – featuring a huge market area, three restaurants, a winery and a cooking school.
9. Visit the new BattersEats outdoor food hall at Battersea Power Station, which mixes riverside views with alfresco eating from the area’s top restaurants, cafes and bars.
10. Or, try locals’ favourite food markets, including Mercato Metropolitano on Borough High Street, trendy east London street food hub Dinerama, lively Pop Brixton and foodie haven Maltby Street Market.
11. Go crazy for craft beer at the London Craft Beer Festival in Tobacco Dock, which brings together top brewers from across the globe. 13-15 Aug

Discover more food and drink ideas.

1. Fill your Instagram feed with snaps of Little Venice’s charming canals. Stroll along the Regent’s Canal towards Camden and Regent’s Park, or float down the waterways on a canal boat.
2. Chill out in the sunshine at one of the hip drinking spots close to Camden Market. If you’re feeling peckish, browse the tasty bites on offer at the market's food stalls.
3. Soak up the sun and wave at passers-by while cruising down some of London’s canals in a hot tub with Skuna Boats, from West India Quay. That’s right, a floating hot tub!
4. Unleash your adventurous side and explore Hammersmith or Richmond during a stand-up paddle boarding session with Active 360 on the river Thames.
5. Sip on a craft beer from Hackney’s trendy canal-side microbrewery Crate, or head to one of the riverside pubs and bars lining South Bank for a socially distanced drink, including the BFI Riverfront.
6. Hop aboard a riverboat for a relaxing ride along the Thames to one of London’s most charming neighbourhoods: Greenwich.

1. Watch the live action and mingle with fellow fans at the UEFA Euro 2020 fan parks in Trafalgar Square and Potters Fields Park. Select days from 11 Jun to 11 Jul
2. Buy tickets in advance for the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships which return this year with two weeks of world-class tennis. 28 Jun-11 Jul
3. See cricket stars compete in fast-paced tournament The Hundred, which combines 100-ball matches with entertainment at the Kia Oval and Lord’s. 21 Jul-21 Aug

1. Head to elegant Regent Street for world-class dining, lifestyle and shopping, with high-street fashion brands like Burberry, Kate Spade and Mango, plus there are plenty of independent shops to discover on the side streets.
2. Browse Oxford Street, the world’s biggest high street, for fashion, beauty and tech items at iconic brands and department stores, including John Lewis, Lush and Microsoft.
3. And don't miss world-famous Bond Street in Mayfair, home to ultra luxury fashion just around the corner from Oxford Street.
4. Hop around artisan shops and boutiques in St James's, known for high-end fashion and numerous stores with the Royal Warrant.
5. Shop for high-street fashion at One New Change's collection of more than 60 stores.
6. Carnaby Street is ideal for fashion lovers looking for concept stores, designer clothes, trendy footwear and colourful shop fronts. And if you’re not in a retail-therapy mood, there is also plenty of food to enjoy from Carnaby’s restaurants.
7. Not only is Covent Garden a foodie paradise, it is also one of the best shopping destinations in London's West End. Look for classy items in the market while soothed by the sound of opera singers performing or find the latest in beauty and fashion.
8. Take a wander around Seven Dials, where independent boutiques, classy cafes and picturesque courtyards collide. 
9. Stop by Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross to shop for niche brands and enjoy a latte and cakes at its many cafes. 
10. Peruse London’s top markets for food, flowers, modern art and clothes.
11. London is a temple for second-hand fashion, so make sure you rummage through charity shops and the city’s best vintage fashion shops for one-of-a-kind items. 
12. Looking for something slightly different? Once you’ve hit the big shopping destinations, take a look at the many art and antique shops and hidden shopping gems in London.

Find more inspiration for London shopping.

1. Summer Reunion at the Southbank Centre celebrates music, dance, literature and art with events across Southbank Centre's venues, from indoor concerts to outdoor events featuring world-class artists. Until 30 Aug
2. Step into acclaimed Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms at Tate Modern, two immersive installations that will transport you into a world of endless reflections. Until 12 Jun 2022
3. See Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser at the V&A, an immersive exhibition retracing the history and cultural impact of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Until 31 Dec
4. David Hockney's works created in the midst of the pandemic are exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts. Until 26 Sep
5. London Design Biennale is coming back after being gone for three years, with a focus of Resonance. 1-27 Jun
6. If they're into works of Van Gogh, spend a day out at Van Gogh Alive at Kensington Gardens. 4 Jun-26 Sep
7. Nearly a 100 galleries make up the stunning Photo London exhibition, one of the best annual photography events in London. 9-12 Sep
8. Don’t miss the Royal Academy of Arts’ Summer Exhibition, an annual celebration of art and creativity showcasing works from up-and-coming artists and academicians. 22 Sep-2 Jan

Find more of the latest art exhibitions and museum exhibitions in London.

Make your summer quirky