Destination guide: 25 reasons to visit London this summer

ICC Cricket World Cup

With matches taking place at the famous Lord’s Cricket Ground and The Kia Oval, 2019 is most definitely the summer to spend in London for cricket fans. Matches run throughout June until 14 July.

Eid Festival

Celebrate London’s cultural diversity for Eid in Trafalgar Square on 8 June 2019. There’s everything from live music to family activities and food from around the world.

Trooping the Colour

Also taking place on 8 June this year is the annual celebration of the Queen’s birthday. A colourful and regal military parade will take place on the streets of London to mark the occasion and show off a very British tradition to London’s summertime visitors.

Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams

This exhibition at the V&A Museum takes an in-depth look into one of the most influential fashion houses in the world. Running until 14 July, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for fashion fans to view sketches, fashions and photographs that date as far back as 1947.

Open Garden Squares Weekend

London visitors can get a behind-the-scenes look at the city this summer, gaining access to beautiful garden squares on 8 and 9 June that are usually closed to the public.

London Tech Week

For those who love gadgets and the latest innovations in technology, this June is the time to visit London. London Tech Week runs from 10 to 16 June, with events taking place across London, from open-air screenings to a teetotal morning rave!

Van Gogh and Britain

The EY Exhibition at Tate Britain this summer takes an exclusive look at the works of Van Gogh. The exhibition focuses on Van Gogh’s love of Great Britain and runs through until 11 August.

On Your Feet!

Fans of theatre and Latin music should head over to the London Coliseum this summer for a show which follows the life and work of Gloria and Emilio Estefan. A feelgood show with uplifting music ideal for the summer, On Your Feet! runs from 14 June to 31 August 2019.

West End LIVE

People flock to London from around the world to soak up the city’s latest West End theatre shows. This free event in Trafalgar Square on 15 and 16 June 2019 brings London’s top shows together in an open-air showcase of the musicals currently being performed in the West End.

Taste of London

Foodie visitors to the city should make their way to Regent’s Park between 19 and 23 June 2019. This is the place to enjoy food tastings and events by the city’s best restaurants and celebrity chefs.

Sorolla: Spanish Master of Light

Art fans should head over to the National Gallery to get a one-of-a-kind look at Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida’s paintings of outdoor scenes during the early summer. This special exhibition runs until 7 July 2019.

Pride in London

An annual celebration of London’s LGBT+ community, Pride in London culminates in a parade, but also plays host to dozens of special events across the city between 23 June and 7 July 2019.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

This multi award-winning musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice is returning to London’s West End on 27 June 2019 for a limited run. As one of the world’s best loved musicals, tickets look set to sell fast!

Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees

Many sports fans wouldn’t associate London with Major League Baseball, but this is all changing thanks to the London Stadium. This two-game series takes place on 29 and 30 June 2019 and seats are in high demand.

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship

The international competition on every tennis fan’s calendar takes place from 1 to 14 July 2019. The atmosphere of the grounds in Wimbledon is fantastic for those without tickets, with plenty of matches to be seen on the outside courts during the first week of the tournament.

Wireless Festival

This open air music festival will be taking over London’s Finsbury Park from 5 to 7 July, with a number of big name acts taking to the stage.

Olafur Eliasson

This Icelandic-Danish artist is creating a very special super-sized exhibition in the Tate Modern this summer, which will also extend into an outdoor artwork and a vegetarian eatery. The show opens on 11 July 2019.

British Summer Time

This is Hyde Park’s annual music festival that attracts music fans from across the world – and it’s within striking distance of The Athenaeum too. Headliners in this year’s event running from 13 to 14 July 2019 include Florence and the Machine and Robbie Williams.

BBC Proms

The BBC’s classical music festival runs all the way from 19 July 2019 to 14 September 2019. With hundreds of events taking places in venues across London, this is the ideal way to soak up summertime in the city.

Muller Anniversary Games

Taking place in the London 2012 Olympic stadium, this athletics event will see the world’s best athletics champions compete. Taking place on 20 and 21 July 2019, sports fans will be swept up in the sporting atmosphere for a couple of days.

Buckingham Palace summer opening

As the Queen leaves London for several weeks every summer, Buckingham Palace opens its doors to curious visitors. This summer, public tours commence on 22 July and run all the way through until 29 September.

Prudential Ride London

This cycling event takes place from 1 to 4 August 2019. While professional cyclists embark on an epic race, many of central London’s roads remain closed to traffic so members of the public can cycle around and soak up the city in peace.

Somerset House film screenings

Watch your favourite movies under the stars this summer. There are outdoor cinemas across London, with the courtyard of the iconic Somerset House being one of the most popular for two weeks each summer.

Ladbrokes Challenge Cup Final

Rugby fans will be flocking to Wembley Stadium from across the UK on 24 August 2019 for a Rugby Union match played by the best two teams in the league. This is a brilliant way to join in with London’s proud sporting history and watch a much-loved sport.

Notting Hill Carnival

Celebrating Caribbean culture in London, the city’s famous Notting Hill Carnival takes place from 24 to 26 August this year. Expect colourful floats and parades, live music and a cacophony of foodie flavours from across the Caribbean.