This post is our list of the best things to do in London in June, updated for 2023, including a top 10 list, family-friendly activities, things to do at night, free events, and attractions.
For more ideas for any time of the year, read our master post on things to do in London.
- Top 10
- Free Things to Do
- Nighttime Activities
- Things to Do with Kids
- How's the Weather?
- Free Tours a pie
Disclosure: While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the full text.
As London welcomes the warm June weather, it also gears up for summer festivals and events.
This post will guide you through loads of things to do in London in the month of June.
For more ideas of popular things to do, check out our guides on:
1. Go to a Concert
With the arrival of summer, London in June offers outdoor concerts in addition to stadium shows and small venue gigs.
There are a nice variety of concerts scheduled for June, including several opportunities to see some notable musicians.
- ABBA Voyage | June 1st-29th
- Beyonce | June 1st, 3rd, 4th
- The Melvins | June 6th
- Fatboy Slim | June 10th, 11th
- Harry Styles | June 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th
- Depeche Mode | June 17th
- Tenacious D | June 16th
- Arctic Monkeys | June 16th, 17th, 18th
- Pet Boy Boys | June 17th
- Peter Gabriel | June 19th
- The Black Keys | June 21st
- Pink | June 24th, 25th
- Muse | June 25th
- Guns N' Roses | June 27th
- Chris Isaak | June 29th
Festivals
Black Deer Festival | June 16th-17th
- The Pretenders
- Nathanial Ratcliff and the Night Sweats
- Bonnie Raitt
- Lucinda Williams
- Grace Jones | June 8th
- Kaiser Chiefs | June 10th
- Rick Astley | June 17th
- Bjorn Again | June 16th
Find out who else is playing this month in London by checking StubHub's June concert calendar.
2. Watch the Royal Ascot Horse Race
Don your fancy hat as you enjoy the world-renowned Royal Ascot horse meeting from June 20th-24th.
Founded by Queen Anne in 1711, this horse race is a London tradition.
Often attended by members of the Royal Family, the meeting features a daily horse-drawn procession led by the royal carriage from Windsor Castle to Ascot Racecourse.
This could be a great activity for kids who love horses or those who love to dress up!
If tickets are available, you'll be able to purchase them here.
3. Go to a Sporting Event
There are several cricket and tennis matches scheduled for June, and tickets are already being sold.
If you're a fan of these teams and athletes, this could be an excellent opportunity to see them perform.
Check to see what sporting events are available in London this June.
Tennis
- Queen Club Championship | June 19-25
Cricket
- England | June 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 28th, 29th
Baseball
- St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs | June 24th, 25th
Check here for additional sporting events you might be able to attend.
4. Take a Sightseeing Tour
This is the perfect time of year to see all the historic sites of London, and there are several great sightseeing tours you can take.
One of the best ways to see the city is to take one of our pay-what-you-wish walking tours.
We offer the following outings in June:
- London All-in-One
- Westminster Tour
- City of London
- Camden Town Tour
- World War II Tour
- Brixton Culture & Street Art
- Soho, Piccadilly, & Chinatown
In addition to these opportunities, there are also hop-on-hop-off bus tours that will take you to every major landmark in London.
Alternatively, you could also take a boat tour on the Thames to see what the city looks like from the water!
NOTE: Some of these tours and activities may be limited, postponed, or canceled due to the pandemic.
5. Go to the Trooping of the Colour
Celebrate the King’s birthday on June 17th, 2023, with the Trooping of the Colour, a centuries-old birthday parade that dates back to King Edward VII.
(King Charles' actual birthday is on November 14th.)
This pageant features over 1,400 soldiers, marching, horses, and even aircraft flying overhead – it’s a true royal spectacle!
The parade route extends past Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, and then back again.
It is entirely free to attend and it is also perfect for the whole family.
6. Enjoy Open Garden Squares Weekend
There are a lot of gardens in London that are usually closed off to the public, but during one weekend in June, their gates are opened.
In 2023, the event takes place on June 10th and 11th.
A number of private green areas will be opened to the public such as:
- 10 Downing Street (British PM’s House)
- Royal College of Physicians Medicinal Garden
- Crossrail Place Roof Garden
- Tate Modern Community Garden
- 49 Bankside Garden (Near Globe Theatre)
See all the details from the Open Garden Squares Weekend website.
7. Look into Getting a Tourist Pass
Summer is a great time to get outside and see historic landmarks and fun attractions in London.
Thankfully, a tourist pass can save you money on many of the most popular summer activities.
Admission for the following attractions is included with at least one discount pass:
- HMS Belfast
- London Bike Tours
- Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tours
- London Boat Tours
- Wembley Stadium Tour
- Arsenal Emirates Stadium Tour
- Chelsea FC Stadium Tour
- Twickenham Stadium Tour
- Wimbledon Tour Experience
- SEA LIFE London Aquarium
- ArcelorMittal Orbit
- and more!
These are just a handful of the activities you can enjoy in June with these services.
For more details, make sure to read our full post covering London tourist passes.
8. Get a Taste of London
Foodies will surely enjoy the Taste of London, tasting food from London's top restaurants while enjoying the beauty of Regent's Park.
This event takes place between June 14th - 18th, 2023. Visit the Taste of London website for more details.
The festival is a family-friendly activity and it gives kids an opportunity to try a variety of new cuisines.
For other food options, we offer a few different food tours of London. Or, you can explore at your own pace using our self-guided food tour of London's East End.
For even more great things you can enjoy with the kids, read our section devoted to family-friendly activities.
9. Celebrate Father’s Day
Spend a day celebrating Dad on Father’s Day, June 18th, 2023. A River Thames cruise might be just the thing.
There are many options that will get you out onto the water, including hop-on-hop-off cruises, speedboats, and dinner cruises.
Find out about the many boat rides, cruises and ferries you can enjoy in June by reading our post on Thames River Cruises.
TIP: If you're planning to take your father out for dinner, it will be important to make reservations well ahead of time.
10. Go to the West End Festival
In mid-June, head to Trafalgar Square to enjoy two days of *free* performances of popular West End shows and musicals.
Past performances have included Wicked, The Lion King, Frozeny Hamilton among many others.
This event is sure to be crowded, so make sure to arrive early to secure a space!
In 2023, West End Live is scheduled for the 17th and 18th of June.
Check the West End Live schedule for lineup information.
Take in the Summer Exhibition
The Royal Academy of Arts puts on an annual exhibition of contemporary art.
How long has this exhibition taken place? Since 1769! It's the world's "older open submission exhibition" and anyone can submit their work for consideration.
You'll find art in the medium of sculpture, painting, photography, architecture, and more - with both emerging and established artists from around the world.
This year the festival takes place between June 13th and 20th.
Visit the website for more information.
This section will include a variety of free things to do in London during the month of June.
Check our other sections for even more great ideas such as a visit to the Queen Mary’s Garden, the Greenwich & Docklands International Fest, and Trooping of the Colour.
Don’t forget to take a look at our full post covering free things to do in London for additional budget-friendly activities.
Go to a Free Museum
Tate Britain/Tate Modern – Both of these museums offer a variety of interesting art from the 1500s to the present day, and they each provide free entry to all visitors.
The National Gallery – This museum has over 2,300 paintings with notable pieces from Van Gogh, Monet, Rembrandt and more, there are many reasons to visit, and it won’t cost you a thing!
Imperial War Museum – See exhibits and artifacts from as far back as WWI and WWII, including vehicles such as a Harrier jet, a Spitfire plane, a T-34 tank, and more.
If you’re looking for even more great locations to visit, make sure to read our post covering free museums in London.
Visit the Sky Garden
This public garden sits atop the “Walkie-Talkie” building in London, and it’s entirely free to visit until midnight or later.
In addition to all the greenery you can enjoy here, there are also fantastic views of the capital. Many people feel that this is one of the best ways to see the city.
Remember to wear a mask and practice social distancing.
Find out more from our post on the Sky Garden.
See Abbey Road
The street crossing depicted on the Abbey Road album can be found in St. John’s Wood, and it’s pretty easy to get there via the bus or the London Underground.
Read our full post about getting to the Abbey Road Crosswalk and tips to help you plan your visit.
For even more historic landmarks related to this beloved rock band, consider taking either our free self-guided Beatles tour or our pay-what-you-wish rock n’ roll tour.
Smell the Roses at Queen Mary’s Garden
Located in Regent’s Park, this rose garden is one of the most beautiful sites in all of London, especially during the summer.
In fact, June is the best month to visit Queen Mary’s Garden as it's the peak season for roses!
In addition to the rose garden, there are also a few Victorian gardens nearby.
Best of all, each of the gardens at Regent’s Park is entirely free to visit.
Watch the World Naked Bike Ride
On June 10th, 2023, this annual event welcomes cyclists to ride around throughout the capital in the buff.
Originally begun as a protest against car culture and oil dependency, the event still holds true to this, but now attracts those who are just looking for an interesting day out!
Click here for more information and starting locations. This event is legal!
You can find even more no-cost activities from our post on free things to do in London.
THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT IN JUNE
The following section will cover a variety of fun things you can do after dark in London during the month of June.
Keep an eye on our other sections for even more excellent ideas like seeing a concert or musical, going to the SkyGarden, or taking a dinner cruise on the Thames.
Look at our full post covering what to do at night in London for even more great activities you can enjoy after the sun goes down.
Take a Jack the Ripper or Other Night Tour
For a city as old as London, you can imagine there are numerous tales to tell once the sun goes down. Consider taking a night tour!
For those who enjoy thrilling mysteries, check out our Jack the Ripper tour. Alternatively, for a broader view of the darker side to London, enjoy our London Ghost tour.
If you don’t fancy ghost tours, check out some of the other evening tours London has to offer like a boat tour by RiverLights or a Big Bus tour.
Experience the Music of Hans Zimmer
If you're a film buff, chances are you're familiar with the work of composer Hans Zimmer.
He has written the musical scores for dozens of notable movies over the past few decades, so even if you don't know him by name, you'll probably recognize his compositions.
Here are a few of the film scores you can expect to hear on his European Tour:
- Dune
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- The Last Samurai
- Interstellar
- Gladiator
- The Dark Knight
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- And more!
The concerts take place at O2 Arena on June 14th & 15th, 2023.
Experience an Orchestral Performance
If you’re not interested in the typical concerts or music festivals taking place this month, perhaps a more classical experience is in order.
Both the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing in the capital this month.
Among a variety of other shows, the RPO will be performing tunes from popular video games during their Video Games Live event on June 6th, 2023.
Visit a Museum at Night
Many London museums have late nights. Combine a night out with some art and culture.
The British Museum, the Tate Modern, and the National Gallery operate after the sun goes down on selected days.
Most of the museums open at night are free of charge.
Be sure to check out our guide on free London museums as well as our free guided tour of the British Museum.
You can learn about more nighttime activities from our post about things to do at night in London.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN JUNE
This section will provide a variety of fun family-friendly activities you can enjoy in London throughout the month of June.
Take a look at our other sections above for even more great things to do with your children such as going to the Royal Ascot Horse Race or attending the Beating Retreat.
For even more great ideas, take a look at our full post about visiting London with kids.
Take a Harry Potter Tour
Now that the sun is coming out, Harry Potter fans might want to take this opportunity to see several notable filming locations from the Harry Potter movies.
We offer a pay-what-you-wish Harry Potter walking tour that covers a variety of sites including Diagon Alley, the Ministry of Magic Visitor’s Entrance, the Muggle Prime Minister’s office, and more.
Alternatively, this would also be a wonderful time to take the Harry Potter tour at Warner Bros Studios.
This service will give you the opportunity to see some of the sets from the films and get a good behind-the-scenes look at the world of wizards!
Ride The London Eye
A favorite with kids and adults alike, this massive Ferris-wheel-style observation pod offers amazing views of the city.
June skies are generally clear giving you the best chances of seeing London to its outer reaches.
Tickets are included with the 2-for-1 program, the London City Pass, the London Explorer Pass, and more.
For additional details, please read our full post about visiting the London Eye.
Take a Tour of Wimbledon
Spend an afternoon touring behind the scenes at the most famous tennis club in England.
Learn about the history and traditions of the game and be inspired by the championship trophies.
Tickets include a 90-minute tour of the grounds and entrance to the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum.
Admission for this activity is typically included with at least one London tourist pass.
See the Dinosaurs at Crystal Palace Park
The Crystal Palace dinosaurs have become well known as one of the most popular attractions in London.
These statues were designed by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins in the 1850s and they represent what we knew about the subject during the Victorian era.
There are 30 dinosaurs to see in total, and it’s entirely free to enjoy this attraction. Find out more here.
You can find even more ideas from our post on things to do with kids in London.
Attend The Underbelly Festival
The annual Underbelly Festival is a fun pop-up festival that takes place in Early's Court and Cavendish Square.
Guests will find live circus acts, cabarets, stand-up comedy, live bands, and family-friendly shows, among other events.
The festival ran in May and June last year, so we're expecting it will take place around the same time this year.
Tickets to most of the shows or events are generally under £20.
TIP: Our London Night Tour starts nearby so consider joining us for a stroll along the river after you’ve enjoyed your show!
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