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London events calendar

Your month-by-month guide to the best new events in London

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This week's hottest London events

  1. Prometheus
  2. London Zoo Lates
  3. Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2012
  4. Secret Cinema
  5. World Street Food Festival
  6. Field Day
  7. The Big British Tea Party
  8. David Guetta
  9. Henry Moore: Large Late Forms
  10. Coldplay
Full hot list details

The best of London

Time Out's critics recommend the best films, shows, exhibitions, events and restaurants in London right now

More critics' choice events

Top London festivals

More London festivals

Welcome to Time Out's London events calendar. In this guide you'll find our hand-picked selection of the best new events that begin this month, next month and indeed every month. From theatre, exhibition and film openings to gigs, festivals and comedy, if it's new, it's here - dive in!

July highlights

  • Pride London

    World Pride 2012

    Free Gay & Lesbian Sat Jul 7, Central London

    London hosts World Pride this year, preceded by a two week festival of LGBT cultural events

  • The Dark Knight Rises

    Film Fri Jul 20, Londonwide

    The blockbuster event of the summer is undoubtedly the final instalment of Nolan’s Batman trilogy

  • London 2012 Olympic Games

    Sport Jul 27-Aug 12, Various venues

    It's the biggest single event to happen in the capital in many of our lifetimes!

July events in London

  • Buckingham Palace Summer Opening 2012

    Museums & AttractionsNew Jun 30-Jul 8, Buckingham Palace

    It's difficult to imagine what it would be like to attend one of the state, ceremonial or officia...

  • Sun Walk London

    Around Town Sun Jul 1, Battersea Park

    A daytime version of breast cancer charity Walk the Walk's Moon Walk event. There are three cours...

  • Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

    Museums & Attractions Jul 3-8, Hampton Court Palace

    Hot on the heels of Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show in May, this high-summer ev...

  • Kew the Music

    Music Jul 3-8, Kew Gardens

    Series of outdoor cocerts at Kew Gardens. Headliners include Will Young, Status Quo, The Gipsy Ki...

  • London Literature Festival

    Books & PoetryRecommended Jul 3-15, Southbank Centre

    This festival brings together international, world class poets, authors and speakers representing...

    Southbank Centre

  • The Amazing Spider-Man

    Film From Tue Jul 3

    Most of us still have intricate memories of Sam Raimi’s trilogy of box-office busting Spider-Ma...

  • Rich Hall's Hoedown

    ComedyRecommended Jul 4-8, Soho Theatre

    A mix of music, comedy, liquor and spent dreams with Rich Hall plus musicians Ronnie Golden, Rob ...

    Rich Hall

  • Marilyn Manson

    Music Thu Jul 5, O2 Academy Brixton

  • Rhod Gilbert - The Man with the Flaming Battenberg Tattoo

    ComedyCritics' choice Jul 5-7, Hammersmith Apollo

    Rhod's back on the road next summer, including these three Hammersmith dates, with his intriguing...

    Rhod Gilbert

  • Balham Comedy Festival

    Comedy Jul 5-8, The Bedford

    For pure, end-to-end comedy festivals, south London has got you covered. In SW12, the team behind...

  • The Trojan War and Peace

    TheatreFreeNew Jul 5-Aug 5, The Scoop

    Steam Industry Theatre returns to London's biggest and best free outdoor venue with an even more ...

  • Bloc

    ClubsNewRecommended Jul 6-7, London Pleasure Gardens

    The fantastic electronic festival is leaving its holiday camp venue this year and throwing a stun...

  • Wireless

    MusicRecommended Jul 6-8, Hyde Park

    Deadmau5, Maverick Sabre, Ms. Dynamite (Fri); Drake, Nicki Minaj, Nero, Example, Tulisa, Wiz Khal...

  • Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style

    Around TownNew Jul 6-Sep 5, Barbican Centre

    Marking the fiftieth anniversary of the James Bond film franchise this exhibition, curated in ass...

  • Pop! Culture and Fashion 1955-1976

    Museums & AttractionsNew Jul 6-Oct 27, Fashion and Textile Museum

    The impact of music, art and personality on the development of fashion in the 1950s, 1960s and 19...

  • World Pride 2012

    Gay & LesbianFreeRecommended Sat Jul 7

    London hosts World Pride this year, with a parade through the West End organised by Pride London ...

    Pride London

  • Dino Snores at the Natural History Museum

    Museums & Attractions Sat Jul 7, Natural History Museum

    The museum's sleepover brings together a programme of activities to allow visitors to investigate...

  • Chap Olympiad

    Around Town Jul 7-8, Bedford Square Gardens

    Eccentric sporting event organised by The Chap Magazine and Bourne and Hollingworth (organisers o...

  • Somerset House's Summer Series

    Music July 7-17, Somerset House

    This year presenting Jill Scott, Katy B and more from July 7

    Jill Scott 2012

  • Tim Minchin

    ComedyRecommended Sun Jul 8, Udderbelly

    Arena-filling saviour of the West End Tim Minchin closes this year's Udderbelly festival. This sh...

  • Jimmy Carr and Guests

    ComedyRecommended Sun Jul 8, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

    Channel 4 favourite and unapologetic one-liner merchant Jimmy Carr headlines this benefit for the...

  • Kensington Palace Party

    Museums & Attractions Jul 7-8, Kensington Palace

    Dancing and family activities in the new Palace gardens.

  • Big Dance 2012

    Dance Jul 7-15, Various venues

    A week-long celebration of dance in all its forms, which this year is part of the London 2012 Fes...

  • Hit Factory Live

    MusicRecommended Wed Jul 11, Hyde Park

    Steps + Rick Astley + Jason Donovan + Bananarama + Dead Or Alive + 2 Unlimited + Sonia + Sinitta

  • Queen + Adam Lambert

    MusicRecommended Jul 11-14, Hammersmith Apollo

  • Metamorphosis: Titian 2012

    ArtFree Jul 11-Sep 23, National Gallery

    This collaborative, cross-artform Titian-fest, in conjunction with the Royal Opera House, takes a...

  • Matthew Bourne's Play Without Words

    DanceRecommended Jul 12-Aug 5, Sadler's Wells

    Definitely one of Bourne's best works, 'Play Without Words' is a sexy, '60s-set, upstairs/downsta...

  • Olympic and Paralympic Posters

    ArtFreeNew Jul 12-Aug 15, Tate Britain

    Twelve major artists including Tracey Emin, Martin Creed, Gary Hume, Bridget Riley and Fiona Bann...

    Chris Ofili's Olympic poster 'For the Unknown Runner'

  • Hard Rock Calling

    MusicRecommended Jul 13-15, Hyde Park

    Soundgarden, Iggy And The Stooges, Cold Chisel (Fri); Bruce Springsteen (Sat); Paul Simon, Jimmy ...

  • Ealing Comedy Festival

    ComedyRecommended Jul 13-20, Walpole Park (Big Top)

    The annual Ealing Comedy Festival in a 1000-seater marquee kicks off tonight with a huge opening ...

  • Greenwich Comedy Festival

    Comedy Jul 13-20, Old Royal Naval College

    Now in its fourth year, the GCF always boasts a glitzy array of household names, and 2012 is no e...

    Greenwich Comedy Festival site

  • BBC Proms 2012

    Classical Music Jul 13-Sep 8, Royal Albert Hall

    The BBC Proms is part of the London 2012 Festival and includes special events including, on July ...

  • Richard III

    Theatre Jul 14-Oct 13, Shakespeare's Globe

    After the Globe's Cultural Olympiad season in spring 2012, when it will stage all of Shakespeare'...

  • Madonna

    MusicRecommended Tue Jul 17, Hyde Park

    The Queen of Pop celebrates her Pearl Jubilee with a new tour, promising hits galore but also dou...

    Madonna 2012

  • Tino Sehgal

    ArtFreeRecommended Jul 17-Oct 28, Tate Modern

    Tino Sehgal's all-singing, all-dancing practice will be unleashed on the Turbine Hall for the thi...

  • Sports vs Design

    Museums & AttractionsNew Jul 25-Nov 18, Design Museum

    An exhibition exploring the creative partnerships between the worlds of science, sport and design...

  • Road to 2012

    ArtFree Jul 19-Sep 23, National Portrait Gallery

    Over the past three years the National Portrait Gallery has been working with photographers Brian...

  • River of Music

    MusicFree Jul 21-22, Various venues

    Taking place during the weekend before the opening of the London 2012 Olympic Games at venues alo...

  • Superhuman

    Museums & AttractionsNew Jul 19-Oct 16, Wellcome Collection

    For summer 2012, the Wellcome's 'Superhuman' exhibition looks at the history of mankind's efforts...

  • Shakespeare: Staging the World

    Museums & AttractionsNew Jul 19-Nov 25, British Museum

    The British Museum's major exhibition for summer and autumn 2012 looks at the world of William Sh...

  • Rhys Darby

    ComedyRecommended Jul 20-23, Shepherd's Bush Empire

    Though perhaps best known as Murray the manager in 'Flight of the Conchords' or from his appearan...

  • The Dark Knight Rises

    Film From Fri Jul 20

    The blockbuster event of the summer is undoubtedly the final instalment of British auteur Christo...

  • Spitalfields International Food Festival

    Festivals Jul 21-Sep 9, Various venues

    A festival celebrating the diversity of Spitalfields' restaurants, bars, cafés, specialist shops...

  • Daniel Kitson with Gavin Osborn

    ComedyRecommended Sun Jul 22, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

    Following the superb 'Stories for the Starlit Sky' midnight gigs in 2009, the supremely talented ...

  • Sail Royal Greenwich

    Museums & Attractions Jul 25-Aug 12, Sail Royal Greenwich

    Taking place between July 25 and August 12, 2012, 'Sail Royal Greenwich' comprises 20 tall ships ...

  • The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

    TheatreNew Jul 24-Sep 8, National Theatre, Cottesloe

    This is going to be a hot ticket: Simon Stephens is the perfect choice of playwright to adapt Mar...

  • Peninsula Festival 2012

    Festivals Jul 25-Aug 12, Greenwich Peninsula

    The theme of the 2012 Peninsula Festival is 'Get in touch with the Dutch'. Events include live mu...

  • Martin Creed: Work No. 1197: All the bells…

    Art Fri Jul 27, Country-wide

    'All the bells in a country rung as quickly and loudly as possible for three minutes', commission...

  • London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony

    Around TownRecommended Fri Jul 27, Olympic Stadium

    With Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle at the helm of a creative team that also includes filmmak...

  • London 2012 Olympic Games

    SportRecommended Jul 27-Aug 12, Various venues

    Seven years in the planning and £9 billion in the making, the London 2012 Olympic Games is the b...

  • London Live

    Around Town Jul 27-Aug 12, Hyde Park & Victoria Park

    London Live is a series of outdoor screenings of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in...

  • London Eye Olympic Lates

    Museums & Attractions Jul 27-Aug 12, London Eye

    During the London 2012 Olympic Games the London Eye is open from 10am until midnight every day. T...

  • BT London Live

    MusicFree Jul 27-Sep 9, Various London locations

    Throughout the London Olympic Games and Paralympics, there will be a host of cultural events taki...

  • Another London

    ArtRecommended Jul 27-Sep 16, Tate Britain

    Tate Britain's exhibition for summer 2012 documents the work of photographers who, between 1930 a...

    'Petticoat Lane Market, East End, London', c1960, by Dorothy Bohm

  • Dr Seuss' The Lorax

    Film From Fri Jul 27

    Dr Seuss’ environmental fable gets a suitably whimsical-looking treatment in this animation fro...

  • The Olympic Journey: The Story of the Games

    Around TownFreeNew Jul 27-Aug 12, Royal Opera House

    An exhibition of artefacts, graphics, film and audio from the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, on show...

    The Olympic Museum

  • Exhibition Road Show

    Around TownFree Jul 28-Aug 5, Exhibition Road

    Taking place during the first nine days of the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Exhibition Road Fes...

  • Buckingham Palace Summer Opening 2012

    Museums & Attractions Jul 31-Oct 7, Buckingham Palace

    It's difficult to imagine what it would be like to attend one of the state, ceremonial or officia...

More July events in London

Return to London events calendar



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