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London events in July 2023

Your definitive guide to the best events and things to do happening in London throughout July 2023

Alex Sims
Written by
Alex Sims
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July is set to be sun-soaked and full of brilliant happenings. Make the most of the hot weather with a splash in one of the city’s lidos, a meal outdoors or a cocktail or pint in one of London’s best rooftop bars or beer gardens. At this time of year, London’s parks are at their finest, or for more outdoor action visit one of the city’s urban beaches or outdoor cinemas

London music festivals are still in full swing in July, and it’s also a chance to take in the city’s lavender and sunflower fields, which are at their blooming loveliest. Here’s our guide to the best exhibitions, shows and things to do this July 2023 in London. 

RECOMMENDED: The definitive London events calendar

The best July 2023 events in London

  • Art
  • Art

As sure as the sun will rise and winter will turn into spring, Hyde Park will play host to a new Serpentine Pavilion every year, and 2023’s has just hatched into the world. This one was designed by French-Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh and is inspired by the Mediterranean urge to sit around a dining table and put the world to rights. It’s a big, broad, light, open structure that’s intended to look at ‘food as an expression of care’ and be a ‘space for grounding and reflection on our relationship to land, nature and environment’. It also has a Benugos. 

  • Things to do
  • Events & Festivals

Body Movements celebrates LGBTQ+ people in dance music, taking place across 16 east London venues, including Colour Factory, Crate, Number 90 and The Yard. The festival won Time Out London’s ’Best New Event’ in our 2021 ’Best of the City’ awards – make sure it’s on your bucket list for 2022. 

The line-up includes Adonis, Daytimers, Big Dyke Energy, Pxssy Palace, TechnoMate

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A reincarnation of Zoo Lates (which ended in 2015), Zoo Nights brings ‘after hours’ fun to ZSL London Zoo. Explore the zoo without crowds or kids in the way (this is an adults only experience), hear the Birds and The Bees guided tour where expert guides reveal what animals get up to after dark, play animal-themed games, graze on delicious international street food (there’s plenty for herbivores and carnivores alike) or grab a drink at one of the bars. Time to unpack that elephant onsie?

Glasweigen chef Nico Simeone launched their themed set six-course menu which changes up every six weeks back in 2017. It’s since spread from Scotland across the UK, to London. From now until the beginning of July at the Fitzrovia and Canary Wharf sites you can choose from either ‘The Chippie Experience’ – a menu of re-imagined chip shop classics – or ‘A World of Imagination’ – a menu of new smells and taste sensations. And for the rest of July? Enjoy the taste of ‘Sicily’. Book through Time Out and get all six courses and a glass of prosecco for £35.

Get six courses and a glass of prosecco at Six By Nico for £35 only through Time Out offers. 

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  • Things to do

Nothing says summer like the tennis whites, strawberries and cream and Pimms of Wimbledon. Missed out on tickets in the Wimbledon Tennis Championships (July 3-16)? Can’t face camping out on the street for day tickets? No problem. London is a city that gives back and this summer it will be peppered with big screens showing all the Murray Mound (okay, Henman Hill) action in so much blown-up high-res glory that you might as well be court-side. There’s a screen for everyone, with some offering special-edition cocktails and finger food and coming with pop-up tennis lessons. 

Bored of the tangle of controllers at home? At Platform Canary Wharf you can play classic video games and top-notch multiplayer Nintendo Switch and Playstation 5 games like Mario Kart, Mario Party, Super Smash Bros, Overcooked 2, FIFA and Call of Duty. When your thumbs are throbbing, tuck into a pizza or nachos and wash it all down with bottomless beer, prosecco, or mimosas.

£24 for bottomless drinks, a pizza and video games at Platform only through Time Out Offers

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Chef Tong Chee Hwee, who helped earn Mayfair Chinese spot Hakkasan its Michelin star is back on the London food scene cooking up elevated and refined dishes using techniques and ingredients from across China at Gouqi. Try the Angus tenderloin beef with black pepper sauce, sautéed crystal jumbo prawns with yellow chive in XO sauce, or clay pot silken egg tofu with wild mushroom and vegetable for yourself with this eqclusive deal letting you enjoy top-tier dining for just £45 per person.

Three courses and a drink at Gouqi by Tong Chee Hwee for £45 through Time Out Offers

Embrace your inner Picasso and get your creative juices flowing with bottomless prosecco at this boozy painting class. Art Play is simple: you sip, paint, and socialise as you’re guided by talented resident artists who will take you through your masterpieces step-by-step so you can learn a new skill, make new friends, or simply have fun doing something a bit different. Save £40 on the experience by booking through Time Out offers. 

£20 for two hours of bottomless prosecco and painting session at Art Play only through Time Out offers.

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  • Things to do
  • Walks and tours

Did a visit to see Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ at the National Gallery fail to provide your flower fix? Get neck-deep in heliotropic heaven at these golden fields full of custard-yellow blooms. 

Summer has finally arrived, which means its time to get tropical. Cottons – the much-loved Caribbean restaurant with rum shacks in Camden, Vauxhall, Notting Hill and Shoreditch – is hosting a Tropical Bottomless Brunch series in its Shoreditch joint. The party kicks off with 60 minutes of signature Cottons bottomless rum cocktails and moreish chicken and waffles to soak up the rum all set to a reggae soundtrack. Right now you can get your fill for just £25.

Bottomless cocktails and waffles at Cottons Shoreditch for £25 only through Time Out Offers.

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Remember the indoor playgrounds of your childhood? Well, the humble ball pit has been given a grown-up makeover at Shoreditch’s Ballie Ballerson. Here you can drink cocktails, nibble on pizza and dance to DJs before getting eyeball-deep in, er, well balls. Now, through Time Out for just £6, you can enter at any time, get a two-hour session in the famous ball pits and your choice of a refreshing cocktail including their new Bacardi summer special.

£6 for tickets and a cocktail at Ballie Ballerson only through Time Out offers

  • Film

When the sun’s out and the weather’s at its summery best, hiding away in a dark, stuffy room isn’t the most appealing option. Thank god then, for outdoor cinemas letting us get our film fix under the stars and with a sweet summer breeze in our hair.

London is home to some brilliant alfresco movie spots, which will be popping up all over the city in 2022, everywhere from docks and parks to rooftops and manicured gardens. Here’s a list of our favourites. 

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  • Things to do

It’s going to be very very hot indeed this week. So, there’s no better time to cool off in one of London’s brilliant outdoor swimming pools. Here’s a list of our favourite alfresco bathing spots, however, our desire to paddle around under a sunny sky does mean that it’s important to book ahead if you want your open-air swim fix. So no rocking up to try your luck. 

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