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Photograph: Tom Hancock
Photograph: Tom Hancock

How to turn three of summer’s most hyped events into a whole day out

The sun is shining and London’s calendar is packed with possibilities. We’ve turned three cultural highlights into a day’s worth of fun

Written by Time Out. Paid for by FREE NOW
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With the capital fully back in the swing of things, summer 2022 in London looks set to be a season of one unmissable event followed by another unmissable event. But before you get your calendar in the twist trying to accommodate all the things you’d like to do, consider how one trip to an exhibition, show or festival can actually be turned into a whole day of events. We know that the smoothness of the journey between each location can make or break a day out in London – which is why we’ve teamed up with FREE NOW. Europe’s mobility super app lets you travel on your terms, with the choice of black cabs, private rides, eScooters and eBikes. You’ll find out more on that below! First, check out these three sample itineraries centred on one main event, plus a whole lot of (often tasty) extras.

Edvard Munch: Masterpieces from Bergen at the Courtauld, plus wine, pasta and a blooming display

An exhibition of artworks by that gloomiest of gloomy souls, Edvard Munch, doesn’t immediately scream ‘summer outing’ (typical titles for his works include ‘Melancholy’ and ‘At the Death Bed’), but this excellent show at the recently refurbished Courtauld Gallery is not to be missed. Start here around midday and immerse yourself in Munch’s world of drooping figures, haunted eyes and greyscale landscapes and… realise it’s all very beautiful really. And, moreover, a rare opportunity to see these paintings outside the artist’s native Norway.

Make a day of it

Start your post-exhibition journey along the under-rated Northbank by heading to the Samuel Pepys Bar & Kitchen, between Millennium Bridge and Southwark Bridge. This former Thameside tea warehouse offers lovely views of the river and The Shard, while also being a good spot to grab a light lunch and a drink. 

Next, continue on towards Tower Hill to see the seasonal Superbloom installation at the Tower of London, where the whole moat is filled with wildflowers.

And, finally, end the day at nearby St Katherine’s Docks. Start the evening with pre-dinner drinks at the tranquil Traders Wine Bar before revelling in the pure beauty of carbs with dinner at Emilia’s for handcrafted pasta. 

Tip: if you’re lucky – and arrive before 6pm – you might also be able to grab a seat on a floating pontoon and catch a bit of live-screened Wimbledon from June 27-July 10. 

‘A Doll’s House Part 2’ at the Donmar Warehouse, plus Southbank culture and cocktails

One of the highlights of this summer’s theatre sees the bewitching Noma Dumezweni perform in ‘A Doll’s House Part 2’ at the Donmar Warehouse. This new play by Lucas Hnath takes a wrecking ball to Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’ – aka one of the most canonical plays in western theatre – and does a little ‘what happened next?’ number on it. Book to see it on a Saturday or Thursday matinee (it’s only 90 mins long) and you’ll have plenty of time for more events afterwards.

Make a day of it

Exit the Donmar and turn directly right for a quick refuel of chai (at Chai Guys) and donuts (from Long Boys) at Seven Dials Market. Sugared and caffeined-up, head to the Hayward Gallery on the Southbank to see In the Black Fantastic, an exhibition of Black artists exploring fantasy and folklore. 

If you need a pre-dinner pick-me-up after that, make the most of the lovely Queen Elizabeth Rooftop Garden, which is only open in summertime, before getting a ride back towards Soho for some serious eating at the Fatt Pundit. Go with a team of mates and basically order as much of the Asian fusian menu of small plates as humanly possible (or will physically fit on your table). 

And finally, with a fully lined stomach, travel back to the Southbank for some of London’s best cocktails at Lyaness and watch the night disappear. 

BST Hyde Park, plus gelato and parklife

Every year, Hyde Park is home to a massive outdoor festival during the warmer months. The biggest shows happen at the weekends where, this year, you can catch headliners including Adele, The Rolling Stones and Pearl Jam. In between, the site transforms into Open House, a free-entry mashup of craft stalls, live music, workshops and a street food market. Book tickets in advance for this year’s best weekend acts and enjoy food, booze, music and all those familiar festival extras. 

Make a day of it

Once upon a time, ‘going to a festival’ for yours truly meant pouring the first drink at 11am and arriving at Glastonbury on the Wednesday before the festival even started. If you want a slightly more genteel (and grown-up) approach to urban festivals, try this: Start the day off with a hearty brunch at Where the Pancakes Are in Fitzrovia, for classic stomach-filling dishes that will give you the energy boost the day needs.

Next, head to Kensington Gardens to see this year’s Serpentine Pavilion by Theaster Gates, a striking, and very cooling, monolith that’s unlike anything erected in the same spot in previous years. 

Take a trip just slightly north of the park to treat yourself to the delicious creations on offer at Snowflake Gelato in Bayswater for an afternoon treat before journeying into Hyde Park for the highlight of the day.

Do summer your way with FREE NOW

Thanks to FREE NOW, the mobility super app, you can travel on your terms this summer, keeping you connected with the things you love across the capital. FREE NOW is fast, flexible and offers four different transport types at the tap of an app:

Black Cabs
FREE NOW is the UK’s biggest black cab app, which means there are plenty of these iconic cars to go ‘round. What’s more, you can select an electric vehicle, and your expert driver  can actually use the bus lane to get you to your destination faster.

Private Ride
Convenient, affordable and available in London, Private Rides are always there when you need them.

eScooters and eBikes
Zip around with ease, sun on your cheeks. FREE NOW has partnered with two London suppliers (Tier and Dott) which means you can legally scoot or cycle around the capital.

Get there your way with FREE NOW

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