London events in June
June in London is a magical time of year. Summer's nearly here, the sun's out (fingers crossed) and London’s parks are filled with flowers. What’s more, it’s music festival season, and London does not disappoint with Field Day, Mighty Hoopla and All Points East all hitting up the capital in June. If glitter and glow sticks aren't your bag, June in London is also the month of the Trooping of the Colour (the Queen’s official birthday celebrations), The World Naked Bike Ride, and Open Garden Squares Weekend. Check out our guide to the best pop-ups, cultural happenings and things to do this June 2019 in London. We’ll catch you out there.
RECOMMENDED: The definitive London events calendar
June 2018 event highlights
All Points East
This eclectic 10-day festival is back for the second year. The opening and closing three-day weekends are given over to music, with headliners including Christine and the Queens, The Chemical Brothers and Bon Iver. In between, there are four days of community-driven entertainment.
‘The Renaissance Nude’
Take a titillating trip through the various ways the nude was used in the Renaissance. It's nudgy, it's winky and it's a lot of fascinating fun.
Franz West
See absurd drunken art by an Austrian who didn't give a hoot. Who knew art could be so fun.
Mighty Hoopla
Now in its third year, Mighty Hoopla is London’s biggest pure pop festival and a highlight of the LGBT+ summer calendar. Chaka Khan will headline this year’s event, which takes place in Brixton’s Brockwell Park.
World Naked Bike Ride
The World Naked Bike Ride is also an unfettered celebration of individuality of the bare body. Many people opt to go au naturel and bike in the buff, though full nudity is optional. Have a go if you're brave enough.
Field Day
Over the last decade, Field Day has become one of London’s very best music festivals. This year's line-up is typically on-point with Skepta and Jorja Smith headlining a bill that also includes Diplo, Earl Sweatshirt and Pusha T.
Open Garden Squares Weekend
More than 200 gardens are unlocking their gates for a whole weekend to take part in this annual event. The gardens take in all sorts of spaces, from traditional squares to roof terraces as well as gardens belonging to historic buildings.
The best music festivals in London
You lucky Londoner: you don’t need a tent or even a pair of wellies to get the full music festival experience. Here are the best festivals hitting up the Capital this month.
Father's Day in London
Father's Day 2019 is on Sunday June 16 (but you knew that, right?) Check out our stellar ideas and suggestions for things to do in June with your pops.
Phyllida Barlow: ‘Cul-de-Sac’
See big, imposing sculptural assemblages of concrete and fabric: Barlow knows how to dwarf a viewer, but something about that is totally and perfectly calming.
‘Come from Away’
See this sleeper hit Canadian musical set in the days after 9/11. It's a beautifully crafted hymn to the power of community.
Magic Realism: Art in Weimar Germany 1919 - 1933
This exhibition is reclaiming the term 'magic realism'. Commonly used to describe the stories written by South American authors, now you can explore its origins.
‘Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams’
This blockbuster showcase of a globally famous fashion label is about clothes and the imagination. There are displays of Dior-related paraphernalia such as sketches, mag covers and super-structured undergarments, but in honesty, visitors are here for one thing and one thing only: the dresses. And the exhibition delivers.
The EY Exhibition: ‘Van Gogh and Britain’
The world's favourite sunflower-painter returns to London with 2019's EY exhibition at Tate Britain. A lesser-known fact about the Dutch painter is that he was a bit of an Anglophile. Admire his artworks alongside those by British artists who, in turn, owe a debt to Van Gogh.
‘Manga’
The biggest manga exhibition ever to be held outside of Japan is coming to London. This show charts the history of manga and demonstrates how it's grown into a multi-billion pound industry, taking in gaming, cosplay and anime.
‘AI: More Than Human’
Think you're clever? Be prepared for a bit of a knock to your confidence with this interactive exhibition at Barbican. The show brings together the latest in Artificial Intelligence, calmly showing how the cleverest (or maybe stupidest) thing humans have ever done is create machines that outwit us all.
Frank Bowling
Frank Bowling gets a much-deserved major exhibition at Tate Britain. Londoners are in for a treat with this show which includes the artist's stunning 'map paintings' and his 'poured paintings' (created by literally pouring paint down a canvas).
‘9 to 5 the Musical’
Catch Dolly Parton's own musical adaption of her hit 1980 film. It's gloriously OTT - and they do the title song four times.
Natalia Goncharova
See this show dedicated to Russian artist Natalia Goncharova who helped found avant-garde modern art movements. This exhibition is overdue and should help to resurrect her reputation as a major artist you should know about.
‘Going Through’
A moving narrative of child migration. This is a production that shows the richness of communicating using sign language and the losses, as well as the gains, of integration into a new kind of life.
‘Smoke and Mirrors: The psychology of magic’
Something wicked this way comes at the Wellcome Collection. This exhibition is devoted to mental manipulation used in magic. See the Bell Box used by Houdini to expose phoney mediums and see a gorilla costume worn by Derren Brown.
‘Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition’
A must-see exhibition for fans of iconic filmmaker Stanley Kubrick. See props, costumes, photographs and other memorabilia from some of hs most famous films at London's Design Museum.
Edvard Munch: ‘Love and Angst’
Prints from art's greatest miserablist. The eyes of his works follow you around the room, and they'll haunt you when you leave. It might not be pleasant, but it is proof of how brilliant he could be.
‘Secret Rivers’
The Thames is one of the most iconic features of London, but it's actually only one of many rivers to run through the capital. There are several 'hidden' rivers that flow underneath the city streets. This exhibition features items dredged up from the waterways.
‘Craft and Graft: Making Science Happen’
Ever wondered how a science lab manages to breed, feed and store a million fruit flies for experiments? Well, prepared to be amazed. The Crick Institute is offering up a behind-the-scenes look at the methods and people driving the latest scientific advances.
More to explore
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