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10 things to do in London in July

Visiting London in July is something unforgettable, you can witness events that only happen in this month: London Pride, Swan Upping, BBC Proms ... Follow me to know what to do on these dates.

Ana Caballero

Ana Caballero

9 min read

10 things to do in London in July

Tower Bridge, London | ©David Monaghan

You have been smart and have chosen a month in which temperatures are already warmer, thanks to this small gesture you will have more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, as they begin to celebrate events of this type taking advantage of the summer.

In July you will find a city with more hustle and bustle than in colder seasons, but this is not a problem when moving around the city, visiting monuments or attending festivals and so on. The list of things to see and do in London is long and I'm going to show you right now, read on and keep those suggestions that most appeal to you, go for it!

1. BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall

Royal Albert Hall| ©Diliff
Royal Albert Hall| ©Diliff

The word Proms comes from when, in the old days, people used to walk through the parks (promenade) and listen to classical music at the same time. The BBC usually holds these concerts at the Royal Albert Hall from July each year and has a very full program.

Every year the BBC organizes an agenda fullof classical music concertswith guest conductors or musicians; music lovers gather there.

Are you one of them? Well, you know, you can not miss, even if it is only one of the concerts.

Book a visit to the Royal Albert Hall

2. Love Box Festival

At the Love Box Festival| ©Lovebox Festival
At the Love Box Festival| ©Lovebox Festival

This festival takes place over three days in July and features the best of pop, hip hop, R&B and rap. Several DJ's add their special touch with house and dance music. This is a leading festival on the London music scene, and it's a festival you won't want to stop dancing to!

Love Box exists since 2002, so it has already been around for a long time, and was founded on a random night in a club by the famous DJ's Groove Armada.

Located in various spaces during its existence, it has finally stood still in Finsbury Park, for the enjoyment of its followers. Don't you feel like some dance and music? I'll suggest the idea and you choose the companions, deal?

Useful Info

  • Wheelchair accessible.
  • For those who need a caregiver there will be complimentary tickets.
  • Where: held in Finsbury Park.
  • Large bags are not allowed on the premises.
  • Children under 5 years of age are not admitted.
  • Children under 16 must be accompanied by a guardian.

3. Wireless Festival

Wireless Festival in London| ©James Bridle
Wireless Festival in London| ©James Bridle

Wireless Festival is a rap music festival held every July in the city, because in London there is room for all kinds of tastes, so it is another of my proposals.

I dare to say that, even if you are not a big fan, go there even if it's just for a little while, the atmosphere will make you get into situation and you will have a great time.

The funny thing is that this festival started as something dedicated to rock and pop music, but took on a life of its own and drifted towards rap.

Its name Wireless Festival is always accompanied by the corresponding sponsor, for example, now bears the name of a fashion retailer. Stay tuned so you don't miss the dates or the agenda and...let's dance!

4.Dunwich Dynamo

Participants of the Dunwich Dynamo| ©Peter Burgess
Participants of the Dunwich Dynamo| ©Peter Burgess

The Dunwich Dynamo is a cycling race usually held at the end of July with a route of 180 kms. to the coast of Suffolk. It is a night race that starts in Hackney Park. It starts at 8 p.m. and arrives at the finish line at dawn.

If you like bikes and think you'll miss pedaling, you can dare to participate or you can be content to watch the spectacular start of the participants ... by the way, have I said that anyone can run.

I've called it a race, but the organization doesn't give out any bibs, nor does it record times or anything like that. It's all about pure love for bikes and fun.

The length of the course is overwhelming for anyone, but you can pedal as far as you want. It's not really a sporting event, it's more of a way to get closer to an instrument of transportation that the British are very fond of, so much so that if you're looking to do a guided tour of London you'll see that some of the options are directly by bike.

Useful information

  • Departure: Pub on the Park, Martello Street, Hackney.
  • Get your bike ready before the race.
  • Bring an extra layer of clothing.
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Bring spare batteries, inner tubes and patches.

Book a bike tour through the parks of London

Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

Formal Garden and Hampton Court Palace| ©Amanda Slater
Formal Garden and Hampton Court Palace| ©Amanda Slater

After several days of going back and forth you will be grateful to spend the day in a place like this. This event is to enjoy the beauty of the flowers and their smell. Taking a walk through the exhibition is an experience that transports you, the fragrance of the flowers envelops you and, unless you are allergic, you will enjoy so much nature around you.

This fair is usually held in early July, in the middle of spring and is the largest flower fair in the world and inside you can choose to do different things. I show you right now:

  • Gardens for everyone: stroll through the wonderful gardens around Hampton Court Palace. You will enjoy various styles such as the Show garden, the Global Impact garden and the Get Started garden, where professional gardeners will get their ideas for the new season.
  • Floral marquee: visit the marquee where expert nurseries are on display, you will share doubts and questions with the top experts and you are sure to take home a beautiful flower for your home.
  • Talks, demonstrations and workshops by great experts: in these talks you can expand your knowledge about flowers; there will also be talks on health, food, crafts, wellness, gardening and creativity.
  • Rose Festival: let yourself be carried away by the colors and aromas of the most beautiful roses, discover new varieties and enjoy. When you feel tired you can have tea in the Rose Afternoon Tea Garden.

If you want more nature, I recommend this article about the best parks in London.

Useful information

  • Where: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey.
  • Dogs are not allowed, except for personal assistance dogs.

6. Royal Swan Upping

People at the Royal Swan Upping| ©Diliff
People at the Royal Swan Upping| ©Diliff

This proposal will seem very curious but I think it is an interesting proposal. With this activity you can get to see how important the British Royal Family is in sometimes more everyday things.

This event has been held every July for years and it is the census of the swans and the verification that everything is fine by The Queen's Swan Warden, whose goal is the conservation of the mute swan.

It's nice to see the Royal Swan Uppers, wearing Her Majesty The Queen's scarlet uniform, sailing in traditional rowing boats.

The children also play an important role, watching, asking questions and helping with the task. It is something different but curious, which raises a lot of expectation because the Queen makes an appearance on one of these days. Are you up for seeing the swans?

7. British Summer Time Hyde Park Festival

At the British Summer Time| ©Getty Images
At the British Summer Time| ©Getty Images

I come back with the idea of going to a festival... in summer you take advantage of the outdoor life and you tell me where it is better in July! This is not a festival of a single style of music, in the British Summer Time you can enjoy different internationally known artists.

For next year they have a very varied and powerful line-up, you are sure to find something that interests you.

In the park environment you can eat and drink, sit on the grass while listening to the music and experience a festival in a more relaxed way. It's up to you how you want to file the experience in your brain.

Useful information about the British Summer Time

  • Where: Hyde Park, Bayswater.
  • Tickets: from 95€.
  • Venue capacity: 150,000 people.
  • Special stage for disabled people.

8. Wimbledon Tennis Championships

At Wimbledon| ©Samuel Carroll
At Wimbledon| ©Samuel Carroll

Want to do something really unique? Celebrate the annual edition of this international tennis championship. In the future you will be able to proudly say "I was there", and you will remember the matches of your favorite tennis players battling it out to win the championship.

This tournament is held in the first days of July and is one of the four that make up the Grand Slam and is also the most prestigious and oldest in the world.

At the same time as this tournament, there are tournaments for juniors and seniors, so you will also be able to watch amateur matches.

9. Puppet Theater Barge

Exterior of the Puppet Theater Barge| ©SoledadZarate
Exterior of the Puppet Theater Barge| ©SoledadZarate

If you are traveling with children to London you must take them to see this puppet theater located in a renovated barge. It has fifty seats, so you will probably have to get your tickets in advance.

The shows: they are for children and adults, so you all have a great time and bond as a family. In July you can find this barge in Richmond-upon-Thames.

This company performs plays based on traditional children's stories, such as Aesop's fables; Shakespeare 's plays also find their place among puppets as well as those of Federico Garcia Lorca. If you are more avant-garde you are in luck, as contemporary works by published writers are also produced.

Go ahead, run and ask your kids if they're up for it, I think I know the answer!

Useful info

  • Where: Little Venice, Blomfield Road (opposite 35).
  • It's a covered barge, so if it rains it's no problem.
  • How to get there: Warwick Avenue Bakerloo tube line.

10. Unwinding in the summer light at Neal's Yard

Visiting Neal's Yard| ©DavidSandoz
Visiting Neal's Yard| ©DavidSandoz

If you have decided to travel in July to London and want to start the day off right, enjoying a real English breakfast, go visit Neal's Yard, a peaceful place. With colorful houses and lush vegetation, a July day will start in a unique way.

It was founded by Nicholas Saunders, a writer in the 1970s, who was an advocate of an alternative lifestyle and healthy eating. He started by buying a warehouse where he sold produce and today it is a world apart in the city.

It is one of the few remaining hippie neighborhoods in the city. There you will find little shops selling natural remedies and handicrafts.

Useful information

  • Where. Covent Garden.
  • How to get there: Northern Line stop Leicester Square. Picadilly Line stop Leicester Square or Covent Garden.

July weather in London

Summer in London| ©MJ Tangonan
Summer in London| ©MJ Tangonan

You are lucky, as I said at the beginning, in July temperatures rise somewhat and you will be very comfortable; you will have highs of 21º and lows of 13º. If you go to London in summer, the rains will not be as heavy as if you go to London in winter so it will be easier to spend the day enjoying the street.

I recommend that you always check on reliable websites the weather you are going to find, so you can pack your suitcase according to the predictions.

Check the documents you need to bring

Preparing your luggage| ©Vlada Karpovich
Preparing your luggage| ©Vlada Karpovich

Remember that the ID is no longer enough to enter the UK, now you must use your passport, and you can stay for a maximum of six months if you are going to be on vacation in the country.

With respect to other papers you may need, always consult the official websites, where you will find the most reliable information.

Currency exchange

Paying for your shopping| ©David Dvořáček
Paying for your shopping| ©David Dvořáček

The most advisable thing to do is to change money in the country of destination. Change a small amount at the airport, not much. Use your card to pay and, once you are in the city, you can go to a money exchange office. They are concentrated in the stations or tourist sites.

The best option will always be to use your bank card for everything you can, but find out about the commissions, so as not to make the cure worse than the disease.

London is always a very good option to enjoy other cultures, incredible parks, hospitable people and your family or friends, Happy travel!