13 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... Find out what to do during these dates.

Ana Caballero

Ana Caballero

11 min read

13 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 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 plans is long, read on and keep those suggestions that most appeal to you, go for it!

1. Enjoy a romantic evening on a Thames river cruise

Cruise and Thames| ©Alfonso
Cruise and Thames| ©Alfonso

July is an ideal time of year to book a Thames cruise with dinner and live music, as the temperatures are ideal. It is not as cold as at other times of the year and you will be able to fully enjoy this romantic proposal, go out on the terrace and admire the views.

In addition, during the evening, which begins at the Thames River Pier in Westminster, you can enjoy a delicious gourmet dinner of up to five courses paired with an exquisite wine. And, of course, there will be live music and entertainment. An unforgettable night to enjoy with your partner, friends and family that you can not miss if you travel to London in July.

A tip: do not forget your camera, because on the cruise you can get some wonderful snapshots of landmarks such as Big Ben, the London Eye, the Palace of Westminster or the Tower of London.

Book a cruise on the Thames

2. Don't miss the best views from the London Eye

London Eye| ©Martie Swart
London Eye| ©Martie Swart

And when it comes to views and getting the best photos, another ideal proposal to do in July is to go up to the London Eye, as it is one of the least cloudy months of the year and you will have the best panoramic view of the city.

The iconic London Ferris wheel, located on the banks of the River Thames, will allow you to see many points of interest such as Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace from one of its 32 capsules and during an experience of approximately 30 minutes.

In addition, with your ticket you can enjoy the 4D experience, a silent short film about the creation of the London Eye.

Book your ticket for London Eye

3. Take a trip to Stonhege

Stonhege| ©Joseph Olar
Stonhege| ©Joseph Olar

And my favorite suggestion for the month of July is a trip to Stonehenge, where you will see the stone circle, the most popular megalithic ruins in Europe.

I booked a free tour that lasted 6 and a half hours and included the entrance to the visitor center, transportation to and from Stonehenge from London by bus and even had the possibility of booking a typical menu to learn about the local cuisine, although the latter is optional.

In addition, I was provided with an audio guide that allowed me to learn at my own pace all the details of this archaeological site, whose first monument dates back to no less than 3100 BC.

Book your excursion to Stonehenge

4. Get to know London's parks with a bike tour

Park in London| ©dese
Park in London| ©dese

And, of course, an ideal proposal for the month of July in the British capital is to book a bike tour through the parks of London, the most fun way to enjoy all the splendor of the main green areas of the city as:

  • Kensington Gardens.
  • Hyde Park.
  • Green Park.
  • St. James Park.

On the tour, for groups of up to 16 people, you will be accompanied by a local guide who will show you various points of interest such as Big Ben, Churchill War Rooms, the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square or Westminster Abbey.

And keep in mind that you can take breaks along the way. This was something I was initially worried about because during the tour there are so many places to photograph.

Book a bike tour of the parks

5. Experience the Pride Festival in London

Pride Festival| ©Adam Crowe
Pride Festival| ©Adam Crowe

A unique event that takes place in July is the Pride Festival, one of the most impressive and multitudinous LGBT+ festivals in the world.

The Pride Festival in London has a great number of plans and activities for all tastes and audiences, which culminate in the grand parade, which starts in Regent Street and crosses the center of London until it reaches Trafalgar Square.

In addition, there are numerous clubs and bars in London that organize very well designed parties that you will not want to miss. Check out the calendar of activities and don't miss out on this key holiday.

6. Enjoy a BBC concert 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 complete program.

And every year the BBC organizes a full schedule of classical music concerts with guest conductors or musicians; there they meet the music lovers.

Are you one of them, well you know, you can not miss, even if only one of the concerts.

Book a visit to the Royal Albert Hall

7. Join 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 Suffolk coast. It is an evening race which starts at Hackney Park. You leave at 8 p.m. and arrive at the finish line at dawn.

If you like bikes and you think you will 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 ride.
  • Bring an extra layer of clothing.
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Bring spare batteries, inner tubes and patches.

Book a bike tour of the parks

8. Tour the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

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

After a few days of going back and forth you will be grateful to spend the day in a place like this. This event is all about enjoying the beauty of the flowers and their scent. Strolling through the exhibition is an experience that transports you, the fragrance of 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 within it you can choose to do different things. I show them to 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, share doubts and questions with top experts and you're 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.

Some useful information

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

9. Delve into British culture at Royal Swan Upping.

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

This proposal will seem very curious to you, 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 is the census of the swans and the verification that all is well by The Queen's Swan Warden, whose goal is the conservation of the mute swan.

It is nice to see the Royal Swan Uppers, wearing the scarlet uniform of Her Majesty the Queen, sailing in traditional rowing boats. The children also play an important role, watching, asking questions and helping with the task. It's 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?

10. Sign up for 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 can enjoy the outdoors 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 artists known internationally.

For next year they have a very varied and powerful lineup, sure you will 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

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

11. Attend the Wimbledon Tennis Championships

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

Want to do something truly 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 early July and is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments 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.

12. Enjoy like a child at Puppet Theater Barge

Outside the Puppet Theater Barge| ©SoledadZarate
Outside the Puppet Theater Barge| ©SoledadZarate

If you are traveling with children to London you have to take them to see this puppet theater located in a renovated barge. It has fifty seats, so you should probably 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 on, run and ask your kids if they fancy the plan, I think I already know the answer!

Useful information

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

13. Unwind in the summer light of Neal's Yard.

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

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

It was founded by Nicholas Saunders, a writer in the 70s, who was an advocate of an alternative lifestyle and healthy food. He started out 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 small shops selling natural remedies and handicrafts.

Useful information

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

The weather in July in London

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

As you have seen, the list of things to see and do in London is long. And you are lucky, as I said at the beginning, in July the 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.

Book a tour of London

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, being able to stay up to six months if you are going to be on vacation in the country.

Regarding other papers you may need always consult the official websites, they have the safest information.

Book a private tour of London

Currency exchange

Paying for purchases| ©David Dvořáček
Paying for purchases| ©David Dvořáček

It is best 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 travels!

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