10 things to do in London in June

With the arrival of summer, Londoners try to take advantage of the good weather by organizing multiple events ranging from gastronomic to social and cultural events. There are plenty of activities waiting for you in London that will make your trip out of the ordinary and make you enjoy your experience to the fullest feeling like a local. Do you want to know what I'm talking about? Here is the list of the best things to do in June in the British capital.

If knowing the gastronomy of the place you are visiting is a must for you, I have good news, a culinary festival awaits you! In the famous London's Regent's Park takes place the second week of June (from Wednesday to Sunday) an extraordinary gastronomic event in which 40 of the best restaurants in London participate.

A must for lovers of gourmet food in which each restaurant invited, will bring at least three dishes so that they can be tasted at a price suitable for all budgets.

Some of the participating restaurants are:

• Anju
• Leong's Legend
• Cin Cin
• Heritage
• Genevieve Taylor, Bristol Fire School

And if you still want more, there will also be activities beyond the food including DJ's and live music, Masterclass on wine tasting or cocktails or a Bombay Saphire Gin Bar among many others. Are you still thinking about it?

If you want more information here is the official website of Taste of London where you can also purchase your tickets for the event.

Are you a classical music lover? This plan is for you! Every summer, the wonderful London Symphony Orchestra offers a free outdoor concert in Trafalgar Square. This not-to-be-missed event usually takes place at the end of June.

The famous London orchestra is considered one of the five best in Europe and in the concert you can listen to works by Tchaikovsky, Dvořák or Massenet among other illustrious composers. A treat for the ears that you can't miss!

As every year, on the second Saturday of June, the Queen's birthday is celebrated in London with this spectacular military parade that has been held for more than 200 years. In this impressive event in which the Monarch herself parades, almost 2000 people between soldiers, officers and musicians and about 200 horses also participate.

Trooping the Colour starts at Buckingham Palace from where they will head to Horse Guards Parade, where the main event will take place, although I recommend you to look for a place to watch it on The Mall.

I encourage you to watch this video of the Trooping the Colour parade of 2016 to get an idea of the deployment of the event!

Around the end of June takes place the Peckham Salvage Yard, the largest outdoor vintage market in all of South London. Located in Copeland Park, this market is a great opportunity if you like shopping or if you are a lover of antiques, as you can find everything from 20th century furniture, to ceramic items to recovered French ornaments, textiles and even electrical items from the atomic era among many others.

There will also be stalls where you can enjoy the best London coffee while you take a break from your morning's shopping.

More information:

• Hours: 11:00h - 18:00h
• Free entry

Londoners like to take advantage of the good weather with the arrival of summer and what better plan than an outdoor music festival? The Hampton Court Festival offers its visitors a dose of good music. The festival usually takes place at the beginning of the month at the impressive Henry VIII Palace, where you can also enjoy its majestic gardens, as you can bring your own food and have a picnic before the concerts. However, if you prefer, there will also be food stalls and bars within the grounds where you can try refreshing drinks and fill your stomach with delicious street food. Check the exact date for the next one here.

London has a large number of green spaces and gardens that are normally closed to the public but for two days a year in June they are open for all to enjoy.

More than 100 gardens participate in this event including hospital gardens, school gardens and even cemetery gardens, some looking majestic and others declining, neglected, but all worthy of being seen on these special days. In addition, tickets cost approximately £8 and with the money raised, the London Gardens Trust will continue to invest in the maintenance of these gardens to protect them.

Some of the gardens you will be able to visit are:

• 10 Downing Street (British Prime Minister's House)
• Royal College of Physicians Medicinal Garden
• Crossrail Place Roof Garden
• Tate Modern Community Garden
• 49 Bankside Garden (Near Globe Theatre)

On the last Saturday of June, the London Gay Pride celebration takes place, one of the largest and most emblematic parades in Europe. It involves more than thirty thousand people and on other occasions has had more than a million spectators.

The main stage is located in Trafalgar Square, where there will be a party that of course will feature DJ's from different parts of the world and where you can enjoy the most festive atmosphere.

Although many streets and buildings are decorated with the rainbow flag for the occasion, most of the places of atmosphere are in the neighborhoods of Soho and Vauxhall, where you will find a variety of gay friendly bars, nightclubs or galleries where you can enjoy the best atmosphere after the great display of floats and color.

In addition, if after the parade you are left wanting more, on Sunday a macro-picnic is organized in which thousands of people gather in Vauxhall to continue the celebration.

Only for the most daring! This unique event that takes place on the second Saturday of June consists of a naked bike ride through the English capital as a protest against the car culture, against the deterioration of the environment, to raise awareness about the vulnerability of cyclists on the roads and also as a celebration of nudism and bodily freedom.

The ride departs from various locations including Tower Hill, Croydon, Key Bridge, Regents Park, Clapham Junction and Deptford, all coinciding at Westminster Bridge and culminating in Hyde Park.

Also, if the proposal catches your attention but modesty prevents you from participating, body painting is allowed for the shy ones! A fun plan coupled with the fight for a good cause, I have not convinced you yet? Then watch this video of their latest edition and you'll be sure to sign up.

The romantic setting of the Queen Mary's Garden located in Regents Park is quite a visual spectacle. This beautiful garden, famous for housing the largest collection of roses in London, is worth a visit on any possible occasion, but the first two weeks of June are the best to do it, as this is when the roses bloom and a dreamy atmosphere is created.

Traveller Tip

If you like photography you can not miss Queen Mary's Garden, its beautiful design and the colors of the flowers will make your photos will not go unnoticed.

The good weather in June makes Londoners and visitors do their best to spend their hours outdoors, taking advantage of the sun and the pleasant temperatures. One such activity that can be done outdoors during the afternoons or evenings is going to a summer cinema. There are several places where you could enjoy a good Hollywood classic in this way, but I recommend two:

Bussey Building Rooftop Film Club

Located in Peckham, the cinema is on the rooftop of a building, which means that apart from the temperature and the movie, you can enjoy amazing views. This place where you can breathe a young atmosphere, you can watch movies several days a week but I also recommend you to go there if you feel like having a drink because this rooftop is worth it. Here I leave you the official website of the site so you can check the movies and schedules to make this great plan.

Time Out Movies on the River

This is another very good option to watch a movie outdoors, the difference is that this time the scenery will be the deck of a cruise ship on the Thames River, so the views will also be great. The best of all this is that not only will you be able to watch the movie but you will also enjoy a walk along the river, two for one! If you want more information just click here

Once you know what you are going to do on your trip to London, another thing to keep in mind is the weather in the city during this month of the year. In general, the temperatures are pleasant, since being a cold country, in summer it is usually an ideal temperature and rainfall is not as frequent as the previous months.

The daily maximum temperatures usually range between 22ºC and 27ºC, and the minimum will be around 14ºC.

On the other hand, another advantage that summer has are the hours of sunshine that it offers us, and is that dawn comes before 05:00 am and the sun usually sets around 09:00 at night, so we will enjoy more than 16 hours of light a day in this month of the year, which will allow you to make the most of your trip.

As temperatures are relatively high in this month of the year, I recommend that you wear light and cool clothing. Cotton T-shirts or thin shirts are the best option for the top and underneath, it is best to wear shorts or long pants that do not give much heat. Even so, when the sun goes down it may get cooler, so it would be ideal to wear a summer sweatshirt or a thin cardigan so that the drop in temperatures does not catch you unawares.

As for footwear, taking into account that you are going to walk a lot and do a lot of sightseeing, it is best to wear comfortable and breathable shoes, so that sore feet are not an impediment to your trip. It is important that you also equip yourself with sunglasses, do not forget the sunscreen and carry a small umbrella in the suitcase in case it rains one day.

Although the weather is generally good at this time of year, it is likely to end up raining some day, so I bring you a series of plans so you do not stay blank if one day this problem arises.

• Enter a museum. The Natural History Museum, the British Museum, the Science Museum or even the Sherlock Holmes Museum will be a good way to make the most of your trip and take shelter. Here is an article on The best museums in London for you to choose your ideal visit.
• Visit the Aquarium This is a perfect plan if it rains and also if we travel with children. Its different areas and the number of species it houses will ensure that entertainment is guaranteed for hours. It is open every day and the entrance fee is around 27 pounds.
• Visit Westmister Abbey This great church in the center of London is another essential visit on the trip. It is an emblematic place for the British Crown, as it is a traditional place for coronations and burials of the Royal House. Note that it is not open for tourists on Sundays.
• Spend a morning shopping at Harrods. This famous department store houses authentic wonders within its walls. A visual spectacle for those who like shopping and those who do not. The Diana of Wales Memorial, the toy floor or the Egyptian Hall are, without a doubt, another must-see.
• Go up to contemplate the views from the London Eye. This tourist attraction has become one of the most emblematic of the city, as it offers visitors the most impressive views of London and what better place to take shelter from the rain than in the cabin of one of the most famous Ferris wheels in the world.
• Climb inside Tower Bridge. The visit to the interior of this famous construction consists of discovering how the drawbridge system worked in the past and today, as well as pointing out the importance of this bridge in the current history of London.
• Enjoy a musical. The offer of musicals in London is very extensive and is undoubtedly one of the biggest attractions of the city. Among the most famous West-End musicals are Mamma Mia, Les Miserables and The Lion King, but there are many more to choose from and seeing a musical is an experience not to be missed.
• Have a drink at Covent Garden Market. This spectacular market offers a wide variety of bars where you can stop for refreshments and snacks, as well as numerous shows and concerts.

The public transport network in the British capital is one of the best in Europe, so getting around the city is not difficult. There are several ways to get around, such as the legendary London cabs or the famous red double-decker buses, which are a great option if you have to make a short trip, otherwise it is common to take longer than expected due to traffic. For this reason, another very good option is to take the London Underground to move comfortably and efficiently, especially if the distances are long.

This guide is your perfect complement to make the best plans and enjoy London in June, have a good trip!