Things To Do This Week In London: 14-20 July 2025

See what's on in London this week.

Looking for something fun to do today? Something eye-opening to watch tonight? Something delicious to eat tomorrow? Our guide to things to do this week in London is personally curated, ensuring there's always a diverse range of events for you to choose from.

All week

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF: After a sell-out run last summer, the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's production of Fiddler on the Roof is in residence at Barbican until Saturday, telling the story of Jewish milkman Tevye, who has to choose between holding onto his roots and embracing new traditions. Until 19 July

SUMMER IN THE DITCH: Camp, queer and cult festival Summer in the Ditch is in its final week at Shoreditch Town Hall, with performances from drag queens Fabio Lezonli, Me The Drag Queen, Dosa Cat and Dairy King, as well as camp cabaret show NFTV Returns, and a deep-dive into the Avril Lavigne doppelgänger replacement rumours. Eclectic, indeed. Until 19 July

SOMAYA CRITCHLOW: London-based British artist Somaya Critchlow's debut show The Chamber is at Dulwich Picture Gallery until Sunday, offering a response to the gallery's own collection of historical paintings. View six newly commissioned works, including three large figurative paintings, as well as Critchlow's preliminary sketches. Until 20 July

SUMMER SERIES: Visionary musician St Vincent, singer-songwriter Joy Oladokun, and Scottish indie rockers The Snuts are among the headliners at Somerset House Summer Series this week. It's a programme of open-air gigs taking place in the building's courtyard. Until 20 July

EVITA: Seen all the fuss around Rachel Zegler's street balcony performances in Evita? Watch the full production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical, about someone who rose from poverty to become the most powerful woman in South America, at the London Palladium. Until 6 September

THE GREAT GATSBY: A reminder that the musical adaptation of The Great Gatsby is on at the London Coliseum throughout the summer, offering a beautiful take on F. Scott Fitzgerald's tragic tale of unrequited love. Until 7 September

NEW DINOSAUR: ICYMI: a brand new (well, 150-million-year-old but new to this situation) dinosaur skeleton has just gone on display in the Natural History Museum's Earth Hall. Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae(Enigmacursor for short) is a newly-discovered species of dinosaur, and this (real) skeleton is about 180cm long. By our reckoning, this is probably the last week before the museum gets fully swamped for the summer holidays. FREE, permanent

THINGS TO DO IN LONDON TODAY: If you find yourself at a loose end in the capital any day of this week (or any week), have a look at our guide to London day by day. It contains regular events, from guided walks to comedy nights to live music shows to pub quizzes, that happen every week, so you'll never run out of things to do again. Even if you're sorted for this week, bookmark it now to make future you happy.

DAY TRIP OF THE WEEK: For a dose of Tudor history, in beautiful surroundings, with a maze, lakeside walks, and a doll's house museum thrown in, visit Hever Castle in Kent. It was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, so if it's suits of armour, four poster beds and portraits of nobility you're after, you're absolutely in the right place.

EAT OF THE WEEK: Fans of Speedboat Bar in Chinatown will be pleased to hear there's now a second branch of the vibrant Thai-Chinese eatery — this one at the Electric in Notting Hill. Feast on wok-fired stir fries, zingy salads and fragrant curries, hosed down with icy whisky sodas.

DRINK OF THE WEEK: Upmarket seafood restaurant Wiltons on Jermyn Street has a history that can be traced back to George William Wilton opening a shellfish mongers nearby in 1742. Right now, they've got a drinks deal, whereby you can get an excellent martini (including the house special, garnished with an 'oyster leaf') AND a trio of delicious canapés (one topped with caviar) for £18 a pop — Mon-Sat, 5.30pm-6.30pm. There's no obligation to stay on for a meal. Booking is recommended, although you can try your luck with walk-ins. Until 30 August

Monday 14 July

SUPPER CLUB: Join Turkish Cypriot chef and YouTube presenter Hasan Semay for an evening celebrating his new book, Smoke & Seasoned Bread: Recipes from Turkey. Head to Honey & Smoke Grill House near Great Portland Street tonight for a supper club with a menu inspired by Turkish cuisine, including dishes like muhammara and ali nazik köfte with coal-roasted aubergine. 6pm

TWELFTH NIGHT: Experience Shakespeare's comedic tale of mistaken identity with Bowler Crab Theatre Company’s production of Twelfth Night at The Cockpit near Edgware Road. Follow the journey of twins Viola and Sebastian as they navigate through a world of love triangles, pranks, and vibrant characters. 7pm

DESIREE BURCH: Comedians Desiree Burch and Ian Smith both offer previews of their upcoming Edinburgh Fringe shows in today's Happy Mondays Comedy at the Amersham Arms in New Cross. 8pm

BOOKISH: Watch a preview of upcoming TV show Bookish at the BFI. Mark Gatiss stars as a bookshop owner and investigator who leads a double life with his childhood best friend and wife, as they run his shop and a mystery-solving business in parallel. 8.30pm

JAZZ EMU: 'Tis the season for Edinburgh Fringe previews, as comedy character Jazz Emu is at the Pleasance in Islington, offering a sneak peek at The Pleasure Is All Yours, an hour of new musings and odes. 9pm

Tuesday 15 July

BEATING RETREAT: The Massed Bands of the Household Division present a "military musical spectacular" at Horseguards Parade, in the form of a Beating Retreat ceremony, across three evenings from tonight. The theme is 'Heroes', with the Duchess of Edinburgh’s String Orchestra, the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry, and the Massed Pipes and Drums among the musicians taking part. 7.30pm, 15-17 July

PEOPLE IN CAGES: A trilogy of dark comedy plays, People in Cages opens tonight at the Drayton Arms Theatre. Topics include a giggle of a killer, a scream of a happy couple, and adorable kids in a deplorable cult, the latter of which is a world premiere performance. 15-19 July

COCOMELON LIVE: International hit kids show CoComelon gets its UK stage premiere in the form of CoComelon: Sing-A-Long LIVE at St Martin’s Theatre. Favourite characters, including Ms. Appleberry, JJ, Cody, Nina and Cece, lead renditions of songs which fans of the show will already know. It's one of our picks of kids' theatre shows to see in London this summer. 15 July-7 September

SMITHFIELD HISTORY: City of London Guide & Lecturer Jill Finch is at Guildhall Library to give a free talk about the history of Smithfield, an area currently in a state of flux as the London Museum prepares to move in. Hear about its past role as a place of religion, trade, healing, entertainment and sport - but also as a place of public execution. FREE, 2pm-3pm. If this interests you, there's also a history-focused walk around Smithfield tomorrow.

RAMPING UP RIGHTS: Join Rachel Charlton-Dailey in conversation with Tazmyn-Mei Gebbett to celebrate the release of Ramping Up Rights. The book is about the unfinished history of British disability activism, telling the stories of prominent activists and their contributions to the rights of disabled individuals in the UK. The event, at Waterstones Trafalgar Square, highlights the necessity for ongoing education and protest. 7pm

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Head to NYX Hotel London Holborn on Friday 18 July, and whizz on up to the Glasshouse — the hotel’s 10th floor bar and terrace that serves up creative cocktails and panoramic views of the capital. The evening kicks off with Your Friend, My Friend’s signature speed dating format, which involves a series of five-minute dates with 18 potential matches. Note down the ones you’re interested in as you go, and the team will take care of the rest, emailing you with any matches the following day.

No stress if you’re stuck for conversation starters — random question cards on each table get things flowing. And if you’d prefer to meet more organically? You can skip the speed dating portion of the evening altogether! The after-party kicks off at 9.30pm and gives you over two hours to mingle at your leisure.

Your Friend, My Friend Speeding Dating & Singles After Party (ages 27-45). 7.30pm-11.45pm on Friday 18 July at NYX Hotel London Holborn. You can also check out Your Friend, My Friend on Instagram.

Wednesday 16 July

SCULPTURE IN THE CITY: The latest edition of free art trail Sculpture in the City officially begins today. Wander around the eastern end of the Square Mile to see artworks by big names including Ai WeiWei, Jane and Louise Wilson, and Andrew Sabin. Every year, a few installations from the previous year are kept in situ, and this year they include Maya Rose Edwards's Kissing Gate on the pavement at Aldgate. FREE, from 16 July

GIANNI VERSACE: Fashion designer Gianni Versace is the subject of a new retrospective show and exhibition at Arches London Bridge, launching today. It showcases the largest collection of vintage Gianni Versace designs ever to be displayed in the UK, with over 450 original vintage garments, accessories, personal sketches, interviews and photographs. From 16 July

ASHES TO ASHES: Cabaret vs Cancer presents a tribute to legendary musician David Bowie. Ashes to Ashes at Wilton's features top UK cabaret talents performing a mix of song, dance, and burlesque, celebrating Bowie’s greatest hits, raising money to support those affected by cancer. 16-17 July

WAYS OF KNOWING: "Behold! A council of leeches, a mystic hermit, a Victorian inventor, an economics conference, a dark and dripping cave." Ahead of going to Edinburgh later this summer, Ways of Knowing — a mysterious and slippery dance-theatre work exploring the impossibility of predicting the future — is on at New Diorama Theatre near Warren Street for a two-day run starting today. 16-17 July

TEMPLE BAR: Another chance to see inside Christopher Wren's Temple Bar, which started life where Fleet Street meets Strand but now stands in Paternoster Square. Access forms part of a two-hour tour of the local area, conducted by Jonathan Wober. 11am-1pm

TUDOR POWER COUPLES: The London Archives in Clerkenwell hosts author Jo Romero, who discusses her new book, Power Couples of the Tudor Era. From the legendary marriage of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, to the political machinations of Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley, hear the remarkable stories of the dynamic duos whose partnerships shaped the course of English history. 5.30pm

SEBASTIENE: As part of its Queer 70s series, Barbican Cinema screens Derek Jarman's provocative 1976 film Sebastiane, exploring the life of Saint Sebastian through a queer lens with a score by Brian Eno. A discussion after the film delves into Jarman’s legacy and influence on LGBTQ+ filmmaking. 6.20pm

GERMAN WINE DINNER: Five German-inspired courses are paired with five wines from one of Germany’s most renowned estates, Weingut von Winning, at Humble Grape on Fleet Street. Oskar Micheletti represents the winery, talking through its history and wine-making techniques. 6.30pm-10pm

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Thursday 17 July

ESEA ENCOUNTERS: Southbank Centre's newest festival, ESEA Encounters, celebrates East and South East Asian culture through a long weekend of performances, music, poetry, literature, art and a pop-up market. A highlight is Ura Matsuri, a take on the traditional Japanese festivals, offering pop music, dance, Benshi (live film storytelling), classical music on traditional instruments, and more. 17-20 July

TURTLE TRAIL: The second free art trail opening in London this week is the Tusk Turtle Trail, a collection of 16 turtle sculptures, each individually designed by big names including musician and Tusk ambassador Ronnie Wood, photographer Rankin, illustrator Ralph Steadman, and actor John Cleese. Find them dotted through central London including Covent Garden and Carnaby from today, before they're auctioned off to raise money for conservation charity Tusk. FREE, 17 July-7 September

THE JIMI SESSIONS: The former flat of musician Jimi Hendrix is the venue for the Jimi Sessions, an evening of live music throughout the residence. Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, and guitarist Kelly Rosenthal is tonight's performer, with tracks from her latest EP, for you, my love, with love. 6pm/7.15pm

WHITECHAPEL LATES: Whitechapel Gallery holds its monthly Thursday late opening, this time curated by creative collective DAYTIMERS. The event shines the spotlight on South Asian artists through art, live music, workshops, talks, poetry and more, inspired by current exhibition, Hamad Butt: Apprehensions. FREE, 6pm-9.30pm

ORANGE ROOM OPEN MIC: The Orange Room Collective, which supports and spotlights Black British artists, holds an open mic night at Woolwich Works. See talented local performers specialising in music, spoken word and storytelling, with slots for the audience to sign up to perform too. 7pm

JK STANFORD: Stanfords in Covent Garden is the apt venue for the launch of new book, The Remarkable Life and Legacy of JK Stanford. The book's subject, John Keith Stanford, was a writer and ornithologist and grandson of the founder of the cartography business which went on to become the bookshop we know today. Author Andrew Curtis shares more details about his life. 7pm-8.30pm

FRINGE COMEDY PREVIEWS: Ahir Shah and Sophie Duker offer previews of their Edinburgh Fringe comedy shows in the Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall, before heading north at the end of the month. 7.30pm

Friday 18 July

THE GUILTY FEMINIST: Still a few tickets available to see hit comedy podcast The Guilty Feminist live at Soho Theatre, with one show tonight and a second tomorrow evening. 18-19 July

CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL: 800+ beers from 100 different breweries are promised at London Craft Beer Festival, which takes place at Magazine London in Greenwich this year. Buxton, Siren, Tiny Rebel, Bearwood, Montauk and Bold Mariner are among the companies coming from all over the UK to take part, with all beer included in your ticket price, and cocktails, whisky, wine and cider also available to try. 18-19 July

HYPER JAPAN FESTIVAL: Love all things Japanese? It's your lucky weekend because as well as ESEA Encounters (see Thursday, above), London has Hyper Japan, a celebration of Japanese culture at Olympia London. Voice actor and singer Yuka Iguchi and Japanese-fronted band Two Gun Mathilda are among the live performers, alongside a market, cosplaying and a sake experience. 18-20 July

101 DALMATIANS: Follow the twilight bark over to 101 Dalmatians - The Musical at the Hammersmith Apollo. It's an all-singing, all-dancing rendition of the tale of a huge gaggle of the spotted dogs doing their best to outwit baddie Cruella de Vil, who wants to turn them into a fur coat. The dogs are played by puppets — imagine the chaos backstage otherwise. Age five+. 18 July-30 August

BBC PROMS: We can't even type those words without Land of Hope and Glory firing up the record player inside our heads — but that's Last Night of the Proms, and there's almost two months' worth of live music to enjoy before that, beginning today. For all your info on tickets, highlights, promming and the like, peruse our guide to the BBC Proms 2025. 18 July-13 September

SARI, NOT SORRY: Get stuck into free food and chai, watch dance performances and a fashion showcase from young South-Asian designers — and try your hand at block printing, at the British Museum's Sari, not sorry late. This free event, co-produced by the Museum's Youth Collective, is themed around new exhibition Ancient India: living traditions. FREE, 5.30pm-8.30pm (sponsor)

THE SECRET GARDEN: The gardens at Keats House in Hampstead hosts an outdoor performance of The Secret Garden by touring theatre company The Plandits. Suitable for ages six+, it's the story of three children who discover a hidden walled garden. Bring your own chairs/blanket to sit on. 6pm-8pm

FRIDAY NIGHT FUNNIES: Lateef Lovejoy MCs an instalment of Friday Night Funnies at Chickenshed near Cockfosters, with sets from Kelly Ford, Nicole Harris, Sarah Iles, Ajay Rose, Michael Hackett — plus a headline slot for Farhan Solo. Doors 7pm

OLD DIRTY BRASSTARDS: 10-piece brass band Old Dirty Brasstards is at Between the Bridges on South Bank for an evening of live renditions of pop-punk tunes by the likes of Green Day, Blink-182, Sum 41, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance. 7pm-11pm

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Saturday 19 July

FOOD FESTIVAL: Eat your way around the world at the National Geographic Traveller Food Festival, at the Business Design Centre in Islington. Hear from chefs including José Pizarro, Andi Oliver and Yotam Ottolenghi, and watch live cooking demos and masterclasses, so you can attempt to recreate your favourite dishes at home. 19-20 July

NAPO’S FOUR LEGGED FÊTE: London’s biggest free dog festival comes to Battersea Power Station this weekend – bringing pooch-centric activities, giveaways, expert talks and more to west London. Highlights of Napo’s Four Legged Fête (which is hosted by Napo Pet Insurance) include a dog-friendly ball pit, a scentwork maze, free vet and dental checks, and delightful dog show, with the chance to win free pet insurance for your furry-friend. Keep an eye on napo.pet/fete for the latest weather and event updates ahead of the Four-Legged Fête. FREE, 19-20 July (sponsor)

CART MARKING CEREMONY: One of London's quirkier events is the Ceremony of Cart Marking, a 500+ year old tradition by the Worshipful Company of Carmen. See a collection of handcarts, horses and carts, steam-driven vehicles, electric, solar-powered and hydrogen vehicles on display at Guildhall, with Livery Masters and Court Assistants in their official robes, chains and hats. FREE, 10am-3pm

PAVILION FAMILY DAY: Been to this year's Serpentine Pavilion yet? The temporary structure in Kensington Gardens hosts a Pavilion Family Day. Full programme TBC at time of writing, but expect performances and hands-on creative activities for all ages. FREE, 11am-3pm

FAMILY DANCE DAY: Coram's Fields in Bloomsbury is a very special park where adults must be accompanied by a child. It gets even more special today when The Place theatre hosts a Family Dance Day, with performances, dance workshops, interactive storytelling and arts and crafts throughout the afternoon. FREE, 11am-4pm

FAMILY SCIENCE DAY: Taking place during exactly the same hours as the above is the Royal Institution's Family Fun Day. Aimed at kids aged 7-12, the event offers loads of hands-on activities and theatre shows with a scientific theme. Explore science in the building where 10 chemical elements were discovered! 11am-4pm

CROYDON PRIDE: Following a pared down Croydon Pride last year, the event returns to its full-fat best today. A parade makes its way through town — starting outside M&S on North End at 12pm, before turning off down Church Street, and finishing up in Wandle Park — where a day of entertainment awaits. From 12pm

RIVERSIDE WALK: Laura Agustin leads an historical-minded walk along the banks of the Thames, from Richmond to Twickenham. The walk focuses especially on the working lives of women at court — maids of honour, ladies in waiting, royal mistresses, queens. Location-wise, it's one of the most rewarding walks in London, with gorgeous scenery, history houses, and the delights of Twickenham all part of the route. 1pm

WOOLWICH WOOFS: All pooches are welcome at the Woolwich Woofs dog show, and once you've paid their admission (£5 per dog) you can enter them into as many categories as you like. Other entertainment includes a doggy quiz, and it's free to watch. 2pm-4pm

BRIDGERTON ON STRINGS: Have yourself an atmospheric evening at Central Hall Westminster, as a string quartet performs live renditions of tracks from Netflix series Bridgerton, as the venue is illuminated by candlelight. 6.30pm-9pm

Sunday 20 July

WODEHOUSE IN WONDERLAND: New play Wodehouse in Wonderland takes the audience into the world of author P.G. Wodehouse, offering an insight into his marvellous tales, beloved characters, and classic songs by Gershwin, Porter, Kern, and Novello. See it at Theatre at the Tabard in Chiswick. 20 July-30 August

HOT AIR BALLOONS: Today and next Sunday have been put aside for the Lord Mayor's Hot Air Balloon Regatta, after May's date was cancelled. If weather conditions are rights, dozens of balloons in various designs (and shapes) will float across the capital from Battersea Park first thing in the morning — from about 5am in fact, so set your alarm early. FREE, from 5am

SOHO VILLAGE FETE: A tug of war between the police and fire brigade, a best in show where pooches must dress like royalty, and a music stage are all part of the Soho Village Fete. But surely the highlight is the Soho Waiters' Race, which sees serving staff from different restaurants legging it around the area while balancing a bottle of fizz, wine glass and ashtray on their tray. FREE, 12pm-6pm

LITTLE ITALY: Tour guide 'the Haughty Culturalist' leads a walk around the area of Clerkenwell known as Little Italy, whose notable Italian residents included revolutionary Giuseppe Mazzini, the clown Joseph Grimaldi and even the notorious Darby Sabini, of Peaky Blinders fame. Afterwards, enjoy the Sagra -- an Italian fair and food market -- followed by the Procession of our Lady of Mount Carmel. This is thought to be the oldest outdoor Catholic procession in Britain. 1pm (walk), 3.30pm (procession)

COMEDY CLUB 4 KIDS: Doing just what it says on the tin, Comedy Club 4 Kids brings the best stand-ups, sketch acts and cabaret performers to Park Theatre today for a show that's suitable for ages six+. This week's performers are Abigoliah Schamaun (MC), ventriloquist Max Fulham, Cerys Bradley and more acts TBC. 3pm

AMY WINEHOUSE: Finish up your weekend with a free Amy Winehouse tribute performance in Camden Market, ahead of the anniversary of her death next week. Jazz vocalist Lucy Randell is at Camden Wharf tonight, covering some of the local singer's greatest hits. FREE, 5pm-8pm

QUEERCORE: Queercore trio Shooting Daggers co-headline with Supernova at New River Studios near Woodberry Downs Park tonight. There's support from Nylon and So Far So Good. Doors 6.30pm

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