July 2017 Events In London: What’s On & Where

Last updated: 24 August 2023

From the Roaming Required Archives. Here’s a flashback from July 2017.

July means Summer in London. The sun appears from behind the clouds, temperatures rise, and Londoners do what they do best. Go out! Every park in the city is suddenly bursting at the seams with striped deck chairs, picnic blankets and pale Londoners turning a nice shade of pink. In the blink of an eye, we’re suddenly all sun-crazed, alfresco-dining night owls.

We’ve handpicked some of the best events in London in July.  Read on for what’s on & where

Throughout July

Shoreditch is the city’s eastern hub of hip, and in July Boxpark is home to London’s most unique bar experience. All the perks of a bar and nightclub but with a giant ball pit for adults!
E1 6GY – Free

Curious to know how much fun a ballpit can be? Find out below

14 Jul – 1 Oct

Soar like a bird at speeds of 50mph along a 200m zip-wire over Southbank and London’s skyline including Elizabeth Tower.
SE1 7JY – from £15 – Info & to book

22 July – 01 October

Once the Queen departs for her summer retreat of Balmoral Castle, the gates are thrown open on Buckingham Palace for visitors.  Grab a Royal Day Out ticket to gain access to one of the most famous buildings in the country and areas including the Queen’s Gallery, the Royal Mews and the State Rooms. Tickets for this one will fly off the shelves, so get in quick!
SW1A 1AA – Tickets

Sundays

As rare as a unicorn, traffic free central London can happen.  Every Sunday in July in fact! The iconic curve of Regent Street will be pedestrianised from Oxford Circus all the way to Piccadilly Circus for a weekly street party. Expect a fantastic range of entertainment and activities along the street – entirely for free.
W1B – Free – Summer Streets

Urban beaches

Urban beaches are a big thing for Summer in London. Open at different hot-spots throughout the city, the southern hub of Brixton is home to the Brixton Rooftop.  Think cocktails, street food and a beach party vibe.
SW9 8JH  – Brixton Rooftop

In midtown, opposite the British Museum, is the boutique hotel, The Montague on the Gardens.  Offering a pop-up beach bar style experience with a BBQ and Bahamas themed experience.
WC1B 5BJ – The Montague

Heading East? Set up in the Royal Docks under the Emirates Cable Car on this free patch of sand. Deck chairs, build your own sandcastle. It’s like a real day at the beach… well almost!
E16 1GB – Free – 17 Jul to 31 Aug – Royal Docks

Culture

The Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) is London’s biggest museum and it just received a facelift.  The new Sackler Courtyard, the world’s first all-porcelain public courtyard is paved with 11,000 hand-made tiles. In addition to the new courtyard, also opened are the Sainsbury Gallery, an exhibition space, and Blavatnik Hall, a new entrance hall featuring mosaic floors which echo the structure of the new gallery.
SW7 2RL – Free – V&A

Each weekend through July and August, the National Theatre will utilise its Thames-side outdoor space for River Stage. A series of free mini-festivals throughout July encompassing music, dance and the Arts.
SE1 9PX – Free – River Stage

The Somerset House summer gig series is one worthy of some attention.  I really love this 18th century courtyard venue, that’s routinely used for concerts, pop-ups and open-air cinema.  The gig series brings world class names right into the centre of the capital. Be quick, tickets go fast!
WC2R 1LA – Schedule & tickets

Serving up a combination of dedicated concert days and free entry days is British Summer Time in Hyde Park.  Names like Green Day, Kings of Leon and The Killers take to the stage throughout the month of July.  Concert tickets go quick. On non-concert days, entry is free and offer outdoor movie nights, live Wimbledon tennis screenings, street food stalls, pop up bars and more.
W2 2UH – Free (non-concert days) – More info

03 July

Eat this! Melba, one of London’s finest éclair specialists, has a new take on the french classic treat.  Launching the Icéclair, a light choux pastry filled with hand-made ice cream. The new store is opening at The Savoy on the Strand.
WC2R 0EU – £4.95 – Menu

03-16 July

No matter if you’re a serious tennis fan or just fancy some alfresco strawberry and Pimm’s, July in London means Wimbledon.

If you can’t be bothered to queue for day tickets out at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, you won’t miss out.  There are plenty of pop-up big screens scattered throughout the city to attract a crowd.  

Read more: Where To Watch Wimbledon in London 

Locations streaming Wimbledon across the city include King’s Cross, St Katharine Docks’, Leadenhall Market, One New Change, Cardinal Place, New Street Square, Duke of York Square, Camden Market and Paddington’s Merchant Square. – Most are free.

08 July

Grab your glitter and your rainbow flag because Love Happens Here with London’s largest LGBT+ celebration. The annual Pride in London parade will be bigger than ever as it’s 50 years since the decriminalisation of male homosexuality in the UK.  Floats will travel through the heart of London from Portland Place, culminating in a mega-party at Trafalgar Square.
WC2N 5DN – Free 

08 & 09 July

The Grant Museum of Zoology is re-building its largest specimen, a northern bottle-nosed whale skeleton, after being hidden in cupboards and storerooms for decades! Drop-in to a Whale Weekender session to meet museum conservators, help lay the skeleton out and work out how much of the skeleton survives.  Get a chance to contribute help cleaning 157 years’ worth of dust off the skeleton.
WC1E 6DE (UCL) – Free – More info

09 July

It’s a fest of berets and baguettes to celebrate Bastille Day, France’s national day. Borough Market is the place to be, be sure to grab some sweet treats in red, white or blue.
SE1 1TL – Free 

20 July – 18 October

In an effort to combat the declining number of live music venues, Selfridges have launched their own in the store’s basement! Gigs are weekly with a mix of established and new and upcoming artists in the music scene. 

29-30 July

Be a kid again with this strictly 18+ playground as it opens in London Fields. Just think about it, you get to ride the jumbo slides, seesaws and swings without judgement or sharing with your child! Tickets and info

28-30 July

Prudential RideLondon is the world’s largest festival of cycling. The best bit? Over 100,000 people of all ages and ability will take to the streets to explore eight miles of empty London roads.
Free – Various locations across the city – Route and info

Which of these events will we see you at in July?