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Things To July 2026
So we can but hope that July brings some cooler days, not too cool, mind you, we still want a little summer, just not those sticky days we've had this week. But if you are in the market to fill your dance card, well, as ever, I think you have come to the right place. We have jazz festivals, restaurant openings, plays galore, talks and flower festivals. We are lucky to live on such a varied and bountiful island.
Now - 5th July
YOPO Zaytoun marks a new chapter for The Mandrake, bringing the bold flavours of the Eastern Mediterranean to Fitzrovia. Led by Head Chef Viktor Yordanov, the restaurant celebrates seasonal ingredients and vibrant sharing plates in a striking setting that blends exceptional food, design and atmosphere.
Classic Art London returns this summer following its successful debut in 2025, bringing together leading dealers for a series of selling exhibitions dedicated to Old and Modern Masters. Alongside museum-quality works, the event offers a programme of expert talks, tours and special events, celebrating the richness of traditional art in the heart of London’s historic art market.
War Horse returns to the National Theatre, nearly two decades after its acclaimed debut. Based on Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel, this powerful production tells the story of Albert and his horse Joey, whose bond is tested by the outbreak of the First World War. Featuring the extraordinary life-sized puppets of Handspring Puppet Company, it remains one of the most celebrated productions of modern British theatre.
Sandra Oh stars in Martin Crimp’s bold new adaptation of Molière’s The Misanthrope at the National Theatre. Directed by Indhu Rubasingham, the production follows a celebrated novelist whose outspoken views place her at odds with friends, colleagues and contemporary society, in a sharp exploration of artistic freedom, reputation and truth.
Paint! Pattern! Print! explores the vibrant world of pioneering textile designers Susan Collier and Sarah Campbell, showcasing material from the Collier Campbell Archive. Tracing their creative process from painted designs to finished fabrics, fashion and homeware, the exhibition celebrates a remarkable partnership that helped shape British design and brought bold, colourful patterns to audiences around the world.
Unfolding Narratives: Perspectives In Contemporary Indian Art, 1st - 8th July, Mall Galleries, The Mall, London, SW1Y 5AS
Unfolding Narratives: Perspectives in Contemporary Indian Art marks Sakshi Gallery’s 40th anniversary with an exhibition of works by Amit Ambalal, Manjunath Kamath, Ravinder Reddy, Rekha Rodwittiya, Shine Shivan and Surendran Nair. Bringing together both recent and specially commissioned works, the exhibition explores how contemporary artists reinterpret storytelling, mythology and history through personal, political and cultural perspectives.
Simon Stone reimagines The Oresteia at the Bridge Theatre, bringing the ancient Greek tragedy into the modern world through a powerful story of family conflict, inherited trauma and revenge. The production features a cast led by Mary-Louise Parker, David Morrissey, Tom Glynn-Carney and Rosie Sheehy, exploring themes that remain as relevant today as they were over two thousand years ago.
Love Supreme Jazz Festival returns to Glynde Place in East Sussex for a weekend of world-class music, bringing together some of the biggest names in jazz, soul, funk and R&B. This year’s line-up includes De La Soul, Loyle Carner, Ezra Collective, The Temptations & The Four Tops, Gabrielle and Sister Sledge, alongside wellness experiences, talks, workshops and exceptional food, making it one of the UK’s premier summer music festivals.
Pride in London transforms the capital into a vibrant celebration of LGBTQIA+ visibility, community and equality. Centred around its iconic parade through central London, the event brings together thousands of participants and spectators while continuing to champion advocacy, inclusion and the ongoing fight for LGBTQIA+ rights.
This hands-on woodcut printing workshop at David Parr House offers a chance to learn the art of relief printmaking in an intimate setting. Led by artist Alex Booker, participants will design, carve and print their own works while exploring the history of the medium, with all materials, lunch, and a special glimpse inside the house included.
Join award-winning artist James Hague for a portrait painting workshop exploring colour, texture and expressive mark-making. Working from a live model, participants will develop layered portraits while gaining insight into Hague’s acclaimed figurative practice, with guidance suitable for both oil and watercolour painters.
The Strawberry Hill Community Picnic & BBQ returns this July for an afternoon of food, music and family-friendly entertainment in the gardens of Strawberry Hill House. Visitors can enjoy an Argentine-style barbecue from Roots & Berries, live music, children’s activities and 18th-century-themed fun, while relaxing with their own picnic in one of Twickenham’s most picturesque settings.
The Big Fair returns to Heath Street for a lively day of shopping, food and family entertainment. With more than 110 stalls, international street food, live music on the Big Stage, a funfair, sports activities and a circus school for children, it promises to be one of Hampstead’s most popular community events of the summer.
Week Commencing 6th
Music in the Ville’s fundraising art auction brings together works by leading contemporary artists, including Antony Gormley, Grayson Perry, Gavin Turk, Jonathan Yeo and Ralph Steadman, alongside pieces created by prisoners at HMP Pentonville. Held in Hampstead, the evening will raise funds for the charity’s pioneering music workshops within the prison and will also feature live performances and insights into the impact of its work.
Chatsworth in Seven Objects offers a unique opportunity to explore the history of Chatsworth through seven remarkable works from the Devonshire Collection. Led by curator Katherine Hardwick-Kulpa, the talk reveals the stories behind key paintings, sculptures and decorative objects, providing fascinating insight into one of Britain’s most celebrated collections.
The RHS Badminton Flower Show is an exciting new addition to the RHS calendar, coming to the beautiful South Gloucestershire countryside in July. Set against the backdrop of the historic Badminton Estate, the show will celebrate the very best in horticulture, garden design and growing, with inspiring displays, expert advice and a vibrant programme of events.
Alfies Antique Market celebrates its 50th anniversary with a special late opening on 9 July, marking half a century as one of London’s most beloved destinations for antiques and collectables. Visitors can enjoy live music, entertainment and a few surprises throughout the evening, while exploring the market’s unique mix of dealers, craftsmanship and vintage treasures.
‘Interior Life’, Susan Kirkman, Kate Measham, Katie Stanley & Catriona Tyrwhitt, 9th - 18th July, MADE In The Pewsey Vale, 25 High Street, Pewsey, SN9 5AF
Interior Life, on view at MADE in the Pewsey Vale, brings together works by Susan Kirkman, Kate Measham, Katie Stanley and Catriona Tyrwhitt in an exhibition exploring the relationship between domestic spaces and inner experience. Through still lifes, interiors and intimate compositions, the artists reflect on memory, observation and the emotional resonance of everyday objects, transforming familiar scenes into deeply personal reflections.
Join garden designer Sean A. Pritchard at Thyme this July to celebrate the launch of Atmosfloric: Flower Colour in Home and Garden. In conversation with writer and editor Elizabeth Metcalfe, Pritchard will explore the transformative power of colour in gardens and interiors, drawing on ideas from his richly illustrated new book. The event includes an audience Q&A and book signing, offering further insight into his approach to planting, floral design and colour theory.
The Idler Festival returns to Fenton House & Garden in Hampstead for a weekend of philosophy, comedy, music, workshops and conversation. Featuring guests including Prue Leith, Irvine Welsh, Jojo Moyes and Kevin Rowland, the festival combines thought-provoking talks with hands-on activities, performances and plenty of opportunities to relax in one of London’s most beautiful garden settings.
Adored Closet celebrates the reopening of its Brighton studio with a special open day, inviting visitors to explore a carefully curated collection of vintage fashion, bridalwear and antique textiles. From rare lingerie and one-of-a-kind dresses to newly restored bridal pieces, guests can browse hundreds of unique finds while enjoying complimentary refreshments in the brand’s newly opened space.
The Rare Plant Fair returns to Winterbourne, bringing together specialist growers and nurseries from across the country with a wide selection of unusual and hard-to-find plants. Alongside expert advice and an inspiring range of perennials, shrubs, trees and exotic varieties, visitors can also explore Winterbourne’s beautiful seven-and-a-half-acre garden.
Week Commencing 13th
The Young Artists’ Summer Show 2026 returns to the Royal Academy of Arts, showcasing the creativity of young artists aged 4–18 from across the UK. Selected from an open submission, the exhibition celebrates emerging talent, with chosen artworks displayed both online and at Burlington House as part of this inspiring annual showcase.
In this lunchtime lecture, art historian Dr. Lynda Nead explores how the image of the blonde woman shaped post-war British culture, tracing the influence of Marilyn Monroe on ideas of femininity, glamour and identity. Drawing on her book British Blonde, Nead examines the lives of figures including Diana Dors, Barbara Windsor and Pauline Boty, revealing how class, aspiration and desire transformed British visual culture in the decades following the Second World War.
Somerset House Summer Series With American Express, 16th - 26th July, Edmond J. Safra Foundation Court, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA
The Somerset House Summer Series with American Express returns this July for eleven nights of live music in the spectacular surroundings of Somerset House’s courtyard. Bringing together acclaimed international artists and exciting new talent, this year’s line-up includes The Flaming Lips, Agnes Obel and Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Venna, making it one of London’s standout summer music events.
The Soho Village Fete returns for its 51st year, bringing a day of classic Soho eccentricity to St Anne’s Gardens. Expect live entertainment, the legendary Soho Waiters’ Race, snail racing, tug of war, food and drink stalls, and plenty of community spirit, making this one of London’s most distinctive summer events.
Week Commencing 20th
As part of The Gardening Year at Charleston, Head Gardener Harry Hoblyn leads a summer workshop exploring the garden at its most colourful and abundant. Combining practical advice on planting, maintenance and propagation with an exclusive tour of Charleston’s house and studio, the day offers a fascinating insight into the care and cultivation of one of Britain’s most celebrated gardens.
The RHS Sandringham Flower Show makes its debut this July, bringing the Royal Horticultural Society’s celebrated showcase of gardening, plants and design to the grounds of the royal family’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. This exciting new addition to the RHS calendar promises inspiring gardens, expert horticultural displays and a vibrant programme of events in a spectacular setting.
Join contemporary curator Amy Emmerson-Martin for an introduction to the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2026, one of the most prestigious showcases of contemporary portraiture. As a judge of this year’s award, Emmerson-Martin offers insight into the selection process and the themes that connect more than 50 shortlisted works, highlighting the remarkable diversity, innovation and technical skill of portrait artists working today.
As part of the Summer Talk Series, Dr Charlotte Newcombe explores the remarkable life and work of Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle, one of the 17th century’s most original writers and thinkers. Examining the intersections of literature, science and philosophy, the talk offers fresh insight into Cavendish’s extraordinary imagination, intellectual legacy and connections to Chatsworth and the Devonshire family.
Cinema in the Park returns to Chatsworth with a programme of open-air screenings set against the backdrop of the estate’s stunning parkland. This year’s line-up includes Wicked Sing-Along, Sing, Mamma Mia! ExtrABBAganza, The Gruffalo and Stick Man, Andrea Bocelli 30: The Celebration and Pretty Woman, offering something for audiences of all ages to enjoy under the stars.
This exhibition celebrates photography’s power to illuminate connections across generations, communities and shared histories. Bringing together newly acquired works by Jyll Bradley, Joanne Coates, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Sunil Gupta and Rene Matić alongside photographs from the city collection, it explores themes of identity, belonging and representation through the lens of both portraiture and place.
The Sculpture Garden Ceramics Market brings together a carefully curated selection of local makers and guest ceramicists for a day celebrating contemporary ceramics. From beautifully crafted mugs and vessels to striking sculptural works, visitors can meet the artists behind the pieces, browse a diverse range of handmade creations and enjoy food, flowers and summer surroundings in the garden.
Week Commencing 27th
Life Drawing in the Garden offers a rare opportunity to draw outdoors in Charleston’s historic orchard under the guidance of sculptor Silvia MacRae Brown. Suitable for all abilities, the workshop explores figure drawing in relation to the landscape and includes a tour of Charleston’s house and studio, with all materials, refreshments and lunch provided.
As part of Tate Modern’s summer collaboration with chef Santiago Lastra, KOL at Tate offers an exclusive evening inspired by the life and legacy of Frida Kahlo. Combining a five-course tasting menu from the Michelin-starred restaurant KOL with a private after-hours tour of Frida: The Making of an Icon, the event brings together Mexican art, culture and gastronomy in a unique celebration of one of the twentieth century’s most influential artists.
![Frida Kahlo (Mexican, 1907–1954), Untitled [Self-portrait with thorn necklace and hummingbird], 1940](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c28ce3_695e4b5818e54095ac9d2b1d4188dcf7~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_192,h_250,al_c,blur_30/c28ce3_695e4b5818e54095ac9d2b1d4188dcf7~mv2.png)
![Frida Kahlo (Mexican, 1907–1954), Untitled [Self-portrait with thorn necklace and hummingbird], 1940](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c28ce3_695e4b5818e54095ac9d2b1d4188dcf7~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_275,h_358,fp_0.50_0.50/c28ce3_695e4b5818e54095ac9d2b1d4188dcf7~mv2.png)
Love’s Labour’s Lost, 31st July - 22nd August, Orange Tree Theatre, Thomas's College, Queen's Rd, Richmond, TW10 6JW
Love’s Labour’s Lost comes to the Orange Tree Theatre in a new production directed by Tom Littler. Set in the summer of 1939, Shakespeare’s witty comedy follows four friends whose plans for study and self-discipline are delightfully disrupted by love, bringing romance, misunderstandings and laughter to the idyllic setting of Richmond Hill.
New Film Releases
The Invite (3rd July), Rosebush Pruning (10th July) & The Odyssey (17th July)
Antique Fairs & Markets
Auctions
Roseberys, Fine & Decorative - 9th July
Sloane Street Auctions, The Summer Auction: To Include Noble Estates, Old And Modern Masters, Sculpture And Jewellery - 10th July
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