July in London. Is there anything better? The school holidays are almost upon us, the long evenings stretch well past nine o'clock, and the city has a certain electric energy it only gets in summer. There's a reason tourists flood in from every corner of the globe at this time of year. July in London is simply glorious.

As ever, we've done the legwork for you. Here's your guide to the events you really, really shouldn't miss this month. And of course, when you need somewhere to lay your head in leafy Hampstead after a long day of it all - well, here at La Gaffe we’re waiting for you.

1. Pride in London - 4th July

Kicking things off with a bang, the biggest LGBTQ+ celebration in the UK calendar falls on the 4th July this year - which, as our American friends will note, is also Independence Day, making it a double reason to party. 

The Pride parade sets off at midday from Green Park, by Hyde Park Corner tube, winding its way along Piccadilly, past Trafalgar Square and down Whitehall, before finishing outside Big Ben. An estimated 1.5 million people are expected to attend, so don’t forget your water bottle and some comfy shoes.

The good news? Pride in London is completely free and unticketed - you just show up. Multiple stages are set up across Soho and the West End, with a mix of pop stars, drag acts and community performers keeping things lively well into the evening. 

And for a slightly more cultured start to the weekend, head to the Wallace Collection, which is hosting an LGBTQ+ Annual Grand Ball on the 3rd July, curated by artist Sadie Lee, featuring queer performances, music and short talks across the museum's galleries.

2. Wimbledon - until 12th July

The Wimbledon Tennis Championships - the oldest, and arguably the very best, tennis tournament in the world - runs until Sunday 12th July. If you were lucky enough to get tickets to SW19, well done. If not, don't despair because the outdoor screenings around the capital are half the fun. 

Covent Garden Piazza has a huge screen broadcasting the tennis, plus deckchairs to sink into.  Canary Wharf's Canada Square Park is also showing matches for free as part of its Summer Screens series, and the National Theatre on the South Bank has a large outdoor screen right outside its Understudy pub.  

One small scheduling note: this year's Wimbledon clashes directly with the FIFA World Cup, so if you're heading to a sports bar, it's worth calling ahead to check which sport they're prioritising. You don’t want to end up watching the wrong game!  Speaking of which…

3. The FIFA World Cup — all of July

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is taking place across the USA, Canada and Mexico, running until the 19th July  and London's pubs and bars are going absolutely mad for it. The time difference means many venues will be staying open late to show games, though England's matches are kicking off at relatively civilised times of 9pm or 10pm UK time — so you won't need to set your alarm for the middle of the night!  

If England makes it through the group stage (and we’ve got our fingers firmly crossed), the city will be electric.  Bag your spot at a screening early because the popular venues fill up fast.  Some are ticketed with a free drink included (at Borough Market, Shoreditch Box Park and Canary Wharf) but many pubs are free.

Just book a table in advance because, trust us, truly there is nothing worse than watching a quarter-final from out on the pavement.  You have been warned.

 

4. Ana Mendieta at the Tate Modern — from 9th July

For those that find football a bore or feel it culturally depletes them, head to the Tate Modern, where one of the most anticipated art exhibitions of the year opens on 9th July.

This major exhibition is the first in-depth UK show of Ana Mendieta's work in over a decade, presenting many of her iconic works alongside newly remastered films, early paintings, and late sculptural pieces, many of which have never been seen in the UK before. 

Mendieta is best known for her 'earth-body' works, outlining her body in the landscape with natural elements such as earth, fire and flowers — and the effect is both haunting and electrifying. Her work questions displacement, identity and the human connection to nature, capturing both presence and absence with powerful immediacy. 

The exhibition extends beyond the gallery walls, with one of her tree sculptures brought to life outside Tate Modern itself — so even a stroll past the building becomes part of the experience. Pair it with a walk along the Thames, down to Tower Bridge, and suddenly you've got a near-perfect afternoon. 

 

5. Lily Allen at the O2 — 7th July

For those of you who like your evenings a little louder, Lily Allen is bringing her West End Girl tour to the O2 Arena on the 7th July - the final London date of what has been a triumphant run. Her highly acclaimed album West End Girl has clocked over 150 million streams and landed a third consecutive Top 5 position on the UK Albums Chart, so this is very much a homecoming in the best sense.

The show sees Allen performing her new album in its entirety, in the order the songs appear on the record - but don't panic, fans can also expect iconic tracks like Smile, The Fear, LDN and Not Fair, along with Lily's signature unapologetic energy. 

It's her first arena tour since 2018 and, by all accounts, she has been utterly sensational. Tickets are still available but selling fast, so don’t hang about.

 

6. Somerset House Summer Series - 16th to 26th July

And finally, something for the music lovers who prefer their concerts with a side of architectural splendour. The Somerset House Summer Series returns from 16th to 26th July, with live music performances in the stunning courtyard of Somerset House, one of London's most atmospheric summer settings. The line-up is always eclectic and reliably brilliant, and the courtyard at dusk, with the fairy lights coming on and a glass of something cold in hand, is one of those quintessentially London moments you find yourself thinking about for years after.

Check the Somerset House website for this year's acts and snap up tickets before they sell out.  So whether you're waving rainbow flags down Whitehall, watching Wimbledon from a deckchair in Covent Garden, nursing a pint through a nail-biting World Cup knockout, getting your mind quietly blown by Ana Mendieta, or singing along to Smile at the top of your lungs in a 20,000-seat arena, apparently London in July has something for absolutely everyone.

And when you need a peaceful, comfortable base for all of it, our guest accommodation in Hampstead is just a phone call or email away.   Book your stay with La Gaffe Hotel Hampstead for the best rates. We look forward to welcoming you.

Happy July, everyone.