London events in December
Your guide to the best activities, events and fun stuff happening in London throughout December 2023
Can you hear those sleigh bells jingling? Yes, it’s December, and Christmas in London has begun in earnest. See the city skies sparkling with glimmering Christmas lights, fill your ears with Christmas songs, scoff down an indulgent Christmas sandwich, get luxurious festive treats from London restaurants and liven up a winter walk with a trip to a heated pub garden.
Read our guide for the lowdown on the events, parties, cultural happenings, and things to do taking place in London in December 2023.
1. Wander around Southbank Centre Winter Market
2. Childhood fave ‘The Witches’ hits the stage
It’s been years since the National Theatre produced a truly great new musical, but this certainly looks promising. Top Brit playwright Lucy Kirkwood and cult US composer Dave Malloy have joined forces to tackle Roald Dahl’s classic kids’ novel about a young boy and his grandma who uncover a terrifying conspiracy of witches at a seaside hotel. Lyndsey Turner directs her first ever musical, with a cast headed by Katherin Kingsley as the Grand High Witch and Daniel Rigby as Mr Stringer.
3. Hit up Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
The Grinch would have a real job stealing all the Christmas from Hyde Park’s huge tribute to festive fun. The annual favourite is back for its sixteenth year in 2023. Head along for cheerily lit fairground rides, a child-friendly Santa Land (including Santa’s grotto) and quaint Christmas markets. It’s a real treat for anyone wanting to get into the festive spirit – as long as you’re ready to hear all those songs as you potter around.
3. Try your luck getting tickets to Christmas at Kew
The mother of all light trails, Christmas at Kew has become a key date in London’s festive calendar as the 300-acre botanic garden is lit up with glistening lights and illuminations. This year’s route will take you past glass houses emblazoned with kaleidoscopic projections, through shimmering tunnels of light and trees drenched in jewel-bright colours. As usual, there’ll also be warming winter snacks and a grotto where you can say hello to Father C himself. Be warned, Christmas at Kew tends to sell out quickly, so look sharp to secure your place.
3. Eat up at the Maltby Street Christmas Night Market
Maltby Street Market’s Festive Fridays are back. Guzzle Christmas dishes from around the globe as the iconic food market’s finest traders set up their stalls after dark beneath Bermondsey’s fairy-light-festooned Victorian railway arches. There’ll be carolling, hot mulled wine, mince pies, wreath-making and responsibly sourced Christmas trees to buy. You’ll feel like you’ve wandered into a cosmopolitan Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’.
4. Try your hand at Christmas curling
The sport of curling – the one you watch on telly during the Winter Olympics and find curiously engaging – has arrived in King’s Cross, with a pop-up outdoor arena set among the restaurants and bars of Coal Drops Yard. Curl the night away on one of six synthetic curling lanes in groups of up to six, and then once you’ve finished your 45-minute session, warm up with a toasty cocktail at the Curling Club bar. This year it's back with a '90s twist, so the fun and games will be soundtracked by a programme of DJs curated thanks to Voices Radio.
5. Hitch up on a cheery winter horse carriage ride
Live out all your dark Dickensian dreams on a winter outing that sleighs the competition. Explore Richmond Park or Bushy Park on a traditional carriage ride drawn by a pair of majestic Shire horses from the last working herd in London. Snuggle up in a blanket and clip-clop your way around the park while sipping on sloe gin, eating mince pies and learning about your surroundings from guides and carriage riders that look straight out of ‘Great Expectations’, dressed in smock coats and bowler hats. The private rides in Richmond Park aren’t cheap, but all the money raised supports the equine therapy services of Operation Centaur, who manage the horses. If you want a more wallet-friendly option, book one of the group rides in Bushy Park.
6. Dine at a cosy winter terrace
It is cold, so cold. Head to the nearest cosy outdoor space in London immediately. Luckily, some of our favourite bars and restaurants have been thinking on their frozen feet. So wrap up warm and check out these new outdoor terraces for drinking and dining decked out in wintry decor and adorned with roaring fire pits, patio heaters and enough faux fur to make you think you got stuck in the wardrobe on your way into Narnia.
7. Skaters gonna skate
Ice skating season is back baby, and we can’t wait to whizz around one of London’s many excellent slabs of ice. Winter Wonderland’s rink is the biggest, Canary Wharf’s is open for the longest period (18 sweet weeks!) and Somerset House’s is the most fabulous. Take your pick, lace up your boots and get swishing.
8. Grab last minute presents at London’s best Christmas markets
Markets, eh? They’re pretty nice to wander around at nearly every time of year. But, at Christmas? Well, that’s when London’s markets really come into their own. Every year the capital fills with the kind of markets that host fairy-light-lined stalls, festive street-food sellers and community tombolas, with a playlist of Christmas songs on loop in the background. In fact, whether you’re looking for tasty treats, traditional decorations and cutting-edge arts and crafts or are just shopping for a last-minute present, the capital’s selection of Yuletide stalls are here to help.
9. Don’t miss out on any NYE events
New Year’s Eve in London means you’re faced with some choices. Sometimes there’s so much choice, in fact, that you end up spending the night indoors with a few loved ones and plenty of booze. We’ve all been there, but London boasts loads of great New Year’s Eve events that should coax even the most reluctant NYE fan out of the house this year.
London events in October 2023
London comes alive in October, with a host of Halloween celebrations, cultural events, and Black History Month commemorations to enjoy.
October nights bring crisp air, pumpkin spice, and the urge to turn on the central heating. But don't let the cooler temperatures keep you from enjoying all that London has to offer this month.
Halloween fans will be thrilled with the city's many spooky festivities, including family-friendly frights, movie screenings, pumpkin-picking fun, and scary nightlife.
Culture vultures will also be in their element, with the return of the BFI London Film Festival, the London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre, and the Bloomsbury Festival across Bloomsbury.
And October is also Black History Month in the UK, so many of London's major institutions will be staging special events to mark the occasion.
Art, theater, food, and drink: London has it all in October 2023.
Art lovers can rejoice at Tate Britain's big new exhibition about Young British Artist Sarah Lucas and the long-awaited Marina Abramović retrospective at the Royal Academy of Arts.
Theatergoers will love Penelope Skinner's new play "Lyonesse," starring Lily James and Kristen Scott Thomas, and a big new adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's bestselling novel "Hamnet."
And those not embarking on Sober October can enjoy Oktoberfest celebrations galore, plus London Cocktail Week.
There's also plenty more to do in London in October, from visiting museums and galleries to exploring the city's many parks and gardens. Check out our list of the best cultural happenings and things to do throughout the month.
1. Let down your synthetic wig at one of these Halloween events in London
When the days are a-darkenin’, London is being over-run with giant arachnids and the supermarkets are filling up with pumpkin-plastered merch, it can only mean one thing: Halloween, Tuesday October 31 2023, is almost upon us. So dust off your cape, comb out your synthetic wig and get searching for a ‘beginner friendly’ face painting tutorial on YouTube. Here are the best Halloween events happening in London this year.
2. Celebrate Black History Month in London
October isn’t just the time of year when the leaves turn brown, the clocks go back, yet another installment of the seemingly unkillable ‘Halloween’ franchise is released and sugary pumpkin syrup suddenly starts appearing in absolutely everything. It’s also Black History Month, and as usual there’s plenty going on around the capital to mark the occasion. Check out our roundup of some of the best stuff going on throughout the month here.
What is Black History Month?
Black History Month is an annual month of observance honouring the history, traditions, arts and culture of Black people both in the UK and across the globe. Founded in the United States in 1970, it was first celebrated in the UK in 1987.
When is Black History Month 2023?
In the UK and Ireland, Black History Month takes place in October, with talks, exhibitions, screenings and plenty more events taking place nationwide throughout the month. Don’t get it mixed up with the US and Canadian version, which is celebrated in February. Yes, it’s another one of those needlessly confusing disparities between our calendars, just like Mother’s Day.
3. Sip on delicious tipples at London Cocktail Week
The biggest cocktail festival in the world, London Cocktail Week, is back this October with a special focus on the city’s reputation as a global capital of cocktail culture. This year you can check out the fancy sounding Connoisseaur’s Collection of unique events with intimate tastings and masterclasses by award-winning bartenders. Plus, there's the return of the Curated Cocktail Tours, where London's top bars are shaking up delectable drinks for just £8 (with the wristband).
4. Check out our roundup of perfect autumnal days out in London
Is that the saccharine scent of pumpkin spice in the air? Surprised to see lots of orange orbs taking over your local supermarket? It can only mean one thing: autumn is upon us in all its crispy-leafed, russet splendour.
From glowing sunsets, to bracing walks and cosy pubs, there are lots of things that make up the ultimate autumnalday trip and London has them in spadefuls. Whether it’s nestling up in an old-school whisky tavern with a wee dram, collecting up armfuls of pumpkins from the city’s premier markets or exploring Gothic cemeteries.
So dig out a jumper and don your most fetching hat: autumn in London is here, and we've got eight autumnal outings in the city guaranteed to get you in the mood for smashing conkers. Summer, we’re so over you.
a. Kew Gardens
They’ve got a tree or two down at Kew Gardens – actually, around 14,000 of them – so if you want to see autumnal colours across the skyline, it’s the place to be. Climb the 118 steps up to the Treetop Walkway to watch nature’s greatest art show.
Get the full autumn effect
Dig out the wellies and go on a rainy day for that primo autumn smell.
b. Richmond Park
More than 600 deer call Richmond Park home, and come autumn they’re feeling amorous. Keep an eye out amid the rust-coloured leaves and long grass, and you might witness stags bark and roar as they clash antlers to impress the ladies. Bit like a night out in Clapham.
Get the full autumn effect
Hire a bike from Roehampton Gate and pedal off into the wilds.
c. Pumpkin picking
Do you have ambitions to cover your mantelpiece in ornate gourds, Martha Stewart style? Or are you just planning an epic pumpkin risotto? Either way, Sainsburys' selection just won't cut it: you've got to go right to the source. Take a day trip to Stanhill farm in Kent or Garson Farm in Surrey and you'll find pumpkins galore that are ready for picking in your very own harvest festival.
Get the full autumn effect
Why stop at pumpkins? Find a nearby hedgerow and go foraging for sloe berries and elderberries for use in homemade gin concotions.
d. Greenwich Park
Kick your way through the fallen leaves from the many horse chestnut trees in Greenwich Park. And once you’ve stocked up on conkers, check out the dreamy views across the river Thames and the amazingly autumnal red deer in the Deer Park.
Get the full autumn effect
Grab a freshly baked treat from the White House Café – time it right and it’ll still be warm.
5. Pay a visit to a free art exhibition
Looking at great art needn't cost the same as buying great art. With a shed-load of free art exhibitions in London, wandering through sculptures, being blinded by neon or admiring some of the best photography in London needn't cost a penny. Here's our pick of the best free art exhibitions this week and beyond.
Amazing Things To Do in London in September 2023
September in London may be ‘back to school’ time, but it’s also when the city comes alive. A lot of London’s cultural scene goes into semi-hibernation mode over the summer, but come autumn it kicks back into gear with landmark museum exhibitions, new theatre and art shows and brand new food and drink openings.
There’s also a whole host of city-wide fests taking over the capital, including Open House London – giving us a chance to get a sneak peek inside usually private buildings – London Design Festival and Totally Thames – the brilliant celebration of London’s watery main artery complete with an illuminated flotilla installation.
1. Celebrate London’s watery main artery at Totally Thames Festival
🌟 Festivals 📍 Bloomsbury 📅
This month-long annual celebration of the Thames makes a splash with its mix of art festivals, community events, regattas, river races and environmental activities. This year look out for an immersive exhibition about the planet’s simultaneous beauty and fragility with satellite views and a live performer, plus free walking tours, a kayak taster session, creative workshops and a climate cabaret.
2. Step into beautiful immersive installations at London Design Festival
🌟 Festivals 📍 South Kensington 📅
Once again the world’s best designers interrogating the boundaries of what can be constructed are taking over London with a bunch of inventive events, exhibitions and installations. 2023 marks 300 years since the death of Sir Christopher Wren (aka the bloke who designed St Paul’s Cathedral), so expect plenty of projects celebrating his contribution to the capital’s cityscape, plus the usual events at the V&A and across designated Design Districts all over London. With new destinations in Dalston, Fitzrovia, Chelsea and Battersea, it’s likely some fantastic contemporary exhibitions will be cropping up near you.
3. Regent’s Park becomes an huge outdoor gallery for Frieze Sculpture 2023
🌟 Art ✪ Sculpture 📍Regent’s Park 📅 20 Sept to 29 Oct 2023
Frieze Sculpture is transforming Regent’s Park into a massive outdoor gallery again. Fatoş Üstek takes the curation reins for the first time, and visitors can appreciate the new works by leading international artists, including Ayşe Erkmen, Ghada Amer and Hank Willis Thomas. Look out for performances and talks enhancing the art which will also be free to the public. Slap on the sun cream (or a raincoat) and go soak up some sculpture.
4. Go to a gig inside a big, colourful and inflatable tunnel
🌟 Quirky events 📍Clapham 📅Until 17 Sept 2023
Colourscape’s labyrinth of polychromatic tunnels is returning to Clapham Common. Never been? Just wander around its big inflatable labyrinth to see what musicians you can find inside. You might happen upon a flautist, a classical guitarist or maybe some bloke playing a conch. Who knows!? Those kaleidoscopic innards are designed to surprise. One of the few upsides of the post-covid era is that you have to pre-book, doing away with the long Colourscape queues of yore. Check their website for more info on opening times and ticket releases.
5. Music and politics meet at boutique fest HowTheLightGetsIn
🌟 Festivals 📍 Hampstead Heath 📅 23 Sept to 24 Sept 2023
You don't see many festivals billing themselves as a blend of ’philosophy and music’ but that’s exactly what you get at this weekend of ideas, with over 100 events planned at Kenwood House in Hampstead Heath. Dine with some of the world's leading thinkers, listen to debates, including discussions on ‘the Danger of Safety’, and ‘Peace for Our Time’. Once you’re ready to take your thinking cap off, there are the comedy and music sets.
6. Two-step to electronic tunes at Waterworks Festival
🌟 Music ✪ Music festivals 📍 Acton 📅16 Sept 2023
It's not time to hang up your dancing shoes just yet, as there is one final day festival coming to the capital, and it's going to be a corker. Created by the gang behind Percolate and Croatian festival Love International, Waterworks returns to Gunnersbury Park this autumn and the line-up is banging. Make sure to catch Saoirse, Peach, Moxie and Shanti Celeste, AKA SASS, doing their only UK show this year, taking over the Orbit stage for 4.5 hours. Then there are sets from dance music heavyweights like Call Super, Palms Trax, SHERELLE and Francesco Del Garda. Plus a whole load of other top DJs including Josey Rebelle, Yung Singh, salute, Lukas Wigflex, Angel D'Lite, Eliza Rose, HAAi, the list goes on. See you in the dance.
Things to do in London in August 2023
It’s the height of summer, but the weather is anything but balmy. Raincoats and jumpers are the order of the day, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a good time in London this weekend. The city is always buzzing with energy, no matter what the weather, and there are plenty of things to do to keep you entertained.
1. Dance in the W11 streets at Notting Hill Carnival
Dancing, music and masquerade – make the most of the Notting Hill Carnival with our full guide to all the info, dates, timings details and tips.
For a lot of Londoners, Notting Hill Carnival on the August Bank Holiday Weekend flashes by in a blaze of feathers, Red Stripe and tinnitus. To those who make it happen, it’s a year-round operation to create one of the biggest and oldest street parties in the world. This Carnival weekend, it’s expected that more than two million people will flock to west London to dance in the streets of W11. It’s free to join family day on the Sunday and the Monday which is for the hard partiers. It’s a celebration of freedom and Caribbean culture, with an iconic parade showcasing the best of mas, soca, calypso, steel bands and soundsystems. What are you waiting for?
When is Notting Hill Carnival 2023?
West London is getting taken over again with dazzling floats, kaleidoscopically dressed performers, rib-shaking soundsystems, the sweet, smoky smell of jerk chicken and steel bands over the August Bank Holiday weekend from Sunday August 27 to Monday August 28.
When is family day for Notting Hill Carnival?
Family day is on Carnival Sunday August 27 2023. The official opening ceremony will take place from 10am to 10.30am on Great Western road, before the children’s day parade and Carnival Parade kicks off and runs until 5pm.
Which is the better day at Carnival?
If you’re after a more chilled NHC experience, go for family day on Sunday, or if you like the sound of a hard-partying parade, make sure to go on Carnival Monday. The festivities kick off with an opening ceremony on Sunday morning, with the parade starting at 10am. Monday’s adult’s day parade starts at 10.30am and afterparties run until after dark. There’s nothing stopping you from going both days, of course.
Do I need a ticket for Notting Hill Carnival?
The NHC parade is free for anyone to attend and everyone is welcome. But, if you want to join in with the parade, you need to be part of a group authorised to do so, or pay to join the procession. If you want to continue the festivities into the night, you will need to buy a ticket for one of the countless afterparties across the city.
Travel by tube:
As Notting Hill’s roads will be closed off throughout the Bank Holiday weekend, you won’t be able to get an Uber or catch a bus into the heart of the action. But there are plenty of nearby tube stations are within walking distance of the main event including Notting Hill Gate, which will be ‘exit only’ from 11am to 7pm each day, to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of people using the station that day. FYI: there will be no interchange between the Circle and District line and Central Line on both days.
Royal Oak and Westbourne Park will be ‘exit only’ from 11am to 6pm, with Royal Oak closing thereafter and Westbourne Park closing after 11.30pm. Also don’t forget: Latimer road will be closed from 11.30pm on both days. Avoid Ladbroke Grove and Holland Park as they’re both closed on Sunday and Monday.
Want a Carnival hack? Don’t forget to pick a meeting point in advance for when you inevitably lose your mates in the crowd.
2. Glowing animatronic swans will fill the Thames at this year’s Greenwich + Docklands Festival
London’s spectacular free outdoor Greenwich + Docklands International Festival is back for 2023. The free line-up once again features the sort of spectacular installations that have become its hallmark since the pandemic moved the focus away from street theatre. Look out for ‘Cygnus’ by Denis Bivour and Florian Giefer, which will see illuminated animatronic swans fill the Thames at the Royal Docks (Aug 31-Sep 3), the festival opener ‘Open Lines’ (Aug 25) and the return of GDIF regulars Greenwich Fair (a big Greenwich-wide family fun day on Aug 26).
3. Dance to Stormzy, The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, HAIM, Erykah Badu and more at All Points East
Since its inception in 2018, All Points East has earned a reputation for a varied blend of musical styles and genres. Back in Vicky Park for another instalment, it’s confirmed big-hitting headliners Stormzy, HAIM, The Strokes, Jungle and Dermot Kennedy. The support acts are just as enticing, with the likes of Erykah Badu, Amyl and the Sniffers, Confidence Man, Angel Olsen, Tove Lo and more warming up the stage. This all comes bookended with free activities around the local area from In The NBHD.
Line-up: Stormzy, The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, HAIM, Erykah Badu, Dermot Kennedy, Jungle.
This year’s headliners are Stormzy (August 18), Field Day (August 19), The Strokes (August 25), Jungle (August 26), Dermot Kennedy (August 27) and Haim (August 28).
The rest of the line-up features a huge range of artists, from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Erykah Badu to Angel Olsen, Confidence Man, Sampha and Kehlani.
How to get tickets
You can get tickets for each day on the official website here.
Ticket prices differ depending on the tier and entry time you choose. Some dates still have primary entry available, and ticket prices can start from £57.05. However, it looks like it’s selling out, so be sure to book now to avoid disappointment.
4. Tuck into six-course tasting menu inspired by fantastical tales at Six by Nico
Get a nostalgic captivating dining experience, inspired by fantastical tales
Word about Six by Nico has spread across the country thanks to its novel concept: its ever-evolving six-course tasting menu changes every six weeks each time with a different theme inviting you on a journey of discovery to experience new flavours. Whether you are a food novice or connoisseur, enjoy a carefully curated experience with everything from an amuse-bouche to an indulging dessert. Right now you can tuck into the ‘Once Upon A Time: Chapter II’ menu inspired by fantastical tales.
Highlights
- A carefully curated six-course tasting menu inspired by nostalgic memories
- Offer also includes a glass of Prosecco
- Vegetarian menu also available
- Over 30% off
Time Out says
Famed for its ever-evolving restaurant concept, where the menu changes every six weeks, Six By Nico invites you on a journey of discovery to experience new flavours. Whether you are a food novice or connoisseur, enjoy a carefully curated experience with a six-course tasting menu with everything from an amuse bouche that pleases the palate to an indulging dessert. Enjoy the ‘Once Upon A Time: Chapter II’ menu, a captivating dining experience, inspired by fantastical tales that are sure to delight with every bite.
What’s on the menu?
Once Upon A Time: Chapter II
Course One
Bird Pie – The Twits; Chicken & Duck Leg Ragu, Pickled Celeriac, Prune & Caramelised Puff Pastry
Course Two
Just Right Porridge – Goldilocks; Spaetzle, Barbecue Maitake, White Turnip, Black Garlic Dressing
Course Three
I Like Them, Sam-I-Am! – Dr. Seuss; Smoked Ham Hough Sandwich, Garden Pea Pesto, Egg Yolk Jam
Course Four
Dip Face, Have A Carrot – Matilda; Sole Ballotine, Tandoori Baked Carrot, Carrot Top Pesto, Lobster Jus
Course Five
I’ll Huff, And I’ll Puff! – Three Little Pigs; Pork Roulade, Pumpkin, Sweet & Sour Choucroute, Smoked Ash Emulsion, Bourguignon Jus
Course Six
Brucey! Brucey! – Matilda; 54% Chocolate Cremeux, Miso Caramel, Mango & Passion Fruit
Need to know
- This voucher is valid for six courses and a glass of Prosecco at Six By Nico.
- To redeem, please book here, with your preferred date and time. Please include your voucher, and security code in the comments section.
- The Once Upon A Time: Chapter II menu will be available to book during the valid dates of this voucher. Please visit Six by Nico to view all menu options at both Fitzrovia and Canary Wharf locations.
- The six-course tasting menu is priced at £48 per person with the option to enjoy an expertly selected wine. Specialist drinks pairing for an additional £35 at each restaurant.
- All Six by Nico menus can cater to dietary requirements and can be made vegan upon request and if enough notice is given to our team of chefs.
- Voucher valid until September 24, 2023.
- Please present your voucher upon arrival.
- Offer not valid on Saturdays.
- Maximum booking of six people.
- One voucher per person.
- Menu subject to change.
- The restaurant must be informed of any changes/cancellations – if the booking is cancelled within 24 hours of your booking, the voucher will be deemed to have been redeemed for the current booking and cannot be used towards a new booking.
- Location(s): Six by Nico Fitzrovia, 41 Charlotte Street, London W1T 1RR and Six by Nico Canary Wharf, Chancellor Passage, London E14 5EA.
- This voucher cannot be cancelled, amended, exchanged, refunded or used in conjunction with any other offer. For full terms and conditions.
The Best Upcoming Events in London in July 2023
The Best of London in July 2023: Your Ultimate Guide to Events and Things to Do.
July is a great time to be in London. The weather is warm and sunny, the city's parks are lush and green, and there are plenty of exciting events happening.
1. The BBC Proms is back with a whole load of classical treats
☆ Music, ☆ South Kensington, ☆
Another year, another spectacular line-up of classical music, kicking off with a series of Nordic music and a world premiere from Ukrainian composer, Bohdana Frolyak on July 14, and waving us off in the traditional flurry of Union Jacks and bow ties on September 9. In 2023 the BBC Proms will be treating us to a huge range of programming featuring composers and orchestras from Berlioz to Bollywood, large scale symphonic and choral work, as well as intimate chamber concerts and exciting debuts. Look out for big classical hitters like Sir Stephen Hough, Sir Simon Rattle and Chineke! orchestra as well as more off-the-wall editions like orchestral collaborations with non-classical artists, including Rufus Wainwright, Self Esteem and Jon Hopkins, the first Bollywood Prom, Northern Soul Prom and the first concert featuring fado with Portuguese singer Mariza. For little ones, the Horrible Histories present ‘Orrible Opera, while unusual experiences for young and old include a late night Moon and Stars Prom and the Fantasy, Myths and Legends Prom featuring music from film, TV and gaming. Booking ahead is recommended.
2. Head to London Zoo after dark" with "Embark on a unique adults-only adventure
☆ Zoo Nights are back for 2023!
A reincarnation of Zoo Lates (which ended in 2015), Zoo Nights brings ‘after hours’ fun to ZSL London Zoo. Explore the zoo without crowds or kids in the way (this is an adults only experience), hear the Birds and The Bees guided tour where expert guides reveal what animals get up to after dark, play animal-themed games, graze on delicious international street food (there’s plenty for herbivores and carnivores alike) or grab a drink at one of the bars. Time to unpack that elephant onsie?
Highlights
- See the zoo without the kids or the crowds!
- Animal-themed games
- Street food and bars also available
- Get tickets now for just £19.50
When and where?
Fridays, June 9 until July 28 from 6 pm at London Zoo
Need to know
- This is valid for a ticket to Zoo Nights at London Zoo.
- This event is restricted to those aged 18 and over.
- This booking is only valid for your selected date/time option.
- Arrival from 6 pm, last entry at 9 pm, event ends at 10 pm.
- Please note the majority of the animal exhibits will close at 9 pm, with some exceptions closing at 9.30 pm.
- *Additional charges apply for the Birds and The Bees guided tour.
- Please present your booking confirmation upon arrival.
- Location: Outer Circle, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY.
- This ticket cannot be cancelled, amended, exchanged, refunded or used in conjunction with any other offer.
3. Immerse yourself in the excitement of Wimbledon on a giant screen
☆ Things to do
Missed out on tickets in the Wimbledon Tennis Championships ballot? Can’t face camping out on the street for day tickets? No problem. London is a city that gives back and this summer it will be peppered with big screens showing all the Murray Mound (okay, Henman Hill) action in so much blown-up high-res glory that you might as well be court-side.
This year the tournament (which started in 1877!) runs from Monday 3rd July 2023 to Sunday 16th July 2023 and you’ll catch screens across the capital showing most matches on each day of the event, so there are plenty of opportunities to spend an afternoon or evening in a sweet viewing spot.
There will be more big screens announced nearer the time, many of which will also have extras such as special edition cocktails, food offers and even pop-up tennis coaching. Take that Centre Court.
4. Ballie Ballerson: The ultimate adult playground for kidults
Highlights
- Ticket includes all-night entry, two-hour ball pit session and a cocktail
- Ball pits, dance floor & more
- Just £6!
Need to know
- This voucher is valid for a two-hour ball pit session, all-night bar entry and 1 signature cocktail at Ballie Ballerson.
- Availability: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6 pm until close.
- Please present your Time Out booking confirmation to the door team upon arrival to claim your cocktail.
- To book your ball pit session, select your preferred time slot and enter the unique voucher code from your Time Out booking confirmation, here.
- Voucher must be purchased and ball pit session booked before entry to the venue.
- Voucher valid until 30 September 2023.
- This offer is restricted to those aged 18 and over. Valid ID is required for entry.
- Offer not valid on student nights.
- Ballie Ballerson reserves the right to offer another cocktail choice of the same value if necessary.
- Location: 97-113 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3BS.
- This voucher cannot be cancelled, amended, exchanged, refunded or used in conjunction with any other offer. For full terms and conditions, please see here.
5. Sit down and tuck into a grand Italian feast at the Museum of the Home
☆ Things to do, ☆ Food and drink events ☆ Hoxton, ☆
Think of your dream dinner party... then dial that vision up to 11 because mightly quaffable Italian beer Birrificio Angelo Poretti is offering Londoners a seat at it’s very own summer banquet and you can expect something straight out of your tablescaped dreams. Poretti has teamed up with Insta famous Mob Kitchen for the feast with recipe developer Jordon Ezra King creating an authentic three-course Italian menu that pairs perfectly with, you guessed it, ice-cold carafes of Poretti beer.
The beautiful Museum of the Home in Hackney will be hosting a huge banqueting table where 100 guests will sit down and tuck in over three sittings (12.30pm-2.30pm; 4pm-6pm; 7.30pm-9.30pm). Expect dishes you’ll want to photograph for posterity, the chance to chat to new people and decorations that’ll transport you straight to northern Italy. Bellissimo.
Buy Ticket
Experience an array of unmissable events and things to do in London June 2023.
Discover a vibrant lineup of exciting events taking place in London throughout the month of June. Immerse yourself in the cultural, entertainment, and artistic offerings that the city has to offer during this time.
June in London is one of those months that’s filled with a sense of excitement. It’s that ‘school’s out!’ feeling, until you remember that you left school years ago, and ‘summer holidays’ don’t really exist for adults. Shame.
June is also the start of summer in London, which means the capital’s beer gardens are at their prime, the city parks are at their prettiest, the open-air theatre season gets into full swing and eating alfresco is on the cards at some of London’s best restaurants. Plus, expect to see long queues in south west London as tennis fans line up to bag a place at the epic Wimbledon championships.
1. Summer Exhibition 2023
it’s back. The RA’s annual showcase of all the artists you need to know about right now returns for its 255th edition to brighten up the summer holidays. The world’s oldest open submission exhibition (which means anyone can enter their work to be considered for inclusion), the artist with the big job of sifting through the works and curating them this year is David Remfry. He’ll be exploring the theme ‘Only Connect’, inspired by a quote from the novel ‘Howards End’ by E. M. Forster.
Here are the three things you'll see at the Summer Exhibition
Big names
Now in its 255th year, the Summer Exhibition still knows how to get the big art names in. Expect work from the likes of Frank Bowling, Michael Craig-Martin, Tracey Emin, Gillian Wearing and the late Paula Rego, as well as Honorary Royal Academicians Mimmo Paladino, Pipilotti Rist and Kiki Smith. Newly elected Royal Academicians Roger Hiorns, Hew Locke, Veronica Ryan and Barbara Walker will be submitting works, as well as newly elected Honorary Royal Academician Kara Walker.
Little names
The great thing about the Summer Exhibition is that it’s open to all, and the selectors pick from thousands of entries. That means that your mate’s mum’s weird little whittled sculptures of George Michael might be shown alongside something by Antony Gormley. It’s a good opportunity to spot an art star of the future. And also see weird stuff by your mate’s mum.
And a huge amount of art
There are usually hundreds of works in this sprawling show. From miniature paintings to enormous canvases, architectural models to photography, there’s something for everyone. And hey, most of it is for sale, so you may just be able to nab a bargain.
2. Serpentine Pavilion
As sure as the sun will rise and winter will turn into spring, Hyde Park will play host to a new Serpentine Pavilion every year, and 2023’s has just hatched into the world. This one was designed by French-Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh and is inspired by the Mediterranean urge to sit around a dining table and put the world to rights. The name of the pavilion is ‘À table’, French for ‘sit the f**k down at the dinner table or you’re going to get a whack around the ear’. The idea is that it’s meant to make visitors think about the table as a place of discussion, engagement, dialogue and exchange, all while sharing a meal.
3. River Stage
4. Pub in the Park
5. ‘Newsies’
✡ till June 25 at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, Wembley
Highlights
-
- Olivier Award-winning musical now in the UK
- Performing at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
- Tickets from just £16.50!
Imagine a cross between ‘Annie’, ‘Les Miserables’, and one of those elaborate gymnastic-based spectacles staged by communist countries and you’re halfway there to imaging Disney’s cult classic musical ‘Newsies’ about striking that has finally hit the UK. The Troubadour Theatre’s high-octane production captures all its vigorous spirit, sending its huge cast of plucky, rebellious paperboys tumbling and leaping across its mammoth stage as they stand up to the big bosses who are determined to grind them down.
Need to know
- This is valid for a ticket to Disney's Newsies at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.
- This booking is only valid for your selected date/time option and band.
- E-tickets will be sent directly from the box office via email, please present your tickets upon arrival at the venue. If you do not receive your e-tickets by the day of your performance, please contact the box office via wptboxoffice@kxtickets.com, for assistance.
- Time Out booking confirmations cannot be used to gain entry as seats are allocated by the box office and not by Time Out. Customers purchasing multiple tickets in the same transaction under the same name will be sat together.
- Doors open 30 minutes before each performance. The show runs approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, including interval.
- Location: 3 Fulton Road, Wembley Park, Wembley HA9 0SP.
- This voucher cannot be cancelled, amended, exchanged, refunded or used in conjunction with any other offer.
6. ‘Crazy for You’
The legendary Susan Stroman directs this massive new West End production of the beloved retro musical
‘Crazy for You’ is a golden age musical comedy that’s actually from 1992: writer Ken Ludwig took a load of classic songs by George and Ira Gershwin – largely from the 1930 musical ‘Girl Crazy’ – and spun them into a shimmeringly delightful retro confection that’s almost indistinguishable from the era it’s paying homage to, the odd knowing flourish aside. Following Bobby Child, a rich banking scion who must – for complicated reasons – stage a successful musical in a backwater Nevada town in order to win over the woman he loves, it’s a loving tribute to a bygone era of great American musicals that probably seemed more distant in the Lloyd Webber-dominated early ’90s than it does now.
The original production was choreographed by the great Susan Stroman; for this revival – which has already played to great acclaim at the Chichester Festival Theatre – she also directs a cast headed up by Charlie Stemp and Tom Edden.
Details
- Event website: www.CrazyForYouMusical.com
- Address: Gillian Lynne Theatre. 166. Drury Lane (corner of Parker Street), London. WC2B 5PW
- Transport: Tube: Covent Garden/Holborn
- Price: £25-£250
7. Gouqi
Chef Tong Chee Hwee, who helped earn Mayfair Chinese spot Hakkasan its Michelin star is back on the London food scene cooking up elevated and refined dishes using techniques and ingredients from across China at Gouqi. Try the Angus tenderloin beef with black pepper sauce, sautéed crystal jumbo prawns with yellow chive in XO sauce, or clay pot silken egg tofu with wild mushroom and vegetable for yourself with this eqclusive deal letting you enjoy top-tier dining for just £45 per person.
Highlights
- Three courses of Chinese fine dining from seven Michelin-starred chef Tong Chee Hwee
- Plus a glass of wine
- Now just £45 per person (minimum booking of two required)
Everyone loves a comeback. This restaurant marks a return to London’s restaurant scene for Chef Tong, who worked across Singaporean and Malaysian restaurants, before securing a spot at Hakkasan (when the restaurant earned its Michelin star). Now, he’s cementing his place as a figurehead at Gouqi, where he creates elevated and refined dishes using techniques and ingredients from across China. Enjoy top-tier dining for just £45 per person, where you indulge in dishes like Angus tenderloin beef with black pepper sauce, sautéed crystal jumbo prawns with yellow chive in XO sauce, or clay pot silken egg tofu with wild mushroom and vegetable. How dreamy does that sound?
What's on the menu?
Starter - choose one:
Crispy aromatic duck salad
Lotus root salad with courgette and black fungus (V)
Main - choose one:
Angus tenderloin beef with black pepper sauce
Sautéed crystal jumbo prawns with yellow chive in XO sauce
Claypot silken egg tofu with wild mushroom and vegetable (V)
with seasonal vegetables and steamed Jasmine rice (V)
Dessert - choose one:
Banana, Miso, Caramelised White Chocolate and Coffee
Mango, Passion Fruit and Coconut (V)
Need to know
- This voucher is valid for three courses and a drink at Gouqi.
- Minimum of two people to book
- Availability: Monday to Friday noon - 2.30 pm, daily 5.30 pm - 6.30 pm / 9.30 pm - 10 pm. Blackout dates may apply. Subject to availability.
- To redeem, please send your booking confirmation to reservations@gouqi-restaurants.co.uk or call 0203 771 8886 with your preferred date and time. Your voucher, security code and QR code must be clear.
- Please present your voucher upon arrival.
- Voucher valid until > July 30, 2023.
- Menu subject to change. Offer includes house wine only.
- Please inform the restaurant of any allergies or dietary requirements in advance.
- The restaurant must be informed of any changes/cancellations within 48 hours of your booking. If the booking is cancelled after this time, the voucher will be deemed to have been redeemed for the current booking and cannot be used towards a new booking.
- Dress code is smart casual.
- Prices and menus online are subject to changes.
- Gouqi is located opposite the Canadian Embassy on Cockspur Street, and next to Trafalgar Hotel.
- Location: 25-34 Cockspur Street, London, SW1Y 5BN.
- This voucher cannot be cancelled, amended, exchanged, refunded or used in conjunction with any other offer.
The best coronation events in London to celebrate King Charles III
London is filled with events and gets a big bank holiday weekend to mark the King’s coronation.
It’s time to ring off a big long weekend in your calendar in regal purple. Yep, there’s another big royal event on the horizon: King Charles III’s coronation, and it’s shaping up to be one big, long party. Plans for the shindig have been in the works since Charles took the throne back in September and the festivities are expected to include no less than two processions, a religious service and big ol’ concert at Windsor Castle.
Whether you’re a flag-wielding monarchist or a staunch Republican, there’s no getting away from the celebrations and one thing we can all get behind as part of the proceedings is that Monday May 8 will be a bank holiday. So we can all *fingers crossed* bag an extra day off.
You’ll probably be spared being marched up the Tower of London if you don’t fancy taking part in the festivities. But if you do want to have a royally good time there’s plenty going on across London in the name of a ‘National Celebration’. Here are the best ways in London to celebrate the start of Charles III’s reign in London.
When is King Charles’s coronation and where is it taking place?
The coronation will take place on Saturday May 6 2023, eight months on from his appointment as King on September 8 2022. Get excited.
We’ll all be getting an extra bank holiday to mark the occasion. Monday May 8 2023 has been named as the day. two days after the official coronation service at Westminster Abbey.
The ceremony will be held at Westminster Abbey. Charles will be crowned alongside the Queen Consort Camilla.
1. King Charles III Coronation Procession
Heads of state, British VIPs and other important-sounding people will descend on London for the coronation of King Charles III taking place on the morning of Saturday May 6 2023. The service will take place at Westminster Abbey, but you’ll have to have an invite in order to see that. However, if you still want to glimpse a slice of the action you can line the parade route to the service for free, also known as ‘The King’s Procession’.
The procession is due to start at Buckingham Palace and will head down The Mall before turning right around the corner of St James’s Park, through the Horse Guards Parade, down Parliament Street before ending at Westminster Abbey.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to line the route, so best get there early if you want a front row spot. There’ll also be screens in key areas if you sleep through your alarm.
2. The Coronation Concert
How do you celebrate a King’s coronation in the twenty-first century? With a big ol’ concert apparently. The Royal Family has confirmed a massive shindig will take place in Windsor Castle the day after King Charles III’s official ascension to the throne, promising to ‘bring together music icons and contemporary stars’. A world-class orchestra will play interpretations of musical favourites fronted by musicians and other performers and spoken word performances, all topped off with staging and effects on the Castle’s East Lawn.
3. The Royal Palace at Madame Tussauds
Marylebone
Step into Buckingham Palace and meet the Royals (kind of). Okay okay, it’s actually a recreation of the Royal gaff at Madame Tussauds, but on your visit you’ll be able to brush shoulders with the King and the Queen Consort (in wax form, of course) and snap as many pictures as you like, have a spot of afternoon tea and wave from the Royal Balcony.
4. Coronation Events at Biscuiteers
5. Mayfair’s Coronation Garden Party
Grab a deckchair, sip on some sparkling wine and watch the Coronation on a big screen in Grosvenor Square at this garden party. The soiree will also include plenty of food and drink stalls, immersive floral installations, live music and special offers in the nearby shops and eateries.
6. London Eye ‘Coronation Capsule’
The best Easter events and activities in London
The first bank holiday of the year is also a double one – here are our top ten things to do over the Easter weekend in London.
Easter weekend isn’t just a time to scoff loads of chocolate and have a big roast dinner: it’s also a double bank holiday. We get four whole days off between Good Friday on April 7 and Easter Monday on April 10, so the world – or at least London – is our oyster.
Worried about filling up all your extra time off? Time Out has your back. There’s plenty to do in the capital over the Easter weekend: from checking out spring flowers and other kid-friendly Easter activities to swinging by one of London’s top rooftop bars and coffee shops. Hopefully, the weather will be glorious and hanging out in the park for four days straight won’t involve dashing away from freak rain storms.
But if not, you can still spend your time checking out a free art exhibition, seeing some top theatre or treating yourself to a proper pub roast on Easter Sunday. If you’re looking for something truly special to do over the extra-long April break, read on for our top ten things to do in London this Easter. From a resurrection-themed pub crawl to Good Friday club nights, there’s absolutely no way you’ll be bored.
How to spend your Easter weekend in London
1. Kick off your four-day weekend with a ‘very, very good Friday’ party at The Cause
Dance your way through the Easter bank hol at one of The Cause's famed day parties. Chicago-based Hiroko Yamamura will make her UK debut behind the decks at the 60 Dock Road venue. Cause fave and Berghain stalwart Ryan Elliott will also be going B2B with Evan Baggs and there’ll even be a slap-up brunch and £5 bloody marys for sustenance. This one finishes at 10pm, so you’ll be in ship shape for your fam on Easter Saturday.
2. Sup the hops of life on a crucifixion-themed pub crawl
Worship at the altar of the pint on this Easter crucifixion-themed charity pub crawl, which is being resurrected after a three-year hiatus following that biblical-scale situation we all lived through recently. Participants on the Easter Sunday sesh dress like Jesus and visit biblically-named pubs to raise money for charity – you will be asked for a small donation – starting at The Trinity in Borough and finishing at Whitehall’s Silver Cross. Prepare to make a holy show of yourself.
3. Enter an immersive David Attenborough documentary
The Attenborough supremacy continues with this immersive experience that thrusts you into the heart of the BBC’s recent opus ‘Seven Worlds, One Planet’. The general vibe is that enormous 360-degree screens give you the sense that you’re stepping into the programme’s awesome vistas – and while the footage is all from that particular show, you’ll be treated to extended scenes, alternative camera angles, and the obviously seismic difference between this and your puny telly. Plus we’re promised ‘bespoke’ commentary from David Attenborough himself.
4. Craft an eco-friendly Easter wreath
Wreaths aren’t just for Christmas. Craft your own Easter-themed donut of foliage at this hands-on workshop from the green-fingered gurus at Petersham Nurseries. Director of horticulture Thomas Broom-Hughes will be on hand to school you on how to make an environmentally friendly willow-based wreath using woodland materials, seasonal British foliage and flowering bulbs, meaning the design you take home won’t just be beautiful but also compostable. A win for your front room and for nature.
5. Rent a boat and go for a float along London’s canals
With GoBoat in Paddington, you can hire and self-drive your own boat make your way across London’s canals. Depending on how good your steering skills are, you’ll be travelling past London Zoo, through Regent’s Park and Camden Lock. Prices start at £95 for one hour. Sound good? Each GoBoat can have a micro crew of up to six people. Your days as a lonely sea captain are over.
6. Play new, experimental games at Now Play This
7. Take yourself off to the pub for a top Easter Sunday roast
Sunday lunch. There’s nothing quite like it. An elemental meal that Londoners take incredibly seriously, debates about what constitutes the ‘perfect’ Sunday roast have been known to last for hours. There is no shortage of top roasts in London. We’ve rounded up the city’s best Sunday meals from a host of homely pubs and restaurants all around town. From snug neighbourhood staples to more bijou gastropubs. A lot of these places get quite busy, by the way. So you’re always advised to book ahead to avoid disappointment.
8. Witness Trafalgar Square’s enormous reenactment of the crucifixion
Wintershall Players return with their huge (for which read horses, donkeys, doves and a cast of more than 100) open-air re-enactment of ‘The Passion of Jesus’ on Good Friday, featuring volunteers from in and around London. Huge crowds are expected but big screens will ensure nobody misses any crucial plot twists.
9. Embrace the season at the Horniman Museum’s spring fair
This gem of a museum and gardens in south-east London has a lovely spring fair on the Saturday of the Easter bank holiday weekend. Wow your wee’uns with towering stilt walkers and enchanting bubble performances, or battle it out on the green with UrbanCrazy minigolf. Or take your pick from the rest of the array of family-friendly fun including face painting, garden trails, arts and crafts and live music.
10. Frolic among the flowers at Kew Gardens
London’s botany HQ should be booming with blooms in April, making it the perfect spot for an Easter weekend walk. From its Cherry Walk lined with pink-blossomed Japanese cherry trees to its primrose and crocus-filled woodland garden, there’s plenty of pretty petals to spot here.