Things to do in London this summer

Unmissable Things To Do in London – Summer 2017

01/07/2017 · by · in ...To Do List, art, cabaret, day trips, events, exhibitions, festivals, film, free, fun, live music, Monthly, night out, outdoor, performance & live art, preview, summer, theatre, weekender

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Festival season is truly upon us, so here’s a bumper Summer To Do List covering July & August to keep you busy in between Fringe frolics and the annual tent airing…

This summer’s top picks include a whole heap of Festivals including Greenwich+Docklands, Lewisham People’s Day, Postcards 2017, Latitude & MORE, plus the usual mix of kooky cabaret, nerdy exhibitions, live music, edgy performance and all the rest!

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Cabaret & Circus

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Exhibitions

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Festivals

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Film

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Music

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Theatre & Performance Art

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Curios

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Cabaret & Circus

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Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 1Briefs: Close Encounters | Underbelly Festival | From 14 July | From £20

A bulge-packed bonanza of boylesque on the South Bank.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.underbellyfestival.com%2Fwhats-on%2Fbriefs||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 2

Fantastic Beaver and Where to Find Her | Underbelly Festival | 22 August | 7:45pm | From £12.50

Miss Rosie Beaver sets the drag world alight with her debut rock odyssey.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.underbellyfestival.com%2Fwhats-on%2Ffantastic-beaver-and-where-to-find-her||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]

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Exhibitions

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The City is Ours | Museum of London | From 14 July | FREE

Post-Grenfell this exhibition at Museum of London should ask some important questions about our modern metropolis.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.museumoflondon.org.uk%2Fmuseum-london%2Fwhats-on%2Fexhibitions%2Fthe-city-is-ours||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]

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Festivals

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Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 4Art Night 2017 | Various Venues | 1 July | From 6pm | FREE

Free art experiences all over East London – check out the smaller galleries on the right.

See our preview here[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.artnight.london||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 5

Chorus | Southbank Centre | 1-2 July

A festival of choirs where 50% of the activity is free and the whole thing is full of talented women.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.southbankcentre.co.uk%2Fwhats-on%2Ffestivals-series%2Fchorus||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 6

Greenwich+Docklands International Festival | Until 8 July

Our fave free spectacular is back with more oddities like this backless theatre bus.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Ffestival.org||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 7

Sagacity! | Oxford House | 3-4 July | FREE

Support Green Candle Dance in it’s mission to help older people discover the magic of dance.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.greencandledance.com%2F2017%2F06%2F23%2Fsagacity-2017-is-here%2F||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 8

Edinburgh Previews 2017 | Hackney Showroom | 8-28 July

Some great previews coming up including comedy queen London Hughes (pictured above), camp musical mayhem; Prom Kween and many more.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hackneyshowroom.com%2Fedpreviews2017%2F||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 9

Lewisham People’s Day | Mountsfield Park | 8 July | From Midday | FREE

We’ve been championing Lewisham People’s Day as the pinnacle of free festivals for years now. This year is no disappointment with a HipHopera by Josephine and the Artizans, Margarita Pracatan and surely more free squash from religious stalls.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lewisham.gov.uk%2Finmyarea%2Fevents%2Fpeoples-day%2FPages%2Fdefault.aspx||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 10

London Korean Festival | Olympia | 8 July | From 11am | FREE (£30 for Evening K-Pop Concert)

A festival of K-pop, food and culture from Korea including a gig with the marvellous girl band Exid (pictured above).[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Flondon.korean-culture.org%2Fen%2F888%2Fcontents%2F630||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 11

Postcards Festival  2017 | Jacksons Lane | 11-29 July

Circus, cabaret and entertainment collide in this festival in a former church.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jacksonslane.org.uk%2Ffestivals%2Fpostcards-2017%3Fdm_i%3D20SB%2C4XPM0%2CPKO284%2CIQLN6%2C1||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 12

Latitude | Henham Park | 13-16 July | Times | £197.50

Live music, sheep, lake-swimming, theatre in the woods and so much culture are packed into the epic Latitude line up. Get thee to Suffolk.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latitudefestival.com||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 13

Alexandra Palace Summer Festival | 22 July | From Midday | FREE

A giant water slide awaits at Ally Pally.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fsummerfestival.alexandrapalace.com||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]

Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 14AFROPUNK London 2017 | The Printworks | 22-23 July | Times | £45/£90

A diverse celebration of live music and good vibes in London’s most amazing new venue.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fafropunkfest.com%2Flondon%2F||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 15

River Stage Festival | National Theatre | From 28 July | FREE

Free fun by the river curated by the likes of gay pub The Glory, world music buffs WOMAD and Manchester’s HOME (arts space).[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationaltheatre.org.uk%2Fshows%2Friver-stage-2017||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 16

Camden Fringe | Various Venues | From 31 July

A twisted pick and mix of theatre and comedy. Take a leap of faith and see something unusual[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.camdenfringe.com||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]

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Film

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Kenneth Anger Films (Live Score By Tomaga) | Moth Club | 2 July | 7pm | £10

Broody, sexy films from Kenneth Anger are shown with a live score at Hackney’s MOTH CLUB.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mothclub.co.uk%2Fevents%2F2017%2F7%2F2%2Fkenneth-anger-films-live-score-by-tomaga||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 18

Lost In Vagueness | Lost Rivers Elephant | 13 July | 6pm | £12

Missed Glasto? Get the insider track on the weird and wonderful world of art punks Lost in Vagueness in this doc.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lostriverselephant.com%2Fwhats-on%2F2017%2F6%2F21%2Flost-in-vagueness-london-mini-fest||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]

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Music

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The Multi-Story Orchestra: In Colour | Bold Tendencies | 6 July | 6:30pm | £5

Orchestra in a car park.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fboldtendencies.com%2Fevent%2Fthe-multi-story-orchestra-in-colour%2F||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 20

GOAT | O2 Academy Brixton | 29 July | From 6pm | £34.50

The weirdest band ever, LIVE![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.academymusicgroup.com%2Fo2academybrixton%2Fevents%2F965696%2Fgoat-tickets||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]

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Theatre & Performance Art

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UEL MA Contemporary Performance Practices – Final Show | GAS Station | 1 July | 5pm | FREE

Take part in some gloriously game-changing performance.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fevents%2F297258710733862||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]

Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 22Prurience | Southbank Centre | 18-30 July | 7:30pm | £18

‘An experiential entertainment about our private pleasures…’ basically a self-help group for porn addicts by alt performer extraordinaire Christopher Green..[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.southbankcentre.co.uk%2Fwhats-on%2F120397-prurience-2017||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]

Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 23Who Do You Think You Are? Barbara Brownskirt | Royal Vauxhall Tavern | 21 July | 7:30pm | £6

‘Shrouded in iconic anorak, knees bulging from pop socks, Barbara Brownskirt is the unsuccessful lesbian Poet-in-Residence at the 197 bus stop, Penge. ‘[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vauxhalltavern.com%2Fevents%2Fevent%2Fthink-barbara-brownskirt%2F%3Foid%3D1394||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 24

Odyssey | The Scoop | From 9 August | 6pm | FREE

Free forum theatre for the people. Phil Wilmott and his company never disappoint at the riverside amphitheatre.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Flondonbridgecity.co.uk%2Fevents%2F2017%2Faugust%2Flondon-bridge-city-summer-festival-theatre-season||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]

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Curios

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Piñata | The Montague Arms | 5 July | 7:30pm | £4

An eclectic night of quirky fun from top rising comedy geniuses including Marny Godden and Elf Lyons.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.montaguearms.com%2Fevents%2F2017%2F7%2F5%2Fpiata||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Unmissable Things To Do in London - Summer 2017 26

Werq: A London Voguing Ball | Barbican | 5 August | 10pm | £15

You betta WERQ! Or at least watch at this drag balls a la Paris is Burning.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”More Info” color=”primary” size=”sm” align=”left” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.barbican.org.uk%2Fartgallery%2Fevent-detail.asp%3FID%3D21443||target:%20_blank|” el_class=”MoreInfo”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]

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Did we miss the perfect summer event or opening? Let us know and we’ll do our best to add it in!

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About 

I am Joint Editor at To Do List. I like: nice pubs, film marathons, not doing real marathons, bad comedy, plays/musicals with shorter second halves, and the Oxford comma.