Unmissable Things To Do In London in July 2026
Get your dose of offbeat culture safely away from the mainstream with our July Unmissable Things To Do in London!
From South Asian cultural outings, to Bowie sung by Brian Molko, this month promises to be a sizzler.
South Asian Heritage Month 2026 | All over Tower Hamlets | 1-31 July
London’s most exciting borough celebrates South Asian heritage with films, exhibitions, walking tours, music and events.
Don’t miss these highlights:
- South Asian Heritage Month Film Screening: July Women July Women is a documentary-style film set in Bangladesh during the 2024 July uprising and student protest movement.
- South Asian Heritage Month Film Screening:One Day in Whitechapel + Sandstorm by Seemab Gul
- London Bengal Walk by BritBangla Uncover the City’s hidden architecture of empire — from East India Company power to the Bengal trade that fuelled Britain’s wealth.
- East London Bengali Heritage Walk by Swadhinata Trust The East London Bengali Walk, which covers the south of Commercial Road, explores the untold stories of the Bengali community
Croydonites | Multiple Venues | 1-5 July
Forget Edinburgh Fringe, Croydon is the place to see new offbeat talent first.
UAL Degree Shows | Multiple Venues | Throughout July
Don’t pay £25+ to go to a culture juggernaut like the V&A, see the next generation of artists before anyone else at degree shows all over London including Wimbledon, Camberwell and Elephant & Castle.
The Ryan Calais Cameron Season | Broadway Theatre | From 2 July
Director supremo in residence takes over the Broadway to showcase new theatre work from writers Justice Ezi, Demi-Wilson Smith and Kaleb D’Aguilar.
For Miss La La | High Street, Croydon | 4 & 5 July | FREE
For two extraordinary days Croydon High Street becomes a spectacular open-air circus honouring the legendary Miss La La who was famous for her feats of strengt Miss La La famous for her feats of strength.
Monkeyface | Riverside Studios | 6-21 July | £14
Experience the raw emotion of freshers week for a young Black Gay student.
Kemah Bob: Love Child | Pleasance London | 6, 7 & 22 July | From £10
See the fringe preview of our fave Texan activist comedy queen Kemah Bob before the masses.
50 Years of Alfies | Alfies Antiques Market | 9 July
The Aladdin’s Cave in central London celebrates 50 years of selling the finest relics bygone days.
Summer in The Ditch 2026 | Shoreditch Town Hall | 9-18 July
Escape the heat and go underground for the freshest bunch of must-see acts in Shoreditch.
Sister Midnight (2024) | Good Shepherd Studios | 11 July | £10.96
Join Film High Club for a (sadly) rare screening of Karan Kandhari’s comedy, Sister Midnight (2024), a darkly funny and anarchic tale of a marriage unravelling into midnight chaos.
From the Lips to the Moon | Southbank Centre | 11 July | FREE
Pouya Ehsaei and Tara Fatehi’s show mixes live electronic music with performative poetry.
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust | Southbank Centre | 11 July | From £57
Live the sounds of Bowie with an astounding line up David McAlmont; Placebo’s Brian Molko, chanteuse queen Camille O’Sullivan; genderfucker Peaches; and Mercury Prize-nominated artist Nadine Shah.
I’m A Victim of My Generation (The Resurrection of Mary MacLane) | The Divine | 12-14 July | £12
A darkly comic and tale of love in the age of algorithms via podcaster-turned-witch and a queer academic obsessed with
Mary MacLane, the radical early feminist who once declared her desire to marry the Devil.
Backyard Biennial: East | Whitechapel Gallery | From 15 July
An 8-week, free, summer arts festival initiated by Whitechapel Gallery in collaboration with more than 40 local partners across East London.
A Glimmer Daze Gambit | Leyton & Beckenham Place Park | From 1 July | From £10
The UK’s best contemporary circus troupe are back in London with two venues to pick from. East is Leyton and South is Beckenham. Don’t you dare miss the fun.
Happy Valley Pride | Calder Valley | 18-26 July
Head up North for a Pride celebration unlike any other with alt heroes: Myra Dubois, Grace Petrie, Bourgeois & Maurice, the Catwalk Extravaganza, Duckie, David Hoyle, Mr Teds and much more.
We Crip Film Festival | BFI Southbank | 18 & 19 July
Support Disability Pride Month and watch disability-led films.
Gigi Zahir: Bingo Saturday | The Albany | 18 July | FREE
The Albany is presenting a raft of new events as part of Mayor of London’s ‘You Are Loved & Wanted Here’ scheme supporting community spaces around London. This free bingo afternoon is a great way to see the amazing work The Albany do in the community, with DRAG!
Frankie Thompson: Horrible Things | Soho Theatre | 20-22 July | From £12
A preview of Frankie Thompson’s new show exploring horrible things. Our previous review of her work: ‘Like nothing you’ve ever seen before… We all need some Frankie Thompson in our lives’Â
Ensemble Festival 2026 | Royal Victoria Docks | 25 & 26 July | FREE
A free weekend of expertly curated fun in London’s Royal Victoria Docks.
HAM | Soho Theatre | 28 July | From £12
A grief-stricken vegan seeks revenge for the death of a pig… by putting on a play.  ’ VIVA PIGS EVERYWHERE!
Death Note: The Musical | Barbican | From 30 July | From £29
Legendary manga by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata gets the onstage treatment at London’s Barbican.
The Palestinian Circus: Step and a Half | Soho Theatre Walthamstow | From 31 July | From £24
‘A rhythmic circus celebration of Palestinian life, culture, and enduring hope’ inspired by Dabkeh, a joyful Palestinian folk dance. Great to see Soho Walthamstow embracing circus for its giant stage.
Did we forget any unmissable things to do in London? We almost certainly did – please let us know in the comments below or contact us!
Occasionally the To Do List team are forced to work together.
Rupert likes: free, cheap & offbeat London, especially: cabaret, art, theatre, pop-ups, eating out, quirky films, museums, day trips, social enterprise & much more.
Stuart likes: nice pubs, film marathons, not doing real marathons, bad comedy, plays/musicals with shorter second halves, and the Oxford comma.
