5 Great things to do in London this Summer

Now that the sun is coming out, and we are able to go back indoors for the moment it seems, I wanted to share 5 of the top arts and culture events & places to visit for Summer 2021 in London.

Kew Gardens

Hideaway Cinema has announced a selection of excellent movies available to watch at the iconic Kew Gardens. This outdoor cinema experience will include movie favorites  Moana, Notting Hill, and The Goonies, among other classic and family-friendly films which can all be enjoyed in the incredible Kew Gardens surroundings. It’s called Kew the Movies and goes on from 7 to 11 July.  By the way, if you’re not familiar with Kew Gardens, this is a definite must visit destination. There are actually the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and the name tells you all you need to know.  It is a Unesco World Heritage Site that contains over 50,000 living plants.  It includes an arboretum, rock garden, lake and sackler crossing.  For eating there is a café, orangery and pavilion bar and grill.  Kew Gardens is located in southwest London and easily accessible via the overground station at Kew.  

Bonus – visit The Original Maids of Honour

As a bonus, while visiting Kew Gardens, you must visit this original tearooms which is famous for the tart of the same name. It is believed that Henry VIII, King of England from 1509-1547, came across Anne Boleyn and her Maids of Honour (the young ladies who attended the Queen), eating the tarts from a silver dish. Tasting one for himself, the King was so delighted by its ‘melt-in-the-mouth’ sensation that he confiscated the recipe and demanded it be kept secret in a locked iron box at Richmond Palace. 

The Newens tea room has been in residence since 1850 serving the scrumptious Maids of Honour tarts which are warm from their ovens every day and the bakery provides a mouth-watering experience for any visitor in its huge variety of high quality Home-Made Iced and Plain Cakes, Meat Pies, Cream Teas and Traditional English Luncheons.

Tate Modern

I highly recommend a visit to Tate Modern this summer.  I would have suggested you go see the Kusama exhibit at the Tate Modern but it is sold out through October.  They will be releasing more tickets in September so I’d recommend pre-booking those to avoid disappointment.

But what can you actually see right now?  Well, you can check out “The Making of Rodin”.  In the exhibition, you’ll see the experimental works of the French sculptor who is credited with breaking away from classical sculpture.  This exhibit is on through November 2021.   

Tate Modern has a fantastic location on the river with St. Paul’s Cathedral on the other side.  You can easily stroll along the river or cross Millennium Bridge to go to St. Pauls and make a day of the amazing sights of London.  

London Design Biennale

London Design Biennale 2021 at Somerset House.  London Design Biennale is a global gathering of the world’s most ambitious and imaginative designers, curators and design institutes. Es Devlin is Artistic Director and has chosen Resonance as the theme.  Countries, cities and exhibitors are invited to  respond with installations and presentations that are featured across Somerset House, London. It’s on from 1 to 27 June.  

Wilton’s Music Hall 

If you’re a music fan, why not check out Wilton’s Music Hall located between Wapping and Whitechapel close to the Tower of London and St. Katherine Docks.  

With history that extends back to the 1690s, the buildings that now houses the box office, bars, offices and rehearsal space began as houses, shops and a pub.  In 1859 John Wilton built the Victorian Music Hall, as it now stands behind the row of buildings on Graces Alley.  Wilton’s ambition was to provide West End glamour, comfort and first-rate entertainment for East End working people. 

This iconic location reopened doors on 28 May 2021 for a specially programmed summer season of theatre, music, opera and spoken word from a number of prestigious production companies. 

There is an incredible list of events being hosted throughout the summer, so click here to reserve your place to sit in this stunning London venue. 

Signature African Art Gallery in Mayfair

Located on Davies Street, just moments away from Bond Street, Signature African Art is an international art gallery with locations in Lagos and London. On exhibition now is A History Untold which explores Black histories that are absent from the UK school curriculum, presented in partnership with England International Rugby player Maro Itoje and curated by Lisa Anderson.

I walked by just the other day and I will be booking in to go see it.  

Which events & London sights are your must-sees for Summer? I’d love to add to my diary, so please share your recommendations below.