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Dare we call London the greatest city in the world? Well - yes, actually.
Aside from being home to some spectacular landmarks, it's also the birthplace of British culture; and whether you're on the hunt for a trending restaurant, a casual cocktail, your next concert, an Instagrammable pop-up, or best-in-class sports, you'll never be short of places to go and things to do.
In fact, we could even say there's probably too much to do, which is exactly why we've compiled a collection of our favourite spots from East to West to add to your list...
Things to do:
Crystal Maze, Piccadilly Circus
Crystal Maze
Home to a bucket load of nostalgia and one of the best group nights out in the city, classic TV show The Crystal Maze has been reimagined as an immersive experience, allowing you to step into a series of challenges inspired by the ones you saw on screen.
Teams of 8 tackle their way through tasks which require physical and mental skill, all while being followed by their in-character (and harmonica-playing) host.
This year, they've also opened the highly-anticipated Ocean Zone; a brand-new environment that answers years of fan requests to bring the iconic TV show’s underwater world to life.
Players descend through a submarine entry hatch onto the vessel's command bridge, where they'll find themselves surrounded by underwater navigation (from working periscopes to aged maritime charts) before venturing deeper into the craft to earn those all-important crystals.
The multi-hour immersive experience concludes with everyone's childhood dream: Stepping into the crystal dome to catch golden tickets and bank those points.
A ridiculously fun time that'll keep you coming back.
Labyrinth On The Thames, Greenwich
Labyrinth on the Thames
Following the success of its 2025 run, Labyrinth On The Thames - an eight-date music series staged in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Royal Naval College - the architectural centrepiece of Greenwich, is back.
This will be an unforgettable experience for fans; with some of the world's most culturally relevant artists set to perform in a historic location with the backdrop of the River Thames as the sun is setting.
This year's lineup includes events from Peggy Gou, Overmono, and Adriatique.
World Cup comes to London's most iconic music venues
Kick Off Club
It's a World Cup summer, which means everyone is shaking off their cold weather blues, and gearing up for some serious socialising.
And, if you're a football fan, there are some pretty special venues opening their doors in the coming months to stream the games as they happen.
Spanning Outernet London, Electric Brixton and Colour Factory, Kick Off Club's World Cup events are moving beyond the usual match screenings; featuring themed production to create a distinct atmosphere with large-scale visuals, high-spec sound systems and varied music programming tailored to different audiences.
Outernet will play home to the largest indoor screen and immersive surround sound system delivering a stunning visual experience enhanced by football, while Electric Brixton will take a more culturally nostalgic approach by pairing England matches with a Britpop-led soundtrack and 90s-inspired aesthetic.
For those seeking a more underground feel, Colour Factory will light up with lasers, smoke, and DJ sets spanning ‘90s rave and contemporary sounds, this is a high-energy alternative rooted in dancefloor culture.
Register for first access to best priced tickets at kickoffclub.co.uk
See iconic venue Village Underground like never before
Village Underground
One of the most-loved music venues in London, Village Underground, is going… overground.
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the independent venue has opened a new rooftop to welcome guests this summer. The usual diverse programme of live shows and events is still taking place, but this year guests can appreciate a whole new side to the venue.
As fans will know, Village Underground is instantly recognisable for its tube carriage which has sat on top of the venue for years. Now, for the first time, guests can access the carriage itself as part of the new open-air setting. Head there for both live music and views of East London now – enjoy it with a snack from Bad Boys Pizza Society, as well as signature cocktails, draught beers and more, too.
54 Holywell Ln, EC2A 3PQ, villageunderground.co.uk
Head upstairs at Ronnie Scott's
Taran Wilkhu
Ronnie Scott’s, one of the best live venues in the world, has gone through a big change; the world-famous venue might be a London institution, but it’s not resting on its reputation.
Live music lovers will be familiar with the beautiful main room, but this year has seen the introduction of a new 140-capacity venue on the first floor, as well as a new members’ lounge and artist space.
Upstairs will host a version of the Ronnie Scott’s Late Late Show and showcase rising stars of the jazz (and jazz-adjacent) scene in the capital. It's a chance to see a new side to one of the most celebrated music institutions anywhere in the world, with tickets available at a range of prices to keep experiences accessible.
Adventure Cinema, Kew Gardens
Adventure Cinema
Nothing screams a summer evening quite like watching your favourite movie in a stunning, historical location while the weather is warm, and the vibes are high.
Adventure cinema is landing at Kew Gardens between 18th and 21st June, with everything from family-friendly films, sing-along screenings and cult classic favourites, while you get to tune in from your blanket on the grass; drinks and snacks in hand.
Golf in the city with Pitch London
Golf is growing all the time, but there’s not an awful lot of space to whack a ball about in central London - but that’s where pitch comes in.
Pitch, with venues in Soho, Liverpool Street, and a swanky new space in Canary Wharf, has paired top-end practice facilities with swish bar offerings and tasty food, as well as live sport screenings and DJ sets in premium venues with a members club vibe. Book in with a group of pals and enjoy a knock around famous courses on the simulators, tuck into delicious menu items and wash it down with an excellent drinks menu. The Canary Wharf flagship venue also offers shuffleboard tables and an outdoor terrace. Golfers can book club fittings and lessons at both London venues, too.
For an elevated indoor golfing experience in the city, Pitch is hard to beat.
Various locations, pitchgolf.london
PATRÓN Tequila and 77 Launch Experiential Tequila Lounge
PATRÓN Tequila has partnered with 77 to launch the PATRÓN Tequila Lounge – an immersive new space that blends premium tequila, cutting-edge production and live music in one of the capital's most talked-about late-night venues.
Launching on Friday 19 June, the experience introduces the UK's first-ever PATRÓN El Alto vending experience, giving guests the opportunity to discover and sample PATRÓN's luxury tequila portfolio through an unexpected, interactive format. Set within 77's striking second-floor space, the lounge combines bespoke design, a custom spray mural and panoramic views over the dancefloor.
To mark the launch, London artist Nafe Smallz will perform an exclusive DJ set, with a limited number of tickets available to the public, on Friday 19th June.
Further information and tickets for the launch event are available via 77 London’s official channels.
See pop legends like never before at ABBA Voyage
It's become a London staple, and for good reason - ABBA Voyage is the chance to see the legendary pop group like you've never seen before. The hugely popular virtual concert residency recently celebrated its second anniversary at the Olympic Park in Stratford. Tickets start from £39.40, and guests can chose to either spend the night on the dance floor, in the auditorium seating or hire their own dance booth
Various dates, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, abbavoyage.com
F1 Arcade - one for the racers and petrolheads
Jake Brigstock, indy100 & The Independent
If you fancy seeing if you can compete with the likes of Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris - all while having a tasty bit of food and a couple of cocktails - then F1 Arcade is one to check out.
F1 Arcade is a social gaming bar with dozens of full-motion Formula One racing simulators, bars and food.
If there are two or three of you, you can drive three or five races directly against each other. If there are four or more, you will be split into different teams and will compete against each other.
But competing for those all important bragging rights and pulling off outrageous overtakes around some of the world's most famous circuits is an incredible amount of fun.
Click here to find out more about F1 Arcade.
Where to drink:
The Athenaeum Cocktail Masterclass, Green Park
The Athenaeum
Best-known as one of London's most plush, long-standing five-star hotels, The Athenaeum has just launched a new cocktail masterclass to add a little flair to your evening plans.
The 90-minute session is designed for small groups of two to four and begins with an introduction to cocktail history before guests are guided through making three drinks, including a dry martini, a New Era cocktail and one of the hotel’s signatures. An English grazing platter is served alongside, with meat and vegetarian options available.
Priced at £75 per person, the masterclass runs Sunday to Thursday from 4pm to 7.30pm and is available to book in advance.
Live it up at La-Yam
La Yam
At first, its location might feel a little hidden away for people not in the know, but La-Yam is a great escape from the crowds in the heart of busy Holborn.
The rooftop bar is an excellent spot for brilliant cocktails – think refreshing classics like the Hugo Spritz as well as tropical Watermelon Martinis and Mandarine Palomas – as well as Mediterranean-inspired food menu, all enjoyed in a city sun trap, with views across the city.
The outside space is big enough to generate real atmosphere (240 people can squeeze in here on sunny evenings), but on quieter nights there’s still enough inviting corners and alcoves for La-Yam to feel intimate and secluded.
When the sun is shining, it’s the kind of place that can remind you just what makes London so special in the summer.
229-231 High Holborn, WC1V 7DA, la-yam.com
Where to eat:
Songbird, Canary Wharf
Songbird
Canary Wharf's purpose-built Troubador Theatre is currently playing home to the stage production of The Hunger Games - but that isn't all it has to offer.
Its Songbird restaurant, which is now open to the public as well as theatre guests, has become a stylist 'if you know, you know' hangout spot for post-work drinks, waterfront views, decadent, British comfort, and interiors that wouldn't look out of place in The Hoxton - which makes total sense when you realise they boast the same interior designer.
Its menu, which features several nods to The Hunger Games, includes seasonal British flavours with signature snacks and starters including crumpets & caviar; devilled eggs with miso mayonnaise & trout roe; braised beef rarebit and cheddar croquettes.
For mains, the pan-roasted cod in an English sparkling wine butter sauce is sure to be a crowd favourite, alongside the wild mushroom pot pie and the Wagyu burger with truffle mayonnaise, finished tableside with freshly shaved truffle.
Meanwhile, desserts lean into nostalgia with a playful twist, featuring the cherry & chocolate mousse and an interactive ‘build-your-own’ sundae experience, served with a generous array of toppings and sauces - housed in a bird cage, no less.
East London just got its latest must-visit spot.
La DoubleJ Summer Terrace at The Dorchester
The Dorchester Collection
London's iconic Dorchester hotel has already earned its stripes as one of the finest luxury destinations in Mayfair - whether for a spa day, afternoon tea, or overnight stay in one of its heritage rooms.
Now, they're embracing the modernity of trend-led designer collaborations, extending the renowned Vesper Bar into the garden with layered textiles, expressive tableware and kinetic sculptures by Lyman Whitaker.
From alfresco lunches to afternoon drinks and aperitivo hour, the menu is designed by culinary director Martyn Nail to reflect a relaxed style of dining that perfectly complements a sunny London afternoon.
Small plates on the new menu include swordfish crudo, courgette flower fritti with grilled prawns and morsetti di lasagne, alongside signature focaccia sandwiches available to dine in or takeaway.
What's more, an off-menu focaccia will be available for those in the ‘know’ including a toasted focaccia wrap with crispy chicken and burrata topped with Oscietra Caviar.
The launch of The Dorchester summer garden in collaboration with La DoubleJ follows a four-year renovation journey of the entire hotel, as it proudly unveils the completion of its restoration in June 2026.
The installation and menu will run from May 20, 2026 until September 2026. For more information, click here.
The Cinnamon Club revives 'Retro Menu'
Firm favourite Indian restaurant, The Cinnamon Club is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, which means they're taking things up a notch.
And it's great news for fans of the eatery, because its sell-out Retro Menu from January (which also came in at their original opening prices), is going on tour for one final hurrah this summer across the city's restaurants.
Created by Executive Chef Vivek Singh, the menu revisits dishes from the restaurant’s original 2001 opening, with plates starting from just £6. Available for lunch and dinner, it offers a rare opportunity to experience the bold, pioneering dishes that helped redefine modern Indian dining in the capital, at a purse-friendly price.
It'll be in Battersea during April, The City in May, Richmond in June, and at its original Westminster location in August.
Hard Rock Cafe launches love letter to London
Hard Rock Cafe
Great food is all about having access to something that's delicious, yet still unique and with its own identity.
While Hard Rock Cafe is a globally-renowned brand, they're upping the ante across Old Park Lane and Piccadilly Circus, two of London's most bustling spots, with original menu additions (known as Fresh Beats) that are a true love letter to the city.
Fresh Beats gives each cafe the freedom to reflect its surroundings, with dishes shaped by the neighbourhood, its influences and its energy, giving each a unique and exclusive twist.
At Old Park Lane, the Brixton Market Burger takes its lead from the energy and cultural mix that define one of London’s most iconic neighbourhoods - a signature steak patty is layered with smoky jerk sauce, sweet pineapple chutney, garlic aioli, melting pepper jack cheese and crispy onions, bringing together heat, sweetness and texture in a way that reflects the bold, flavour-led identity of the area.
At Piccadilly Circus, the Soho Pickle Burger draws on a different side of London’s character, shaped by Soho’s long-standing reputation for classic dining, late-night culture and a more refined urban edge. Built around smashed beef patties, rich Red Leicester cheese and slow-cooked beer caramelised onions, it’s elevated with tangy pickled red cabbage and a smooth quintessentially British, brown sauce aioli.
Fresh Beats is designed to evolve throughout the year, with menus refreshed quarterly to reflect seasonal ingredients and new local influences, giving guests a reason to return and try something different each time.
Hip Hop brunch at Blues Kitchen Shoreditch
Blues Kitchen
For a really stellar musical experience, with excellent food and vibes for days, the Blue Kitchen Shoreditch is offering one of the best brunch offerings we’ve seen in the city every Saturday.
The Hip Hop Orchestra brunch features an excellent live band, bringing to life nostalgic hip hop classic and R&B hits for audiences with three live sets. You’ll be just as struck by the superb musicianship as the food, which combines moreish BBQ with southern classics and interesting small plates.
There’s also plenty of veggie options – as well as one of the best vegan burgers you’ll find in the city.
Tickets start from £16.50 per person, which includes entry and a table. Bottomless drinks can be purchased as an add on at the check-out for £19.95.
Every Saturday, entry costs £16.50, 134-146 Curtain Rd, EC2A 3AR, buy tickets here
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