London in June

By Ian Packham
People enjoy the dun in St James's Park London

June in London is known by its nine million residents for its blend of sunny skies, annual events and warm evenings outdoors. If you’re looking to get a sense of the British capital at its most animated, June is the month to visit.

Not only do summer temperatures creep into every aspect of a visit to London during the month, but the city gets all dressed up in its finery for events of international significance – from the Wimbledon tennis championships to Trooping the Colour.

Come with us, as we explore the very best of London in June.

Soak up the June sun

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With the bright summer sun warming the streets of London from east to west and south to north, June is perhaps the perfect time to explore some of the city’s hidden green spaces. And that’s exactly what it’s possible to do during London’s Open Garden Squares Weekend at the start of the month.

This very special weekend sees usually private spaces opening their gates to the public. Those taking part change from year to year, but have previously included City of London rooftops, a historic garden beside Shakespeare’s Globe accessed via London’s narrowest street and even the rarely-seen lawns of the Prime Minister’s office at 10 Downing Street.

Situated among the ancient trees of a Royal Park, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre does nights at the theater like nowhere else in the capital. Its alfresco nature ensures every performance is unique, whilst the company’s artistes are top talents who regularly end up touring shows first-opened just a few hundred meters from the lion habitat of ZSL London Zoo.

Pomp and pageantry

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The massed ranks of the British army put on one of their best performances of the year at Trooping the Colour. Marking the official birthday of the reigning monarch, this June event has taken place since 1908, after King Edward VII got tired of celebrating his natural birthday in the November chill.

Dressed in their famous red frock coats and bearskin hats, over 1000 soldiers troop the color – their regimental flag – to the tune of around 400 musicians. It all takes place under the watchful eye of the monarch on Horse Guards Parade.

But The Mall provides the best vantage point for the public to watch, since it has the added benefit of lining the route taken by various members of the royal family to and from Buckingham Palace by horse-drawn carriages.

If sport is more your métier, head to London towards the end of June for the Wimbledon Championships. Probably the world’s most prestigious sporting trophy, tickets for the show courts are fiercely fought over. However, it’s still possible to take in the atmosphere and look out for the greatest players of the generation with a ground pass.

The start of festival season

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Meanwhile, the London Festival of Architecture spans the entire length of June. The world’s biggest festival of its kind aims to reveal the stories behind some of the city’s best-known structures.

Syon Park’s classic car show aims to fulfil a similar role for all things petrol-powered, whilst June is also the start of Pride month. Many of London’s nightspots in Soho and the West End put on special events to get the LGBT+ community in the spirit of the rainbow flag.

The spectacle of the Royal Ascot five-day horse race meeting should be the only excuse you need to step aboard a Hop-on Hop-off open-topped bus in nearby Windsor. As well as admiring Europe’s longest-occupied castle, you can take in sights including Eton College and Holy Trinity Church.

Observe the longest day of the year

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Summer nights in London develop an atmosphere all of their own, and this is only ever heightened in the case on June 22, the date of the summer solstice. Various one-off events take place on the longest day of the year, from sunrise yoga sessions to solstice parties at the capital’s top bars and clubs. It’s best to check local press closer to the time for details.

It’s in June that London’s rooftop bars also come into their own, with many providing drinkers with spectacular panoramas across the skyline by both day and by night. Admire the historic landmarks which line the banks of the Thames with a city cruise river pass. Between them, the likes of the Tower of London, Houses of Parliament and London Bridge boast over a thousand years of heritage no visitor should miss.

The Sunday nearest the solstice is usually the date set for Father’s Day. Those keen to celebrate everything their dad has done for them with a restaurant meal should book early. Restaurant tables get filled quickly with families looking to enjoy dedicated menus put in place just for the day.

Experience London’s wildlife havens

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For a totally different way to see the capital, head west to the pools and ponds which form the London Wetland Centre. Created out of unwanted Victorian reservoirs in the year 2000, this magical space is now visited by some 180 different species of bird, as well as otters and innumerable species of insect.

June in London is a good time to plan a visit to attractions with outdoor elements such as Chiswick House and Kitchen Garden too. Finished in 1729, the house is a celebrated example of neo-Palladian architecture. The surrounding grounds are one of the earliest examples of the English landscape style to be still in existence.

Alternatively, head back to banks of the Thames and challenge yourself to find your way through the maze at Hampton Court Palace. Its yew tree hedging has been foxing residents and guests since it was first planted in the 1690s.

Ways to save on attraction admission

The sky is pretty much the limit when it comes to things to do in London in June. The generally fine weather means few of London’s attractions are off limits, although this can soon have a detrimental effect on your wallet.

You can save on London attraction admission with Go City. How does it work? Simply purchase a package and start to save! Go to the visitor attractions you had always wanted to explore without losing the flexibility that’s an important part of any vacation!

Ian Packham
Go City Travel Expert

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Pastel colored townhouses in a Chelsea mews
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Things to do in Chelsea London

One of London’s most upmarket neighborhoods, Chelsea lines the River Thames to the west of Belgravia. A home to movie stars and ambassadors, it contains several important streets, such as the King’s Road, from which charming cobblestone mews stem, reminiscent of the time when the clip-clop of a horse and carriage was more common than the roar of a motor engine. When it comes to things to do in Chelsea London visitors are spoilt for choice. Besides hitting the shops, visitors can explore Chelsea Embankment, soak up the art of the Saatchi Gallery and discover first hand the British obsession with soccer at Stamford Bridge. So let’s take a look at the many things to do in London’s Chelsea! Walk Chelsea Embankment Bookended by Chelsea Bridge and Albert Bridge, a pleasant stroll along the 500 meter Chelsea Embankment edging the north bank of the River Thames is a good way to start any time in Chelsea. Its views of the river take in the new housing development at Battersea Power Station as well as Battersea Park, whilst its trees give shade and color from spring right through to fall. Along the way, be sure to stop off at Chelsea Physic Garden, a small pocket of green space established in 1673 as a garden for the growing of medicinal plants. Amongst its quirky features including the world’s most northerly grapefruit tree, Britain’s largest olive tree and the oldest alpine rock garden in Europe. However, when it comes to Chelsea and gardens, most thoughts are going to turn straight to the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show, which takes over the grounds of Chelsea’s Royal Hospital each May. At other times of year it’s possible to tour the historic hospital guided by one of its residents – red coated pensioners who had served the country in the military. Cycle along quiet mews to top cultural hubs A mews is a side street that once housed the stables of grander houses, and Chelsea has plenty of these attractive thoroughfares. Take in the area’s best architecture by pedaling your way along these generally traffic free streets by hiring a bike. Look out for London’s Blue Plaques along the way. Attached to the façades of buildings and used to denote a place where someone famous has once resided, Chelsea’s Blue Plaques include those to Bob Marley, Oscar Wilde and Ingrid Bergman. One of Chelsea’s more modern architectural forms in the exterior of the National Army Museum. Free to visit, it consists of five galleries, which together attempt to tell the story of the British Army from its origins in the Civil Wars of the 17th Century to the present day. With 2500 artefacts on display there’s plenty of interest, including the skeleton of Napoleon’s horse at the Battle of Waterloo alongside the cloak of his arch nemesis the Duke of Wellington. The Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon has other treasures, including a Lancaster bomber, which helped the UK take the fight to the Nazis during World War Two. Discover a love of soccer An army of a different kind floods the streets around Stamford Bridge – Chelsea Football Club’s home ground – on match days. But a behind the scenes look at what has made Chelsea one of England’s top soccer clubs can be had at any time with a self-guided tour taking in London’s largest soccer museum, changing rooms and the pitch side. The stadium has a rather unusual location beside Brompton Cemetery, one of London’s ‘Magnificent Seven’. Property of the crown, it has become an important habitat for Chelsea’s urban wildlife, as well as being the final resting place of approximately 200,000 souls. Its famous residents include Emmeline Pankhurst – a leading figure in the suffragette fight for women to have the vote. Take in some art Located in Duke of York Square, the Saatchi Gallery developed out of the private art collection of advertising impresario Charles Saatchi. It is particularly well-associated with the Young British Artists movement of the 1990s, which brought Damien Hurst and Tracey Emin to national and international attention. Although a private members club for artists working in all genres, art fans shouldn’t miss Chelsea Art Club either. Founded at the request of James Abbott McNeill Whistler, its Baron Lodge headquarters is usually whitewashed. However, expansive murals are regularly painted to mark special anniversaries, with the lengthy façade previously decorated with circus performers, camouflage and tricks of the eye to suggest it had been bombed during the blitz. Hit the King’s Road Unlovingly called the A3217 alongside the more evocative King’s Road, this is a street that has dominated the Chelsea scene since the 1960s. Over three kilometers in length, it’s named after the fact it was a private thoroughfare for the monarch until 1830, providing direct access to Kew Gardens and its palace. Today the road has around 300 stores as well as galleries and cafés – Vivienne Westwood once had a boutique here with Malcolm McLaren, whilst Starbucks’ first UK premises was on the street too. Another Blue Plaque denotes the place Sir Carol Reed lived – director to such movies as The Third Man, The Agony and the Ecstasy and Trapeze. If your visit leaves you in need of some tranquility, head north to St Luke’s Church. Not only is it one of the earliest examples of the Gothic Revival style in London, but it was also the church where Charles Dickens married Catherine Hogarth flush with the success of The Pickwick Papers, published two days before. Discover Chelsea with Go City Popular with everyone from Oscar Wilde to the Rolling Stones, Chelsea is one of London’s most fashionable neighborhoods. If you’re visiting the British capital, look out for the many things to do in Chelsea London. Whether you decide to visit Stamford Bridge or ride a bike about the area, travel with Go City and you’ll save heaps of cash on attraction admission, not just in Chelsea but across the whole of London!
Ian Packham
London's parks show their fall colors in all their glory
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Reasons to visit London in October

It may have waved goodbye to the summer, but there are still plenty of things to do in London in October, with something for everyone. Foodies will be happy to learn of the British capital’s October food and drinks events, whilst art lovers have a major fair to look forward to. Culture buffs can turn their attention to the forgotten history of London’s black population, and horror fans find themselves in the city of Jack the Ripper just in time for the spooky goings on of Halloween! Weather in London in October The key consideration for visiting London in October is its weather. Famously – or infamously – fickle, there are plenty of people who’ve experienced glorious weather in London in October. And there’s a similar number who’ve faced a wash out. But no one heads to London expecting uninterrupted sunny skies. On average, you can expect at least some rain and cloudy skies for half the month, with rainfall totaling 5.4 cm. Daytime temperatures start October at around 18°C and end the month falling slightly to 14°C. It’s rare for storms to affect life in London in October and snowfall is as rare as a British house without an umbrella. With the weather covered, let’s take a look at the top events and things to do in London in October. Make the most of the fall color Parks are for summer, right? Wrong! Cast aside London’s select crop of green spaces just because the seasons have ticked over and you’ll be missing out on sights that have enraptured everyone from botanists to kings and queens. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – turns to gold in October. Its cover of 14,000 trees alongside sculpture, glass houses and ten story Chinese-style pagoda ensure there’s always something new to see. Accessible from Regent’s Canal Walk, Victoria Park in east London was opened in 1845 as the capital’s first public park after Queen Victoria donated part of the Crown Estate. Its features, which range from a small lake to fragments of old London Bridge turned into seating alcoves, help bring its history to life. Discover the next Picasso Explore Regent’s Park for a week during October and the fall color will have to compete with the temporary marquees and outdoor sculpture of the Frieze Art Fair. One of the biggest fairs focused solely on living artists, all the art is for sale, though you’ll have to be quick with your credit card as most works don’t hang around for long, making their way to galleries and private collections internationally. Previous artists to appear at Frieze have even made it into Tate Modern. Situated within a converted power station on the River Thames beside Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and opposite St Paul’s Cathedral, Tate Modern is the UK’s most visited museum. Free to enter, the five story high Turbine Hall provides a space for specially commissioned works, whilst the gallery walls are hung with everyone from Picasso and Matisse to Turner and Warhol. Get into the Halloween spirit Jack-o’-lanterns may be hard to come across, but that doesn’t mean London in October isn’t up for some otherworldly antics. More than two thousand years of history means there’s been plenty of time for ghosts to make their presence felt on the capital, with guided ghost walks through London’s historic lanes a good way to take in the tales – if not to sleep well afterwards. The London Bridge Experience also takes visitors into the darker corners of London’s history, from detailing Guy Fawkes’ passage along the Thames to the Tower of London where he was tortured until he could no longer sign his name, to the atrocities of Jack the Ripper in Whitechapel. Entrance includes the London Tombs scare attraction, built over a burial site for plague victims. Head west to Hampton Court Palace, the favorite residence of King Henry VIII, and you run the risk of bumping into two of his wives said to stalk its corridors. If the former queen seems complete, it will be Jane Seymour, who died giving birth to Edward VI. Any headless torso is likely to be Henry VIII’s fifth wife, Catherine Howard, who was beheaded for adultery in 1542. Celebrate London’s diversity Travel to London in October from North America and you have a second chance to participate in Black History Month. A host of special events usually span October, from museum exhibitions to talks and tours all aimed at marking the role of black history in forming modern multicultural London. Usually taking place in mid-October, Diwali is a festival of light. Celebrations begin in the early afternoon in Trafalgar Square with a series of dance troupes taking to the stage. As the afternoon progresses they give way to yoga demonstrations and the opportunity to taste authentic south Asian food. Other events take place at Hoxton’s Museum of the Home and the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. Fireworks feature heavily, with north London’s Wembley the best place to head. Satisfy your hunger October is also the time of the London Restaurant Festival’s Fall Edition. Participating restaurants fling open their doors to diners with an array of specialty menus. Other events include beer, wine and gin tastings in some of London’s most exciting destinations, from St Katherine Dock to Notting Hill. Londoners don’t need much encouragement for a stiff drink either, with Oktoberfest the latest cultural import to take the capital by storm. Locations include east London’s Canada Water and south London’s Croydon. Expect tents decked out like traditional Bavarian beer halls, alongside a near endless supply of lager, bratwurst and lederhosen. But if it’s a Cosmopolitan or Manhattan that’s more your kind of drink, October’s London Cocktail Week will save the day. More than 250 bars get involved, serving up signature blends in addition to hosting a number of one-off events. Exploring London in October At first, October may not look like a good time to visit London. However, we all know how looks can be deceiving. Take the plunge and vacation in London in October and a wealth of attractions will await you. Travel with Go City and you’ll get reduced admission to many of London’s biggest attractions at the same time!
Ian Packham
London Bridge Experience
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London Bridge Experience Vs The London Dungeon

History, horror and jump scares galore are the order of the day at two of London’s most frightening attractions.
Stuart Bak
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