Sun or no sun (because, who really knows?), these are the best things to do in London this weekend (12 – 14 June 2026).
World Cup fever kicks off this weekend and will take over the capital for the next month: football fan or not, there’s no escaping ‘the beautiful game’ but how you choose to join in (at home, in the heart of a fanzone, or somewhere a little more stylish) is up to you.
If the sun decides to (re)appear, make the most of it with Anya Hindmarch’s viral ice-cream flavours, or do as Londoners do and head to a rooftop bar, an al fresco terrace or an open-air cinema. If it doesn’t, there’s still plenty of inspiring things to do across the city, including a celebration of art, culture and community in Hackney, and exhibitions showcasing everything from Marilyn Monroe portraits to Black British music, Ancient Egypt, plus Elsa Schiaparelli and Queen Elizabeth II’s style.
These are the best things to do in London this weekend – whatever the weather.
1. Try weird and wonderful ice cream flavours at the Ice Cream Project by Anya Hindmarch
OXO-flavoured ice cream anyone? No? How about Lurpack, Mini Cheddars, or Green Giant? All of these cupboard essentials (and many more) are being scooped up in ice-cream form at the Anya Hindmarch Ice Cream Project. The UK’s most outrageous ice-cream shop is back in London for its fifth year, with 15 tongue-tingling flavours to try, including the perhaps more palatable Walker’s shortbread, Capri-Sun and McVitie’s Ginger Nut biscuits. Can’t decide? Book the ‘Blind Tasting Tea’, where every version will be brought to your table allowing you to taste test each (it’s a nifty way to skip the queues, too). Can you tell your Kikkoman soy sauce from your Euthemol toothpaste? There’s only one way to find out…
Now until 16 August 2026
Address: 11 Pont St, London SW1X 9EH
Book the Blind Tasting Tea here
2. Kick off World Cup fever at these pubs, bars and restaurants
German Kraft at Mercato Metropolitano Elephant & Castle will be home to a 500-person open-air World Cup Fanzone
The FIFA World Cup is starting! Mexico vs South Africa will kick it all off tonight at the Mexico City Stadium, but with 103 more matches to go (played across the USA, Mexico and Canada), there’s plenty of time to pick up a little World Cup fever. And you won’t have to go far to watch a match either; they’re all streaming across BBC and ITV in the UK, not to mention at countless bars, pubs and restaurants across the city. Some of the always-popular places to watch it in London include Boxpark (all of them), The Garden Vauxhall and The Falcon in Clapham. But other places on our radar include Mercato Metropolitano in Elephant & Castle, which has created a 500-person open-air screening area inside German Kraft (sit by the bar because the first 10 pints after every England or Germany goal are free!) and The Cadogan Arms on King’s Road, which will also offer private viewing spaces. Or do it in style at The Wigmore, where dishes inspired by the host nations will be overseen by chef Michel Roux, or in a semi-private space at Permit Room Portobello (England matches only, all other games will be shown at the bar with the sound down).
3. Celebrate Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday at the National Portrait Gallery
Marilyn Monroe, 1946, by André De Dienes, © André de Dienes / MUUS Collection.
The National Portrait Gallery is marking Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday with a major new exhibition dedicated to one of the most photographed women in history. Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait looks beyond the blonde-bombshell image, tracing how Marilyn worked with photographers, artists and image-makers to shape the star power that still surrounds her today. Expect iconic portraits, rare archival material, works by artists including Andy Warhol and Pauline Boty, and personal items too – from costumes to shoes – that bring you closer to the woman behind the legend. Mark the moment yourself, with a keepsake from the museum gift shop – whose collection spans prints to take home, a hardcover coffee table book, and accessories inspired by the icon. Bibiana Obahor
Now until 6 September 2026
Address: National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, London, WC2H 0HE
Book tickets here
4. Make the most of the sun at one of London’s outdoor dining spots
Is the sun coming back out? The jury is definitely out. But if so, make the most of it by seeking out London’s best outdoor drinking and dining spots – this is a city with plenty of them. Some of our favourites include Yasmin’s sixth floor terrace, where Middle Eastern mezze comes with a view; Petersham Nurseries’ Floral Court, with quaint Mediterranean village vibes; and North London’s The Lighterman, where long lunches with friends take place canalside. But this is only the start of London’s best outdoor restaurants and bars – we’ve curated a list of CF’s favourite restaurants here and rooftop bars here.
5. Discover East London artists at Hackney Art Week
Pink Chaos. Meihui Liu group exhibition – Prokofiev Studio, Hackney Art Week. Image credit: Jennifer Forward-Hayter
Hackney Art Week is back, bringing more than 130 artists to 60 venues across the borough with exhibitions, open studios, workshops, performances and late-night events popping up in cafés, pubs, bakeries, record shops and galleries. Highlights include PINK CHAOS at Prokofiev Studio; Vertical Resistance at St Augustine’s Tower; a Dalston Cultural Quarter takeover across Ashwin Street; and People of Hackney, a free public photo booth on London Fields. Start in Dalston, Hackney Wick, London Fields or Stoke Newington, follow the map, and make a day of wandering between exhibitions, open studios, workshops and late-night events. Bibiana Obahor
Now until 14 June 2026
Various locations
Find out more
6. Taste test extra virgin olive oil at Citizens of Soil’s pop-up Olive Oil Bar
After its debut in Notting Hill last year, the Citizens of Soil Olive Oil Bar is back for 2026, this time popping up for the month of June in Covent Garden. Free daily tastings of extra virgin olive oil are just the start: throughout the month you’ll also find EVOO masterclasses, nutrition workshops with Dr Jenna Macciochi, a collaboration with Naked Wines, and a tomato party to celebrate the brand’s partnership with Katto knives (this takes place on 13 June; expect a tomato aperitif and a bag of British tomatoes with every Katto or olive oil purchase). The pop up is located at Seven Dials, close to Aesop and Le Labo, making a trip here worthwhile, class or no class.
Now until 29 June 2026
Address: Seven Dials, Monmouth Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9DA
7. Watch an open-air screening with Rooftop Cinema Club
With two open-air venues (Roof East in Stratford and the iconic Bussey Building in Peckham), Rooftop Cinema Club is back for its 2026 season. Showing the classics and new releases all summer long, this weekend it’s the turn of Notting Hill, A Star Is Born and The Hangover (Stratford) and Hot Fuzz, The Notebook and Poetic Justice (Peckham). Tickets start at a very reasonable £14 for adults and £8 for children, and it’s worth the money for the views alone – especially in Peckham where you can see The Shard and St. Paul’s Cathedral, among other London landmarks. Arrive early to take it all in over pizza and cocktails, before your chosen film begins.
Various times and prices
Address: Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, London SE15 4ST (Peckham); Floors 7 & 8, Stratford Multi Storey Car Park, Great Eastern Way, London, E15 1XE (Stratford).
Book here
8. Flow Into The Weekend At A Yoga Class With A View
Start your weekend as you (perhaps) mean to go on: sunrise yoga on the rooftop is back at both art’otel Battersea and Sky Garden. In Battersea, yoga kicks off at 7.30am on 13 June, on the hotel’s 16th floor rooftop. This one-hour gentle-flow yoga class is led by @jinisyogi and overlooks the Battersea Power Station chimneys. Included in the price is the class plus breakfast (coffee or juice and a pastry from TOZI). At Sky Garden, classes take place every Saturday and Sunday at 8am. Held in the beautiful City Garden Bar, 36 storeys above London, these classes offer a unique chance to start the weekend surrounded by lush greenery and panoramic skyline views.
Address: art’otel 1 Electric Boulevard, London SW11 8BJ; 1, Sky Garden Walk, London EC3M 8AF
9. Secure a table at Nikita Pathakji’s brand-new restaurant in Clapham
You may recognise chef Nikita Pathakji from her stints on MasterChef: The Professionals (2022) and Great British Menu (2026) or, perhaps, from attending her always-sold-out supper club, held at her family home in Clapham (if you were one of the lucky ones to secure a place). Tasting Nikita’s dishes just became easier as she, alongside her mum Rima and sister Isha, have opened their very first restaurant, MAAI by Nikita on Abbeville Road in Clapham. Using seasonal British produce to create dishes including chaat tartlets, BBQ paneer with palak purée, and her signature octopus ‘tako yaki’ doughnuts, the family will offer an à la carte menu or tasting menu, with vegetarian options available.
Address: 33-35 Abbeville Road, London, Sw4 9LA
10. Book a table at All Roads, the permanent home of London’s cult supper club
All roads lead to Brixton this weekend: Malika Greene and Paschelle Brown have opened the doors to their first permanent restaurant, located on Atlantic Road. With the same warm energy and thoughtful tastes that made their supper club so popular, at All Roads Brixton dishes like torched mackerel on toast, wings marinated in a sweet black tea, and pork chop with a pimento peppercorn sauce reflect their Caribbean heritage and are designed for sharing – although we’re willing to bet you’ll wish you didn’t have to. Growing up, food was “always about people,” the couple reflected as they opened their restaurant doors, “it was how we connected, celebrated, gifted and marked moments”. Now, they say, they’re ready to “welcome our longstanding supper club guests, new faces and the wider community to All Roads.” And this is reason enough to jump on the Victoria line and (re)pay a visit to Brixton this weekend.
Address: 44 Atlantic Road, Brixton, London, SW9 8JN
11. Check out the home of Bar des Prés
Bar des Prés has reopened in a new location. Taking over 41 South Audley Street (formerly Socca), favourites from chef Cyril Lignac’s Franco-Japanese menu – like the beef gyoza with ginger and soy, the crunchy crab and avocado galette served with a Madras curry dressing, and the California roll with Label Rouge salmon, avocado, jalapeño and sriracha – remain, served in a space designed by Lázaro Rosa Violán Studio. “London has always been a very special place for Bar des Prés, especially as it was the first location we opened outside France,” says Lignac. Speaking to the new opening, he continues that “it feels like a new beginning, which we are excited for”. Us too – especially for the addition of an up-to-30-person private dining room which just made special occasions in Mayfair feel even more noteworthy.
Address: 41 South Audley Street, London, W1K 2PS
12. Wander around one of London’s prettiest neighbourhoods
Notting Hill is one of those places where you can easily spend a sunny day wandering aimlessly. Start by walking all the way down Portobello Road market – picking up antiques, vintage clothing, jewellery and art – before stumbling onto Golborne Road to browse Berber rugs and handcrafted ceramics at Moroccan interior stores like Fez. If you’re staying for dinner, make a reservation at Michelin-starred The Ledbury, or go for Detroit-style pizzas at Ria’s, vegetarian plates at Holy Carrot, Palestinian dishes at Akub, or modern European at Straker’s.
13. Dine at the brand-new MIKO Mei Fair
You’ve probably heard of MiMi Mei Fair – Samyukta Nair’s Chinese restaurant on Curzon Street in Mayfair – but now, London has welcomed MIKO Mei Fair, a Thai dining spot on the ground floor of the same building. With a menu created by Soonthorn Apaipat, former head chef of Koyn Thai, and rooted in fire-cooked dishes, expect sharing-style plates of grilled meats, Thai curries and stir fries. We’ve got our eyes (and tastebuds) firmly set on the 12-hour slow-cooked lamb shank massaman, the tiger prawn pla-ra, and the minced chicken, hot basil, chilli and fried egg kra pow gai.
Address: 54 Curzon Street, London,W1J 8 PG
14. Visit the V&A East Museum’s first exhibition: The Music Is Black: A British Story
Photo: © David Parry/ V&A
It’s been almost 10 years in the making, but the V&A East Museum has opened, and its first temporary exhibition, The Music Is Black: A British Story, spotlights and celebrates 125 years of Black music and how it’s influenced British culture. Photography by Dennis Morris, Jennie Baptiste and Eddie Otchere is showcased alongside clothing worn by Little Simz, Seal and Dame Shirley Bassey, and objects like Joan Armatrading’s childhood guitar. But that’s not all. There are also two permanent, and free-to-enter galleries that explore global culture through fashion, art, architecture, performance and design. Fuel up at Café Jikoni, brought to life in partnership with Ravinder Bhogal and Nadeem Lalani Nanjuwany, the founders of Jikoni, and informed by the V&A East’s Youth Collective (16–24-year-olds from Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, and Waltham Forest) to ensure a space that’s affordable and welcoming to all.
Now until 3 January 2027
Address: V&A East Museum, 107 Carpenters Road, London, E20 2AR
Book here
15. See the Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style exhibition (then go for afternoon tea inspired by it)
What does 10 decades of dressing look like as a monarch? Coinciding with the 100-year anniversary of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s birth, Caroline de Guitaut, Surveyor of the King’s Works of Art, attempts to answer the question. Including more than 200 items from 10 decades of her wardrobe – many never-displayed-before – this is the largest ever showcase of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch’s wardrobe, and an insight into the history, artistry and diplomacy behind royal dressing. Highlights include her christening robe, her silver lamé bridesmaid dress, plus her Norman Hartnell-designed wedding dress and Coronation dress. But don’t miss the smaller details, like design sketches and fabric swatches.
Now until 18 October 2026
Address: The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London, SW1A 1AA
Book here
16. Grab a Mondo Sandwich from its new Deptford home
Cafe Mondo, Camberwell’s cult sandwich shop, has found a new home in Deptford. Co-founders Jack Macrae and Viggo Blegvad have sparked something of a sando craze in SE London, with queues that rival those at TOAD Bakery right next door (yes, the one with the viral sesame soy sauce cookie). Wedged between Jars Bar and ZÉ-ZÉ Cafe, the Deptford branch slots comfortably enough into a dinky archway space, featuring the brand’s same open-plan kitchen and magnetic menu board above. The menu features all of the classics – the famous Frangos and the cold cut Combos – alongside a few exclusive Deptford specials. A weighty beef special slathered in a punchy Szechuan beef dip sets the tone, stuffed with pickled mustard greens. Plenty of benches outside make up for the lack of inside seating, where you’ll find Deptford’s cool crowd sipping on tequila slushies all summer long. Zana Wilberforce
Address: Arch 5, Deptford Market Yards, SE8 4BX
17. Go Greek at these two new London restaurants
New Greek restaurants Maza Mayfair and Taverna Ermou bring a taste of Athens to central London. Expect old Athenian charm, elevated and time-honoured Greek dishes, and a big dose of filoxenia – aka friendly hospitality – in both. Maza Mayfair is inspired by co-owner Christina Mouratoglou’s heritage, while Taverna Ermou is a direct implant from the streets of Athens (one of its Greek counterparts, Ergon House, sits on Ermou street in the centre of the Greek capital).
Addresses: Maza Mayfair, 21-23 Bruton Place, London W1J 6NB / Taverna Ermou, 38-40 James Street, London W1U 1EU
18. Visit the V&A’s Must-See Schiaparelli exhibition
Elsa Schiaparelli is a superstar in fashion circles, but her name is lesser known outside of it. The V&A is set to change that with the first ever UK exhibition dedicated to the designer. Schiaparelli is famed for her playful, witty and shocking styles that kickstarted fashion’s relationship with the art world. She collaborated with Dalí, Cocteau and May Ray, proving that what we wear doesn’t have to be limited to looking conventionally pretty. Schiaparelli showed women that fashion could also be interesting, funny, demanding and desirable. Find out about her legacy through the 400 objects that the V&A has unearthed, including her iconic lobster dress and upside-down shoe hat. Ella Alexander
Now until 1 November 2026
Address: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL
Book here
19. Step into Ancient Egypt at Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold exhibition
Gold-plated Wooden Mask from the Coffin of Amenemope – Ramses & The Pharaohs’ Gold Exhibition © NEON_World Heritage Exhibitions
We know you’ve heard about Tutankhamun, but what do you know about Ramses II? Three thousand years ago, this Ancient Egyptian pharaoh ruled for almost 67 years (far longer than ‘The Boy King’s’ 9-10 years). In his time he led the Battle of Kadesh, built temples such as Abu Simbel, and signed the world’s first recorded peace treaty – living until roughly 90 years old and fathering more than 100 children, Ramses II left quite a legacy on the world. That legacy has been brought to life in this thoughtfully curated exhibition that takes you up close and personal to more than 180 ancient artefacts including gold masks; 3,000-year-old statues (some showcased just centimetres away, and without glass casing); amulets, rings and necklaces; silver coffins from the royal tombs of Tanis; and – arguably the star of the show – Ramses II’s carved cedar coffin. Presented in a way that allows visitors the time, space and information to take it all in, this stand-out historical exhibition also utilises modern tech at times, notably in the immersive depiction of the Battle of Kadesh and the VR experience at the end, which takes you back in time to meet his first wife, Queen Nefertari, as she takes you on a tour of Abu Simel.
Currently booking until 12 July 2026
Address: NEON at Battersea Power Station, 2 Circus Road East, London, SW11 8DQ
Book here
20. See Keith Haring’s Subway Drawings at Moco Museum
Just across the road from Marble Arch tube station, a 1980’s New York subway has popped up – and it’s home to 20 of the late Keith Haring’s subway drawings. Created with speed, beside the train tracks underneath the Big Apple, “these subway drawings are where his voice became public, direct, generous, and fearless,” says Kim Prins, founder of Moco Museum, referring to his early-years practice of using white chalk on underground advertising boards before he rose to international acclaim. At the time Haring’s drawings were uncommissioned and, by many, unwanted – often considered public graffiti and quickly removed. Some remained however, and, 36 years after his death, are being showcased at Moco Museum London. Voice of the Street – Keith Haring’s Subway Drawings invites us to view his early works, long before his art reached gallery walls.
Now until 18 June 2026
Address: Moco Museum, 1-4 Marble Arch, London, W2 2UH
Book here
21. Discover Global Culture and Influences Right on your Doorstep
Travel to Saudi, India or Ethiopia this weekend, all without leaving London. Women in Travel CIC’s intimate, female-led tours take you on a multicultural journey throughout our city, each through the eyes of women. Food is a big part of each tour, but so are personal insights into the traditions of each country, via history, art, architecture, literature, music and more. Brought to life by guides with real-life knowledge, understanding, ties and connections to each culture, these tours go beyond sightseeing and delve deep into the stories and fabric of each society, showcasing how they have influenced the UK capital. You might drink Saudi coffee for breakfast, eat Ethiopian misir alicha and injera for lunch, or eat Indian sweets for dessert, all while tracing the global influences – trade, migration, design and cultural ties – that make London, well, London.
Saturday 13 June, times and prices vary
Book here
22. Visit Tracey Emin’s largest ever exhibition, A Second Life, at Tate Britain
Life, love, heartbreak, pain, suffering and hope – you’ll feel all of this and much more throughout Tracey Emin’s new (and largest ever) exhibition, open now at Tate Britain. Emin’s work has always been all encompassing of human nature, and in this landmark exhibition we’re invited – no drawn – further into her world, heart and feelings with such real and raw human emotion that it would be futile to try to escape its intensity. Through more than 100 of her mixed-media works – paintings, textiles, sculpture, video, and her globally recognised neon pieces – and spanning 40 years of her career, this is about as moving as an art exhibition can get. Emin is without a doubt one of the most significant artists of our generation, yet her work has come to define us all; the way we love and cry, work and grieve. The way we live. This is one of the must-see exhibitions of 2026.
Now until 31 August 2026
Address: Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG
Book here
23. Dine At This Mayfair Hotspot
Brought to you by Serdar Demir, the man behind Turkish fine-dining restaurant The Mantl in Knightsbridge, and spread across three floors, Chargal uses oak-charcoal cooking to serve up delicious plates of mezze (kuru cacık, hummus, muhammara, manti and more) alongside main dishes like pistachio lamb cutlets, lamb fillet with smoked aubergine, and a fish platter comprising scallops, sea bass, octopus and carabinero prawn. Don’t miss the dark chocolate sorbet made with fennel pollen and olive oil for dessert.
Address:11 Berkeley Street, Mayfair, London, W1J 8DS
Book here
24. Take a Day Trip
While not technically in London, all of these trips are very easy to reach from London – whether for the day or overnight. Top spots include Bath to warm up in the spa waters; Oxford to spot the university (and Harry Potter) landmarks; Canterbury to see the cathedral; Winchester to pick up a sale bargain on a historic high street; The Cotswolds for winter rambles; Margate to blow the cobwebs away on a beach walk; and Brighton to shop the pretty lanes (and Laines). All are less than two hours from London.
25. Step into the wonderful world of Wes Anderson at The Design Museum
Wes Anderson’s characteristic visual symmetry, funky colour schemes, tongue-in-cheek exaggeration, but often serious plot lines, are known to all – avid fans or not, his films are inescapable. This Design Museum exhibition is a behind-the-scenes snapshot into the incredible productions, as over 700 items from the archives are on display for the first time ever in the UK, marking the first ever retrospective of the filmmaker. The exhibition is arranged largely chronologically, sectioned out by film. In each, marvel over everything from the colourful costumes, clips from the movies, mini set replicas (the entire Darjeeling Express included), on-set BTS stills, soundtrack snippets, and all the props you could think of, from sketches, to books, to typewriters to perfume bottles, and even the iron tasseled keys from The Grand Budapest Hotel near a scaled model of the entire hotel. As co-curator and chief curatorial director of the Design Museum, Lucia Savi explains, Wes Anderson’s “extraordinary archive is testament to his unique cinematic approach,” and this exhibition is a wonderful prompt to revisit your favourites from his work. Ella Mansell
Now until 26 July 2026 at the Design Museum.
Address: 224-238 Kensington High St, London W8 6AG, United Kingdom
Book here
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