We think it’s safe to say that summer is truly here, and with that we’re seeking out London’s best outdoor spaces and events. These are the best things to do in July.
This month we’ll be wearing crop trousers from Reformation, maxi dresses from La Double J and stylish co-ords from Maksu – to watch opera in the park, dine on brand-new roof terraces, attend music festivals and settle into waterside cinema screenings. We’re also stopping for aperitivo in hidden courtyards, summertime salads by the river, and Cantonese dishes in Canary Wharf.
On our travel radar? Mini breaks on the Jurassic Coast, weekends in Paris and Fourth of July celebrations in New York.
These are the best things to do, see, eat and buy in July 2026.
Sheena Bhattessa, Founder
SEE Opera Holland Park. Its such a beautiful, fresh and magical evening. This year I’m booked to see Broadway Rhapsody with Anush Hovhannisyan and Sam Jewison, accompanied by a dazzling 40-piece orchestra. ENJOY A little me-time at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park with their new 111Skin treatments. VISIT I’m a huge fan of Restoration Hardware in New York and Palm Beach. It’s now opened in Mayfair (RH London, The Gallery in Mayfair) and I imagine it is pretty spectacular and worthy of a visit. WEAR I have my eye on these Olina cropped pants for summer evenings out (they’re ideal for the autumn too). It’s the wardrobe I’d wear at home and on holiday. DRINK Daily, sometimes twice daily, humantra. It’s an electrolyte I can’t get enough of and the flavours are delicious. They’ve just launched pineapple flavour with Jumeirah, and having tried it, I’m totally addicted, I’ll easily get through three litres of water a day with this!
View this post on Instagram
Katie Silcox, Managing Editor
SEARCH For the perfect dress for a summer ball. A friend is throwing a big birthday bash in her garden next month, and I need the perfect partywear for it. I love this La Double J feathered swing dress in mint and this puff-sleeve dress from Nobody’s Child. BUY Jelly shoes! I’m obsessed with them and, after many a monsoon living in India, am also very au fait with them (I used to have so many pairs!). We recently shared a roundup of the best to buy right now, and I love these from Gucci, or these from Free People. ORGANISE My work and social life better with a mid-year diary from Smythson. At almost A4 size, and with a full-week layout across its double pages, this Portobello Weekly Vertical Diary runs from now until the end of July 2027. JOIN My local library. After so many years living abroad – what a treat to be able to do so again. First on my list is London Falling; my interest was first piqued in 2024, when I read this piece about the true-story case in the New Yorker. EAT At the brand-new Wolves by Tokyo in Olympia. Their outdoor roof terrace is calling.
View this post on Instagram
Becki Murray, Beauty & Wellness Director
STAY At Fiddle + Bow Hotel in Doolin for the weekend to explore the gorgeous Irish coastline and hopefully indulge in some excellent seafood and traditional music at the local pubs. BUY Snuggs’ new period swimwear so I can feel super confident by the pool at any time of the month. What I love most is you don’t have to compromise on great design. WATCH Wimbledon and lather up with La Roche Posay’s Anthelios Uvmune 400 Invisible Spray SPF50+. It is my favourite sunscreen brand and has been announced as the exclusive suncare supplier for the tennis championship. READ Sarah Ann Macklin’s brilliant book Healthy Shouldn’t Be This Hard. It is the perfect holiday read for anyone who wants to eat, think and feel better, without being preached to. RELAX at the Sael Spa wellness club at Fulham Pier, which is home to a new 15-metre heated rooftop infinity pool that overlooks the Thames. I’m already dreaming about stretching out on a lounger on the open-air sun terrace in the sunshine.
View this post on Instagram
Rachel Story, Style & Commerce Director
GO I’m headed to Henley Festival with a mum friend (who I thank my NCT lucky stars for), and I’m so looking forward to a little bop to throwback tunes from Sugababes and 90s anthems from Jo Whiley. Set on the banks of the Thames, it’s the UK’s only festival to have a black-tie dress code, so it’s also a good excuse to dress up to the nines. Ticket proceeds all help support the festival’s charitable company RISE – championing up and coming creatives in visual arts and music. STAY For a mini-break with family, farm stay Louma Country Hotel on the Jurassic Coast looks idyllic – think grazing animals, homegrown farm-to-fork dining and a Wellness Barn that is calling me. BUY I recently got this zig-zag knitted co-ord from Maksu and I am obsessed. It’s amazing value for the quality and the trousers are super stretchy, making them an ideal travel outfit paired with an oversized linen shirt. I also loved wearing them on my most recent holiday with this russet linen waistcoat from Beaumont Organic. EAT I’ve still never eaten at the London institution that is Scott’s Mayfair and now that summer is officially here, their Richmond restaurant with its terrace overlooking the Thames looks like the ultimate place to while away an afternoon. My favourite ever meal is Dover sole meunière – which just so happens to be one of their famed dishes. Tempura fried oysters washed down with a cold glass of fizz in the sunshine sounds like the ultimate treat.
View this post on Instagram
Ella Alexander, Fashion Features Director
WATCH I’m going to see Paul Weller at Dreamland Margate. He’s one of the smartest, most creative and musically diverse talents we have, and his song Headstart for Happiness played me down the aisle, so I’m really excited. Also, I finally finished Rivals 2 on Disney+, the most deliciously enjoyable TV series I’ve watched in years – an impressive balancing act of fun, excess and heart. STAY A few of my best girlfriends and I have started doing an annual weekend away – this year at Titch Hill, an organic winery in West Sussex with a barn and luxury yurts. I’ll report back! EAT It’s my birthday this month, so I’m having Italian aperitivo with some of my favourite people at Il Maremmano just outside of Brixton. It’s a real hidden gem with a really sweet courtyard. DRINK I love a drinks trolley for the performance and old-school glamour, so have earmarked the Negroni trolley experience at The Rubens at the Palace. BUY I’m still obsessed with my new Missoma x Jimmy Fairly sunglasses – they make me feel like Joan Collins in the best possible way. READ Patrick Radden Keefe’s rigorously researched London Falling is as good as everyone says. A chilling true story about a 19-year-old Londoner who falls to his death from a luxury apartment.
View this post on Instagram
Bibiana Obahor, Head of Graphic Design
EAT At Mama Li in Canary Wharf, an authentic Cantonese restaurant that’s worth adding to your list. Siu mei is the star of the menu, with crispy pork, BBQ pork, soy chicken and roast duck all prepared using traditional Cantonese techniques. The new Canary Wharf site also has nostalgic cha chaan teng dishes, soup noodles and tea-based cocktails. SHOP Lenore Beauty, a newly launched makeup brand selling blushes for every skin tone. I’m slightly biased (it’s my sister’s brand), but the blushes really are that good. The formulas are lightweight enough for summer heat and build beautifully for a more glam look. GO FOR DRINKS London’s Mediterranean dining scene keeps getting better, and this new opening in Marylebone looks like it’ll become a favourite. Alongside a gorgeous hidden courtyard, Mour is putting martinis (my favourite) front and centre – including their Blind Faith Martini, where you simply choose your spirit and leave the rest up to the bartender. WATCH Silo Season 3 on Apple TV+, releasing July 3. I’m a sucker for dystopian mysteries, and this has become one of my favourite series. The world-building, twists and suspense keep getting better, so I already know I’ll be watching as soon as it drops. SOAK UP THE SUN On one of Skuna’s self-driving BBQ boats. It’s such a fun way to spend a sunny afternoon in London. Round up a few friends, fire up the barbecue, and cruise along the water at your own pace.
View this post on Instagram
Courtney Griffiths, Experiences and Community Director
STAY This month is all about making the most of summer in New York. I’ll be spending the next three weeks in the city – just in time for Fourth of July and America’s 250th birthday. MOVE Before the celebrations begin I’m determined to keep up my routine and New York Pilates has some of the best reformer classes I’ve ever taken. SEE I’m very excited to see the celebrated Broadway revival of Ragtime, an epic story about the American Dream. TRAIN I am firmly in marathon training mode ahead of the Chicago Marathon in October, and HURDLE by Emily Abbate is getting me through my long runs. She shares true stories and mindset lessons from incredible women in sport, and has just dedicated this entire season exclusively to running – very timely for anyone training towards their next race. It’s well worth a listen. EAT Rubirosa in NYC is always my first dinner reservation. Their tie-dye pizza remains one of my favourite meals in the city. COQODAQ and Tonchin are also at the top of my list to try. INDULGE In hot weather ice cream is my go-to and there’s nowhere better than Cafe Panna in Williamsburg.
View this post on Instagram
Zana Wilberforce, Culture Contributor
LISTEN I’m looking forward to seeing Laura Misch – saxophonist singer-songwriter and electronic producer – perform at the Barbican this week with a full ensemble. Her new album, Lithic, is full of ethereal, near-transcendental sounds that will transport you to an otherworldly headspace. READ Endless contemporary fiction that keeps me in a sunny state of mind, whatever the weather. I have a long list of books reserved at my local library, including The Shampoo Effect and Alan Opts Out. TRY After a recent trip to Gleneagles – where we tried clay pigeon shooting and wild swimming – I’ve come away feeling refreshed and eager to keep trying new things. I’ve booked an intro climbing session at Muro in Peckham, a bouldering gym tucked away in the arches next to Social Sauna. Wish me luck! RETURN To Lisbon – one of my favourite cities – for a workcation and a wedding.
View this post on Instagram
Justine Neyrand, Assitant Editor
TRAVEL To Paris to visit friends and family. As a Parisian, I recommend visiting the Palais Galliera and walking down to Love Juice Bar (where I once bumped into David Blaine!) for a refreshing açai bowl on a hot summer day. EAT At Hayat Paddington for a rich Middle Eastern brunch. Their shakshuka and halloumi are so good. VISIT Hackney City Farm Park for a sunny day out in London. It truly is an oasis inside London! You would never know London’s busy high streets are just a couple of footsteps away. SEE The Schiaparelli Exhibition at the V&A South Kensington Museum, running until 8 November. It’s the first-ever British exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of fashion icon Elsa Schiaparelli, and it is a must-visit. WATCH A movie on the canal with Everyman on the Canal in King’s Cross, running now until 16 August. Enjoy a chilled evening here, alongside the tantalising sundaes Everyman offers. The Everything Sundae is my personal favorite.
View this post on Instagram
We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.
Any Questions or Tips to add?