The Best Things to Do in London in June

June is a great month to visit London – you get the best of the summer weather (not too hot) and you miss the influx of tourists piling in for their summer vacations during July in London (bonus point). So, you've chosen your favourite air-conditioned Plum Guide home in London and now all you need is to plan your itinerary? Well, you're in luck. We're sharing our expert tips on how to make the most of your time in the city with this list of the best things to do in London in June.

When it comes to London's best parks and gardens, there are plenty to choose from. Hyde Park is perfect for a morning jog, afternoon stroll or a picnic with friends, located close to Buckingham Palace and the high-end boutiques of Bond Street. It's also a perfect location for the Queen’s birthday celebration on 9 June, Trooping the Colour, a two hundred year old event of royal pageantry with horses, soldiers and bright bunting, plus an air show with the Royal Air Force. Safe to say, it's quite the celebration. And if a visit to Kew Gardens wasn't on your list of things to do in London in June, then it should be. The roses will be at their best, the ancient woodland trees will be in full leaf and the historic kitchen gardens will be teeming with fragrant culinary herbs. Richmond is a charming London neighborhood right on the River Thames with a number of traditional pubs to choose from (we love The Tap on the Line).

Perhaps smaller gardens in London are more to your taste? The Open Garden Squares Weekend event takes place across twenty-seven boroughs in London in June, with open access to some of London’s lesser-known private or hidden gardens. Expect guided tours, teas and live music performances. A number of garden types are featured: allotments, walled gardens, rooftop gardens, wildlife gardens, city farms and more. It’s likely you’ll be staying near at least one of these locations, so check out this rare treat for garden lovers, when over 200 garden spaces normally closed to the public open their doors. Notting Hill alone has over fourteen garden spaces listed.

Taste of London takes place in the month of June in Regent’s Park, featuring a big selection of London’s best restaurants (like XU and Brigadiers), plenty of food and drink tastings and live cooking demonstrations, plus shopping at over 200 food and drink stalls. You can opt for a lunch or dinner session (each lasting four hours), and there’s a one-hour sit-down menu option at the table of some of London’s top chefs.

What better than a music festival when deciding on things to do in London in June? Cross The Tracks is a festival full of jazz, soul and funk in Brockwell Park. Each year at Meltdown, a chosen artist curates a week of gigs at Southbank Centre. Or head to Hampton Court Palace for a really unforgettable festival experience. If you're a real festival-goer though, every year throughout August in London you'll find a huge roster of events taking place.

The London Festival of Architecture – the world's biggest festival of architecture we'll have you know – takes place throughout the entire month of June. Expect tours, conferences, talks, film screenings, open studios, exhibitions and more across the city. This is a great chance to engage in conversation around London and its architecture, and learn some interesting facts ahead of your next dinner party too.

Weather permitted, outdoor theatre is a delightful summer attraction during London’s balmier season, so no surprises that it's one of our favourite things to do in London in June. Sit under summer skies as you enjoy an impressive performance at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre (but do take an umbrella just in case, won't you?).

After reading our guide to the best things to do in London in June, you're probably eager to start planning your trip. Start by exploring Plum Guide's collection of serviced apartments in London. Our home critics meticulously judge each home listed on our site, meaning less time worrying about where to stay and more time worrying about which of London's best restaurants you should visit. Oh, the chore...