AboutLondon Laura – June 2025
Did you try any of my recommendations from last month? I had great plans for a week back in London. But it all went wrong when I caught Covid. I’d avoided it for five years so this was my first time and, I won’t lie, it was awful. I’m still recovering now.
I’d like to say I was out having fun when the virus found me. But I was actually sitting on the sofa watching telly with a friend. Rock ‘n’ roll, eh?
I’ll next be back in London in July, so let’s see how much of this ‘wish list’ I can get through.
London Wish List
The Wallace Collection
Grayson Perry: Delusions of Grandeur is on at The Wallace Collection until 26 October. It has 40 new works by Grayson Perry displayed alongside masterpieces from the collection.
Kenwood House
Heiress: Sargent’s American Portraits is at Kenwood House until 5 October. It reveals the real stories behind the fascinating American women who crossed the Atlantic to marry British aristocrats in an exchange of money for titles.
Royal College of Music
See Kurt Cobain’s guitar at Kurt Cobain Unplugged at the Royal College of Music until 18 November. The exhibition reunites the Martin D-18E guitar, uniquely adapted for his left-handed play, with his famous olive-green mohair cardigan, worn during the MTV Unplugged performance.
Design Museum
Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style is at The Design Museum until 17 August. The 200+ objects on display includes Pamela Anderson's iconic Baywatch swimsuit.
Tate Modern
I’ve seen it once already but would love to see Leigh Bowery! at Tate Modern again before it ends on 31 August. I can recommend Sue Tilley’s book Leigh Bowery: The Life and Times of an Icon.
Guildhall Art Gallery
When I get to see Evelyn De Morgan: The Modern Painter in Victorian London at the Guildhall Art Gallery, I mustn’t forget to see La Ghirlandata as it’s a beautiful painting.
The London Archives
London in the Second World War is on until 30 October. It looks at the experiences of Londoners using Council bomb damage maps, plus personal diaries and photographs.
British Museum
Hiroshige: artist of the open road is at the British Museum until 7 October. And I’d like to combine a visit with a free tour of the Reading Room (Tuesdays only).
National Covid Memorial Wall
And, finally, I’d like to see my dad’s heart on the National Covid Memorial Wall and touch up the wording if needed.
Afternoon Tea Awards Winners
I was honoured to be a judge again for this year’s Afternoon Tea Awards. The winners have been announced and I’m pleased to say I judged one of them. Honestly, Corinthia London is outstanding, so that’s my tip for you for posh tea and cakes.
Open-Air Entertainment
Right, let’s get onto ideas for you to have fun outside in London.
Canary Wharf has Summer Screens from 29 May to 27 September. You can see plenty of sporting events and lots of films. In June, July and August, Canary Wharf also has free music on Wednesdays, and there’s open-air swimming available too.
Everyman on the Canal offers free outdoor cinema on the canal steps by Granary Square in King’s Cross. From 30 June to 17 August, you can see sporting events and blockbuster movies including The Princess Bride and Wicked.
Opera Holland Park is everything you would expect and more. Performances run from 27 May to 22 August. I took my daughter to an Alice in Wonderland performance for families and it was marvellous so this is recommended for families too.
The most well-known outdoor theatre is Regent’s Park Open-Air Theatre. On from 10 May to 7 September, there are five productions this year.
For more music, there’s Kew the Music at Kew Gardens in July with plenty of big-name headliners. And even bigger names are at BST Hyde Park including Sabrina Carpenter and Stevie Wonder. Open House at BST Hyde Park is eight days of free fun so that’s worth knowing about.
The London Symphony Orchestra will perform a free night of classical music in Trafalgar Square on Sunday 15 June for BMW Classics.
If you fancy being more active, Treasure Trails have popular treasure hunts around lots of areas of London.
Or you could just explore the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park or one of the Royal Parks.
What’s Happening This Month?
As if I haven’t given you enough ideas, here are more ideas that may appeal this month.
The Summer Exhibition opens at the Royal Academy on 17 June. This is the 257th year of the world’s largest open submission contemporary art show.
Also at the Royal Academy, Kiefer/Van Gogh opens on 28 June featuring works by Vincent van Gogh and Anselm Kiefer Hon RA.
2025 marks 350 years since the foundation of the Royal Observatory, the first state-funded, purpose-built scientific institution in Britain. 22 June 1675 was the actual date Charles II established the Royal Observatory.
The Courtauld Gallery has Abstract Erotic from 20 June with extraordinary sculptures by Louise Bourgeois, Eva Hesse and Alice Adams. There’s also Louise Bourgeois: Drawings from the 1960s on from 20 June too.
Edward Burra opens at Tate Britain on 13 June. This runs parallel with Ithell Colquhoun – an overlooked figure in British Surrealism. One ticket gets you into both exhibitions.
And Little Simz’s Meltdown at Southbank Centre is on from 12 to 22 June. Each year the Southbank Centre invites a different cultural figure to act as curator and select performers and events of their choosing for the longest-running artist-curated festival in the world.