All week
TRAIN STRIKES: At time of writing, national train strikes are due to go ahead on Tuesday 21, Thursday 23 and Saturday 25 June, with major disruption expected, and no service at all on some routes. This includes a strike by London Underground staff on 21 June, so there will be disruption on the tube too. Plan your week accordingly.
WINDRUSH DAY: 22 June is Windrush Day, commemorating the Caribbean immigrants who arrived in Tilbury on the Empire Windrush in 1948, and celebrating the the contributions made by migrants to UK society. Several Windrush Day events are going on in London this week, including a festival, stand-up comedy, and local community events.
FAKE NEWS: Last chance to see The Art of Fake News, a free exhibition of visual art by Latin American, British and European artists to raise awareness of the phenomenon and effects of fake news. Rich Mix (Shoreditch), free entry, just turn up, until 26 June
HAPPINESS EXHIBITION: The Happiness Collective was established during the pandemic, to spread happiness through the medium of photography. Its first show, Along The Way, showcases images of travel and adventure, with bliss and escapism. The prints are on sale, with prices from £100. Earl of East (King's Cross), free, just turn up, until 26 June
LONDON ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL: This city-wide celebration of architecture continues. Highlights this week include a tour of St Mary Le Bow, live music at Two Temple Place, and tours of the future Camden Highline (more on which here). Various locations and prices, book ahead, until 30 June
CARNABY STREET EAT: A fortnight of foodie fun kicks off this week across the 14 streets of Carnaby. During Street Eat, this already-excellent dining destination — home to 60+ dining and drinking options and over 30 cuisines — becomes even more appetising. We're talking £5 dishes, special set menus, live music, al fresco seating, and masterclasses ranging from dumpling-making to mixology. Carnaby, free entry, just turn up, 20 June-3 July (sponsor)
WE BLACK WOMEN: After a brief pause, Donwar Warehouse has reopened its WE. BLACK WOMEN. exhibition, a photography and film exhibition which puts the collective experiences of Black women at the centre of the conversation, to challenge our perspective of British history. Donmar Warehouse (Seven Dials), free, just turn up, until 30 July
Monday 20 June
HUGUENOT WALK: Who were the Huguenots? Find out more about the French immigrants, and how they established a weaving community in the East End, on this guided tour. Pass weavers' cottages and a silk merchant's shop which help to tell the story of the area's history. Shoreditch High Street station, £12/£9, book ahead, 2.30pm
TAKING ON PUTIN: UCL hosts a panel of experts to discuss why recent Russian actions have galvanised efforts to take on Vladimir Putin. One of the speakers is Bill Browder, who was the largest foreign investor in Russia until 2005, when he was denied entry to the country and declared 'a threat to national security' for exposing corruption in Russian state-owned companies. Bloomsbury Theatre or online, free, book ahead, 4.30pm
JAYDE ADAMS: Comedian Jayde Adams offers a work-in-progress preview of her new show, Men, I Can Save You. Soho Theatre, £14-£19, book ahead, 7pm
HAPPY MONDAYS COMEDY: Have a chuckle at a double bill of Edinburgh Fringe Festival previews. Canadian comedian Michelle Shaughnessy performs her show, Be Your Own Daddy, followed by Pete Heat, who combines comedy with magic, all hosted by Siôn James. The Amersham Arms (New Cross), £6.36, book ahead, 8pm
Tuesday 21 June
SCULPTURE IN THE CITY: All sorts of weird and wonderful creations land in the Square Mile for the 11th edition of Sculpture in the City, a spin-off of London Festival of Architecture. The free, open-air art trail has works by 19 different artists, with one piece already on display in Aldgate Square. City of London, free, just turn up, from 21 June
REFUGEE WEEK: Healing is the theme of this year's Refugee Week at Southbank Centre, in which refugees tell their stories. Events include dance, music, storytelling and comedy, as well as an appearance by giant travelling puppet, Little Amal. Southbank Centre, various prices (many events free) 21-26 June
FLAMENCO FESTIVAL: Head to Sadler's Wells to see rising stars and legends of the Flamenco world performing side by side. 13 different shows make up this year's Flamenco Festival, ranging from traditional dances, to modern twists on the Spanish art form. Sadler's Wells (Clerkenwell), from £15, book ahead, 21 June-2 July
SUMMER LIGHTS: Light festivals don't usually happen in summer, for obvious reasons. But when Canary Wharf's Winter Lights event got postponed for some months last year, Summer Lights was born — and it's back again this year. Hunt out the temporary art installations around the Canary Wharf area, each chosen for the way they use natural light to create colour and sparkle. Canary Wharf, free, just turn up, 21 June-20 August
ROYAL ACADEMY SUMMER EXHIBITION: A highlight of the London art calendar every year, the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition brings together established and rising artists to display their work. Prints, painting, film, photography, architectural works and sculpture all feature, and the theme this year is 'Climate', with Grayson Perry among those taking part. It's the first time in three years the Summer Exhibition has actually been held in the summer, due to delays caused by Covid. Royal Academy (Mayfair), £20-£22, book ahead, 21 June-21 August
THE INNOCENCE: As part of the London Bengali Film Festival, catch a screening of The Innocence. The 2019 black-and-white film was the longest non-experimental narrative film ever produced, taking nine years to make with a crew of over 4,000 — though tonight, the running time is a mere 1 hour 45 minutes, with characters from all walks of life orbiting one single figure, known as "the lunatic". Barbican Cinema, £12, book ahead, 6.30pm
Wednesday 22 June
EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL: The musically-astute among you will know that the EFG London Jazz Festival takes place in November, and you're right, but we're also being treated to a Summer Series, for anyone who can't wait that long. Over four nights, Barbican hosts four different concerts, starring the likes of Herbie Hancock and Marisa Monte. Barbican, from £20, book ahead, 22-25 June
WORDS FOR WEATHER: A Thousand Words For Weather is a new sound installation about weather, the environment, and translation. London-based poets who speak the most commonly heard mother tongues in the city chose and defined ten words for the weather in Arabic, Bengali, English, German, French, Mandarin, Polish, Spanish, Turkish, or Urdu. They then went on to translate each other's chosen words, contributing to a unique multilingual weather dictionary. Senate House Library (Bloomsbury), £5, book ahead, 22 June-March 2023
CARIBBEAN FOLKTALES: Aptly-timed to coincide with Windrush Day, author and storyteller Wendy Shearer launches her new book Caribbean Folktales: Stories from the Islands and the Windrush Generation. Meet some of the people whose accounts of migrating from the Caribbean to Britain are included in the book, and hear their stories read aloud. Barbican Library or online, £5.50-£7.50, book ahead, 6.30pm
PECKHAM COMEDY: Attend an evening of live comedy on a rooftop terrace in south London. MC Michael May, Helen Bauer, Michael Odewale and Dave Fulton are all on the line-up for The Comedy Store's Peckham Comedy, with a drink included in your ticket price, and special offers on wine at the bar all night. Skylight Peckham, £15, book ahead, 7.30pm
GEORGE MICHAEL: Catch a screening of Freedom Uncut, the documentary film about the life and work of singer George Michael. He himself was involved heavily in its production, acting as narrator over previously unseen footage documenting his life. Barbican Cinema, £20, book ahead, 8.30pm
Thursday 23 June
LIFT: The London International Festival Theatre — or LIFT — takes place at venues across London from today, shining the spotlight on up-and-coming stars of music, dance and theatre. Unlock ghost stories in a shopping centre, see a climate opera performed on a beach, or see Pinocchio reimagined as a story of gender transition. Various locations and prices, 23 June-10 July
GIN TOUR: Join actors, musicians and Dr Matthew Green on an immersive gin tour of London, exploring the meteoric rise of the juniper berry from Dutch decadence to agent of mass oblivion, meeting a cast of ruined characters straight out of Hogarth along the way and visiting a wealth of spirituous haunts, from the lowliest Georgian gin shack to the most opulent Victorian gin palace. “Includes as much 18th-century gin as you like.” St Giles in the Fields, £36, book in advance, 2.30-4.30pm
NIGHT MARKET: Fancy something different for dinner? Head to the Night Market, an open-air food market with a range of traders serving up different cuisines. Take a seat and listen to live music as you enjoy your food and drink — and there's always the mini golf course, if you've got the time afterwards. Montgomery Square (Canary Wharf), free entry, just turn up, 5pm-10pm
SUMMER CYCLE: Tonight is one of only three chances this year to visit Kew Gardens by bike. Bicycles are usually banned in the botanical gardens, but the Summer Cycle evenings allow visitors in for an evening bike ride. Take a picnic along, or buy food and drink on site, and listen to live music as the sun sets. Kew Gardens, £20 adult/£10 child, book ahead, 6pm-9pm
REFUGEE WEEK LATE: To mark Refugee Week, London's Migration Museum stays open late, with art workshops, performances, exhibition tours and more, led by people from a refugee background. Free tickets are available to anyone from a refugee or asylum-seeking background. Migration Museum (Lewisham), £5/free, book ahead, 6pm-9pm
Friday 24 June
MAYFAIR ART WEEKEND: Mayfair isn't short of art galleries, a fact celebrated during Mayfair Art Weekend. Events this year include the Mayfair Sculpture Trail through the district, as well as family-friendly activities and a chance to visit all of the participating galleries. 24-26 June
FILM FESTIVAL: Kingston International Film Festival features 50 events over three days, including film screenings, workshops and social events. One of the highlights is an audience with director Mike Newell, along with a documentary about the 'Godfather of Film', and shorts films by local under-18s. Various locations and prices, 24-26 June
CARTERS STEAM FAIR: Vintage funfair Carters Steam Fair pulls into town today, bringing restored fairground rides and attractions dating from the 1890s-1960s. Ride on carousels, chair-o-planes, dodgems and other funfair classics, try your hand at coconut shy and hook a fish, and ogle the vintage vehicles and wagons used to carry the rides around the country. Priory Park (Hornsey), free entry, you can book ride tokens online, 24 June-3 July
WAR VETERANS: Hear from PhD student Louise Bell about the use of prosthetics for service personnel who lost limbs in the first world war. The widespread use of mortars, artillery and machine guns for the first time, led to many devastating injuries, with workshops set up specifically for the production of artificial limbs. National Army Museum (Chelsea) or online, free, book ahead, 12pm
CELEBRATING PRIDE: The British Museum marks Pride in London with an evening celebrating LGBTQ+ histories, identities and stories from its collection. Workshops, tours and performances are all part of the evening's entertainment — exact details still TBC at time of writing. British Museum, free, book timed museum entry in advance, 5pm-8pm
WELCOME HOME, DIPPY: Attend an after-hours event to welcome diplodocus Dippy back to the Natural History Museum. Meet the museum's palaeontologists, visit the Dinosaur Gallery after daytime visitors have left, and find out how the (replica) skeleton is cared for. Recommended age 12+. Natural History Museum (South Kensington), £19, book ahead, 6.30pm
Saturday 25 June
WEST END LIVE: Musical theatre fans should head to Trafalgar Square for West End Live, a free, two-day festival starring the cast of all manner of West End shows. Cast members from the likes of Jersey Boys, The Lion King, Mary Poppins and Tina The Musical are all strutting their stuff on stage. Trafalgar Square, free, just turn up, 25-26 June
WATERLOO WEEKEND: English Heritage-owned Apsley House — once the home of the Duke of Wellington — hosts a Waterloo weekend, marking the anniversary of the famous battle. The programme includes special talks and demonstrations, and battle re-enactments. Apsley House (Hyde Park Corner), included in admission, book ahead, 25-26 June
ART INSIDER: Join Londonist art critic Tabish Khan, as he offers an insider's look at art in Mayfair, part of Mayfair Art Weekend. He leads a tour around a variety of galleries of different sizes, both primary and secondary market dealers, giving an insight into the ecology of the art world. The NFT Gallery, £10, book ahead, 11am-1.15pm
STRET FOOD MARKET: 15 different street food vendors take up residence at the new East Village food market, offering dishes including Vietnamese noodles, Chicago pizza and tapas. East Village (Stratford), free entry, just turn up, 11am-5pm
ICANDANCE: Disability dance charity icandance stages its annual celebratory performance. Watch children and young people aged 4 to 25 years with varying disabilities in a relaxed and accessible show. Alexandra Palace, £15, book ahead, 1.30pm
SUMMER OF LOVE: Colour expert, author and Londonist contributor Momtaz Begum-Hossain hosts a summer festival-themed craft workshop for adults. Spend the evening making floral crowns, scented jewellery, and other Summer of Love-themed products, with all materials provided. Drinks are available to buy at the bar. Age 18+. Good Hotel London (Royal Docks), £20, book ahead, 6pm-9pm
GLASTONBURY: Not at Glastonbury? Commiserate with everyone else who missed out on tickets at Club de Fromage's Glastonbury special. Listen out for tunes by this year's headliners including Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar, as well as the usual pop music, sing alongs and confetti cannons. o2 Academy Islington, from £7, book ahead, 10.30pm-3.30am
Sunday 26 June
DRAG BRUNCH: Liven up your Sunday at a bottomless drag brunch, starring drag queens and divas from the West End stage. Tuck into brunch dishes including buttermilk chicken waffles and eggs royale as they serenade the audience with musical theatre show tunes, plus disco, pop and R'n'B. The Fable (Monument), from £54.95, book ahead, 1pm-4pm
WALTHAMSTOW WALK: Join Footprints of London tour guide Joanna Moncrieff for a walking exploration of Walthamstow's history. Visit the former home of William Morris, learn about a theatre hidden within a school, and wander past the Ancient House and almshouses of historic Walthamstow Village. William Morris Gallery, £12/£9, book ahead, 2pm-4pm
BRIT-ASIAN SHORTS: As part of the London Indian Film Festival, watch a series of shorts created by British-Asian film makers. The programme includes dramas and documentaries, all depicting life in Asian Britain today. Barbican Cinema, £12, book ahead, 3pm
Urban oddity of the week
As it's Waterloo Weekend (see Saturday), here's a view of the Wellington Arch you don't often see. The Arch stands in front of Apsley House on Hyde Park Corner and commemorates the victory over Napoleon's forces at Waterloo, in which Wellington played a leading role.
The arch is topped by Europe's largest bronze sculpture, a "quadriga" of horses supporting the Angel of Peace. Normally, we only get to see the angel from below, but in 2016 we were lucky enough to inspect the statue up close during restoration work (even angels need an occasional makeover).
Good cause of the week
ActOne Cinema is the punningly named community cinema in Acton. It was set up in 2021, bringing a movie theatre to a part of town that had long languished without a screen. Housed in a former library, the cinema has also become something of a meetup spot, with a café/lounge run by family-owned local business Bears Ice Cream.
The cinema is now seeking crowdfunding to open a much-needed second screen. According to the appeal:
"A second screen will broaden our community appeal while ensuring our financial viability, and will fulfil our original plan to build a cinema with two screens. We want to provide a best-in-class cinematic experience for our customers, with a wider range of films and events on offer – including but not limited to: exhibiting the work of local filmmakers, more independent films and festivals, and even comedy and music events."
The campaign has the backing of no less a figure than Mark Kermode. To support the cause, visit the Spacehive fundraising page.
