The ianVisits guide to July's unusual events, tours, lectures and exhibitions happening around London.
Wednesday 10th July
A short procession in full ceremonial garb by the Worshipful Company of Vintners from their Livery Hall on Upper Thames Street to the local church.
11:45am to 12:15pm
City of London
Peek behind the curtain of the spectacular theatrical adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s Oscar-winning Spirited Away with a special conversation tracing its journey from screen to stage.
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Kensington
More London events on Wednesday 10th July
Thursday 11th July
£16.20
City Beerfest brings together a selection of top brewers, a variety of food stalls, and live music.
12:30pm to 9pm
City of London
£5.00
An illustrated talk to find out more about the Society of Photographic Relics of Old London's striking collection.
12:30pm to 1:30pm
Clerkenwell
In this lecture, Nicola Clark explores the daily lives of ladies-in-waiting, revealing the secrets of recruitment, costume, what they ate, where (and with whom) they slept.
1pm to 2pm
Soho
The usually private gardens at The Charterhouse will be open for three evenings this summer.
5:30pm to 8:30pm
Clerkenwell
£25.00
Journey through the history of the Household Cavalry after hours in this evening tour.
6pm to 7:30pm
Whitehall
A ground-breaking history of women in intelligence in the 20th century – showing how they were central to MI organisations from the outset.
6:30pm to 8pm
Battersea
Join a panel of experts as they discuss the role and importance of football during the First World War.
6:30pm to 8pm
Chelsea
Join Lara Maiklem as she discusses the follow-up to her bestselling Mudlarking: Lost and Found on the River Thames with Hannah MacInnes
7pm to 8pm
Southwark
£17.27
Explore the fascinating world of gases with Mark Miodownik. From neural pathways to climate crises, a captivating journey unfolds.
7pm to 8:30pm
Hanover Square
Historian and filmmaker David Olusoga charts the story of Black British history, bringing to light overlooked narratives, in conversation with Nesrine Malik.
Starts at 7:30pm
Southwark
More London events on Thursday 11th July
Friday 12th July
Dr James Mackay explores how Black freedom seekers found refuge with the British Army during the American War of Independence.
12pm to 1pm
Chelsea
This panel discussion will explore different perspectives on the experience of adapting the biographies of Queens for storytelling in musicals, operas and plays, novels, film and television.
7pm to 8pm
Soho
An evening to learn about the gardens of the Bloomsbury group.
7pm to 8pm
Southwark
Online events / webinars
Join Helen Fry to learn about MI9, the WWII organisation that engineered the escape of Allied forces from behind enemy lines.
2pm to 3pm
More London events on Friday 12th July
Saturday 13th July
Free
Around 300 exhibitors offering fashion, jewellery, gifts and homeware for browsing plus food and drink stalls from some of Barnes’ bars and restaurants.
9:30am to 5:30pm
Barnes
Free
A cultural festival taking place at Bloqs and along the adjacent towpaths of the River Lea.
10am to 6pm
Upper Edmonton
Step into the world of The Great British Nanny in this one-day photo exhibition.
10am to 4pm
Islington
A day of talks exploring the archaeology of London buildings.
10am to 4pm
Southwark
Upminster Windmill has been extensively restored and is now open one weekend per month from Spring to Autumn.
10am to 4pm
Upminster
An old fashioned Fête in the picturesque garden square of Dean’s Yard next to Westminster Abbey with Morris Dancers, a brass band, BBQ and lots of stalls from bric a brac to gardening. Theres's also a raffle, tombola and games.
11am to 3:30pm
Pimlico
A creative mix of street arts, performances and community interaction, that take over the area for one day.
12pm to 6pm
Moorgate
More London events on Saturday 13th July
Sunday 14th July
Upminster Windmill has been extensively restored and is now open one weekend per month from Spring to Autumn.
10am to 4pm
Upminster
Join them as they survey the birdlife of the Creek.
11am to 1pm
Deptford
A creative mix of street arts, performances and community interaction, that take over the area for one day.
12pm to 6pm
Moorgate
Drawing on his new book, journalist and author Sathnam Sanghera traces the legacies of the British empire around the world, in conversation with Colin Grant.
Starts at 2:30pm
Southwark
More London events on Sunday 14th July
Monday 15th July
In this lecture, Pernille Rudlin will discuss why the first acrobats settled in Britain, what became of their families and their links to the second wave of performers.
6:45pm to 8pm
Bloomsbury
Join Simon Singh, on a whistle-stop tour through two decades of his bestselling books.
7pm to 8pm
South Kensington
More London events on Monday 15th July
Tuesday 16th July
£5.00
Come along to this talk and document viewing to see to how Londoners responded to this last attempt to defeat them.
12:30pm to 2pm
Clerkenwell
Free
Ric Parker, visiting professor in mechanical engineering at Imperial College London will provide a retrospective of John Smeaton’s work – in particular, his achievements in the field of rotating machines.
7pm to 8:30pm
Pimlico
Online events / webinars
Join Ben Edge for this Zoom talk as he takes you into the heart of British Folklore and shares his own journey as an artist
7:30pm to 9pm
More London events on Tuesday 16th July
Wednesday 17th July
Two sets of military gun salutes will take place today to mark the Birthday of HM The Queen.
11:30am to 2pm
Take a self-led tour exploring highlights of the Abbey then enjoy the evening sunshine in Cloister Garth with live music.
4:30pm to 7pm
Pimlico
Historian Sarah Wise discusses her new book examining the horrifying reality of the 1913 Mental Deficiency Act.
5:30pm to 7pm
Clerkenwell
The author of "The Science of Weird Sh!t" in explores how crazy coincidences happen - and why they feel so darn spooky!
6:30pm to 9pm
Southwark
A journey through 20th and 21st century railway architecture and design
7pm to 8:30pm
Soho
More London events on Wednesday 17th July
Thursday 18th July
Naomi Games will be exploring the work of artist Abram Games.
12pm to 1pm
Colindale
£9.00
An opportunity to visit Keats House after hours on a summer evening, as they extend their opening hours for one night only.
5pm to 7pm
Hampstead
As England’s most celebrated royal dynasty, it’s often overlooked that the Tudors have their origins in rural Wales, far from the urban centres of English power where they dared to become great.
6:30pm to 8pm
Southwark
More London events on Thursday 18th July
Friday 19th July
Zakira Begum shares the stories of some of the Indian Army soldiers encamped at Hampton Court Palace in the early 20th century.
12pm to 1pm
Chelsea
£25.44
From manga and anime, to live music, fashion, street food, gaming and technology, this immersive celebration showcases the latest and greatest straight from Japan.
12pm to 8pm
West Kensington
Free
Join Shoe Lane Library and Lester Hillman for a talk on the secret surrounding the Clerks Well in London.
1pm to 2pm
Holborn
Join Tom Shakespeare, Russell Tovey and Tanya Bentley, some of the judges of this year’s Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award 2024
6pm to 7pm
Soho
£20.50
Experience the unique surroundings of Leighton House after hours, through the lens of sustainability, recycling and upcycling.
6:30pm to 9pm
West Kensington
More London events on Friday 19th July
Saturday 20th July
Free
Cart Marking showcases a truly unique collection of transport dating from the horse and cart to the latest, cleanest, greenest, and safest in use today.
10am to 12pm
City of London
Free
A weekend celebrating the 70th anniversary of the famous bus - with around 80 buses on display and free local rides around the area.
10am to 6pm
Chiswick
£38.16
From manga and anime, to live music, fashion, street food, gaming and technology, this immersive celebration showcases the latest and greatest straight from Japan.
10am to 8pm
West Kensington
A monthly display of classic cars in Waterloo - usually attracting around 20 vehicles.
11am to 2pm
Southwark
Free
A two-day outdoor circus-style physical performance by a number of different groups.
12pm to 6pm
Victoria Dock
More London events on Saturday 20th July
Sunday 21st July
Weather permitting, at sunrise this morning, up to 50 hot air balloons will fly over central London.
6am to 9am
Free
A weekend celebrating the 70th anniversary of the famous bus - with around 80 buses on display and free local rides around the area.
10am to 6pm
Chiswick
£10.00
Pope's Grotto, in Radnor House School, will be open 13 days in 2024, and this is one of the open days.
10am to 11am
Twickenham
£11.50
Ice Sunday is the one day of the year when the Canal Museum can take visitors down into the Victorian ice wells beneath the ground floor, a unique experience.
10am to 4:30pm
Islington
£28.62
From manga and anime, to live music, fashion, street food, gaming and technology, this immersive celebration showcases the latest and greatest straight from Japan.
10am to 5pm
West Kensington
Free
A two-day outdoor circus-style physical performance by a number of different groups.
12pm to 6pm
Victoria Dock
Free
Bigger, madder and badder, this year’s event features the much-mentioned and seldom seen spectacle of the Soho Police vs. Soho Firemen TUG OF WAR!
12:30pm to 6pm
Soho
Every year, thousands of people flock to the streets around the Church to watch the procession and to participate to the feast of the Church.
Starts at 3pm
Clerkenwell
A panel discussion about James Baldwin’s iconic image, the connection between fashion and literature, and the stories behind how and why we fashion identities.
Starts at 7:30pm
Southwark
More London events on Sunday 21st July
Monday 22nd July
A guided tour of the unique and historic Stationers' Hall in the City of London.
11am to 12:30pm
City of London
More London events on Monday 22nd July
Tuesday 23rd July
On Historic County Flags Day (yes, there is such a thing), the UK's county flags will be displayed on Parliament Square.
All Day
Pimlico
Visit the beautiful gardens of Down House in the early evening when the site is closed to the public.
Starts at 5:30pm
Orpington
Online events / webinars
In this talk, Gilchrist scholar Daniel Pietersen will use newly-unearthed details of the writer's life to explore this change in fortunes
8pm to 9:30pm
More London events on Tuesday 23rd July
Wednesday 24th July
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Wednesday 24th July
Thursday 25th July
Drawing on her recent book, Emily Butterworth will introduce the figure of Queen Marguerite de Navarre, also known as Marguerite d’Angoulême.
1pm to 2pm
Soho
A talk on how fabric has shaped history with writer and cultural-historian Kassia St Clair
7pm to 8:30pm
Southwark
More London events on Thursday 25th July
Friday 26th July
A gallery-wide takeover – a Tudor extravaganza – for one night only.
6pm to 8:30pm
Soho
More London events on Friday 26th July
Saturday 27th July
A day full of discussions about the history of England during the 17th century.
10am to 4pm
Southwark
This popular community harvest is London’s only not-for-profit Pick Your Own Lavender event.
10am to 5pm
Carshalton
£20.00
A silent cinema screening with live musical accompaniment on the Wurlitzer by Donald Mackenzie.
8pm to 10pm
Brentford
More London events on Saturday 27th July
Sunday 28th July
Weather permitting, at sunrise this morning, up to 50 hot air balloons will fly over central London.
6am to 9am
The opening weekend of the Museum of the Home's new gallery with a Museum takeover.
10am to 5pm
Bethnal Green
This popular community harvest is London’s only not-for-profit Pick Your Own Lavender event.
10am to 5pm
Carshalton
A WW2-era history attraction that's open to the public once a month.
10:30am to 4pm
Watford
Once a month, the oldest building in Hackney, St Augustine's Tower is open, so you can climb up to the top.
2pm to 4:30pm
Hackney
More London events on Sunday 28th July
Monday 29th July
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Monday 29th July
Tuesday 30th July
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Tuesday 30th July
Wednesday 31st July
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
