June Super Seven 2023

National Portrait Gallery re-opens on 22 June with a First Look Festival. Headlined by Sir Paul McCartney, this month long festival has talks, workshops, DJ sets to experience and celebrate the new space. There are also two new restaurants to check out. Daisy Green group open up Larry’s downstairs and Richard Corrigan takes over the roof top restaurant.

Diva at the V&A opens 24 June | Expect the era of the Diva to be celebrated in style.

Royal Academy Summer Exhibition opens 13 June | Is summer even summer without the RA Summer exhibition?

Sir John Soane Museum | The museum is opening its architectural drawing rooms for the first time in its 200 year history. They are the oldest surviving example of its kind. 20 min tours available are free on a first-come first-served basis.

Serpentine Gallery opens 9 June | The 22nd Pavillion opens À table, designed by French-Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh. Free to visit.

Trooping the Colour 17 June | The official date of The Sovereign’s birthday and this is The King’s Birthday Parade. If you are in London it is a great opportunity to see London at its finest for pageantry. The ceremony kicks off at 10am and the flypast at 1pm.

Beating the Retreat 5-7 July get your tickets for the ‘Orb and Sceptre’ – a musical firework spectacular at Royal Horseguards is a night to remember.

Green fingers.. I’ve got something for you all.

Open Gardens 2023 10-11 June An opportunity to visit lots of little private gardens not usually open to the public.

Chiswick House are opening their Kitchen Garden on 11 June as part of Open Garden weekend with tea making and other events. Open Garden tickets required (£20 Adults and children under 11 free).

Waddesdon Manor | This month Joana Vasconcelos’ extraordinary 12-metre-tall Wedding cake opens, and will be well worth a day trip!

Botanical Art and Photography show at Saatchi Gallery. In collaboration this is when the artists compete for the all important RHS medal. Tickets £5

Daylesford Summer Festival 17-18 June | Celebrate 20 years of organic farming in The Cotswolds at what promises to be a fabulous weekend with dog shows, hot air balloon rides (subject to weather) and lots of food. Tickets £25.

London Design Biennale & Eureka at Somerset House 1-25 June | This annual exhibition in London is always inspiring. This year has been described as ‘an interactive, musical and kinetic exhibition of design and design-led innovation from across the globe.’ Tickets from £23 concessions available.

West End Live 17-18 June | A fabulous opportunity to see and be tempted by London musicals on stage in Trafalgar Square.

Kids Week is back… with every full paying adult, kids go free to a ton of west end shows. Get the link to sign up on my theatre blog post.

WoW House at The Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour 5 June – 6 July | Interior decorators have been let loose to design 18 full sized rooms designed and decorated by leading world class designers. A host of talks and tours to inspire and inform.

The Cosmic House | Holland Park. I was lucky enough to visit The Cosmic House last month. It is a place of architectural beauty that was once a private house and is now a museum. If you love art deco this is a dream place to visit. Open Wednesday to Friday 12.30-5.30 and only 15 visitors at a time, it makes visiting very exclusive. Sign up to the Cosmic House newsletter which is due in June for tickets. On their last newsletter tickets sold out within an hour. You have been warned.

Summer by the River  next to Tower Bridge June – Sept | Food trucks, live music, movie nights begin this month at The Scoop. They will also be showing Wimbledon matches, and following the Lionesses on their World Cup journey this summer.