Our Guide to London Summer Festivals

By Megan Hills

Forget Coachella and Glastonbury - don your wellies and head to the best London summer festivals below

In a city as diverse as London, it's no surprise that its music scene thrives with different genres and colourful crowds. Whether you're tuning into the heaviest electronic music, jamming to Afropunk beats or crooning along to whatever's dominating the pop charts, there's something for everyone and each outing promises an experience like no other. Check out our guide to the best London Summer Festivals you won't want to miss this year!

Image via Field Day London

Field Day

Take to London's lush green lawns and head to Victoria Park, where the alternative music festival Field Day is hosted. This year, they've added a new massive indoor stage called The Barn with Aphex Twin dominating its speakers alongside Flying Lotus, Nicolas Jaar and Nina Kravitz. You're unlikely to find anything remotely near the realm of poppy top 40s, so expect hipsters, artisan street food and a whole array of enviable outfits throughout the day. Dates: 3 June

Image via Wireless Festival

Wireless Festival

As one of the best London summer festivals, Wireless' line-up serves up a dose of urban, pop and dance music in Finsbury Park. It always attracts some of the biggest names in the business with past performers including Daft Punk, Deadmau5, Kendrick Lamarr and more tearing up their multiple stages. This year's performers have just been announced with Chance the Rapper, Skepta and The Weeknd headlining - plus a cheeky bit of Sean Paul for an early 2000s throwback. Dates: 7-9 July

Image via Lovebox Festival facebook

Lovebox Festival

While Glastonbury might be the best known British festival, London's own Lovebox festival is certainly a contender. With over ten years adding a splash of colour and bringing some of the coolest musical talents to the city, this festival runs over two days and this year's line-up is a doozy. The names and faces at this year's event include Frank Ocean, Solange, Jamie XX, Jess Glynne, Mac Miller amongst others - you'll want to get your tickets for this one quickly. Dates: Saturday-Sunday, 14-15 July

Image via Afropunk facebook

Afropunk Fest

Celebrate the power of African culture and its modern revolutionary spirit at Afropunk Fest. Originating in the US, this vibrant festival had its first UK edition last year and is returning for another round in July full of live music, dancing and food. While this year's programme hasn't been announced yet, last year's line-up included the likes of Grace Jones and Laura Mvula and we've got high hopes for this year's return. Dates: 22-23 July

Image via South West Four Festival facebook

Southwest Four

Named for the postcode that this event is held in, Southwest Four is the electro darling of London's music scene this year and demands hours of dancing from its festival goers. Combining established musicians with exciting up-and-comers, this year Deadmau5, Knife Party, Sam Feldt, Duke Dumont and Laidback Luke are just a few of the artists tearing up the decks this year. The fact that it coincides with a bank holiday promises two wild days of partying. Dates: Saturday-Sunday, 26-27 July

Continue reading

Blog

Top Spots for Christmas Ice-Skating in London

The top of our must-do list in the leadup to Christmas - check out our guide to the top spots for ice-skating in London The Christmas countdown has begun and it’s officially the festive season. With less than a month to go, we’re happy to enjoy the build up and make the most of the various events and activities going on in and around London in the meantime. One of the things that we love most about Christmas in London is that it means ice skating season! Experienced skaters and novices alike; ice skating is a great social activity in winter. It’s an excuse to don your woolly knits and strap on a pair of blades and do your best – all in the name of Christmas! There are plenty of places to go in London to get your fix, so here are some of our favourites: Natural History Museum Ice Rink Perhaps one of the most iconic ice rinks in London in the winter, the Natural History Museum is, arguably, an unbeatable backdrop for this romantic activity. Lit up at night, this ice rink is surrounded with trees draped in fairy-lights and is a great place to head with your loved one for a great selfie moment. Skate around the Christmas tree in the centre of the rink before you explore the Christmas stalls and chalets with mulled wine and chocolate treats on offer. You can’t help but feel the festive mood! From 25 October 2018 - 20 January 2019; Adult tickets from £12.65, child tickets from £8.80Underground stop: South Kensington Skate at Somerset House A favourite for local Londoners, Somerset House on the Strand is another of London’s most iconic buildings and at winter especially as it turns into something truly magical. Skate around the inner courtyard with friends and family and jig along to the sounds of a DJ on special club nights, too. Open well into the evening, Skate at Somerset House is a great way to end a day of sightseeing and enjoy an unusual night out. Wrap up warm because it could be a late one! Surrounding the rink are a variety of stalls in partnership with the luxury brand Fortnum & Mason, so you’ll be sure to taste some delicacies along the way. From 14 November 2018 – 13 January 2019; Adult tickets from £11, child tickets from £8.50Underground stop: Temple Hampton Court Palace The ice rink at Hampton Court Palace is one of our favourites for its location alone. Skating right outside this stunning royal palace, once home to King Henry VIII, you can’t beat it for a view! Why not combine a visit to Hampton Court Palace with ice skating for a really festive sightseeing experience. It’s one of the less crowded ice rinks so it might be a better option if you’re visiting with a family. If you need any more reason to go to Hampton Court Palace, just see what you can learn at this royal palace here. From 23 November 2018 – 6 January 2019; Adult tickets from £14.50, child tickets from £11.50Nearest station: Hampton Court train station Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park London’s winter playground, Winter Wonderland, is a haven for those after some festive cheer. Set in the middle of Hyde Park it’s a great place to go to get in the Christmas mood as it’s dotted with arts and craft stalls and wooden Bavarian-themed huts selling mulled wine and German sausages. You can’t miss Winter Wonderland’s outdoor ice rink either where you can skate under the bright fairground lights and ferris wheel and through this Magical Ice Kingdom. From 23 November 2018 – 6 January 2019; Adult tickets from £9.50, child tickets from £7.50Underground stops: Bond Street, Green Park, Knightsbridge, Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner, Paddington and Victoria Tower Skate With the dramatic backdrop of The Tower of London on one side, and the buzzing atmosphere of the Thames on the other, could skating at the Tower of London be any more exciting? Oh yes, you’re skating inside the moat with lights beaming against the tower walls. After your skate, relax in their Cafe Bar with mulled wine and snacks. The Tower of London has named itself the most dramatic place to skate this Christmas, and we don’t think they’re wrong. If you want to go inside The Tower of London itself, entry is included with The London Pass. From 23 November 2018 - 6 January 2019; Adult tickets from £14.50, child tickets from £10.50Underground stop: Tower Hill Skyline Skating High above the bustling crowds on Oxford Street, located on top of the John Lewis department store, is a mini ice rink and gin bar. With views of the West End skyline, live music, gin cocktails and freshly baked pies, Skyline Skating is a skate experience like no other. After your skating session, enjoy the views while listening to music with drinks and snacks in hand. The rink only fits 21 people per session so booking is recommended. From 20 October 2018 - 6 January 2019; Adult tickets from £8, child tickets from £6Underground stop: Oxford Circus
Seren Morris
Scary Attractions in London
Blog

Scary Attractions in London

If you're looking to get spooky in the run-up to Halloween, check out our picks of the best scary attractions in London and prepare for the fright of your life! Including: London Bridge Experience London Tombs Tower of London London Dungeon and more! Scary Attractions in London: London Bridge Experience If you're looking for scary attractions in London, where better to start than the one voted the scariest of them all for 11 years running? That would be the London Bridge Experience, and it's gloriously ghoulish. Buried within the vaults below the instantly recognisable London Bridge, you'll find a captivating journey into this iconic site's dark and fascinating history. This immersive adventure, led by interactive characters, provides a gripping experience that is perfect for families seeking an engaging activity in London. As you travel back through London's grim past, you'll encounter some of the city's most notorious and macabre figures, including William Wallace and Jack the Ripper. Prepare to witness, hear, and even smell the authentic ambiance of London Bridge over its 2,000-year history. If all that sounds too terrifying for your little ones - fear not. The London Bridge Experience is actually a rather tongue-in-cheek exploration of the city's macabre side, so kids will have a ghastly good time too! Scary Attractions in London: London Tombs But there's even more to the London Bridge Experience; if you dare to venture further into the bowels of hell - or just under the experience itself - you'll be in for something utterly frightful. It's called the London Tombs, and it's not for the faint of heart. The London Tombs is an immersive scare maze that's inhabited by a chilling cast of characters and creatures, ranging from clowns, doctors, zombies, dentists, butchers, and spiders, to name just a few. It promises an exhilarating and spine-tingling experience for those seeking a day out in London filled with thrills and chills. Sure, it might not be historically accurate, but around Halloween time, nothing will put the fear of god in you quite like London Tombs. "Why won't someone think of the children?" we hear you wail from behind your screen. Don't worry, they did. The London Tombs also offers 'Guardian Angel' tours that amputate all the scariest and bloodiest bits, providing a more light-hearted tour for those who may be scarred for life by killer clowns and zombies snapping at their heels. Scary Attractions in London: Tower of London Over its 900-year history, the Tower of London has garnered a chilling reputation as one of the most haunted places in the city. It is said to be the eerie home to 13 ghosts, with some of the most notable apparitions being the restless spirits of Anne Boleyn and the two ill-fated young princes. Anne Boleyn, the ill-fated second wife of King Henry VIII, met her tragic end at the Tower in 1536. Since her execution, her ghost is believed to haunt the Tower's Chapel Royal, where she is said to roam the corridors while carrying her severed head. Spooky! Anne Boleyn's apparition is among the most persistent and frequently sighted ghosts at the Tower. In 1483, the young princes, Edward V and Richard, Duke of York, were imprisoned in the Tower and mysteriously disappeared. Many suspect they were murdered as part of a plot to secure the throne for their uncle, Richard III. Over the years, there have been numerous reports of ghostly sightings of the young princes, with some witnesses claiming to have seen the spectral figures of the two boys holding hands and appearing lost in the Tower's passageways. So, while you can't take an official ghost tour of the Tower of London, you can certainly go there and see them for yourself! Scary Attractions in London: London Dungeon The "Dungeon" brand is well-known across the globe, with a handful of locations across cities in Europe. Turns out life throughout the continent was pretty grisly! So, if you want high-production value scares, along with rides that'll leave you screaming, head to the London Dungeon. Visitors will enjoy a fun, scary, and often hilarious immersive journey through 1000 years of London's history. Walk into different sets with live actors who use storytelling and theatre combined with audience participation to bring the past to life. Meet a variety of characters, from infamous criminals like Jack the Ripper, to hooded torturers whose identities remain a mystery to this day. Prepare yourself for unexpected jumps, eerie encounters, and heart-pounding moments that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. And that's before we even mention the white-knuckle rides. However, The London Dungeon is not solely about thrills; it also serves as an educational journey into the darker chapters of London's history. Gain insights into pivotal events and locations, including the Great Fire of London, the Gunpowder Plot, and the infamous Bloody Tower, ensuring that your visit is both entertaining and informative. Scary Attractions in London: Highgate Cemetery While not an attraction in itself, a visit to Highgate Cemetery should definitely be on your list of scary things to do in London! Why? Well, because it's haunted. Allegedly. And if you don't see any ghosts? Well, it's beautiful either way. The cemetery is split into two distinct sections: the East Cemetery, which you're free to roam, and the West Cemetery, which requires a guide. The East Cemetery is a mesmerising mix of ornate Victorian gravestones and tombs, where you'll find the final resting place of luminaries like Karl Marx - he's the communism guy. For an immersive experience steeped in the mystique of Highgate Cemetery, embarking on a tour of the West Cemetery is a must. Accompanied by an informed guide, you'll gain fascinating insights into the cemetery's history, its most celebrated residents, and the intriguing legends and ghostly tales from its past. Will you see the many spectres that supposedly shuffle through the cemetery? Who knows?! Scary Attractions in London: Clink Prison Museum And finally, prepare to be locked away at London's oldest and most infamous prison. It's called The Clink, and it's a brutal exploration of crime and punishment throughout London's dark history. Operating from the 12th to the 18th century, The Clink Prison gained notoriety for its harsh and oppressive conditions. The museum now stands on the original site, housing historical exhibits and displays that vividly resurrect the bleak realities of medieval and Tudor prison life in London. One of the most unsettling features of the museum is its array of replica torture devices, including the rack, the scavenger's daughter, and various implements designed for the purposes of punishment and intimidation. A close encounter with these devices serves as a stark reminder of the brutal practices of the past. And those were our picks of the best scary attractions in London! If you want to see the sunnier side of the city, check out the London Pass! Offering access to more than 70 of London's most recognisable landmarks, it's a great way to see the city and save while you're at it!
Dom Bewley
Blog

The Top Royal Weddings from History

With Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's highly-anticipated royal wedding coming up on 19 May, it's easy to see why the world is gripped by wedding fever. We've decided to take a trip down memory lane and learn more about some of the most iconic royal weddings. From Lady Diana Spencer's wedding to her son Prince William and Kate Middleton's 2011 nuptials, check out our guide to some of the best royal weddings from history Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly Where: Palace of Monaco When: 18 April 1956 It sounds like something straight out of a 50s Hollywood movie - American actress Grace Kelly was swept off her feet by Prince Rainier of Monaco and they were married just eight months later. Grace Kelly was a vision in vintage lace and silk, wearing a dress that took MGM costume designers over six weeks to craft, and they were married by the Bishop of Monaco at St Nicholas Cathedral. Instead of opting for a horse-drawn carriage like their British royal counterparts, they decided to hop in a convertible Rolls Royce to greet the public as newlyweds. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip Where: Westminster Abbey When: November 1947 Netflix aficionados and fans of The Crown, this one goes out to you. Queen Elizabeth - who was actually a princess at the time - married her distant cousin Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in 1947 at Westminster Abbey. They were married by the Archbishop of Canterbury and are said to have received over 2500 gifts, as well as 10000 global telegrams. While everything went smoothly at the ceremony, Elizabeth actually snapped her tiara right before the wedding and the royal jeweller had to be called in to fix it at the last minute. Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong Jones Where: Westminster Abbey When: May 1960 Although Princess Margaret and Captain Peter Townsend's affair is now heavily romanticised, it’s Margaret’s wedding that changed everything. It was the first ever televised wedding, drawing millions of eyeballs to her nuptials around the world, and public interest was at an all time high given that she was marrying a non-royal named Anthony Armstrong Jones, a photographer. Dressed in what was once hailed the ‘simplest royal wedding gown in history’, the marriage unfortunately didn’t last. Prince William and Kate Middleton Where: Westminster Abbey When: April 2011 When Prince William and his university sweetheart Kate Middleton were married, all of London came to a standstill. The couple were married in Westminster Abbey and it was just as grand as you'd expect it to be, complete with a royal procession, A-list celebrities and an uncharacteristically joyful Queen Elizabeth. The sight of Kate Middleton sweeping past in her unforgettable lacy Alexander McQueen dress launched the wedding dreams of thousand young women, forever setting the bar for wedding dress fashion. After the ceremony, the couple retired to Buckingham Palace and many of the day's most iconic photographs were snapped as they stepped out onto one of its balconies to wave at the public. Diana Spencer and Prince Charles Where: St Paul's Cathedral When: July 1981 Although Diana and Charles didn't have the happiest of marriages, their wedding day was a landmark occasion. They were married in St Paul's Cathedral in a traditional and was widely hailed as 'the wedding of the century', attracting over one billion viewers across the world. While the wedding was largely traditional, one major change the couple made was a massive step forwards: they both decided to remove the word 'obey' from Diana's vows, breaking with tradition. The couple were married for over a decade, then separated in 1992 before their divorce was finalised in 1996. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Where: Windsor Castle When: May 2018 Although this wedding hasn't happened yet, we're betting it's going to go down in history. There's a lot of excitement for Harry and Meghan's nuptials as Harry is largely viewed as one of the most progressive members of the royal family, setting an example for the modern monarchy. They will be married in Windsor Castle in May and are expected to attract an eclectic crowd, from politicians through to Meghan's own Hollywood friends. Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock Where: Monaco Palace When: 2011 Kate and Will weren’t the only royals to captivate the primetime. In the same year, Prince Albert II of Monaco married Olympian Charlene Wittstock (who was rumoured to have tried to run away a few days before the wedding). Luckily, she stuck around to marry her beau in a three day shindig that cost a jaw-dropping $70 million and attracted the likes of Naomi Campbell. Did we mention they paid for The Eagles to perform? King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk and Jetsum Pema Where: Bhutan When: 2011 Another 2011 marriage (was something in the water?), this time on the other side of the world. King Jigme, also known as Bhutan’s Dragon King, married Jestun Pema in a lavish three day ceremony that featured performances by over 500 people spanning several hours. His wife took to the spotlight well, signing autographs after the nuptials, and the King seemed smitten and said: ‘It doesn’t matter when you get married, as long as it is to the right person. I am certain I am married to the right person.’ Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan and Crown Princess Salama Where: Abu Dhabi When: 1981 Go big or go home appears to be something Sheikh Mohammed really took to heart. The royal really splashed out on his ceremony and even built a 20,000 seat stadium specifically to host the seven days of celebrations, costing a lavish $100,000. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert Where: Chapel Royal, St James’ Palace When: 1840 Casting our minds way back to the 1840s, Queen Victoria’s wedding to her cousin Prince Albert was an absolute trend-setter. Rather than the colourful wedding dresses that were the norm at the time, she broke with tradition and opted for a big white dress, paired with a lace veil and orange blossom hair accessory. Sound familiar? Well, her wedding had such an impact that she wound up kickstarting the whole wedding white dress tradition.
Megan Hills

Have a 10% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.

  • Thick check Icon