June is set to go off in a big way, with plenty in the capital to celebrate summer arriving.
Whether the sun decides to show its face or not, this month is sure to be a huge one, with both Trooping the Colour and the Naked Bike Ride landing.
A number of exciting exhibitions are also launching in June, including the Royal Academy’s annual summer showcase and a new draw from Somerset House.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg — these are the things that should be on your radar this month.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Bridge Theatre
Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie will take on the role of Titania in a new adaptation A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Bridge Theatre. She’ll be joined on stage by Oliver Chris as Oberon, and Hammed Animashaun as Bottom, in the ethereal production directed by Nicholas Hytner. Audiences can expect to be fully immersed in the show, with the stage is at the centre of the space. Those wanting to go one step further can opt for the "pit", which means standing for the performance and being ready for any audience participation.
June 3-August 31, Bridge Theatre, SE1 2SG, bridgetheatre.co.uk
Opera Holland Park
Opera Holland Park’s summer programme kicks off this month, with two new shows. Opening the season is Puccini's Manon Lescaut, with Elizabeth Llewellyn in the title role and Peter Robinson conducting. The story follows a convent girl who becomes a courtesan then a convict, and who struggles to choose between a life of luxury or love. Further ahead, Verdi's Un Ballo In Maschera will follow, exploring a love triangle against a background assassination plot.
From June 4, Opera Holland Park Theatre, W8 6LU, operahollandpark.com
Junction 2
This two-day dance music event returns to Boston Manor Park with Bicep, Giles Peterson and Ricardo Villalobos all due to appear. The festival boasts five different stages, with Fabric XX hosting one of them, with series of events celebrating the Farringdon club’s 20th anniversary. Other acts on the bill include Daniel Avery, Ben UFO and Adam Beyer.
June 7-8, Boston Manor Park, TW8 9JU, junction2.london
Prince Party at the Spread Eagle
The Spread Eagle, London’s 100 per cent vegan pub, will be throwing a themed birthday party on June 7. The bash is dedicated to music icon Prince, playing his greatest hits until late in the evening. They’re going all out too, with a one-off purple Prince taco as well as Raspberry Beret cocktails.
June 7, 224 Homerton High St, E9 6AS, thespreadeaglelondon.co.uk
World Naked Bike Ride London
London is bracing itself for a whole lot of nudity, as the World Naked Bike Ride returns to protest car culture and celebrate the human body. The event, now in its 16th year, sees hundreds of cyclists bike in the buff and has a carnival-like feel to it, with lots of riders opting for body paint or fancy dress. Different starting areas allow for participants to opt for either a short ride or a longer one, but all routes eventually merge to form a core circuit taking bikers from Westminster Bridge to the end point at Hyde Park.
June 8, throughout London, for more information visit wnbr.london
Open Garden Squares
Open Garden Squares weekend offers the public exclusive access to private green spaces across the capital, from community allotments to gardens belonging to historic buildings. More than 100 outdoor spaces are participating in the event, with spaces including the Community Garden at Tate Modern and Cannon Bridge House Roof Gardens welcoming guests.
June 8-9, across London, for more information visit opensquares.org/2019
Trooping the Colour
June is big month for royal lovers as the Queen officially celebrates her 93rd birthday. Trooping the Colour is Her Majesty’s birthday parade, made up of more than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians. The route runs from Buckingham Palace along the Mall to Horse Guards Parade and back again. Those looking to catch the action should head to the Mall or the edge of St James's Park for prime viewing spots — best get there from 9am to secure a top position.
June 8, Horse Guards Parade, SW1A 2AX, royal.uk/trooping-colour
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
It wouldn’t be June without the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, and this year marks its 251st birthday. The 2019 show has been curated by British painter Jock McFadyen and will see around 1200 works on display, picked out from roughly 16,000 entries. Big name artists set to appear include Frank Bowling, Tracey Emin, Phyllida Barlow and Wolfgang Tillmans.
June 10-August 12, Royal Academy, W1J 0BD, royalacademy.org.uk
London Seafood Festival
Back for a second year, the London Seafood Festival returns to Battersea Power Station on June 12 for five days, promising masterclasses, supper clubs and plenty of tasty treats. Big names on this year’s line-up include Vivek Singh, of renowned Indian restaurants the Cinnamon Club and the Cinnamon Collection group, as well as Darjeeling Express chef and Chef’s Table star Asma Khan.
June 12-16, Battersea Power Station, SW8 5BN, londonseafoodfestival.com
Kaleidoscope: Immigration and Modern Britain at Somerset House
A new exhibition at Somerset House will explore identity and immigration in Britain through photography. It's set to showcase the work of 10 photographers who were born or based in Britain, with family origins abroad, depicting their experience of what it’s like to live as an immigrant – or a descendant of an immigrant – in the UK.
June 12- September 8, Somerset House, WC2R 1LA, somersethouse.org.uk
Sh!t-faced Shakespeare: Hamlet
Another Shakespeare show is landing in the capital this June, this time with a boozy twist. The Sh!t-faced Shakespeare gang are back with their latest interpretation, this time of Hamlet. Each performance consists of one intoxicated cast member, while the others actors work around their drunken detours. Expect plenty of improvisation and some quick script changes.
From June 19, 6 Leicester Place, London WC2H 7BX, shitfacedshakespeare.com
Taste of London
Kym’s, Brigadiers and Hoppers are among some of the capital's best-loved restaurants serving up plates at this annual food festival. Around 40 restaurants have confirmed for the event, which will take place in its usual spot in Regent’s Park. All dishes will be priced at less than £10, with highlights including the curry cheese bao from the Taiwanese fluffy-bun experts Bao, and a crab doughnut “Cornetto” from Club Gascon. Elsewhere, there will be an artisan market, live cooking demonstrations and a selection of of bars.
June 19-23, Regent's Park, NW1 4NR london.tastefestivals.com
Queen's Park Book Festival
Around 80 authors will descend on Queen’s Park for a literary festival later in the month. Writers on the bill this year include Howard Jacobson, Jonathan Coe, Sadie Jones, John Lanchaster and Linda Grant. The event will also see talks from McMafia writer Misha Glenny, former Labour leader Ed Miliband, broadcaster and writer Simon Mayo, columnist Marina Hyde, and Seamus Heaney’s daughter Catherine Heaney.
June 29-30, Queen's Park, NW6 6SG, queensparkbookfestival.co.uk
Cricket World Cup Breakfast at Brigadiers
To kick off a big summer for cricket fans, Indian barbecue haunt Brigadiers will host all-day menus and live screenings during the sports season. For the first time, during live screenings of all England and India matches, a Cricket World Cup Breakfast a la carte menu will be on offer, with dishes including masala scrambled hens egg dosa with coconut chutney, or tandoor smoked salmon kedgeree, with poached egg.
Throughout June, 1-5 Bloomberg Arcade, EC4N 8AR, brigadierslondon.com
TT Liquor Italian Supper Club
Towards the end of the month, east London spot TT Liquor will host four Italian supper clubs in partnership with Strazzanti. The four-course dinner will include antipasti plates such as pork belly and mozzarella croquettes and tomatoes with fresh buffalo ricotta served on E5 Bakehouse bread. The food is set to come with cocktail pairings that demonstrate the evolution of the Negroni.
June 26-29, 17B Kingsland Rd, E2 8AA,
