June in London is buzzing with excitement as festival season kicks off and some much-loved events return. From Southbank Centre's Meltdown festival, curated by the legendary Chaka Khan, to the delightful lunchtime Jazz Series at Cadogan Hall. Add in the Sundance Film Festival and the revival of Open Water Swimming, and you've got a month packed with fantastic activities. Here's our selection of things to do in London this June.

Chaka Khan's Meltdown Festival

#FLODown: Iconic musician Chaka Khan will host the Meltdown 2024 festival at the Southbank Centre, celebrating her illustrious 50-year career. The 10-day summer event promises diverse acts across jazz, R&B, and soul. Expect hit performances by Emeli Sandé, Todrick Hall, and more. Khan kicks off the festival with classics like Ain’t Nobody and closes with the Nu Civilisation Orchestra. With free gigs and family-friendly events, Khan aims for a joyous, inclusive celebration.

Click here for the full programme of events.

Date: 14 - 23 June 2024. Location: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX.

June at the BFI

#FLODown: In June, the BFI will host a variety of film festival celebrations, including Chasing the Real: Italian Neorealism, a two-month season exploring the post-war movement through 20 films from directors like Vittorio De Sica; Tigritudes: A Pan-African Film Cycle, featuring a chronological selection of Pan-African cinemas through 128 films from 42 countries produced from 1956 to today; and Focus Hong Kong, celebrating both old and new Hong Kong cinema. Additionally, Refugee Week (17 to 23 June) will centre around the theme ‘Our Home,’ and the London Indian Film Festival (26 June to 3 July) will mark its 15th edition with premieres from South Asian indie filmmakers and British Asian talent, concluding with a finale at the BFI IMAX. 

Date: throughout June. Location: BFI Southbank, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XT. Website: bfi.org.uk.

Ernest Cole: House of Bondage

#FLODown: The Photographers’ Gallery will showcase the ground breaking work of South African photographer Ernest Cole, who exposed the brutal reality of apartheid. Born in 1940, Cole documented the injustices faced by Black South Africans, fleeing the country in 1966. His banned book, House of Bondage, became iconic, shedding light on apartheid's violence. The exhibition features over 100 photographs, including previously unpublished works, curated in collaboration with Magnum Photos.

Date: 14 June – 22 September 2024. Location: The Photographers’ Gallery 16–18 Ramillies Street London W1F 7LW. Price: £8 / £5 concessions (members go free) Advance online booking: £6.50 / £4 concessions. Book now.

Click here to discover more must see visit art exhibitions in London in June.

Sundance Film Festival London

#FLODown: Sundance Film Festival: London 2024 arrives in June at Picturehouse Central, featuring 11 premieres from the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, UK short films, and repertory titles. Opening with Kneecap, depicting the true story of rap group Kneecap's role in a civil rights movement, and closing with Dìdi (弟弟), exploring the lives of first-generation teenagers in California's Bay Area.

Date: 6 -9 June 2024. Location: Picturehouse Central, London. Price: There are three pass options: Festival Pass (£75 early bird, £80 full price) with 5 ticket credits, VIP Festival Pass (£450 early bird, £500 full price) including free tickets, and Industry Pass (£110 early bird, £125 full price). Book now.

Summer Garden Lates at Chelsea Physic Garden

#FLODown:Experience the enchantment of jazz at Chelsea Physic Garden this summer. Enjoy soulful music in London's oldest botanical garden while lounging on a picnic blanket. Delight in light snacks from the Physic Garden Café as you listen to emerging jazz talent Lauren Bush, who seamlessly blends traditional jazz with contemporary flair. Alcohol is available for purchase onsite, and the event will proceed rain or shine, so dress accordingly.

Date: 9 June 2024. Time: Doors open at 6:30pm. Performances start at 7pm - 9pm. Location: Chelsea Physic Gardens, 66 Royal Hospital Rd, London SW3 4HS. Price: Individual £20, Ticket Admission for two is £35. Concessions available. Book now.

The Great Exhibition Road Festival

#FLODown: The Great Exhibition Road Festival is a free annual celebration of science and the arts held each summer in South Kensington. This weekend event offers a variety of activities for all ages, including hands-on workshops, fascinating talks, performances, and installations from surrounding institutions such as Imperial College London, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the V&A. There will also be a selection of global cuisine and performances from the Royal College of Music and Royal Albert Hall. 

Date: 15 -16 June 2024. Location: Exhibition Road in South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ. Price: Free. Book now.

Hampton Court Palace Festival

#FLODown:The Hampton Court Palace Festival returns this month with a star-studded line-up across multiple nights of incredible entertainment. The festival has announced performances from renowned acts such as Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Tom Jones, Sam Ryder, Sheryl Crow, Deacon Blue, and Paloma Faith, promising an unforgettable series of events in the great Tudor Courtyard and East Front Gardens.

Date: 11-22 June 2024. Price: from £46.75. Location: Hampton Court Palace,Hampton Ct Way, Molesey, East Molesey, KT8 9AU. Book now.

Click here to explore more London festivals this summer.

The Secret Garden

#FLODown: Regent's Park Open Air Theatre will present The Secret Garden, a new adaptation by Holly Robinson and Anna Himali Howard. This adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic tale follows 10-year-old Mary Lennox, who is sent from India to live with her uncle in Yorkshire. At Misselthwaite Manor, Mary discovers a neglected garden and, through her efforts to revive it and make new friends, she begins to heal herself and those around her. The cast includes Hannah Khalique-Brown as Mary Lennox and Jack Humphrey as Archibald Craven.

Date: 15 June – 20 July 2024. Location: Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, The Regent's Park, Inner Cir, London NW1 4NU. Price: from £15. Book now.  

Out to Lunch at Cadogan Hall

#FLODown: Get ready for a jazz-filled summer as Cadogan Hall's lunchtime jazz series, Out to Lunch, makes its return! Experience an incredible lineup of jazz artists delivering exceptional performances. Whether you can stay for the full two hours or just drop in for a while, you're sure to be treated to some outstanding music. Enjoy the distinctive prog-jazz style of the Emily Francis Trio, along with other talented acts like The Dim Notes, the Fraser Smith Quartet, and much more.

Date: 4 June - 30 July 2024. Time: Noon - 2pm. Location: Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, London SW1X 9DQ. Price: Seated tickets: £5,  Standing: free but ticketed. Book now.

Marylebone’s 20th annual summer festival

#FLODown:Marylebone's Summer Festival marks its 20th anniversary on June 9 with a day packed full of family-friendly activities. Join in the fun with shopping, dining, a community dog show, fitness challenges, a pop-up mini golf course, live music, and alfresco dining.

Date: 9 June 2024. Time: 11am-5:30pm (until 8pm in Paddington Street Gardens). Location: Marylebone. Price: Free. Website: marylebonevillage.com. 

 Independent Bookshop Week 2024

#FLODown: Independent Bookshop Week 2024 will be held from 15 - 22 June, celebrating independent bookshops across the UK and Ireland. Launched in 2006, this event emphasises the importance of these bookshops in their communities and promotes local shopping for summer reads. Over 700 bookshops will participate, and you can get involved by visiting your local independent bookshop, organising a Bookshop Crawl, and sharing your purchases on social media using @booksaremybag and #IndieBookshopWeek.

Date:15 - 22 June 2024. Website: booksaremybag.com.

Open Water Swimming

#FLODown: Canary Wharf is bringing back open water swimming to Middle Dock this summer, catering to swimmers of all abilities aged 10 and above. In collaboration with Love Open Water, residents, visitors, and workers can enjoy a refreshing swim with views of iconic landmarks. Click here for more.

Date: 13 June – end October 2024. Location: Middle Dock, Canary Wharf, London E14.

Click here to discover more swimming spots in London this summer. 

Flamenco Festival at Sadler’s Wells

#FLODown: The Flamenco Festival returns to London with ten UK premieres and performances at Sadler's Wells Theatre and the Lilian Baylis Studio. Highlights include Rocío Molina's Al Fondo Riela, Vicente Amigo's blend of classical and nuevo flamenco, Patricia Guerrero and Alfonso Losa's Alter Ego, Eva Yerbabuena's career retrospective Yerbagüena, and Israel Fernández's latest album Pura Sangre. Ballet Nacional de España presents Invocación, celebrating Spanish dance. The Lilian Baylis Studio features Sara Jiménez's Ave de Plata and performances by Florencia Oz, Isidora O’Ryain, and María José Llergo. Supported by various cultural institutions, Flamenco Festival London 2024 offers a vibrant celebration of flamenco culture.

Date: 4 - 15 June 2024. Location: Sadler's Wells Theatre, Rosebery Ave, London EC1R 4TN. Price: from £15. Book now. 

Wandsworth Arts Fringe 2024

#FLODown: Wandsworth celebrates 15 years of vibrant culture with over 130 events across 40 diverse venues. Experience new theatre, experimental dance, music, comedy, and electrifying cabaret nights. From parks to pubs, Wandsworth Arts Fringe (WAF) showcases bold artistry and sets the stage for the boroughs year as London's Borough of Culture 2025. Click here to discover events for WAF 2024.

Date: 7 - 23 June 2024. Location: London Borough of Wandsworth.

Alfesco Arts

#FLODown: Experience art outdoors this summer with Alfresco Arts in Canary Wharf. From June to August, enjoy a variety of performances and activities across the parks and open spaces. The theatre series, curated by The Space Theatre, features modern twists on classics like King Lear and vibrant celebrations for Pride Month. Families can join in the fun with workshops, interactive shows, and ballet performances in the family programme. Plus, unwind to the sounds of jazz trios and string quartets during the Music Series' lunchtime classicals in Jubilee Park.

Date: 6 June – 28 August  2024. Location: Jubilee Park and Crossrail Place Roof Garden. Website: canarywharf.com.