London

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-museums-amp-galleries">Museums &amp; Galleries </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="791" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.27.06-1024x791.png" alt="Marilyn Monroe at National Portrait gallery " class="wp-image-17517" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.27.06-1024x791.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.27.06-300x232.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.27.06-768x593.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.27.06.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Marilyn Monroe, by Cecil Beaton, 22 February 1956, NPG x40269, © Cecil Beaton Archive</figcaption></figure>



The big exhibition this month is <a href="https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/2026/marilyn-monroe-a-portrait" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait</a> at the National Portrait Gallery (4 June–6 Sept). In celebration of Monroe’s 100th birthday, it explores the life and legacy of the star, including snaps by era-defining photographers like Cecil Beaton and Eve Arnold, books, scripts, clothes and paintings of the pin-up by Andy Warhol.



The annual culture fest that is the <a href="https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/summer-exhibition" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Summer Exhibition</a> at the Royal Academy of Arts opens this month (16 June-23 Aug). It&#8217;s been going for more than 250 years and features more than 1000+ artworks including big name artists like Tracey Emin, and some of it&#8217;s for sale if you&#8217;re feeling flush. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="916" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.38.07-1024x916.png" alt="Frida: The Making of an Icon, Tate Modern " class="wp-image-17518" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.38.07-1024x916.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.38.07-300x268.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.38.07-768x687.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.38.07.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



You&#8217;re going to be busy browsing this month, because another hot date for you diary is <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DTu43j8E-F3/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frida: The Making Of An Icon</a> at Tate Modern (25 June–3 Jan), an in-depth exhibition revealing how Frida Kahlo became an international artist and cultural phenomenon, with more than 130 works to check out, including paintings by artists inspired by Kahlo, plus photos and memorabilia. 



We&#8217;ll also be snapping up tickets for <a href="https://www.saatchigallery.com/exhibition/the-sun-and-the-moon-art-inspired-by-the-celestial" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Sun and Moon: Art Inspired By The Celestial</a> at the Saatchi Gallery (5 June-8 Sept), because we can never get enough of Luke Jarram&#8217;s Helios, s six-metre replica of the sun. 



If you&#8217;re looking for some outside culture, head to Serpentine South Gallery, where every summer an architect&#8217;s invited to create a pavilion &#8211; this year the honour&#8217;s gone to Mexican studio <a href="https://www.serpentinegalleries.org/whats-on/serpentine-pavilion-2026-by-isabel-abascal-and-alessandro-arienzo-lanza-atelier/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LANZA Atelier</a> which launches on 6 June. 



We’ll also be popping into the&nbsp;<a href="https://qbcentre.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quentin Blake Centre For Illustration</a>, which opens on 5 June&nbsp;in a former factory in Clerkenwell and will be the world’s largest space dedicated to illustration. As well as three galleries, there’ll be free public gardens, a library, cafe and shop – sounds like a good day out to Muddy.



And, if you&#8217;ve got time for even more art, don&#8217;t miss <a href="https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/anish-kapoor/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anish Kapoor at the Hayward Gallery</a> (16 June-18 Oct), showcasing more than a decade&#8217;s worth of the sculptor&#8217;s monumental work. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-theatre-amp-movies">Theatre &amp; movies </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="586" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-02-at-17.23.31-1024x586.png" alt="The Misanthrope " class="wp-image-19137" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-02-at-17.23.31-1024x586.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-02-at-17.23.31-300x172.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-02-at-17.23.31-768x440.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-02-at-17.23.31.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



June&#8217;s hot ticket? <a href="https://muddystilettos.tixculture.com/london/shows/46246-the-misanthrope" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Misanthrope</a> at the Lyttelton Theatre (16 June–1 Aug), starring Emmy and Golden Globe nominated Sandra Oh (Killing Eve). This will be the A-lister&#8217;s debut at the National Theatre and she&#8217;ll be leading the cast of Martin Crimp’s blistering new version of Moliere’s greatest comedy,&nbsp;The Misanthrope. Directed by Indhu Rubasingham (The Father and the Assassin),&nbsp;this witty spotlight on the shallowness and vanity of contemporary celebrity is a must-see retelling of a centuries-old comedy classic.



<a href="https://muddystilettos.tixculture.com/london/shows/46142-sinatra-the-musical" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sinatra The Musical</a> opens at the Aldwych Theatre (3 June-1 Aug) and will be serving all the favourites along with a dramatic plot about this love for his wife Nancy and movie goddess, Ava Gardner. We&#8217;ll also be booking tickets for <a href="https://muddystilettos.tixculture.com/london/shows/46821-arcadia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arcadia</a> at the Old Vic (20 June-12 Sept), Tom Stoppard’s masterpiece linking 1809 and present day via maths, history, truth and sex – the attraction Newton left out. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="679" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-20-at-08.03.30-1024x679.png" alt="Romeo &amp; Juliet " class="wp-image-17904" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-20-at-08.03.30-1024x679.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-20-at-08.03.30-300x199.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-20-at-08.03.30-768x509.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-20-at-08.03.30.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



June&#8217;s also your last chance to see Stranger Things&nbsp;star Sadie Sink (aka Max) star in <a href="https://muddystilettos.tixculture.com/london/shows/18792-romeo-&amp;-juliet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Romeo &amp; Juliet</a> at the Harold Pinter Theatre (ends 6 June), Rebecca Lucy Taylor (aka singer Self Esteem) in <a href="https://muddystilettos.tixculture.com/london/shows/45248-teeth-n-smiles" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Teeth ‘n’ Smiles</a> at the Duke of York’s Theatre (ends 6 June) and Rosamund Pike in <a href="https://muddystilettos.tixculture.com/london/shows/45564-inter-alia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Inter Alia</a> at Wyndham&#8217;s Theatre (ends 20 June). 



<a href="https://openairtheatre.com/whats-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Open Air Theatre</a>&nbsp;at Regents Park is a London institution and there&#8217;s a fabulous line up this summer, including&nbsp;Sherlock Holmes&nbsp;(2 May-6 June), followed by&nbsp;A Life In Four Seasons&nbsp;(11-14 June) and&nbsp;A Midsummer Night’s Dream&nbsp;(20 June-18 July).



If you want more roofless antics,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shakespeare’s Globe</a>&nbsp;on the South Bank has launched a strong programme: <a href="https://muddystilettos.tixculture.com/london/shows/46231-mother-courage-and-her-children-globe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mother Courage and Her Children</a>&nbsp;starring Michelle Terry (runs until 27 June),&nbsp;A Midsummer Night’s Dream&nbsp;(24 May-29 Aug) and&nbsp;<a href="https://muddystilettos.tixculture.com/london/shows/24622-much-ado-about-nothing-or-globe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Much Ado About Nothing</a>&nbsp;(11 June &#8211; 24 Oct). Mozart’s&nbsp;Così fan tutte&nbsp;(28 May-13 June) and Lewis Carroll’s&nbsp;Alice in Wonderland&nbsp;(19-27 June) are the highlights this month at al fresco&nbsp;<a href="https://operahollandpark.com/season-and-events/2024-season/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Opera Holland Park</a>. 



And if you want to watch a movie al fresco, Adventure Cinema is coming to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.adventurecinema.co.uk/venues/kew-gardens" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kew Gardens</a>&nbsp;with screenings of&nbsp;Wicked, Jurassic Park&nbsp;and an&nbsp;Encanto&nbsp;sing-a-long from 18-21 June.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music-amp-festivals">Music &amp; Festivals </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-12-at-07.16.06-1024x667.png" alt="Harry Styles Meltdown festival " class="wp-image-19447" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-12-at-07.16.06-1024x667.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-12-at-07.16.06-300x195.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-12-at-07.16.06-768x500.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-12-at-07.16.06.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Yes, the rumours are true, everyone’s favourite pop star has been invited to curate Meltdown at the Southbank Centre this summer AND he’ll also be performing. <a href="https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/events/meltdown/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harry Styles’ Meltdown Festival</a> (11-21 June) is the 31st Meltdown and past stars who have overseen the festival include David Bowie in 2002 and Yoko Ono. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/hampton-court-palace-festival-.jpg" alt="Hampton Court Palace " class="wp-image-72592" /></figure>



As if we needed an excuse to mooch around Henry VII’s not-so-humble abode, <a href="https://hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hampton Court Palace Festival</a>&nbsp;(10–20 June) is back with two weeks of groovy music in the palace gardens. With headliners like Elvis Costello, Pete Tong and The Stranglers, it’s no surprise tickets are already selling out – go, go, go!



<a href="https://www.bst-hydepark.com/line-up/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BST Hyde Park</a>&#8216;s kicks off this month (27 June-12 July), and the BST gigs are really varied this year, including Mumford &amp; Sons, Garth Brooks and, err, Pitbull (bald head cap optional).



If you fancy belting out some show tunes, turn up to <a href="https://www.westendlive.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">West End Live at Trafalgar Square</a> (20-21 June) where professionals from some of London&#8217;s top musicals will be performing, for FREE. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-amp-quaff">SCOFF &amp; QUAFF </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="671" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-29-at-10.35.18-1024x671.png" alt="A taste of London food festival " class="wp-image-21752" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-29-at-10.35.18-1024x671.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-29-at-10.35.18-300x197.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-29-at-10.35.18-768x503.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-29-at-10.35.18.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Taste of London Food Festival </figcaption></figure>



Based in a former Notting Hill bank built in the 1950s, <a href="https://kinzrestaurant.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kinz</a> in Notting Hill&#8217;s USP is that the former bank vault has been converted into a wine room with dining. Last month&#8217;s opening was delayed, so there&#8217;ll be even more of a buzz when it finally flings its doors wide on 1 June. It&#8217;s a two-floored Lebanese restaurant with a day time deli, and you’ll be able to eat there from morning to night. Kick off with a Lebanese breakfast, then drop by for late night baked aubergine with pine nuts, tomato, yoghurt and pita. 



More fine dining delights this month can be had at <a href="https://london.tastefestivals.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A Taste of London Food Festival</a> (17-21 June) in Regent&#8217;s Park, featuring lots the capital&#8217;s top London restaurants (think Sexy Fish, Oblix at the Shard and Roti King), plus bars, cookery schools, DJs and live music.

Jump into June! All the best things to do in London this month

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