London


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-see-this-exhibition">SEE THIS EXHIBITION </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>



<p>Form an orderly queue for the opening weekend of <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&nbsp;<strong>National Portrait Gallery (4 June–6 Sept</strong>). 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.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-visit-this-new-cultural-centre">VISIT THIS NEW CULTURAL CENTRE </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="617" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/Unknown-1-1024x617.jpeg" alt="Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration " class="wp-image-21867" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/Unknown-1-1024x617.jpeg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/Unknown-1-300x181.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/Unknown-1-768x463.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/Unknown-1.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>We’ll also be popping into the <a href="https://qbcentre.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quentin Blake Centre For Illustration</a>, which opens on<strong> 5 June</strong> in a former factory in Clerkenwell. It&#8217;s flagged as being  the world’s largest space dedicated to illustration and, as well as three galleries, there’ll be free public gardens, a library, cafe and shop – sounds like a good day out to Muddy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-go-see-this-musical">GO SEE THIS MUSICAL </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/CS200121-1024x768.jpg" alt="Sinatra the musical " class="wp-image-21868" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/CS200121-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/CS200121-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/CS200121-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/CS200121.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Do it your way and go see <em><a href="https://muddystilettos.tixculture.com/london/shows/46142-sinatra-the-musical" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sinatra The Musical</a></em>, which has just opened at the <strong>Aldwych Theatre</strong> (<strong>3 June-1 Aug</strong>) and will be serving all the favourites along with a dramatic plot about Frank&#8217;s love for his wife Nancy<em> and</em> movie goddess, Ava Gardner.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-see-the-new-serpentine-pavilion">SEE THE NEW SERPENTINE PAVILION </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="638" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/SP_aerial_LANZA-1024x638.png" alt="Lanza Pavilion at the Serpentine " class="wp-image-21877" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/SP_aerial_LANZA-1024x638.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/SP_aerial_LANZA-300x187.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/SP_aerial_LANZA-768x478.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/SP_aerial_LANZA.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>If you’re looking for some al fresco culture, head to Serpentine South Gallery in Kensington Gardens this weekend for the opening of the new pavilion. Each summer an architect’s invited to create a new structure and this year the accolade&#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 has taken its design inspiration from a Suffolk architectural feature known as a &#8216;crinkle-crankle&#8217; wall (alternating curves). Who knew! Launches on <strong>6 June</strong>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-see-multiple-galleries">SEE MULTIPLE GALLERIES </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="976" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-02-at-15.26.32-976x1024.png" alt="Rachel Maclean " class="wp-image-21883" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-02-at-15.26.32-976x1024.png 976w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-02-at-15.26.32-286x300.png 286w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-02-at-15.26.32-768x805.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-02-at-15.26.32-1465x1536.png 1465w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-02-at-15.26.32.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 976px) 100vw, 976px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Artist Rachel Maclean</figcaption></figure>



<p>Pull on your trainers because it&#8217;s <a href="https://londongalleryweekend.art" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">London Gallery Weekend </a><strong>(5-7 June</strong>) and you&#8217;re going to be hitting at least 10,000 steps in a bid to see them all. Now in its 6th year, the event brings together some of the capital&#8217;s most forward-thinking galleries, with plenty of exciting openings and events &#8211; we&#8217;ve got our eye on artist Rachel Maclean&#8217;s (pictured) walkthrough of her exhibition <em>The Enchantment of Reason</em> at <a href="https://joshlilleygallery.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Josh Lilley</a> (<strong>5 June</strong>). </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-last-chance">LAST CHANCE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-1-2-1024x768.jpeg" alt="Teeth and Smiles" class="wp-image-17897" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-1-2-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-1-2-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-1-2-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Unknown-1-2.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>THREE star-studded shows are closing this weekend after critically acclaimed runs. Saturday&#8217;s the final time <em>Stranger Things</em> star Sadie Sink (aka Max) will tread the boards in <em><a href="https://muddystilettos.tixculture.com/london/shows/18792-romeo-&amp;-juliet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Romeo &amp; Juliet</a></em> at the<strong> Harold Pinter Theatre</strong>, while the curtain&#8217;s also closing on 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"><em>Teeth ‘n’ Smile</em>s</a> at the <strong>Duke of York’s Theatre (also ends 6 June)</strong>. Finally, Lesley Manville (<em>Phantom Thread</em>) AND Aidan Turner (<em>Rivals</em>) will have their final clinch in <em><a href="https://muddystilettos.tixculture.com/london/shows/45580-les-liaisons-dangereuses" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Les Liaisons Dangereuses</a></em>, <strong>Lyttleton Theatre</strong> on Saturday (<strong>6 June</strong>). </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-ways-to-fill-your-weekend-here">More ways to fill your weekend here&#8230;</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://london.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/best-art-exhibitions-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">5 unmissable London exhibitions to see in 2026</a></li>



<li><a href="https://london.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/june-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">June guide to London </a></li>



<li><a href="https://london.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/arts-culture/stars-on-stage-celebrity-theatre-to-book-now-and-later-in-the-year/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Celeb theatre to book now</a></li>
</ul>


8 brilliant things to do in London this weekend

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