Beyond the 9-5: The Best Things to Do in London this June

London in June is all about art exhibitions, food festivals and silent discos.

Naomi Chadderton

An experienced editor and journalist specialising in news and lifestyle.

Beyond the 9-5 is our round-up of all the best things to do in London each month. In June we’ve got the UK’s biggest design festival, plenty of West End excitement and exhibitions galore.

1Immerse Yourself in Art at the London Design Biennale

An almost month-long festival of contemporary design, this year will once more see some of the world’s most creative talents head to Somerset House under the theme ‘Surface Reflections’. Once more curated by Dr Samuel Ross MBE, founder of A-COLD-WALL* and SR_A SR_A, artists will be exploring how design is shaped by both internal experiences and external influences, revealing the multifaceted nature of human identity and creativity. Expect more than 50 participants from around the world, including national pavilions from countries such as Argentina, Japan, Nigeria, and Poland.

June 5th-29th: Somerset House. Londondesignbiennale.com

2Grab Your Dancing Shoes for a Silent Disco at London Transport Museum

For a night out with a difference, look no further than London’s Transport Museum, which will see you dance through time surrounded by historic trains and vintage buses in the heart of Covent Garden. For those who prefer to be in bed by midnight, opt for the off-peak service from 6:30pm - 9:00pm, with the beauty of the silent disco meaning you can switch between all the different DJs, who will be spinning everything from 80s and 90s to 00s across three channels, as well as a Propaganda channel for all the indie fans.

June 7th: from £25, London Transport Museum.

Promo visual for Silent Disco at London Transport Museum

3Check Out West End Live

London’s premier event for theatregoers, West End Live is back this year, once more bringing together stars from several West End musicals for free performances on a stage in Trafalgar Square. While this year’s line-up hasn’t been announced yet, previous years have seen cast members from the likes of Back to the Future, The Book of Mormon, The Choir of Man, Disney's Frozen, Hamilton, The Lion King, Magic Mike Live, Mamma Mia!, Mrs Doubtfire, Sister Act, Six and many, many more take part, so we can’t wait to see what’s in store.

June 21st-22nd: free entry, Trafalgar Square. Westendlive.co.uk

Aerial view of West End Live at Trafalgar Square

4Peruse Sophie Podolski’s Work

She may have tragically died at just 21 years of age, but visionary artist Sophie Podolski still left quite the mark on the art world. Known for her graphic poems, drawings and an unfinished novel, you can see the first solo UK exhibition of her work this June, which reflects on madness, transcendence and personal freedom through the likes of drawings, etchings and archival materials, all of which explores her radical creativity.

June 5th – August 24th: Goldsmiths CCA, New Cross.

5.Bag tickets for Evita

It’s the one we’ve all been waiting for - Jamie Lloyd’s bold take on Evita is heading to the London Palladium this June, with none other than Rachel Zegler in the spotlight, who is making her West End debut as the iconic Eva Perón. We were blown away by this production when it hit London back in 2019 - it’s hands-down one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s strongest musicals, paired perfectly with Tim Rice’s legendary lyrics – and Lloyd’s direction brings a whole new edge to it. Get those tissues ready… Argentina’s calling.

June 14th – September 6th: The London Palladium

6Eat Your Heart Out at Taste of London

One of June’s absolute highlights has to be Taste of London, the ultimate food festival that is taking over Regent’s Park with dishes from some of the city’s most talked-about restaurants. This year’s lineup is especially exciting, with newcomers like Guy Ritchie’s gastropub Lore of the Land, sleek fusion spot Akira Back, Pan-Pacific pros Los Mochis and East London favourite Bambi all joining the fun alongside chef demos, tastings, and live talks to keep you busy. Be sure to pace yourself.

June 18th-21st: Regent’s Park. london.tastefestivals.com

7Head Down to the Great Exhibition Road Festival

Get yourself down to South Kensington this June, which will be hosting the second edition of The Great Exhibition Road Festival. Bringing together some of the capital’s most esteemed museums such as The Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Parks and Imperial College London, expect a weekend of cutting-edge experiments, mind-bending technology, music, dance, art, live science shows and parades. This year we’re particularly excited about insect yoga, a butterfly carnival and the tiniest disco in the universe. You’ll have to check it out for yourself to see what we’re on about.

7th-8th June: Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD. greatexhibitionroadfestival.co.uk

Crowds at Great Exhibition Road festival

8See Edward Burra’s Long-Overdue retrospective at Tate Britain

Tate Britain is shining a spotlight on the wonderfully weird world of Edward Burra with a major retrospective this June - the first in London in four decades. Known for his bold, surreal depictions of buzzing cafés, smoky clubs and the electric nightlife of the Roaring Twenties, Burra’s work offers a vivid snapshot of a bygone era. What’s more, with over 80 pieces on show, the exhibition explores everything from his time soaking up the creative energy of Paris and Harlem to his reflections on war-torn Europe. Bonus: your ticket also gets you into the Ithell Colquhoun exhibition, running alongside, so it’s a double dose of modern British art in one go.

12th June – 19th Octover: from £17, Tate Britain. tate.org.uk