By Luke Chapman
There's no better place than London in the sun
This summer, the City of London is coming to life with a huge range of events, from live music to discussions, and even a retro-gaming event. There’ll certainly be something you can get stuck into across the coming summer months.
A Summer of Music
A number of areas have some great live music on offer for this summer, from Cheapside’s Summer of Music to Engel’s very own showcase with Whispering Angel, the City is set to come alive over the coming months
Cheapside Sounds of Summer: So far we’ve had a DJ on the steps of the Royal Exchange, steel drumming in the sun (and more), and there’s still more to come! Find the full programme and get involved before the end of July.
The Engel Summer Terrace: On Thursdays and Fridays in July, Engel Terrace are bringing live music to accompany some gorgeous weather, and their famous hotdogs. A range of names will be coming to the Royal Exchange, so get more info and get on down.
Leadenhall Live: Brand new to the City, Leadenhall Live has brought us a huge programme of events across July, and it’s not over just yet! We went down to the Michael Sebastian concert, and it was stunning. Make sure to check out the rest of the lineup.
Engel at The Royal Exchange.
A Sporty Summer
Sport is well and truly taking over the square mile this year. We’ve had Wimbledon in the glorious sun, some of the best pubs showing off the Women’s Euros, and now Sports Fest is well underway.
London Sports Festival: With events across most of the City, you can get involved in some free football, table tennis, padel, padel tennis and more. We managed to visit Aldgate’s Bucketball Lunch event, and you absolutely do NOT want to miss out on this glorious sport too!
Sky High Retro Gaming: Okay, so maybe running around and getting sweaty in the gorgeous sunshine (fingers crossed) isn’t your thing, well, how about some e-sports? You can head to this monthly meet-up of retro gaming in Aldgate, for cocktails, competition and games!
Padel by London Sports Festival.
An Artistic Summer
Not only is the City full of activities, but you can also get your culture fix this summer with a huge range of arts happening in the coming months.
Sculpture in the City: Launched just this week, the new season of Sculpture in the City has landed, and it’s a brilliant one. From huge murals across the Leadenhall Building stairs to a small bench plaque with an important message, you can see the full information on their website and create a trail in your spare time!
London Festival of Architecture: While LFA2025 has come to a close, a number of the installations are sticking around post-June to bring even more culture to the square mile. 'Whispers' over on Fleet Street will be remaining over summer, while the 'Stories of Aldgate' exhibition will be up until the end of August. Make sure to view the full programme within the City of London.
The Leadenhall Markets: Take part in culture, and bring some home! Leadenhall Market are hosting markets every month to showcase the best solo artists around, and for vintage clothing and furniture. Go shopping in one of London’s most iconic marketplaces, and bring home some gold this summer.
Feel the Sound: The Barbican is the centre of art in the City, and this summer will be no different. Currently, they have a ‘Feel the Sound’ exhibition, inviting visitors to explore audio in ways you’ve never seen before.
Dendrophiles (2025), The Leadenhall Building, Sculpture in the City 14th ed. Copyright Jane and Louise Wilson, Courtesy of Maureen Paley, London and 303 Gallery New York. Photo: © Nick Turpin