Move over dark, gloomy winter – the sun is out and summer is finally here. With longer days, brighter sunshine and warmer weather, it’s hard not to revel in the buzz and excitement of London in the summer months. Afternoons in the pub, music festivals and day trips to the beach are all within reach.
If you’re on the hunt for things to do in South London this summer – be it family-friendly summer holiday activities for the children, or a Saturday evening with friends – we’ve compiled a list of some of the top events and activities to try out in the South London area.
Mighty Hoopla 2024, Brockwell Park
A weekend of DJs, live performances and dancing with your friends – what more could you want from a summer weekend? On the first weekend of June, Brockwell Park is hosting the Mighty Hoopla 2024 music festival, showcasing a huge range of artists, including Rita Ora, Nelly Furtado, Bananarama, The Veronicas and Bambie Thug, among others.
There will also be a wide variety of food and drinks wagons to choose from – whether you’re a mac-and-cheese maniac, churros chomper or Asian food connoisseur.
Tickets are running low, however, so if you want to add this to your summer to-do list, then be sure to book yours before they run out.
Lambeth Country Show, Herne Hill
If loud music and dancing crowds aren’t really your scene, there are still plenty of community events you can get involved in this summer. Another Brockwell Park special, Lambeth Country Show is taking place on the 8th and 9th June – one of the biggest free family festivals in the UK.
The show hosts over 200 traders and exhibitors, including street food, local crafts, retail, health and wellbeing, horticulturalists, and more. Starting back in 1974, it’s widely regarded as one of the highlights in South London’s social calendar, and promises all the traditional country show entertainment – such as home-grown vegetable competitions, sheep shearing and owl displays – as well as live music and other fun family-friendly activities.
The show attracts over 120,000 people throughout the weekend and makes for a fantastic family summer day out.
Pick your own fruit and veg at Hewitts Farm, Orpington
As Lambeth Country Show has already demonstrated, it is possible to bring the joys of countryside living to London. If you’re seeking a way to help your kids reconnect with nature and get away from the screens this summer, Hewitts Farm in Orpington offers a ‘pick your own’ experience that makes for a fun day out for all ages.
The farm opens around mid-summer, opening the gates to the public to pick their own strawberries, apples, plums, courgettes and various other fruit and vegetables. Take your goods home to the family and make a delicious meal with your freshly picked produce – that is, if you don’t give in to temptation on the journey home.
Celebrate Pride in London
This is a festival that needs no introduction. Every June, London is lit up with rainbow colours as Pride festivities spill onto the streets, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. This year, the main parade will be taking place on Saturday 29th of June, starting at Hyde Park Corner and travelling through Piccadilly Circus, Haymarket, Trafalgar Square, and ending at Whitehall.
But you don’t have to travel into central London to get involved. The Pride festivities will take over London through the month of June, including a Pride after party in Clapham Junction that will host a stellar lineup of DJs, dancers and drag stars until 3am.
Become a pottery pro in Southwark
Summer is the perfect time to take up a new hobby or learn a new skill. If pottery making has always been on your must-try list, then you’re in luck, as Clare Spindler will be running a two-day masterclass in Southwark on the 15th and 16th of June.
This intermediate-level course will introduce students to techniques for making bottles and vases, including throwing taller cylinders, collaring in, bellying out, and trimming techniques. If arts and crafts is your thing, this will be the perfect summer activity to get your creative juices flowing. You can book tickets here.
Watch the Wimbledon tournament
Tennis enthusiast or not – you can’t deny that there is something about the Wimbledon tournament that brings out the patriotic enthusiasm in all of us. Luckily, London is one of the best places to soak up the atmosphere both in the lead-up and throughout the tournament.
This summer, there will be an endless supply of pub gardens, rooftops and other hospitality establishments that will be leaning into the Wimbledon hype, showing the tournament on their big screens for the local community to enjoy over a nice, cold pint.
Not sure where to watch it? Here are just a few areas scattered around London that will be showing the tournament live in action on their big screens.
Enjoy outdoor cinema at Rooftop Film Club, Peckham
Tennis isn’t the only thing that can be enjoyed on outdoor screens. Whatever your movie preference – be it a wholesome rom-com, a gripping thriller or explosive action – Peckham’s Rooftop Film Club brings the vibes, with its city skyline, starlit evenings and great selection of food and drinks.
With warmer, longer summer evenings, why not bring your friends and enjoy Rooftop’s handpicked curation of cults, classics and new releases in the open air? For those with children in tow, they also show a selection of family-friendly films such as Wonka, Harry Potter and Pixar classics like Ratatouille.
Ruskin Park Summer Fete
Nothing says summer like a traditional summer fete surrounded by friends and your local community. On Saturday 15th of June, Ruskin Park will be hosting its annual summer fete from 12pm to 6pm around the bandstand.
Enjoy live music from local bands and choirs, performances from street performers including the UK African Acrobats, hula hoop acts, and magic shows, alongside child-friendly activities like face painting and art workshops. With a great selection of food and drink, craft stalls, live performances and traditional summer fete entertainment, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Discover the best of South London this summer
There’s no better time to appreciate the blend of country and urban living in South London than during summer. From luscious green parks and community cafes to the buzzing nightlife and restaurant scene – everything you need to make the most of the warmer weather is right on your doorstep.
If you’re looking to make the move to South London this summer, or simply want some advice on the best places to go, our team are on-hand to help. Just give us a call on: 020 3519 9121