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Great things to do this summer

Large crowd gathered indoors at The Music Is Black Festival, watching a live performance in a bright event space
Created on
07 July 2026

Summer is here!

To help you make the most of summer in London, we’ve got five great outdoor events the whole family can enjoy.


Royal Docks Summer Splash

Until 16 August 2026

London's open-water lido returns this summer, bringing family-friendly fun to the heart of the Royal Docks. Enjoy lifeguard-supervised swimming, sandy play areas and relaxing spaces to unwind in the sunshine.


Inside Out Festival 2026

01 August 2026 - 31 August 2026

Discover a vibrant celebration of Caribbean heritage, explore engaging outdoor art exhibitions and enjoy incredible live music. With family-friendly activities, performances and cultural experiences taking place across Westminster throughout August for Inside Out Festival. 


Black On The Square 2026

05 September 2026

Trafalgar Square is the place to be this September as Black on The Square returns for another jam-packed edition. Enjoy tasty food accompanied by good music and workshops for the family to get involved with. This festival offers an opportunity to immerse yourself in Black culture and creativity.
 


Greenwich+Docklands International Festival

21 August 2026 - 06 September 2026

Enjoy London’s leading festival of free outdoor theatre and performing arts. This year’s theme WE MOVE features an extraordinary line-up of performances celebrating out city's spirit of resilience and community in the face of life’s myriad challenges. Featuring dance, family street theatre and much more!


The Music is Black Festival

Until 13 September 2026 

As part of the Music is Black Festival, East Bank is hosting free weekends of live music in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford. Each weekend explores a different aspect of Black British music culture. Themes include the origins of Black British music and the contributions of LGBTQ+ artists and the future of the Black music scene. Expect spoken word performances, outstanding live music and plenty of opportunities to dance!