The ianVisits guide to July's unusual events, tours, lectures and exhibitions happening around London.
Monday 1st July
The most exciting underground band of their generation, join Stephen Morris and Jon Savage to revisit this extraordinary time, drawing on their new books on the band
7pm to 8:30pm
Camden
More London events on Monday 1st July
Tuesday 2nd July
A sensory, symphonic voyage through subterranean Madrid meets a night on the 1950s London Underground. Two cinematic trips into the depths of the hidden metropolis.
All Day
Barbican
This lecture focuses on an extraordinary pair of pictures painted by the prominent English artist Michael Andrews in the early 1960s, in which he juxtaposes a mass of visual elements taken from various photographic sources.
6:30pm to 7:45pm
St James
This talk explores the ambitious set design and creative process behind the director's final film.
6:30pm to 8pm
Kensington
More London events on Tuesday 2nd July
Wednesday 3rd July
Hear how NASA are addressing and overcoming the engineering challenges to get man on Mars.
6pm to 7:30pm
Vauxhall Bridge
£10.00
Join Adam Zamoyski as he examines whether Napoleon’s reputation as a military genius is justified.
6:30pm to 8pm
Chelsea
More London events on Wednesday 3rd July
Thursday 4th July
A brief overview of the changing and diverse nature of women policing over 102 years.
1pm to 2pm
Holborn
This talk will explore the relationship between Anglicanism, fiction and women’s writing, and be followed by a launch for the book.
6pm to 7:30pm
Southwark
Drawing on his work at Pew Research Center, Conrad Hackett will reveal the state of religious identity and commitment in Europe, before a panel discusses the implications for how different communities co-exist in modern society.
6:30pm to 7:45pm
Strand
A panel of experts will explore the ways Leonardo understood observation and drawing while combining art and science in every aspect of his work.
7pm to 9pm
Whitehall
More London events on Thursday 4th July
Friday 5th July
Free
A traveling vintage fairground visits Hornsey with steam powered rides.
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Hornsey
The Museum of London will open up part of the derelict Smithfield meat market buildings to show off the plans for its new home.
5am to 9am
Barbican
The Archbishop's garden is open for a few hours each month between April and September.
12pm to 3pm
Southwark
A talk about the efforts that went into a summer of music concerts in Hyde Park in 1969.
2pm to 3:30pm
Richmond
The event includes free drop-in manga drawing workshops facilitated by award-winning manga artist Kutsuwada Chie, a cosplay 'COSParade' presented by HYPER JAPAN, live music performances by Ichikawa Hibiki and DJ Takaki, sake tasting, as well as a very special manga-inspired fashion presentation.
6pm to 9:30pm
Russell Square
More London events on Friday 5th July
Saturday 6th July
Free
A traveling vintage fairground visits Hornsey with steam powered rides.
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Hornsey
Free
An annual family event for the whole community and takes place every year on the first Saturday in July.
Starts at 12am
Fulham
A walk around the boundaries of the old parish boundary pointing out boundary markers, features and buildings of historic note on the way.
All Day
The Museum of London will open up part of the derelict Smithfield meat market buildings to show off the plans for its new home.
10am to 4pm
Barbican
A delightful old barn now packed full of "clutter" that's oddly enjoyable to visit.
10:30am to 4pm
Upminster
Visit the distillery home, meet the Hayman family and sample their True English Gins
2pm to 6pm
Balham
Monthly open day at one of London's more curious and delightful museums, devoted to the history of the sewing machine.
2pm to 5pm
Tooting
As usual, not sure of the reason, but a note that there will a firework display in the Royal Albert Dock.
10:25pm to 11:05pm
More London events on Saturday 6th July
Sunday 7th July
Free
A traveling vintage fairground visits Hornsey with steam powered rides.
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Hornsey
The Museum of London will open up part of the derelict Smithfield meat market buildings to show off the plans for its new home.
10am to 4pm
Barbican
£10.50
A rare opportunity to visit the Claremont's island by boat, full of mysterious hideaways and historical importance.
11am to 4pm
Esher
A monthly opening of the Victorian museum of industrial testing equipment.
11am to 5pm
Southwark
Occasional open day at the heritage windmill in Croydon.
12pm to 5pm
Croydon
Free
With live music, the Canary Woof Dog Show, KidZone, face painting, games, street food, market stalls, fire engines, fitness and much, bell ringing, Petanque and much more.
12pm to 5pm
Poplar
At almost two hundred years old, Northfields Allotments is London's oldest allotment site.
1pm to 5pm
West Ealing
Monthly(ish) open days at 250 acres of the estate originally laid out by Capability Brown.
1pm to 5pm
Reigate
More London events on Sunday 7th July
Monday 8th July
£10.00
A day of talks and discussion on aspects of English grammar
9:30am to 5pm
Camden
The Museum of London will open up part of the derelict Smithfield meat market buildings to show off the plans for its new home.
4pm to 8pm
Barbican
More London events on Monday 8th July
Tuesday 9th July
Join British writer and broadcaster Sir Christopher Frayling for this keynote lecture on Ken Adam's set designs for Stanley Kubrick’s films.
6:30pm to 8pm
Kensington
More London events on Tuesday 9th July
Wednesday 10th July
A short procession in full ceremonial garb by the Worshipful Company of Vintners from their Livery Hall to the local church.
Starts at 11:30am
Three London’s Air Ambulance crew members will each give a short talk, followed by time for questions.
6pm to 7:30pm
Whitechapel
More London events on Wednesday 10th July
Thursday 11th July
Carrie de Silva charts the extraordinary career of Irene Barclay (1894-1989), the first woman chartered surveyor.
1pm to 2pm
Holborn
Free
This illustrated talk will discuss the LCC's wide ranging role in meeting Londoners' needs for leisure, pleasure and entertainment.
2pm to 3pm
Clerkenwell
A behind the scenes tour of the Southbank Centre for insights into the history of the site and the people who have shaped it.
6pm to 7pm
Southwark
An informal evening talk about Big Ben and the Elizabeth Tower.
6:30pm to 8pm
Whitehall
£4.60
Lilian Edwards, Professor of Law, innovation and society at Newcastle Law School, explores the rise of deepfakes in this Turing Lecture.
Starts at 6:30pm
Barbican
The captivating story of cracking the code of Egyptian hieroglyphs
7pm to 8:30pm
Camden
Author Wendy Moore will talk about the society doctor who held Victorian London spellbound.
8pm to 11pm
Southwark
More London events on Thursday 11th July
Friday 12th July
£21.00
A three day festival of all things Japanese. Prices vary depending on the day/time you visit.
All Day
West Kensington
An evening lecture by Olenka Horbatsch, curator of Rembrandt: thinking on paper.
Starts at 12am
Russell Square
Dr Katy Mair will explore the cultural significance of her writings, and shine a light on her personal creativity, with an accompanying document display.
2pm to 3:30pm
Richmond
A chance to go into the normally private gardens in the medieval monastery by the Barbican
5:30pm to 8:30pm
Clerkenwell
Following a screening of documentary film 'Spirit of Discovery', join Helen Czerski and a panel of experts to explore how science can inform policy on protecting our oceans.
7pm to 9pm
South Kensington
More London events on Friday 12th July
Saturday 13th July
£21.00
A three day festival of all things Japanese. Prices vary depending on the day/time you visit.
All Day
West Kensington
Occasional open day at a 14th century building in Ilford.
10am to 2pm
Ilford
Monthly opening of the only surviving windmill in inner London.
10am to 4pm
Brixton
Occasional opening of the Transport Museum's Acton Depot - this time themed for younger visitors.
11am to 5pm
Acton
A local fete will take place in Wapping, which also includes a fairly rare chance to visit the Police Museum.
12pm to 6pm
Wapping
£3.50
Traditional local village fete, with aircraft flypast.
Starts at 12pm
Orpington
More London events on Saturday 13th July
Sunday 14th July
£21.00
A three day festival of all things Japanese. Prices vary depending on the day/time you visit.
All Day
West Kensington
Monthly opening of the only surviving windmill in inner London.
10am to 4pm
Brixton
Think gourmet food, community ping pong tables, a selection of children’s fairground rides - plus - a kids music and dance stage and a visiting Fair
11am to 6pm
Battersea
Occasional opening of the Transport Museum's Acton Depot - this time themed for younger visitors.
11am to 5pm
Acton
Join award-winning science writer Angela Saini as she dissects the political roots of race, why scientists can’t seem to look beyond it, and the dark and dangerous ways in which scientific racism persists to this day.
3pm to 4:30pm
Holborn
More London events on Sunday 14th July
Monday 15th July
Free
Legend has it that the weather today will set the weather for the next forty days.
All Day
This talk expounds the deeply politicizing nature of the experiences of the workers at the Port of Calcutta during the Second World War
6:15pm to 7:30pm
Camden
From ancient Egypt to the iPhone, join Keith Houston in tracing the history of the punctuation marks, symbols and other typographical signs that add meaning to our words - and which sometimes do just the opposite.
7:15pm to 8:30pm
Camden
More London events on Monday 15th July
Tuesday 16th July
£16.00
In November 2018, the Bank of England asked the public to nominate a scientist to be the next face of the £50 note. Join us to explore how science will be celebrated on the final note in the first series to be issued on polymer.
7pm to 8:30pm
Hanover Square
More London events on Tuesday 16th July
Wednesday 17th July
Free
Annual tradition that sees a fleet of road vehicles parade though the Guildhall to be branded by the Lord Mayor with an annual letter mark.
10am to 12pm
City of London
Twenty-first century London contains some of the finest book collections in the world, but what about the libraries that haven’t survived?
6:30pm to 8pm
City of London
Using contemporary images and video, and bringing along 50-year-old models, newspapers and other materials, and drawing on his considerable knowledge of the Apollo programme, Jerry will give his personal view of this incredible voyage of exploration.
7pm to 8:30pm
South Lambeth
More London events on Wednesday 17th July
Thursday 18th July
A talk by Lisa Wright who was one of the first women to be ordained in March 1994 and also one of the first ordained deacon seven years before that in 1987.
1pm to 2pm
Holborn
This year’s event will celebrate storytelling, inspired by the interesting stories behind the independent businesses in Portman Marylebone.
5pm to 10pm
Join Seb Emina, Vivien Godfrey, and Charlie Connelly as they consider what makes a good travel book and our relationships with them.
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Made in 1955 this bizarre and wonderful film tells the extraordinary adventure of Ben Carlin, who circled the world, over land and sea, in his rusting amphibious jeep.
7pm to 9pm
Soho
Alec Forshaw, author of An Address in Bloomsbury will talk about the extraordinary developments and changes that this famous street has witnessed over the centuries
7:30pm to 9pm
Farringdon
More London events on Thursday 18th July
Friday 19th July
Discover the secrets that lie behind, or rather underneath, the Charterhouse.
10:30am to 12pm
Clerkenwell
An evening of exhibitions, experiments, lectures, tours and family-friendly workshops exploring elements across art, history and science at Burlington House.
6pm to 10pm
Picadilly
£15.00
Author Paul Baker joins former Music Hall superstar Ida Barr (the comedy creation of Christopher Green) and her special guests for an evening of conversation and fun celebrating Polari, the camp language of gay men.
7pm to 8:30pm
Camden
More London events on Friday 19th July
Saturday 20th July
A note that a steam train will leave Waterloo Station in the morning, returning in the evening.
All Day
Southwark
Chance to go up on a roof in the center of London.
10am to 4pm
Soho North
A weekend of events at "Europe's largest Japanese food hall" to mark it's 1st birthday.
10am to 10pm
Shepherds Bush
A delightful old barn now packed full of "clutter" that's oddly enjoyable to visit.
10:30am to 4pm
Upminster
Annual open weekend to show off the excavated remains of a Roman bathhouse.
11am to 4pm
St Mary Cray
Free
Watch a tall tower built in Guildhall Yard on Saturday, and demolished on Sunday
11am to 6pm
City of London
Waterloo Classics is a monthly classic car show/meet in central London.
12pm to 4pm
Southwark
Open day to visit the garden overlooking Bank in the City of London.
12pm to 8pm
City of London
Free
Annual show that was more country fair and is now a general music and beer fest.
12pm to 8pm
Herne Hill
A street party down Frith Street to mark the birthday of the famous Jazz Club.
12pm to 6pm
Soho
More London events on Saturday 20th July
Sunday 21st July
Monthly tours of the City of London Cemetery & Crematorium
Starts at 10am
Manor Park
Chance to go up on a roof in the center of London.
10am to 4pm
Soho North
An opportunity to have a look at the buildings and engines, to take in the exhibition and learn something of the Victorian sewer system.
10:30am to 4pm
Abbey Wood
Annual open weekend to show off the excavated remains of a Roman bathhouse.
11am to 4pm
St Mary Cray
A range of events at Crystal Palace, which includes tours of the Victorian subway.
11am to 2pm
Upper Norwood
Annual open day including catacomb tours. Get there early as the catacomb tours (£5) tend to sell out very quickly.
11am to 5pm
West Brompton
Free
Watch a tall tower built in Guildhall Yard on Saturday, and demolished on Sunday
11:30am to 2pm
City of London
A weekend of events at "Europe's largest Japanese food hall" to mark it's 1st birthday.
11:30am to 9pm
Shepherds Bush
Open day to visit the garden overlooking Bank in the City of London.
12pm to 4pm
City of London
Free
Annual show that was more country fair and is now a general music and beer fest.
12pm to 8pm
Herne Hill
Each open day will be individual to the station, but there will be a fire engine on display for everyone to have a good look at, and may be even get in!
12pm to 4pm
Whitechapel
£2.00
The London Gaming Market is a place to buy retro video-games, board games and merchandise.
Starts at 12pm
Euston
Go up to the 14th floor, where they have an outdoor running track.
1pm to 5pm
Open day at one of the largest surviving historic estates in Surrey.
1pm to 5pm
A chahar-bagh (four-part) garden delineated by a central fountain, and channels of water, on the roof opposite the V&A Museum.
3pm to 5:30pm
South Kensington
Watch the Italian church's annual procession, and buy typical Italian products from different gastronomic stands.
Starts at 3:30pm
Clerkenwell
More London events on Sunday 21st July
Monday 22nd July
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Monday 22nd July
Tuesday 23rd July
The man behind the conical bustier: Jean Paul Gaultier reflects on his decades at the forefront of fashion and latest creation Fashion Freak Show in conversation with TV presenter Anita Rani.
6pm to 7pm
Southwark
A talk by City of London Guide Julian Romain
Starts at 6:30pm
Whitechapel
A screening and talk about the cult classic sci-fi movie
Starts at 7pm
Homerton
LGBTQ+ people have often gravitated towards libraries in search of self and community, but why? What does it mean to be queer in the library?
7:15pm to 8:30pm
Camden
More London events on Tuesday 23rd July
Wednesday 24th July
Get hands on with the hidden treasures of Fulham Palace's collection.
11am to 12pm
Fulham
Don’t feed the plants… Just sit back and relax at this outdoor screening of the creepy musical film starring Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene.
Starts at 9:15pm
Southwark
More London events on Wednesday 24th July
Thursday 25th July
Hear the best in new classical and experimental music to the City skyline for two free events.
6pm to 9pm
In this illustrated talk, Palin will recall the last days of the USSR, and his time spent there.
7:30pm to 8:30pm
Richmond
More London events on Thursday 25th July
Friday 26th July
An evening of contemporary and classic film shorts inspired by the Moon—and the universe beyond.
7pm to 8:45pm
South Kensington
More London events on Friday 26th July
Saturday 27th July
Visit the c.1397 Grade 2 listed ‘threshing’ barn, over 100ft x 40ft in size, with a fine crownpost roof.
10:45am to 1pm
Rickmansworth
Go to Morden Hall Park and get given a plant that was previously seen at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
11am to 4pm
Morden
£12.00
A special close-up look at the Transport Museum’s poster collection and some of the artworks behind the posters.
Starts at 11am
Acton
Monthly open day at a wood and nature reserve that's next to the railway at Forest Hill.
1pm to 4pm
Forest Hill
Dr Jackie Hall is offering a tour of the Cathedral, using recent research undertaken by her as Southwark Cathedral Archaeologist as her starting point.
1pm to 2:30pm
Southwark
More London events on Saturday 27th July
Sunday 28th July
A monthly open day at a quirky transport museum housed in an old water pumping building.
10am to 4pm
Enfield Town
Take part in a creative workshop, talk to our artists and production team, get a closer look at our set designs, and try conducting the City of London Sinfonia.
12pm to 5pm
Kensington
Each open day will be individual to the station, but there will be a fire engine on display for everyone to have a good look at, and may be even get in!
12pm to 4pm
Streatham
Semi-regular days where they fire up a Victorian steam engine.
12:30pm to 4:30pm
South Tottenham
Monthly open day at a site of an important railway wildlife reserve.
1pm to 5pm
Forest Hill
Discover the history of the building and climb the 135 stairs for the best view of Hackney.
2pm to 4:30pm
Hackney
£13.75
Revisit some of your favourites such as The Poddington Peas and Bodger & Badger, with special guests.
3pm to 5pm
Southwark
Paul Baker describes Polari's linguistic nuts and bolts, explores the ways it was spoken and tells of its unlikely re-emergence in the twenty-first century.
3pm to 4:30pm
Holborn
More London events on Sunday 28th July
Monday 29th July
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Monday 29th July
Tuesday 30th July
An evening of cultural insight, top travel tips and Japanese whisky tasting.
7pm to 8:15pm
Soho
More London events on Tuesday 30th July
Wednesday 31st July
£10.08
Theodore Gin's brand ambassador will take guests through a journey of different scents and explain the many links between perfume and gin.
6:30pm to 7:45pm
City of London
Free
Mark the 50th anniversary of Armstrong and Aldrin’s famous first steps on the Moon with a special Space Lates.
6:45pm to 10pm
South Kensington
A panel debate about why people believe the moon landing conspiracy theories.
7:30pm to 9pm
South Kensington
