The ianVisits guide to June's unusual events, tours, lectures and exhibitions happening around London.
Thursday 1st June
Experience live stone carving by stonemasonry apprentices and students, have-a-go at lettering and carving in stone.
10am to 5pm
Barbican
Bombproof vaults, a cavernous library and shelves upon shelves of natural history treasures. A behind-the-scenes tour.
2pm to 3:30pm
Picadilly
A monthly late opening of the restored Roman temple found near Bank in the City of London in the 1950s, and recently restored to its original subterranean location.
5pm to 8pm
City of London
On the first Thursday of the month, Holborn's Novelty Automation has a bar in the store for their late-night opening.
6pm to 9pm
Holborn
Free
This talk will consider Dance’s scheme and its visual afterlives not simply as relics of a failed planning exercise, but as examples of a ‘paper architecture’ that helped to configure expectations about London’s future form.
6:30pm to 8pm
Euston
Dr Clare Smith will be examining the depiction of murder and murderers in art, and considering art that has been produced by murderers.
7pm to 8:15pm
Covent Garden
Former Christmas Lecturer Helen Czerski explores on of the earth's most complex systems: the ocean.
7pm to 8:30pm
Hanover Square
Online events / webinars
Join curators Jessica Harrison-Hall and Julia Lovell as they introduce the context, scope, themes and highlight objects of the extraordinary Citi exhibition, China’s hidden century.
4:30pm to 5:30pm
More London events on Thursday 1st June
Friday 2nd June
Experience live stone carving by stonemasonry apprentices and students, have-a-go at lettering and carving in stone.
10am to 5pm
Barbican
Professor Juliette Pattinson explores the formation of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry and its service during the First World War.
12pm to 1pm
Chelsea
Once a month from June to September, the normally private gardens at Lambeth Palace are opened to the public.
12pm to 4pm
Southwark
Discover the revelatory and vibrant story of measurement which will make you see the world around you differently.
7pm to 8:30pm
Hanover Square
£10.00
Join some of the most influential voices in the food family for a lively discussion exploring why food is such a powerful tool for queer community building, resistance and celebration.
7:15pm to 8:30pm
Camden
Online events / webinars
Contemporary Specialist Mark Dunton draws on our rich archival sources to take you through the year, 60 years ago, when the Sixties truly started to swing.
2pm to 3pm
More London events on Friday 2nd June
Saturday 3rd June
A few weeks before the King's official birthday parade, there's a rehearsal of the Trooping the Colour.
9am to 1pm
Whitehall
Ffree entry to the Musical Museum all day to launch the 1980s exhibition.
10am to 4pm
Brentford
Occasional open day at a museum of domestic "clutter" housed in an old farm barn.
10:30am to 4pm
Upminster
This summer London's fire stations be opening their red doors to the public for a number of open day events across London.
12pm to 4pm
Plaistow
More London events on Saturday 3rd June
Sunday 4th June
This annual event is steeped in history and a wonderful opportunity to see the gentle giants of the horse world in action.
10am to 5pm
Enfield
Monthly open day at the museum to London's first international airport - in Croydon.
10am to 4pm
Croydon
Visitors to the mill are given a full guided tour covering the history, operation and principal features of Shirley Windmill.
11am to 4pm
Croydon
This summer London's fire stations be opening their red doors to the public for a number of open day events across London.
Starts at 12pm
New Malden
More London events on Sunday 4th June
Monday 5th June
Ahmadreza Schricker discusses his newest project, the transformation of the abandoned Argo beer factory in downtown Tehran into a new museum, artist residency and cultural centre
5pm to 6:30pm
Farringdon
We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us. Lord Gus O’Donnell talks about life in Number 10, hosted by Peter Murray OBE
6:25pm to 8:15pm
Fleet Street
Isabella Rossellini, Adam Rutherford, Lucy Cooke and Sabrina Imbler rethink animal sexuality
7pm to 8:30pm
Camden
In conversation with Martha Lane Fox.
7:15pm to 8:30pm
Camden
More London events on Monday 5th June
Tuesday 6th June
At this Heritage Late you can experience what that might have been like by getting inside a modern ‘iron lung’ called the Exovent.
6pm to 8pm
Regent Street
A journey into the heart of Soho with acclaimed artist and writer Darren Coffield and biographer Lilian Pizzichini.
Starts at 7pm
Soho
What does it take to be a TV chef and does the reality live up to fiction?
7pm to 8:30pm
Camden
More London events on Tuesday 6th June
Wednesday 7th June
The Thames Flood Barrier is closed once a month for test purposes, where all the gates are closed at the same time.
9:35am to 12:05pm
Woolwich
This groundbreaking guide will take you through the city streets to uncover the scandalous, hilarious and empowering events of London’s queerstory.
6:30pm to 8pm
Soho
Online events / webinars
Paperclips, biscuits and pockets – join Helen Pilcher in celebrating the joy of the small yet mighty inventions that make our world go round.
7:30pm to 8:30pm
More London events on Wednesday 7th June
Thursday 8th June
Came and see St John the Baptist, Holland Road which is one of the most remarkable churches in London.
11am to 12:15pm
West Kensington
Join Robin Ince and a panel of scientists to explore how the biggest experiments on Earth can help us unravel the cosmos's deepest mysteries.
6:30pm to 8:30pm
St James
This lecture traces how medieval Christian images of Jews, originally designed to aid religious devotions, made Christians look at Jews with new curiosity and interest
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Bloomsbury
An evening of debate with acclaimed historians Dr Nicola Tallis, Nathen Amin and Matthew Lewis who will give their own theories on what happened.
6:30pm to 8pm
Southwark
Online events / webinars
A talk about the individuals who mentored the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability in its early years.
1pm to 2pm
More London events on Thursday 8th June
Friday 9th June
Free
Explore propaganda in the British Civil Wars with Jason Peacey, as he highlights the role that pamphlets and newspapers played in the lives of soldiers of all ranks.
12pm to 1pm
Chelsea
£18.00
An evening of Art Deco decadence and 1930s entertainment while exploring LGBTQ histories.
7pm to 10pm
Eltham
Online events / webinars
This talk explores the finest examples of medieval illumination found in the collections at The National Archives.
2pm to 3pm
More London events on Friday 9th June
Saturday 10th June
£21.80
A weekend where over a hundred normally private garden squares and spaces open to the public.
All Day
Free
This exhibition presents the stories of Londoners of African, Caribbean, Asian and Indigenous heritage who lived and worked in the city between 1560 and 1860 and are recorded in London’s archives.
10am to 4:30pm
Clerkenwell
£6.00
The Festival will feature re-enactments of the Battles of Barnet 1471 and the Second Battle of St Albans 1461.
10:30am to 5pm
Arkley
You should be aware that a thousand or so people will be cycling around London wearing, well, rather less than is usual.
11am to 4pm
£7.50
The Horniman Gardens is hosting 13 specialist plant nurseries and a diverse line-up of gardening experts in its 16 acres of displays and parkland
11am to 4pm
Forest Hill
This event brings together around 40 of the leading antiquarian map dealers as well as hundreds of visiting dealers, collectors, curators and map aficionados from all parts of the world.
12pm to 7pm
South Kensington
Free
The Fair in the Square is a free community event that showcases local businesses, organisations and societies with stalls around Pond Square and along the length of South Grove.
12:30pm to 5:30pm
Highgate
Twickenham and Thames Valley Beekeepers' Association is pleased to announce that there will be an Open Day at the apiary.
1pm to 4pm
Twickenham
Free
The show hosts over 200 traders and exhibitors including street food from around the world, local crafts, retail, health and wellbeing, horticulturists and much more.
1pm to 9pm
Herne Hill
Explore the curious corners of your amazing body.
2pm to 3:15pm
Hanover Square
Astronomer Chris Impey takes us on a journey of space exploration to discover the latest research into life beyond our planet.
7pm to 8:30pm
Hanover Square
The Bow Bells will ring on 10th June 2023 as the Museum of London Docklands marks its 20th anniversary with a street party celebrating the history, cultures and communities of the East End.
Starts at 7pm
Poplar
More London events on Saturday 10th June
Sunday 11th June
This event sees heritage buses dating from the 1940s to 1970s running alongside the normal daily service on route 65, Ealing to Kingston and on route 71 between Kingston and Chessington.
All Day
£21.80
A weekend where over a hundred normally private garden squares and spaces open to the public.
All Day
£13.52
A celebration of all things motoring with club stands, displays and to meet fellow enthusiasts.
9:30am to 5pm
Keston
This event brings together around 40 of the leading antiquarian map dealers as well as hundreds of visiting dealers, collectors, curators and map aficionados from all parts of the world.
10am to 6pm
South Kensington
£6.00
The Festival will feature re-enactments of the Battles of Barnet 1471 and the Second Battle of St Albans 1461.
10:30am to 5pm
Arkley
For one day only Marylebone High Street and its surrounding streets will be traffic free with over 80 stalls from independent brands across fashion, food and beverage, wellness, lifestyle, and homeware.
11am to 5:30pm
Marylebone High St
This annual fair will host over 60 antique, vintage and art dealers in addition to the 18 antiques shops and galleries on Church Street.
11am to 5pm
St John's Wood
This summer London's fire stations be opening their red doors to the public for a number of open day events across London.
Starts at 12pm
Camden
Free
The show hosts over 200 traders and exhibitors including street food from around the world, local crafts, retail, health and wellbeing, horticulturists and much more.
1pm to 9pm
Herne Hill
A short film about North London’s overground sections of the Northern Line High Barnet Branch and its predecessor the Northern Heights Railway.
Starts at 1:30pm
East Finchley
More London events on Sunday 11th June
Monday 12th June
Computer scientist Anne-Marie Imafidon explores how women can seize their deserved place at the tech table.
7pm to 8:30pm
Hanover Square
More London events on Monday 12th June
Tuesday 13th June
Dr Helen Wickstead will reveal her study of these rare and collectable books bringing the streets of post-war Soho - and the characters who inhabited them - back to life.
Starts at 7pm
Soho
£17.03
Discover the latest on the geopolitical space race and its implications for the future of humanity.
7pm to 8:30pm
Hanover Square
More London events on Tuesday 13th June
Wednesday 14th June
Campaigner, writer and teacher Chris Searle will be discussing his new
memoir 'The World is in Our Words'.
6:30pm to 8pm
Bethnal Green
Stop judging yourself by the standards of a neurotypical world with comedian Ria Lina and Roxanne Emery and Richard Pink of ADHD Love
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
Online events / webinars
Join acclaimed comedian and military history enthusiast Al Murray as he discusses his book, Command – an enthralling and accessible account of World War II's key Allied commanders.
7:30pm to 8:30pm
More London events on Wednesday 14th June
Thursday 15th June
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Thursday 15th June
Friday 16th June
Occasional open weekend at the London Transport Museum's overflow depot in Acton.
11am to 3:30pm
Acton
Join Dr Gregory Fremont-Barnes as he explores one of the most decisive battles in British history: Waterloo.
12pm to 1pm
Chelsea
Meet the community of over 100 artists living and working in east London.
6pm to 9pm
Bow
More London events on Friday 16th June
Saturday 17th June
The King's official Birthday parade with flypast over Buckingham Palace.
9am to 1pm
Whitehall
Livery companies from across the City will compete in rolling large oak barrel casks around the Guildhall.
9am to 1pm
City of London
Tour an historic Grade II listed water tower with views of the Kings Cross area and St Pancras station.
10am to 4pm
Kings Cross
Hermitage Community Moorings is a cluster of boats next to Tower Bridge that hosts an occasional open weekend to let the public onboard for a look around.
11am to 4pm
Wapping
The British Academy's annual Summer Showcase is a free, one-day festival of ideas for curious minds.
11am to 5pm
St James
Free
A host of West End shows will put up free performances in Trafalgar Square as part of the West End Live event to show off Theatreland's offerings.
11am to 5pm
Trafalgar Square
Free
As per tradition, Hanwell Carnival will kick off with a procession from Hanwell Community Centre to Elthorne Park, where there will be music, food, fairground rides and much more.
11am to 6pm
Hanwell
Meet the community of over 100 artists living and working in east London.
11am to 5pm
Bow
Occasional open weekend at the London Transport Museum's overflow depot in Acton.
11am to 3:30pm
Acton
A two day festival of science in the road between the Sth Kensington museums.
12pm to 6pm
South Kensington
Looks to be an annual summer village fete held in the large park next to Denmark Hill.
12pm to 6pm
Camberwell
More London events on Saturday 17th June
Sunday 18th June
A tour covering the whole of the Gardens, including the sites of the earlier houses, the Walled Garden and a large part of the existing Mansion.
Starts at 10am
North Weald
Hermitage Community Moorings is a cluster of boats next to Tower Bridge that hosts an occasional open weekend to let the public onboard for a look around.
11am to 4pm
Wapping
Occasional open weekend at the London Transport Museum's overflow depot in Acton.
11am to 3:30pm
Acton
A two day festival of science in the road between the Sth Kensington museums.
12pm to 6pm
South Kensington
Free
A host of West End shows will put up free performances in Trafalgar Square as part of the West End Live event to show off Theatreland's offerings.
12pm to 5pm
Trafalgar Square
More London events on Sunday 18th June
Monday 19th June
An annual ceremony that will see a rose paraded through the City of London.
10:30am to 12pm
City of London
More London events on Monday 19th June
Tuesday 20th June
A talk about Peter Lake, Professor of History at Vanderbilt, one of the most distinguished writers on English religion after the Reformation.
5pm to 7pm
Southwark
In this presentation, Wickham Clayton will take you through this historical context and the troubled production and distribution of The Wicker Man.
7pm to 10pm
Clerkenwell
Mathematical models are one of the cornerstones of our society. But what happens when they're wrong?
7pm to 8:30pm
Hanover Square
Sebastian Faulks will be discussing why he thinks Birdsong is such an enduring success, how the memory of war has influenced his novels and the challenges of opting for the solitary life of the novelist.
7:15pm to 8:45pm
Southwark
More London events on Tuesday 20th June
Wednesday 21st June
Neuropsychologist Nicholas Humphrey explores the mysteries of human (and non-human) consciousness.
7pm to 8:30pm
Hanover Square
Online events / webinars
Tracy Borman reveals Anne Boleyn's relationship with, and influence over her daughter Elizabeth.
7:30pm to 8:30pm
More London events on Wednesday 21st June
Thursday 22nd June
A four day series of events that explore connections between mental health and ecosystem health.
10am to 8pm
Camden
Hidden away behind the high walls of a medieval monastery is a large garden, which will be open three evenings in 2023.
5pm to 8:30pm
Clerkenwell
Hear speakers from the Brunel Museum and Dickens Museum talk about two Victorian icons' contributions to sanitary reforms in the 19th century.
6pm to 8pm
Regent Street
Dr Stewart McCain will explore the ramifications of the French Revolution for Britain.
6:30pm to 8pm
Fulham
Their clothes tell stories and hide secrets, you just need to know how to read them.
7pm to 8:30pm
Southwark
More London events on Thursday 22nd June
Friday 23rd June
A four day series of events that explore connections between mental health and ecosystem health.
10am to 6pm
Camden
In this talk, Dr Thomas Brodie will investigate how the British Army of the Rhine was viewed by the people of Germany after 1945.
12pm to 1pm
Chelsea
Free
Hear from a panel of experts from around the world as they consider the power of storytelling in science and global health.
1pm to 2:30pm
Camden
£24.00
In this workshop Soraya will introduce participants to the ancient materials used in calligraphy and teach them its foundational techniques.
3pm to 5pm
South Kensington
Travelling across the centuries, art historian and curator Dr Bowron investigates the significance and role of dogs in art.
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Marylebone High St
A close up look into the miraculous world of insects with Martha Kearney, George McGavin, Levon Biss and Karen Wimhurst.
7pm to 8:30pm
Camden
Discover what lies at the bottom of the ocean and whether wind might take us to net zero.
7pm to 8:30pm
Hanover Square
More London events on Friday 23rd June
Saturday 24th June
A four day series of events that explore connections between mental health and ecosystem health.
10am to 6pm
Camden
Step into The Windrush Front Room and explore a Windrush era living room, with music, objects and clothes.
10am to 5:30pm
Forest Hill
A restoration project has bought the mill back to working order for the first time since 1935, and it's now open to the public.
10am to 4pm
Upminster
Free
Okinawa Day is a yearly festival celebrating the unique music, food, and culture of Japan's southernmost prefecture.
11am to 5pm
Rotherhithe
Once a month open day at a nature reserve that sits alongside the railway in Forest Hill.
1pm to 4pm
Forest Hill
£17.03
An electric evening, featuring live tesla coils and more.
7pm to 8:15pm
Hanover Square
More London events on Saturday 24th June
Sunday 25th June
A four day series of events that explore connections between mental health and ecosystem health.
10am to 6pm
Camden
A restoration project has bought the mill back to working order for the first time since 1935, and it's now open to the public.
10am to 4pm
Upminster
A WW2-era history attraction that's open to the public once a month.
10:30am to 4pm
Watford
Annual open day at the riverside yacht club.
11am to 3pm
Twickenham
Once a month, the oldest building in Hackney, St Augustine's Tower is open, so you can climb up to the top.
2pm to 4:30pm
Hackney
By 2026, 10,000 miles of undiscovered footpaths stand to be lost. Jack Cornish has dedicated five years of his life to walking these forgotten routes.
3pm to 5pm
Holborn
More London events on Sunday 25th June
Monday 26th June
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Monday 26th June
Tuesday 27th June
Online events / webinars
Join exhibition curator Anna Reynolds for this in-conversation-style event with historian, writer, and presenter Alice Loxton.
7pm to 8pm
More London events on Tuesday 27th June
Wednesday 28th June
Join a panel of RCN Fellows to explore how changes in health and medicine have affected the complex needs of young people,
5pm to 7pm
Harley Street
A panel discussion to explore Waterloo’s future transformation in the context of its diverse history and culture.
6pm to 8pm
Southwark
In this lecture, Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam discusses and reflects on his own journey through this challenging landscape.
7pm to 8pm
St James
More London events on Wednesday 28th June
Thursday 29th June
Free
A number of galleries will be open late to 9pm on two nights of art events in the West End.
6pm to 9pm
The lives, loves, adventures and trailblazing careers of four extraordinary women from a stunning debut biographer.
6:30pm to 8pm
Southwark
A talk based on a book by the speaker of the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher outside the Libyan embassy in 1984.
Starts at 7pm
Covent Garden
Renowned cosmologist Brian Keating unravels the mysteries of the Universe.
7:20pm to 8:45pm
Hanover Square
Online events / webinars
A live "in conversation" between Paul McCartney and Stanley Tucci to celebrate the major new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.
2pm to 3pm
More London events on Thursday 29th June
Friday 30th June
Free
Hear from Dr Edward Madigan as he explores religion, morality and British Army chaplaincy during the First World War.
12pm to 1pm
Chelsea
Celebrating the bicentenary of AR Wallace's birth. Join us and Jim Costa to hear about the famed Victorian naturalist's life and legacy.
6pm to 8:30pm
Picadilly
Free
A number of galleries will be open late to 9pm on two nights of art events in the West End.
6pm to 9pm
Join Dr Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, as he speaks with Jamie Fobert, the architect behind the Gallery's transformation.
7pm to 8pm
Soho
