Not only is there a lot going on in London this weekend, but it’s also Father’s Day – a great chance to show your dad the best of what the city has to offer!
The Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts
See more than 1,000 works by emerging and established artists at one of the world’s most prestigious art shows, which is now in its 245th year. The Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition displays painting, sculpture, photography, architecture and film that has been selected by a panel of 10 Royal Academicians from a substantial pool of entries. Everything on show is for sale, and highlights this year include a series of six tapestries by Grayson Perry and a large-scale sculpture by Athoy Caro. Tickets start from £10. 10 Jun – 18 Aug
Trooping the Colour, Horse Guards Parade & the Mall
Celebrate The Queen’s official birthday at this spectacular military parade, which has been taking place since 1820. You can stand on the Mall to watch the spectacle: after The Queen inspects the troops on Horse Guards Parade, resplendent in their ceremonial uniforms, you’ll see her lead them down the Mall to Buckingham Palace, before guns are fired in salute at Green Park. The celebration finishes with an RAF flypast, which The Queen will watch – alongside other members of the Royal Family – from the palace’s famous balcony. Entry is free, but arrive early to secure a good spot! 15 Jun
Backyard Cinema’s Weekend Movie Festival
Enjoy a movie experience with a difference at Backyard Cinema’s cinematic festival, which serves up beers, beanbags and BBQ alongside the film! Staged at London Fields Brewery, the festival offers a variety of fun films alongside the chance to sample street foods, craft beers and live music. Films on offer range from recent hit The Silver Linings Playbook to the classic musical The Blues Brothers – at which you can even sing and dance along! Tickets start from £10. 15-16 Jun
Ginstock, Hackney
Get into the spirit of World Gin Day at Ginstock, where you can sample world-class gins, enjoy fantastic food and soak up the festival atmosphere. London-made gins such as Sipsmith will be matched with some of the capital’s best bartenders for undoubtedly spectacular results – don’t miss the announcement of the Ginstock winner at 6pm, after which you can party the night away at the Ginstock lock-in. Tickets are £36. 15 Jun
The Mill Hill Music Festival
Head to north west London for a wide choice of exceptional music at the biennial Mill Hill Music Festival. The festival takes place all across the area, and highlights this weekend include Alan Warner’s All Stars and the Vo-De-O-Do Orchestra. Some concerts are free, check the website for full details. 15 – 22 Jun
Photograph by Cristiano Maia via Flickr