June in London is not exactly what you would expect if you see London as cold and wet. Temperatures are in the upper 60s and rainfall is about the same as May, about eight days a month. It’s a nice time to visit, although others have the same idea, so you may already find some crowds of summer visitors.
There is so much to do with the Queen’s Birthday Parade, the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, and all the great historic and scenic sites that London is known for.
London weather in June
June is very comfortable to be out of London. The average high hovers around 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) and the average low is 52 degrees Fahrenheit (11 degrees Celsius). The sun shines an average of 7 hours a day.
What to pack
Some days can be sunny and warm; somewhat cloudy and rainy. Best to pack layers and a light jacket and always bring an umbrella when exploring London. Comfortable walking shoes are a must, especially on canal side trails and cobblestone streets.
June events in London
Top events include the Queen’s birthday, visiting London’s secret gardens and squares, and the Wimbledon tennis tournament. There are no holidays in the month of June.
- Queen Elizabeth has two birthdays each year. One, the real one, is April 21 (he was born in 1926) and the second, the public celebration, is the second Saturday in June. The Trooping the Color: The Queen’s Birthday Parade is a royal event that celebrates the Queen’s ceremonial birthday with a procession of more than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses, and more than 400 musicians. You can enter the lottery for premium quality tickets to see this exciting show.
- Royal Academy Summer Exhibition (Mid-June to Mid-August) – Admire the work of artists of all merits at this annual event at the Royal Academy. A panel of judges selects around 1,000 pieces of art from up to 10,000 entries each year. The tradition dates back to 1759.
- Free Range – Art and Design Degree Showcase (June and July): See works by creative graduates at the Old Truman Brewery in Shoreditch. Categories include fashion, art, graphics, photography, and interior design.
- London Open Garden Squares Weekend (early to mid June) – Explore London’s secret gardens and squares, some of which are normally not open to the public.
- World Naked Bike Day (Hyde Park) (Saturday in early June) – See thousands of naked cyclists take to the streets of London to protest reliance on oil and car culture.
- Spitalfields Festival (throughout June): This two-week festival features an eclectic line of musical performances, talks and workshops at various locations in Shoreditch.
- London Rathayatra (Hare Krishna Chariot Festival) (Sunday in June) – This vibrant Hare Krishna festival features a parade of colorful chariots, music, drums and dancing.
- Opera Holland Park (June to early August): Get tickets to see some of the world’s best opera artists play the high notes at the Holland Park Theater.
- Bike Week (Mid-June): Take part in a series of cycling events across the city as part of this international celebration of all things two-wheelers.
- Knocking Retreat (Two nights in June): This ceremonial event at the Horse Guards Parade brings together military music, fireworks and drums to mark the tradition of breaking up the fighting between the troops.
- Taste of London (four days in late June): Sample some of London’s best culinary moments at this foodie event in Regent’s Park that brings together food stalls and small bites from the city’s best restaurants.
- BP Portrait Awards at the National Portrait Gallery (mid-June to mid-September): This annual portrait event is one of the most prestigious contemporary art competitions in the world.
- West End Live (Weekend to End of June): See free performances of the best West End shows in Trafalgar Square as part of this annual showcase.
- Greenwich & Docklands International Festival (4 days late June) – London’s largest open-air arts festival features art installations, street theater, dance, cabaret.
- Wimbledon Tennis Championships (last week of June and first week of July) – This historic Grand Slam event takes place in a leafy corner of South West London.
- Wireless Music Festival (June or July): This fun weekend music festival takes place every year in Finsbury Park in North London.
Travel tips
The end of spring and summer in London is the main tourist season, so there are few bargains on hotels and flights. Fall and winter are the seasons for bargains, but it will surely be wetter and colder. The holiday season, in December, is also a time when visitors flock to London. So for June, plan ahead and look for “early” deals.
