As well as a major music festival, there’s something on for foodies, kids, and history buffs in London this weekend (June 20-22).
Most of these events are hosted outside, which is fortunate as the weekend’s weather forecast is showing a scorcher. Temperatures on Saturday could reach as high as 31C.
Here are all the festivals taking place in London this weekend.
Meltdown Festival
June 19 - June 22
British and international artists take to the stage for the 30th edition of the country's longest-running artist-curated music festival.
Taking place at the Southbank Centre, London rapper Little Simz is heading the event with a host of music planned.
Read also: Jon Batiste on joining Little Simz' Meltdown: 'the system is trying to commodify young artists'
A free DJ takeover will take place on the Riverside Terrace and Chineke! Orchestra are also on the weekend's programme.
West End Live
June 21-22
West End Live is a free, two-day festival in Trafalgar Square starring the cast of various West End shows. This year you can expect to see performances from Back To The Future, Cabaret, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Hercules, The Lion King, Fiddler On The Roof, Hamilton, Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!, Matilda The Musical and Wicked.
Taste of London
June 18-22
Foodies can head over to Regent's Park for a tasty treat this weekend.
Taste of London is a food-based festival which brings all the tastes of the world out in the open for people to try. Dozens of London's best-known restaurants all get together, giving attendees a chance to discover up-and-coming London chefs and food businesses as well as trying highlights from some of the city’s top spots.
Children’s Literature Festival
June 21-22
Got littles to entertain his weekend? Then head to Barnes for the popular two-day festival about all things reading.
Alex Scheffler, Cressida Cowell and Adam Kay are all among the names on the programme at Barnes Children's Literature Festival, which features talks from authors and illustrators, as well as live readings and performances at various venues around the area.
Windrush Day
June 21
11am - 4pm
The National Maritime Museum has a whole schedule of goings on to mark this year’s Windrush Day 2025.
There’s a host of creative workshops, talks and discussions planned about the Windrush generation, plus board game playing from The Caribbean Social Forum as well as talks and people sharing their stories of how their family travelled from the Caribbean to Southampton in 1947.
Why are London festivals under scrutiny?
While it’s set to be a busy weekend of music and culture across the capital, there have been some challenges recently when it comes to London’s summer events.
Legal issues over planning restrictions and worries about the park's environment and community have put London events, especially those in Brockwell Park, under scrutiny.
The festivals at Brockwell will go ahead despite last week's successful High Court challenge against Lambeth Council.
The Lambeth council was sued by local resident Rebekah Shaman, who is a member of the Protect Brockwell Park group, over the usage of portions of the park for the festivals.
The main focus of Ms Shaman's argument was that parks can't have their uses changed for more than 28 days a year without further planning permission according to planning regulations.
Mr Justice Mould, who presided over the case, discovered that the park will be used for these activities for up to 37 days.
According to the court, his verdict merely addressed whether the council's decision to authorise the extra days was legal.
Following the High Court's decision, the parent firm, Summer Events Ltd, requested for a new certificate of lawfulness for a period of 24 days, according to a Lambeth Council spokesperson on Monday.
A statement read: “The council is urgently considering that application. That consideration does not stop the events proceeding.”
A different spokesperson for Brockwell Live said in a statement confirming the festivals for this summer are going ahead: “Brockwell Live can confirm that all events in the series will go ahead as planned, including the Lambeth Country Show.
“Friday's High Court ruling dealt with a particular point of law and whether an administrative process had been carried out correctly. We wish to make it clear that no event will be cancelled as a result of the High Court's decision.”
While Jen Hawkins, a campaigner from Protect Brockwell Park, said in a statement: “We're taking legal advice as to next steps. It seems to us Brockwell Live are carrying on regardless, and Lambeth are allowing them to do that. This is exactly what Lambeth have been repeatedly criticised for, by us and others.
“This whole thing started because Lambeth refused to go through a planning process, do proper assessments and allow proper scrutiny, and instead issued legal certificates last minute to try to shut us out.”
