Not quick enough to get yourself a space on a plane heading to Ibiza this summer? Don’t panic – there’s plenty happening in the capital to keep social butterflies busy this month. And, with the sunshine promising a tentative return, there’s never been a better time to get out and enjoy the best that London has to offer. From events and pop-ups, to new openings and festivals, here are the best things to do in London in July 2025.

The social season events: Goodwood Festival of Speed and Qatar Goodwood Festival

Okay, it’s not technically in London – but Goodwood is undoubtedly part of the London social season. Just over an hour from the capital, there’s plenty of fun to be had at Goodwood this summer, from its thrilling Festival of Speed to its iconic horse racing, both of which are undisputed highlights in the social calendar. The former, held from 10-13 July, is hosted at the historic eponymous estate in West Sussex and promises to be bigger and better than ever before, with 2025 marking the 75th anniversary of the Formula 1 World Championship. Expect to see appearances from motorsport stars, such as Alain Prost and four-time World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty, as well as Formula 1 teams including Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren.

Also kicking off this month is the Qatar Goodwood Festival – otherwise known as Glorious Goodwood – one of the most famous meets in the racing calendar. From 29 July, the five-day festival showcases the finest stock of the flat racing season, while spectators can also enjoy the annual cricket match between Lord March’s Racing XI and the Lord’s Taverners at Goodwood House, all before the world-famous Duel On The Downs at the Sussex Stakes Day on 30 July.

Not sure which hospitality venue to book during Qatar Goodwood Festival? Opening exclusively for the racing event from 29 July until 2 August 2025 is The Secret Garden, offering quintessential Goodwood hospitality in a beautiful trackside setting. A serene, shaded retreat complete with a generous buffet lunch, this private garden offers a stylish, relaxed and social way to spend a day at the races. From being served a refreshing cocktail on arrival to rounding off the afternoon with high tea, there’s no finer floral-filled hospitality space to be.

Visit goodwood.com

The stay: Sunspel x Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

Planning a stay at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park this month? You could be in for a seriously chic surprise. This bastion of great British hospitality has teamed up with equally beloved heritage British brand, Sunspel, to offer guests a taste of the latter’s refined wardrobe staples. All guests staying in a Signature or Speciality Suite throughout July will be gifted a limited edition white T-shirt handmade in Sunspel’s Long Eaton factory from supremely soft Californian Supima cotton, with the T-shirt also going on display at Sunspel’s Jermyn Street boutique for a week from 1 July.

What’s more, those lucky enough to be gifted the T-shirt will also receive a personal invitation to experience Sunspel’s bespoke T-shirt service. This unique offering allows clients the opportunity to create a custom Sunspel T-shirt in their choice of fine fabrics and colours, and cut to their exact sepcifications. You’ll never own another T-shirt like it.

Available to guests staying in a Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Signature or Speciality Suite from 1-31 July 2025, rates from £2,615 per night, 66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA. Visit mandarinoriental.com; sunspel.com

The collaboration: Cali Love Lounge at 100 Wardour St

Soho's buzziest weekend spot, 100 Wardour St, has teamed up with Belvedere Vodka to bring a taste of Californian sunshine to the capital this summer. Oozing West Coast cool, the Cali Love Lounge is the chicest places to celebrate this month, with every Friday seeing the space host Rhythm & Band karaoke, inviting guests to take to the stage backed by a live band and offer up their best renditions of R&B anthems. Book a table to enjoy a three-course set menu or take a seat at the bar to sample Belvedere's coffee-infused Dirty Brew cocktails.

On Saturdays, meanwhile, don your most glamorous gear for Jukebox Brunch. Doing exactly what it says on the tin, this lively event promises a two- or three-course brunch (with optional bottomless frozen Cosmos) along with modern R&B hits played on request by the house band. After brunch, keep the party going with Belvedere's California Love cocktail menu, featuring fresh serves inspired by the spirit of LA. Our pick is the California Soul: Belvedere Vodka blended with pearl, Galliano, Velvet Falernum and lime cordial.

The Cali Love Lounge at 100 Wardour St is open now, visit 100wardourst.com

The family-friendly event: Summer in the Square

Tucked behind the bustle of Oxford Street, Summer in the Square is Marylebone’s best-kept secret – and it’s back this month. Now in its 11th year, the free week-long festival brings art and culture to Portman Square Garden: think Wimbledon on the big screen, street food stalls, and creative workshops. Not sure where to start? Highlights include a Grayson Perry-inspired art workshop; pop-up dining in the Guest Kitchen from Marylebone favourites like The Landmark London; a family-friendly zone with Alice in Wonderland adventures from Marylebone Theatre; and breathwork, yoga and sound healing sessions led at the Wellness Den. See you there.

Summer in the Square runs from 9-14 July 2025 at 40 Portman Square, W1H 6LJ, visit makeitmarylebone.co.uk

The restaurants: Soleil by Claude, Shanghai Me and Brasserie Constance

Soleil by Claude

Claude Bosi has reinvented his two Michelin-starred restaurant atop The Peninsula to create an exclusive hideout for summer. Named Soleil by Claude – and open from 2 July to 31 August, before Brooklands reopens on 5 September with a new autumn menu – this new foodie pop-up will bring the charm and flavours of the Mediterranean to one of the most sought-after rooftops in Belgravia. 

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Soleil by Claude’s menus are a celebration of Mediterranean-inspired dining, all while highlighting the rich bounty of the UK’s independent farms: think fresh seafood platters, a weekly-changing basket of crudités, and indulgent sharing plates such as seven-hour braised lamb shoulder with Nicoise sauce. What’s more, the gorgeous terrace will feature a pétanque pit, sponsored by Minuty, while the drinks list is formed by a hand-picked selection of rosé wines, new cocktails specifically for the pop-up, and a refreshed spritz menu. See you there. 

Adam Byatt

Brasserie Constance

One of this month's most highly-anticipated restaurant openings comes from Adam Byatt who, following his Michelin-starred success at Clapham’s Trinity, is venturing into West London with Brasserie Constance. Nestled on the banks of the Thames on the first floor of the new Fulham Pier development, and opening on 15 July, the space is relaxed and welcoming while the menu is rooted in British seasonality. Start with an array of classic cocktails – think martinis, negronis, and traditional G&Ts – served alongside flavourful bites such as smoked haddock croquettes, English pea and mint tartlets, and steak and ale skewers. Larger plates include clay pot chicken with barley and beer, and a crusted rack of lamb, while a daily changing selection of comforting specials will include pie and mash or toad in the hole. We’re sure you’ll feel right at home. 

Shanghai Me – the Pan-Asian restaurant with outposts in Dubai and Doha – will debut in London on 21 July. Crowning the renowned Hilton Park Lane, and taking over London’s highest restaurant space, formerly occupied by Galvin at Windows, the interiors pay homage to 1930s Shanghai, blending Art Deco glamour with contemporary style. The kitchen is led by chefs Izu Ani and Yukitaka Kitade, whose menus celebrate the diverse culinary traditions of Asia spanning China and Japan to Vietnam. Not sure what to pick? You can’t go wrong with signature dishes of yellowtail carpaccio with black truffle, Cantonese-style roast duck with foie gras and caviar, and spicy bluefin tuna oshizushi. 

Soleil by Claude is open from 2 July-31 August 2025 at The Peninsula, 1 Grosvenor Place, SW1X 7HJ, visit peninsula.com; Brasserie Constance opens on 15 July 2025 at Fulham Pier, SW6 6HH, visit brasserieconstance.com; Shanghai Me opens on 21 July 2025 at London Hilton on Park Lane, 22 Park Lane, W1K 1BE, visit shanghaime-restaurant.com

The residency: Dante Takes Claridge’s

Linden Pride of Dante

This summer, New York’s award-winning restaurant and cocktail bar, Dante, will move into Claridge’s Restaurant for a month-long residency until 31 July. Designed to capture the vibrant spirit of downtown Manhattan in the heart of Mayfair, expect Dante’s signature cocktails and nostalgic New York-inspired menu delivered in true Claridge’s style. Founded over a century ago as an Italian café in Greenwich Village, Dante was named the World's Best Bar in 2019, so it would be remiss not to try the limited-edition cocktail menu, including signatures such as the Campari-based Garibaldi, famed ‘fluffy’ orange juice, and the chocolate negroni created with Botanist gin, crème de cacao and chocolate bitters.

The food will also pay homage to long-standing American favourites. Must-haves include Dante x Claridge’s sliders, seafood towers filled with oysters, crab, scallop and shrimp, and the New York strip on the bone with chimichurri. Of course, no Stateside offering is complete without a burger, and Dante’s signature features smoked bacon, pickled beetroot, new school American cheese, tomato, spicy mayo, and lettuce, served in a brioche bun. Fancy breakfast instead? A New York-style brunch will be served on weekends throughout the month, from stacks of buttermilk pancakes and bacon, to banana bread with ricotta and honey. 

Dante Takes Claridge’s is open until 31 July 2025 at Claridge’s Restaurant, Brook Street, W1K 4HR, visit claridges.co.uk

The pop-ups: Kat Burki at Liberty and Spence x Tracksmith

On a mission to perfect summer skincare, Kat Burki is hosting a bio-chemistry backed beauty pop-up at Liberty London until 13 July. While the brand is available year-round at the department store, this event features a dedicated area within the beauty hall to spotlight both new arrivals, core formulas and deep dives into skin health. Don’t miss the Kat Burki Daily Demos – express five-minute skincare rituals tailored to the individual and featuring some of the brand’s most-loved products. Those who spend £125 or more will also enjoy a six-piece gift curated to introduce the best of the brand.

Spence

US racquet sports brand Spence is channelling Wimbledon fever with its latest pop-up at the Tracksmith Store on Chiltern Street until 13 July. Founded by Amanda Greely, Spence blends sports and fashion to offer collections that aim to make you look as good as you feel and move, aspiring to set a new standard for tennis apparel that resonates with both players and the culture at large. Expect to shop the full collection with a few surprises along the way. 

The Kat Burki pop-up is open until 13 July 2025 at Liberty London, Carnaby, W1B 5AH, visit libertylondon.co.uk; the Spence pop-up is open until 13 July 2025 at Tracksmith London, 25 Chiltern Street, W1U 7PW, visit spence.us

The shopping: Pink City Prints and the Spotlight Market

Pink City Prints will host its summer charity sample sale from 4-5 July, where you can discover a treasure trove of past season gems, one-off samples, and serious steals. All profits from the sale will be donated to Smart Works and the Jaipur-based Sneh Girls Shikshan Sansthan School – two charities close to the brand’s heart which empower women through education and opportunity. Rumour has it that queues will likely be shorter on the Saturday afternoon (open from 10am-5pm, while Friday hours are 4-8pm) and stock – ranging from XXS to XXL – will be replenished throughout both days. See you in the queue. 

The Spotlight Market. Images: Joseph Lang

Cult favourite antiques event, the Spotlight Market, will return at Clapton’s MKII from 18-19 July bringing together a whole host of new wave furniture and antique dealers under one roof. Brimming with an array of rare finds, from modernist pioneers to postmodern design, the line-up for the summer edition includes Ancien et Jolie, who will showcase a selection of modernist sculpture; Vantage Living, known for one-of-a-kind pieces which feel distinctly undiscovered; and Stowaway London, offering a curated mix of furniture from the 19^th and 20^th century. Expect the unexpected. 

The Pink City Prints charity sample sale runs from 4-5 July 2025 at 37 Eastcastle Street, W1W 8DR, visit chicmi.com; the Spotlight Market will be open from 18-19 July 2025 at MKII, Powerscroft Road, E5 0PT, visit thespotlightmarket.com

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