Brilliant things to do in London in July 2023
Holidaying at home? Get out and enjoy the city at this month's top events, exhibitions and openings
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 exhibitions to fitness classes and festivals, here are the best things to do in London in July 2023.
The collaboration: Harvey Nichols x Cloudy Bay summer dining
Sunny days are made for long lazy lunches and al fresco dinners all best washed down with a glass of something crisp and cold. With this in mind, Harvey Nichols has teamed up with Cloudy Bay to curate a special Summer Dining menu available at the Fifth Floor Café and Terrace for £30 per person. The three-course set menu promises seasonal Southeast Asian-inspired dishes such as buttermilk crispy chicken with cornbread and truffle sriracha sauce, aubergine schnitzel with pickled radishes, and pan-fried salmon with heritage beans. For dessert, there’s a blueberry and lemon curd tartlet, black forest mousse cake or burned vanilla cheesecake, all accompanied by a glass of Cloudy Bay Pelorus Rosé or Brut. Chin chin!
Available until 30 September 2023 at Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge, 109-125 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RJ, harveynichols.com
The restaurants: The Grill at The Dorchester, Mallow, Fish Game and Dovetale
All the chicken at The Grill at The Dorchester
London’s food scene is legendary and a clutch of new openings is exemplary of the capital’s epicurean diversity. It would be remiss, for example, not to acknowledge a new relaunch at London Grand Dame, The Dorchester. The Grill, for the first time in its 92-year history has a name above the door: Tom Booton. One of the UK’s most exciting young talents who, at 26, became the youngest head chef in The Grill’s history, this month sees Booton unveil the reimagined golden-hued space (which itself is listed by the government) and a menu of modern British dishes infused with his personality and charm. The all-day dining destination offers elevated classics including ham, egg and chips and roasted John Dory, as well as innovative sharing plates, such as ‘all the chicken’ which dissects a whole chicken into delicious morsels, from chargrilled legs to bitesize, signature pies. However, our favourites are the black pudding on a fluffy crumpet with egg confit and the lamb rump with gooseberries and mint – simply delicious.
Mallow
Next up is Mallow, which has opened its second plant-based restaurant in Canary Wharf following its success in Borough Market. Opening as the only 100 per cent vegan restaurant in London’s banking district, the new all-day dining destination is set across two floors with an outdoor terrace too. Served in an intimate dining space designed in a range of soft pink tones, hero dishes include spinach dahi puri served with lime coconut sambol and blackcurrant tamarind chutney, followed by whipped feta with cacao quinoa soil and burnt aubergine muhammara borek with green tabbouleh and baba ganoush cream. To finish, pick from a range of handmade artisan desserts featuring the likes of a crème brûlée with anise cherries and mango chai masala tres leches with almond sesame chikki.
Images: Zodee Media
Summer is the season for seafood. And, rather helpfully, restaurateur Roberto Costa – known for his much-loved restaurant group Macellaio RC – is well aware of that. Opening on 10 July also in Canary Wharf, Costa’s new culinary venture, Fish Game, will offer a pared-back seasonal menu of the UK’s best game and fish, meticulously sourced from local lands and waters to be cooked simply over ash and charcoal by executive head chef, Matthew Colk (previously of Roast and The Gun Pub). Expect dishes like rabbit croquettes with marjoram mayonnaise, crab and pork bao with curry sauce, wild trout on toast with cucumber smoky salad, and mussels with venison nduja. Adding to the appeal, Fish Game will also house a tequila bar, where aperitivo will be served daily alongside world-class wines and classic cocktails.
Hailing from Michelin-starred success, Tom Sellers’ latest project, Dovetale, will finally open to the public on 13 July. Located at the forthcoming 1 Hotel Mayfair – London’s mission-driven sustainable luxury hotel on the corner of Piccadilly – the two Michelin-starred chef will offer a produce-led à la carte menu of reimagined Mayfair classics. Think same-day made English burrata with olive oil, daily-caught sole Veronique with English olive-fed Wagyu carpaccio and grand marnier soufflé with tonka bean crème anglaise. At the raw bar, a bounty of British shellfish will be available including Scottish hand-dived scallops and langoustines alongside classically garnished shucked oysters and N25 caviar. Plus, a centrepiece knickerbocker glory trolley has been conceptualised by Sellers to offer the classic nostalgic dessert to guests made tableside. An adjacent destination cocktail bar called Dover Yard, led by Matteo Carretta, will join Dovetale at launch to coincide with the opening of the nine-storey hotel which will house 181 guest rooms, an in-house café and a Bamford wellness area. Watch this space…
The Grill at The Dorchester is open at 53 Park Lane, W1K 1QA, dorchestercollection.com; Mallow is open at 12 Park Drive, E14 9ZW, mallowlondon.co.uk; Fish Game opens on 10 July at 14 Water Street, E14 5GX, fishgamerestaurant.co.uk; Dovetale opens on 13 July at 3 Berkeley Street, W1J 8NE, 1hotels.com
The bars: Blue Bar at The Berkeley and Mr Fogg’s Hat Tavern and Gin Club
Over in Knightsbridge, the legendary Blue Bar at The Berkeley – created by the late great designer David Collins – is marking the summer season with a collection of new innovative cocktails, refreshed interiors and buzzy DJ vinyl sessions. When it first opened its doors over 20 years ago, the Blue Bar – with its standout hue specially created from 50 shades of blue – became the place to see and be seen, having been an early haunt of entertainment royalty such as Madonna. Today the Blue Bar continues to be an epicentre of cocktail culture, and this month saw the space unveil 12 new signature cocktails.
Titled Blue Move, the cocktail menu’s highlights include Mirror Martini, a fruity and dry gin-based cocktail which blends aperitif wines, as well as Side by Side: a Sangria-style tequila-based drink using three peach ingredients. Fancy a snack? Longtime favourites such as the brie, Wiltshire ham and truffle toasties are now joined by steak tartare crumpets topped with confit egg yolk, churros with lashings of Manchego cheese, and Dorset crab tacos. As a new signature touch, every night at 11pm the team will circulate French fries piled high on ornate silver trays. Now that’s what we call a chic late-night snacking moment.
On 5 July, Phileas Fogg will be throwing open the doors to his latest venture, Mr Fogg’s Hat Tavern and Gin Club in Soho. The ninth Mr Fogg’s, which is set over two floors, features a traditional Victorian tavern and a gin club offering a vast selection of juniper-based spirits alongside immersive experiences. The Hat Tavern takes inspiration from the former life of the building opposite: Henry Heath’s Hat Factory, which was established in 1822 and was a firm favourite of the real Mr Fogg. The menu here will consist of a large selection of ales and bold, fruity punches, such as the Yours Truly blending Grey Goose vodka, Chambord black raspberry liqueur, morello cherry puree and fresh lemon juice. Downstairs, the Gin Club will become Soho’s newest gin-centric destination with tipples including Take a Bath, served in a miniature bathtub and comprising Bombay Sapphire gin, St Germain elderflower liqueur and pear purée, as well as Clover Lady: Brockmans gin, Cointreau orange liqueur and egg white topped with orange blossom.
Blue Bar is open at The Berkeley, Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL, the-berkeley.co.uk; Mr Fogg's Hat Tavern and Gin Club will open on 5 July at 22 Great Chapel Street, W1F 8FR, mr-foggs.com
The pop-ups: The Dorchester Rooftop and Pomellato at Harrods
Another relaunch at The Dorchester, July will see the highly-anticipated return of its rooftop with this year’s pop-up inspired by an English secret garden. Serving a brunch-style sharing menu crafted by culinary director Martyn Nail, the refreshed space will transport guests to a magical hideaway boasting views across Hyde Park and the capital. Delicious dishes – such grilled Cornish lobster fregola, côte de boeuf and truffle risotto, plus summer berry cheesecake and The Dorchester signature 68% chocolate parfait – are accompanied by a specially-curated cocktail menu, featuring an array of refreshing drinks infused with ingredients found in the herb garden and served tableside from a mixologist's trolley. Opulent surroundings also feature foliage-covered decking, flowerpots and fairy lights to help you feel like you’re far away from the hustle and bustle of Mayfair – perfect after those long days at the office.
Until 19 July, luxury Italian jeweller Pomellato will present the From Milan to Harrods pop-up, bringing chic Milanese style to one of London’s most luxurious department stores. To commemorate this collaboration, Pomellato has introduced a new emerald interpretation of its iconic Catene collection, created exclusively for Harrods. The exclusive line includes rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces available to buy in pavé emeralds and rose gold. The immersive pop-up experience is divided into three rooms: the Galleria, Craftsmanship and Theatre, each inspired by Milan’s architecture, savoir-faire, and elegance.
The Dorchester Rooftop is open until September at 53 Park Lane, W1K 1QA, dorchestercollection.com; The Pomellato pop-up is open until 19 July at Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X 7XL, harrods.com
The events: Sketch and Spritz at Isla, Summer Fruits Class by Sauce at the Langham and Rathfinny’s Lobster and Chips Feast at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, Live Well at AllBright
Sketch and Spritz at Isla
Isla, The Standard’s chic ground-floor restaurant, has launched the perfect summer activity this month: Sketch and Spritz. Taking place every Sunday until the autumn from 3-5pm, visit the terrace to be inspired by the gorgeous blooming tableau, designed each week by ethical floral specialist Hattie Flower, to create your hand-drawn masterpiece. Plus you can enjoy 2-4-1 spritzes while picking up your pencil and letting your creative juices flow.
Over at Mayfair's AllBright, July sees the female members' club launch its summer programme of Live Well events featuring an array of expert-led workshops in breathwork, movement and nutrition. The townhouse – which includes an elegant restaurant, bar and sunny terrace in the heart of the capital – serves as the perfect backdrop for these rejuvenating events, providing a stylish sanctuary from the bustle of the city. The roster of events kicks off on 1 July when nutritionist Jennifer Medhurst will discuss the principles around a balanced diet over a healthy lunch, before members and non-members can enjoy energising breathwork class in partnership with WeGlow on 8 July and a mindful meditation brunch with founder of Being Human Well, Katie Mantwa George, who will guide participants through a series of meditations including visualisation on 15 July.
Set in the luxurious settings of Mandarin Oriental’s Hyde Park Garden, Rathfinny Wine Estate has partnered with the five-star hotel to offer a special lobster and chips and Sussex sparkling wine feast on 15 July. Priced at £175 per person, dine in style with a menu curated by the team at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal expertly matched with Rathfinny’s Sussex Sparkling portfolio. To start, you’ll enjoy a selection of refreshing seafood dishes, such as Hyde Park Garden oysters and smoked mackerel with rhubarb, paired with Rathfinny’s 2018 Classic Cuvée before enjoying lobster claw cocktail and lobster tail and chips alongside the elegant 2018 Blanc de Blancs. If you’re looking for a quintessential English feasting experience to indulge in this summer, we recommend booking your tickets for this event now.
Image: Miles Hardwick
Image: Kim Lightbody
Foodies are encouraged to get into the summer spirit at Sauce by The Langham this month as the cooking school welcomes award-winning pastry chef Anna Higham for a Summer Fruits Masterclass. Taking place at The Langham on 16 July and priced at £175 per person, Higham – formerly of the Gordon Ramsay Group and The River Café – will delve into the foundations of working with summer fruits through a series of seasonal recipes, including jams, cordials, syrups and vinegars, to create delicious sweet dishes. End the day enjoying the fruits of your labour, alongside a Langham sweet scone and a glass of English sparkling wine.
Sketch and Spritz is open every Sunday throughout the summer at Isla, 10 Argyle Street, NW1 2ST, standardhotels.com; AllBright's Live Well Programme runs from 1-15 July at 24-26 Maddox Street, W1S 1PP, allbrightcollective.com; Rathfinny’s Lobster and Chips Feast is on 15 July at 66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA, rathfinnyestate.com; Sauce by The Langham’s Summer Fruits Masterclass is on 16 July at 1C Portland Place, W1B 1JA, saucebylangham.com
The festivals: Kensington and Chelsea Festival, Cuisine and Culture 2023 and Hyper Japan
Kicking off on 1 July and continuing until the end of August, the third Kensington and Chelsea Festival will make use of every inch of the borough to host a multitude of live art performances, showcasing exceptional established artists alongside emerging talent. Highlights of the cultural offering – which spans theatre, opera, dance, music and family shows – includes Luke Jeram’s Mars: a touring artwork measuring seven metres in diameter and features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the Martian surface. Elsewhere, Lungs of Our City by 2Faced Dance group is an emotional and timely work featuring a striking four-metre-tall scaffold tree where performers inhabit a futuristic space to breathe in our polluted cities. Finally, the London premiere of Forests by Rogue Play is a family-friendly show that challenges our over-consumption of timber, the destruction of rainforests, the displacement of Indigenous peoples and the systemic racism driving the creation of ‘treeless land’. This highly visual spectacle sees acrobatic performers climb and manipulate the tree, throwing, clambering, and trampling over it. For the full programme, click here.
Next up, leading black culinary collective The Future Plate has partnered with award-winning South African alcohol brand Amarula to launch London’s first African and Caribbean Cuisine and Culture Forum. On 11 and 12 July, the two-day conference will bring together leading black chefs, makers of change and culture carriers who are united in putting African and Caribbean cuisine on the culinary map. Presented by British TV personality Ayo Akinwolere, the event will star a roll call of experts including Mike Reid – culinary director at Gaucho and chief judge on Channel 4’s new cookery series Five Star Kitchen – who, via a series of thought-provoking panel discussions and live demonstrations, will delve into the UK’s food and drink obsession. Plus, don’t miss masterclasses from chef and MasterChef: The Professionals semi-finalist William Chilila and mixologist Alex Akanbi.
Hyper Japan – the UK’s biggest festival of Japanese culture – is back for its 13th year at Olympia London, running from 21-23 July. From a country that’s steeped in tradition, this festival highlights Japan’s culture as it plays host to more than 300 different exhibitors, featuring authentic street food, stage performers and workshops. Foodies will be able to get their hands on Japanese rice bowls, takoyaki, yakisoba, matcha sweets in collaboration with Miffy and Hokkaido scallop skewers from Soldeli. Anime and manga are a cornerstone of Hyper Japan and this year there will be original artwork from the world-famous manga series Attack on Titan and Blue Lock on display for art enthusiasts to enjoy. Plus, don’t miss electronic dance music by FEMM, operatic singer Mika Kobayashi and a variety of workshops, including the Japanese tea ceremony, origami workshops, cocktail making and a manga workshop.
Kensington and Chelsea Festival, from 1 July to 31 August, kcfestival.co.uk; Cuisine and Culture, from 11-12 July, thefutureplate.com; Hyper Japan, from 21-23 July, hyperjapan.co.uk
The sporting event: Battersea Games
From 1 July until September, Battersea Power Station will be hosting the Battersea Games: the riverside neighbourhood’s new event inviting all to take part or spectate in an array of free and ticketed sports inside and outside the Grade II* listed building. Power Station Park will be transformed with a pop-up padel court, a 100m running track and a basketball zone alongside a flexi-space where brands – including Nike, Be Military Fit (BMF), lululemon, NoBull and Carney’s Community – will offer a great mix of classes such as yoga, boxing, HIIT and more. Four-legged friends needn’t feel left out too, as nearby charity Battersea Dogs and Cats Home will be bringing a dog-friendly agility course and training sessions to the park. Lastly, a unique indoor climbing experience will be housed in the Power Station’s Turbine Hall B so climbers can marvel at the architecture while perfecting their foot swapping skills.
Battersea Games, from 1 July to 3 September, batterseapowerstation.co.uk
