An image of grass with flowers growing from the ground

What’s on in June in London and the South West

By South Western Railway May 24, 2023 9 min read

In this article, you'll learn the following:

Have some Father’s Day fun
Have a Dinosaur Day out
Head to one of the South West’s Pride events
Sing and dance along at West End Live
Explore hidden green spaces at London Open Gardens
Make the most of festival season
Have a royally good time at Trooping the Colour
Ride to Royal Ascot
Build a big Lego brick at Stonehenge
Watch a film at an outdoor cinema
Fill your boots with free summer activities
Book with us directly to save some extra cash

June’s here! It’s the first month of the summer season, when the South West’s calendar hots up with heaps of events while beer gardens, parks, and beaches get filled people soaking up the fresh air in warmer climates.

We want to help you find the best things to do to make the most of the (hopefully) blue skies and sunshine. From Father’s Day outing ideas, the South West’s Pride events, Royal Ascot, Trooping the Colour and more, here’s what June has in store in London and the South West. Let’s dive in!

Have some Father’s Day fun

Another year, another Father’s Day and another chance to make it the best one yet! There’s plenty to do in London and the South West to celebrate.

We’ve put together a guide filled with activities to suit every taste. From zip wires, crazy golf, theatre shows and more, check out our guide to the ultimate Father’s Day out.

In case you need some more inspo, here are a few extra ideas to consider to give dad an unforgettable day.

Visit a gin distillery - Are the kids over 18? If so, you could head to a gin distillery to sip on drinks, and learn more about how the beverage is made. We’ve rounded up the top gin distilleries in London and the South West to make it easier for you to decide which one to visit.

Take a family weekend break - If you fancy a staycation, we’ve shared the details on relaxing weekend stays at various South West locations, including London, Weymouth, the Isle of White and more. Plus, find out where to stay and what to do while you’re there.

Discover London’s hidden-gem food spots - We recently teamed up with Secret London to find out what people’s favourite local restaurants are. If you’re looking for places to wine and dine this Father’s Day check out the findings. Bon appétit!

Have a Dinosaur Day out

An image of a skeleton suspended from the ceiling at London's Natural History Museum

1 June marks Dinosaur Day, and there’s plenty of dino-related fun to be had across our network.

We’d recommend exploring the Jurassic Coast, England’s only natural World Heritage Site which stretches over 95 miles. If it’s not easily reachable or you fancy something else, we’ve put together a guide including lots of fun dino-activities to try around the South West, London and Isle of White including fossil hunting, museums, and even a dinosaur rollercoaster!

Head to one of the South West’s Pride events

Pride is one of the biggest annual celebrations among LGBTQIA+ communities, hosted in most towns and cities. Pride events in locations across our network kick off this June!

Put on some colourful clothing, and join the parades in Dorset, Portsmouth, and Salisbury this month. Check out our guide to South West Prides to get all the details, including what’s on and how to get there.

Sing and dance along at West End Live

See performances from London’s biggest West End Musicals at West End Live on 17 and 18 June in Trafalgar Square.

It's a free event - you just need to turn up on the day. Although, we’d suggest getting there early as there are limited tickets. Entry is on a first come, first served basis and you’ll need to queue up to get in.

It’s not clear what time the event starts just yet. Last year it started at 11am on the first day and 12pm on the second - so be prepared to keep your morning free if it’s the same or similar this time round. The schedule will be announced a week before the event so keep your eyes peeled!

How to get there: From London Waterloo, hop on a Northern or Bakerloo line tube to Charing Cross. Walk a few short minutes to Trafalgar Square from there.

Explore hidden green spaces at London Open Gardens

Visit over 100 unique and hidden green spaces which aren’t usually open to the public at London Open Gardens on 10 and 11 June. See historical, traditional, experimental gardens and more across the capital. 7 new spaces are opening to the public this year, including OmVed Gardens, and 245 Hammersmith Road. Check out the Garden Map which details all the gardens that are open to view.

Tickets are between £15-£20 for adults (kids go free!), and you can book on the website.

Make the most of festival season

An image of a crowd at a festival

Glastonbury - the 'daddy' of all festivals - returns this June. It’s for sure one worth going to if you’ve managed to get a ticket. But if you didn’t secure one this time round, there are plenty of other festivals across the region to enjoy, including the iconic Isle of Wight Festival which runs between 15-18 June. Tickets are still available for this one! Read our guide to getting to the Isle of Wight Festival for some handy tips.

If you don’t fancy camping, try a day-time festival like British Summer Time 2023 - with headliners P!NK and Guns N’ Roses - in Hyde Park on 23 June. Hyde Park is just a 15 minute tube ride from Waterloo station.

Remember to have a read of our top 10 festival tips to help your trip(s) go smoothly.

Have a royally good time at Trooping the Colour

An image of Buckingham Palace

Head to the capital on 17 June for the annual Trooping the Colour - a parade to celebrate the official birthday of the British Sovereign.

The event starts at 10am at Buckingham Palace and moves down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade. Members of the Royal Family will be travelling the parade route on horseback and in carriages before heading back to Buckingham Palace’s balcony to watch the Royal Air Force flypast at 1pm.

Tickets are no longer available, but you can head to the edge of St James’s Park which overlooks Horse Guards Parade or along The Mall where a sea of spectators will be watching all the action.

Ride to Royal Ascot

An image of two people horse racing

Carrying on with the royal theme, Royal Ascot is just around the corner! Attracting many of racing’s finest horses, Royal Ascot holds a special week of races.

Wear your fanciest frock and fill your boots with food and drink. There are walk-up restaurants, on-the-go food outlets and bars selling beers, spirits, and champagne. Keep a look out for the royals and celebrities, too!

Tickets for Royal Ascot are still available, but book fast before they sell out. Getting to Ascot Racecourse by train is easy. It’s only a 7-minute walk away from Ascot station!

There are plenty of other race days and events at racecourses on our network to check out if you can’t make this one, or want some inspo for a future trip.

Build a big Lego brick at Stonehenge

An image of stonehenge

Stonehenge is one of the world's most famous prehistoric monuments. And you can help to build a LEGO® brick model of it - made up of over 400,000 bricks! Lego brick artists will give you a design to follow, which they’ll then use to build a sculpture of Stonehenge.

This one’s a great day out for Lego lovers and families. Find out how to get to Stonehenge with SWR. June dates for the activity are between 1-7 of the month. Book your tickets.

Watch a film at an outdoor cinema

An image of an outdoor cinema

Whether for a romantic (or solo) date, a family evening out, or a trip with friends, if you’re looking for a fun wholesome activity, head to an outdoor cinema.

Not sure where to go to get your movie fix? We’ve put together a guide to the top outdoor cinemas in London and the South West to help. There’s plenty to choose from, including rooftop, open air, and castle cinema experiences.

If you want to fill up on tasty treats before your trip, or are feeling peckish afterwards, check out SWR Rewards to save some money on food and drink when you travel with us.

Fill your boots with free summer activities

An image of people at a park in the summer

You don’t need to spend money to have a good time, especially in the summer. The South West is home to a myriad of fantastic days out that won't need you to break the bank. Give these a go:

Head to a national park - The South West’s home to many stunning national parks. If you’re after a wholesome stroll, check our guide to the best national parks in the South West, including South Downs National Park, and Dartmoor National Park.

Try a free self-guided walk in London - There are plenty of these to try in the capital, including the City of London Children's Trail and Designs of the Times. See our guide to find out more. If a walking tour isn’t up your street, take a look at some other free London activities.

Have a picnic - England has some truly scenic picnic spots well worth visiting, including Gunnersbury Park, and Corfe Castle. We’ve put together a guide detailing 7 perfect picnic spots in the South West to help you decide where to go with your basket of treats.

Go to the seaside - Some of the best seaside towns in the UK are in the south west of England. We’ve gathered a list of the top seaside towns on our network. Find the main highlights in each town and how to get there by train with South Western Railway.

If you’re looking for some kid-friendly spots, see our guide to free summer outdoor activities with the kids.

Book with us directly to save some extra cash

That's it for this month! If you can, remember to get cheap train tickets with us by going off-peak. Get a Railcard to save even more and if you’re journeying with a group go for GroupSave.