Jane Austen: Down to the Sea
Take a trip to Dorchester this summer to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth with this delightful exhibition at the Dorset Museum and Art Gallery. Jane Austen: Down to the Sea explores the importance of the coast, both as a setting for her fictional worlds and for its deep influence on her life, ideas and attitudes. Jane Austen loved a dip in the sea and often went to the coast on family holidays; she also had two brothers in the navy, giving her a rather different connection with the sea. The exhibition includes clothing, amusements and wellbeing at the seaside. A first edition of Persuasion is on view along with local Regency guidebooks, postcards, artworks and games. Each item in the exhibition has some special connection with the author. The Jane Austen exhibition is included in the Museum entrance fee, so take your time to see the rest of the collection that tells the story of Dorset and how the landscape has inspired ingenuity, exploration and creativity. Be sure to visit the wonderful art gallery on the top floor that includes works by Thomas Gainsborough, George Romney, William Hogarth and many more.
Jane Austen: Down to the Sea is at the Dorset Museum and Art Gallery until 14 September 2025.
Abstract Erotic at The Courtauld Gallery
See some dramatic sculptures in this show by Louise Bourgeois, Eva Hesse and Alice Adams at The Courtauld Gallery on The Strand. These three pioneering artists turned sculpture on its head in the 1960s with startling new bodies of work. This major exhibition highlights their shared commitment to asking important questions about sexuality and bodies using humour and abstract form. There are major sculptures filling the gallery spaces in bold and unconventional ways. It’s easy to see how challenging and confronting they would have appeared at the time. Abstract Erotic, a term used by art critic and historian Lucy Lippard, is a stunning and exciting exhibition.
Abstract Erotic is at The Courtauld Gallery until 14 September 2025.
DEATH HOPE LIFE FEAR
The new exhibition DEATH HOPE LIFE FEAR is on now at the Gilbert & George Centre in East London. It features 18 works by Gilbert & George created from 1984 to 1998, an astonishingly prolific period for the artists. Open each week from Wednesday to Sunday, the exhibition offers free ‘highlight tours’ on Fridays and Sundays. These include the exhibition and the background to the art of Gilbert & George. The tours offer a great opportunity to engage with the works, ask questions and share your own reflections. For many Londoners, Gilbert & George have been an iconic part of the art scene for decades with their striking imagery and tongue-in-cheek humour. And coming up later in the year there’s a major 25-year retrospective of Gilbert & George, 21st Century Pictures, opening at the Hayward Gallery in October.
DEATH HOPE LIFE FEAR, Gilbert & George Centre, 5a Heneage Street, London, to February 2026.
Festival Fever
As the weather warms up the UK’s busy arts festival calendar gets into full swing. Here are a few suggestions for summer festival fun:
Dust off your rhinestones for the Maverick Festival (4-6 July), the UK’s first and finest Americana festival. It is a celebration of roots music from both sides of the Atlantic, featuring over 50 artists performing across six stages, both indoors and outdoors. Set among restored Victorian barns and outbuildings, Maverick offers a diverse program of musical performances, dance demonstrations, and music masterclasses. It takes place at Easton Farm Park in Suffolk.
If some serious progressive rock and metal is more your style, head to the Radar Festival (4-6 July), an award-winning festival held in the iconic O2 Victoria Warehouse on the banks of the Bridgewater Canal in Manchester. More than just a live music event, Radar champions the future of progressive music, attracting a youthful audience eager for fresh sounds. This year, attendees can look forward to a series of masterclasses from renowned bands and artists. These sessions, requiring separate tickets, are designed to enrich and educate.
The Henley Festival (9-13 July) is the only black-tie music and arts festival in the UK. This follows the fancy six-day Henley Regatta. Dress up for this one and party with the best of them. The legendary Diana Ross tops the bill, along with many others including Rick Astley, Matteo Bocelli, Jamie Cullum, McFly and Jazz & The Tonics. There’s also a comprehensive visual arts program that covers a wide range of contemporary art, sculpture and installations. Remember that the Henley Festival takes its black tie dress code very seriously. Turn up in denim or leather clothing, or dare to wear your trainers, and you’ll almost certainly be refused entry. Indeed, you can never be over-dressed for Henley!
The biennial Manchester International Festival (MIF) (3-20 July) is centred on Festival Square with free performances from nearly 200 artists, bands, DJs and musicians. There will also be a program of family entertainment to keep the kids amused. With over 160 artists in the line-up hailing from the Greater Manchester area, this really is a massive celebration of grassroots initiatives, venues, collectives and sounds from across the region. MIF began back in 2007 and is always radical and unpredictable. MIF organisers Factory International bring some of the most exciting artists on the planet in Manchester to create ambitious new work. ‘Dream Differently’ at MIF.
The 2000 Trees Festival (9-12 July) is an independent music festival that offers an extraordinary atmosphere where bands and audiences resonate with unity and positive vibes. This is more than a festival – it’s a family gathering that cherishes human connection and shared joy amidst the harmony of diverse music. Emerging and established bands alike find a supportive environment that amplifies their voices and enriches their performances. The audience forms a tight bond with performers, generating a surge of positive energy that electrifies the atmosphere. The festival is a conduit for happiness, striving to create an emotionally engaging experience that fosters unity and a sense of belonging. Lose yourself in music, find joy and embrace the 2000 Trees special community spirit. Upcote Farm, Gloucestershire.
London’s legendary LGBTQ+ one-day festival, As One in the Park, returns to its old home at Walpole Park, Ealing (midday to 10pm 19 July). With five music stages, this really is one epic day. From house and pop to drag shows and cabaret, there’s something here for everyone. Over 60 performers will entertain you including Tayce, Fat Tony, Danny Beard, Melvo Baptiste and La Voix. There’s even a fab after-party from 10pm at Fire Nightclub in Vauxhall.
Latitude Festival (24-27 July) is a popular music and arts event that attracts around 45,000 enthusiastic attendees. Established in 2006 ‘with the idea of bringing the Sunday newspaper culture section to life’ Latitude offers a diverse range of entertainment, across music, dance, comedy, poetry, theatre, literature, podcasts, family activities and wellness programs. The festival is known for its eclectic line-up, featuring both established and emerging artists across multiple stages. Latitude’s commitment to showcasing various art forms sets it apart from traditional music festivals, with dedicated areas for literature, film, dance and poetry. Latitude has become a popular summer destination for families and culture buffs alike. Suffolk’s picturesque Henham Park, with its lake and wooded areas, provides a unique backdrop for Latitude.
And you can end the festival month at Chickenstock (31 July-3 August) Kent’s heart-warming festival that offers a blend of music, community, and fun for all ages. Spanning four days, Chickenstock is a family and dog-friendly haven, boasting a host of bands across two stages, covering genres from rock to Americana. But it’s not just about the music. Dive into yoga sessions, get enchanted by magic shows, or master circus skills with our workshops. For the little ones, The Hen House offers a range of fun activities to keep them entertained and safe, with a fenced main arena and security measures in place. Chickenstock unfolds across two adjacent farms in Stockbury, a small hamlet near Sittingbourne. The farms are bordered by lush woodlands, providing an idyllic backdrop for the festival.
Pride in London March
Share the love at the vibrant Pride in London March on 5 July, with the theme this year of ‘Embracing every shade: celebrating diversity together’. Organisers expect 35,000 people to be marching in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community in this vibrant celebration of diversity. The March brings together some 500 groups, led by LGBTQ+ community groups celebrating significant milestones and anniversaries, alongside distinguished supporters, showcasing the rich history and continuing progress of London’s diverse LGBTQ+ communities. See a captivating line-up of talented artists who represent the true beauty of London’s rainbow family in a dazzling showcase of performances. The free festivities begin at 12pm and continue throughout the day. Entry to all areas of the event is on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, so arrive early for the best spot. There’s also an amazing after-party (ticketed) at OneNinetyfour from 9pm (194 Piccadilly). The Pride fun continues on Sunday 6 July with Proud Together at Woolwich Works, south-east London’s leading cultural space. This is a free community celebration taking over the sunny courtyard at Woolwich Works with face painting, live music, comedians, DJs, performance and solidarity. Enjoy!
Pride Guided Tour at Shakespeare’s Globe
Did you know you can take a Pride Guided Tour at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre? Step inside London’s open-air ‘O’ for a Pride Guided Tour, bringing to life the queer stories and characters from Shakespeare’s life and times. What would life have been like for the queer communities during Shakespeare’s time? And how are they linked to the theatre? Take a deep dive into an important era in LGBTQ+ history, from rebellious queer icons to the secrets of nobility, including the intimate letters between King James I and his ‘favourite’, the Duke of Buckingham. This unique tour is packed with fascinating people, both real and fictional, and their unexpectedly queer stories.
Tours run to 27 October 2025 at Shakespeare’s Globe on Bankside.
The prestigious London Art Biennale is back for its seventh edition returning to the beautiful surrounds of the historic Chelsea Old Town Hall. Now a renowned international art event, it will feature exciting contemporary artworks from over 300 artists worldwide, each chosen for their quality, creativity and unique artistic vision. The Biennale is not just another commercial art fair. The participating artists are selected solely on the basis of their artwork, without consideration of their career achievements, background or reputation. The rigorous selection process ensures that the Biennale remains a true celebration of genuine artistic merit across painting, sculpture, digital art, photography and installations. You can see works from emerging and established artists and be immersed in what’s happening on the global contemporary art scene. And, unlike many art fairs, this one is free to enter!
Chelsea Old Town Hall, King’s Road 16-20 July (16 July by invitation only).
The Proms!
Billed as ‘the world’s greatest classical music festival’, the BBC Proms presents an eight-week celebration of music featuring over 3000 artists with more than 80 solo debuts. This year’s program also includes the first overnight Prom in almost half a century. There are 86 Proms this year with 72 at the Royal Albert Hall and the others taking place at venues across the UK including Bradford, Bristol, Belfast, Gateshead and Sunderland. The first and last night of The Proms are always the best excuse you can have for dressing up and stepping out. See the guide for the huge range of concerts on offer. The BBC Proms season 18 July to 13 September 2025.
Faces
There’s always an opportunity to see a famous face from film and television live on stage in London. This month, Imelda Staunton is still starring alongside her daughter Bessie Carter in the George Bernard Shaw classic Mrs Warren’s Profession at the Garrick Theatre to August 16; Ewan McGregor and Elizabeth Debicki continue in Lila Raicek’s My Master Builder at Wyndham’s Theatre to 12 July; Martin Freeman and Jack Lowden go head-to-head in The Fifth Step at Soho Place to 26 July; Dita von Teese shines in Diamonds and Dust at the Emerald Theatre, while Lara Pulver is brilliant as the fierce matriarch Golde in Fiddler on the Roof at the Barbican until 19 July; and Inter Alia with Rosamund Pike opens at the National Theatre, South Bank, on 10 July.
