13 things to do in London in July

You've been smart and you've chosen a month when temperatures are already warmer, thanks to this small gesture you'll have more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, as events of this type begin to take advantage of the summer.

In July you'll find a city with more bustle than in colder seasons, but this is not a problem when it comes to moving around the city, visiting monuments or attending festivals and so on. The list of plans is long, read on and keep those suggestions that appeal to you the most. Go for it!

July is an ideal time of year to book a Thames cruise with dinner and live music as the temperatures are ideal. It's not as cold as at other times of the year and you'll be able to fully enjoy this romantic proposal, step out onto the terrace and admire the views.

And during the evening, which begins on the Thames waterfront in Westminster, you can enjoy a delicious gourmet dinner of up to five courses paired with an exquisite wine. And, of course, there's no shortage of live music and entertainment. An unforgettable night to enjoy with your partner, friends and family that you can't miss if you're travelling to London in July.

A tip: don't forget your camera, as you'll be able to get some great shots of iconic landmarks such as Big Ben, the London Eye, the Palace of Westminster and the Tower of London.

And when it comes to views and getting the best photos, another ideal proposal to do in July is to go up to the London Eye, as it is one of the least cloudy months of the year and you'll have the best panoramic view of the city.

The iconic London Ferris wheel, located on the banks of the River Thames, will allow you to see numerous points of interest such as Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace from one of its 32 capsules and during an experience of approximately 30 minutes.

In addition, with your ticket you can enjoy the 4D experience, a silent short film about the creation of the London Eye.

And my favourite suggestion for July is a trip to Stonehenge, where you will see the stone circle, the most popular megalithic ruins in Europe.

I booked a free tour which lasted 6 and a half hours and included entrance to the visitor centre, transport to and from Stonehenge from London by bus and even the possibility of booking a typical menu to get to know the local gastronomy, although the latter is optional.

In addition, I was provided with an audio guide which allowed me to learn all the details of this archaeological site at my own pace. The first monument dates back to no less than 3100 BC.

And, of course, an ideal suggestion for the month of July in the British capital is to book a bike tour of London's parks, the most fun way to enjoy all the splendour of the city's main green spaces such as:

• Kensington Gardens.
• Hyde Park.
• Green Park.
• St. James Park.

On the tour, for groups of up to 16 people, you will be accompanied by a local guide who will show you various points of interest such as Big Ben, the Churchill War Rooms, the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square and Westminster Abbey.

And bear in mind that you can take breaks along the way. This was something I was worried about initially because there are so many places to photograph along the way.

An unrivalled event in July is the Pride Festival, one of the most impressive and massive LGBT+ festivals in the world.

The Pride Festival in London has a great number of plans and activities for all tastes and audiences, culminating in the big parade, which starts in Regent Street and crosses the whole of central London until it reaches Trafalgar Square.

There are also numerous clubs and bars in London that organise very well designed parties that you won't want to miss. Check out the calendar of events and don't miss out on this key holiday.

The word Proms comes from the olden days when people used to walk along the promenade and listen to classical music at the same time. The BBC usually holds these concerts at the Royal Albert Hall from July each year and has a very full programme.

Every year the BBC organises an agenda full of classical music concerts with guest conductors and musicians; music lovers meet there.

Are you one of them? Well, you can't miss one of the concerts, even if it's just one of them.

The Dunwich Dynamo is a cycling race usually held at the end of July with a 180km ride to the Suffolk coast. It is an evening race which starts in Hackney Park. You start at 8pm and arrive at the finish line at dawn.

If you like bikes and think you'll miss cycling, you can go for it or you can just watch the spectacular start of the participants... by the way, did I mention that anyone can ride? I've called it a race, but the organisers don't give out any race bibs, nor do they record times or anything like that. It's all about pure love for bikes and fun.

The length of the course is overwhelming for anyone, but you can cycle as far as you want. It's not really a sporting event, it's more a way of getting closer to a form of transport that the British are very fond of, so much so that if you're looking for a guided tour of London you'll see that some of the options are directly by bike.

Useful information

• Start: Pub on the Park, Martello Street, Hackney.
• Get your bike ready before the race.
• Bring an extra layer of clothing.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Bring spare batteries, inner tubes and patches.

After a few days of walking back and forth, you'll be grateful to spend the day in a place like this. This event is all about enjoying the beauty of the flowers and the smell of them. Strolling through the exhibition is an experience that transports you, the fragrance of the flowers envelops you and, unless you are allergic, you will enjoy so much nature around you.

This fair is usually held at the beginning of July, in the middle of spring and it is the largest flower fair in the world and you can choose to do different things. I'll show you right now:

• Gardens for everyone: stroll through the wonderful gardens around Hampton Court Palace. You'll enjoy a variety of styles including the Show Garden, the Global Impact Garden and the Get Started Garden, where the professional gardeners will be getting their ideas for the new season.
• Floral marquee: visit the marquee where expert nurseries are on display, share your doubts and questions with the top experts and you're sure to take home a beautiful flower for your home.
• Talks, demonstrations and workshops by leading experts: at these talks you can broaden your knowledge of flowers; there will also be talks on health, food, crafts, wellbeing, gardening and creativity.
• Rose Festival: let yourself be carried away by the colours and aromas of the most beautiful roses, discover new varieties and enjoy yourself. When you're feeling tired, you can have a cup of tea in the Rose Afternoon Tea Garden.

If you are looking for more nature, I recommend this article about the best parks in London.

Useful information

• Where: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey.
• Dogs are not allowed, except for personal assistance dogs.

This may seem like a very curious proposal, but I think it's an interesting one. With this activity you can get to see how important the British Royal Family is in sometimes more everyday things.

This event has been held every July for years and is the census of the swans and the verification that all is well by The Queen's Swan Warden, whose objective is the conservation of the mute swan.

It is nice to see the Royal Swan Uppers, wearing the scarlet uniform of Her Majesty the Queen, sailing in traditional rowing boats. The children also play an important role, watching, asking questions and helping with the task. It's a different but curious thing to do, and one that raises a lot of excitement because the Queen makes an appearance on one of these days. Are you up for seeing the swans?

I'm back with the idea of going to a festival... in the summer you really enjoy the outdoors and you can tell me where it's better in the middle of July! This is not a festival of just one style of music, at British Summer Time you can enjoy different internationally known artists.

For next year they have a very varied and powerful line-up, you're sure to find something that interests you.

In the park environment you can eat and drink, sit on the grass while listening to the music and experience a festival in a more relaxed way. It's up to you how you want to archive the experience in your brain.

Useful information

• Where: Hyde Park, Bayswater.
• Tickets: from £95.
• Venue capacity: 150,000 people.
• Special stage for disabled people.

Want to do something truly unique? Celebrate the annual edition of this international tennis championship. In the future you will be able to proudly say "I was there", and you will remember the matches of your favourite tennis players battling it out to win the championship.

This tournament is held in early July and is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments and is also the most prestigious and oldest in the world.

At the same time as this tournament, junior and senior tournaments are held, so you can also watch amateur matches.

If you're travelling with children to London you must take them to see this puppet theatre housed in a converted barge. It has fifty seats, so you'll probably need to get your tickets in advance.

The shows: they're for kids and grown-ups, so everyone has a great time and you bond as a family. In July you can find this barge in Richmond-upon-Thames.

This company performs plays based on traditional children's stories, such as Aesop's fables; Shakespeare' s plays also find their place among the puppets, as do those of Federico García Lorca. If you are more avant-garde you are in luck, as contemporary works by published writers are also produced. Go on, run and ask your kids if they fancy the plan, I think I know the answer!

Useful information

• Where: Little Venice, Blomfield Road (opposite 35).
• It's an indoor barge, so if it rains it's no problem.
• How to get there: Warwick Avenue Bakerloo tube line.

If you've decided to travel to London in July and want to start the day off right with a real English breakfast, head to the peaceful Neal's Yard. With colourful little houses and lush greenery, a July day will get off to a unique start.

It was founded by Nicholas Saunders, a writer in the 1970s, who was an advocate of an alternative lifestyle and healthy eating. He started out buying a warehouse where he sold produce and today it's a world apart in the city.

It's one of the few remaining hippie neighbourhoods in the city. Here you will find little shops selling natural remedies and handicrafts.

Useful information

• Where. Covent Garden.
• How to get there: Northern Line stop Leicester Square. Piccadilly Line stop Leicester Square or Covent Garden.

As you can see, the list of things to see and do in London is long. And you're in luck, as I said at the beginning, in July the temperatures rise a bit and you'll be very comfortable; you'll have highs of 21º and lows of 13º. If you go to London in summer, the rain won't be as heavy as if you go to London in winter, so it will be easier to spend the day enjoying the outdoors.

I recommend you always check the weather forecast on reliable websites, so you can pack your suitcase according to the predictions.

Remember that it is no longer enough to have your ID card to enter the UK, you must now use your passport, and you can stay for a maximum of six months if you are going on holiday in the country.

For any other documents you may need, always consult the official websites, where you will find the most reliable information.

It is best to change money in the country of destination. Change a small amount at the airport, not much. Use your card to pay and, once you are in the city, you can go to a money exchange office. They are concentrated in the stations or tourist sites.

The best option is always to use your bank card for everything you can, but find out about the commissions, so that the cure is not worse than the disease.

London is always a good option to enjoy other cultures, incredible parks, hospitable people and your family or friends. Happy travels!