What to do in London – June 2025 edition

For decades we were the idiots who misattributed the famous quote about London to Oscar Wilde. Sorry Samuel Johnson, it’s our bad – but we just want to put it on record that you were right. There’s never a moment that your words don’t hold true: if you are tired of London, you’re tired of life.

From Clapham to Primrose Hill, there is always a glut of stuff to fill your time in the Big Smoke. We marvel at how, whether you’re into life drawing or ping pong, you’ll always find a crowd and a corner within which to indulge in your favourite pursuits.

So, if you’re heading to LHR in the next few summer weeks, here’s a list of lovely activities and eats to consider.

Eat: oysters at Scott’s Richmond

Thirty minutes from central London and located in a perfect Thames-side spot, Scott’s Richmond is the little sister of the original, iconic Scott’s in Mayfair. Talk about a laat lammetjie. The Richmond offering sprung up in 2022 – blisteringly new compared with the original, which has been around since 1851.

Scott’s is famous for its British fish and seafood and it’s pretty darn fancy. Richmond has taken this up a level and is all silver leaf, mother-of-pearl, velvet blankets and bright Fauvist-, Expressionist- and modernist-style artworks.

This is special-event territory. Order oysters in a variety of guises, heavenly monkfish and prawn masala, half a roasted lobster, and bottles of bubbly – and you’re in for a sublime (albeit Rand-busting) few hours.

Visit: an exhibition at the Design Museum

If you’re a museum lover, London is the place to be. The city is bursting with world-class options, but our current favourite is the Design Museum on Kensington High Street – a sleek, modern space dedicated to all things contemporary design.

The permanent exhibition, Designer Maker User, offers a fascinating look at the evolution of design through nearly 1,000 objects – from iconic furniture to everyday gadgets – tracing how design shapes the way we live.

And right now, the museum is making a splash (we can’t resist the pun…) with a stylish exhibition called Splash! (on until 17 August) that celebrates our century-long love affair with swimming. Think classic swimwear, poolside aesthetics, and even the influence of Art Deco architecture – it’s a summer dream.

And for film buffs, mark your calendars: from 21 November 2025, the museum will host a retrospective on the ultra-cool Wes Anderson, diving into his distinctive visual style and iconic films. We can’t wait.

Bonus? The gift shop is a must-visit for any design fundi. 

Buy: shoes from Flabelus

Ladies – not to overstate it, but you’re nowhere if you don’t have a pair of Venetian velvet slippers this winter. “Furlane”, as locals call them, have been the staple footwear of Venice forever, and the rest of us have finally caught on. The versions we love are actually (sacrilege) by Spanish brand Flabelus, who ostensibly combine the fabulousness of furlane with the equally cool Spanish espadrille.

Our pick is the cotton velvet Mary Janes, which come in myriad jewel tones and feature soles made from rubber produced from recycled bicycle tyres. Otherwise there’s a classic slipper and gents, they make those for you too! In London, you can swing by their Notting Hill store for your flat-shoe fix.

Walk: An architectural tour of the Barbican

If you’re a fan of architecture – especially the bold, unapologetic lines of Brutalism – then the Barbican is a must-visit. Declared “one of the modern wonders of the world” by The Queen at its 1982 opening, the Barbican is a striking example of post-war urban renewal.

Designed by architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, the complex rose from the rubble of a WWII-bombed area of London. Their vision? To create a “city within a city” – and they certainly delivered.

Today, the Barbican is a cultural hub housing theatres, galleries, cinemas, a concert hall, a public library, community spaces and a lakeside retreat in the heart of the city. One of its hidden gems is the Conservatory, which is home to over 1,500 species of plants and trees. You’ll need to book ahead, but it’s absolutely worth it.

For those keen to dive deeper, we highly recommend a walking tour of the complex (bookable online). You’ll learn more about the architecture’s focus on form, function, and geometry – not to mention all that glorious raw concrete. It’s also a dream to photograph. Just a heads up: on any overcast, slightly breezy day, those passageways can be icy cold, so layer up. And don’t leave without checking out the Barbican shop: it’s packed with brilliant architecture books and prints for design lovers.

Drink: cortados at Neal Street Espresso, Seven Dials

Finding a decent cup of coffee in London isn’t hard – the city’s full of cafés. But every now and then, one stands out. Tucked into vibey Covent Garden, Neal Street Espresso isn’t just another spot serving strong espressos and smooth cortados – it’s also changing lives. This specialty coffee shop doubles as a social enterprise, giving former offenders a shot at a fresh start. Each highly skilled barista has a story that often involves addiction, crime and recovery, and the coffee shop provides training, support, and employment to help them build a new path.

And here’s the especially lekker part: there’s a South African link. Neal Street Espresso is partnered with Gangstar Café in Mowbray, Cape Town – another coffee shop doing good, one flat white at a time. So next time you’re in London (or Slaapstad), grab a cup with a conscience.

_{Cover image: a detail from Mária Švarbová’s, Movement (2020) from Splash! at the Design Museum}