Cultural Events in London: Exhibits, Lates and Festivals in 2019

“London is home to exciting annual events, seasonal festivals, royal parades and special cultural events for niche audiences. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly events, unique lates for couples or cultural celebrations for everyone, here are the top cultural events in London in 2019.

Photo by Debbie Fan on Unsplash

### Buckingham Palace’s summer opening

Each summer, Buckingham Palace opens its doors to the public for tours and exploration. You can see the lavish furnishings in the staterooms, the Royal Collection’s prized treasures, masterpieces by great Renaissance artists and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world during a palace tour.

### Notting Hill Carnival

Each August bank holiday weekend, the streets of West London turn into a big street festival with Caribbean colours, music and flavours. You can see costumed performers on elaborate floats in the carnival parade, listen to the sound of calypso music and steel bands and experience the regional cuisine in food stalls along the streets.

### Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

In the warm summer evenings, Regent’s Park presents theatre shows in a tranquil venue with the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. The 2019 season presents such iconic stories as ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, ‘Evita’ and ‘Hansel and Gretel’ in the centre of the Royal Park. Enjoy classic plays, family shows or musicals under the summer skies all season long.

### Hogwarts in the Snow at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

Along with the magic of Christmas trees and snowfall, you can take an imaginative trip into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with Hogwarts in the Snow at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – the Making of Harry Potter. This event features glittering Christmas trees in the Great Hall and a Yule Ball with icicles and an orchestra, as well as special-effect fires in fireplaces, a snow-covered Hogwarts castle model and a collection of props and costumes from the films. Studio tours take you through the movie sets as they were decorated for festive scenes, followed by a 2-course meal in the Great Hall.

### Frieze art fairs at Regent’s Park

In October, Frieze hosts 2 prominent, neighbouring art fairs in Royal Park: Frieze London, featuring contemporary art, and Frieze Masters, featuring masterpieces from the past. During this event, you can view and purchase world-class art from international galleries, including Old Masters’ paintings, ancient works and modern-day displays.

_Photo by Jack Bassingthwaighte on Unsplash_

### Jack the Ripper Ghost Walks

Due to the spectre of the notorious Jack the Ripper, Halloween is a spooky time in London. With Jack the Ripper Ghost Walks, you can retrace the murderer’s footsteps and see the story come to life with the Jack the Ripper Tour with Ripper-Vision, bringing you back to a time of gaslight and fog in the East End.

### Museum of London

The Museum of London hosts lates activities that range from grisly Halloween card-making to Cleopatra-style makeovers. Some notable events in 2019 include the Beasts of London, an immersive digital installation exhibit that showcases the animals that have shaped London’s history, and Close to the Bone, a forensics workshop where you can practice your crime-fighting skills. Another exciting event is Designing a Museum of the Future, which shows different architectural movements from the past on the museum trail and gives you a chance to create your perfect future museum.

_Photo by Kevin Grieve on Unsplash_

### National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery hosts Friday Lates, a Friday-night event with tours, talks, live music, film and art workshops, and DJs, as well as a bar dedicated to the event. Some unique experiences on Friday Lates include a weekly drawing session in the Gallery, portrait painting workshops and tours of specific art movements with famed presenters.

### Science Museum

On the last Wednesday of every month, adults take over the Science Museum for a night of interactive fun. The museum stays open until 10 p.m. to provide visitors with a chance to play with science exhibits, such as 3-D and 4-D simulators of the Apollo space mission.

### Sir John Soane’s Museum

One Friday a month, the maze-like passageways of Sir John Soane’s Museum are lit by candles for a late-night opening. This event includes ‘spotlight talks’ with expert guides who discuss the artefacts and works of art within the museum, as well as a glass of wine at the South Drawing Room.

_Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash_

### Tate Modern

Tate Modern exhibitions are open on Fridays and Saturdays until 10 p.m. for emerging DJ shows, world-class exhibitions, pop-up talks, artistic activations and hands-on workshops with leading artists. You’ll also find beginners’ ballet sessions, art macabre paper theatre and workshops, costume design for ballet, body painting and other unique experiences.

### Time Out First Thursdays

On the first Thursday of every month, over a hundred museums and galleries in East London stay open late for evening viewings and free cultural events. You could also take a guided bus tour to participating museums, hosted by leading writers, artists, academics and curators.

### London in the Sky at the O2

London in the Sky offers tours to London’s most famous locations, such as South Bank and the Tower Bridge, and will now feature food menus from top caterers and mixologists for a unique foodie experience. A small group of diners can enjoy a mix of curated menus on multiple flights a day, ranging from breakfast to cocktails and dinner.

No matter the time of year, London offers some of the most unique and exciting festivals and cultural events for unforgettable holiday experiences. If you’re planning a trip to London with your family or friends, check out our guides on the best places to Instagram and the essential things to do whilst you’re there!”