The ianVisits guide to June's unusual events, tours, lectures and exhibitions happening around London.
Saturday 1st June
Monthly open day at one of London's more curious and delightful museums, devoted to the history of the sewing machine.
2pm to 5pm
Tooting
A guided tour of this remarkable post-war church.
3pm to 3:45pm
Soho
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Sunday 2nd June
The Science Museum's basement gallery, filled with domestic appliances, will close today, so this is your last chance to visit.
10am to 6pm
South Kensington
Monthly open day at the museum to London's first international airport - in Croydon.
10am to 4pm
Croydon
Visitors to the mill are given a full guided tour covering the history, operation and principal features of Shirley Windmill.
12pm to 5pm
Croydon
Sarah Wise pieces together the lives irrevocably changed by this devastating legislation and provides a compelling study of how early twentieth-century attitudes to class, gender and disability resulted in a nationwide scandal.
3pm to 4:30pm
Holborn
More London events on Sunday 2nd June
Monday 3rd June
Come along and see for yourself this reimagining from family home to public library.
9:30am to 12pm
West Wickham
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Tuesday 4th June
Guided tour of the refitting of a Victorian military building into an arts centre.
11am to 12:30pm
Woolwich
In this lecture we’ll talk about what mathematicians mean by proof, and I’ll show you some of my favourites.
1pm to 2pm
Holborn
Free
“City Scribblers” examines the often eccentric contributions to literature and the life of the Square Mile.
2pm to 3pm
City of London
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Wednesday 5th June
This is a chance to immerse yourself in the Crystal Palace Subway and see the work that has been taking place for the last two years.
2:30pm to 7pm
Upper Norwood
An evening at Camden Collective to discover the potential of meanwhile spaces in building community.
6pm to 8pm
Camden
This lecture confronts the worldwide phenomenon of the persecution of suspected witches, now a serious, contemporary problem condemned by the UN in 2021.
6pm to 7pm
Holborn
An annual lecture tackling an aspect of the city’s built environment where past, present and future meet, and embracing the principle that the city belongs to all of us.
6:30pm to 8pm
Euston
Online events / webinars
The epic history of the oldest inhabited continent on the planet told by Zeinab Badawi
7:30pm to 8:30pm
More London events on Wednesday 5th June
Thursday 6th June
Come along and see for yourself this reimagining from family home to public library.
9:30am to 12pm
West Wickham
On the first Thursday of the month, Holborn's Novelty Automation has a bar in the store for their late-night opening.
6pm to 9pm
Holborn
Price & Myers welcomes you to their London studio to see how structural and civil engineering help to reimagine the places we live in and share.
6pm to 9pm
Join Stanfords with Kris Butler for an exploration of the history of alcohol in Victorian Britain via the ‘drink maps’ that were produced by the temperance movement to promote sobriety.
7pm to 8:30pm
Soho
Online events / webinars
When the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability (RHN) first opened its doors in 1854, it was termed the Royal Hospital for Incurables. But what were the ‘incurable’ diseases that it treated?
1pm to 2pm
More London events on Thursday 6th June
Friday 7th June
To mark the opening of Archipelagic Void, the 23rd Serpentine Pavilion, Minsuk Cho will be in conversation with Hans Ulrich Obrist, Artistic Director, Serpentine.
12pm to 1pm
Paddington
Six times a year, the private gardens at Lambeth Palace are opened to the public.
12pm to 3pm
Southwark
Online events / webinars
Join us to learn top tips for using Discovery, our online catalogue which allows you to download 100 free records a month
2pm to 3pm
More London events on Friday 7th June
Saturday 8th June
£17.00
Nearly 120 normally private gardens and squares will be open over the weekend for people to visit.
All Day
The prison history is presented in over 450 photos and objects, including stories of staff, prisoners, escapes, and hangings.
10am to 5pm
Wandsworth
£10.00
Pope's Grotto, in Radnor House School, will be open 13 days in 2024, and this is one of the open days.
10am to 12:30pm
Twickenham
Upminster Windmill has been extensively restored and is now open one weekend per month from Spring to Autumn.
10am to 4pm
Upminster
A 'Special Forces Weekend' will showcase special services along the Thames and beyond.
11am to 5pm
Wapping
This festival combines the fun of a village fete with science and humanities research.
11:30am to 4:30pm
Whitechapel
More London events on Saturday 8th June
Sunday 9th June
£17.00
Nearly 120 normally private gardens and squares will be open over the weekend for people to visit.
All Day
The prison history is presented in over 450 photos and objects, including stories of staff, prisoners, escapes, and hangings.
10am to 5pm
Wandsworth
Upminster Windmill has been extensively restored and is now open one weekend per month from Spring to Autumn.
10am to 4pm
Upminster
A 'Special Forces Weekend' will showcase special services along the Thames and beyond.
11am to 4pm
Wapping
The Royal Parks are taking part in the Big Help Out by planting thousands of wildflowers.
11am to 3pm
This pretty hill garden has a terrace with ironwork gazebos, wide stone steps descending to an evergreen pergola, dappled sunlight and quiet water feature.
1:30pm to 6pm
Winchmore Hill
More London events on Sunday 9th June
Monday 10th June
Award-winning science fiction writer Kim Stanley Robinson will discuss the political economy needed to cope with the existential threats we are facing and how he has explored this in his writing
1pm to 2pm
Holborn
This lecture will explore some investors’ systematic behavioural biases, and how these can be used to predict returns.
6pm to 7pm
Holborn
Online events / webinars
In this lecture, dive into the haunting history of the Black Death and explore how this devastating plague swept across the world
8pm to 9:30pm
More London events on Monday 10th June
Tuesday 11th June
In this event Richard Davies will be joined by Ricardo Hausmann, head of the Harvard Growth lab and a panel of senior journalists and policymakers to discuss how Britain’s economic model can be re-built to kickstart productivity and tackle the country’s challenges.
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Holborn
Online events / webinars
To celebrate the publication of a new edition of Faith Compton Mackenzie’s first and last books.
2pm to 3pm
More London events on Tuesday 11th June
Wednesday 12th June
Uncover some myths about historic buildings with archaeologist James Wright.
6:30pm to 8pm
Soho
Delve into the lives of four forgotten figures in LGBTQ+ history with award-winning historian Chris Bryant MP and bestselling author Wendy Moore.
6:30pm to 8pm
Holborn
Online events / webinars
Meeting monthly to explore a range of London writing, with a remit covering fiction and non-fiction for all periods in London's History
6pm to 7pm
More London events on Wednesday 12th June
Thursday 13th June
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Thursday 13th June
Friday 14th June
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Friday 14th June
Saturday 15th June
A weekend of science events, talks and tours all taking place around the South Kensington museum.
All Day
South Kensington
Come and explore the historic Grade II listed Orpington Priory & Gardens.
10am to 4pm
Orpington
A monthly display of classic cars in Waterloo - usually attracting around 20 vehicles.
11am to 2pm
Southwark
Two sets of military gun salutes will take place today to mark the Official Birthday of HM The King
12:30pm to 2pm
LSE Press author Naila Kabeer and Philip Hensher will explore the purpose and value of different narrative forms, as well as considering the impact of literature on global communities.
3:30pm to 4:30pm
Holborn
More London events on Saturday 15th June
Sunday 16th June
A weekend of science events, talks and tours all taking place around the South Kensington museum.
All Day
South Kensington
£10.00
Pope's Grotto, in Radnor House School, will be open 13 days in 2024, and this is one of the open days.
10am to 11am
Twickenham
More London events on Sunday 16th June
Monday 17th June
No events are listed for today. Sorry.
More London events on Monday 17th June
Tuesday 18th June
Join EPR Architects for a tour of their new retrofit and net zero carbon in operation London studio, All Saints, led by the architects who worked on the project.
6pm to 8pm
Kennington
This is a unique opportunity to hear about her life’s work, in conversation with Jacqueline Springer.
Starts at 7pm
Camden
More London events on Tuesday 18th June
Wednesday 19th June
A talk exploring the history of this Victorian prison.
5:30pm to 7pm
Clerkenwell
How do we celebrate a park’s heritage whilst responding to the evolving needs of local communities, ecosystems, and the urban context?
6:30pm to 8pm
Upper Norwood
More London events on Wednesday 19th June
Thursday 20th June
£16.00
In this lecture, Will Palin, Chief Executive of Barts Heritage, will discuss the challenges and complexities of the project.
11:30am to 12:45pm
Harley Street
£10.00
In this lecture, Elizabeth Norton explores seven ages of Tudor woman, from childhood to old age.
1pm to 2pm
Soho
The usually private gardens at The Charterhouse will be open for three evenings this summer.
5:30pm to 8:30pm
Clerkenwell
Join Stanfords with Jack Cornish and his new book The Lost Paths: A History of How We Walk from Here to There as we journey across Britain's millennia-old network of pathways and revealing key moments throughout our history.
7pm to 8:30pm
Soho
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Friday 21st June
Free
Whether you’re a fan of Bauhaus, brutalism, or anything in between, you’ll discover something to inspire and delight you.
10am to 5pm
Marylebone High St
Join exhibition curator Charlotte Bolland as she introduces the Gallery’s new major exhibition Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII’s Queens.
7pm to 8pm
Soho
Online events / webinars
Prize-winning historian Kathryn Hughes on the quirky history of how Victorian and Edwardian Britain fell in love with cats.
2pm to 3pm
More London events on Friday 21st June
Saturday 22nd June
Tour a historic Grade II listed water tower with views of the Kings Cross area and St Pancras station.
10am to 4pm
Kings Cross
Free
Whether you’re a fan of Bauhaus, brutalism, or anything in between, you’ll discover something to inspire and delight you.
10am to 5pm
Marylebone High St
Step back in time and witness the intense clash between the Tudors and Stuarts, filled with drama, power struggles, and royal rivalries.
10:30am to 4pm
Southwark
A guided tour of the grade II* listed building that once was Simpsons department store, and now exists as the flagship Waterstones store.
Starts at 10:30am
Picadilly
Hermitage Community Moorings is a cluster of boats next to Tower Bridge that hosts an occasional open weekend to let the public onboard for a look around.
11am to 4pm
Wapping
Conway Hall and the London Fortean Society present a deep dive into conspiracy theory, what it is, what it means, why it is believed, and what harm is caused by it?
11am to 6pm
Holborn
Join James Ball, Professor Chris French, Professor Karen Douglas, Brent Lee and Jonn Elledge for a deep dive into conspiracy theory and culture.
12pm to 6pm
Holborn
More London events on Saturday 22nd June
Sunday 23rd June
Hermitage Community Moorings is a cluster of boats next to Tower Bridge that hosts an occasional open weekend to let the public onboard for a look around.
11am to 4pm
Wapping
A tour of the archaeological excavations and Tudor foundations at Scadbury Moated Manor, which still has its moat around it.
2:30pm to 4pm
Chislehurst
More London events on Sunday 23rd June
Monday 24th June
£16.96
Prof. Tony Travers will look at the possible impacts of the mayoral and general elections on London’s future.
6:25pm to 8:15pm
Fleet Street
Online events / webinars
Explore a chilling odyssey into the dark heart of the Middle Ages with a lecture on the infamous "Malleus Maleficarum," from 1486
9pm to 10:30pm
More London events on Monday 24th June
Tuesday 25th June
This talk by City of London Guide & Lecturer and Cathedral Guide Jill Finch is about the bravery and commitment of those who defended St Paul’s throughout the war
2pm to 3pm
City of London
The annual Pipe Roll Society Lecture.
5pm to 6pm
Richmond
More London events on Tuesday 25th June
Wednesday 26th June
A conversation on the reuse of buildings.
6pm to 8:30pm
Clerkenwell
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Thursday 27th June
Sarah Gristwood follows the passage of power from Isabella of Castile through Anne Boleyn and on to Elizabeth I and Jeanne d’Albret, heroine of the Protestant Reformation.
1pm to 2pm
Soho
An evening discovering thousands of locations from film, TV, books and comics all ingeniously plotted on beautiful vintage looking maps to illustrate who lives where.
7pm to 8:30pm
Soho
More London events on Thursday 27th June
Friday 28th June
Online events / webinars
Discover popular military records and how they can be used in your family history research
2pm to 3pm
More London events on Friday 28th June
Saturday 29th June
See the restoration process and engage with visitors to 'Reimagine' the future of Bromley’s Grade II Listed Edwardian Bandstand
10am to 4pm
Beckenham
Twice a year, the island opens up to the public and the studios open their doors to visitors providing a unique opportunity to see inside a real working artist’s studio
11am to 6pm
Twickenham
A walled garden behind the Priory Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and St Dominic, commissioned by the Dominican Friars as a spiritual and meditative space representing the 'Mysteries of Light' of the Holy Rosary.
1pm to 5pm
Kentish Town
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Sunday 30th June
A diverse garden in a Victorian terrace with an eclectic mix of plants, many in vintage pots reflecting the owner's interests.
10am to 6pm
Stoke Newington
A WW2-era history attraction that's open to the public once a month.
10:30am to 4pm
Watford
Twice a year, the island opens up to the public and the studios open their doors to visitors providing a unique opportunity to see inside a real working artist’s studio
11am to 6pm
Twickenham
£4.28
The London Gaming Market is a place to buy retro video-games, board games and merchandise all in one place
12pm to 4pm
Euston
Once a month, the oldest building in Hackney, St Augustine's Tower is open, so you can climb up to the top.
2pm to 4:30pm
Hackney
