The 6 best free things to do in London this weekend [June 26-28 2026]

There’s only one thing that Londoners have been talking about this week: the sweltering, stifling, skin-melting heatwave. Summer has arrived with a vengeance and not to be dramatic but the city is one ginormous oven right now. We’ve all had to reshuffle our plans and routines to cope. 

Much of this weekend will be no different. Friday is set to hit an aggressive 37C and Saturday will reach 32C. That means you might want to stick to plans that don’t require getting on a boiling tube carriage or staying outside too long. We’ll at least get some relief on Sunday when things are forecast to cool down to a far more pleasant 26C. 

Okay, now that all the weather chat’s out of the way, let’s get down to business. This weekend has a whole host of fantastic free, heatwave-friendly things going on in London’s pubs, on its streets and across its air-conned venues. You can get your hands on pieces from Peggy Gou’s wardrobe, cheer on the Three Lions or dance to DJs at the Tate Modern, all without spending a penny. Here are all the best free events happening in the city over the next three days. 

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The best free things on in London this weekend, June 26-28 2026 

1. Party at the Tate Modern

The Tate’s Friday Lates is back this weekend with an evening curated by this year’s Infinities Commission recipient, Zimbabwean choreographer, film-maker and installation artist Nora Chipaumire. Centred around ‘gadzi’, Chipaumire’s monumental commission in the East Tank the evening, and will feature the first of three one-hour performances staged by the artist throughout this weekend.Starting in the installation and progressing through the Tanks Lobby and into the Turbine Hall, the performance incorporates the installation’s impressive sound system, plus live musicians and a troupe of thirteen dancers. 

Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG. Fri Jun 26. Free.

2. Watch the Three Lions take on Panama in the World Cup

Finally, an England match where we don’t have to worry about being up for work the next day! After a brilliant performance against Croatia and a less satisfying game against Ghana, Thomas Tuchel’s team will play their third and final group stage match this Saturday. They’ll take on Panama at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey at 10pm BST. Of course, venues across London will be showing the game but be careful, not all of them will be free entry. Some of the best spots that will have free entry for their screenings include German Kraft Brewery, Bar Kick (but with a £10 deposit if you book in advance) and The Dial in Greenwich. 

Various venues. Sat June 27. 10pm. Free (booking advised).

3. Dance to good music with good people in east London 

If you’re hanging out in the east of the city, you’ll more than get your fill of free live music on Saturday. Dalston’s Gillett Square will be brimming with unadulterated joy on Saturday afternoon with the arrival of the People’s Festival. The neighbourhood fest has been put together by several community organisations with a lineup of musicians, DJ, dancers and speakers who believe in ‘solidarity over profit, people over extraction, and culture as a tool for liberation’. Less than a 10-minute walk away on Newington Green there’s Jazz on the Green with performances from Errol Linton Band, Auka Friends, The Scorpios and more. 

Gillet Square, E8 and Newington Green, N16. Sat Jun 27. Free.

4. Honour the Windrush generation at the Big Caribbean Lunch

The annual Big Caribbean Lunch is taking up residence in Windrush Square this Sunday for a Windrush Day celebration, turning the heart of SW2 into a kaleidoscope of food, music and culture. Ostensibly a day honouring the Windrush Generation and their unparalleled impact on British life, it doubles as one of the best free community events on London’s calendar. While the headline act is the heartwarming complimentary lunch provided to Windrush elders, everyone else is fully catered for with a sprawling Caribbean food market, live music and family fete vibes courtesy of event planning and entertainment collective Just Vibez. Take a breather from the food to browse the outdoor ‘Windrush Untold Stories’ storyboard exhibition. 

Windrush Square, SW2 1EF. Sun Jun 28. 12pm-7pm. 

5. Shop Peggy Gou’s wardrobe in Dalston

To celebrate the drop of her euphoric new single ‘Wo,man’ (on June 26), megastar DJ Peggy Gou is opening a one-day-only pop-up called The Gou,tique at Shoreditch’s Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes, where fans can custom cocktails while Gudu Records DJs spin some tunes. The main draw, though, is that Peggy will be gifting 200 mystery items from her personal archive, alongside 100 pieces of classic merch, completely free of charge. It’s strictly first-come, first-served, and you can expect the queue to stretch all the way to Dalston by lunchtime, so bunk off work early and bring your sharpest elbows.

Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes, E2 8DA. Fri June 26. From 4pm. Free.

6. See fabulous kites in flight on Hampstead Heath

Organised by the Kite Society of Great Britain, this incredibly wholesome little festival will see dozens of colourful kites soaring into the air from Parliament Hill. Pro flyers will show off their stunt kites performing loops, dives and synchronised manoeuvres and display teams will present their impressive creations, from giant inflatable kites to elaborate box kites. Don’t be intimidated by the experts though, members of the public are very much encouraged to bring their own kite along, too. Here’s hoping the wind will hold up. 

Parliament Hill, NW5 1QR. Sun Jun 28. 12pm-4pm. 

Fill up your diary for June with our guide to the best things to do in London this month.

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