June gives you the longest days of the year in London, with daylight until after 21:00, average highs of about 22°C and a calendar that includes Trooping the Colour and, in 2027, the first week of Wimbledon from 28 June. Because schools are still in term for most of the month, it is often less crowded than July and August.
For many visitors June is the sweet spot. It is warm enough to spend evenings outdoors, the parks and river are at their liveliest, and the long summer school holidays have not yet started. The weather is not guaranteed, though: London summers mix warm sunny spells with cooler, cloudy days and the occasional heavy shower.
The biggest events need planning. Trooping the Colour grandstand seats are allocated by ballot, and Wimbledon tickets mostly come through a ballot that has already closed, though anyone can join the famous Queue.
June in London: the essentials
- Average high / low
- 21.6°C / 12.0°C (Met Office, Heathrow, 1991-2020)
- Sunshine
- About 208 hours
- Rain
- 47.3 mm on about 8 days
- Bank holidays
- None in June
- School holidays
- Half-term ends about 4 June; schools then in term until late July
- Big dates
- Trooping the Colour (2027 date not yet announced); Wimbledon from Monday 28 June 2027
The longest days of the year
The summer solstice falls around 21 June, and in London that means about sixteen and a half hours between sunrise and sunset. The sun rises before 05:00 and sets after 21:00, and on clear evenings the sky stays light for a long time after that.
This changes how you can plan a trip. You can spend the day in museums and still have hours of daylight for a walk along the river, a picnic or a viewpoint at sunset. Our list of free places to see London from above is especially useful in June, when sunset comes late enough to fit in after dinner.
June weather: warm, but not reliably hot
The Met Office's 1991-2020 averages for Heathrow give June an average high of 21.6°C and an average low of 12.0°C. That is three degrees warmer than May, and nights are now mild enough to sit outside without a coat. Sunshine averages about 208 hours, similar to May and slightly less than July.
Rainfall averages 47.3 mm, spread over about eight days. Summer rain often comes as short, heavy showers, sometimes with thunder, rather than as long grey days. Hot spells happen too, and on those days the Tube and buses can feel much hotter than the street outside.
| Heathrow average (1991-2020) | May | June | July |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average high | 18.4°C | 21.6°C | 23.9°C |
| Average low | 9.1°C | 12.0°C | 14.2°C |
| Sunshine | 207 hours | 208 hours | 218 hours |
| Rainfall | 45.9 mm | 47.3 mm | 45.8 mm |
Trooping the Colour and the King's Birthday Parade
Trooping the Colour is the official celebration of the monarch's birthday, a military parade of hundreds of soldiers, horses and musicians on Horse Guards Parade. It normally takes place on a Saturday in June, and the day traditionally ends with the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace and a flypast.
The date for 2027 had not been announced when we checked in September 2026. In 2026 the three ticketed events, the parade and two reviews, were held on 30 May, 6 June and 13 June, starting at 10:00. Grandstand seats are allocated by ballot, with a maximum of four tickets per application: £30 for the parade, £15 for the Colonel's Review and £10 for the Major General's Review.
Without a ticket, you can watch free from The Mall and St James's Park. Arrive early for a place at the front. Our guide to Trooping the Colour explains the ballot and the best places to stand.
Parade Saturday closes much of Westminster. The Mall, Horse Guards and the roads around them are closed for much of the morning, and nearby stations get very crowded. If you are not going to the parade, plan to be somewhere else in London until early afternoon.
Wimbledon begins on 28 June 2027
The Wimbledon Championships are the oldest tennis tournament in the world, played on grass in south-west London. In 2027 they run from Monday 28 June to Sunday 11 July and mark the 150th anniversary of The Championships, so the first days of the tournament fall in June.
The Public Ballot for 2027 has already closed, so most visitors will need the Queue. Anyone can join it for a limited number of daily Show Court and Grounds tickets, one per person. The Queue starts in Wimbledon Park, about five minutes' walk from Southfields station on the District line, and you receive a numbered Queue card. In 2026 you also needed a myWIMBLEDON account and the Wimbledon app to buy the ticket. Our Wimbledon tickets and Queue guide goes through it step by step.
Term time: why June can beat July
London's schools are back after the May half-term by early June. In Lambeth, for example, half-term ends on Friday 4 June 2027 and the summer term runs from Monday 7 June to Thursday 22 July. That means museums, the zoo and family attractions are noticeably calmer on weekdays in June than they will be from late July.
School groups do still visit museums on weekday mornings, so the big South Kensington museums can be lively until lunchtime. Afternoons and early evenings are the calmest times.
June weekdays give summer weather without summer-holiday queues. If you can choose, travel in the middle two weeks of June. Hotels are rarely cheap in summer, but you avoid both the May half-term and the six-week school holiday that starts in late July.
Evenings on the river and in the parks
On a warm June evening the whole city seems to move outside. The South Bank is the classic walk, from Westminster Bridge past the National Theatre to Tate Modern and Shakespeare's Globe. Across the city, Primrose Hill fills with people watching the sun go down over the skyline.
A trip on the water is another good choice. Sightseeing boats are covered in our guide to cruises on the Thames, while the commuter Uber Boat river bus is a practical way to travel between Westminster, the City and Greenwich. Uber Boat fares are not included in TfL's daily caps or in Travelcards, so check the price before you board.
Late openings, theatre and cricket
Long evenings suit London's late openings. Tate Modern is open until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, the National Gallery until 21:00 on Fridays, and the V&A in South Kensington until 22:00 on Fridays (some galleries close earlier). Our round-up of museum late openings lists the rest.
June is also a good month for theatre. Evening performances in the West End start around 19:30, when it is still broad daylight outside; see our West End theatre guide for how to choose a show. Cricket fans can watch the English summer game at two historic grounds, covered in our guide to Lord's and The Oval. For more ideas after dark, see our guide to London at night.
Book now for July and August
If you are in London in June but thinking about another trip, or planning ahead for later in the summer, a few things need booking months in advance.
- Big Ben tours. Tickets are released three months in advance, on the second Wednesday of every month at 10:00. Tours cost £55 for adults and are open to visitors aged 11 and over from any country; see our Big Ben and Elizabeth Tower guide.
- Buckingham Palace State Rooms. They are not open for normal visits in June. The summer opening ran from 9 July to 27 September in 2026; the 2027 dates had not been announced when we checked. Our Buckingham Palace guide has the details.
What to bring for early summer
- Light clothes for the day and one warmer layer for the evening, especially by the river.
- A compact umbrella or thin rain jacket for summer showers.
- Sun cream, sunglasses and a hat; long days mean more time in the sun than you expect.
- A refillable water bottle for hot days on the Tube.
For a day by the sea, Brighton is the easiest beach town to reach from London. And to see how the season develops, compare this month with London in May and London in July.
Frequently asked questions
Is June a good time to visit London?
Yes, it is one of the best. Days are long, with sunset after 21:00, the average high is about 22°C, and schools are still in term for most of the month, so attractions are calmer than in July and August. Book hotels early, as summer demand is high.
When is Trooping the Colour in 2027?
The 2027 date had not been announced by September 2026. The parade normally takes place on a Saturday in June on Horse Guards Parade. Check the Household Division's official page, which publishes the date and the ticket ballot details.
Can I watch Wimbledon without a ticket from the ballot?
Yes. Anyone can join the Queue, which sells a limited number of Show Court and Grounds tickets each day, one per person. In 2027 Wimbledon runs from 28 June to 11 July. The Queue starts in Wimbledon Park, near Southfields station.
How hot does London get in June?
The Met Office average for Heathrow is a high of 21.6°C and a low of 12.0°C. Some days are much hotter and some cooler and wet, so pack light clothes, one warm layer and something for rain.
Sources
- Met Office - Heathrow climate averages 1991-2020 (checked September 2026)
- Household Division - Trooping the Colour (checked September 2026)
- Wimbledon - The Queue (checked September 2026)
- Wimbledon - Public Ballot (checked September 2026)
- Lambeth Council - School term dates 2026 to 2027 (checked September 2026)
- UK Parliament - Big Ben tour (checked September 2026)
- Royal Collection Trust - Buckingham Palace (checked September 2026)