Summer’s calling, and it doesn’t cost a thing.

Exam season is almost over; you've battled past the endless caffeine-fuelled all-nighters and last-minute cramming marathons. Now it's time to close your laptop, step outside, and enjoy the best of what London has to offer without spending a penny. Whether you're staying in halls over summer or planning quick city breaks in between part-time jobs and weekend trips, these free events will fill your summer diary with colour, culture, and a whole lot of fun.

Eid on the Square

📅 8th June 2025

🕛 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

📍 Trafalgar Square

🚇 Nearest Tube: Charing Cross / Westminster Station

Kick off the summer with a celebration of unity and community at Eid on the Square, hosted by the Mayor of London. This vibrant festival showcases Muslim heritage through a fusion of music and lantern making. Expect live performances from across the Muslim world, creative workshops, henna stalls, and even a mini museum of British Muslim history. If that's not enough, prepare to snack through global street food stalls while enjoying performances on the main stage curated by WAW Creative Arts.

Top tip: Come early to avoid the queues, bag checks are in place!

West End LIVE

📅 21st – 22nd June 2025

🕛 21st June, 11 am – 5 pm

🕛 22nd June, 12 noon – 5 pm

📍 Trafalgar Square

🚇 Nearest Tube: Charing Cross / Leicester Square

If you've ever dreamt of watching Hamilton, Wicked or The Lion King but your student budget only stretches to Tesco meal deals, this one's for you. West End LIVE is your chance to see some of the most iconic musicals in the world perform live, for free! Celebrating 20 years in 2025, this weekend extravaganza will see Trafalgar Square transformed into a musical theatre heaven, packed with star-studded performances and thousands of fans singing along.

Top tip: Bring snacks, get there early (Gates will open at approximately 10.15 am).

Canada Day London

📅 28th June 2025

🕛 12:00 pm – 8:30 pm

📍 Trafalgar Square

🚇 Nearest Tube: Charing Cross / Leicester Square

Celebrate all things Canadian with Canada Day London! This event brings the best of Canadian culture to the heart of London. With live music, food trucks, and the NHL Global Fan Tour, it's a full day of festivities. Whether you're Canadian or just looking for a new cultural experience, the atmosphere is welcoming and festive.

Pride in London

📅 5th July 2025

🕛 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm (and beyond!)

📍 Parade: Hyde Park Corner to Whitehall Place

📍 Stages: Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Soho, Golden Square, Dean Street

🚇 Nearest Tube: Bond Street / Tottenham Court Road / Embankment / Waterloo

Mark your calendar for one of London's biggest and brightest celebrations of diversity and love: Pride in London! The iconic parade features over 35,000 participants from LGBTQ+ organisations and charities, filling central London with colour, joy, and powerful messages of inclusion.

But the celebration doesn't stop at the parade; check out six different stages dotted across the West End, each hosting live performances, speeches, and drag shows.

The Lord Mayor’s Hot Air Balloon Regatta

📅 20th July 2025 and 27th July 2025 (On standby — weather dependent)

🕔 Approx. 05:00 and 05:30 am launch

Set your alarm clock for a very early start and catch one of London's most breathtaking spectacles — The Lord Mayor's Hot Air Balloon Regatta®. Up to 50 balloons will rise over the capital at sunrise, with the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress leading the launch in their official balloon. This charity event raises funds for The Lord Mayor's Appeal while providing Instagram-worthy views you won't want to miss.

Keep an eye on the event's website for flight confirmation and launch details, as it's weather-dependent. If it's a go, you'll be rewarded with a magical moment above the London skyline before most people have even had their first coffee.

Notting Hill Carnival

📅 24th – 25th August 2025

🕛 10:00 am – 7:00 pm

📍 Notting Hill

🚇 Nearest Tube:  Notting Hill Gate / Royal Oak / Westbourne Park

Wrap up your summer with the UK’s largest street party — Notting Hill Carnival! Rooted in Caribbean culture, this iconic event is an explosion of music, food, and colour, drawing over a million visitors every year.

Sunday is Children's Day. But if you're ready to turn up the volume, Monday's Adult Parade is the main event. Think glittering costumes, feathered headdresses, infectious soca rhythms, and sound systems blasting music across West London. There are also live music stages and food stalls galore.

Whether you're a local, a new student, or someone staying in London over the break, these events prove you don't need a big budget to have a big summer. So gather your mates, charge your phone, and make the most of the sun and the city.

☀️ See you out there!