Three Unmissable London Events

London is a city celebrated for its harmonious blend of different cultures. It therefore makes sense that the city welcomes summer with a myriad of events which weave together art, sport and entertainment. Given that an LSE session spans just three weeks, it's essential to be well-informed about what’s going on while you’re there, helping to ensure you make the most of your time in London!

** A lot of these events involve tickets that may need to be PRE-BOOKED, so further investigation is always essential. Additionally, although I’ve given a rough guide to dates it is best to confirm the exact time and date on the website as they vary from year to year **

Henley Royal Regatta (Early July)

Henley is known as the most prestigious rowing event in the world, dating back to the 1830’s when it was first established. The regatta attracts many of the top boat crews from around the world as competitors race in a knockout-style format across the week to chase the title. There are students from a range of schools across the US and the globe racing, from Yale to Duke to Eton and beyond. One of the most notable parts of this event is the sea of rowing blazers seen amongst the attendees. Used as a way to showcase team affiliation, each club has a slightly different blazer colour, pattern or crest to proudly show off on race day. It is very popular for ex-athletes to continue to wear their gear in support of their alma mater club, as it also serves as a way to commemorate long standing traditions. I bought tickets to go into one of the enclosures (one is public and one is members only), but I saw many people camped out along the river who brought their own picnic set ups which seemed to be the ideal way to spend the day in the sun. As well as this, there were plenty of food trucks and entertainment options along the riverbank which meant the time between races was filled and the fun continued long into the night.

Wimbledon (2-week period from late June to early July)

Continuing the trend of historical British events, Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and oozes elegance and tradition. Whilst I wasn’t lucky enough to get tickets in the online ballot, I was brave enough to wake up at 2am with some classmates and venture to the grounds to camp out and queue for a ticket that way (this is the traditional way to do Wimbledon!). The tennis club lets you leave your bags for £2 a day, so I came equipped with everything I needed to kill boredom in the line. From snacks to chargers to books and my Nintendo, I was covered. The queue is very well organised and there are many guides online at how to do this effectively, with more in depth tips. Wimbledon also allows you to bring in some alcohol/other beverages, as well as your own snacks and picnic options if you wish, which makes it much more accessible. One snack you must try are the strawberries and cream, because even though it’s a simple dessert it has been a crowd favourite for decades and is symbolic of British summertime.

Royal Ascot (Mid-June)

For any fans of horses, the Royal Ascot is the most prestigious horse racing event globally, with members of the royal family in attendance each day. It is a true symbol of British tradition and high-society glamour, giving racegoers an excuse to dress up and enjoy the summer in their finest outfits. There are many different areas to enjoy watching the racing from, ranging from a very laid back and casual picnic atmosphere to ultra-sophisticated and invite only areas – this range makes its more accessible to everyone, as there are tickets to suit each need and price point. I booked tickets in advance for the ‘Village’ area, which was advertised as being an in-between venue that allowed attendees to engage in the elegance and be close to the action, whilst still allowing for a festival atmosphere with a big stage and performers going all day long. There were plenty of food trucks, bars and great vantage points of the track. It was really remarkable getting to see everyone’s outfits and be in the presence of the king whilst watching some high-stakes racing!

 

This blog was written by one of our 2023 Student Ambassadors, who are here to share their stories and help you understand the summer school experience at LSE.