Best outdoor live music venues in London: From Hyde Park to Hampton Court Palace – Evening Standard

Max Miechowski
Getty Images
Getty Images
Getty Images
Getty Images
ummer is here, which means Londoners are taking every opportunity possible to get out and enjoy the sunshine – well, what little of it there is.
Whether it’s outdoor dining, al fresco theatre or open-air cinema, there are plenty of opportunities to soak up the rays and the city’s culture at the same time.
There’s plenty of music on. Many of the capital’s most popular parks transform themselves into festival sites for the warmer months, while famous historical landmarks take on new lives as concert venues.
These are our picks of the very best places to watch live music outdoors in London.
Regent’s Park is perhaps London’s best-known outdoor theatre spot, and their summer programme is usually first rate. The grand setting – it’s a tree-lined amphitheatre – means every show has a sense of occasion before a line is spoken. While it’s not ideal for small intimate productions, they do spectacles extremely well. This summer is set to be a good one: we open with Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer winning Our Town, running May 16 to June 8. Later on, Hansel and Gretel runs June 14 to 22, followed by the essential Shakespeare of the year, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, from June 28 to July 27. The forest glade feel of the theatre is the perfect. Evita is the big musical offering from August 2 to September 21, directed by Jamie Lloyd.
As ever, the iconic Globe playhouse will be making the most of its open-air playing space. For the brave, who can stand throughout entire performances, groundling tickets still cost a bargain £5. The galleries, where one sits, may be covered but with a great big hole where a roof might expected, no-one misses out on the outdoorsy experience. There’s a Henry triple bill, with Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 and Henry V running in rep until October 11. Pericles is the romance of the season, until August 21, while The Comedy of Errors brings the laughter until August 23. Sean Holmes will direct A Midsummer Night’s Dream (a popular Shakespeare this year) from June 28-October 13.
Constructed for the summer in the middle of the charming, leafy Holland Park, come for a summer season of fine opera outdoors, which runs from June 4 to August 9. They encourage picnicking – hampers can be ordered for those too busy to pack one themselves – but be sure to book a table beforehand if you wish to eat while the performances are on. Our advice is to arrive early and eat beforehand. The theatre is designed to feel outdoorsy while battling off rain and wind and is (mostly) successful in this, and the programme this year is as varied and excellent as ever. Check the website for dates, but this year, there are performances of Manon Lescaut, Un ballo in maschera, L’arlesiana and Il segreto di Susanna/Iolanta.
The Greenwich and Docklands International Festival returns with as mad a mash-up of performances as ever. From June 21 until July 6, expect a blend of theatre, dance, and street art. The festival has long made good on its promise to push boundaries, so you’ll see something new. Daedalum, an architectural installation by Alan Parkinson, lets you crawl inside “cathedrals of air” from June 21 to 23. On June 22, Italian performance group Teatro dei Venti will present an interpretation of Moby Dick with a mix of theatre, circus, dance and music. Talawa Theatre bring an exploration of migration, hope and unknown paths. All events are free.
Doug Southall
The River Stage Festival is a great way to experience some of the most eclectic theatre and arts out there, all for free, from July 5 to August 4. With The Glory takeover on July 5 to 7, east London’s favourite LGBTQ+ pub brings drag and cabaret, while Shubbak Festival presents bands, spoken word and DJ sets from the best of the Arab cultural scene from July 12 to 14. The National Park City Festival from July 19 to 21 celebrates everything green and wild about London through performance and theatre company Frantic Assembly celebrate their 25th birthday with live music, dance, workshops and special performances from July 26-28. The National Theatre closes the season from August 2 to 4, throwing open its doors with family theatre, dance and more.
Fulham Palace have three shows on this year, each on for one night only: A Midsummer Night’s Dream is June 16, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves is July 7, The Tempest is August 4 and Frankenstein is August 29, all taking place in the beautiful Walled Garden.
There’s not a huge amount of theatre on at Chiswick House this year, but The Lord Chamberlains Men present A Midsummer Night’s Dream on July 10. There’s the usual open air cinema from Luna, with Bohemian Rhapsody, Moulin Rouge and Jurassic Park. Giffords Circus will also be delighting audiences with Xanadu from June 27 until July 8.
Wiki Commons/Patche99z
Since 2007, Iris has been putting on plays in the grounds of St. Paul’s Church in Covent Garden, perhaps better known as The Actor’s Church. They’ve always a broad programme, covering everything from straight pieces to circus acrobatics. This year they’re running Hamlet (June 19 until July 27) and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (August 1 to September 1).
Hannah Barton
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Regent’s Park might be best known for its excellent open-air theatre programme, but there are also spots within the glorious green space to catch some live music. Head to the bandstand — found in the south-eastern corner of the park, by the boating lake — which will host a free music festival throughout the summer. Get down there early, because this was a popular spot last year. Expect jazz, classical, rock, big band and more.
June 22-September 8, NW1, regentsparkmusicfestival.org.uk
Each summer, London’s most famous park plays host to the blockbuster British Summer Time. This time, there will be headline slots from Celine Dion, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Barbra Streisand, Florence and the Machine and Robbie Williams, with a host of support acts. Concerts will be spread across two weekends and, between them, there will be Open House, which boasts a series of smaller gigs.
July 5-14, W2, bst-hydepark.com
Sat on the bank of the Thames, Somerset House is always a favourite spot for some al fresco cinema during the summer months, but its glorious courtyard is great for watching live music, too. Its Summer Series welcomes a wide-ranging cast of artists to perform headline gigs across the course of 11 nights. The Internet, Sons of Kemet and Rosalia are among the biggest names on the line-up.
July 11-21, WC2R 1LA, somersethouse.org.uk
This grand Palladian villa in west London hosts all sorts within its lush grounds — this summer, there will be a circus, cinema screenings, wellness festivals, book launches, food events and more. There will also be a decent amount of live music to get stuck into. Liam Payne will headline a cancer fundraiser in August, while Razorlight, Clean Bandit and Texas are among those playing at Tom Kerridge’s Pub in the Park festival.
Various dates, W4 2RP, chiswickhouseandgardens.org.uk
Set within the impressive grounds of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and with a backdrop of Canary Wharf’s skyscrapers in the background, the Old Royal Naval College is an incredible venue to watch live music in. Greenwich Music Time is the highlight of the cultural calendar here, with a host of big-name headliners — this summer, Cliff Richard, Paul Weller and Groove Armada will take to the stage.
Various dates, SE10 9NN, greenwichmusictime.co.uk
This 16th century palace is a marvellous place to visit whatever the time of year, but the annual music festival held here makes a perfect excuse to check out the landmark while enjoying performances from a cast of pop icons. The concerts take place in the stunning auditorium, but there’s also the chance to enjoy the East Front Gardens before the music starts. There are some huge names on the bill in 2019 — Nile Rodgers and Kylie chief among them.
Various dates, KT8 9AU, hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com
Not just a haven of horticultural highlights, Kew Gardens is also a favourite on the family-friendly festival scene. It throws a number of so-called “picnic concerts” as part of Kew The Music, meaning you can soak up the summer sun while chowing on a few egg and cress sandwiches and sipping Pimm’s. Jess Glynne, Rick Astley and Craig David are among the summer bookings.
July 9-14, TW9 3AB, kew.org
This circular patch of green space is flanked by various rivers and sits just south of Stratford. In recent years, it has grown into something of festival hub, and will host five events this year: Art’s House, Anjunadeep Open Air London, One Day At The Disco, Maiden Voyage and the 80s in the Park Festival.
Various dates, E3 3DU, queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk
Amid a unique backdrop — the old-time grandeur of Tower Bridge and the sleek modernity of City Hall — this modern-day amphitheatre is a popular spot during the warmer months. It does all sorts, with live sports screenings, cinema nights and gigs. There’s always a lot to draw in the crowds, with this summer’s programme promising latin-flavoured jazz, raucous big bands and mass karaoke sessions.
Various dates, SE1 2AA, londonbridgecity.co.uk
London’s parks come alive during festival season, with hundreds of thousands of revellers flocking to them for some of the city’s biggest festivals. We’ve already mentioned Hyde Park, but Finsbury Park is another big-hitter, with Community, Wireless, Sink the Pink, Hospitality and Abode all taking residence this summer. Victoria Park, Gunnersbury Park, Brockwell Park and Clapham Common all host major music events this year, including All Points East, Lovebox and South West Four.
Various dates and locations
It may be known as the financial powerhouse of the city, but Canary Wharf is on a mission to boost its cultural profile with a variety of events planned for the summer. There will be al fresco cinema screenings, kid-friendly architecture festivals, dance nights and open-air opera, as well as a number of live gigs, ranging from classical to country. Venues include Cabot Square and Canada Square Park.
Various dates and locations, canarywharf.com
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