A month outside in London
July in London 2018 took me from traffic-free shopping streets to a concert in Trafalgar Square, the Pride parade and a family afternoon in Brockwell Park. This film brings those visits together into one summer diary.
I filmed these outings during July and published the full episode on 27 August 2018. The dates, venues and arrangements below describe that summer, rather than a current events programme. Watch the complete film, then follow the individual visits through the photographs and stories below.
Summer Streets on Regent Street
I started on 1 July outside the Canadian High Commission in Trafalgar Square. Canadian flags marked Canada Day, while the square was being prepared for an evening concert. First, though, I headed towards Regent Street to see Summer Streets.
The main shopping section was closed to traffic for the Sunday event. Instead of keeping to a busy pavement, people could walk along the road between the shops. Performers, pop-ups and places to stop gave the familiar street a different pace.
Near Heddon Street, restaurant pop-ups were cooking and serving food. The smell was enough to draw me towards them. Further along, a band was getting ready to play from an Airstream trailer near Oxford Circus.
Coffee off Carnaby Street
Before settling down to enjoy more of the entertainment, I went in search of coffee. I picked up a filter coffee from Department of Coffee and Social Affairs on Lowndes Court, just off Carnaby Street.
That short detour was part of the pleasure of the afternoon. Regent Street carried the main event, but the smaller streets nearby offered their own stopping points. Coffee in hand, I could return to the music and take my time.
Read the full Summer Streets 2018 visit.
An evening concert in Trafalgar Square
Later, I returned to Trafalgar Square for BMW Classics. Presenter Paul Rissmann introduced the London Symphony Orchestra and its music director, Sir Simon Rattle. The evening’s programme celebrated music associated with dance and ballet.
It was a free open-air concert in the middle of London. The stage, large screens and gathered audience changed the square from a place to pass through into somewhere to spend the evening. I filmed a short glimpse of the performance before putting the camera aside to enjoy more of it.
Read the Trafalgar Square concert article.
Pride in London 2018
The next part of the film returns to central London for Pride. It was sunny and warm, England were playing in the World Cup, and the streets were preparing for a huge afternoon of celebration.
I walked much of the route between Trafalgar Square and Oxford Circus. The parade brought decorated vehicles, flags and groups of participants past crowds who were ready to join in. Confetti drifted over the street, and the atmosphere extended well beyond the people taking part in the procession.
In the film, I reflect on Pride as both a celebration and a protest for equality. The party was joyful, but that purpose still mattered. The crowd made the day feel welcoming and full of energy, and I stayed to enjoy more of it.
Read the full Pride in London 2018 visit.
The Lambeth Country Show in Brockwell Park
Finally, I took the train to Herne Hill for the Lambeth Country Show. Brockwell Park is familiar ground for me: I grew up in this part of south London and had visited the show for years with family and friends.
The 2018 arrangements felt different. There were new security checks and restrictions on bringing alcohol into the event. I wanted to see how those changes affected a day I knew well. Once inside, my first task was finding my sister, niece and nephew in the large crowd.
We watched sheep shearing, looked at the animals and played mini golf. The children were keeping score, and their convincing victory prompted a few jokes about fair play. It was a relaxed family afternoon in a park transformed by stalls, visitors and entertainment.
Jerk chicken, plantain and live music
Lunch came from Mama’s Jerk: jerk chicken and fried plantain, eaten on the grass. We sat far enough back from the main stage to keep the sound comfortable for the children. The plantain went down particularly well, and I enjoyed trying the chicken.
Afterwards, I found coconut water and wandered past the drinks stalls. When my sister took the tired children home, I headed towards the main stage to meet friends. There was another food stop, then more live music as the afternoon moved towards evening.
That combination sums up July in London 2018 for me: grand central London settings, streets turned over to people, and a local park full of familiar faces. Different outings, all made better by spending time outside.
