With the weather warming up and summer well and truly with us, it’s a great time of year to get out and about to experience some of the benefits of living in the borough of Westminster. Morshead Mansions residents are fortunate to have a wealth of entertainment within easy reach and there’s always a lot going on. If you feel like exploring the borough, here are some interesting examples of things to do in Westminster this summer…
BST Hyde Park
British Summer Time Hyde Park is a series of music concerts held in London’s Hyde Park, lasting for up to three weeks. BST Hyde Park offers free entry during its midweek event series, known as ‘Open House’, with major weekend concerts requiring paid tickets. The festival transforms the park into an open-air celebration of music, with highlights this summer including Lewis Capaldi, Duran Duran, Garth Brooks, Maroon 5 and Mumford & Sons. If you’d like to find out more, click here.
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
In the heart of Regent’s Park is the wonderful Open Air Theatre. Established in 1932, it was originally known for its Shakespearean productions. It now features a much wider variety of performances, including musicals, operas and plays specially adapted for children.
The 2026 season includes the world premiere of Sherlock Holmes, plus A Life in Four Seasons, Vivaldi’s masterpiece reimagined in a new electric dance work. Also featured will be A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Willaim Shakespear and a new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS. For the full schedule and to book tickets, click here.
A Tour of Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace tours usually take place every summer between July and September. For 2026, they will be available from July 9th to September 27th. On these self-guided tours, you’ll have access to the 19 lavishly furnished State Rooms, which are used for receiving guests and official functions. You can also visit the Throne Room and the Grand Staircase, as well as the south side of the garden, featuring views of the lake and the palace.
Tickets are available on the day but are cheaper if booked in advance. For more information, click here.
Watch the Pelicans Being Fed in St James’s Park
Amongst the more visited Royal Parks in London such as Hyde Park and Regent’s Park, St James’s Park is one that is often overlooked. Nestled between Buckingham Palace, The Mall and Horse Guards, it’s a beautiful space featuring a small lake with two islands. These are West Island and Duck Island, which is so named named due to the lake’s impressive collection of waterfowl.
A resident colony of pelicans has been a feature of the park since a Russian ambassador donated them to Charles II in 1664. The pelicans are free to roam but tend to stay near the lake. Sociable by nature, they will often settle down on park benches next to visitors. They are usually fed around 2.30pm, next to Duck Island Cottage. This is a free to watch event and one of the more peaceful things to do in Westminster this summer! To find out more, click here.
Churchill War Rooms
The Churchill War Rooms became the centre of operations for the British Government during the Second World War and some of the most important decisions about the course of the war were made here. These rooms are preserved just as they would have been when they were in service and are open daily from 9.30am to 6.30pm.
Areas that can be viewed include the Cabinet Room and the Map Room, where the books, maps and calendars remain as they were the last time the room was used in August 1945. The interactive exhibits include recorded extracts from Churchill’s rousing wartime speeches; hundreds of letters exchanged with his wife Clementine and even one of his favourite cigars. Click here for booking information.
Visit Big Ben!
Big Ben is one of London’s top attractions and if you’ve ever wondered what it might be like inside, you can book a 90-minute guided tour. Once inside, you’ll be taken up 334 stairs to the clock mechanism room. This sits behind the four clock dials that are such a famous part of Westminster’s landscape.
While in the area, it’s also possible to take tours of the Houses of Parliament. To find out more, click here.
Community Events in Westminster
If you’re interested in more community-based events in Westminster, the City of Westminster website features a wide range of varied options. These include IT Help Sessions, Digital Support Sessions, a Board Games Lounge, Lunchtime Music Concerts, Nature Walks and a Lego Club.
If you’d like to find out more about what’s available, you can access the City of Westminster website by clicking here.
Of course, this is just a small selection of things to do in Westminster this summer, much more can be found by searching online. If you feel like trying any of these out, we hope you have a wonderful time!
If you’d like to find out more about the local area, take a look at our previous post ‘Living in Westminster‘.
