Five of the best things to do in London this weekend June 24-26 - from West End Live to summer art exhibitions

After marking the summer solstice this week, we’re officially into the summer season in London.

What better place to enjoy the sunshine than in our lovely capital, with its abundance of outdoor festivals, beer gardens and outdoor swimming pools.

Train strikes are due to go ahead on Saturday, causing disruptions, so make sure to plan your journeys in advance.

From a free West End Live concert to the Radiate Windrush festival, here are five fun things to do in London this weekend June 24 to 26.

West End Live

Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN June 25 and 26 Free

Musical theatre fans should head to Trafalgar Square for West End Live, a free, two-day festival starring songs from all manner of West End shows.

See cast members from the likes of Hamilton, The Lion King, Magic Mike and Tina The Musical strutting their stuff on stage.

See the full line up here.

Radiate Windrush Festival

Burgess Park, Albany Rd, SE5 0AL June 25 and 26 Tickets £15

As part of London’s Windrush Day celebrations, Radiate Windrush Festival returns, celebrating Caribbean and Creole culture across Britain.

Enjoy two days of live music and dance, food stalls serving up dishes from the Caribbean and parts of Africa, and plenty more.

Refugee Week at the SouthBank Centre

Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX Till June 26 Various prices (Most events free)

Healing is the theme of this year’s Refugee Week at Southbank Centre, in which refugees tell their stories.

Events include dance, music, storytelling and comedy, as well as an appearance by giant travelling puppet, Little Amal, on Saturday.

Summer exhibition at Royal Academy of Arts

Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD Till August 21 Tickets £20-£22

A highlight of the London art calendar every year, the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition brings together established and rising artists to display their work.

Prints, painting, film, photography, architectural works and sculpture all feature, and the theme this year is ‘Climate’, with Grayson Perry among those taking part.

It’s the first time in three years the Summer Exhibition has actually been held in the summer, due to delays caused by Covid.

The Art of Fake News exhibition

Rich Mix Social Club, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Until June 26 Free

It’s the last chance to see The Art of Fake News.

The free exhibition of visual art by Latin American, British and European artists aims to raise awareness of the phenomenon and effects of fake news.

The exhibition shows the work of Alison Jackson, Karim Ainouz and Tete de Alencar.