V&A East Storehouse has now opened its doors to the public, offering access to over half a million works from the world’s leading collection of art, design and performance. Bookings are now live for the revolutionary new Order an Object service, where anyone can book access to objects of their choosing – completely free of charge. V&A East Storehouse is open daily from 10am to 6pm, with late-night openings every Thursday and Saturday until 10pm. 

Throughout the summer, V&A East Storehouse will also host a range of free, ticketed events. On 12 July Look What I Found with Adam Moore invites visitors to explore his research through a drop-in show-and-tell. On 21 August artist Abbas Zahedi presents A Life in the Work of Others, weaving together sound, sculpture, writing, and performance to explore the intersections of care, grief, and collective experience. Full event details available here. 

Later this month, join The Herds – a captivating procession of life-sized puppets journeying across Central Africa and Europe. On the afternoon of Sunday 29 June, audiences can follow The Herds as they travel through Stratford and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in an ambitious celebration of culture and climate, designed to inspire action and rekindle human connection with the natural world. Along the way, The Herds will encounter dancers from Sadler’s Wells East, featuring specially commissioned choreography by Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Alesandra Seutin.  

Sadler’s Wells East offers a varied lineup of performances this summer – from an immersive exploration of nightclub culture, dance, and music by Sharon Eyal, Gai Behar, and London-based music and arts organisation Young and Call Super (10 to 13 July), to Aakash Odedra’s meditative fusion of Sufi Kathak and Islamic poetry (17 to 19 July). See the full lineup of shows at Sadler’s Wells East and get tickets here.  

Fashion lovers won’t want to miss Fashioning Frequencies, a free exhibition at London College of Fashion, UAL open until 21 June, which unpacks fashion as a medium for identity, agency, and history. London College of Fashion will also be hosting its Undergraduate Class of 2025 exhibition, showcasing the future of fashion through work from their design, communication, and business schools, open from 14 to 19 July. 

For a fun family day, head to the UCL East Marshgate Building on 21 June for a free festival dedicated to all things materials and making at the Institute of Making Stratford. Try your hand at a wide range of blustery activities: from panpipes to propellers and Bernoulli balloons to hot air balloons. Fuel a Stirling engine with steam, strut a 'wind-o-graphy' catwalk and marvel at a homemade electric hovercraft. 

Immerse yourself in the magic of ABBA Voyage which blends cutting-edge technology, spectacular lighting with the Swedish band's biggest hits. To celebrate its third anniversary, the show now features an updated setlist including some of the band’s most beloved songs. Performances run seven days a week – buy your tickets here. 

To celebrate their 50th anniversary, Iron Maiden will perform a very special homecoming show at London Stadium on 28 June, marking a return to their east London roots. Meanwhile, Gorillaz will be celebrating their 25th anniversary with a limited run of their House of Kong exhibition, running 08 August to 03 September at Copper Box Arena. Buy tickets to the exhibition here. The exhibition will close out with four very special live dates bringing back the iconic live shows from the first three album eras.  

Over at Here East, experience a journey through the lenses of the world’s leading photographers, as the World Press Photo Exhibition returns to London at the new MPB Gallery. Running until 25 August, this internationally acclaimed exhibition brings together the most powerful and thought-provoking photojournalism and documentary photography. Buy tickets here.  

Enjoy an evening of creativity and head to the rooftop bar at Barge East in Hackney Wick for a series of abstract painting workshops taking place monthly on Tuesdays throughout the summer. Led by artist and teacher Dan Whiteson, the sessions are open for all levels of experience . You can buy tickets here.  

To close the summer season, watch this space for Dancing City, a free outdoor dance festival from Greenwich+Docklands International Festival, which will once again join forces with East Bank partners to takeover spaces at the Park. The dance showcase will take place on 06 September, with full details to be announced soon. 

The world's largest chicken wing festival, Wing Fest, returns to London Stadium for a three-day explosion of pure wing-fuelled excitement from 25 to 27 July. Come and try some wings served by 45 different street food traders and restaurants. You can buy tickets here. 

This summer, Bola Beach Tennis brings its dynamic blend of tennis, badminton, padel, and beach volleyball to the Park, offering seven weeks of accessible, high-energy play for all ages. From 26 June, sessions will run Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 8pm, inviting visitors to enjoy sand, sun, and sport in a relaxed, social setting. Sign up here to get the latest updates on the weekly schedule and to find out about coaching sessions. 

Get ready for one of the most anticipated events in the British sporting calendar as world-class athletics returns to the London Stadium on 19 July. Spectators can expect to see some of the biggest names in the sport as elite athletes compete at the highest level. Secure your tickets here. 

Mark your calendars as East Summer School is back from Monday 28 July to Friday 08 August. This free programme offers interactive workshops exclusively for young people aged 12–17 who live or go to school in Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, or Waltham Forest. There's something for everyone, with sessions covering fashion textiles, skateboarding, dance, entrepreneurship, photography, journalism, activism, and even how to build your own website to boost your brand. Book your spot here by 11 July. 

UK Black Pride returns to the Park for its 20th anniversary on 10 August. As the world’s largest Pride celebration for LGBTQI+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American, and Middle Eastern descent, UK Black Pride creates a safe and inclusive space to celebrate diverse sexualities, gender identities, gender expressions, and cultures. Free to attend, join the party for a day filled with performances, talks, community stalls and workshops. 

In addition to its summer activity, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park offers an eclectic mix of food and drink destinations, exciting outdoor activities, and unforgettable experiences year-round. Here are some highlights for visitors to enjoy: 

In addition to its summer activity, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park offers an eclectic mix of food and drink destinations, exciting outdoor activities, and unforgettable experiences year-round. Here are some highlights for visitors to enjoy: 

Eat and Drink 

• Draughts – London’s favourite board game bar has officially opened, bringing 1,000+ games, mouth-watering food and cocktails with it. Draughts is open from 4pm to 10pm on Sunday through Wednesday, and from 12pm to midnight from Thursday to Saturday. 

• The Big Market at Riverside East  – Taking place monthly, The Big Market brings over 50 unique traders, with a range of deli and fresh produce. Open all day serving breakfast, coffee, lunch and drinks – plus don’t miss their popular bottomless brunch every Saturday for £25 per person. Riverside East is open from 9am to 6pm on Sunday to Wednesday and from 9am to 9pm on Thursday to Saturday.  

• Hackney Bridge – Located at the Park’s edge, Hackney Bridge brings together a variety of food stalls offering a mix of global flavours from Japan to Italy. It is open Tuesday to Thursday from 12pm to 10pm, Friday from 12pm to 11pm, Saturday from 11am to 11pm, and Sunday from 11am to 9pm. 

• Barge East – Step aboard this unique floating restaurant and enjoy an unforgettable summer dining experience with river views along the Lea. The restaurant is open from 4pm on Thursday until 12am, and from 12pm until midnight on Friday to Sunday.  

Outdoor Activities 

• Boat tours and pedalos – Enjoy a leisurely guided boat tour along the canal, tracing the Park’s journey from industrial heartland to the vibrant destination it is today or take to the waters yourself on a Swan Pedalo.    

• Playgrounds – For a family day out, head to the different play parks. From the Tumbling Bay Playground which features rock pools, sand pits, tall treehouses, slides and swings, to playing in the fountains or even trying out a climbing wall, children of all ages will love the Park’s unique play areas. 

• Free Trail Guides – Explore the Park with one of its four trail guides including Art in the Park which takes you on a journey through the Park’s public art installations. 

• Zip World London at the ArcelorMittal Orbit – For thrill-seekers, enjoy panoramic views of London before zooming down the world’s longest and tallest tunnel slide. 

Sports and Fitness 

• London Aquatics Centre – Dive into London Aquatics Centre, one of the most technologically advanced swimming facilities in the world, as well as a gym and café all open to the public seven days a week.