These London streets will be turned into outdoor dining and drinking spots this summer
Key Points
- London Mayor Sadiq Khan has spent nearly £500,000 to make this summer London's biggest ever for al fresco dining and drinking.
- 4 large outdoor dining and entertainment schemes have been set up, alongside 11 smaller 'pocket' schemes.
- Khan has also today received new licensing powers that will allow him to take a heavier hand in pushing licences through for businesses in London.
Mayor London Sadiq Khan is spending almost £500,000 this summer to close streets across the city and turn them into areas for al fresco dining, drinking, and recreation.
Khan, who was today awarded new powers that allow him to play a larger role in London councils’ licensing process, has announced a list of four large al fresco projects and several smaller ‘pocket’ areas that will offer everything from outdoor drinking and live music performance to World Cup and Wimbledon screenings.
A total of 15 projects received nearly £500,000 from the Mayor’s Summer Streets fund to boost the capital’s hospitality industry this summer, and the Mayor has also already announced extended trading hours and a Weekend Hopper bus fare to encourage more travel around the city.
Khan aims for this summer to be the ‘biggest-ever’ in London for al fresco dining. He has announced the creation of the following al fresco schemes across London:
Large outdoor dining and entertainment schemes
| Borough | Event | Locations | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brent | Wembley Kingsbury Summer Streets | Wembley High Road | Al fresco dining areas along the high road. Artwork and events, with community-led sessions involving community organisations and youth clubs. Thursdays to Sundays. |
| Greenwich | Woolwich Summer Lates 2026 | General Gordon Square, Beresford Square, Powis Street | Family-friendly al fresco dining and cultural activities. World Cup and Wimbledon screenings, markets, performances, and events. |
| Lambeth | Lower Marsh Saturdays | Lower Marsh | 9am-9pm road closure with outdoor seating. National Theatre live screenings, extended trading for businesses and improvements to the public realm. |
| Barking and Dagenham | Barking Town Centre Food Market | Short Blue Place | Family-friendly programme of activities, featuring the Talawa Theatre Company, Sonia Sabri Company, and Emergency Exit Arts. A street food market will also be available. |
‘Pocket’ al fresco schemes
| Borough | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Brent | Willesden Green Summer Streets 2026 | Improvements to area around Willesden Green Tube Station to encourage outdoor activity. Busking and cultural performance sessions. |
| Camden | Leather Lane Market Street | High-quality al fresco dining in Leather Lan, as well as Saturday trading at Leather Lane market with live music and other performances. |
| Ealing | North Acton Square Sessions | Food and craft markets, as well as live music performance in North Acton Square. |
| Haringey | Myddleton Place | Transforming parking spaces into a small park that provides outdoor space for dining and the local market. |
| Hounslow | Feltham Green Street Eats | Food trucks will be introduced on Feltham Green and a new playground will be opened. |
| Islington | Finsbury Park Fresh | Two parking bays will be transformed into areas for six independent food businesses with outdoor seating. |
| Lewisham | Sydenham Night Market | Weekly food and drink night market running from June to August. |
| Newham | Summer Nights at Queen’s Square | 6pm-9pm outdoor dining in Queen’s Square on select Friday and Saturday evenings in June and August. Four performances will be hosted every evening. |
| Sutton | Alfresco Sutton 2026 | Pop-up market with al fresco dining and cultural activities in Sutton Town Centre on weekends. |
| Waltham Forest | Highams Park Season of Music | Community events hosted in Highams Park station car park, with live music in the town centre. |
| Waltham Forest | The Walthamstow Way | A new trail map called ‘The Walthamstow Way’ will be created, connecting key hospitality areas outside the main town centre. |
“I’m delighted that we’re working with boroughs and local businesses to bring al fresco dining, live music, events and later opening hours to streets across our capital,” Khan said.
“From Woolwich to Willesden Green, Finsbury Park to Feltham, and right in the heart of the capital in Waterloo, this investment will create new outdoor spaces, support local businesses and give Londoners and visitors even more reasons to get out and enjoy our city.”
“Today also marks a landmark moment for London’s licensing system as for the first time ever City Hall has a direct say in how licensing decisions are made across the capital,” he said.
Khan’s new powers allow the Mayor to make formal representations on licensing decisions and to call-in strategically important decisions that impact London as a whole.
“By making it easier to extend opening hours and expand what’s on offer, I’m determined to support our hospitality and nightlife, as we build a better London for everyone.”
He said that later this summer, his new powers will be tested when all licensing applications from across London will be sent to City Hall for the opportunity to provide formal comment.
