Shoes, art and a pop-up bookshop are all in the lineup for this year’s best-of-British street festival in Mayfair
It might seem like British festivals are taking a breather this summer. Wireless is cancelled, and Glastonbury is taking a well-earned fallow year to restore its fields. But in London, the festival scene is better – and bougier – than ever, especially with the return of the Mount Street Neighbourhood Summer Festival this June. No mud, no wristbands: just Mayfair.
Mount Street, of course, has pedigree. Previous prime ministers Herbert Henry Asquith and Sir Winston Churchill once lived here, as did English novelist Frances Burney. But its history of prestige and luxury is not limited to the past – King Charles and Queen Camilla are reportedly fans, once (allegedly) visiting Mount St Restaurant for its £120 lobster pie for two. Alongside its royal seal of approval, Mount Street is also known for hosting the big names in fashion, art and hospitality.
It is against this backdrop that the third annual Mount Street Neighbourhood Summer Festival returns from 4-20 June, presented by Grosvenor and launching during London Gallery Weekend (5-7 June). The two-week programme brings together art, publishing, fashion and food in a celebration of London’s summer cultural season.
The headliner is British artist Kathryn Maple, who will take up residence at the central multidisciplinary hub 62 South Audley Street – Mount Street’s equivalent of a main stage. A winner of the John Moores Painting Prize for her work The Common, an award previously won by David Hockney, Mary Martin and Sir Peter Blake, Maple will be working on a series of evolving collages and observational drawings inspired by nearby Mount Street Gardens. Plus, she will open up her process through live “watch me work” moments and community-led sessions.
Publishing house Thames & Hudson, meanwhile, will host a pop-up bookshop selling rare and signed editions, alongside a programme of talks and events. Highlights of which include journalist Alexander Fury on Vivienne Westwood, former V&A photography curator Susanna Brown on George Hoyningen-Huene and art historian Alexandra Loske discussing colour in art. There will also be workshops for younger visitors.
Shoemaker Le Monde Béryl opens the festival with a preview evening and exclusive styles available throughout its residency, while clothing and homeware brand By Walid will present a collection of one-off pieces crafted from salvaged materials – from tapestry-upholstered furniture to garments made with antique embroidery.
Across the neighbourhood, restaurants and retailers will join in with outdoor carts, summer menus and alfresco experiences, turning Mount Street into something between a street party and a well-dressed cultural crawl. Make it a date.
The Mount Street Neighbourhood Summer Festival will run from 4-20 June 2026; mountstreetneighbourhood.com
