Where to celebrate Swedish Midsummer in London 2022
Midsommar in London 2022 by LondonSwedes – in partnership with Nordic Spirit
Celebrate this traditional festival of the Solstice at one of the capital’s top Scandinavian spots!
Midsummer is regarded as the most important event in the Scandi calendar. Traditionally it commemorates the longest day of the year and, for many Swedes, it signals the start of their five (yes, five) week holiday. Midsummer Eve, which always takes place on a Friday in mid-June, sees thousands of people flock to the countryside with friends and family in tow, leaving the cities eerily deserted. Here in the UK, the Swedish community have made it a tradition to celebrate on the Saturday of that weekend: Midsommardagen!
Like many European festivals, the roots of Midsummer lie in pagan traditions. While many of these quaint customs are still adhered to – namely crafting floral headbands, or “Midsommarkrans”, and performing whimsical dances around a maypole – the event is largely an excuse to come together to celebrate nature while consuming as much potato salad and ice-cold snaps as possible. For a country known for its conservatism, Midsummer Eve is the one night of the year that guarantees revelry. And for Britain’s Nordic community, and those who enjoy the Scandi lifestyle, there are plenty of opportunities to join in the summer celebrations without having to leave the country.
LondonSwedes Midsommar Dinner, Brunch and after-party
– in partnership with Nordic Spirit
We are so excited to once again celebrate Midsommar with our fellow Swedes and friends!
We are hosting three events with our partners Nordic Spirit to bring you an authentic Swedish Midsommar feast in the middle of London! Come for a magical Midsommar dinner (24th) a Midsommar brunch (25th) or the after-party on the evening of the 25th…
You’ll be served a 4-course authentic Midsommar menu, live performances, snaps songs and flower crown making together with us!
We have exclusive hire of the Scandinavian restaurant KuPP, located just by the canal in Paddington. Come and catch the sun and the vibes with us to celebrate the summer solstice…
More info here LondonSwedes X Nordic Spirit Midsommar Weekend
Midsummer menu at Ekstedt London
This June, Michelin-starred chef Niklas Ekstedt is introducing a Midsummer Menu comprised of dishes honouring the culinary traditions of his native Sweden.
The Midsummer Menu will feature six courses that reference renowned Swedish dishes popular at this time of year. Guests, seated on tables adorned with specially-picked Midsummer flowers, will begin with a tray of snacks before sampling S.O.S, or smör, ost och sill – an appetiser loved in Sweden composed of butter, cheese and herring. Beef tartare, horseradish and pickles; and juniper-smoked trout, Jersey royal and sea lettuce will follow, showcasing smoking and pickling techniques; a first dessert of woodruff mousse and sorrel sorbet is representative of Sweden’s love of foraging; while wood fire oven-baked meringue with summer berries hints at Niklas Ekstedt’s signature fire-led ‘old Nordic’ approach as exemplified throughout Ekstedt at The Yard’s usual tasting menu, which will run concurrently with the Midsummer Menu. Read their press release here.
“Midsummer is a time for fun and festivities in Sweden, with family and friends coming together to feast on some of our favourite dishes using the abundance of produce the new season brings,” says Niklas. “We’re bringing a taste of this special time to Ekstedt at The Yard, with a menu representing some of our country’s most loved flavours.”
The six-course Midsummer Menu (£100) at Ekstedt at The Yard will be available from 20th June – 29th July and must be pre-booked. Reservations can be made here or by calling 020 7925 4749
Read our interview from September 2021 with Niklas Ekstedt here.
Address
3-5 Great Scotland Yard
London
SW1A 2HN
Midsummer food at Aquavit London
Celebrate the summer solstice in Scandi style and head to the heart of St James’s Market for a majestic Midsummer feast at Aquavit London.
On Friday 24th June and Saturday 25th June, indulge in a three-course set menu created by Head Chef Jonas Karlsson perfectly paired with a shot of Nuet Dry Aquavit – one of the finest Scandinavian aquavit producers. Alongside this, enjoy the chance to create a traditional Midsummer flower crown, with prizes for the top creations up for grabs!
Available from midday until 9 pm at £64 per person, the Aquavit London Midsummer menu will invite guests to experience three moreish Nordic-inspired courses to mark the annual Swedish holiday and celebrate the longest day of the year.
Find out more on Aquavitrestaurants.com
Address:
St James’s Market
1 Carlton Street
London
SW1Y 4QQ
Midsummer picnic box from Ekte!
If you are celebrating it outdoors, Ekte offers a Midsummer Picnic Box for £50 for 2 people. For more information, please contact info@goosebox.co.uk
Address:
2-8 Bloomberg Arcade
London EC4N 8AR
Host your own party/bring your own picnic
If you want to host your own party – Scandinavian Kitchen have all the food and products that you might need for the perfect day out. Order here: https://www.scandikitchen.co.uk/product-tag/midsummer/
You should probably also read their guide to the Nordic Midsummer!
DEADLINE Order by 19th of June. The shop will be open as usual, check their opening times on their website. There are planned tube strikes 21st, 23rd and 25th of June.
Address:
61 Great Titchfield St.
London
W1W 7PP
Midsommar Celebrations in Hyde Park Saturday 25/6
The gathering in Hyde Park is a tradition that has been spread through word of mouth. It’s like a Flash mob picnic that has been growing over the years (thanks to Social media!). On Midsummer’s Day for over 10 years, Swedes have been gathering in the park to celebrate together. We’ve had meetings with the Met police and park officers over the years and they have a clear message to the Swedes in the park: Enjoy the celebrations but clean up after yourself! Simple! 🙂 People normally gather by the grass close or to the right of Speaker’s Corner. Closest tube Marble Arch.
We are not allowed to put an exact time or location here as we don’t want to be seen as organizers of this gathering. We will be at our Midsommar Dinner on the 24th, the Midsommar Brunch on the 25th or the after-party – only an 18 min walk away from the park!
LondonSwedes Midsommar After-party in Paddington 8pm – 1am
