John O' Ceallaigh rounds up the best exhibition, restaurant and attraction openings taking place in London in July 2012.

The London 2012 Olympic Games begin this month and, as you'd expect, there’s a huge amount of events taking place in the capital to celebrate. For up-to-date information on London festivals, free events and ongoing and short-term occurrences visit our London portal; below you’ll find our guide to the most interesting exhibition, restaurant, bar and attraction openings scheduled to begin in London this July.

As the world focuses on London this summer, Tate Britain takes a wistful look back at the capital with the Another London photography exhibition. Featuring some 180 different photographs taken between 1930 and 1980, the exhibition displays the works of foreign photographers who skilfully captured the idiosyncrasies of the strange city in which they were stationed. Among those with work featured in the exhibition are Bill Brandt, Henri-Cartier Bresson and Dora Maar.

Designing 007 – Fifty Years of Bond Style, Barbican; July 6 – September 5

Fifty years ago the James Bond film franchise released Dr No and to celebrate the secret agent’s decades of daring and valour the Barbican this month stages the exhibition Designing 007 - Fifty Years of Bond Style in his honour. Organised in collaboration with EON Productions, it features costumes, cars, gadgets and other paraphernalia featured in the films, as well as segments that look back at the exotic locations and confounding stunts that were a mainstay of the Bond classics.

Designed to Win, Design Museum; July 25 – November 18

Looking at how design can impact upon and improve sports performance, Designed to Win at the Design Museum examines key sporting moments and considers how innovative design has contributed to some of our most powerful shared sporting memories. Using film clips, photography and models alongside interactive displays and everyday sporting equipment, the exhibition also considers how sport has in turn influenced popular culture, design and art.

The Olympic Journey: The Story of the Games, Royal Opera House; July 28 – August 12

With the Olympic Museum in Lausanne currently closed for renovation, Londoners have the opportunity to see some of its most interesting exhibits in the Royal Opera House. Examining the original Greek games and considering their revival and subsequent explosion in popularity, the free exhibition is one of the most comprehensive cultural examinations of the Olympics to be held in the capital this summer. The highlight for many will be the complete display of all the Olympic medals and Torches used in the modern Games.

Create 2012: David Bailey’s East End; July 6 - August 5

Famed photographer and proud East Ender David Bailey shares some of his most personal images in this temporary exhibition at Compressor House in Newham. His candid collection of pictures capture London in the 1960s, ‘80s and modern day.

July 2012: new London restaurant and bar openings

Ceviche by Asia de Cuba, July 4-25

Ceviche, a combination of raw fish, citrus and herbs that blends South American and Japanese cuisine, is having a bit of a moment in the capital. Following its introduction to a selection of restaurant menus throughout the capital – most notably at relatively new restaurant Ceviche on Firth Street in Soho – it’s rapidly gaining popularity and the latest opportunity to try it is provided, fleetingly, by Asia de Cuba in St Martin’s Lane Hotel. From 11.30am-7.30pm between July 4 and 25, its pop-up ceviche bar will serve variants of traditional ceviche (from £5-£6) alongside speciality rums and cocktails.

Sushisamba, Heron Tower; mid- to late-July

Already with branches in New York, Chicago, Las Vegas and Miami, Sushisamba opens its first European restaurant this month in the 38th and 39th floors of Heron Tower in the City. As the name implies, sushi is a speciality but Brazilian and Peruvian food is also on offer –the interior, background music and general vibe are all meant to offer a fusion of the disparate cultures. Designed by CetraRuddy architects, the two-storey London restaurant will be open from 11.30am each morning, to beyond midnight on every day except Sunday. Although initially scheduled for an early July opening, delays have meant its owners are unable to give an exact opening date at this stage. They’ve given assurances that it will by accessible by the end of the month, however. The exact opening date should be made available via the Sushisamba website.

Penhaligon’s Peoneve Terrace, Fifth Floor Harvey Nichols; July 16 – August 31

Celebrating the launch of Penhaligon’s new Peoneve scent, the Fifth Floor Terrace in Harvey Nichols will be transformed into an English garden for much of the summer. The cosy outdoor space will function as an al fresco cocktail bar with custom-made drinks available only for as long as the space is open. They include Penhaligon’s Peony Punch, a gin and tea-based concoction served in a five-litre Penhaligon’s perfume bottle – it serves six.

Elysium at Prism; July 11-14

Taking place at Prism brasserie, another Harvey Nichols-affiliated venue located this time in the City, Elysium is a cabaret, circus and burlesque floorshow that fuses decadent performances with a contemporary supper club environment. Tickets for a three-course dinner and show are £54 in advance or £64 on the door; show tickets without dinner cost £24 in advance or £28 on the door.

World Food Marathon, Andaz Liverpool Street hotel; July 2 – 27

From now until the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, the chefs at the Andaz Liverpool Street hotel will be offering a different daily dish which represents one of the countries participating in this summer’s sporting extravaganza – the 26 participating countries represented in the World Food Marathon were selected at random and have inspired the creation of dishes such as sheep’s cheese dumpling from Slovakia, bandeja paisa from Colombia, chicken and pork adobo from the Philippines and, from Switzerland, a trio of toblerone mousse. The dishes will be served in the hotel’s 1901 restaurant, with starters costing £7, mains £14 and desserts £6.

July 2012: other London openings

London Pleasure Gardens, Pontoon Dock; July 1 onwards

London’s original pleasure gardens were communal spaces where people could converge and enjoy live entertainment. Newly opened this month, the London Pleasure Gardens has transformed the previously derelict Pontoon Dock in East London into a modernised meeting place for the capital, complete with 21st century spoils. Able to accommodate up to 35,000 people, the site will feature performance spaces, an art and design trail, sculpture gardens, a nature reserve and, on occasion, a floating cocktail lounge. Already a number of major festivals and cultural events are scheduled to take place there over the coming weeks and during the course of the Olympic Games, but the Gardens themselves are to remain open for at least three years.

Red Market, Shoreditch; July 6 – September 2

London’s street food scene continues to gift the capital with intriguing and exciting dining opportunities, and for the summer some of them will be concentrated in Shoreditch’s Red Market. The city’s original night market, it returns this year with a small urban beach, table tennis, a screening space for films and Olympics events, a sculpture park, performance space and, of course, plenty of street food traders. There’s a lot on.

Hippodrome Casino, Leicester Square; July

The Hippodrome in Leicester Square was originally an indoor circus, complete with elephants and lions. Closed for years, the venue is scheduled to open this month as the 24-hour Hippodrome casino and entertainment venue. Assuming it goes ahead as planned – the opening date has been pushed back previously and organisers still haven’t released this month’s exact opening day – the renovated venue will include gambling spaces, the Matcham Room performance space, three cocktail bars and Heliot, a three-tier brasserie and bar that overlooks the main gaming space.

BBC Proms, Royal Albert Hall; July 13 – September 8

Needing no introduction, the Proms return this year. Complementing the range of cultural activities offered as part of this summer’s London 2012 Festival, the programme will place a focus on music associated with the capital – the participation of international orchestras and the celebration of new music remain in place.