From cinema nights to summer skills camps, shopping, great food, and family days out. Here's your complete guide to things to do in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
July in Lekki has its own character.
The school holidays have kicked in.
Traffic on the expressway moves differently. Families you haven't seen for months are suddenly everywhere at the mall, the beach, the food court, the cinema queue on a Friday evening.
For three or four weeks, Lekki slows down from its usual professional pace and remembers how to breathe.
If you live here, this guide is for you. If you're visiting for the first time or coming back for the holidays. it's especially for you. Lekki in July rewards people who know where to look.
Here is exactly where to look.
1. Enrol Your Child in the Banex Summer Skills Academy
If you have children between the ages of 8 and 16 and you're tired of them spending July entirely on a screen, this is the most useful thing in this guide.
The Banex Summer Skills Academy at Banex Mall on Akiogun Road is running through July across three tracks: Technology, Creative, and Culinary.
Each track is designed to produce something tangible not just certificates, but actual projects, real skills, and the kind of confidence you only get from making something from scratch under a trained facilitator.
Technology track teaches children how to build, code, and think digitally including early exposure to artificial intelligence tools being used by professionals today.
Creative track builds communication, storytelling, and content-creation skills that translate directly into academic and professional advantage.
Culinary track teaches food preparation, presentation, teamwork, and the fundamentals of entrepreneurial thinking including how food becomes a business.
The programme runs at ₦75,000 per participant and culminates in a public showcase where children present their work to parents, invited guests, and the wider Banex community.
Registration is still open. WhatsApp Banex Mall directly or visit banexmall.com for details.
2. Catch a Movie at Banex Cinemas, Lekki
There are two types of movie experiences in Lagos in 2026.
The first is the standard: a screen, a seat, a film, and whatever the person next to you decided to bring for a meal.
The second is Banex Cinemas at Banex Mall, Lekki which offers VVIP and VIP cinema experiences where the screen is bigger, the chairs recline properly, and the whole thing is noticeably quieter and more comfortable than what you're used to.
July is one of the strongest months for new releases globally, with major films from both Hollywood and Nollywood typically programmed across the month.
The cinema runs daily screenings including matinees, making it practical for families with younger children who can't do late-night shows.
Booking in advance is recommended for Friday and Saturday evenings, which fill up fast during school holidays.
Check current showtimes at banexcinemas.com, or ask at the Banex Mall cinema desk on the ground floor.
3. Go Gadget Shopping in Lekki Without Going to Ikeja
One of the persistent myths about Lagos is that if you want serious tech a proper laptop, an original iPhone, a trusted inverter or solar system; you have to make the trip to Ikeja Computer Village or risk getting faked out on Instagram.
Neither of those things is true anymore, and Banex Mall on Akiogun Road is the reason why.
Cybervilla on the Ground Floor carries new and UK-used phones, laptops, accessories, and parts from Apple, Samsung, HP, Dell, Infinix, Tecno, and Oraimo.
Their warranty policy, 48-hour return window, and physical location mean you can inspect before you pay and return if something isn't right advantages that online purchases simply cannot offer.
Their in-house repair service, CyberFiX, dispatches technicians directly to your home or office. Their trade-in programme, CyberSwap, lets you upgrade a device without the stress of finding a private buyer.
If July is the month you've been telling yourself you'd finally replace the laptop or sort out the home CCTV system, this is the quieter, more convenient version of making that happen without leaving Lekki.
4. Eat Properly at Banex Mall Food Court
School holidays mean more people home, more cooking fatigue, and more "let's just go out" moments.
The food court at Banex Mall absorbs all of those moments.
With a range of restaurants and food vendors covering Nigerian staples, grilled options, continental food, and quick bites, it's the kind of place you can take the whole family at different moods and everyone finds something they want.
The advantage of a food court in a mall versus a standalone restaurant is practical: if one option has a queue, another doesn't. If one person wants jollof and another wants a burger, they don't need to compromise.
If the children finish eating before the adults do, there are other things within walking distance to keep them occupied while you finish your meal in peace.
Tip for July: visit on weekday lunches for a noticeably shorter wait.
Friday and Saturday evenings are popular; arrive early or after 8pm to avoid the post-cinema rush.
5. Explore the Lekki Conservation Centre
If you've lived in Lekki for years and never actually visited, you're in the majority and you should probably fix that this July while the pace is slower.
The Lekki Conservation Centre is a peaceful oasis in Lagos that provides a fantastic afternoon getaway, and it contains one of the longest canopy walks in Africa; a suspension bridge through the treetops that is genuinely exhilarating for adults and children alike.
The centre itself is a wetland nature reserve covering over 78 hectares, with walking trails, wildlife including monkeys and various bird species, and a refreshing absence of urban noise.
Entry fees are modest. It's located on Lekki-Epe Expressway and is best visited on weekday mornings when it's less crowded. Bring comfortable shoes and sunscreen.
The canopy walk is the main attraction but budget at least two hours to properly explore the grounds.
6. Visit the Nike Art Gallery
Nike Art Gallery is one of Nigeria's hidden treasures. Located in Lekki, Lagos, the four-story building comprises an art gallery and textile museum featuring over 7,000 pieces.
If you have guests visiting from outside Lagos this month returning diaspora, family from Abuja or Port Harcourt this is the single most impressive cultural stop you can offer them.
The gallery is extensive enough to spend two to three hours without repeating yourself, and the quality of Nigerian artistry on display consistently surprises people who haven't been before.
Entry is free. The gallery is located on Lekki-Epe Expressway.
Check their current hours before visiting as these vary.
7. Do Your Back-to-School Shopping Early
Here's the July move that most Lekki parents thank themselves for in September.
Back-to-school shopping done in July before the September rush means better availability, less stress, and in many cases better pricing on electronics and supplies before the demand spike hits.
Laptops, school bags, stationery, uniforms, shoes, and accessories are all easier to find, compare, and buy when you're not competing with everyone else doing it at the same time.
Banex Mall is a practical one-stop location for a significant portion of that list. Tech and electronics, fashion and accessories, and food for the school day are all under one roof on Akiogun Road which means one parking stop, not three.
8. Plan a Weekend Evening Around Banex
This one doesn't need a specific agenda.
Friday or Saturday evening at Banex Mall as a destination not just for one thing but as an evening works well in July.
Cinema ticket, dinner at the food court, a browse through the tech shops, and the general atmosphere of a well-populated mall during school holiday season.
It's the kind of evening that costs less than a restaurant booking and is more interesting than staying home.
The cinema schedules typically have early evening and late evening showings, which means you can organise the evening in either direction dinner first, film second, or film first, dinner after.
Where to Start
If you're reading this and haven't been to Banex Mall recently or at all the address is Akiogun Road, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. It's on the Lekki expressway side of Akiogun, with free parking available on-site.
For cinema bookings: Contact Us
For Summer Skills Academy registration
and all other enquiries: banexmall.com or WhatsApp the Banex Mall team directly.
Get directions to Banex Mall on Google Maps →
What Else Is On in Lekki This July
Beyond Banex Mall specifically, July in Lekki tends to produce:
Beach days
Elegushi and the surrounding Lekki beachfront are at their most socially active during school holidays. Go on a weekday to avoid Saturday traffic.
Art and gallery visits
Sachs Gallery,Kokopelli Gallery, and the wider Lekki arts community run exhibitions throughout the year. July is typically a strong month for new shows.
Family and community events
Lekki estates and community associations often run July holiday programmes.
Check estate WhatsApp groups and local community pages for announcements.
Restaurant and bar pop-ups
The Lekki food scene in July sees more pop-ups and special menus than most months. Follow local food Instagram accounts for announcements, as these are rarely advertised far in advance.
The best July in Lekki is not the one spent entirely at home waiting for September.
It's the one where you actually use the neighbourhood the conservation centre, the cinema, the mall, the restaurants, the gallery and let the slower pace of the holidays do what it's supposed to do.
Banex Mall is open daily. Come in.
Banex Mall is located at Akiogun Road, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. This guide is published monthly
bookmark for updated Lekki guides throughout the year.
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