Things to do in a London Heatwave

Head To An Urban Beach

If you’re looking for sandy shores to go along with the blue London skies, you might manage a bit of tidal mud. Unless you head to one of London’s urban beaches. Our current fave is Fulham Beach; decked out with day beds, beach huts and cabanas, you might as well be in Ibiza. Get your best bikini on, grab a cocktail and get ready for the ultimate beach party!

Where: Wandsworth Bridge Road, Fulham, SW6 2TY
Website: www.neverlandlondon.com

Catch An Al Fresco Cinema

Whoever said cinemas are just for rainy days were wrong! Say hello to the open air cinema! Way more fun then a dingy old Odeon, we're talking beanbags, cocktails, and summery sing-a-longs. We’re guessing they’re not showing The Snowman, though…

Battersea Power Station

Wander around Battersea Power Station and discover the first chapter of its regeneration. Bear with us. The new riverside neighbourhood is strewn with a real mix of independent and design-led restos, bars, shops and exciting things to do. Meander around the site discovering its powerful history (pun intended) and stop off for a bite to eat at one of their many restaurants, or refresh with an ice cold bevvy at one of the many bars.

Where: Circus West Village, Battersea Power Station, London, SW11 8AH
Nearest station: Battersea Park (0.4 miles)
Website: www.batterseapowerstation.co.uk

Swim, Swim, Swim

Sure, the mercury can nudge up against 40 degrees, but a lido will will leave you going ‘brrrrr’ (shivering, I mean, you’re not going to become an alarm clock). Ditch the deflating paddling pool and cool down by splashing about in one of London’s open air Lidos. Whether you’re after a kid-infested splash pool or you’re wanting to go chlorine-free, you can find it all in the city.

Skuna

Whoever said you can’t have a BBQ in a boat was wrong. Skuna have introduced a new way of seeing the London sights and it’s in the form of a floating BBQ boat.

Bring your food of choice or grab from one of their BBQ packages, light up the barbie and sail along the Thames!

Where: Off Hertsmere Road, Canary Wharf, E14 4AL
Website: www.skunaboats.com

Venture Across To Kew Gardens

Explore the wilderness whilst still in the city thanks at Kew Gardens. Whether you’re wanting to seek some shade from the sun or be transported in their very own indoor tropical rainforest, it’s a great spot for all the family. Especially now that they’ve just launched their immersive children’s garden.

Take shelter from the heat by exploring the hidden royal home, Kew Palace, home to George III and Queen Charlotte. If you’re after a showstopper view, head over to the Great Pagoda. Prepare yourself for the 253 step climb first though!

Where: Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AE
Website: www.kew.org

Explore The Serpentine Pavilion

Immerse yourself in the world of art at the Serpentine gallery and explore their summer pavilion exhibition. Each year the garden is taken over to showcase some of the world’s greatest architects, allowing visitors to see an extraordinary piece of architecture created by a different architect each year. Seek some shade up these immense architectural structures and revel in their beauty.

Where: Kensington Gardens, W2 3XA
Website: www.serpentinegalleries.org

Sunbathe In A Park

Despite being filled with skyscrapers and tower blocks, London is filled with natural beauty too with their numerous parks. Pack yourself up a picnic and head down to your favourite green spot. A favourite of ours is Richmond Park and, of course, you can’t go wrong with London’s very own Central Park – Hyde Park. 

Give roller skating a try

During lockdown the craze began bubbling once again, as we all went out to soak up the vitamin D in our allotted one hour of daily fresh air, and while many opted for cycling or walking, many began opting for whizzing around on roller skates, all socially distanced of course. Fast forward to 2022 and now rollerskating has been given another revival thanks to the snaps of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling whizzing down Venice Beach in Los Angeles filming for the new Barbie film.

If you’re intrigued by the revival of the 70s craze and want to try it out for yourself, here’s where to get your skating fix in London.

Cycle Around The City

For a cheap fix, cycle around the city on a Santander bike, commonly known as a Boris bike. The city is filled with pathways and cycle routes just awaiting your discovery. Cycle along the canal towards London Fields or, circle around Richmond Park on the Tasmin Trail. It’s time to saddle up and feel the breeze against your skin, weeeee!

Relax In London's Best Terraces And Rooftops

I mean, who isn’t always on the lookout for a new bevvy spot? To keep you cool, here's some of the best terraces, rooftops and alfresco spots perfect for the warmer weather.

Go On An Ice Cream Crawl

Picture the scene: It’s mid-afternoon on a piping hot day in London, you step off a sauna-like tube, make a beeline for your favourite ice-cream parlour, and get handed a scoop of rich, creamy, frozen ice-cream. It’s a relief like no other. And in a city full of ice-cream parlours serving up smooth scoops and dreamy sundaes, cooling down in London has never been so delicious, from authentic Italian gelato and refreshing sorbets, to indulgent desserts and creamy soft serves.

Pedalo The Day Away

You’d forgotten about pedaloing, hadn’t you? Thankfully London is filled with plenty of spots you can enjoy the lake pastime.

Our favourite spot? Alexandra Palace thanks to its groovy pedalos. Fulfil your kiddie dreams of driving a car on the water, only this time you’ll have to use your pedal power instead of being va-voomed across by an engine!

Website: www.alexandrapalace.com

Cruise Along The Thames

There’s nothing like feeling a warm summer’s breeze running through your hair especially when you’re sticky from humidity, which is why a boat ride along the thames is perfect on a sunny day. See some of London’s best sites while cruising along The Thames without the hassle of the clambering on and off the crammed tube!

Website: www.bateauxlondon.com

Kensington Palace

Meander around the gardens of Kensington Palace and follow in the footsteps of royalty as you explore the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria. It’s the perfect spot to soak up the summer heat and feel like royalty as you wander the grounds.

Where: Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4PX, United Kingdom
Nearest station: High Street Kensington (0.5 miles)
Website: www.hrp.org.uk

Kayak Along The Thames

London might not be able to guarantee that blissful sea breeze but it’s home to the Thames that you can whizz down on enjoying that cool spray of water hit you as you paddle board, kayak or raft. Here’s where you enjoy London’s best watersports… 

Spark Up A Summer Romance

With the sun comes long summer dates, we’ve created the ultimate list of things to spark up a little romance in the heat.

That should be enough to keep you all entertained until the inevitable greyer months roll in, so head out asap, explore everything this beautiful city has to offer, and enjoy it (but don't forget the factor 50)