Although the weather in London can be tumultuous, there are still plenty of good weather days to come this British summer.
London has lots to offer if you want to enjoy the sun and experience the city in a new light. For people who like to be active, sunny weather is perfect for renting Santander bikes and cycling around Hyde Park. I would highly recommend only biking in parks or areas where there is light traffic, especially if you’re new to London, since this is the safest option. Hyde Park also has paddle boats and row boats that can fit up to four people, a very fun activity that you can do with friends that will get your arms and legs working. Of course, after being active, you should recharge with an ice cream in the park – the perfect way to celebrate summer.
For people who prefer to be more relaxed, you can still enjoy the parks of London by arranging a nice picnic. I recently had a picnic with friends in St. James’ park and was not surprised to see how many other people were out and about to soak up the sun rays: from office goers taking their lunch break to tourists on their way to Buckingham Palace, the summer weather had everyone gravitating to London’s outdoor spaces.
St. James Park
London also has a lot of outdoor markets which can be enjoyed to their fullest during the summer. My favourite food markets are the Duke of York’s Square’s Saturday markets and the markets in Spitalfields and Brick Lane, which are really fun to walk around while munching on all the yummy options.
Food market at Spitalfields
There are also antique markets and flower markets, so even if you’re not in a hungry mood there’s something for everyone. These markets occur year round, but another fun activity which is only happening over the next few summer months is the free open air film festival in King’s Cross. From June 27 to August 7, there are daily screenings of movie classics, Wimbledon and the Tour de France. It costs nothing to attend, and you can bring your own movie snacks. The full schedule can be found here.
You can do any of these things by yourself or with friends, but for people who enjoy very social settings I would also recommend checking out BST Hyde Park. It’s a music festival that takes place in July, but if you don’t like crowds, it won’t be for you. If you do like being surrounded by an energised, busy environment, then it’s a unique way to listen to music, meet new people, and take advantage of the outdoors. For a less hectic setting, there are also beer gardens and rooftop bars all across the city where you can share a social drink with friends or colleagues while the sun is still out past 8pm. You might even be able to enjoy a London summertime sunset.
View from the top level restaurant at the Tate Modern