1. Everyone’s in a good mood and the city sparkles.
Every city looks better bathed in sunlight and London is no exception. Joyful people line every street, riverside and canal drinking in the summer rays and/or alcoholic beverages. The Thames has a twinkle in its eye and the people a skip in their step. Even the bus drivers crack a smile once in a while! I always rediscover my love for this magical city when the summer starts to sizzle.
2. Outdoor cinema
More and more open-air film screenings are popping up around London each summer. Our top tips this year are Everyman Theatre @ Battersea Power Station, Rooftop Film Club at the Queen of Hoxton (they give you blankets and everything!) and the uniquely located Floating Cinema on a canal barge.
3. Free events galore
For free, outdoor theatre, comedy, music and film check out The Scoop at More London. There are pop up markets in all corners of the city. You can even find beaches dotted around. So far we’ve spotted ones in Camden, Portman Square and Royal Victoria Dock. There are always new free events popping up so keep your eyes peeled throughout the summer.
4. The parks
Green spaces take on a life of their own in London once the summer hits. The Serpentine in Hyde Park becomes an inviting boating lake or even a bathing spot(!), deck chairs adorn luscious lawns in many of the Royal Parks, roller bladers parade the pavements and other sports like cricket, football, rugby, rounders and even ultimate frisbee can be seen being played on every patch of grass around London.
5. The sunset views of London
On a fine summer’s day take the chance to get a breath-taking view of London for free. Here are some of our favourite spots to see the city from above. The Horniman Museum Gardens, One Tree Hill, Telegraph Hill, Greenwich Park, the Emirates Airline.
6. The beer gardens
There’s something about the sun that makes people want to drink. A pub with a good beer garden is a summer essential as it allows you to enjoy them both at once! Our favourites are the Duke of Edinburgh in Brixton, the Blind Beggar in Whitechapel, and the Magic Garden in Battersea.
7. The BBQs
It’s not just the Aussies who love a good barbie, us Londoners can’t get enough of charcoaled food whatever the weather! Bring on the British BBQ season!
8. The festivals
For music lovers there are heaps of London-based festivals this summer that’ll get your feet stomping. Some have already been and gone but there’s still time for Lovebox, Calling Festival, Hackney Wicked Festival, Kew the Music, Jabberwocky, South West Four, On Blackheath and more!
9. The cycle tours (of course!)
Can you think of anything better than meandering along a canal/river/park on bicycle on a warm summer’s day, stopping along the way to sample the culinary or drinkable delights along the way? We can’t either, which is why we have 12 different tours that show you the best bits of London at a leisurely pace.
10. Notting Hill Carnival
Arguably the free party of the summer Notting Hill Carnival draws in crowds of more than a million over the stretch of the august bank holiday. The streets are filled with Caribbean food, live music, huge sound-systems and colourful carnival costumes to rival those of Rio. If you are in London at the end of august be sure to check out this truly unique specatacle.