Londonders, we’re finally in peak summer. The sun is shining and it looks set to stay at least a little while. This is not the week to head to the gym or into a dark theatre after work, and it’s certainly not the time to head straight home to spend an evening on the couch. But if the hot spell has left you pondering what there is to do in London on hot summer nights, we’ve got you covered. Grab an ice cream and your diary, and read on...
Cast your eye around any borough of London and you’ll notice the various terraces and on-the-pavement seating outside restaurants and cafés. But it pays to do your research to avoid sitting too close to nearby traffic or eating somewhere below par just to get a spot in the sun. With this in mind, we scouted out some of the best alfresco eateries and waterside dining options, as well as the loveliest restaurants with gardens the city has to offer. From the floral courtyard at Petersham Nurseries to the height of sophistication by way of Le Pont de la Tour by Tower Bridge, here’s where you’ll want to eat out during the sunny spell.
Planning an outdoor season is a bold move for any UK venue, but when the sun shines the effort pays off. The Summer Series at Somerset House returns this July with a stellar programme of Spanish pop, alternative soul and avant-garde RnB.
Meanwhile, for those with a preference for classical, summer opera seasons are well underway at Grange Park, Holland Park and, albeit a little further afield, Glyndebourne.
Let’s face it, this stint of gloriously sunny evenings isn’t going to last. So, if you usually have a sensible ‘no alcohol between Monday and Thursday’ rule in place, now is the time to break it and seize the day. Whether your passion is beats and bourbon or views and vino, the rooftop bars across the city keep getting better in a bid for our custom. Spacious Netil360 by London Fields, suave Culpeper Roof Garden in the City and good-for-groups Pergola Central in Paddington are three of our favourite offerings this summer. Meanwhile, many of London’s finest hotels have their very own rooftop bar – and lots of them are open to the public.
We Brits aren’t known for our love of outdoor swimming and London is behind several other European cities when it comes to places to take a dip in the fresh air. But know where to look and you’ll find several options, from the likes of rural and idyllic Hampstead Heath Bathing Ponds to the swanky rooftop pool at Shoreditch House. There’s also a spattering of lidos across the city, including heated pools in London Fields and Brockwell Park, and cold-water swimming at Hyde Park’s Serpentine and Tooting Bec lido. Take the heatwave as a chance to discover London’s outdoor pools, or be bold and head out on a wild swimming adventure.
London is fully saturated with exercise classes – from the traditional to the boutique and from slow and steady to high-intensity. Many of these take place in the great outdoors so it’s well worth looking at what’s on in your borough. Or, why not use the warm weather as a chance to do things your own way? Take your yoga mat out into the garden or a nearby park for a chance to stretch and calm the mind in the sun’s warmth, or check out our round up of London’s best running routes.
If you prefer to take in the sights and sites of the city at a slower pace, why not use this balmy weather to try out one of London's more serious walks? From the 4.5 miler between Richmond and Ham House, to the 3.5 mile stretch ticking off the sites in Greenwich and Blackheath, you don't need to leave the city to enjoy a 'country' walk.
Outdoor theatre has been popular in the UK since, well, always. And the summer programmes of London’s top outdoor theatres are annual highlights of the city’s cultural calendar. One such theatre is Shakespeare’s Globe on Southbank, the programme at which this summer is all about the history plays, as Shakespeare's narratives explore
past, present and future and interact with the myths and conflicts that
still resonate in Brexit Britain.
Meanwhile the open-air courtyard at Battersea Arts Centre is offering a combination of comedy, spoken word, music and theatre from 5 June to 12 July.
Then, over at greenery-shrouded, twinkling-with-fairy-lights Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, there's a revival of Thorton Wilder's classic drama Our Town, an operatic version of Hansel and Gretel, the return of the Open Air Theatre's much-loved take on A Midsummer Night's Dream and a new production of 1978 musical Evita.
And finally, don’t forget to check out Greenwich and Docklands International Festival, with its programme fuelled by diverse stories, site-specific adventures and immersive experiences. Highlights of this year's ever-eclectic selection include a French circus troupe in a Thamsmead estate, a dance-theatre fusion telling the story of Moby Dick and and Technicolor street party in the centre of Woolwich.
There's arguably nothing worse than spending a warm summer’s evening sitting inside a stuffy cinema. But with the likes of Luna Cinema and Rooftop Film Club pitching up screens in the fresh air, you can watch your favourite flicks under the stars. That’s right, we do mean 'favourite' films, because one of the biggest pulls of London’s pop-up cinemas is the fact they show the classics.
Luna Cinema – which sets up camp close to various locations including Westminster Abbey, Alexandra Palace and Battersea Park – is showing The Favourite, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, A Star is Born and more across its various venues.
As for Rooftop Film Club – which has screens at the Bussey Building in Peckham, Queen of Hoxton in Shoreditch and Roof East in Stratford – it's showing classics such as Grease and Dirty Dancing, as well as chick flicks and animated hits, including our new favourite: Toy Story 4.
So, you want to be close to water in this hot and sticky weather but nothing will tempt you to strip off and jump in? Why not enjoy it from your very own (rented) boat? Perfect for summer parties, Go Boat offers groups of up to eight people the chance to rent a boat and take a trip along the canal for up to six hours. The boats depart from Merchant Square in Paddington, and suggested routes will see you pass the likes of Little Venice, Regent's Park, London Zoo and Camden Lock. With departure times up till 8.45pm, what better way to cool off on a hot summer evening?
Going it alone or fancy something a little sportier? Secret Adventures offers regular night kayaking trips where you can paddle past the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s, Bank Side and Tower Bridge. It’s popular though – you’ll need to call and wait for cancellations to bag a place this summer.
Stuck in the office and desperately staring out at the sunshine? Take a walk after work through one of the many parks and squares housing free outdoor art displays. Meanwhile, every year Frieze Sculpture Park selects a number of sculptural works to be displayed outside of the temporary tents as part of its sculpture garden. If the weather holds until 6 July when the exhibition opens, this is one to catch.
Then over at the Serpentine Gallery, Junya Ishigami is the 19th architect selected to design the Serpentine Pavilion. Don't miss the opportunity to wander through the cave-like refuge, which aims to offer a space for contemplation. Other highlights include the 9th edition of Sculpture in the City and Yinka Ilori's gorgeous, kid-friendly Colour Palace, the winning design of this year's Dulwich Pavilion.
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