Best activities and things to do in London in hot weather

By any measure, London is hot right now and everything is melting.Fortunately as Londoners, we don’t have to sweat this heatwave out with ice cubes and cold showers – we can do it in style.

If you’re looking for ways to stop overheating during these hot and sweltering days, here’s how you can keep cool and carry on, as they say.

1 Head to the beach

Perhaps not the best activity to start with, but London is so close the ice cold waters of the North Sea and many beaches are easy to get to by train. Some of them even have sand. Margate has long coaxed daytripping hipsters, as has Leigh on Sea in Essex. The Kent coast has plenty of charming beaches, as does Sussex beyond the call of Brighton. Essex does alright for itself also. 

2 Go to the cinema

From local independents to big cinema complexes, there’s a cinema near you. Everyman Cinema have cocktails at the ready, The Castle in Clapton is a crowd-funded art-deco cinema brought to life by its community. Even outdoor cinemas are delightful on a balmy evening. So grab a box of popcorn and an ice cream and pick a long film if you’re feeling particularly fried.

3 Take a swim

Taking a swim with the sun on your back is one of life’s simple pleasures, and London’s not short on swimming holes. Tooting Bec Lido and Brockwell Lido in south London are great for splashing about, and London Fields Lido is always popular and Hampstead Heath’s three ponds are also a good choice. Want to be near the water but not in it? Ride your own BBQ in that case.

4 Go to a museum

Ahhh, aircon. With heat like this, hanging out in the office isn’t a bad idea. But going to a museum is a much better plan. We’re spoilt for choice in London, so whatever you’re interested in, you’ll find a museum for it. Try a classic like Tate, the V&A or the Natural History Museum. Don’t forget V&A Young has opened too. Like Sherlock Holmes? Go to the Sherlock Holmes Museum. Interested in the intersection of health and everything else? Visit the the Wellcome Collection. Like vaginas? Head to the Vagina Museum in Bethnal Green if you fancy.

5 Sit in a the shade in a park

Grab a book, pack a picnic and head for the shade. Where ever you are in London, you’re not too far from a grassy green patch. Hyde Park is always a delight, if you’re central. Victoria Park, Well Street Common and Greenwich Park in the east are always a safe bet as well. Hampstead Heath is a fave too, with great views of the city in parts. In the south? Make to Brockwell Park, or Dulwich Park, or Crystal Palace for the dinosaurs if you’ve got kids in tow. If you want to try a new spot, there’s plenty of lovely green spaces in Greater London.

6 Stay hydrated

Anyone who has ever had a hangover knows that advocating booze as a way to stay hydrated, doesn’t know what they are talking about. Still, wouldn’t a lovely cocktail poured over a mountain of ice while sitting in a shady part of a terrace or rooftop bar be grand right about now? We think so. Whether you’re in west, east, north or south London, you’ve got plenty of options. Islington has very good beer gardens too. Want a drink along the Thames, try these options around South Bank or pub crawl along the river from east to west.  

7 Go to the supermarket

By all means, rummage around the frozen section at your local Aldi as if you’re life depended on it. Or, you could head to the Japan Centre for green tea flavoured Kit Kats and super cute (but wasteful) packaging. Peruse the wine and cheese section upstairs at Eataly or keep cool under the arches and fresh fruit and vegetables at Borough Market. Or just go to big Sainsbury’s.