Best Things To Do On A Sunny Day In London

Did you see the news? Temperatures in London are set to soar to 29°C in London this Bank Holiday weekend, meaning summer is officially here. And before we get too jaded by the overwhelming, suffocating, sweltering heat in the middle of a city that is just not made for it, we will be happily and naively celebrating the sun in all of its glory. We will save the moaning for August.

In celebration of the much-awaited return of summer, we’ve gathered our favourite things to do on a sunny day in London below.

Go Swimming

How many capital cities have this many open air swimming pools right in their centre? Whether you are a wild swimming fanatic, a rooftop pool reveler or lido lover, London has you covered. One hot ticket are the Hampstead Swimming Ponds, of which there are three – one for men, one for women and one mixed – tucked amid the park’s rolling 800 acres, open from 7am everyday. If you prefer to be able to touch the floor with your tippy toes, try the nearby Parliament Hill Fields Lido, Tooting Bec Lido, London Fields Lido, or why not pay a visit to London’s secret Holborn oasis, complete with a large sunbathing deck and even a sauna?

Hampstead Heath, Getty Images

London’s Loveliest Parks

Naturally, a picnic in the park is top of the agenda. But where to? Despite boasting a whopping 3,000 public green spaces (20 percent of the city’s footprint) when the sun shines down on Europe’s greenest city, the parks fill up rapidly. Don’t panic just yet: Hyde Park, for instance, is still large enough to snag a relatively tranquil spot even on the busiest of days, as are places like Victoria Park, Richmond Park, Hampstead Heath and Greenwich Park. For more secret, off the beaten path pockets, try Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Victoria Embankment Gardens, Gunnersbury Park and Fulham Palace’s gardens in Bishop’s Park.

Head Out On A Walk

Speaking of green space, why not turn your al fresco languishing into something more active? Whether you head on an urban stroll or catch a train out of the city, there are plenty of hikes to be taken from London. In the city, try the Parkland Walk from Finsbury Park to Highgate, which treads the path of a long-forgotten railway line and is gloriously cool when the heat descends thanks to shade from the overhanging trees. The New River Path from Angel to Stoke Newington is similarly tranquil if a touch more urban. Regent’s Canal also makes a natural walkway through the city, whether you step from Little Venice to Camden (via the London Zoo’s monkey enclosure) or Angel to Victoria Park. The River Thames is another beloved walking companion; you can follow it from Putney to Richmond for a quiet, leafy stroll that feels miles away from the city. Outside of London, try Box Hill in Surrey, Seven Sisters in East Sussex or even Epping Forest in the Northeast of the city.

Paddleboarding on Grand Union Canal, Little Venice

Paddleboarding

Speaking of London’s waterways, on a warm day it’s prime time to get up close and personal with Regent’s Canal. The aptly named Paddleboarding London has spots in Camden, Paddington, Islington and Hackney where you can rent a board and paddle off through the algaed water and dappled light from the shady overhanging trees. Find more of our favourite starting points here.

Boat Trip

If that sounds a bit too close, explore London’s beautiful waterways on a boat trip, instead. GoBoat’s electric, self-driving boats are our top pick for laidback Londoners, available to rent in areas like Paddington, Canary Wharf and Kingston.

Chris Coulson

Best Pub Gardens

If you aren’t as partial to a tinny in the park as this here writer, luckily you need not stand on the curb with your pint in hand. There are plenty of lovely pub gardens to enjoy in London, from tranquil secret pockets (like The Albion in Islington and The White Swan in Twickenham) to sprawling terraces (like Camden’s Edinboro Castle, Walthamstow’s Big Penny Social, The Ship in Wandsworth). Find all of our favourites here.

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

Dine Al Fresco

When the Covid pandemic forced us all outside, Brits never quite got over the revelation: we can happily eat outside, and we will even do it in the biting cold, provided there’s a heater and a thick blanket on hand. Now there’s a whole host of rooftop restaurants that shine in the summer months, serving up everything from freshly shucked oysters to shaken cocktails. Back on ground level, there’s nothing quite so beautiful as the Hyde Park Garden at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park – but there are countless al fresco dining options across the city to enjoy.

Best Ice Cream

The seaside this is not – but that’s no reason not to indulge in a deliciously creamy dessert. As London’s street food scene makes ambitious strides ahead, so too does its ice cream offering. At the heart of it all in Camden, don’t miss Chin Chin Club with its Tonka Bean and Burnt Butter Caramel flavours churned using billowing clouds of liquid nitrogen. Or at the capital’s other street food behemoth, Borough Market, try Gelateria 3Bis where you can sample ultra-fresh small-batch ice cream made with organic milk and high-quality Italian products. But this writer’s top pick is Jefferson’s, where the toppings match the flavours in terms of variety and deliciousness. You can even order an ice cream cookie sandwich.

The National Gallery

Art Galleries

Already tired of the heat? Time to head to London’s only reliably air conditioned spots: the museums and galleries. The coolest spots are the V&A South Kensington, Tate Modern, National Gallery and the lesser known Postal Museum.