How To Spend Summer In London
a list of things I love doing and a list of things I really, really would love to do...
Considering I am a woman who functions at her optimum at around 22 degrees with a light breeze, unstressed (and un-sweaty), in a calm quiet location- you’ll be surprised to know that I really, really love London in the summertime.
For every sticky tube journey, Southeastern train without air conditioning and £10 for half an hour deckchair in Green Park- when done right, London in the summer is HEAVEN. I feel bad ever wishing away a summer in this city, or resenting not having a hot holiday booked because it truly is so special when the sun shines. I was walking along Beak Street last week at 5:30pm and it’s almost like the buildings were glowing! ‘DROP YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE!’ I mentally bellowed looking at the light radiating from the shop fronts and tiled shops! For a city that so often is drenched in the greys of a cloudy sky, London girl- you look good in the sun.
I live in a city that when it hits BST, thrives on condensated pint glasses of Pimms, the refreshing of both the iPhone weather app and BBC weather in tandem like it’s an Olympic sport (I’m going for gold, in case you were wondering) and a feverish desire for cinema-like plans that will have us bellowing like The Scream ‘I’VE WASTED SUMMER’ if we aren’t doing all of the things and then bed bound with sad summer colds for the rest of the hot weather spell.
Walking through the city at dusk, with people spilling out of restaurants and bars, the buzz of conversation and hum of music decorating the streets, or riding the bus before the city comes to life- with the sparkle of the sun on the river and the heat of the day having not yet arrived- there is so much to enjoy and feel grateful for. Quite possibly because it’s always fleeting, and summer merely paints the town yellow for a small window that oozes possibility and truly makes you see what a special city it is.
Anyway- to commemorate currently being in this glowy summery window I thought I would share a collection of both my favourite things to do in London during these months, and a wish list of things I would very much like to do based on the fact I keep saying I want to do them (even if I have never done them before). I literally could have gone on and on and on but have tried to cap this somewhere for your attention, but also wholly and completely welcome (and encourage) you to share your favourites and all the things I’ve left out below too- because I know there will be a lot!
So, if you don’t mind- please can you tap your Oyster or contactless card at the front doors, and join me for this journey…