The best things to do in London this summer

Wimbledon and the Euros might be over, but the summer of sport most certainly isn’t. Just over the Channel, Paris will play host to the 2024 Olympic Games this July and August, boasting two weeks of world-class sporting competitions. If you’ve failed to snag tickets, don’t worry – London is a dab hand at showing sporting antics on the big screen, and plenty of locations will be popping up across the city where you can (hopefully) bask in the sun and catch everything from diving to curling.

For a lot of Londoners, Notting Hill Carnival flashes by in a blaze of feathers, Red Stripe and tinnitus. To those who make it happen, it is a year-round operation to create one of the biggest and oldest street parties in the world. More than two million people are expected to flock to west London to watch the iconic parade showcasing the best of mas, soca, calypso, steel bands and soundsystems over the bank holiday weekend. Dazzling floats, check. Kaleidoscopically dressed performers, check. Rib-shaking soundsystems, check. The sweet, smoky smell of jerk chicken, check. What ’cha waiting for? 

At Time Out we’re big fans of cosying up in our favourite London cinemas and entering a whole new world through the power of projection. But, when the sun’s out and the weather’s at its best, hiding away in a dark, stuffy room isn’t quite as appealing. Thank god then, for outdoor cinemas letting us get our film fix under the stars and with a sweet summer breeze in our hair. Al fresco movie spots pop up all over the city as the weather gets warmer, from canals and parks to rooftops overlooking the city skyline and the manicured gardens of stately homes. Basically, if there’s space for a screen, someone is putting one up – here are some of the best ones.

We’ve got the lowdown on exactly which sky-high bars are open for cool cocktails on hot summer days. These places can be pretty popular, so it’s worth booking where you can. From swanky city skyscrapers to informal warehouse hangouts, cheers to getting up on the roof.   

As much as we love London here at Time Out, we’re also partial to the odd daydream about a leisurely getaway to somewhere that’s not quite so big and busy. Microdose on that holiday vibe by taking a day trip to one of the many laidback, joy-inducing destinations just a few hours away from London, which pack in plenty. From historic cities and cute villages to sandy beaches and rolling countryside, we’ve rounded up our favourite day-tripping spots, complete with our recommendations of cute pubs and ace restaurants – all close enough to London to get there and back in one sweet day. 

Bring on a summer of alfresco excellence. Whether you’re in the mood for spaghetti in the sun or schnitzel by starlight, our big ol’ list should have you covered. Just be sure to book ahead, yeah? A lot of people are going to want to eat, drink and be merry outside. 

There are few things greater in life than gathering up your mates and heading to the park to grill up a feast under the sizzling summer sun. It’s a simple pleasure, but one that somehow makes your grub taste even better than it would in boring old indoors. Just don’t spoil the day by scorching the grass and leaving a mess behind you. Most of London’s lush green spaces are reserved for picnics only, but there are some major parks and local gardens where you’re officially allowed to fire up the BBQ. We’ve rounded up the best spots in the city where it’s totally chill to grill. 

Beer gardens are one of the best things about London. There’s no finer way to spend a sunny (or not-so-sunny) afternoon in the capital, than sipping a few cold ones with the city’s famous skyline in the background. We want you to relish in the pleasure of supping away in the breezy great outdoors, so here are the best alfresco pint-sipping spots the city has to offer. 

Let’s be honest: urban beaches are in no way as good as real beaches. We’re not going to stand here and try and kid of you of that. There’s no sea to swim in. There’s very limited access to high-quality fish and chips. It’s very unlikely you can go surfing at one. That being said... you can’t catch the Tube to the coast, so when you’re too busy for an actual trip to the seaside, why not make life a bit easier for yourself and visit an urban beach? They have sand, they have cocktails, they often have beach parties and they sometimes (when we’re lucky) get a bit of sun. We’re not going to turn our noses up at any of that. So, we’ve rounded up the very best ones in the city. 

There’s perhaps nothing more magical than seeing a play or musical in the open air, and London is absolutely the city for it. In defiance of the weather gods, our outdoor theatre season now stretches from March to late October: we’re just that tough. Substantially it revolves around a few key theatres; Shakespeare’s Globe – open March to October – and the delightful Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, which is open late spring to the end of summer. But there’s plenty of other stuff, especially as the summer reaches its height, from the ambitious street theatre of the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival to the musical theatre blowout of West End Live and an eclectic blend of drag, dance and circus at the National Theatre’s River Stage.

Want to get more involved with your food than just mere peeling, chopping and cooking? Head to a pick-your-own farm in and around London to get as close as you can get to the process without growing your fruit and vegetables yourself. Core picking season is May to August, but the produce available depends on the season. Go along in June to fill a punnet with gleaming strawberries, delight in sunflowers in August, or gather autumnal apples, pumpkins and squashes in September – the choice is yours! London is surrounded by farms with acres of PYO fields to keep you busy all summer.

Heading into the fields and getting picking isn’t just a great day trip (although it definitely is that, too) – it’s also a brilliant way of boosting your sustainability, cutting out all that extra plastic packaging at the supermarket. Plus, you’ll be able to snap a ton of stunning selfies and keep the kids occupied.

REMEMBER: Check the farm’s website beforehand to find out what produce is available, as crop seasons change from year to year. And no eating while you pick. Keep all your juicy finds in their punnets for weighing up.

RECOMMENDED: Outdoor London

Come late June, the outskirts of the city are overcome with aA sudden sweet, herbal scent and shocks of vibrant purple, as lavender season arrives in the city. Immerse yourself in a purple haze this summer by visiting one of the capital’s fragrant lavender gardens, or head out of town on a day trip to find sweeping fields of the stuff. Kennington Park, Kew Gardens and Vauxhall Park are top London destinations for lavender and there are farms dedicated to the mauve blooms just outside the capital, in Kent, Surrey and Hertfordshire. Whether you’re after a sweet-smelling picnic spot or just want to watch the bees for a bit, London and its neighbours’ lavender will be happy to oblige.