Best Things To Do in a London Heatwave

Yes, we’re all sweating like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

We get it.

But here’s what you can do about it. To be precise, here are thirty – yes THIRTY – things you can do in London when the heat refuses to leave you alone…
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1. Cool down on an ice cream crawl around Central London.

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2. Order a frozen cocktail at one of the best rooftop bars in London.

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3. Let off some steam at a beautifully retro London lido.

Book sessions here: Brockwell Lido | Parliament Hill Lido | London Fields Lido (download the Better app to book) | Charlton Lido (book via Better) | Hillingdon Lido (book via Better) | Park Road | Tooting Bec Lido | Hampton Pool
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4. Top up your t-shirt tan by the canal at King’s Cross, with a scoop of raspberry ripple from Ruby Violet…

Then grill your own dinner on the terrace at Parrillan, and listen to live jazz outside at Notes (Wednesday & Saturday evenings)…
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5. Sip a cider in the rooftop garden at quirky Spitalfields pub, The Culpeper.

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6. Find your zen by a peacock-inhabited waterfall at Kyoto Garden in Holland Park.

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7. Get into a high-octane pedalo race.

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8. Watch a film as the sun goes down at an outdoor cinema

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9. Cook a summer barbecue. ON A BOAT.

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10. Kick back on the beach… in Southwark

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11. Dine out in a completely car-free Covent Garden

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12. Strip off at Hampstead Heath and hit the swimming ponds.

Booking fills up quickly – head here.
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13. Hit London’s food markets, build the picnic basket to end all picnic baskets

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14. Break out a sweat on a crazy golf course.

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15. Rent a boat for the day, and picnic on the water

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16. Go to a free outdoor gig at Summer By The River

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17. Take a dip in Stoke Newington’s open-air reservoir

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18. Pretend you’re in Miami by playing shuffleboard outside.

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19. Cool off in London’s only purpose-built swimming lake.

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20. Kayak your way to a craft brewery along London’s canals

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21. Listen to live music round a campfire by the river

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22. Dine al fresco on one of London’s loveliest summer terraces

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23. Book in a visit to Kew Gardens.

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24. Soak in the views from Alexandra Palace’s huge outdoor beer terrace.

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25. Take a break from the heat, and go ice skating instead.

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26. Watch theatre under the stars in the middle of Regent’s Park.

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27. Cook your own BBQ atop a riverside shack.

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28. Catch some rays as you float along the river… in a hot tub

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29. Take in Canary Wharf’s Summer Lights trail

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30. Watch the sun set while you sip negronis on the top of a multi-storey carpark at Frank’s Cafe.

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Looking for more ways to cool off? Take a look at these 75 Outdoor London Date Ideas