There’s a particular kind of chaos that hits London the moment the temperature creeps past 28°C. The Tube turns into a sauna on wheels, every patch of grass in every park fills up within the hour, and half the city seems to be wandering around looking faintly betrayed that their raincoat wasn’t the right call after all.
But a heatwave doesn’t have to mean days of suffering under a fan that just pushes hot air around. With a bit of planning, you can actually have a brilliant time. Here’s where to go and what to do when London decides to impersonate the Mediterranean.
1. Head for the water
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The Hampstead Heath Ponds are the classic choice. The Mixed, Ladies’, and Men’s ponds all offer open-water swimming in a genuinely wild, tree-lined setting that makes it easy to forget you’re still in Zone 2. Get there early, though; by midday the queues can stretch impressively long.
If lido life is more your speed, London Fields Lido in Hackney is heated and open year-round, but in a heatwave it becomes the unofficial social hub of East London. Brockwell Lido in Herne Hill is another favourite and the Serpentine in Hyde Park has a designated swimming area.
2. Find the shade (and the AC)
London’s museums are free, and air-conditioned in most of the newer galleries. The Natural History Museum and Science Museum are both cavernous enough to feel noticeably cooler than the street outside, and they’re excellent options if you’ve got kids to entertain without melting.
For something quieter, head to the National Gallery and Tate Modern. An afternoon spent wandering through either is a genuinely lovely way to dodge peak heat hours (roughly 12pm to 4pm, when the sun is doing its worst).
3. Parks, but strategically
London’s parks are magnificent in the sun, but there’s a right way to do them. Hyde Park and Regent’s Park both have large tree canopies if you head slightly away from the main open lawns — the Rose Garden in Regent’s Park, for instance, has plenty of shaded benches.
Hampstead Heath has genuine woodland cover if you walk up past Kenwood House. Victoria Park in East London is huge, tree-lined, and has good access to canal-side pubs for when you inevitably want a cold drink.
For a fuller rundown of shaded spots and hidden green corners, check out our guide to London’s best parks.
4. A cool head starts with where you sleep
If you’re staying in the city rather than just passing through for the day, where you sleep matters more than most people expect during a heatwave.
That’s where The Harrington comes in. Some apartments come with rooftop terraces, which sounds like a small thing until you’re the one stepping outside at 9pm with a glass of something cold, catching the evening breeze, and watching the sky shift colour over the city without fighting a crowd for a table. Having your own outdoor space to retreat to can make a real difference to how a heatwave actually feels day to day. Get in touch to find the best apartments for the heatwave
A few extra practical tips
- Hydrate before you’re thirsty. By the time you feel thirsty, you’re already behind. Carry water everywhere, always.
- Avoid the Tube at peak times if you can. Deep tube lines like the Central and Bakerloo can hit temperatures well above what’s considered safe. Overground and DLR services tend to be cooler.
- Eat light, eat often. A heavy meal in high heat is a recipe for feeling sluggish. Think salads, cold noodles, or a proper ice cream from one of the many gelaterias dotted around Soho and Borough Market.
- Plan your day around the sun, not your usual schedule. Do outdoor things early morning or after 6pm, and save the indoor, air-conditioned plans for the hottest stretch of the afternoon.