More about: 10 Things to Do in London in summer
In a city like London in the summer, there are tons of great things to do beyond visiting the city’s typical tourist attractions.
Day trips, music, outdoor movies, dancing, boat rides… and that’s just a small taste of what you can do in London. I’ll tell you all about the rest below!
1. Explore central London on a guided tour
Taking advantage of the nice weather in London during the summer, if you’re the kind of traveler who loves getting lost in the streets of a city to explore it inch by inch, then I recommend taking a guided tour of the city center to discover all the hidden corners and secrets tucked away in the heart of this beautiful city.
During the tour, a guide will accompany you and share countless stories and anecdotes about the city that you may not know, and you can choose between a walking tour, a bus tour, or a bike tour (this option is always the most fun!) to explore central London and see landmarks such as:
- St. Paul’s Cathedral
- The Tower of London
- Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster
- Westminster Abbey
- Buckingham Palace
- St. James’s Park
- Trafalgar Square
- Covent Garden
- Tower Bridge
- And many more…
By the end of the guided tour of central London, you’ll have learned a ton of new things, taken plenty of photos for your social media, and, above all, had a blast.
2. Cruise the Thames on a dinner cruise
London summer nights are wonderful. For a romantic and unique evening during your stay, I recommend heading to the riverbank to enjoy a dinner cruise on the Thames.
It will be one of the most beautiful memories of your trip! A chance to go out for dinner dressed up a bit and in a very unique setting—an elegant boat—to celebrate something in a special way.
Plus, during the cruise along the Thames, you can watch the sunset from the deck and see the city’s colorful lights gradually come on while sipping a glass of champagne.
The monuments lining the riverbank glow in a special way and look even more spectacular than during the day. It’s a magical moment! Oh! And don’t worry about how much a Thames cruise costs because many are affordable.
3. Explore the inside of Buckingham Palace
Most travelers visiting London usually take a photo with the facade of Buckingham Palace and the Queen’s Guard in the background as a souvenir, but every summer, when the palace doors open to the public, a lucky few can step inside to see it once Queen Elizabeth II has left for vacation.
In the summer, you can only tour the interior of Buckingham Palace for a few weeks a year (between late July and early September), so demand is extremely high and tickets sell out in the blink of an eye due to the limited availability.
If you’d love to explore the halls of Buckingham Palace and don’t want to miss this opportunity, my advice is to book your tickets online well in advance to secure them.
What will you see?
During the tour, you won’t see the Royal Family’s private quarters, but you will see the “State Rooms”—the rooms where the Queen receives her guests at official events and holds her public audiences. And it’s absolutely spectacular!
I suggest you set aside a day of your summer vacation in London to do something typically “British,” like visiting Buckingham Palace, watching the Changing of the Guard, and having afternoon tea. In the post How to See the Changing of the Guard and Buckingham Palace, I’ll tell you all about this experience in detail.
4. Enjoy the best outdoor cinema
When the weather is nice, Londoners make the most of every moment to have fun with outdoor activities. And summer nights are perfect for watching a movie under the stars while munching on popcorn, don’t you think?
- The Luna Cinema (July and August): They host movie screenings at various locations across London and show films for all tastes: romantic comedies, musicals, blockbusters, and more.
- Film4 Summer at Somerset House (August): The courtyard at Somerset House transforms into an open-air cinema screening new releases and classics. Sometimes there are special guests at the screenings!
- More London Free Festival (September): At The Scoop, the open-air amphitheater next to Tower Bridge, you can enjoy the best cinema classics and blockbusters for free.
5. Watch the summer solstice at Stonehenge
Make the most of your vacation in London by taking a trip outside the city to see amazing sites like Stonehenge, Europe’s most famous prehistoric monument.
This time of year is the perfect time to visit, as during the summer solstice, groups of druids gather at Stonehenge alongside a truly unique crowd to perform magical rituals celebrating the union between the Earth and the Sun. It’s a truly fascinating event!
Although you can visit this megalith on your own, given how difficult it is to get there by public transportation and the distance from London (130 kilometers), the option I most recommend is taking an organized bus tour with a guide to Stonehenge.
But be sure to book your tickets online as far in advance as possible to secure your spot, as they sell out very quickly for special occasions like the summer solstice. In the post “Excursions to Stonehenge from London,” I’ll tell you more about this exciting adventure in detail.
6. Watch the sunset from a London rooftop
After a busy day of sightseeing, walking, and excursions, you’ll need to take a break to rest, and in the summer, that’s especially important when the heat is on.
London’s rooftops are little oases high above the city where you can escape the hustle and bustle and the heat of the streets to catch your breath and enjoy a refreshing drink while watching the sunset with the British capital’s skyline on the horizon. Sounds like a great plan, doesn’t it?
Many of the city’s rooftops are only open during the summer season, so before heading to one, I recommend checking their websites to make sure they aren’t closed.
Some of London’s coolest rooftops are:
- The Culpeper (Whitechapel): 40 Commercial St, London E1 6LP, United Kingdom
- The Vista Bar (Trafalgar Square): 2 Spring Gardens, Trafalgar Square, London SW1A 2T
- Golden Bee (Shoreditch): Singer St, London EC1V 9DD, United Kingdom
- Aviary (Shoreditch): 22-25 Finsbury Square, London, EC2A 1DX
7. Experience the magic of West End musicals
In addition to the movies, another type of show you can enjoy in London during the summer are the West End musicals.
You might not be a huge theater fan, but I assure you that their impressive productions and vibrant musical numbers will, for a few hours, immerse you in a fantasy world that will leave you speechless.
Experiencing the magic of West End musicals in London is definitely one of the must-do experiences you have to have there during your stay. Especially if you’re traveling with your family. The kids will have a blast with all that music, color, and lights on stage!
If you’re planning to include a musical in your London itinerary, I recommend buying tickets online as far in advance as possible before your trip, as some shows are in extremely high demand. West End theaters tend to fill up very quickly, and the box offices hang up the “Sold Out” sign in no time.
8. Have a picnic in St. James’s Park
Central, charming, and intimate. These are the adjectives that best describe St. James’s Park, the oldest of the city’s Royal Parks, located very close to Buckingham Palace.
It’s a wonderful spot for a picnic on a sunny day in London because the grounds are beautifully maintained, and the views by the artificial lake are absolutely lovely. Plus, it isn’t one of the capital’s most popular parks, so there aren’t usually large, noisy crowds to disrupt the bucolic, countryside atmosphere of James’s Park.
You can lie down on the soft grass to listen to the birds singing or read a book while soaking up the sun. Plus, if you’re traveling to London with your family, the kids will love having some free time to play, run, and jump around.
9. Feast at the Taste of London food festival
The Taste of London food festival takes place in Regent’s Park during the month of June, bringing together the city’s most prestigious chefs to delight food lovers with their culinary creations.
The event isn’t free, but the admission fee is well worth it, as it gives you the chance to sample many of the dishes offered at the food stalls gathered there, which belong to famous restaurants such as “Burger&Lobster,” “Bao,” “Lina Stores,” and “Sagardi,” among many others. Plus, you can watch how the food is prepared, attend workshops and wine tastings, and even buy some food products as souvenirs.
For a foodie, attending the Taste of London Festival during summer vacation is like going straight to paradise! And if you’re left wanting more when you leave, you can always take a food tour through the streets of London to discover hidden culinary gems that will make your trip to the British capital even more memorable.
10. Dance at the Notting Hill Carnival
Caribbean rhythms take over the streets of the Notting Hill neighborhood to celebrate a huge carnival on the last weekend of August, somewhat reminiscent of the famous carnivals in Rio de Janeiro or Tenerife. If you’re in the mood to party… now’s your chance!
This festival celebrates Caribbean culture in style with an impressive parade of floats and dancers decked out in feathers and sequins, dancing to the best Caribbean music.
Follow the floats as they make their way through Notting Hill while you groove to the exotic melodies that liven up the parade, or just hang out somewhere enjoying some Jamaican "jerk" chicken and a few beers. You’ll have a blast and take some fabulous photos full of color and good vibes!