Forget everything you thought you knew about London. All the images of grey skies and gloomy streets, long coats and soaked umbrellas, forget them! For it seems summer has finally arrived in London, and we’re here to make sure you make the most of the (hopefully) many sunny days that are yet to come. Woke up this morning to a gorgeous image of cloudless London? Here’s our list with the 15 most fun things to do in London on a sunny day!
It’s time to bid goodbye to (thankfully) roofed Camden Market for a while, and begin exploring the many other street markets London has to offer. Some of our favourites to visit on a sunny day are Columbia Road Flower Market, to which we recommend you attend wearing your cutest and summeriest outfit because you will want to take pictures, and Southbank Book Market. The latter is a dream come true to every bookworm out there, and it counts with the added bonus of many cute cafes and terraces by the river! This is one of the most fun things to do in London!
If your London-born friends are in charge of planning your day out during sunny weather, you can bet money that, after lots of debating, the two most popular options will be a) a day at the park, or b) a day by the canal. And yeah, we know London is famous for its parks, but spend one day walking along Regent’s Canal and you’ll understand why it is such a fantastic alternative to yet another picnic sitting on the grass. Regent’s Canal crosses London west to east, it’s super easy to walk by foot, and it’s full of adorable terraces where you can sit and watch boats, kayaks, and many ducks (and ducklings, since it’s summer!) lazily pass by.
Living in London does not necessarily mean you’ve seen everything worth seeing in London. Even some of the most obvious and traditional tourist spots (aka Big Ben, London Eye, The British Museum, etc.) are still unknown to many international students in London, who usually don’t have the time to do much sightseeing. Now, however, the sun is shining and the exams are over, so why not jump on a bus take all the cheesy pictures you’ve been dreaming about all year? Send some to your friends back home and get back that fuzzy feeling of “Whoa, I live in London!”
Fine, it’s a cliché and it’s the easiest option to go for, but a nice picnic in the sun never goes out of style. Now the only thing left to decide is which green spot in London will you choose to set down your gingham blanket? Hampstead Heath and Richmond Park are famous for their calm atmosphere and gorgeous sights, or you can rely on Holland Park for some nice instagrammable shots at the Tokyo Garden. And if you want to keep it simple, head to Hyde Park, but we recommend you get there early to make sure you find a nice spot in the shade. This is definitely one of the fun things to do in London that you’ll love!
Life is better on a rooftop, and if it includes enjoying the views of the London skyline and nice cocktails, even better. Sunny afternoons are made to explore London’s many rooftop bars. You’re in the mood for some signature cocktails and the truest Gossip Girl vibe? Then Radio Rooftop Bar should be your first choice. Or maybe you had in mind a more casual scene, with live music and some Latin flavour? Say no more, Omeara Terrace it is. As you can see, there’s lots to choose from, so what are you waiting for?
The clouds are gone, and so are your excuses not to go for a jog, or enjoy a nice yoga session in the park. If it’s some peer pressure-filled motivation what you need, don’t worry, there’s many Facebook workout groups you can join so that you don’t have to sweat alone. SUNday yoga requires no booking, is open to all levels and, wait for it, it’s free! Okay, there’s a £10 “suggested donation”, but that is up to you.
There’s not many things we can think of that are more romantic than an outdoor cinema. Maybe Grease is to blame for this, but the truth is that no other summer night plan beats watching a movie under the stars. Luckily for you, you won’t need a car a la Danny and Sandy to enjoy this experience, as the Rooftop Film Club got us all covered on this front. With three venues across London – one in Stratford, one in Peckham and one in Shoreditch – and hundreds of titles to choose from, including some classics such as Edward Scissorhands, or newer award-nominated Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri, there’s not much to say but sit back, relax, and hope you enjoy your outdoor movie experience.
Whether you’re a true urbanite who’s more than a tad curious about how farms are run, or you’re just an animal lover who has had enough with feeding the pigeons by St Paul’s Cathedral, a day visiting one of London’s city farms could make for an original and perfect sunny day plan. There’s even one in Hackney, if you’re in an exploring mood but don’t feel like going too far from home. Many of the farms also host events and workshops, so you can get a taste of the real farmer experience. Bonus: cute animals! This one of the most unique fun things to do in London!
London wisdom is knowing that on days you don’t know what to do, you head off to Shoreditch. Why? Because there’s always something going on in Shoreditch. Walk around trendy Boxpark and enjoy window shopping – or just shopping, if you’re not broke yet – while the weather’s still nice, as there’s few places in London with more vintage shops and independent boutiques than Shoreditch. This Shop Rocks and Atika are some of our top choices when out and about in East London. If shopping is not your ideal plan, you can always enjoy the sun from a lovely terrace, or boost your Instagram feed by getting the best shot in front of the iconic Redemption Bar Wings. Shoreditch is one of the fun things to do in London that will not let you down!
A beach? In London!? Yup, you’re not dreaming. Even though bikini weather isn’t something this city can really brag about, you can always count on London to make you feel like you’re on the middle of a fancy tropical holiday… even if it’s just for a day. So if you really can’t wait to go on a real vacation in order to wear that super cute swimsuit you bought on an impulse, make Neverland your favourite spot in London this summer. With lots of sand, daybeds and lots of tropical vibes, this urban beach in Fulham will not disappoint you.
Perhaps an urban beach is not your cup of tea, and that’s okay. If you’re still in the mood for a good swim, why not check out some of London’s lidos and outdoor swimming pools? From ponds to Olympic-sized pools, there’s loads of options to choose from, and the best is that you’ll be sure you won’t be bringing any sand back home.
Discover London in a completely different way and spend your sunny day on board the London Water Bus. It’s£25 for a whole day, which is a bit pricy, but the bus will take you right into the London Zoo, so you’ll have the chance to see some cool animals and get a nice tan.
If there is one thing London can brag about in the summer time, that is funfairs. And who doesn’t love a funfair? The rides, the colours, the atmosphere, the cotton candy… it’s all too much to resist. There’s many across the city, so you’re literally one Google search away from your best day out yet. Funfairs are definitely some of the most fun things to do in London!
Did you know you can enjoy a show under the sun at the Globe for only 5 quid? Well, now you know. On those sunny days when you feel like you’ve had enough tanning and enough exploring, the theatre is a perfect way to escape from the routine, and if you’re lucky enough not to be on a budget like the rest of us, you can always check what’s on at the Open Air Theatre in Regents Park.
Get the most breathtakingly beautiful views of London from a bird’s perspective on the Emirates Air Line. If you’re not afraid of heights and you’re the kind that dreams about soaring the skies every night, we might have found the best plan for you. This idea is particularly great because yes, it accepts your good old Oyster card as payment, and if you’re feeling particularly fancy, you can even hire a cabin all to yourself and your friends (up to 10 people will fit) and have a fun and different day among the clouds. This is seriously one of the coolest fun things to do in London!
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