Summer in the city: 5 ways I'm enjoying London this season

After a couple of busy months spent travelling, I’ve been enjoying a slightly slower pace in London over the past few weeks. I’ve been back on home turf for almost a month now, which, by my standards, is quite a long time to stay in one place. To put things into perspective, in 2024 I didn’t spend a single full week in London all year, as I was yo-yoing all over the globe - and while that was one extreme (and I definitely felt the burnout from it), I’m used to being on the road more often than I currently am.

That said, while I’m battling a slight case of itchy feet, this is my favourite time of year to spend at home. London feels alive all year round, but in summer it’s at its absolute peak. People spill out of pubs and into parks, the days stretch on endlessly, and it genuinely feels like you have the world at your fingertips.

I always tell myself I’m going to make the most of summer in the city, but then usually find myself in some far-flung location instead. This year, though, I’m mostly UK-bound for the next couple of months (aside from a few short city breaks to Amsterdam, Paris, and Stockholm), so I’ve put together a list of things I’m keen to tick off. Here’s how I’m planning to spend my time in London this summer…

Dine al fresco as much as possible

Terrace season is in full swing, and I have a long list of restaurants I’d like to revisit this summer: ones that have sprawling terraces or rooftops that are ideal for whiling away the evening, drink in hand. I’m looking forward to long lunches on the terrace at Toklas (my all-time favourite restaurant in London), weekend brunch at the Towpath Cafe, sushi on the rooftop of Raffles London at Kioku by Endo, evening suppers in the garden at Rochelle Canteen and by the water at Canal, cocktails at Flute, the jazzy rooftop bar at Broadwick Soho, and impromptu dinners at my favourite local Westerns Laundry, where there’s an outdoor, covered terrace.

Museum-hop across London

London’s museum scene is pretty unrivalled, and it’s remarkable that so many of the city’s heavy-hitters offer free entry for all. A couple of weekends ago, I visited the new V&A East Museum in Stratford, and was reminded that I don’t make nearly as much use of the city’s top-tier museum and gallery scene as I should. There are plenty more exhibitions and museums I’d love to check out in the coming months: the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy is always a highlight of the season, and I’ve heard great things about the outdoor Henry Moore exhibition at Kew Gardens.

Explore, cycle, and swim through London’s parks

It’s indisputable that London has some fantastic parks; when compared directly to some of the world’s best cities, it far outranks them in its greenery. I plan to make the most of them this summer: think picnicking and swimming in the ponds at Hampstead Heath, strolling up to Primrose Hill, cycling through Richmond Park…the list goes on. There are hundreds of green spaces across the city, and summer is the perfect time to enjoy them. Best of all is that it costs you nothing.