Summer in London: top 20 tips by a local

London is my favorite city in the world, and I am glad that I can call it home for the last couple of years. Summer is my favorite season and time of the year, so summer in London is simply a dream combination (although, to be absolutely honest, I would probably put summer on the Greek islands first).

 

A few weeks ago, Glastonbury Festival took place, but sadly I hadn’t been able to secure the much-desired ticket and see Kylie, Chris and Carrie live (it would’ve been my second time for all of them). But every cloud has a silver lining, and I was lucky to attend two extraordinary events in London: the Gelato Festival and the London Symphony Orchestra open-air concert in Trafalgar Square.

 

 

Then, this weekend, I am going to Citadel Festival, taking place in Gunnersbury Park, between Acton, Brentford, Chiswick and Ealing. Next weekend, the Ealing Blues Festival (20^th-21^st July) takes place in Walpole Park, whereas the Ealing Jazz Festival is due in two weeks’ time also in Walpole Park (27^th-28^th July).

 

 

In fact, the number of festivals taking place every summer in London is one (but not the only one) of the reasons why I love spending my summers in the British metropolis.

 

Here are my top 20 tips for an unforgettable summer in London, a summer that includes music festivals, outdoor film screenings, and, of course, food and drinks:

 

Music

 

1. The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) open-air concert

 

On the 30^th of June, Trafalgar Square was transformed into a giant free music stage as Sir Simon Rattle conducted 100 musicians from the London Symphony Orchestra. This year, the dance-inspired program featured music by Dvořák, Poulenc and Ravel, and also included a world premiere by Bushra El-Turk. An annually held free-to-attend event, the LSO open-air concert is due to take place again in June 2020. You might want to put it in your diary for next summer. I certainly will!

 

 

 

2. Music festivals

 

There is a number of music festivals (usually ticketed) every summer in London; most of them take place in parks around the city. These include All Points East, which is held over two weekends in Victoria Park in May/June, British Summer Time Hyde Park (BST Hyde Park), also taking place over two weekends but in Hyde Park and in July, as well as Lovebox and Citadel, which are now held in Gunnersbury Park also in July. There is also Gunnersville Festival, a brand new festival scheduled to take place between the 6^th and the 8^th September 2019 in Gunnersbury Park. It will be headlined by Doves, The Specials and You Me At Six. There will also be other indie rock bands (both British and international) playing, such as Jimmy Eat World and Deaf Havana.

 

 

3. Ealing Summer Festivals

 

Then, there are Ealing Summer Festivals (including two carnivals). The programme includes Greenford Carnival (which took place on the 7^th of July), Ealing Beer Festival (taking place between the 10^th and the 13^th of July), Acton Carnival (on the 13^th of July), Ealing Comedy Festival (18^th-19^th and 24^th-26^th July), Ealing Blues Festival (20^th-21^st July), and Ealing Jazz Festival (27^th-28^th July). All four festivals take place in Walpole Park in Ealing.

 

4. Somerset House Summer Series

 

Somerset House Summer Series is a series of open-air concerts taking place in the courtyard of Somerset House in the heart of London. Situated on the south side of the Strand, Somerset House is a large Neoclassical building dating back to the 18^th century. This year, the gigs take place across 11 consecutive nights; they kicked off on the 11^th of July. American indie rock band Gossip are playing on the 21^st.

 

 

5. Hampton Court Palace Festival & Kaleidoscope

 

The Hampton Court Palace Festival is another annually held music festival; the open-air concerts take place in the Tudor Courtyard of the Hampton Court Palace over 18 days in June. This year, Kylie was amongst the artists who performed there. Another festival you might want to put it in your diary for next summer.

 

There is also Kaleidoscope, an one-day music and arts festival that was held last year (July 2018) in Alexandra Palace (Ally Pally, as it is colloquially known as), against the backdrop of London’s skyline. For reasons not known, Kaleidoscope is not happening in 2019, but it will hopefully return next summer.

 

6. The Proms

 

The Proms is another series of summer concerts, but this time of (mostly) classical music; they are held daily over an eight-week period across a number of venues, including the Royal Albert Hall. This year, the Proms take place between the 19^th of July and the 14^th of September.

 

 

Amongst the classical music concerts, there will also be a performance by Angélique Kidjo on the 30^th of July. A singer-songwriter and activist from Benin, Kidjo has been named ‘Africa’s premier diva’. She has also been listed by the Guardian as one of its Top 100 Most Inspiring Women in the World.

 

 

7. BP Big Screens

 

Every summer, UK audiences have the opportunity to attend free outdoor screenings live from the Royal Opera House (BP Big Screens). In London, these take place in several venues, such as Trafalgar Square, Lyric Square in Hammersmith, the Scoop by London Bridge, and elsewhere. This summer, there have already been three screenings: Romeo and Juliet on 11 June, Carmen on 2 July, and The Marriage of Figaro on 9 July. Unfortunately, there are no further outdoor opera screenings scheduled this year; you might want to put this too in your diary for next summer.

 

 

Film

 

There are, however, outdoor film screenings (both free and ticketed) scheduled throughout the summer in London. Watching a movie under the stars is one of my favorite past-times, but, of course, the experience is enjoyable as long as it’s warm and dry, which is not something that one can take for granted even in the summer in London!

 

8. Leicester Square Summer Screenings

 

In August (8^th-11^th), Leicester Square is due to transform to an open-air cinema; the Leicester Square Summer Screenings are free to attend and the program includes children and family-friendly such as E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Mrs Doubtfire, and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, one of the most summery movies!

 

 

9. Film4 Summer Screen

 

Also in August (8^th-21^st), there will be film screenings in the courtyard of Somerset House (Film4 Summer Screen). The program includes both classics (Before Sunrise, Before Sunset) and recent films (Pedro Almodóvar’s latest film Pain and Glory). Tickets start from £20.

 

 

10. Luna Cinema

 

The Luna Cinema is another great option; film screenings are held from June to September in various iconic places across the UK. In London, venues include Alexandra Palace, Chiswick House & Gardens, Hampton Court Palace, Victoria Embankment Gardens, Victoria Tower Gardens, and Westminster Abbey. Tickets start from £16.

 

11. Rooftop Film Club

 

The Rooftop Film Club is a global phenomenon; film screenings take place on top of high-rise buildings in several American cities, as well as in London. In the UK capital, there are rooftop cinemas: in Peckham (Bussey Building), Shoreditch (Queen of Hoxton), and Stratford (Roof East). Tickets start from £15.

 

12. Movies on the River

 

Perhaps Movies on the River is the most unique setting for outdoor film screenings in London. It’s a riverboat cruising River Thames with a screen showing both classic and recent movies against the backdrop of London’s iconic landmarks: Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and London Eye. Films scheduled for this summer include The Favourite, A Star Is Born, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Greatest Showman, and Pretty Woman. Tickets cost £29.

 

 

13. Summer Screens at Canary Wharf

 

One of my favorite parts of London, Canary Wharf is home to outdoors screens showing both films and live sports events. There will also be live broadcasts from the Proms. The screens are located in Cabot Square and in Canada Square Park and the screenings are free to attend.

 

14. Summer Love

 

A series of also free-to-attend film screenings, as well as live broadcasts from the Royal Opera House, have been taking place by the Regent’s Canal near King’s Cross station. Unfortunately, the last Summer Love screening for this year is on the 14^th of July.

 

Food & drinks

 

There are a number of food and drink festivals taking place in London throughout the year. I recently attended the Gelato Festival, which was one of the best gastronomic experiences I’ve ever had.

 

15. Gelato Festival

 

King’s Cross is home not only to Summer Love, Coal Drops Yard, and Platform 9 3/4, but also (temporarily) to Gelato Festival, which took place over the last weekend of June. I actually attended on the 29^th of June, which was the hottest day of the year. The ticket cost £16 and allowed me to try 19 unique flavors from different ice cream makers, from both the UK and abroad. In the end, I struggled to vote for my favorite one, as I was torn between Giampaolo Dotti’s Il Cremino and Fabiano Franzoso’s Amaretto Salato.

 

 

16. Ealing Beer Festival

 

As mentioned earlier, the Ealing Beer Festival is currently taking place (10^th-13^th July) in Walpole Park in West London.

 

More summer in London activities

 

17. Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds

 

Having been born and bred in Greece, I’ve always considered summer synonymous to outdoor swimming. In London, there are of course fewer options, compared to my home country. One of these options is the Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds in North London. The Men’s and Ladies’ Ponds are open all year round but the Mixed Pond is open to the public only during the summer. There are also a number of other outdoor pool and lidos spread around the city.

 

18. The Thames Path

 

For me, a walk along the Thames Path is one of the most enjoyable and relaxing activities in summer in London.

 

If I am in the mood for a long riverside walk, I sometimes start at St Katherine’s Dock, then cross the river across, and continue on the south bank towards central London. The walk takes me past Hay’s Galleria, Southwark Cathedral and Winchester Palace (with sometimes a detour to Borough Market, which is not far from there). Admiring the views of the Tower Bridge on the background and the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral and the City of London skyline on the opposite side of the river, I continue past Shakespeare’s Globe, the Tate Modern, and the National Theatre, all the way to the London Eye and the Westminster Bridge.

 

Sometimes, however, I may be in the mood for a leisurely stroll; I head to Kew Bridge and from there I walk downstream (from west to east, or from Kew Bridge towards Chiswick). On my way towards Chiswick House & Gardens, I meet three historical riverside pubs: the Bell & Crown, the City Barge, and the Bull’s Head. On a sunny and warm day, I may stop to enjoy a pint outdoors right by the river.

 

 

Or, I may head to Hammersmith riverside instead. From Hammersmith Bridge, moving upstream (towards Chiswick), I come across the following pubs: the Blue Anchor, the Dove, and the Old Ship. Not far from there, albeit no longer on the riverside, there is Mari Deli & Dining, perfect pitstop for an Italian coffee and gelato. Chiswick House & Gardens is not far from there.

 

Regent’s canal

 

Alternatively, I may walk along the Regent’s canal, which can lend itself to a beautiful walk from Victoria Park in East London to King’s Cross, or from King’s Cross past Camden, Primrose Hill and Regent’s Park, to Little Venice.

 

19. Royal Botanical Gardens (Kew Gardens)

 

In West London, not far from where I live, there are the Royal Botanical Gardens (or Kew Gardens), which are worth visiting in bloom season. From 13 April to 27 October 2019, glass artist Dale Chihuly showcases his luminous glass artworks against the stunning backdrop of the gardens. Entry to the gardens costs £16; entry to the exhibition ‘Chihuly: Reflections on nature’ is included in that price. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 15 August to 26 October 2019, Chihuly’s artworks will be illuminated in the evenings (entry to the gardens in those evenings will cost £18).

 

20. Happy Place Festival & Chiswick Book Festival

 

Also in West London, there is the afore-mentioned Chiswick House & Gardens, where you can admire Lord Burlington’s 18^th-century villa, have a coffee at the nearby café, and then stroll in the gardens. Or, you can join the special activities and events due this summer. These include a temporary open-air cinema (the Luna Cinema; 23rd – 25th July 2019), Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place Festival (expect workshops and talks; 3rd – 4th August 2019), and the Chiswick Book Festival (12^th September 2019).

 

 

For more tips about West London, check out my posts about Chiswick and Ealing.

 

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Happy reading!

 

Alex

 

(the Traveling Psychiatrist)