In London for the summer? You’re in for a beautiful sunny season. London summers are defined by two things: the desire to soak up as much of the sunlight as possible before the rainy skies return, and the need to beat the heat (we are not an air-conditioned country!).
If you’re planning a holiday, you probably already know where Big Ben and Buckingham Palace fit in on the agenda, but what else are you going to do with your summer? More importantly, where are you going to go once you’ve sweated through your sundress? Here are my five top tips for summer activities that you may not have considered.
1. The British Film Institute, Southbank
You may wonder why one would see a film while travelling, when the new Marvel/Wes Anderson/Disney film is showing at home. The answer is simple: these aren’t films that are showing anywhere else. The BFI plays archival films made around the world over the last several decades, and they have great taste.
I usually rock up a little while before the film, take a seat at one of the BFI’s lovely bars or a walk along the South Bank (feel free to combine this with the Tate Modern), then relax in the cool, luxurious theatre for an always-enjoyable film.
Plus, one hot tip: if you’re living in the UK and under 25, you can sign up for £4 tickets — it must be the cheapest movie in London.
Check out what’s on at the BFI Southbank.
2. The Royal Opera House
A night at the Opera is an indulgence you’ll always remember. And not nearly as high-brow as you might think! The Royal Ballet and Opera offers a wide range of ticket prices, and this kind of performance is something you’re just going to struggle to find across much of the US, outside of bustling cultural capitals.
And, to be clear, you don’t need to brush up on your Italian; the shows have English surtitles so you know what’s going on, and performers that keep you hooked throughout the show. I saw ‘Faust’ at the ROH recently, with performers who can achieve unbelievable feats with their voices. Between acts, I just loved wandering around under the sparkling ceilings (and dressing up to fit the occasion).
If you were thinking of having a ‘fancy night’ in London, this is the place to go.
See what’s on stage at the Royal Ballet and Opera.
3. A London Secret Food Tour
I took a food tour for the first time recently, and I’ll admit I didn’t know what to expect. Do I need to prep talking points, I wondered, or brush up on my gourmet vocabulary? I’m happy to report that the event turned out to basically be paying for a huge, delicious meal with nice people, and a guide who knows exactly where to take you.
As someone frequently stumped by ‘what are we going to eat tonight?’, the East London Indian Food Tour I took was a wonderful chance to relax and be led through a new neighbourhood of London through its food. Plus, the conversation flows naturally: the audience had come to London from all over the world, but were all really talkative and curious people united by a common interest in food. Plus, my guide had an impressive sense of the area’s cultural history and great recommendations for all sorts to do, all around the city.
Explore Secret Food Tours this summer.
4. London Secondhand Shopping
If you’re travelling to Europe this summer, secondhand shopping is something you’re going to want to tick off in London. You will find disappointingly little of it in lots of European cities, and rarely at such low price points.
Some people shop by neighbourhood, others by the type of shop. Here are my recommendations:
Brick Lane: If you’re looking to spend a bit more for vintage, luxury, or just well-curated items, you can head straight to Brick Lane, where the Brick Lane Vintage Market lies at the heart of a long row of vintage shops with all sorts of takes on chic style.
Crisis Charity Shops: Wherever you find yourself, you’re probably near a Crisis! These are an undisputed favorite among secondhand shoppers in London. Whether you’re in Brick Lane, Peckham, or Camden, you should check out your local Crisis. Plus, it’s called a charity shop for a reason: this chain of shops uses all profits for the Crisis Charity’s UK homelessness support.
Clapham Junction: If you’re spending your day south of the river, Clapham is a great place to hang out as well as shop. With a strong row of charity shops and the beautiful Clapham Common to lounge around in, your afternoon is sorted.
5. Go to a London museum!
Okay, this is not exactly a niche suggestion, but I need you to understand: museums in London are FREE! London is one of the rare cities in the world where you can spend a day looking at beautiful art in beautiful places, and not pay a penny. Plus, they have some of the best collections, and you don’t even need a ticket to go in—just show up. Even if you’re not a museum person, this is the moment to try it.
If you’ve already got the British Museum and National Gallery on your list, let me give a few more suggestions:
The Courtauld Gallery: for Manet, Van Gogh, Goya, and more!
The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology: for a small but amazing collection of jewelry, vessels, art pieces and more that give a unique look into Egyptian history.
The V&A East Storehouse: Just opened, basically the famous Victoria and Albert Museum’s warehouse. The place to go if you’re interested in how curators and archivists store and preserve art!
With all this left to do, it’s time to get going with your London summer! As they say here in the Big Smoke, ‘Tired of London, tired of life.”
Travelling Europe this summer? The BN London team has also covered eating experiences across Italy and travel essentials for your trip.
