London’s a great city but can get confusing when it comes to making the most of it. I wrote a post last autumn about some fun stuff I did when I first moved here and a while back I wrote about London at Christmas; now here’s seven great activities to check out this summer in the capital.
Get a new perspective on London
I recently took trips up 110 Bishopsgate and The Shard and would highly recommend their spectacular views. The Shard reminded me of Willis Tower in Chicago and Eureka Skydeck in Melbourne, where I made a similar video to the one below back in 2013. The Shard also has what they describe as ‘loos with views’… 110 Bishopsgate boasts Duck and Waffle, the highest restaurant in the UK with some of the most gorgeous food I have ever tasted.
Looking down from the top of the Shard
Perhaps the strangest toilets in the UK can be found in the Shard…
The view from the Shard just never gets old
Eat somewhere new in London
As well as Duck and Waffle I would recommend Sketch near Oxford Circus – delicious food and they also have some interesting toilets! For those on a budget, check out the Cat Cafe in Shoreditch, home to about a dozen feline friends.
More funky toilets at Sketch
Be a tourist in London
It’s easy to forgo tourist attractions where you live and I was probably a bit guilty of this last time I lived in London in 2012. This summer I’ve really enjoyed going up Tower Bridge and The Shard, walking along the river and getting to the heart of the city.
Tower Bridge is a fun and fairly cheap activity
Check out London’s outdoor cinemas
So far this summer I’ve been to two outdoor cinemas – the one in Kew Gardens is my fave, there’s no better place to sit back and enjoy a movie once the sun goes down.
‘Kew the Movies’ at Kew Gardens
Catch some of London’s summer sport
During the winter there’s cool stuff like football and NFL at Wembley but we’re spoilt for sport in the summer, too. This year I have been to Wimbledon, the Oval, Formula E, Twickenham several times and the Boat Race.
There was a fantastic atmosphere at The Oval for the cricket when I saw Surrey vs Somerset
Wembley is always a good place no matter the sport
Get involved in London sport
There’s no better time than summer to participate in some sport yourself. I’ve been playing Touch Rugby twice a week for the last few months and have loved it. I’ve also booked to go swimming in a lake in Richmond soon! And if you don’t fancy anything too serious there’s tons of fun things like mini golf around the capital.
Even just going for walks is a joy in Richmond Park
Richmond Park is a great place to play sport
Touch Rugby in Richmond
Leave London altogether
Don’t feel confined to the city, even if you don’t have a week away booked. I recently did a weekend break to Dorset and it was fabulous. Just a couple of days was great to recharge the batteries and get away from it all.
Beachy Head in Sussex is an easy day trip from London
Lulworth Cove in Dorset is stunning in summer
The Dorset Coast is within a few hours’ drive of London
Great little list – I’ve been in London donkey’s years and haven’t done half these things! I really want to go to Duck and Waffle and Shard and although I’ve been to a couple of the quirky underground silent cinemas where you listen to the film through headphones etc, I’ve not actually been to an outdoor one – I think I’m always worried the weather will be grim and I’ll end up watching it with a brolly over my head! And definitely going to remember these day trips as I’m trying much harder these days to see more of the beautiful parts of England that I’ve been neglecting to visit for so long. Dorset looks especially lovely!