Summer in London
- Ali Dobbs
- Mar 12
- 8 min read
When I studied abroad (way back in 2018), I was lucky enough to visit London during March and get a quick feel of the beautiful and bustling city. My friend Emily (who was studying abroad there and hosted me during that trip) and I vowed that someday we would make it back to London during Christmastime to see the decorations and experience all of the winter festivities. In December 2019, we made that trip happen after finding some cheap roundtrip flights and had the best time.
Fast forward to 2024, and it’s been years (and an entire worldwide pandemic) since I last set foot in Europe. In that time I had started AND finished grad school and begun my career as a dietitian, but I always felt like I was itching to get back to traveling, especially across the pond. As luck would have it, I managed to snag some tickets to Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour for closing night in London (which was no easy feat), and thus began the planning of a much-awaited trip back to Europe. The tickets I got were for me and my fellow Swiftie friend, Sarah, but we both wanted to bring our significant others along for the ride. My boyfriend, Brian, had never been to Europe, so this became a perfect opportunity (and a perfect birthday present for him).
Only having been to London in colder months, I was so excited to see London in the heat of the summer and enjoy frolicking through all the famous parks without having to bundle up in my winter coat. The weather was not quite as warm as American summers that we’re used to, but it was perfectly mild and we enjoyed every bit of our trip (especially seeing the Eras Tour, duh).
What to Wear
Like I said, summer in London is not exactly the same as summer in the US. Temps above 80°F are pretty rare, and the nights are kind of chilly (around 60°F). During the heat of the day, it’s best to have short sleeves, a breezy dress, or even shorts; but come sundown, or in the case of a cloudy day, you’ll definitely need some light layers. I brought a nice trench coat, a denim jacket, and a linen blazer for some light outer layers to add to my outfits. Think of it as dressing for spring here in the US!
Things to Do
Covent Garden
It’s one of the most popular tourist areas in London and I can totally see why. I’ve been during Christmas when they have beautiful decorations and Christmas trees everywhere, but seeing it in the summer gave me a whole new perspective. In warmer weather, it truly reflects all the best parts of being an indoor/outdoor marketplace, with patio seating for restaurants and a charming hustle and bustle all around. We were staying pretty close to this area so it was a great spot to spend a few hours at one of the outdoor patios of the pubs nearby drinking some pints and enjoying the weather.
This is actually where we started off on our arrival day: while trying to fight jet lag and limited sleep on the plane, we walked around Covent Garden doing some window shopping and then stopped at the two busiest pubs for some beers. It was such a fun atmosphere on a warm weekend day, and locals and tourists alike were mingling outside having a great time. The energy definitely helped us stay awake a bit, too.
Regent’s Park
If you feel like meandering through beautiful landscaping, then Regent’s Park is the place for you. It’s a pretty large park with lots of different areas, but it’s super easy to get to by tube and bus and it has such a pleasant atmosphere. We actually came back to this park multiple times during our trip because we enjoyed it so much and loved our casual strolls.
In the south end of the park is the beautiful Queen Mary’s Garden, where the landscaping is gorgeous and it’s so pleasant to walk through and appreciate. There’s also a special rose garden area that is a labeled collection of the different types of roses that’s really fun to explore.
While wandering aimlessly, we stumbled upon a full outdoor theater, a bandstand with a live ensemble playing, tons of fields for sports, and of course, many picnickers out to enjoy it all. There was a cute little beer garden that had snacks (and slightly bigger plates, too), that we stopped at multiple times for a rest and a pint or two. Each time we went to Regent’s, we found a new little detail to love.
The London Zoo
The zoo is actually tucked into the northern end of Regent’s Park, and seems deceptively small from the outside, but is actually the perfect way to spend a few hours of your afternoon. Being a zoo enthusiast, we knew we were going to have to make a trip here, and once we got there we absolutely loved it. We had the best time exploring all of the exhibits and speaking with the knowledgeable staff and volunteers. The best part is that it’s right there in Regent’s Park, so it’s very easy to get to! If you’re looking for a more unique activity, I highly recommend stopping by the London Zoo. You’ll likely see mostly locals, and it’s fun to get an idea of what families who live here do for fun.
Borough Market
Of course I have a lot of food recommendations, but Borough Market is more of an experience than just a destination to get food. Last summer, influencers were flooding social media with clear plastic cups full of fresh strawberries and topped with warm, gooey melted chocolate. The number one place to get these? Borough Market. The market itself is a bit overwhelming and feels like it’s always jam packed on weekends, but it’s so fun to walk around and explore. There are literally dozens of different food stalls, ranging from fresh meats, seafood and produce to Indian street food and everything in between.
Since we had plans to eat elsewhere for lunch, I just snagged one of the coveted strawberry cups and let me tell you, it was worth the hype. Overall, a super cool little area to check out and it’s right along the south bank of the Thames, walking distance from a lot of other attractions.
Tower of London and Tower Bridge
London has literally thousands of historic locations and museums, so it can be hard to choose which one(s) to visit! I love a good museum and could spend hours wandering through exhibits. Understandably, Brian is not a huge fan of museums, especially when the weather is so nice, so he vetoed a lot of my suggestions. He did, however, agree to accompany me to the Tower of London, which in my opinion is way more immersive than a regular old museum since it is quite literally the historic site itself. It’s so neat to walk around the same grounds where royalty and important historical events actually happened (beheading of Anne Boleyn sound familiar?), and it has a bit of a haunting, eerie vibe to it. I also love that you can walk around outdoors AND you get a great view of Tower Bridge and the Thames. I highly recommend visiting, especially if your group isn’t keen on typical museums.
The Tower Bridge is literally right next to the Tower of London and is perhaps one of the most iconic London landmarks. It’s fun to just walk across it, but there are also ticket packages that let you go up into the towers for an even more spectacular view. Back when I first visited London I opted for this ticket as well and loved getting to walk across the glass platforms at the top!
Soho
The ultimate area for walking around and window shopping, Soho has a little something for everyone. We spent a ton of time in this area just walking the same streets and enjoying our time. There are so many options for eating, shopping, and crossing iconic landmarks off your bucket list. In a 15 minute walk, you can see Picadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, and Covent Garden, or stop into the National Portrait Gallery. We were endlessly entertained and loved seeing these areas by day and by night.
Hyde Park
Another fantastic park to explore, but be warned – Hyde Park is absolutely massive. The landscape seemed to change every couple of minutes and would go from wide open fields to a bustling outdoor cafe with views of a huge swan-filled lake. My favorite section is Kensington Palace and Gardens, since I find it so cool to see these famous royal residences. In the winter, Hyde Park transforms into a massive winter carnival (which I have previously visited), so it was great to see the park bustling with summer activities. You could really spend an entire afternoon just discovering little corners of this beautiful park.
Other Places to Go:
St. Dunstan in the East: what used to be a church is now a garden among the ruins and is a quiet little spot to stop into
Leadenhall Market: perfect for more perusing, this is the area that actually inspired Diagon Alley from Harry Potter
Victoria and Albert Museum, Museum of Natural History: there are quite a few museums in this area and they’re all pretty great, if that’s something you like to do
Buckingham Palace: fun to see from the outside (especially if you get there to see the changing of the guard), but if you want to go inside, tours are available for that as well
Big Ben, Houses of Parliament: we saw these both in passing multiple times, and I find them breathtaking no matter how much I see them!
Millennium Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral: if you’re along the bank of the Thames, you can walk across the Millennium Bridge, which connects St Paul’s to the Tate art museum, both cool places to check out!
The London Eye: fun to experience once if you really want to (make sure to buy tickets ahead of time; I’d recommend buying the express pass to cut lines) but mostly I think it’s just neat to observe it from the opposite bank of the river to avoid crowds
On one of the days, we actually ended up booking a hop-on, hop-off bus (since I was so tired from the Eras Tour the night before) so we were able to see a lot of the iconic areas in a nice little bus trip. True to its name, we would disembark when we wanted to see something up close and then reboard the next one when we wanted to keep going. It was a great way to see a lot in a small amount of time!
I think visiting somewhere during one time of year is fine, especially if that’s the only chance you get to visit! But there is something to be said about seeing a place in its different seasons, and how that might affect the way you see it. For example, the first two times I visited London it was cold weather, so we definitely focused more on museums and indoor activities. This time, we got the chance to really stroll around the neighborhoods and enjoy what it might be like to actually live there. All of my trips to London have been fantastic, but I will always hold this summer adventure in a special place in my heart.
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