Top 5 Things to Do in London in the Summer

London is at its best in the summer. This city has so much to offer, and when you add good weather into the equation, I think it is one of the best cities in Europe.

We have a lot of students in the school at this time of year and they all want to know about some of the best things to do in order to make the most of their time in London. So, here's my personal list of the top 5 things to do in London!

1. Go rowing on the serpentine in Hyde Park

Hyde Park is one of London's best known tourist attractions and it's a fantastic place to be during the summer. It's a really big park with lots of people enjoying themselves everywhere. It's also quite a historic place, with plenty of interesting sightseeing spots such as the Albert Memorial opposite the magnificent Royal Albert Hall in Kensington, the various Victorian era statues around the park and of course the Serpentine lake in the middle. Here you can rent rowing boats for an hour or more - what better way to enjoy the sunshine in a great location? You can row around and enjoy the peaceful feeling of being on the water and it's easy to forget you're in one of the busiest and largest cities in Europe. Lovely.

2. Go to the outdoor cinema at Somerset House

Somerset House is a very impressive neoclassical building on the north bank of the river Thames near Waterloo Station. It was built in the late 18th century and it's definitely one of London's most beautiful and interesting buildings. There are all kinds of events and exhibitions held there including music, art, an ice-rink and on warm summer evenings they show old movies on a big screen in the courtyard. Imagine sitting with hundreds of Londoners, surrounded by 18th century architecture, watching a classic James Bond movie such as Goldfinger (showing this August). It's magical!

3. Watch a game of cricket at Chiswick House

Cricket is the perfect summer sport in England. The atmosphere of a peaceful village green on a lazy Sunday afternoon is what cricket is all about. Chiswick House is a great place for this, and not many people know about it! The house (built in 1729) is beautiful, and there's a cricket field nearby. Go there on a Sunday afternoon and you'll feel like you've discovered the real England, with sporting gentlemen, cups of tea at 3.30, the sound of leather on willow, and long shadows as the afternoon becomes the evening. Don't worry if you don't understand cricket - just enjoy the ambiance. It's idyllic.

Walk along the canal from Camden Lock to Regents Park and have a picnic

This is a great way to sample the variety of enjoyment available in London. Start by taking the tube to Camden Town. Here you'll see a cool side of the city with plenty of live music venues, old fashioned pubs full of trendy young people dressed in the latest fashionable gear and market stalls selling cheap clothes and all kinds of cool hats and sunglasses. Walk along the high street past Camden Market and you'll get to Camden Lock where you can stop for a coffee and grab some sandwiches for your picnic later. Then walk along the canal (built the early 19th century) and you'll see lovely canal barges, some beautiful houses by the water and some genuine graffiti by Banksy. If you keep walking for about 10 minutes you can leave the canal to get into Regents Park. If you like you can stop and look at some of the animals in London Zoo before you find a quiet spot in the park to eat your sandwiches. Mmmm, nice.

Go on the London Eye during sunset

Why not finish your perfect day by seeing all of London, all at the same time? You might have to queue for a while, but it's worth it, especially if you get the timing right and go up while the sun's going down. The London Eye is one of the city's best attractions because it gives you the best view of the whole city. It makes you realise that London is very big indeed! Try spotting famous landmarks like Wembley Stadium, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge and Waterloo Station. During sunset it is absoultely stunning, and with a glass of champagne - perfect.

So those are my top tips for enjoying London in the summer. Of course, there are plenty of other things you can do so get out there and enjoy yourselves!

Luke

Have you been to London? What would you recommend?

What about your city? Do you think it can beat London for interesting things to do?

Feel free to leave your comments below.

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