Complimentary Summer Activities
When the London sun is shining brightly, the city transforms into a colossal socio-cultural hub teeming with open-air cinema displays, and live shows taking form in the most unconventional locales. An illustration of this is 2012's spontaneous movie theatres under an intricate flyover in the east-end and atop a unique heap of refrigerators. While many events require pre-payment and prior booking, there is The Scoop nestled adjacent to City Hall, where a rich roster of activities plays out all through the summer. This includes film exhibitions, bewitching ballet performances, lovely opera shows, invigorating musical concerts, and even exhilarating fitness classes which you can attend free of cost and in the refreshing open air alongside the Thames. An interesting fact about The Scoop is that it can seat 800 people. Summers here are nothing short of enchanting.
Discover more at morelondon.com.
Lesser-known viewpoints
While most recommendations lean towards Primrose Hill or Parliament Hill in the northern part of London for stunning cityscapes, they often draw large crowds which can detract from the experience. Instead, consider venturing south to One Tree Hill, located in the serene eastern area of Greenwich Park for enchanting panoramas. Embark on a journey throughout the larger park encompassing areas like the deer pens to the south. An even less frequented, yet equally captivating, spot is Stave Hill and the adjoining ecology park, based on Dock Hill in Rotherhithe, SE16. This hill was constructed using remnants from former docks and offers perspectives over Canary Wharf and the City.
royalparks.org.uk, urbanecology.org.uk/stavehill.html
Revisit the Olympic Park
One year on, the Olympic Park is transforming into the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, one of the largest urban parks created in Europe for 150 years. While the area around the stadium and aquatics centre is still undergoing redevelopment, the northern parklands are set to open at the end of July. You'll also be able to visit the Copper Box, which hosted handball and other sports during the Games, and is now a flexible events venue and cafe.
queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk
Hampstead Heath pergola
If tranquillity is what you seek amidst London's summer vibrancy, the offbeat charm of West Heath is a must-visit. Less crowded than the popular peaks and forests of the main park, this place hides a quaint surprise. Tucked amongst tall trees, you'll stumble upon the Italian Pergola and Hill Garden - a beautiful expanse of pathways, terraces, and horticulture. This choreography of nature eventually rewards you with a mesmerising vista of Harrow on the Hill. Venture a bit further west and you'll find Golders Hill Park, home to a cosy (and complimentary) zoo featuring delightful wallabies and deer. Giving a different spin to London's conventional urban landscape, these spots are perfect for a charming, costless summer day out.
Access via North End Way, NW3, hampsteadheath.net
Ping-pong
The game of table tennis is held in high regard in London, with its invention occurring here over a century back. Today, the very spot in Holborn is home to a ping pong theme bar known asBounce. Noteworthy moments in the game's history include the revival of its classic name 'whiff-whaff' by Mayor Boris Johnson, and a friendly competitive match between David Cameron and Barack Obama during an official visit. The city offers a multitude of free outdoor table tennis spots across its footprint. Prime locations include Cavendish Square and Regent's Park. For more information on table tennis locations, visit pingpongengland.co.uk. An interesting fact is that table tennis was originally a parlor game, played among the upper class in England. Moreover, Cavendish Square, one of the pong tables locations is actually a public park in the West End of London, named after the 2nd Duke of Devonshire.
Rose garden
Despite its fame, many visitors to Regent's Park overlook its most mesmerizing spot: the enchanting Queen Mary's Gardens, nestled in the Inner Circle. When summer arrives, this hidden gem transforms into a vibrant tableau saturated with hues from over 12,000 rose bushes, some with captivatingly quirky names like Pensioners Voice and Ice Cream. Not too far off, you'll find a tranquil lake and a sculpture park, home to a diverse array of wildlife including the elegant black swans and spirited squirrels. Discover more about this summer paradise on royalparks.org.uk.
Explore an abandoned rail route
London is home to a myriad of hidden treasures, one of which is the Parkland Walk. This unique outdoor recreational area is akin to a stretched out park that leads you from Finsbury Park to Highgate, following the route of the Capital Ring walk. These spots are conveniently reached via the tube, making it an easy choice for a day out. This journey takes you along an intriguing disused railway track, where echoes of old stations mingle with the stirring wilderness. An unusual green man sculpture adds an eerie touch to the walk. The Parkland Walk is teeming with a variety of animal life, offering a delightful glimpse into the natural world in the midst of urban landscapes. If you're up for an extra bit of adventure and have the stamina, a diversion from Highgate takes you up to the historical Alexandra Palace, offering you breathtaking panoramas of the northern side of the city.
parkland-walk.org.uk
Walk the Roman walls
While the majority of the Roman-built city of Londinium, established over two millennia ago, has faded into oblivion, there remain subtle reminders of its existence. Begin your exploration at the Tower of London, overlooked by a statue of the Roman emperor, Trajan, erected by the tallest segment of the ancient fortification. From this point, make your way north via Cooper's Row and into the courtyard of the Grange City Hotel. This precinct houses the grandest piece of the Roman wall, complete with an archway that visitors are welcome to pass through. Planning such a trip might seem daunting, especially considering the accommodations. Yet, making an adventure of this magnitude doesn’t need to break the bank. There are plenty of hotel deals in London, many within a stone's throw of these historical sites, ensuring that you not only soak in the rich history but also retire to a comfortable place at the end of the day. Following this, weave your way around the Square Mile in an anti-clockwise direction, keeping an eye out for other surviving fragments along the appropriately christened London Wall, particularly near the Museum of London. It's important to note that the Tower of London served as a royal palace, a treasury, and even a prison over the centuries. Also, the Roman wall is nearly 3.2 kilometers long and parts of it were incorporated into the medieval city wall.
Magnificent Seven cemeteries
The term "Magnificent Seven" refers to a group of cemeteries that were established during the Victorian era to cater to the increasing number of London's inhabitants who were passing away. Each of these remarkable cemeteries, including the most renowned choice, Highgate (which does require a small entrance fee), provides not only splendid monuments but also tranquil walks to enjoy. Another option, Kensal Green cemetery, resides off of Harrow Road and is conveniently accessible by tube. It occasionally offers tours of its fascinating catacombs for those seeking a journey beneath the surface. Nestled under Chelsea's football ground, Brompton Cemetery offers an enchanting experience just waiting to be discovered by visitors. The remaining cemeteries can be found at Abney Park in Stoke Newington, Nunhead, Tower Hamlets, and West Norwood. For more details, please visit royalparks.org.uk and kensalgreencemetery.com.
City farms and other wildlife
London has over a dozen inner-city farms, where children can pet goats, feed cattle and oink along with the pigs. Spitalfields Farm is the closest to the centre. It is open all year round, and is particularly famed for its annual Oxford-Cambridge Goat Race each spring. Kentish Town Farm and Vauxhall City Farm are also close to the centre, but Mudchute Farm on the Isle of Dogs has the best views, with the towers of Canary Wharf forming an unlikely backdrop to the sheep pens.
It's also possible to see unexpected creatures without going to a farm. In Richmond Park, to the south-west, you'll hear the screeches of bright green parakeets, thought by some to be the descendants of birds that escaped the set of The African Queen, at the former Isleworth Studios, just over the river. You can often spy terrapins paddling along the River Lea in east London, and central London has a surprising number of nesting peregrine falcons. Look up to the balconies of the taller buildings.