London It is one of the most important cities in the world and the largest in Europe. Therefore, it is not surprising that thousands of tourists choose the British capital as a destination to spend their holidays, especially in summer. At this time of year you can enjoy longer hours of light and numerous festivals, concerts and special events. Here we show you everything you need to know if you are visiting London in the summer.
Below you have an index with all the points that we are going to deal with in this article.
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Medium temperature and suitable clothing
London, capital of the United Kingdom, is a city located in the south of Great Britain. In this area of the British Isles we can find a temperate oceanic climate, which is why the temperature at London it does not usually reach extreme values neither in summer nor in winter. Usually the warmest month of the year is July.
Central London tends to stay around 5 ° C above the surrounding rural areas during the summer. This is due to the so-called urban "heat island" effect, which can be seen especially at night, since urban areas act as a kind of heat accumulator due to the enormous infrastructures.
On average, the temperatures during the London summer can be classified as moderate, since they are around 18 ° C minimum and the 26-29 ° C maximum. However, the truth is that you cannot speak of hot days in London, since it is not common to find extreme temperatures that exceed this last figure.
It is worth mentioning that, although the temperatures are more pleasant and warmer in summer, the probability of torrential rains is still high during the summer months (it is estimated that each month it rains for 14 days on average). For this reason, always go prepared with a raincoat or K-way and / or an umbrella is absolutely recommended.
Taking all these data into account, the most appropriate clothing if you are going to travel to London in summer is the following:
- Light clothing (short-sleeved shirts, jeans, fine jacket ...)
- Some warm clothing and wellies for rainy days
- Comfortable footwear (eg sports or trekking shoes, especially those made of Gore-Tex fabric, as they insulate from heat)
- Raincoat or K-way
The truth is that it is difficult to plan what clothes to put in the suitcase until a few days or even a day before the trip, since the weather in London is quite unpredictable. Typically, a summer day in London begins with a cold morning, some cool for the rest of the day and cool again in the evening. The rains are usually intermittent.
On some occasions, heat waves in the British capital, although it is an unusual phenomenon. Thus, in 2003 the temperatures during the summer reached values higher than 37,9 ° C in the Heathrow Airport. Two years later, in 2015, there was another wave, although this time the maximum reached was 36 ° C.
Tourism in summer
There are plenty of options for those who want to visit London in the summer. From English courses for young people and adults, to stays like At par caring for children. Thus, it is possible to spend holidays in London while studying or, on the contrary, to enjoy the charms of the city simply as a tourist.
Many young people take an English course in the British capital at the same time that they take the opportunity to discover its tourist attractions. There are various scholarships for children, adolescents and adults for this, and even summer camps. Another option is to travel as At par, in which case you will be temporarily taken in by a family in exchange for auxiliary work at home, usually taking care of the children.
The main condition to work as At par in London is being a girl. Although it is not prohibited for men, the truth is that it is complicated and unusual. Families usually look for young girls who are between 17 and 30 years old, which is the legal age range to establish this type of contract. The salary of a At par It is usually around £ 50-100 a week.
On the other hand, there are numerous companies that offer English courses for a month or more in London that include accommodation, which can be either with a native family or in a student residence. You can also find numerous volunteer opportunities, state-subsidized courses and scholarships designed to promote the learning of this language.
If, on the other hand, your idea is travel as a family, London offers countless possibilities. In summer, London has more hours of sunshine after a day, about 13 hours in total. Therefore, it is easier to organize activities with the little ones while enjoying the daylight. Options such as the Science Museum or Southbank Center, as well as the Notting Hill Carnival, are the most recommended.
Concerts, festivals and other events
Summer is considered to be the period of time from June to August. This time of year is perhaps the busiest with events for all types of audiences, so thousands of tourists travel to the UK capital to attend concerts, festivals and other special events.
June
Thus, in June we find the Wimbledon tennis championship, one of the main events in the world for tennis lovers. So much so, that tickets tend to sell out in advance, although a limited number of tickets go on sale every day.
On the other hand, the famous ceremony also takes place Trooping the Colour, in which the official birthday of the Queen isabel II. It is a massive parade throughout the city. Many are those who say that the best area of the city to enjoy it is the street The Mall.
If you are a lover of good gastronomy, we recommend you stop by the festival Taste of London from Regent's Park, where some of the top chefs from the city's best restaurants congregate and offer exquisite food tastings. Prices are around £ 5-52,00 per ticket.
Polo fans can enjoy the event Polo in the park, which lasts a whole weekend. In it, food and champagne are distributed to all attendees, and it is also possible to access the purchase of luxury products.
Finally, the Greenwich + Docklands International Festival brings together artists from around the world and best of all is that admission is free for all attendees. In it you will find the best theater, dance and other performances. It takes place in various public spaces, such as the National Maritime Museum Greenwich, Canary Wharf or Well Hall Pleasance.
July
In general, July is the hottest month of the London summer, so it is not surprising that it is the time that offers the most options for the tourist. Just by taking a walk through the royal parks, that is, through Hyde Park or Regent's Park, or exploring the Kew Gardens botanical garden, you will already be able to realize how pleasant London can be during this month.
A very good option, especially for those traveling with children, is to visit the London Zoo ZSL, where the little ones will enjoy the good weather while they meet the penguins, gorillas, giraffes and other animals that are there. They can also see all kinds of birds at the WWT Center for Wetland Conservation in London.
Good weather also invites you to enjoy the city on the water. We refer to taking a tourist walk along the River Thames. There are numerous companies that offer boat trips through it, whose route passes through the most emblematic points of the city: Big Ben, the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge, among others.
One of the biggest events of the month is the BBC Proms, currently recognized as the largest classical music event in the world. Held in the Royal Albert Hall, concerts and recitals are performed daily. The duration is eight weeks.
Also, the famous Gay Pride Festival o pride london It also takes place in July, as it happens in several of the main European capitals, such as Madrid. It is a massive party where the LGBT community parades in large floats along the main streets of the city.
If you like to enjoy nature in its maximum splendor, we recommend you go to the floral exhibition of Hampton Court Palace, which today constitutes the largest exhibition of these characteristics in the world and attracts thousands of lovers of wine year after year. world of gardening.
August
August is the second hottest month in London, so a good number of outdoor activities are also possible. Since August is the month of the year when children have school holidays, the city offers numerous events aimed at the fun of the little ones.
Thus, one of the most recommended events at this time is the Notting Hill Carnival, the biggest street party in Europe. The main streets and squares of West London are filled with people dressed in motifs that are largely reminiscent of the culture of West India. More than a million people attend this event annually.
In London it is also possible to enjoy summer cinema. It is known as Film4 and takes place in Somerset House, a cultural center located on the north bank of the Thames where there are numerous art collections. Current premieres and blockbusters are screened, as well as classic films.
It is also an excellent occasion to enjoy the Buckingham Palace, since in summer the Queen spends her vacations abroad. Therefore, tourists who so wish can enter and enjoy the 19 majestic rooms of the palace in which the Queen carries out the main tasks of the State throughout the year.
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