For most of the year, I love living in London. The hustle and bustle of the city is electric, there’s always something new to do or see, and as a food writer, I’m never far from delicious treats. But there are a few weeks out of the year when I’d rather be anywhere else. Most Londoners will tell you that summer in the city is magical — they’ll wax lyrical about rooftop rosé, park picnics, lido swims, and outdoor cinemas. However, as April showers end and the word ‘heatwave’ starts being thrown around, a sense of dread settles over me. A scorching hot summer’s day in London is vile.
We Can’t Handle the Heat
According to the Mayor of London’s website, the capital is ‘vulnerable’ to extreme heat, and ‘overheating is a challenge’. Dark roads, concrete, and buildings absorb and retain heat, making it much hotter than surrounding areas. A 10-minute walk to the nearest Tube station feels like trekking across the Sahara. By the time I get on the train, I’m sweaty and sticky, and I spend the rest of the day feeling gross. On Reddit, numerous people have voiced similar hatred for the London heat, calling it ‘miserable’, ‘hell’, and ‘torturous’. One user posted: ‘Every time I see 30°+ on the forecast I just dread it. High 20s is where I start feeling uncomfortable. Anything in the 30s is just miserable, you feel lethargic just walking outside, drenched in sweat because of the humidity, public transport is unbearable.’ Another wrote: ‘Always dreaded the summer as there’s always at least one week of unbearable heat. Even 25°+ is too much for the Tubes without air con.’
Housing Woes
More people are renting in London than ever before, with many unable to afford to buy. Most of us are stuck in flats without a balcony, garden, or roof terrace. Our homes don’t have air conditioning, so as the temperature climbs outside, the thermostat inside becomes unbearable, like a sauna. Trying to sleep at night is almost impossible, leading to desperate hacks like cool showers, freezing bedding, or placing a bowl of ice water in front of a fan. One Londoner, Helen Clarke, a PR consultant, finds it so ‘unbearable’ at home in summer that she books a holiday to escape. She told Metro: ‘Personally, I find summer in London stuffy! I live in a south-facing flat that gets all the afternoon and evening sun and it can become unbearable. I tend to go abroad for a few weeks to take a break from the London heat.’
Park Life
In summer, parks are completely taken over. Every patch of grass becomes a hot commodity, making it feel like you’re in the midst of a rubbish festival. There’s someone blasting terrible music, empty beer cans everywhere, and half-naked people as far as the eye can see. It’s not the Pinterest-worthy picnic you imagined. And when you need a wee, there’s no public toilet in sight.
Central Line or Satan’s Line?
The worst part of summer in London is using the Underground, with most lines lacking air conditioning. The Central Line is particularly notorious, becoming hotter than hell in summer. Metro’s deputy opinions editor, Ross McCafferty, says: ‘The Central Line being hotter than Satan’s home sauna is my current main complaint about summer in London.’ When you’re tired and sweaty, being packed into a Tube carriage like a sardine, face uncomfortably close to a stranger’s armpit, with stifling air filled with BO, is unbearable. I’ve often felt like I’m going to throw up or pass out. Alternative transport isn’t much better; buses are roasting too. Olivia Woosey, Metro’s deputy head of SEO, notes: ‘London comes alive in summer but getting around the city is horrendous – the buses are roasting, the tube is roasting. It’s a real negative.’
It’s Not All Doom and Gloom
Despite the downsides, many Londoners love summer. Mel Evans, partnerships and projects editor, says: ‘London in summer is better vibes than Sydney in summer and I stand by it.’ Junior publisher Sarah Bradbury adds: ‘I love it. I feel like it comes alive. People are happier, pubs are buzzing after work, people actually want to hang out. The smell of Aperol and sun cream is the surrounding scent – that and some BO. The Circle and District line is my hack. The AC is the only thing that keeps me going on the commute. Also the parks are full of people having picnics, the return of picky bit dinner and tinnies.’ Liv Woosey agrees: ‘When I lived in London it always felt like a “summer city”. It has so many parks with a fun vibe, everyone stands outside pubs after work, there are tons of events, many free.’ Video producer Jed Bradley praises London’s ‘spectacular range of green spaces and commons’.
