At a Glance
Compared to this destination's peak season July and August are peak months — central London hotels sell out weeks ahead and tourist queues are at their longest. Book accommodation 3–4 months ahead and buy attraction tickets online to avoid disappointment.
London in Summer — Travel Guide
By Harry Nara · Last updated
London in Summer offers some of the best conditions of the year, ideal for festival goers & families. Expect temperatures of 13–23°C, around 8 days of rain, and very high crowds across the city. Daily budgets typically land around £120–200 for mid-range travellers. Book accommodation two to three months ahead — the most popular rooms sell out fast during peak visiting windows.
Contents16 sections
#At a Glance
London's summer, June to August, is a season of long light and big occasions.
In June the sun sets after 9pm, the parks are at their greenest, and the social season runs from Trooping the Colour to Royal Ascot, 15 to 19 June 2027.
Wimbledon follows from 28 June to 11 July, with Pride in London and the open-air concerts of Hyde Park in early July and the BBC Proms from mid-July.
August belongs to visitors and the school holidays, ending with Notting Hill Carnival on 29 and 30 August. The weather is warm rather than hot, around 23°C on a typical afternoon, but a heatwave or a wet week are both possible. It is London's busiest and most expensive season, so book the events and the hotels early.
#Weather in London in Summer
London in Summer averages 13–23°C (55–73°F) with around 8 days of rain, and crowds are very high.
| Month | Daytime high | Overnight low | Wet days | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | About 22°C / 72°F | About 12°C / 54°F | About 8 | 9:21pm at the solstice |
| July | About 24°C / 75°F | About 14°C / 57°F | About 8 | 8:51pm by the 31st |
| August | About 23°C / 73°F | About 14°C / 57°F | About 8 | 7:50pm by the 31st |
Figures are Met Office 1991–2020 averages for London.
What that actually means for your trip:
- Most days are mild and pleasant, in the low twenties, good for walking and sitting outside.
- Heatwaves come in some summers, with spells above 30°C; London's homes, older hotels and deep Tube lines are not built for them.
- Showers are part of the deal. A summer can be dry for weeks or wet for days, so plan an indoor option.
- The evenings are the glory of it, light until after 9pm in June and July.
Is summer a good time to visit London? Yes, for the long evenings, the parks and the great events of the season. It is also the most crowded and expensive time of year, especially at Wimbledon, in the school holidays and on Carnival weekend, so book early and keep an eye on the forecast.
#June to August in London
June. The King's official birthday is marked by Trooping the Colour on Horse Guards Parade, usually on a Saturday in mid-June, ending with a flypast over Buckingham Palace.
Royal Ascot runs from Tuesday 15 to Saturday 19 June 2027, an hour by train from Waterloo, with strict dress codes in every enclosure.
The longest day, Monday 21 June, brings sunset after 9:20pm.
July. Wimbledon runs from Monday 28 June to Sunday 11 July 2027; see our Wimbledon guide for the ballot and the queue.
Pride in London has marched on the first Saturday of July in recent years, and the open-air concerts in Hyde Park fill early July.
The BBC Proms begin at the Royal Albert Hall in mid-July, and the schools in England break up for the summer later in the month.
August. The school holidays fill the museums and family attractions, and many Londoners go away.
Notting Hill Carnival ends the summer on Sunday 29 and Monday 30 August 2027, the August bank holiday weekend; see our Notting Hill Carnival guide.
#What to Do in London in Summer
Solo Travellers
Queue for a standing place at a Prom for a few pounds, walk the South Bank from Westminster to Tower Bridge in the long evening light, and see the free national museums early in the day before the crowds.
Couples
Book a play at the Globe or the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, take a picnic to Hampstead Heath and the view from Parliament Hill, or a boat to Hampton Court Palace for its gardens.
Families
Swim at the Serpentine Lido or one of the city's outdoor pools, visit London Zoo in Regent's Park, and take the riverboat to Greenwich for the park and the Cutty Sark.
The Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens is busy on fine days.
Groups
Take over a pub garden for a long evening, book a table at a riverside pub in Richmond or Hammersmith, or spend a day at Carnival with the sound systems and the food stalls.
#Getting Around
Heathrow is linked to central London by the Elizabeth line, the Piccadilly line and the Heathrow Express; Gatwick, Stansted and Luton have their own trains.
Tap a contactless card, phone or Oyster card on the Tube, buses and trains; the Zones 1–2 daily cap was £8.90 at 2026 prices, and TfL revises fares each March.
In hot weather, the deep Tube lines are stuffy; the Elizabeth line, the Overground, the buses and the Thames Clippers riverboats are cooler.
The Santander Cycles docking bikes are the summer way to cross the parks.
#Budget & Costs
| Travel style | Per day | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | £90–130 | Hostel bed, market lunches, pub dinners, contactless travel |
| Mid-range | £200–300 | 3-star hotel, restaurant meals, one paid sight or show |
| Luxury | £550+ | Top hotels, fine dining, Wimbledon or Ascot hospitality |
Summer is London's peak season, with prices highest during Wimbledon, the school holidays and Carnival weekend.
Costs worth knowing:
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| National museums and galleries | Free |
| Watching Trooping the Colour and Carnival | Free |
| Proms standing places | A few pounds, on the day |
| Zones 1–2 daily cap | £8.90 at 2026 prices |
| Lido swim | A small fee, often booked online |
- Book Wimbledon through the ballot, or plan for the queue.
- Book Ascot and the Hyde Park concerts well ahead.
- Check the bill for a service charge before tipping.
#Food & Dining
Summer brings English strawberries, cherries, broad beans, peas and tomatoes, and strawberries and cream are a Wimbledon tradition.
Borough Market and Maltby Street are busy on summer weekends; go on a weekday morning. Pub gardens, rooftop terraces and the street-food markets of Southbank Centre and Mercato Metropolitano are where London eats outdoors. Book popular restaurants ahead, especially at weekends.
#Nightlife
Summer nights are spent outside until late: rooftop bars in Shoreditch, Peckham and the City, pub gardens across the city, and the terraces of the South Bank. Open-air cinemas run in parks and courtyards, and the West End plays all summer, with jazz until late at Ronnie Scott's in Soho.
#Shopping
The summer sales start in late June and run into July, with the biggest reductions on Oxford Street, at Selfridges and Liberty.
Portobello Road market on Saturdays, Spitalfields and Columbia Road on Sundays are good for browsing in the sun.
#Culture & Etiquette
- Ascot and Wimbledon have dress codes in their smarter areas; check before you go.
- At Carnival and the big events, keep valuables out of sight and follow the stewards.
- Keep right on escalators and let passengers off before you board.
- Tipping of about 12.5% is usual in restaurants, often added as a service charge.
#Essential Local Phrases
| What you want to say | What Londoners say |
|---|---|
| An outdoor pool | A lido |
| A pub's outdoor area | The beer garden |
| Light, persistent rain | Drizzle |
| Very hot weather | A heatwave |
| Fizzy lemonade with beer | A shandy |
| A summer fruit cup | Pimm's |
| The subway | The Tube |
| A public holiday | A bank holiday |
#Packing List
- Summer clothes, plus a warm layer for evenings by the river
- A packable rain jacket
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Swimwear for the lidos and ponds
- A smarter outfit for Ascot, Wimbledon or the theatre
- Comfortable walking shoes
- A contactless card or Oyster card
#Backup Plans (Rainy Days)
When a summer shower settles in, head for the free museums, the Natural History Museum, the V&A and Tate Modern, or a West End matinee.
The covered markets of Covent Garden and Leadenhall and the Barbican Conservatory are good for a wet afternoon.
If a heatwave hits: keep to the shade of the parks, swim at a lido, and spend the afternoon in a cooled cinema or museum.
If Wimbledon rain stops play: the covered Centre Court and No. 1 Court keep playing; otherwise, wait in the grounds, as play often resumes.
#Safety & Health
London is generally safe; keep your phone and bag secure in the crowds of the big events, the Tube and Oxford Street. Hot spells are the summer's health risk: keep a bottle of water with you, especially underground, rest in the shade at midday, and swim only at supervised lidos and ponds.
Emergency: 999, or 111 for urgent medical advice and 101 for non-emergency police.
#What's New for Summer 2027
- Royal Ascot runs from 15 to 19 June 2027
- Wimbledon runs from Monday 28 June to Sunday 11 July 2027
- Notting Hill Carnival is on Sunday 29 and Monday 30 August 2027
- The summer bank holiday is Monday 30 August 2027
- London fares: the Zones 1–2 daily cap was £8.90 at 2026 prices, and TfL revises fares each March
#About This Guide
By Harry Nara (founder of WhenToWander), updated October 2026 for summer 2027. Climate figures are Met Office 1991–2020 averages. Dates and prices verified against:
- Ascot Racecourse for the 2027 Royal Ascot dates
- The Championships, Wimbledon for the 2027 dates
- Notting Hill Carnival for the 2027 dates
- GOV.UK for the bank holidays
- Transport for London for fares
For each month in detail, see London in June, London in July and London in August.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is London worth visiting in summer despite the crowds?
Yes, for the long evenings, the parks and the season’s great events, from Wimbledon to the Proms and Carnival. Book hotels and event tickets early, see the big sights at opening time, and keep an indoor plan for the showers.
When is Wimbledon in 2027, and how do I get tickets?
Wimbledon runs from Monday 28 June to Sunday 11 July 2027. Most tickets go through the public ballot, which closes the autumn before; otherwise join the queue in Wimbledon Park, where tickets for the show courts and grounds passes are sold each day.
When is Notting Hill Carnival in 2027?
Sunday 29 and Monday 30 August 2027, the August bank holiday weekend: the Sunday is the family day and the Monday the adults’ day. It is free; stations nearby close or run exit-only, so walk in from Paddington or Bayswater.
What should I pack for London in summer?
Light clothes and a warm layer for evenings, a rain jacket or umbrella, comfortable shoes, sunscreen and swimwear for the lidos. Bring something smarter if you are going to Ascot, Wimbledon or the theatre.
What’s the weather like in London in Summer?
London in Summer typically sees temperatures of 13–23°C with around 8 days of rain across the period. Pack lightweight layers that suit both cooler mornings and warmer afternoons.
How much does it cost to visit London in Summer?
Budget-conscious travellers can expect daily costs of £120–200, covering accommodation, food, and local transport. Prices climb during peak weeks — book early to lock in the lower end of this range.