Neighbours sitting outside my window.

Ha ha ha KingJoffreys, that really made me laugh. Please do this OP!

This is why most flats, at least in London, are not built with balconies. Unlike in Europe, the mainland. It's all nimby in U.K. If your neighbours are annoying, speak to them.

I think you should first of all introduce yourself and then politely mention it's your bedroom behind your seating and you would like to open yr window as it's summertime and have a little privacy, and wonder if they might move their seating a little further away. Explain first of all that you are aware this is their courtyard. If negative response, we mns will be happy to assist further !!

If you know anyone with a dog, make a recording of it barking. The bigger the dog, the better.
Next time they sit out there, play it very loud on a loop until they move.
Rinse and repeat.
Nothing is more annoying than a dog continually barking.

Crayon on your window in backwards writing 'I'M WITH STUPID' with an arrow pointing down to where one of their heads are.

I love the stink bomb/whoopie cushion idea followed by note apologising for issues.

These sorts of threads are why I fucking love MN

Open your window wide. Sit on your window sill pretending to be a cat. Lick your paws (hands), rub your paws over your ears, meow. Do this slowly while making sinister eye contact with them. Then scarper into your flat as soon as one of them moves.

Return a couple of minutes later pretending to be a normal human and ask if they've seen your cat anywhere.

Could you put a seat on your side of the open window and have a fake phone call in a very droney voice interspersed with shrieking laughter followed by loud snorts. Then cheering and whooping. Then the phone call upsets you, so loud wailing etc etc.

Every time they sit there just pop your head out of the window and join in their conversation in an overly-friendly manner.
They'll move.

I would intrude on their "privacy" in some way ( plenty of suggestions above) . If they value it at all they will move away. Is there anyway you can rig up a light that will shine in their eyes -- reflected off a mirror or something, that makes that area unpleasant to sit in.

We have a similar problem with neighbours who sit smoking outside their flat, opposite our hallway & kitchen, every day. They sometimes put table and chairs out there too. They have another garden area which is secluded that they could use, but choose to sit and start into our house - I often catch their eye as I'm walking about and see her staring straight at me. I let the dog eyeball them. I know it's their right to use their property as they please, but there is such a thing as consideration and they don't show any. You have my sympathy, OP. If you can't talk to them (as we can't to ours - long story) I can only suggest making them feel uncomfortable about it if you can.

I find Andrew Lloyd Webber useful in these situations...or you could politely ask for them to move slightly as you were planning a lie down and the smoke is coming through your window.

Play Trump's speeches loudly on a loop :-)

Omg, puppet show is totally the way forward! 😂

Bit of an odd suggestion for here but... Why not open the window and ask them if they would mind moving their table and chairs because it's taking your privacy away? Or is that too easy?

Open the window a crack. Mutter (loudly) "Oops, pardon me" while squeezing a whoopee cushion and letting off a stink bomb. Drop them a note apologising for your "issues" and repeat until they move.

You need to style your window into a puppet theater, big red drape curtains, and Punch and Judy.

Put some Des O'Connor music on and open the window.

Go out & pitch up a stool/ladder & start cleaning your window with water & vinegar. Go heavy on the vinegar. Chat constantly to them & do it everytime they sit there. You could always drop into the convo that maybe it would be best they move their table as you really like sparkly Windows. This would bug the life out of me too.

I don't think you have any grounds for moaning about it until you've asked them - in a very polite and friendly tone - whether they could move their table as it's currently right under your bedroom window and you hear every word when they're chatting.

Yes of course they can sit where they like in their garden but, honestly, who would choose to sit right outside their neighbour's window?

So many people don't seem to have any idea of personal space or just common courtesy.

I would probably speak to them in a friendly way about it. I would hate it if it were me. Also I hope they are not likely to be sitting outside until late on nice evenings

Pop your head out and ask if they know about Jesus Christ, their (potential) Lord and Saviour?

^^ This made me laugh out loud.Do this OP. Please do and report back okay? :)

I'd open the window and sit right up against it and listen to them. Once they realise that they aren't having any sort of private conversation, they should move along. Or as others have said, try to join in. That'll move them along nicely.

And on a more longterm note, go to Ikea and buy some long gauze like curtains.

We had a similar situation. Lived in a ground floor flat and the tiny garden was shared, despite only our flat having direct access onto it. We used to get neighbours from upstairs smoking and having bbqs literally outside our french doors. Nothing we could do as it was a "shared" garden.

One set of neighbours really took the piss by having a garden party with salsa dancing and blaring music....5 feet away from bedroom window. I opened our doors right up and stood there watching them dance...felt like a weirdo...but they packed up pretty quick.

Ultimately we moved in the end...sorry op.