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Original poster

Would you still go to London in the heat this Saturday?

103 replies

Royanne · 06/09/2023 22:48

We live a few hours from London in a not very exciting place. A couple of times a year DH goes to London to do a volunteering thing, and DD12 and I usually take the opportunity to go with him, and spend the day doing our own thing. Always really look forward to it.

We're supposed to be there on Saturday but now it's forecast to be 33 and I'm wondering whether it will be too hot traipsing around, getting the tube etc. Our plan was to do some shopping in the morning and the V&A in the afternoon.

Would you still go?

OP posts:
coxesorangepippin · 07/09/2023 02:13

God I'd avoid it, I really would

lobeydosser · 07/09/2023 03:09

If you're looking forward to it then I wouldn't bail because of the forecast. Why not see if you can hire a bike from St Johns Wood then cycle through Regents Park? If you're not happy on the main roads (but there are dedicated cycle lanes) go down the back streets. Leave the bikes at a docking station somewhere on Oxford Street. Do your shopping, have your lunch and meander down to Hyde Park. Cycle through there to get to the V and A.
Mind you you've got to do it all in reverse to get back to St Johns Wood!

Chrispackhamspoodle · 07/09/2023 03:41

I'm going.Have to get ballet shoes.Quite looking forward to a sunny day in London.But will go in early and tube /bus it to covent garden.From there will walk everywhere.Probably end up under a tree in St James Park.

FormerlySpeckledyHen · 07/09/2023 04:16

Black cab or Uber?

hexsnidgett · 07/09/2023 04:57

The thing is it's all very well saying walk/cycle/get the bus, but doing any of that means more risk of taking a wrong turn and spending much longer getting to where you want to be.
The tube is brilliant for eliminating all that and beating the traffic!
To your original question, it would depend if I could easily come again in a few weeks. If you can I would put it off.

AuntieMarys · 07/09/2023 05:42

I hate the heat passionately but am travelling 3 hours to London (and back) on Saturday for ds's birthday.

I just hope the train tracks don't buckle!!!

Magnoliainbloom · 07/09/2023 06:16

I did 11k steps yesterday. It was fine (but I have a high tolerance to heat). Plenty of places with air on if you need to cool down. Avoid buses. Certain Tube lines are better than others in hot weather eg Jubillee is good. Bakerloo awful. V&A is the perfect place to be. The garden is beautiful.

DanglingMod · 07/09/2023 06:21

We always just get black cabs for longer distances if it's v hot. They have air con.

LollipopViolet · 07/09/2023 06:31

I was there in June on a warm day (25ish degrees) and it was lovely! The Tube was warm but only towards the end of the journey (Camden to Euston) did I start feeling uncomfortably warm.

I’d go - I’m actually quite jealous as I’ve grown to love London over a few visits from the Midlands this year and your day sounds fab!

muddyford · 07/09/2023 06:37

Yes, I would, but would plan to do something on the river before the museum. I went to see the Thames barrage just after it opened, and seeing London from a boat is incredible.

Boshi · 07/09/2023 06:45

No reason to avoid unless you are elderly or unwell.. you’ll just be hot on the tube journey.

You can use the circle line for baker st to south Ken so it should be fine for air con, it’s also a short journey. The V&A is lovely and spacious and will be air con, perfect place to spend the day - have fun!

Alighttouchonthetiller · 07/09/2023 06:47

Use the Tube to get to where you need to be quickly, and just expect to get hot and sweaty for a few minutes. Take water with you. Enjoy places with aircon wherever you can have a lovely time.

Fairyduck · 07/09/2023 06:47

I would go, but I would also go more!

A few hours is nothing and I wouldn't be tieing myself to my dh needing to go! If it's too hot and you don't do much just plan another day trip soon.

BatshitCrazyWoman · 07/09/2023 06:49

DelphiniumBlue · 06/09/2023 23:52

Not a chance! I live in London, you couldn’t pay me to go public transport in this weather, it will be 40+ on the tube and the buses will be only slightly better. Too hot to walk around, I’d be staying at home.

Same! My house (right on the edges of London) is cooler, I'm so happy to be working from home today! Yesterday was fucking VILE on all the public transport (none air-conditioned).

RocketIceLollie · 07/09/2023 07:02

You'll be fine. We were in New York a few weeks back and one day it hit mid 30s. It will knacker you out by the end of the day with all the walking but as long as you wear sunscreen, a hat and take bottles of water in your bag you'll be fine. Retreat to St James Park to chill out in the shade if you have to for a bit.

TropicalTrama · 07/09/2023 07:17

Get Lime bikes - they’re electric so you don’t have to put much effort into cycling and you don’t need to worry about docking stations since you leave them wherever. Use the Uber app to find/pay for them. Failing that Uber or black cab. I wouldn’t cancel the day out but I’d avoid the really hot tube lines and the buses like the plague - especially the buses even though they’re on paper less hot they feel 1000 times more stifling as there’s no air flow.

deplorabelle · 07/09/2023 07:18

Carry water and also an umbrella to provide shade if you end up stuck somewhere without shade

bluejumping · 07/09/2023 07:19

You will be commuting outside rush hour so it will be fine

And your journeys are not long

LlynTegid · 07/09/2023 07:35

Use the Met and the Circle line as much as possible (larger trains) which other than between St Johns Wood and Baker Street covers most things. I think the 189 bus goes from St John's Wood to somewhere near Regent Street.

Original poster
Royanne · 07/09/2023 07:48

Thanks all. We won't be cycling as DD isn't confident on a bike unfortunately. Would rather avoid the cost of taxis too and stick to public transport.

OP posts:
tintinandhisdogsnowy · 07/09/2023 07:56

I went to London on Saturday. It was hot but perfectly manageable. The only problem with the tube was the cancellations

ssd · 07/09/2023 08:28

Lots of good suggestions here op. Just take it easy, plenty water and ice cream stops and have a lovely day.

olderthanyouthink · 07/09/2023 08:38

We went in to the V&A this week and it was fine on the train and district line for a couple stops (had air con) but the bus I took last weekend was horrible. Pick your tube lines carefully.

There's water bottle refill taps all over but they can be tricky to find.

MarilynBoo · 07/09/2023 08:51

If you do decide to take buses, Citymapper is an excellent app to see bus stops and routes.

JanesBlond · 07/09/2023 08:56

I’m in London. It’s bloody hot. This weekend I will be lying next to the fan. But my air conditioned office is nicer than home, so if you will mostly be going to air conditioned places and using the Lizzie/district/circle/h&c line (which are air conditioned) then it would be ok. No chance I would get the bus or central line this week if I could avoid it. Personally I think it’s too hot for much cycling or walking around outside as well.