Who else thinks London is amazing in the summer?

[FallingInPadThai]

Went out for coffee in soho and met some really cool and interesting people doing a stranger meetup thing.

Walked around the area for a bit. Went to my old uni to relax and charge my phone in the library.

Then headed back out to meet my friends for some fabulous Mexican food. Such a great day. I love it when the weather is like this.

Alfies antiques market Edgware Road and just a short walk from Little Venice and Regent’s Park. Alfies has a nice rooftop cafe too.

Oh gosh yes - just walking around the streets in a nice area with a park nearby is unmatched in my experience. I think it’s a mixture of the historic grandeur and the huge number of trees. I can’t think of another major city that has that - magical.

Early bluebells in West London today.

@HelenaWilson I usually can't stand poetry but I've read that three times now and it's wonderful: just noticed it's by Alfred Noyes who wrote The Highwayman which is the only other poem I like. (I am not very cultured.) Thank you!

In past summers friends and I have done 2 hour walks in central and purposely walked through the lovely royal parks.

She said she’s in London Monday to Friday

Yesterday was absolutely stunning in London. I met a friend and we just walked. I love that you can still find places you’ve never been before even after living here for 35 years

The thing that I love about London is that there is a lot of nature for a big city, even where I work in square mile, there are little church yards and trees. It's actually easy to get around because our public transport system is easy to navigate. There has also been investment in things like playgrounds, I live in Islington which is classified as inner London and can think of at least 4 local playgrounds - all with good equipment. There are lime bikes everywhere if you fancy a cycle. Great fresh food available. Spring sunshine and blossom abounds. Life is beautiful

Love London. The buzz, especially in springtime / summer. Lived there & in Paris, a long time ago… For me it’s the people-watching. The style. I live in a capital city now, and it’s great… We’re known for creativity, art, music, literature. Craic! But stylish, we are not.

I used to live in London. Imo summer is the worst time because of tourists, over crowding, the heat, esp. on the tube, battling to get onto the tube to get to work because of the tourists....
Autumn is the best I think 😊

I was in London for work on Thursday and the weather was glorious. Alright not 30 degrees but it felt very warm, coat off weather

I used to love it when I lived there in the 90s, and DS loves it now, but it seems so frenetic now, and everywhere is so crowded you can't seem to go anywhere without booking first. You can't do anything spontaneously.

Perfectly happy to admit this is just because I'm old now.

im not from London, but the weather there is so much nicer than it is up north in the spring and summer time.

Portobello Road Market is a great place to visit

Portobello Road Market

it seems so frenetic now, and everywhere is so crowded you can't seem to go anywhere without booking first. You can't do anything spontaneously.

You need to get off the tourist track. Like pp said, the little churchyards - and churches - in the City. Or exploring the streets off Fleet Street. Or walking along the river from the Tower to Canary Wharf. Or lesser known places such as the Guildhall Art Gallery.

The best thing about the summer in London is that it’s empty. Love London in August

When I lived there in my 20s, yes it was amazing! I wouldn't like it now though. Too busy, shit air quality. Summer where I live now is lovely!

Sorry but I avoid it in July and August - it’s far too hot and far too expensive

This has reminded me why I moved out of London to the country!!

The pollution would make my allergies terrible, everyone packed into s**t beer gardens on the edge of a busy road or sat in parks with dry scrubby grass and 100000 other people Commuting was a misery and night-time even worse as too noisy to open my window, getting woken up by sirens at 2am. A church yard can be pretty but not nature in any meaningful sense.

Now we swim in the river and walk in the cool woods and sit in our garden that's full of fresh air. I peg out my washing that smells of the moors.

Totally each to their own though!! I like to go for the day but could cry with relief at KX.

@DreamingOfGeneHunt I usually can't stand poetry but I've read that three times now and it's wonderful: just noticed it's by Alfred Noyes who wrote The Highwayman which is the only other poem I like.

I think The Highwayman is the only one of Noyes' poems that most people have ever heard of.

The Barrel Organ was written in 1913. These lines would take on a meaning he never anticipated:

And a thousand hearts are plunging to a love they’ll never meet,
Through the meadows of the sunset, through the poppies and the wheat,
In the land where the dead dreams go.

@HelenaWilson i'm wondering when was the last time you went? You're going to say last week, aren't you? 😂

I loved little churches in the City. They seem to have become Instagram opportunities for people now though so pretty busy outside at least. I took my friend to see Saint Dunstan's place last summer and there was a coach load there doing their photo opportunity.

@Duvetstay i'm also surprised by people talking about how much green space there is! There isn't. And I didn't know that about the UN definition - that's quite strange!

i'm genuinely pleased that people still love it so much though. I still sometimes have to go in for work and for seeing one friend but I groan every time I have to do it.

As much as I love the winter - me and dd had the loveliest day in Central yesterday 😍

I am just back from a weekend in London at a family wedding. It was fun but it's all too busy and loud for me. I'm glad to be back in my cool, quiet, peaceful home on the east coast of Scotland.

One doesn't do it one's self ( too many oiks and the likes! ) but I sometimes overhear my servants talking of it, and it seems they rather like the clubs and bars of Soho, and Fruit Stands (whatever they are, something like Covent Garden Market, one supposes).