Summer in London: what do YOU like about it?

[expatkat]

After a soul-searching few months in NYC, I've decided to return to London & send my kids to school in London & give things with dh another try. I'm trying to psyche myself up for my return by remembering the great things about summer in London: amazing tomatoes at the farmers markets with which I make gaspacho all summer long; the relative mildness of the weather. . .

What do you other London mumsnetters like about London in the summer?

Also the feeling of London as a place with a history. It's an old, old city and it's nice to be able to walk about it and enjoy it with the sun on your skin.

soapbox and beachyhead - I'm on that route on Wed, Thur and Fri!!! We're practically neighbours! ha ha

Bhead - the Moorfields bus goes through Moorgate so it is the same bus - and KBear too, I'll have to look out for you both

I have been meaning to brave a City meet up for a while now but my diary always gets in the way.

At teh moment I'm supposed to be on a course on teh 22nd but that may well change!

Personally my favourite season is Autumn and I love it when its cold but sunny. I rather dislike the summer and heat of any sort (miserable cow!). Summer in London is OK if its not too hot and you don't have to work or use the tube in the rush hour! I like how everyone goes bananas as soon as the sun is out and the vile array of shorts, loud shirts and funky sandals! We've also got much more of a cafe society now so it is relaxed and fun to eat out or have a drink somewhere.
We like to go to Lords for cricket, go to kenwood for concerts and go to Regents Park for Shakespeare.

I second or evern third the people spilling out on the the pavements outside the pubs, particularly in Soho, I also used to love the large purple mallow flowers that appear in summer from nooks and crannies everywhere, and the Big Parks in summer after work. Oh and the fountains in Somerset House, ds1 had a cracking time running through them last year.

i get the bus over london bridge too!

Another big fan of Ken's Bus Bonanza. I get the bus across London Bridge up to Moorgate when running late, especially on Thursdays when I do the nursery/school drop. Will look out for you both.
Hope to be at picnic on 22nd!

A busload of Mumsnetters then

I was born and bred in London and I used to love evenings out at pubs by the river.

But other than that I found it stifling and couldn't wait to get to the seaside. Now when it's hot I'm just really pleased that I live on the coast and can just nip down the beach for a dip whenever I like (well almost). To me there is nothing like diving into the sea on a hot day and just floating around.

i love london anytime of year

• swimming in the ponds at hampstead
• walking through any of the big parks
• dimsum for lunch in chinatown
• picnic in regents park & then the outdoor theatre
• shakespeare at the globe
• skateboarders by the southbank doing their thang
• the london marathon
• nottinghill carnival
• all the wonderful free museums/exhibitions
• walking to st.pauls & over the pedestrian bridge to the tate modern
• sitting by the river drinking anything cold
• ooooooooh i love it all and what i love most is that there's still so much we have to explore............

I get the bus from London Bridge to Shoreditch every day, so must see some of you at the bus stop. How weird.

Oh stop it! You're all making me homesick!
Deck chairs in St James's Park at lunchtime
Getting squiffy on the pavement outside the pub
BBQ smoke on the walk home from the station
Frascati and sausages for dinner
I agree, there is a sort of hum in the air.
Ah well, maybe in two years time.

Next mumsnet meetup on the bus then LOL! We need a symbol or a sign, like the Masons!!! And I don't mean the smear of Weetabix from the kiss of a small child before you leave for work dressed in your best whistle!

Oh, Marina, not a brain-frying heatwave!!! [expatkat makes mental note to check refundability of plane tix.]

Hoxtonchick, yes let's meet with the kids! But you'll be about to pop, no?

These lists are fab, everyone, thanks. . .

oh yeah, i keep forgetting (NOT)! baby will be here at the end of this month. when are you back?

hoxtonchick: already! can't believe it. I'm back probably when your baby is due, end of June. We'll meet up when you're ready to venture out with both hoxtonchickadees.

hmmm, it feels like forever to me! do e-mail me when you're back.

I left London but I love it and plan to go back a few times this summer to do things with dd that I did before she came along - watch the boats in hyde park, eat from sunday market on upper st, spitalfields, beers outside in highgate (juice for her!), hearing the echoes in tate modern, climbing the million stairs to my friend's flat overlooking the heath... ok so it's not all good and we do have the peak district up north but london's parks are some of the best anywhere.

What you should like is that you won't have the hellish chaos about to descend on Edinburgh with all this G8 nonsense!

have you got me confused with expatinscotland, twoifbysea?