Six Ways to Experience Summer in London

London – a year-round playground for newcomers and natives alike – truly comes alive in summer. With sprawling green spaces, buzzing food markets, sporting and arts events to discover, the culturally curious will delight in our capital’s restless spirit. Here’s how to make the most of your 2025 summer in the city.

Game, Set, Summer
Everyone’s favourite moment on the tennis calendar, The Championships are a magnet for royals, celebrities, and sports enthusiasts from all walks of life. Aside from the thrilling athletic action on the courts, Pimm’s and strawberries are a key part of the experience. If you need tips on what to wear to Wimbledon, pale yellow is this year’s chicest courtside hue.

Feast Your Senses
Foodies are spoilt for choice with London’s food markets, some of which date back centuries. The historic Borough Market has over one hundred stalls showcasing British food and wine, whereas the independent food stalls and bars at Soho’s Seven Dials Market are a must-visit for anyone wishing to explore the city’s renowned global gourmet scene.

Summer Wellness Reset
Tucked discreetly beneath the vibrant pulse of Piccadilly Circus, Hotel Café Royal’s Akasha spa offers a range of treatments and rituals designed to rejuvenate mind, body and soul in tune with the season. Experience a deep feeling of wellbeing with an Awaken The Senses Candle Ritual or emerge silky and radiant from the SUNDÃRI Firming Body Polish.

Unwind Al Fresco
Capture the last rays of city sunshine with a signature cocktail or chilled rosé in hand on Green Bar’s picturesque terrace, just off Regent Street. Watch the world go by at golden hour with good company and good food, choosing from a varied selection of sophisticated small plates and sandwiches. The lobster roll simply says ‘summer’.

Catch an Outdoor Performance
Malorie Blackman’s thought-provoking Noughts & Crosses makes its London stage debut at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre at the end of June, while families can enjoy a witty musical adaptation of beloved children’s book The Enormous Crocodile, showing from late August. Kew Gardens provides a botanical summer setting for Macbeth and Alice in Wonderland.

Your Summer Soundtrack
Few moments in life equal the feeling of dancing under the stars at an outdoor concert. Alexandra Palace is an inspiring backdrop for a music-filled summer, with artists such as Leon Bridges and Kaiser Chiefs playing before views of London’s skyline. Meanwhile, BST Hyde Park hosts a curated lineup of global icons from Sabrina Carpenter to Stevie Wonder.

Experience the best of a London summer with a quintessentially British stay at Hotel Café Royal.