Take a picnic on Hampstead Heath (above)
Hampstead Heath is probably London’s most famous park – and its best kept secret off of the tourist beaten path. It consists of acres and acres of sunny grassy fields, ponds and sporadic woodlands. In the summer everyone gathers there to soak in the rays with fantastic views of the city stretching down below.
A family day out at Kempton Park racecourse
For horse racing London style, you need to go slightly south of the city. This racing venue accessible by public transport and motorway is working hard to expand its appeal outside the typical racetrack punter. As well as hosting some of the UK’s most important steeplechase events, the venue also puts on themed race days and family events where there is so much more to enjoy than ‘just’ racing. Recent attractions have included funfairs and live music acts from top UK pop artists.
Splash about at London Fields lido
This locally famous destination is a 50m long pool that’s packed out in the summer time as residents, students and workers pass by for a dip and a workout. It’s situated in the town of Hackney, which is in the Northeast of the city – just a short bus ride from Liverpool Street Station. If you want authentic London, then you can’t go wrong with a summertime visit here. During the days of July and August is when you will see the lido at its busiest.
One of the best ways to see the city is on foot, so you might want to consider skipping the underground altogether and forgoing the sightseeing buses to find specialised walks through the city that will lead you to interesting landmarks that aren’t in the guidebooks. We hope you enjoy discovering London’s outdoor spaces this summer.
