I love living in London — but it sucks in the summer

For most of the year, I love living in London.

The hustle and bustle of the city is electric, there’s something new to do or see every weekend and as a food writer, I’m never far from delicious treats.

But there are a few weeks out of the 52 when I’d rather be just about anywhere else but here.

Most Londonders will tell you that summer in the city is magical — they’ll wax lyrical about drinking rosé at rooftop bars, eating M&S picky bits in the park, lido swims and outdoor cinemas.

Don’t get me wrong, my seasonal depression is instantly cured when those first few rays of sun peek through the clouds around springtime. I’m invigorated — if feels as though the city comes alive against a bright blue sky backdrop. 

But as July creeps into August and the word ‘heatwave’ starts being thrown around the office, a sense of dread settles over me.

That’s because, if we’re being totally honest, a scorching hot summer’s day in London is vile. Here’s why…

We can’t handle the heat

According to the Mayor of London’s website, the capital is ‘vulnerable’ to extreme heat and ‘overheating is a challenge’.

There are plenty of dark roads, concrete and buildings that absorb and retain the heat, making it so much hotter than surrounding areas.

As such, the 10-minute walk down the road to my nearest Tube station, which is usually a peaceful stroll, leaves me feeling like I’ve just trekked across the Sahara. I’m sweaty and sticky by the time I get on the train and spend the rest of the day feeling gross.

On Reddit numerous people have voiced similar hatred for the London heat, claiming it leaves them ‘miserable’, it’s ‘hell’ and feels ‘torturous’.

u/tsf97, for instance, posted: ‘Every time I see 30+ on the forecast I just dread it. Anything from low teens with no wind to 24-25 with a nice breeze is ideal for me. High 20s is where I start feeling uncomfortable. Anything in the 30s is just miserable, you feel lethargic just walking outside, drenched in sweat because of the humidity, public transport is unbearable.’

And u/@RenePro wrote: ‘Always dreaded the summer as there’s always at least one week of unbearable heat. Even 25+ is too much for the Tubes without air con.’

Housing woes

There are more people renting than ever before in London, with many unable to afford to buy. As such, most of us are stuck in flats without a balcony, garden or roof terrace and it sucks.

Sure, we’re lucky that London has so many incredible green spaces to offer, but there are times when we’d much rather kick back and enjoy the privacy and comfort of our own little oasis, instead of having to traipse to the nearest park where we’ll be surrounded by strangers.

And of course, our homes don’t have air con. As the temperature climbs outside, so does the thermostat inside, leaving us feeling like we’re trapped in a sauna. Trying to sleep at night in these conditions is almost impossible and we’ll find ourselves desperately testing every hack to cool off we can find. At this point, I’ve tried just about everything – from cool showers before bed to putting bedding in the freezer and putting a bowl of ice water in front of a fan for DIY air con.

One Londoner finds it so ‘unbearable’ to be at her home in the summer that she books a holiday to get away from the ‘stuffy’ weather.

Helen Clarke, a PR consultant, told Metro: ‘Personally, I find summer in London stuffy! I live in a south-facing flat that gets all the afternoon and evening sun and it can become unbearable.

‘I tend to go abroad for a few weeks to take a break from the London heat. I’d much rather be relaxing somewhere in the Med, with a sea breeze and an Aperol in hand!’

Can’t say we blame her to be honest.

Park life

In summer, our parks got completely taken over by just about everyone and their mum.

Any and every patch of grass in the city becomes a hot commodity, so much so that it ends up feeling like you’re in the midst of the crowd at a rather rubbish festival. There will likely be some guy blasting terrible music for all to hear, empty beer cans all over the ground, and half naked people as far as the eye can see.

It doesn’t exactly make for the Pinterest-worthy picnic you’d been picturing…

And just wait until you’re several tinnies in and need a wee — there won’t be a public toilet in sight.

Central Line or Satan’s Line?

Undoubtedly, the worst part of summer in the city is having to use the underground, with the majority of lines having no air con.

And the one you’ll want to avoid at all costs? It is, of course, the Central Line, which Londoners know is horrendously hot at the best of times, but becomes hotter than hell in summer.

‘The Central Line being hotter than Satan’s home sauna is my current main complaint about summer in London,’ says Metro’s Ross McCafferty, deputy opinions editor.

When you’re tired and sweaty, the last thing you want is to be packed in to a Tube carriage like a sardine, your face uncomfortably close to a stranger’s armpit (or any body part for that matter), the air stifling and filled with the smell of BO.

Too many times I’ve been left feeling like I’m going to either throw up or pass out (perhaps both) while taking the Tube in the heat and my handheld fan certainly hasn’t saved me.

Alternative public transport options aren’t much better, as Olivia Woosey, Metro’s deputy head of SEO, points out.

‘London comes alive in summer but getting around the city is horrendous – the buses are roasting, the tube is roasting. It’s a real negative.’

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