Avg high 22 °C / 72 °F; low 13 °C / 55 °F; brief rain bursts
What to eat in London in July: Seasonal delicacies
London in July means long days and lively streets. With over 16 hours of daylight and warm 22 °C afternoons, the city hums with summer spirit. Sport, music, and royal pageantry pack the calendar—think Wimbledon, Proms, and Changing of the Guard. Plan early starts and late finishes, and don’t forget to book timed-entry tickets before you fly. The Tube makes getting around easy: just tap in with a card or phone, and let the daily fare cap (£8.10) do the saving. Trains start early, with contactless gates opening 30 minutes before the first service.
Avg high 22 °C / 72 °F; low 13 °C / 55 °F; brief rain bursts
16 h; sunrise 4:55 am, sunset 9:05 pm
Pride Parade 5 Jul, Wimbledon finals 12–13 Jul, BBC Proms open 18 Jul
Peak of the year—families, festival-goers, tennis fans
Sun hat, compact umbrella, refillable bottle—many Tube cars lack A/C
Strawberries & cream, Pimm’s Cups, open-air barbecue stalls
Drift beneath illuminated bridges on a guided two-hour paddle from Battersea to Greenwich. July’s late sunsets mean golden light for half the journey and city lights for the rest. Waterproof gear supplied; bring a drybag for your phone.
Recommended experiences -
Hyde Park’s freshwater lido opens its lifeguarded section through September. Arrive before 11 am to claim lawn space, rent a deck chair, and cool off in 70 °F water. The café sells classic 99-Flake cones.
July’s mild evenings let you watch “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in a tree-framed amphitheater. Bring a light jacket; seats cool quickly after sunset. Order a pre-show picnic hamper when booking.
Recommended experiences -
Book the last hour of the day for London’s highest free garden. July skies often blush pink; linger at the bar with a gin-and-tonic while city lights flicker on.
Grab a Santander Cycle at Little Venice and pedal 4 mi of towpath past houseboats and herons. Dock at Hawley Lock, then browse global street food before noon queues form.
July showcases carnivorous pitcher plants and giant waterlilies in full bloom. Kids love the treetop walkway; adults appreciate jazz sets on late-opening Thursdays. Pre-purchase tickets to skip the entry booth.
A local artist decodes ever-changing murals, Banksy remnants, and hidden political slogans. July dryness keeps colors vivid, and tours finish at Boxpark’s open-air food court for craft beers.
Book mid-week seats for better prices, then stroll five minutes to Gerrard Street for post-show dim sum. July’s warm nights let you grab bubble tea and people-watch under neon arches.
Sunrise vinyasa with cathedral views Sessions start 6:30 am; the city skyline glows gold, and temperatures stay below 70 °F. Mats provided; showers are minimal, so arrive dressed.
📍Where: Madison Terrace, One New Change
London’s salty dawn ritual Slip on borrowed waders, follow licensed porters through 4:30 am auctions, then fry your own scallops in the on-site school by 7 am.
📍Where: Trafalgar Way, Canary Wharf
Balance where office towers rise Instructors tether boards together, so even beginners can hold poses. July water temps hover around 68 °F—refreshing if you tumble.
📍Where: Merchant Square, W2
Regency eccentricity after hours On the first Tuesday, only 200 tickets release; rooms glow with 19th-century lanterns revealing Hogarth prints and Egyptian sarcophagi.
📍Where: 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields
Gladiators under the Guildhall A headset overlays roaring crowds onto the excavated arena—cool refuge on hot afternoons. Tours cap at 20 people; book slots online.
📍Where: Guildhall Yard, City
🚆 ~45 min by train from Paddington
Watch the Changing of the Guard inside Windsor Castle, then punt the Thames or sip Pimm’s on Eton High Street terraces. July lawns glow emerald; last castle entry 4 pm.
🚆 ~60 min from Victoria
Pier rides, pebble-beach swims, and rainbow-painted lanes vibe perfectly with midsummer. Book advance tickets for the British Airways i360 tower—sunsets sell out first.
🚆 ~1 h from Paddington
Colleges open longer visiting hours in summer; rent a punt on the Cherwell, picnic under willow trees, and browse the covered market for strawberries.
🚆 ~45 min from London Bridge plus 1 mi walk
Anne Boleyn’s childhood home hosts weekend jousts in July. Rose garden peaks now, and the lake offers rowing boats—reserve online to skip small kiosk queue.
Flagship stores cut up to 50 % after Wimbledon; go mid-week mornings to try sizes without elbowing crowds.
July’s blue-sky mornings draw vintage hunters by 9 am. Scout silverware and quirky maps, then refresh with coconut water stalls.
Outdoor tables spill under bunting; July heat keeps browsers lingering over vinyl and military jackets after a river-boat arrival.
Skip South Kensington museums’ noon crush: arrive at 9:45am, use Exhibition Road entrance, and head straight to blockbuster halls before coaches unload.
Carry a contactless card; daily fare caps beat Travelcards and save queue time at ticket machines in 30 °C heat.
District Line cars lack A/C—ride in front carriage where cab ventilation leaks through, or grab an air-conditioned Elizabeth Line alternative between Paddington and Liverpool Street.
Hyde Park allows alcohol; pack a chilled supermarket picnic, but note park police confiscate glass after 9pm concerts.
Wimbledon Queue campers: bring groundsheet and umbrella—security opens 6am, and hot July sun scorches by 9am on exposed grass.
Most days top out at 22–25 °C, but heatwaves can spike above 30 °C. Plan indoor museum breaks midday and carry water on the Tube.
Yes. July is peak season; reserve the London Eye, palace tours, and Sky Garden weeks ahead to avoid sold-out time slots.
Night Tube operates Friday and Saturday on key lines; on other nights last trains leave central stations around 12:15 am. Check TfL Go app.
Core collections at the British Museum, National Gallery, and Tate Modern remain free; special exhibitions require paid tickets, which often extend evening hours in July.
Light layers, closed-toe shoes for cobblestones, and packable rain jacket—showers blow through fast but drench festival crowds.
Very. Early evening slots (after 4 pm) see shorter security lines; lockers inside fit daypacks but not suitcases.
Absolutely. London mains water is high-quality; refill bottles at drinking fountains in parks and stations to save money.
Grounds passes sell via The Queue; arrive before 6 am for a decent chance, especially finals weekend.
A London Hop-on Hop-off bus tour is ideal in July—hop on and off at outdoor events, parks, and street festivals.
The London City Card offers skip-the-line entry to popular museums and attractions—perfect when summer crowds are at their peak.
Peak sweetness pairs with Wimbledon finals on park screens.
Where to eat: Strawberries & Screen kiosk, Granary Square, N1
Iced gin liqueur with cucumber, orange, and mint; tastes like London summer in a glass.
Where to drink: The George Inn, 77 Borough High St
Crushed meringue, strawberry ripple, whipped cream folded into milk gelato.
Where to eat: Gelupo, 7 Archer St, Soho
