Avg 22 °C / 72 °F highs, 13 °C / 55 °F lows; sun mixed with quick showers.
August hands you London at full throttle—long 15-hour days, balmy 22 °C / 72 °F highs, and a festival roster that peaks with Europe’s biggest street party. Expect shoulder-to-shoulder crowds at star sights, but also quieter business quarters on weekends when locals flee the heat. Tip: pre-book timed tickets and tap in with contactless—Tube queues grow fast after 9 am.
Category
July
August
September
Weather
Warm 22 °C highs, rare heatwaves; scant rain.
Similar temps, humidity spikes; random thunderstorms cool evenings.
Cooler 19 °C highs, crisper air, fewer showers.
Crowds & vibe
Peak tourists + Wimbledon finale buzz.
Absolute peak—school holidays + Carnival.
Eases mid-month; local office buzz returns.
Key events
Pride parade, BBC Proms openers.
Notting Hill Carnival, The Hundred, GDIF.
Thames Festival, Open House London.
Best for
Night-owls, festival junkies.
Party-seekers, family fun in parks.
Culture vultures, photographers chasing early fall light.
Book early?
Yes—hotels 6 mo out, Proms tix.
Definitely—rooms, Carnival trains, cricket seats.
Moderate; big design fair hotels sell quickly.
Transport notes
Tube hot; extra late buses after Pride.
Notting Hill closures; Bank Holiday engineering works likely.
Normal service; weekend tube maintenance resumes.
Budget
Peak rates, 20% above average.
Highest of year; surge pricing common.
Drops 10–15% except design-week spike.
Festival
Date
Event type
Location
What to expect?
Notting Hill Carnival
23–25 Aug 2025
Parade
Europe’s largest Caribbean street party floods West London with floats, steel bands, and calypso rhythms; arrive before 11 am or risk station closures and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.
The Hundred Cricket
05–31 Aug 2025
Sporting Event
Fast-paced 100-ball matches, DJs, and family zones make cricket feel like a day-long block party—kids’ tickets from £5 sell out first.
Greenwich+Docklands International Festival
Aug 2025
Cultural Festival
Free outdoor dance, acrobatics, and night-time light shows; bring a fold-up chair and arrive 30 min early for front-row river views.
London Mela
Aug 2025
Cultural Festival
Bhangra beats, Bollywood stars, and vast street-food courts celebrate South Asian heritage—perfect for midnight-blue saris and £3 mango lassi.
Panorama Steel-Pan Finals
22 Aug 2025
Concert
UK steel-orchestras duel in a joyous sound-clash; free entry but the lawn fills fast—bring cash for rum punch stalls.
Film4 Summer Screen
13–25 Aug 2025
Exhibition
Cult and classic films projected under the stars; hire a beanbag or BYO blanket—gates open 90 min before showtime for picnic vibes
Summer’s signature cocktail blends Pimm’s No. 1, lemonade, strawberries, cucumber, and mint—best sipped alfresco at rooftop bars.
Where to eat: Frank’s Café, Peckham.
Wimbledon’s legacy snack lingers on menus through August; ripe Kent berries pair with thick jersey cream for a two-ingredient triumph.
Where to eat: Gelateria 3Bis, Borough Market.
Crispy haddock and thick-cut chips taste even better eaten on a Thames bench at dusk; sprinkle with malt vinegar.
Where to eat: Poppies, Spitalfields.
1.Tap saga: daily Oyster cap is £8.10 in Zones 1–2; buses £1.75 single—no cash accepted.
2.Tube sauna: Central line carriages hit 30 °C—carry water and hop on air-con Elizabeth Line when possible.
3.Carnival strategy: exit at Paddington or Shepherd’s Bush and walk 20 min—nearest stations often shut for crowd control.
4.Bank Holiday bookings: Trains and hotels spike 30 %—reserve by May to dodge surge rates.
5.Pub etiquette: order and pay at the bar; no need to tip, just say “cheers” and step aside.
6.Late-night ride: Night Tube runs Fri/Sat on Central, Northern, Victoria; otherwise use 24-h buses—route 14 is reliable after shows.
Yes, highs hover around 22 °C, but occasional heatwaves push 30 °C; carry water and shade breaks.
Most attractions stay open, but some shops close early on Monday; public transport runs Sunday schedules.
Aim for 10 am—after noon key Tube stations operate one-way exits or close for safety.
Street parade viewing is free; only after-parties and some grandstand areas charge.
Light breathable clothes plus a packable rain jacket; evenings can drop to 13 °C, so carry a thin layer.
Sky Garden allows kids until 6 pm; most others are 18+ after dusk—check house rules when booking.
Absolutely—ask for tap water in restaurants to save £
Yes; Elizabeth Line fare caps like Oyster, but touch in/out on the pink readers at Paddington.
A London Hop-on Hop-off bus tour is ideal in August—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 crowds are at their peak.
