When temperatures spike, it may be a shock for some guests to find there aren’t many London sights with air con – a mixture of the town’s historic buildings and Britain’s erratic summer season climate means it’s not at all times important and may’t essentially be added on later.
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So what do you do when there’s a heatwave in London, particularly in case you’re visiting the town with youngsters and want to flee the warmth?
I’ve picked out among the essential vacationer sights in London with air con, air cooling or locations to go the place you received’t soften whereas the heatwave lasts.
London within the warmth: have to know
Keep in mind that even these locations which have air con have a tendency to not be as fiercely chilly as different international locations – I’ve wanted to place additional layers on when going indoors within the US and Asia prior to now, however probably the most you’re more likely to discover is a pleasantly cool expertise.
And whereas London’s museums and galleries at all times have to maintain their treasured displays in a local weather managed atmosphere, that doesn’t at all times translate right into a managed local weather for guests – even the place there’s a cooling system, you received’t stroll in to gusts of icy chill.
A mix of huge crowds and the Pure Historical past Museum’s Grade I listed constructing means this explicit attraction typically will get very heat inside – if you’re going, the dinosaur gallery has low mild and could be a little cooler.
The British Museum has air con in some areas however many are cooled solely by followers – and the preferred galleries can get very busy, whereas the Nice Court docket’s great glass roof doesn’t make it the best spot.
And the London Transport Museum has some massive open galleries to slot in its assortment of double decker buses and different classic transport, however there’s no air con right here both.
To discover a assured cool spot in a museum, try the momentary exhibitions – a fantastic tip from Museum Mum, as the federal government scheme which insures loans has strict guidelines about environmental controls so these are an ideal place to flee the warmth in London.
London sights with air con
SeaLife
The SeaLife Centre is one among my prime picks for a wet day in London with youngsters, however with air con all through the aquarium, it’s additionally the right spot to shelter from the warmth.
V&A
For those who’re on the lookout for a museum in South Kensington to remain cool, the V&A ought to prime your record – not solely does this Grade I constructing have air con however there’s a fountain within the courtyard too.
The Postal Museum
Much less well-known than among the different London museums, the Postal Museum is much more tempting within the warmth – in addition to air con, the underground tunnels which as soon as delivered mail throughout the town are additionally pretty and funky.
Now not used to move mail, you possibly can nonetheless experience the Mail Rail prepare throughout your go to (though do keep in mind that it may be hotter contained in the carriages than within the tunnels).
Museum of London
The Museum of London additionally has a cooling and air con system inside, so you possibly can uncover the town’s historical past, proper from the times when hippos lived the place Trafalgar Sq. is now – and presumably welcomed the solar.
EDIT: The museum is now quickly closed till reopening in its new website at Smithfield in 2026
Nationwide Maritime Museum
For those who head all the way down to Greenwich (and a breeze on one of many river boats is a particular bonus if you may also discover a shady seat), the Nationwide Maritime Museum has air con.
The world across the large map can get heat, however with tales of Polar adventures (in addition to Tudor piracy and Pacific explorations), there’s loads to find inside whilst you keep cool.
Tate Fashionable & Tate Britain
With thousands and thousands passing by means of the Tate Fashionable’s galleries alone, air con has at all times been important to guard the artworks – with the added bonus of defending the guests from melting as properly.
Tate Britain additionally has air con and tends to be one among London’s quieter galleries, so you possibly can dodge overheated crowds as properly.
Nationwide Gallery
The Nationwide Gallery has boasted some air con since 1949 to guard its work, in addition to more moderen air con added throughout lockdown closures.
Just like the Tate and Museum of London, there’s the added bonus that entry is free.
Madame Tussauds
For those who’ve obtained an attraction stuffed with wax works, you possibly can’t take the chance of all of them melting when the temperature rises so fortunately Madame Tussauds does have air con.
Equally understandably, the waxworks don’t do properly with extremes of warmth or chilly, so the system tries to maintain the temperature pretty fixed, which implies it is going to by no means find yourself being freezing inside.
London Eye
The London Eye’s capsules are all air conditioned – however keep in mind that the glass pods are mainly mini greenhouses, so on a searingly scorching day, you possibly can nonetheless count on it to get heat inside.
Until you might have quick monitor tickets, you’ll even be ready within the queue to board to your time slot as properly.
London theatres with air con
Most of the West Finish’s theatres are too previous, protected or fragile to have full air con: the air cooling programs are sometimes impressively environment friendly although, at theatres corresponding to the Apollo.
Nevertheless, some do have correct air con together with the Adelphi Theatre (Again to the Future Musical), the Victoria Theatre (Hamilton), the Theatre Royal Haymarket (for The Tiger Who Got here To Tea), the Vaudeville Theatre (Six), in addition to the Criterion.
The Lyceum (for The Lion King), Apollo Victoria (for Depraved), Cambridge Theatre (for Matilda), Prince Edward Theatre, The Lyric (The Gruffalo), the Palladium and the Garrick all have air cooling.
In a slight twist of irony, in case you’re planning to look at Frozen on the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, there’s no aircon, so that you’ll have to depend on the motion to maintain you cool.
Try TodayTix in case you’re on the lookout for low-cost theatre tickets and last-minute reductions
Vacationer sights in London with cooling programs
Tower Bridge
There’s no air con inside London’s well-known bridge, however Tower Bridge does have ceiling followers contained in the high-level walkways to chill guests down.
And looking out down by means of the glass ground would possibly ship a shiver down your backbone.
Science Museum
The temperature within the Science Museum varies relying which space you’re visiting, however there’s a cooling system in Wonderlab, which makes it a very great spot to flee the warmth.
However the basement rooms, together with the Backyard – a favorite of youthful youngsters – do are likely to get fairly heat.
Shrek’s Journey
In case your youngsters are wanting ahead to visiting Far Far Away, the excellent news is that a lot of the Shrek’s Journey attraction has cooling programs to cease you overheating.
The Magic Bus additionally contains water sprays and blasts of air. Beautiful.
Different issues to do when it’s scorching in London
For those who’re trying to escape the warmth in London with youngsters, it’s not simply air conditioned sights which might help maintain you cool.
Discover the dancing fountains & splash pads
Splash pads, dancing fountains, no matter title you give them, they’re unbeatable when it’s scorching in London with youngsters.
Simply behind King’s Cross, the fountains at Granary Sq. are made up of 1,080 choreographed jets – every individually managed – which squirt in patterns for youths to splash in.
Or on the South Financial institution, the Showing Rooms interactive sculpture on the Southbank Centre is a enjoyable various, with jets of water creating ‘rooms’ earlier than they vanish. It’s price figuring out that youngsters want tops on to splash right here.
Additional alongside the river, you’ll discover the Extra London fountains close to Tower Bridge, whereas there’s typically one other set within the courtyard of Somerset Home on the alternative financial institution (solely switched on on choose dates, relying on occasions and climate). You can even discover extra fountains at Leicester Sq..
And if splashing alone isn’t sufficient, Ravenscourt Park in west London has a paddling pool – at the moment closed however anticipated to reopen on June 28. Free to make use of, however you might have beforehand wanted to prebook a timed slot as numbers are restricted.
**If Thames Water brings in a hosepipe ban or different restrictions, fountains will usually be switched off or be on for extra restricted occasions – at all times verify earlier than you go to**
Go to the parks
Regardless of being one of many largest cities on the planet, London additionally scores properly relating to inexperienced area, with a collection of pretty parks – Hyde Park has some nice shady spots in addition to the Diana Memorial fountain to dip your ft in.
Regent’s Park is one other nice various, or watch the pelicans at St James’s Park. However many of the royal parks could have just a few patches of shade to hang around when it’s scorching.
For those who’re completely satisfied to enterprise out of central London, Kew Gardens and the London Wetlands Centre close to Barnes are additionally nice choices to flee – there’s water play within the Wetlands Centre playground too
Head up excessive
The upper you go, the extra probability of discovering an elusive breeze – the Sky Backyard has shady areas and could be a pretty spot when it’s scorching in London, in addition to being one among my favorite viewpoints in London, though the within space is extra more likely to warmth up when it’s busy.
Stroll by the water
There are miles and miles of Thames path to discover – and whereas I’m not suggesting a protracted stroll throughout a heatwave, you’ll find a breeze off the water as you sit on the banks. The Southbank is at all times probably the greatest choices.
Or head to the canals – Little Venice is one other pretty spot, whereas the Grand Union Canal close to Paddington is lined with cafes.
For those who’d slightly be on the water, try my suggestions for the very best boat excursions in London with youngsters in addition to locations to kayak with youngsters
Go for a swim
Though you’ll must journey out of central London (except you’re staying in a lodge with a pool), there are lidos across the metropolis the place you possibly can have a dip.
Or head west to benefit from the seaside at Ruislip Lido – there’s a splash pad right here too, though you possibly can’t really swim within the reservoir. Unsurprisingly it’s a preferred spot on a sunny day.
Brockwell Lido
Discovered within the south London neighbourhood of Herne Hill, Brockwell Lido is a 50-metre unheated swimming pool that’s open year-round. The out of doors swimming pool is family-friendly always, with decreased costs for kids. However households with toddlers and kids beneath 7 might really feel extra comfy on the designated household swim periods between 10:30am and 11:30am most weekends and holidays.
The lido is extraordinarily well-liked, particularly in the course of the hotter summer season months, so swim periods are booked in 50 minute slots. It’s strongly suggested to ebook prematurely to keep away from disappointment – verify availability right here.
Charlton Lido
Charlton Lido’s Olympic-sized heated out of doors pool is the right place to chill off, even throughout a heatwave – the pool is saved at a pleasing temperature of 22-28C all year long so that you needn’t depend on a protracted stretch of solar to heat it up.
Owned by Higher Health club, the pool is offered to make use of by health club members and non-members. However in case you’re not a member, you’ll need to ebook prematurely.
Kids are welcome in the course of the “Swim For All Classes” which run at the very least as soon as a day (and extra usually throughout faculty holidays). Little ones may benefit from the “Toddler Splash Classes” within the small educating pool on sure days all through the week.
Extra out of doors swimming pools/lidos in London
- Finchley Lido Leisure Centre – the out of doors pool opens from round Could Financial institution Vacation all through the summer season months (although climate dependent so do doublecheck). There’s additionally an indoor enjoyable leisure pool at Finchley Lido that features a wave machine, jets, and different enjoyable options.
- London Fields Lido – this 50m lengthy heated out of doors pool is saved round 25C all 12 months spherical. You’ll discover each lane swimming in addition to free swim areas at London Fields Lido for youthful youngsters.
- Parliament Hill Lido – this non-heated out of doors pool is open year-round and one of many largest lidos in London at 60 metres by 28 metres. Children can attend Open Swimming Classes at Parliament Hill Lido in the course of the daytime.
- Oasis Sports activities Centre, Tottenham Court docket Highway – central London’s solely heated, out of doors pool, this sits on a solar terrace above road stage. Children can attend Swim For All Classes at Oasis Sports activities Centre however beneath 8s and non-swimmers aged 11-17 should be accompanied within the water by a reliable grownup swimmer.
- Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds – no youngsters beneath 8 are permitted to swim at Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds but it surely’s an choice for older youngsters. Nevertheless, all under-16s should attend with an accompanying grownup who might be within the water with them and likewise have to cross a swimming check!
- Tooting Bec Lido – newly reopened after refurbishment, Tooting Bec Lido is the biggest open-air freshwater pool within the UK.
Go to the Tower of London
There may be – unsurprisingly – no air con in the Tower, however as anybody who’s visited a citadel in winter is aware of, thick stone partitions make for cold interiors.
So within the peak of summer season, venturing into the previous royal flats may be blissfully cool. The world with the Crown Jewels can be local weather managed to guard them.
Head inside a cathedral
In the identical approach, the centuries-old stone partitions of each Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s cathedral maintain the inside fantastically cool on scorching days.
Seize an ice cream
There are some improbable locations to show cooling down into an artwork kind – for the very best ice cream in London, try this nice put up from Globetotting.
Getting round London within the warmth
For those who’re planning a bus tour, Huge Bus Excursions might have air-conditioned areas on its buses, though it varies from bus to bus so the corporate can’t assure it.
These are usually decrease deck solely (except you’re on a bus with an enclosed higher space). Taking into consideration that many of the prime deck is generally open to the weather (and likewise the place you’ll get the very best views), you’ll have to depend on pure air cooling…
Tootbus doesn’t have air con on its buses.
For extra recommendations on London’s greatest bus excursions with youngsters, try this put up
On the tube, the Central line is formally the most popular line, whereas the brand new Elizabeth Line has air con and is genuinely cool. In any other case, the strains which keep nearer the floor – particularly the Overground, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & Metropolis and Circle – are usually cooler than the deep strains just like the Piccadilly and Northern line.
For those who’d slightly journey by water, the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers service has air conditioned interiors in addition to an open part on the deck to catch a breeze.
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Pure Historical past Museum/Tower Bridge/lady in goggles/London Underground signal courtesy of Depositphotos, all different photographs copyright MummyTravels