When temperatures spike, it may be a shock for some guests to find there aren’t many London points of interest with air con – a mixture of town’s historic buildings and Britain’s erratic summer time climate means it’s not all the time 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 if you happen to’re visiting town with children and wish to flee the warmth?
I’ve picked out a few of the most important vacationer points of interest 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 prone to discover is a pleasantly cool expertise.
And whereas London’s museums and galleries all the time have to hold their treasured reveals in a local weather managed atmosphere, that doesn’t all the time 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 mixture of massive 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 generally is a little cooler.
The British Museum has air con in some areas however many are cooled solely by followers – and the most well-liked galleries can get very busy, whereas the Nice Court docket’s fantastic glass roof doesn’t make it the good 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 non permanent exhibitions – an excellent 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 points of interest with air con
SeaLife
The SeaLife Centre is certainly one of my prime picks for a wet day in London with children, however with air con all through the aquarium, it’s additionally the proper spot to shelter from the warmth.
V&A
If you happen to’re on the lookout for a museum in South Kensington to remain cool, the V&A ought to prime your checklist – 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 a few of 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 town are additionally pretty and funky.
Now not used to move mail, you possibly can nonetheless journey 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 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 briefly closed till reopening in its new website at Smithfield in 2026
Nationwide Maritime Museum
If you happen to head right down to Greenwich (and a breeze on one of many river boats is a particular bonus if you can too discover a shady seat), the Nationwide Maritime Museum has air con.
The realm across the big map can get heat, however with tales of Polar adventures (in addition to Tudor piracy and Pacific explorations), there’s lots to find inside when you keep cool.
Tate Trendy & Tate Britain
With thousands and thousands passing by way of the Tate Trendy’s galleries alone, air con has all the time been important to guard the artworks – with the added bonus of defending the guests from melting as nicely.
Tate Britain additionally has air con and tends to be certainly one of London’s quieter galleries, so you possibly can dodge overheated crowds as nicely.
Nationwide Gallery
The Nationwide Gallery has boasted some air con since 1949 to guard its work, in addition to newer 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
If you happen to’ve acquired an attraction filled with wax works, you possibly can’t take the danger of all of them melting when the temperature rises so fortunately Madame Tussauds does have air con.
Equally understandably, the waxworks don’t do nicely with extremes of warmth or chilly, so the system tries to maintain the temperature pretty fixed, which implies it would 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 sizzling day, you possibly can nonetheless anticipate it to get heat inside.
Until you’ve got quick monitor tickets, you’ll even be ready within the queue to board to your time slot as nicely.
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 resembling the Apollo.
Nonetheless, 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, if you happen to’re planning to observe 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 if you happen to’re on the lookout for low cost theatre tickets and last-minute reductions
Vacationer points of interest 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 searching down by way of the glass flooring 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 children – do are inclined to get fairly heat.
Shrek’s Journey
In case your children 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 sizzling in London
If you happen to’re trying to escape the warmth in London with children, it’s not simply air conditioned points of interest which may help hold you cool.
Discover the dancing fountains & splash pads
Splash pads, dancing fountains, no matter identify you give them, they’re unbeatable when it’s sizzling in London with children.
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 value realizing 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). It’s also possible to discover extra fountains at Leicester Sq..
And if splashing alone isn’t sufficient, Ravenscourt Park in west London has a paddling pool – at present closed however anticipated to reopen on June 28. Free to make use of, however you’ve got 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 – all the time examine earlier than you go to**
Go to the parks
Regardless of being one of many largest cities on the planet, London additionally scores nicely in the case of inexperienced area, with a sequence of pretty parks – Hyde Park has some nice shady spots in addition to the Diana Memorial fountain to dip your toes in.
Regent’s Park is one other nice various, or watch the pelicans at St James’s Park. However a lot of the royal parks could have a number of patches of shade to hang around when it’s sizzling.
If you happen to’re pleased 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 likelihood of discovering an elusive breeze – the Sky Backyard has shady areas and generally is a pretty spot when it’s sizzling in London, in addition to being certainly one of my favorite viewpoints in London, though the within space is extra prone 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 an extended stroll throughout a heatwave, yow will discover a breeze off the water as you sit on the banks. The Southbank is all the time 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.
If you happen to’d quite be on the water, try my suggestions for the most effective boat excursions in London with children in addition to locations to kayak with children
Go for a swim
Though you’ll should journey out of central London (until you’re staying in a resort with a pool), there are lidos across the metropolis the place you possibly can have a dip.
Or head west to benefit from the seashore at Ruislip Lido – there’s a splash pad right here too, though you possibly can’t truly swim within the reservoir. Unsurprisingly it’s a well-liked 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 outside swimming pool is family-friendly always, with lowered costs for kids. However households with toddlers and youngsters underneath 7 could really feel extra snug on the designated household swim classes between 10:30am and 11:30am most weekends and holidays.
The lido is extraordinarily well-liked, particularly through the hotter summer time months, so swim classes are booked in 50 minute slots. It’s strongly suggested to e-book prematurely to keep away from disappointment – examine availability right here.
Charlton Lido
Charlton Lido’s Olympic-sized heated outside pool is the proper place to chill off, even throughout a heatwave – the pool is saved at a nice temperature of 22-28C all year long so that you needn’t depend on an extended stretch of solar to heat it up.
Owned by Higher Health club, the pool is out there to make use of by health club members and non-members. However if you happen to’re not a member, you will want to e-book prematurely.
Youngsters are welcome through the “Swim For All Periods” which run at the least as soon as a day (and extra recurrently throughout college holidays). Little ones may also benefit from the “Toddler Splash Periods” within the small instructing pool on sure days all through the week.
Extra outside swimming pools/lidos in London
- Finchley Lido Leisure Centre – the outside pool opens from round Could Financial institution Vacation all through the summer time 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 outside 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 children.
- Parliament Hill Lido – this non-heated outside pool is open year-round and one of many largest lidos in London at 60 metres by 28 metres. Youngsters can attend Open Swimming Periods at Parliament Hill Lido through the daytime.
- Oasis Sports activities Centre, Tottenham Court docket Highway – central London’s solely heated, outside pool, this sits on a solar terrace above avenue degree. Youngsters can attend Swim For All Periods at Oasis Sports activities Centre however underneath 8s and non-swimmers aged 11-17 should be accompanied within the water by a reliable grownup swimmer.
- Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds – no kids underneath 8 are permitted to swim at Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds however it’s an choice for older children. Nonetheless, all under-16s should attend with an accompanying grownup who can be within the water with them and in addition have to cross a swimming take a look at!
- 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’s – 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 time, venturing into the previous royal residences might be blissfully cool. The realm with the Crown Jewels can also be local weather managed to guard them.
Head inside a cathedral
In the identical means, the centuries-old stone partitions of each Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s cathedral hold the inside superbly cool on sizzling days.
Seize an ice cream
There are some implausible locations to show cooling down into an artwork type – for the most effective ice cream in London, try this nice publish from Globetotting.
Getting round London within the warmth
If you happen to’re planning a bus tour, Massive Bus Excursions could 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 (until you’re on a bus with an enclosed higher space). Making an allowance for that a lot of the prime deck is generally open to the weather (and in addition the place you’ll get the most effective views), you’ll have to depend on pure air cooling…
Tootbus doesn’t have air con on its buses.
For extra tips about London’s greatest bus excursions with children, try this publish
On the tube, the Central line is formally the most well liked line, whereas the brand new Elizabeth Line has air con and is genuinely cool. In any other case, the traces which keep nearer the floor – particularly the Overground, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & Metropolis and Circle – are usually cooler than the deep traces just like the Piccadilly and Northern line.
If you happen to’d quite 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/woman in goggles/London Underground signal courtesy of Depositphotos, all different photographs copyright MummyTravels