Your guide for a hot London summer

Outfits for concerts, parks, restaurants and the movies

Summer is well underway and I’ve been thinking about what I want to do over the next few months in London. But we can probably all agree on the basics: concerts, parks, restaurants, and some cinema time are all a must. Here’s what’s going on and some relevant outfits to wear.

Outdoor concert

I firmly believe in watching at least one outdoor show in the summer, it makes you feel so - and I’m sorry but this word is unavoidable - alive. Just the best atmosphere (unless it rains, then it’s quite mid). Last year I saw Bruce Springsteen at Wembley Stadium on a sunny evening and, once again, we’re spoiled for choice in 2025. Obviously the golden ticket of the summer is Oasis. But if you were one of the estimated millions of people who missed out on tickets, there are also huge outdoor gigs in London courtesy of Beyoncé, Neil Young, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Lana Del Rey, Dua Lipa, Black Pink and Guns N’ Roses, which, all put together, curiously looks exactly like my ‘Recently Searched’ section in Apple Music the morning after I’ve had a few drinks.

Jacket, vest, trousers, sunglasses, ear cuff, bag, boots

Parklife

In the summer it is obviously mandatory to embrace London’s parks and all they have to offer. Taste of London takes place in Regents Park from 18th-22nd June. If you go to Hyde Park, be sure to check out the Serpentine Pavilion (from 6th June), which changes every year, this summer’s being ‘A Capsule of Time’ designed by Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum. Yes this counts as “seeing some art”. A perfect Sunday for me is walking through Hampstead Heath and then having lunch at The Spaniard afterwards (one of the oldest pubs in London, it dates back to 1585 and Charles Dickens and John Keats drank there). We did this a couple of weeks ago (always book a table for the weekend, it’s packed) and it was the nicest day. The Spaniard’s strawberries and cream sundae was the most outrageous thing I’ve eaten all year and I think lovingly of it often. And if your vibe is more just chilling down London Fields, may I suggest taking these two wines I’ve been recently enjoying: Bob Singlar Orange wine and Yves Duport - L'Intact, a delightful pét nat.

Scarf (worn on head!), Top, Shorts, Bag, Shoes

Dinner date

Right, where are we eating this summer? The hottest bougie launch is probably Carbone, the New York hotspot famous for its spicy rigatoni vodka and for being beloved by every single celebrity ever, which opens its first European outpost at the Chancery Rosewood Hotel in Mayfair towards the end of the season. Frankly, I have to go. Not quite as glamorous, but equally as anticipated, is the beloved Singbury, a Thai restaurant that’s opening in Shoreditch in June, having moved from Leyton. The Fat Badger in Notting Hill, which launched a few months ago, is still hot hot hot. One Club Row in Shoreditch is newish and brilliant. Cadet in Newington Green makes for a perfect summer date night. And if you want to do a classic such as the River Cafe terrace in summer but don’t have Ruth Rogers on speed dial, there are still some bookings available but be quick, they’ll go soon. I know this because I’ve just booked an outdoor table there for July (and put a much-needed reminder about it in my phone).

Dress, sunglasses, cuff bracelet, bag, sandals

Movie night

Personally I love going to the cinema in the summer. Sometimes it can be nice to escape the heat and sit in a dark, air conditioned room before walking out into the balmy night. What a treat. Films to watch this summer: Materialists, Hot Milk, the Pavement doc, Sorry, Baby looks good, as does Oh, Hi and there’s Eddington for the horror nuts (can’t wait). And, sorry, but my husband and I have already made plans to skive off work one afternoon next week to watch the final Mission: Impossible at the IMAX. It’s what TC would want.

T-shirt, trousers, glasses, bag, shoes

Are you in London this summer? Tell me your plans! Have a wonderful weekend and I’ll see you on Tuesday.

Gillian

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