Experience English Summer in Luxury
England may not be famed for its good weather, but when the summer does arrive few cities look more beautiful than London. With 47% of the city covered by greenery and locations such as Hampstead Heath, Queen's Park and Epping Forest offering a welcome escape on sunny days, London is an ideal place to enjoy a summer break.
Whether you're walking along the sparkling Thames, relaxing in the garden of a traditional British pub, or marvelling at the animals in London Zoo, there are plenty of things to do this historic and fascinating city when the sun is shining. Considering London never gets oppressively warm (for the most part at least), London can be a great to visit in August when its cousins in Europe are too hot to appreciate fully.
If you want to spend some days or weeks in London this summer, here are a few ways that you can make the most of it.
Support your favourite at Wimbledon
Summer in England wouldn't be complete without strawberries, cream and Wimbledon, which runs from late June to early July. It's the oldest tennis tournament in the world and promises excitement and high drama in the gentle English sunshine, while the new retractable stadium roof ensures that rain will no longer stop play.
If you want to share in the exhilaration of one of England's most famous sporting events, then you can find tickets that include the use of a private garden area, a la carte menu and a classically British Pimms reception here.
Use the warm evenings to enjoy delicious cocktails
London has some great cocktail bars, and when better to enjoy an array of colourful and wonderful inventions than a warm summers evening? The glamourous Galvin at Windows, Artesian and Radio - with its roof terrace to draw you into the night air - are particular highlights.
Explore the Chelsea Flower Show
The Chelsea Flower show, full of creativity and gardening expertise, takes place on the 24th May to the 28th May in one of London's most appealing and charming neighbourhoods. Known as the gardening equivalent of the Paris Fashion Show, it has been conducted by the Royal Horticultural Society since 1912 and features everything the best gardeners have to offer, from the avant garde and artistic, to the traditional and picturesque.
There's various VIP hospitality packages to choose from when visiting the Chelsea Flower Show that offer an indulgent experience, whether you want an exquisite dinner or Afternoon Tea.
Champagne tasting in the London Eye
Offering a luxury experience, the tasting capsules in the London Eye are a great way to do something special, with striking views across London, chocolate truffles and wonderful champagne to enjoy. You can also experience wonderful views and a kind of magical luxury at The Roof Garden's in Kensington, which includes wooded, Moorish style and Tudor gardens across 1.5 acres 100 feet above London.
Relax in nature
Taking a picnic somewhere green and pretty may not be something often associated with huge modern metropolises, but London gives you every opportunity to do so. Greenwich Park, with its observatory and attractive surroundings, the famous Kew Gardens and the 16-acre grounds of the Horniman Museum are all options when the sunshine tempts you outside. For spectacular views of the city, Primrose Hill is a brilliant spot.
There's also the option of taking all the hard work out of creating a picnic hamper by allowing some of London's most famous hotels do it for you, even including one where you are served on silver by a personal butler.
Take a day trip
Although there's enough to do in London to fill several trips, it's also perfect for exploring what's a little further afield if you want to see more of England. The transport connections to the South East of England's seaside towns are excellent from London, as are those to the northern cities of Liverpool and Manchester.
For a day or two you might want to experience the lively and colourful culture of Brighton, sample oysters on a beach in Whitstable or taste English wine in the stunning Kent countryside. You can even take in the iconic white cliffs of Dover and explore the medieval castle that was a home to Henry VII. From London, it's all in within easy reach.