50 Unforgettable Things to Do in The UK This Summer

Things to Do in London this Summer 2023

London is one of the world’s greatest cities and when summer arrives, the city truly bursts to life with something for everyone. For more inspiration, check out our 101 Things to Do in London guide. 

Attend an Outdoor Concert

Live music is electrifying all year round but summer is when outdoor concerts really take centre stage in the capital. BST Hyde Park has become a London summer institution and an unmissable event for music fans across the country. Global stars perform alongside up-and-coming talent, meaning there’s something for every music personality. 

Smell the roses at Kew Gardens

From the end of spring, you can enjoy England’s national flower in all its glory in the city’s biggest botanical garden, Kew. One of the best days out in London, bask in the sun while exploring this 326-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site. Immerse yourselves in the diverse plant life from around the world, as well as uncover 250 years of fascinating history. 

Go to the zoo

A trip to the zoo is practically one of those mandatory things to do in the summer. Visit the animals, learn a little bit about wildlife and make the most of the myriad of on-site activities. Regent’s Park London Zoo is home to just under 15,000 animals and a variety of exciting exhibits including the Land of the Lions, Monkey Valley and more.

Speedboat

Looking for quirky things to do in summer with friends? Thames Rockets is the speedboat experience that hurtles you down the river for a 50 minute adrenaline-packed ride. The sights come thick and fast as you pass iconic locations like the Millennium Bridge, The Shard and beyond. 

Go on a food tour

Delighting palates across the UK, one of the most undeniably tasty things to do in summer is embark on a food tour. The capital is well-known for its vibrant and diverse foodie scene, and this tour aims to showcase the best of its quirky pubs and bustling food markets. Who knows you may even discover your new favourite delicacy! 

Outdoor cinemas

From outdoor cinemas to rooftop screenings, summer in London has a lot to offer movie buffs. There are pop-up events happening all over the city, from the Luna Cinema in Kensington Palace Pavilion to Backyard Cinema in Wandsworth. 

Regent’s Park

Summer things to do don’t get much more entertaining than watching a play, musical, film or comedy performance at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. The 1,250-seat outdoor auditorium offers a one-of-a-kind venue to while away a few hours. And there’s the staple drink of a British summer, Pimms on tap. 

Kia Oval

Come the summertime, the nation’s calendar is packed with an exciting programme of cricket action to get involved in. Hosting an annual England Test Match, the Kia Oval is the perfect place to spend an afternoon. See the historic stadium from every angle with a 90 minute tour, following in the footsteps of cricketing greats. 

Hit up a Rooftop Bar

Escape the heat of the city’s pavements and enjoy a bird’s eye view by taking your cocktail night up to the rooftops this summer. While you sip your favourite drink, catch up with loved ones and make the most of the capital’s skyscrapers, while admiring all that glitters in front of you. 

Wild West Fantasies

Inspired by tales of the notorious Wild West, Liverpool Street’s Moonshine Saloon combines immersive theatre with a world-class cocktail experience. One of the most fun things to do with friends in summer, hand over your hidden liquor to be crafted into bespoke, delicious cocktails by a talented team of barkeeps.

Spend a summer’s day at the Southbank

The Southbank is pretty special all year round but under a blue sky and radiant sun, it really exudes an unrivalled vibrance. Take a riverside walk, browse the book market, try some street food from the line-up of vendors and marvel at the street performers. 

Go for a swim

If the sun proves to be too unrelenting, there’s really only one way to cool down: go for a swim. While London is unfortunately not near a coast, it does boast various pools, ponds, and lidos to splash around in. Popular locations include the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park and Hampstead Heath’s three natural ponds and 60m lido.

Visit an aquarium

We know while the British summertime is capable of pulling out the stops, it does also provide a rainy day or two. And if you’re looking for indoor things to do in the summer, you really can’t go wrong with a trip to SEA LIFE London. Home to one of Europe’s biggest collection of global marine life, get up close to thousands of aquatic creatures from sharks to stingrays and beyond. 

The best summer family days out 

Whether the summer holidays stretch in front of you with weeks of boredom or you simply want to create incredible memories, we’ve rounded up some of the best summer family days out below to help inspire you. 

National Trust

Famed for its over 500 historic houses, castles and nature reserves, the National Trust has a fantastic selection of sites to explore. Check out their list for ideas of family days out as well as where to go on them.  

Trampolining

Trampoline parks are great for burning off some energy when the British summer just isn’t playing ball. More than just trampoline parks, Jump Giants host gravity-defying fun with wall-to-wall trampolines, Dunk Nation basketball hoops and giant airbags for gymnastic tricks. 

Visit a Theme Park

For thrill seekers, a day at a theme park is bound to be a highlight of any summer holiday. Luckily, the UK is home to some of the world’s top parks including Surrey’s Chessington World of Adventures. With over 40 rides and attractions in 10 themed lands, a zoo and SEA LIFE centre with over 1,000 exotic animals, a world of excitement for the whole family awaits. 

Go Ape

For anyone with a love for the great outdoors and a sense of adventure, you can’t go wrong with Go Ape. Boasting no fewer than 35 forest canopy locations to choose from, brave tree-to-tree crossings, free-fall Tarzan swings and super fast zips way up in the treetop canopy. 

Go to a water park

We couldn’t talk about family things to do this summer without mentioning this classic day out: going to an inflatable water park. Designed with fun in mind, the giant inflatable course is made up of over 30 Ninja Warrior style obstacles including balance beams, the wave, monkey bars to name just a few. 

Dolphin Watching

If you thought dolphin watching had to go hand in hand with a flight abroad, think again. Proving that family day trips can be just as much fun as going on a summer holiday, set your sights on Cornwall, where you might be lucky enough to experience wildlife in its natural habitat with a dolphin watching cruise. 

Go to a sports game

Summer months provide the best conditions to watch sports and there’s nothing that bonds a family quite like the beautiful game. Whether you get tickets to watch your favourite football team in action or head to a local game, it’s sure to be a family day out for the books. To up the ante, you could of course embark on a tour of Wembley, home of English football and The Emirates FA Cup Final since 1923. 

Play mini golf

Mini golf’s got everything you need for a family day out in summer - an outdoor course to bask in the sun, an exuberant vibe and hours of mini golfing fun to keep everyone entertained. Not to mention the courses can also be eye-catchingly beautiful! We’re particular fans of Wembley Park’s Pop Golf, which accommodates a nine hole course, uniquely designed around pop music and videos. 

White Water Rafting

There’s really only one rightful place to spend a summer’s day: the open water. For families always on the hunt for new adventures, white water rafting provides an unforgettable day out. With tons of wonderful places to experience this popular watersport across the country, choose a fun destination and book your trip. 

Hike a new trail

Hiking just had to feature on this things to do in the summer list. Not only is it a great opportunity to spend time as a family outdoors, but it’s an activity you can tailor to make it as strenuous or as easy-going as you like. 

Bus Tour

Dragging the little ones sightseeing on a hot summer day is bound to incite a tantrum or two. Luckily, bus tours are the perfect solution! Hopping onboard a bus, sit back and relax while the sights of a city pass your window. There's often some fun themes, such as Paddington Bear to help engage little ones.

Go Karting

For families that love nothing more than getting competitive, go karting provides the perfect summer entertainment. Definitely not for the faint-hearted, the UK is home to an array of outdoor circuits, where you can race each other or simply soak up the exhilarating high-pitched whine of a track-load of karts flying around. 

Dine Al Fresco

Alfresco dining options are rife in the summer if you know where to look. Head to a pub with a country garden, a rooftop restaurant with magnificent cityscape views, or enjoy a BBQ in your own garden’s patio.  

Indoor Skydiving

When it comes to kids and their summer holidays, they want to do cool things that they can tell their friends about when the new school year starts. And that’s where indoor skydiving comes in. The closest sensation to skydiving, you'll be suspended in mid-air by a powerful updraft.

Cheap and free things to do in summer 

On a budget? Knowing cheap and free activities is all you need. Luckily, we’ve come up with some of the best day out ideas that won’t break the bank. 

• Fruit Picking. Summer things to do don’t get much sweeter than a trip to a pick-your-own fruit farm. Whether you’re in the mood for some strawberries, raspberries or cherries, find a nearby farm where you can pick the food yourself and enjoy the fruits of your labour.
• Go to the beach. It wouldn’t be a British summer without a trip to the beach. Fish and chips, ice cream and a bucket and spade are all hallmarks here. And even better you can tailor the beach day to your preference - sinking your feet in the golden sands of Newquay or skimming rocks across a stony beach like Brighton.
• Picnic. Make the most of a glorious weather forecast, pack a traditional wicker basket with your favourite picnic foods and discover the perfect spot to soak up the summer rays. 

• Road Trip. There are very few activities more freeing and spontaneous than going on a road trip. Whether you go it alone or rally your best friends, pick a spot on the map and just get in your car and drive. 
• Water Balloon Fight. While we all love the feeling of the sun in our faces, sometimes we just need to cool down. Relive the carefree days of childhood by hitting the shops to pick up some balloons. Fill them up with water, gather your opponents and have a blast with a water balloon fight. 
• Comedy Night. There’s more than enough cheap comedy nights across the UK to keep you rich in giggles and your wallet happy. Witness some of the country’s finest stand-up comedians from a host of fantastic locations with the option to extend the party into the night. 

• Browse a Farmer’s Market. Summer means fresh produce. Fresh produce means a stroll through a farmer’s market. Get the freshest, in-season produce grown lovingly by farmers - we’re talking meats, cheeses, honeys and so on. Perfect for a charcuterie board enjoyed al-fresco style. 
• Go on a bike ride. Enjoy your city from a fresh perspective on your bike, or get a zooming snapshot of a nearby town’s main attractions. Thanks to Boris Bikes, you can also spontaneously cycle round London whenever you want. 
• Museum hop. Museums are a British favourite when it comes to things to do in the summer. Odds are there’s a free museum in your area and not to mention, London is home to a vast collection of free-to-enter museums like the National Gallery.

Things to do with friends in summer

Looking for summer activities you can do with your friends? Then you’re in the right place. While we have your attention, don’t forget to check out our things to do with friends guide for even more ideas. 

• Go to the races. Several of the UK’s biggest horse racing events take place in the summer months, including The Cheltenham Festival, Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood. The perfect excuse to get glam with your friends, head to the racecourse for a day of horse racing action and plenty of fresh air. 
• Watch the sunrise. Wake up at 4am and drive to a beautiful sunrise spot - it could be a cityscape, beach or any kind of scenic location with the best sun views. Then, simply watch as the world slowly begins to wake up.
• Wine Tasting. Wine, glorious wine! Summer is the perfect opportunity to embark on a fascinating vineyard tour. See the grape to glass processes, learn the secrets that go into prepping and producing the wine, and of course treat your taste buds to a wine tasting.
  

• Hot Air Balloon. For a season all about being free and living spontaneously, a ride in a hot air balloon is just the thing. Take yourself to new heights, soak up the spectacular 360 degree uninhibited views and toast with prosecco upon landing.
• Canoeing. Glorious weather and gorgeous scenes: it’s not hard to see why canoeing is a popular summer activity. Here at Virgin Experience Days, we’re all about once-in-a-lifetime adventures, like canoeing over the highest aqueduct in the world. 
• Go Camping. What could be better than spending the night surrounded by idyllic nature and your best pals? This summer, forget camping and upscale to glamping. Less of the hassle of camping and a touch more glamour, your accommodation could come in the form of a pod or a yurt.

• Travel abroad. Think of a place you’ve always wanted to go or your favourite place in the world and book yourself a flight. It doesn’t have to be far either - you could just hop over to your neighbouring country. Travelling is guaranteed to see you create lifetime memories and a welcome change of scenery after the long slog of winter.
• Local sightseeing. When was the last time you all got together to explore your own city? Call your friends and take a tour, visiting the famous sites and landmarks. 
• Plan a weekend getaway. A holiday abroad can sometimes be more hassle than it’s worth. Make use of what’s right on your doorstep and treat yourselves to a summer staycation. If you need some more inspiration, check out our Summer Breaks guide, packed with epic getaway ideas.

• Catch a train to somewhere new. The premise for this one is quite simple - hail a taxi to the train station, buy a train ticket for somewhere random and spend the day in your spontaneously decided location. There are some great places in Britain that we may not otherwise visit if it wasn’t a by-chance encounter. 
• Cocktail Challenge. Summer is the best time to sip on a cool, refreshing drink. And that’s where this fun challenge that’s been circulating around the social media verse comes in. Each friend makes their own cocktail, gives it a fun name and brings one for everyone - of course, we’re talking elaborate affairs and not your run-of-the-mill drinks either. 
• Ziplining. Nothing says a summer to remember quite like flying down a zipline with your ride-or-dies. There’s really only one zip wire for this: Zipworld’s Velocity 2, the fastest zipline in the world. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s on in the UK this summer 2023?

Come the summertime, the nation’s calendar is packed full of exciting events across a range of themes such as: 

• British Summer Time Festival: Friday 30th June 2023
• Royal Ascot: Tuesday 20th - Saturday 24th June 2023
• The Proms: 15th July - 10th September 2023
• Wimbledon Championships: 3rd July to 16th July 2023
• Golf The Open Championship: 20th July to 23rd July 2023 
• Lord’s Test Match: 28th June and 27th July 2023

Will summer 2023 be hot?

While it’s impossible to know for sure, reports are already predicting a continual trend of higher maximum temperatures and longer warmer spells in the UK. In fact, by 2035 the record-breaking heatwave we saw in 2022 could become the ‘average’ summer.

Summary

If you’ve made it this far, you should hopefully have a handful of ideas for things to do this summer to make it the best one yet. Check out our full range of experiences if you’re ready to put those plans into action.