When temperatures spike, it may be a shock for some guests to find there aren’t many London sights with air-con – a mix of the town’s historic buildings and Britain’s erratic summer season climate means it’s not at all times important and might’t essentially be added on later.
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So what do you do when there’s a heatwave in London, particularly when you’re visiting the town with children and wish to flee the warmth?
I’ve picked out a number of the foremost vacationer sights in London with air-con, air cooling or locations to go the place you gained’t soften whereas the heatwave lasts.
London within the warmth: must 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 must hold their valuable reveals 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 gained’t stroll in to gusts of icy chill.
A mixture of huge crowds and the Pure Historical past Museum‘s Grade I listed constructing means this explicit attraction usually will get very heat inside – in case you are going, the dinosaur gallery has low gentle 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 fantastic glass roof doesn’t make it the good spot.
And the London Transport Museum has some huge 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, take a look at the short-term exhibitions – an ideal 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 certainly one of my high picks for a wet day in London with children, however with air-con all through the aquarium, it’s additionally the right spot to shelter from the warmth.
Try my assessment of go to to Sea Life London aquarium with children
V&A
When you’re on the lookout for a museum in South Kensington to remain cool, the V&A ought to high 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 number 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 the town are additionally pretty and funky.
Not used to move mail, you may 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
EDIT: The museum is now quickly closed till reopening in its new website at Smithfield in 2026
The Museum of London additionally has a cooling and air-con system inside, so you may uncover the town’s historical past, proper from the times when hippos lived the place Trafalgar Sq. is now – and presumably welcomed the solar.
Nationwide Maritime Museum
When you head right down to Greenwich (and a breeze on one of many river boats is a particular bonus if it’s also possible to 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 loads to find inside whilst you keep cool.
Tate Fashionable & Tate Britain
With hundreds of thousands passing via 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 effectively.
Tate Britain additionally has air-con and tends to be certainly one of London’s quieter galleries, so you may dodge overheated crowds as effectively.
Nationwide Gallery
The Nationwide Gallery has boasted some air-con since 1949 to guard its work, in addition to newer air-con added and improved throughout lockdown closures to maintain everybody cooler.
Just like the Tate and Museum of London, there’s the added bonus that entry is free.
Madame Tussauds
When you’ve obtained an attraction filled with wax works, you may’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 effectively with extremes of warmth or chilly, so the system tries to maintain the temperature pretty fixed, which suggests it’ll 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 may nonetheless count on it to get heat inside.
Except you could have quick observe tickets, you’ll even be ready within the queue to board on your time slot as effectively.
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 Palace Theatre (Hamilton), 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 Smeds and the Smoos), the Theatre Royal Haymarket (for The Tiger Who Got here To Tea), the Palladium and the Garrick all have air cooling.
When you’re planning to observe Hercules on the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, there’s no aircon, so that you’ll must depend on chills from the drama to maintain you cool.
Try TodayTix when 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 via 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 place to flee the warmth.
However the basement rooms, together with the Backyard – a favorite of youthful children – do are likely to get fairly heat.
Shrek’s Journey
In case your children are trying 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 consists of water sprays and blasts of air. Beautiful.
Different issues to do when it’s sizzling in London
When you’re trying to escape the warmth in London with children, it’s not simply air conditioned sights which might help hold you cool.
Discover the dancing fountains & splash pads
Splash pads, dancing fountains, no matter title 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 different, with jets of water creating ‘rooms’ earlier than they vanish. It’s price figuring out that children 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 usually one other set within the courtyard of Somerset Home on the other financial institution (solely switched on on choose dates, relying on occasions and climate). You may also discover extra fountains at Leicester Sq..
And if splashing alone isn’t sufficient, Ravenscourt Park in west London has a paddling pool, which reopened in Could half-term. Free to make use of, however you might want 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 test earlier than you go to**
Go to the parks
Regardless of being one of many largest cities on this planet, London additionally scores effectively in relation to inexperienced house, 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 different, 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.
When you’re blissful 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 is certainly one of my favorite viewpoints in London. The design of the constructing means the within space is ventilated though it’s extra more likely to really feel heat 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, you could find a breeze off the water as you sit on the banks. The Southbank is at all times among the best 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.
When you’d relatively be on the water, take a look at my ideas 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 may have a dip.
Or head west to benefit from the seaside at Ruislip Lido – there’s a splash pad right here too, though you may’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 youngsters. However households with toddlers and youngsters below 7 might really feel extra snug 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 e-book prematurely to keep away from disappointment.
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 an extended stretch of solar to heat it up.
Owned by Higher Fitness center, the pool is on the market to make use of by health club members and non-members. However when you’re not a member, you’ll need to e-book prematurely.
Youngsters 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 college 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 mid-Could 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 children.
- 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 Street – central London’s solely heated, out of doors pool, this sits on a solar terrace above avenue stage. Children can attend Swim For All Classes at Oasis Sports activities Centre however below 8s and non-swimmers aged 11-17 have to be accompanied within the water by a reliable grownup swimmer.
- Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds – no kids below 8 are permitted to swim at Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds but it surely’s an possibility for older children. Nonetheless, all under-16s should attend with an accompanying grownup who might be within the water with them and likewise must move 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 fort in winter is aware of, thick stone partitions make for cold interiors.
So within the top of summer season, 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 approach, the centuries-old stone partitions of each Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s cathedral hold the inside fantastically cool on sizzling days.
Seize an ice cream
There are some unbelievable locations to show cooling down into an artwork type – for the most effective ice cream in London, there are a number of mouth-watering concepts among the many finest desserts in London.
Getting round London within the warmth
When you’re planning a bus tour, Large 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 typically decrease deck solely (until you’re on a bus with an enclosed higher space). Taking into consideration that a lot of the high deck is generally open to the weather (and likewise the place you’ll get the most effective views), you’ll must depend on pure air cooling…
Tootbus doesn’t have air-con on its buses.
For extra recommendations on London’s finest bus excursions with children, take a look at 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 typically cooler than the deep strains just like the Piccadilly and Northern line.
When you’d relatively 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 photos copyright MummyTravels