04 May 10 Things To Do in London This Spring
I’m clearly becoming English, because as of late I’ve been starting all my posts with a paragraph about the weather. I just can’t help myself – when the country comes alive with little specks of gold, it’s just so pretty.
But enough about that… Let’s not have another superficial conversation about how pretty springtime is and instead talk about how we can make the most of it! Here is a list of my top ten things to do in London this spring, which should suit all moods and budgets.
2. Dinner experience at Pret A Diner. You can check out my review of this hot dining event here – but in short, it is a unique evening during which you can sample a four course Michelin star meal with wine pairings and feast your eyes on extravagant bohemian decor. It is available at Hotel Cafe Royal from April 21 to May 23, tickets start at £75.
3. Boat on the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park. You can choose from a variety of rowing and pedal boats for up to 6 persons or the UK’s first Solarshuttle, a solar vessel which can carry up to 40 passengers. Yes, some of the boats are duck shaped. Boating is available from April until October 31, 10am until sundown which is around 8pm in the summer and costs £12 per hour or £10 for 30 minutes. If boating isn’t your thing, there are tennis courts and football pitches nearby – or you could try your hand at rollerblading!
4. Attend Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. With amazing productions like William Golding’s Lord of the Flies or J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, this award-winning theatre is a must. What could be more relaxing that watching actors under the stars, surrounded by a canopy of trees? It is open from May 15 – September 12 and tickets cost £25-65.
5. Swim in Hampstead Heath. This is one of my absolute favourite swimming spots in the capital. It features the only life-guarded open-water swimming facilities in the country and is open to the public every day of the year. Yes, you can even go swimming here in the winter. But don’t worry – in the spring the water is warm and spirits universally high. You can choose between the Ladies’ Pond, the Men’s Pond, the Mixed Pond and the lido – a large uncovered pool at Parliament Hill. A day ticket for the ponds costs £2, lido charges range from £2.50 to £6 depending on the time of day – concessions are available, too.
6. Check out Drive-In Film Club. This American-style drive-in cinema is hidden away at Alexandra Palace in the north of London – and is a gem worth travelling for. The screenings include classics like Grease, The Notebook or Pulp Fiction, but also amazing new films like Selma or Birdman. As for the food menu, you can get popcorn, candy and the popular Popdogs gourmet hot dogs delivered straight to your car… by a rollerblading waitress! What’s not to love? Tickets cost around £20 per car, regardless of occupancy.
7. Get comfortable in the Hot Tub Cinema. Two film events in a row? I know, I know. But don’t think I’m including this one for lack of creativity. Since its opening in 2012, the event has grown to include up to thirty hot tubs and two screens – so it’s pretty safe to say this is a popular event. No wonder – with classics like the Big Lebowski or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, you can hardly go wrong! Tickets cost £20-27.50 and sell out fast.
9. Eat up at a food market. I could have picked one market here, but with so many to choose from it seems almost impossible. Borough Market is the most popular – you can read my guide to it here – but it is far from the only good option! The Slow Food & Living Market at the Rosewood Hotel has been getting a lot of attention… and for good reason. Open every Sunday, it is a truly scrumptious upscale event!
10. Run like the wind at Primrose Hill. The area offers some of the loveliest views of London and its paths are well kept, but challenging enough. Spring is the perfect time to get in shape – not because of silly things like bikini season, but because spring is a fantastic time to reevaluate your life choices and start living healthy!
But there is something else we need to talk about – my outfit! I tried my best to adhere to the lovely pastel palette nature has been showing off for the past few weeks and I almost succeeded. I just could not resist adding a little pop of colour with a statement neon necklace! Beside that I didn’t have to accessorise much, so I only added my spanking new watch from House of Watches – I just love how sophisticated it makes me look. Or I think it does anyway! I normally don’t wear silver much, but it looks so slick and elegant that it might just change my mind on the matter.
Disclaimer: My watch was provided by the House of Watches, but as always all opinions are my own. Photos via Peter Parkorr – check out his blog, Travel Unmasked.