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 time climate means it’s not all the time 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 for those who’re visiting the town with youngsters and wish to flee the warmth?
I’ve picked out a number of the fundamental vacationer sights in London with air-con, air cooling or locations to go the place you received’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 further 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 all the time must maintain their treasured displays in a local weather managed setting, that doesn’t all the time translate right into a managed local weather for guests – even the place there’s a cooling system, you received’t stroll in to gusts of icy chill.
A mix of massive crowds and the Pure Historical past Museum’s Grade I listed constructing means this explicit attraction typically will get very heat inside – if you’re going, the dinosaur gallery has low gentle and generally is 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 Courtroom’s fantastic glass roof doesn’t make it the best 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 – a terrific 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 considered one of my prime picks for a wet day in London with youngsters, however with air-con all through the aquarium, it’s additionally the proper spot to shelter from the warmth.
V&A
For those who’re in search of a museum in South Kensington to remain cool, the V&A ought to prime your listing – 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’ll be able to nonetheless trip the Mail Rail practice 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
The Museum of London additionally has a cooling and air-con system inside, so you’ll be able to uncover the town’s historical past, proper from the times when hippos lived the place Trafalgar Sq. is now – and presumably welcomed the solar.
EDIT: The museum is now briefly closed till reopening in its new website at Smithfield in 2026
Nationwide Maritime Museum
For those who head right down to Greenwich (and a breeze on one of many river boats is a particular bonus if you may also discover a shady seat), the Nationwide Maritime Museum has air-con.
The world across the big map can get heat, however with tales of Polar adventures (in addition to Tudor piracy and Pacific explorations), there’s lots to find inside when you keep cool.
Tate Fashionable & Tate Britain
With hundreds of thousands passing by the Tate Fashionable’s galleries alone, air-con has all the time 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 considered one of London’s quieter galleries, so you’ll be able to 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 throughout lockdown closures.
Just like the Tate and Museum of London, there’s the added bonus that entry is free.
Madame Tussauds
For those who’ve received an attraction stuffed with wax works, you’ll be able to’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 can 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’ll be able to nonetheless anticipate it to get heat inside.
Until you could have quick observe tickets, you’ll even be ready within the queue to board in your time slot as effectively.
Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition
EDIT – NOW CLOSED: For those who’ve received followers of the wizarding world, the short-term Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition in Covent Backyard isn’t solely a magical look behind the scenes of the films, its air-con makes it enchantingly cool.
Because the title suggests, this one is predicated round photographs (and video), though there are a couple of interactive components, so higher in case your youngsters are barely older (or full Potterheads) than for the youngest followers.
Try my evaluate of visiting the Harry Potter Picture Exhibition with youngsters
London theatres with air-con
Most of the West Finish’s theatres are too outdated, protected or fragile to have full air-con: the air cooling programs are sometimes impressively environment friendly although, at theatres such because the Apollo.
Nonetheless, some do have correct air-con together with the Adelphi Theatre (Again to the Future Musical), the Victoria Theatre (Hamilton), the Theatre Royal Haymarket (for The Tiger Who Got here To Tea), 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 (for Mary Poppins), the Lyric (Room on the Broom), the Palladium (Magnificence and the Beast) and the Garrick (for Horrible Histories) all have air cooling.
In a slight twist of irony, for those who’re planning to look at Frozen on the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, there’s no aircon, so that you’ll must depend on the motion to maintain you cool.
To examine individually, the Official London Theatre web page lists services for London’s theatres.
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 by the glass ground may 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 youngsters – does are inclined to get fairly heat.
Shrek’s Journey
In case your youngsters 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. Pretty.
Different issues to do when it’s sizzling in London
For those who’re seeking to escape the warmth in London with youngsters, it’s not simply air conditioned sights which may also help maintain 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 youngsters.
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 teenagers 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 value 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 typically one other set within the courtyard of Somerset Home on the other financial institution (just some at present operating, as This Shiny Land is happening). You can too discover extra fountains at Leicester Sq..
And if splashing alone isn’t sufficient, Ravenscourt Park in west London has a paddling pool – free to make use of, however it is advisable prebook a timed slot as numbers are restricted.
**Thames Water could also be bringing in a hosepipe ban and different restrictions, which may imply the fountains are switched off or extra restricted – all the time examine 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 the case of inexperienced area, 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 many of the royal parks can have a couple of patches of shade to hang around when it’s sizzling.
For those who’re pleased 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 generally is a pretty spot when it’s sizzling in London, in addition to being considered one of my favorite viewpoints in London.
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, yow will discover a breeze off the water as you sit on the banks. The Southbank is all the time among the finest 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.
For those who’d moderately be on the water, take a look at my ideas for the most effective boat excursions in London with youngsters in addition to locations to kayak with youngsters
Go for a swim
Though you’ll must journey out of central London (except you’re staying in a resort with a pool), there are lidos across the metropolis the place you’ll be able to have a dip.
Or head west to benefit from the seaside at Ruislip Lido – there’s a splash pad right here too, though you’ll be able to’t really swim within the reservoir. Unsurprisingly it’s a well-liked spot on a sunny day.
Go to the Tower of London
There may be – unsurprisingly – no air-con in the Tower, however as anybody who’s visited a citadel in winter is aware of, thick stone partitions make for cold interiors.
So within the top of summer time, venturing into the outdated royal residences may be blissfully cool. The world with the Crown Jewels can 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 maintain the inside superbly cool on sizzling days.
Seize an ice cream
There are some improbable locations to show cooling down into an artwork kind – for the most effective ice cream in London, take a look at this nice put up from Globetotting.
Getting round London within the warmth
For those who’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 (except you’re on a bus with an enclosed higher space). Allowing for that many of the prime deck is usually open to the weather (and in addition 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 tips about London’s finest bus excursions with youngsters, take a look at this put up
On the tube, the Central line is formally the most well liked line, whereas the brand new Elizabeth Line has air-con and is genuinely cool. In any other case, the traces which keep nearer the floor – particularly the Overground, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & Metropolis and Circle – are typically cooler than the deep traces just like the Picadilly and Northern line.
For those who’d moderately 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.
Disclosure: This put up incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Pure Historical past Museum/Tower Bridge/London Underground signal courtesy of Depositphotos, all different pictures copyright MummyTravels
