7 AWESOME IDEAS FOR THE BANK HOLIDAY

The summer bank holiday is the perfect opportunity to take a break and have some fun. Here are seven ways to have a truly awesome time – on your own, with friends or with your family.

Pictured top: Cannizaro Park

1 EAT

Treat yourself to something special – you deserve it (even if only, for enduring the heat!). There are some amazing pub gardens on your doorstep serving perfect sundown coolers, including The White Hart in Barnes – London at its quaintest – and Wych Elm in Kingston with a gorgeous, flower-filled secret garden. We also have some amazing al fresco offerings in SW London and Surrey: choose between fine dining at Trinity, dining-under-wisteria at Shambles or snacking on oysters at The Mitre. And many more!  

2 WALK

Make the most of the glorious weather. Take a summertime stroll from Richmond to Ham House or from Hampton Court to Teddington Lock, or simply roam amongst the greenery of Wimbledon! There are also some amazing routes and locales in Surrey, including Winkworth Arboretum, Painshill and RHS Wisley. If you’re into gorgeous, gorgous views, take one of these amazing scenic routes, or discover top secret gardens right on your doorstep. Just don’t forget a hat, a tube of sunscreen and a huge bottle of water!  

3 CHILL IN THE PARK 

We have this ultra-comprehensive guide to all the best local parks: explore the lovely walled gardens of Cannizaro Park, hire a boat in Wimbledon Park, see the stunning Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park and head for coffee and croissants at Pembroke Lodge in Richmond Park. There are also some fab playgrounds for your little ones, including a sandpit guarded by dragons at Hampton Court and nature-inspired attractions at Kew.  

4 GRAB A PINT 

There are many lovely pubs in SW London and Surrey that await you during the summer bank holiday weekend (and long after): in Clapham, there’s the Bobbin with its mouthwatering Mediterranean-influenced menu and quintessentially British Rose & Crown; in Putney, there’s Duke’s Head in a grand Victorian grade II listed building overlooking the Thames, and the Half Moon putting on its signature Night of New Music; and in Wimbledon head to the firm local favourite The Crooked Billet or to Tequila Mockingbird for a fancy concoction. Or get your friends together for a night out over the game of Carcassonne in one of these awesome pubs with games.  

5 SING & DANCE

Summer is not over yet, and neither are festivals! Get a taste of Ibiza in an English setting of East Molesey at Ibiza Chill House or opt for a more artistic option at The Greenwich + Docklands International Festival with its stunning displays, contemporary dance and innovative, participatory theatre. All Points East in Victoria Park is an option for the younger crowd.  

6 TAKE A DIP

Opt for an al fresco swim in a refreshing lido, with an optional fitness class if you fancy – Tooting Bec is sweetly reminiscent of the quintessential English seaside, Hampton Pool has lots of fun for kids and tots, and Pools on the Park offer gorgeous views. For the more adventurous, there are also great outdoor swimming options in Surrey (with some great sand – so great in fact, that the cult classic 2001: A Space Odyssey used sand quarried from Buckland Park, Reigate). Not fun enough? Try our awesome aquaparks for some fun in the sun! 

7 HAVE A CUP OF TEA

…in some fabulous setting. We have so many amazing afternoon teas in SW London and Surrey: go for traditional oven-baked scones with lashings of cream and homemade seasonal jam at The French Tarte in Surbiton or compliment your tea with a glass of Laurent-Perrier Champagne at 11 Cadogan Gardens in Chelsea. Tasha’s Tearoom in Cheam is perfect for a lowkey yet elegant afternoon tea, and Willow Bough in Wimbledon offers locally inspired options galore, including a Rose Lamartine Yates afternoon tea in the colours of Women’s Social & Political Union. Or venture central to Theatre Royal Drury Lane for something uber-glamorous.