Summer city breaks in London

With a bank holiday around the corner and several weeks to go until the young ones are back in school, London is a great choice for a summer city break. As a renowned cultural epicentre with a diversity of neighbourhoods offering amazing attractions, events and areas to explore, it’s a place people visit over and over again – and discover something new each time. To inspire your city break itinerary, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite things to do near our London apartments this summer.

Canning Town

East London’s electric social calendar has visitors flocking to this trendy area, and this summer there are a number of festivals taking place near our Canning Town apartments. All Points East (18th to 19th August and 25th to 28th August) brings Stormzy, The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Erykah Badu, Haim and more renowned musicians to Victoria Park – just 25 minutes from our apartments via the tube and overground lines.

Those with children will love the Greenwich Fair (26th August), part of this year’s Greenwich+Docklands International Festival programme: there will be street arts, circus performances, dance and art installations taking place at the Old Royal Naval College, Cutty Sark Gardens and Greenwich Park (pictured right) – all reachable in less than 30 mins from our Canning Town apartments.

Brentford

With Kew Gardens (left) just across the bridge from our Brentford apartments, you’re in the perfect spot to enjoy the 50,000 living plants housed at this UNESCO World Heritage site. And this summer there are some wonderful art exhibitions at Kew included with your ticket – check out the first UK exhibition of remarkable sculptural works by award-winning artist Anila Quayyum Agha, and the world premier of ‘Plants of the Qur’ān’ comprising 30 brand-new botanical paintings by artist Sue Wickison.

Breakfast (and lunch and dinner) like a king at the Hampton Court Palace Food Festival (26th to 28th August). Your entry to the iconic royal home, just 30 minutes' drive from our Brentford apartments, covers access to the festival, with more than 150 specialty food stalls. Pick up some gourmet grub and enjoy it in the 60 acres of parkland surrounding the palace. Kids will love the face-painting, arts and crafts and traditional fete games; while adults can enjoy a cocktail making class from local distiller Bone Idyll or head to the bandstand to hear local musicians.

And from 1st to 3rd September, chef Tom Kerridge brings Pub in the Park to Chiswick House & Gardens, only 20 minutes from our Brentford apartments via the train from Kew Bridge. This festival is a great way to round out the summer, with live music, award-winning pop-up restaurants, kids’ activities, cooking demonstrations and more. 

Mayfair

London’s art calendar counts the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition (to 20th August) as one of its highlights; you can find the 1,600 featured works just 13 minutes’ walk from our Mayfair apartments. Enjoy an award-winning English sparkling wine in the on-site bar before you take in pieces by Tracey Emin, Hew Locke, Barbara Walker, Gavin Turk, Phyllida Barlow, Richard Malone and (many!) more.

Earl’s Court and Kensington

We have three properties across Earl’s Court, all well-placed for enjoying the world’s greatest classical music festival, BBC Proms, which is taking place at the Royal Albert Hall until 9th September.

Opera Holland Park is presenting ‘Carnival Culture in the Park’ (16th to 19th August); four evenings of music in a beautiful auditorium right in the heart of Holland Park – less than 20 minutes’ walk from our two Kensington locations, Cheniston Gardens and Lexham Gardens. This event is part of the wider Kensington and Chelsea Festival, running to 31st August, with a packed programme of dance, music, outdoor arts, film, theatre and more taking place across the borough.

Of course, one of London’s biggest summer highlights is Notting Hill Carnival (26th to 28th August), bringing the joys of Caribbean music, dance and food to Kensington. Our North Kensington – Portobello apartments are particularly well placed to enjoy this amazing long weekend, just a short walk from the heart of the parade routes. Sunday 27th August is traditionally Families and Children’s Day, allowing young ones to enjoy this colourful, celebratory carnival too.

Baker Street

Our Baker Street studio apartments are perfectly placed to enjoy all the delights of this beautiful inner-city location. The area is bordered by Soho, Fitzrovia, Paddington and the West End; all of which make it a great place to centre yourself for a city staycation. Step back in time with a visit to the Sherlock Holmes Museum, check out the exhibitions on show at The Wallace Collection, or catch this summer’s hit flicks Barbie and Oppenheimer at Everyman Cinema. Il Blandford’s on nearby Chiltern Street is celebrating its 50th anniversary as the neighbourhood’s local Italian; raise a celebratory toast in the restaurant’s separate wine bar or head to the terrace to enjoy the balmy August evenings.

Ready to book your stay at one of our London serviced apartments?

You can book an apartment three ways:

• Book online now
• Fill out an enquiry form for follow up
• Contact our team to chat through requirements: by phone (during office hours) +44 (0)20 3743 0331 or by email