The sun is out, the sky is blue, it’s beautiful… and it’s still winter?! It’s both confusing and a bit terrifying that it’s already up to 18 degrees this week. But you can make the most of the temporary warmth (before it starts raining, as my British friends assure me it will) with these sunny day activities:
Stroll along the South Bank
Just a short walk from LSE and across Waterloo Bridge is the magical world of the South Bank! Under that bridge you’ll find the South Bank Book Market where vendors sell used books and prints. From there you’re just a few steps away from restaurants with outdoor seating and the famous Southbank skateboard park.
If you visit on the weekend, pop by the Southbank Centre Food Market – behind Royal Festival Hall, towards Waterloo station – for great international street food. Check the National Theatre, Southbank Centre or BFI Southbank websites before your visit to get some (student discount!) tickets to finish off your visit.
Have a picnic at Gordon Square:
Gordon Square is only a 20 minute walk from LSE, if you want a change of scenery while you eat your lunch. It’s in Bloomsbury and is full of UCL students in the afternoons – you can go undercover and make generic conversation about how “that one professor” is really tough. Or skip the uncomfortable chitchat and get a coffee from Ginger Jules, the little café at one end of the park. It’s only February but Gordon Square is already full of flowers. Find a spot on the grass for a quick picnic, and don’t let the pigeons get too close.
Feel Fancy at Kew Gardens:
Kew Gardens is a botanical garden with more than thirty thousand types of plants. It’s in Richmond and is a bit of a trek from the city centre, but you can get there via the District line from Temple, and have a few podcasts saved for the trip. Kew Gardens was founded in 1840 and is beautiful inside and out – inside the greenhouses and out on the grounds, that is. If you are craving summer, visit the Victorian Palm House to see some tropical plants and enjoy the rainforest climate. Or explore the grounds, including a bamboo garden, gallery and the Great Pagoda. Tickets are under ₤10 for students, but you can sign up now for the LSE Student Union’s trip to Kew Gardens on 27 March, totally free!
Take in the views at Greenwich Park:
For all you South Londoners: Greenwich Park has an incredible view of London and is the most relaxing place to spend a sunny day. You can find a spot on the grass the do your readings or walk up the hill to the Royal Observatory (home of Greenwich Mean Time! Celebrity status or what). If observatories aren’t your thing, walk a few metres to the lookout and enjoy a beautiful view all over London.
Go bird-watching at St. James’s Park:
St. James’s Park is only about 20-minutes walk from LSE but feels like a world away. The park is usually busy on a sunny day with tourists, Londoners, and birds. St. James’s Park is home to a family of famous pelicans, the descendants of a pair that the Russian ambassador gave to King Charles II in 1664. You’ll also find swans, pigeons, and geese who will try to steal your lunch. Find a quiet spot on the grass (again: beware of geese) or walk across the park to see Buckingham Palace gleaming in the sun. The park is a bit touristy but has lovely views all the way to the London Eye.
Swim a few laps at the London Fields Lido:
If you’re totally taken with the warm weather, head to Hackney for an outdoor swim! A lido is an open-air swimming pool, and people have been enjoying this one since the 1930s. The current pool re-opened in 2006, complete with a café and (thankfully) heating! It’s open from 6:30 am – 9:00 pm so you can always pop by for a swim after class. Check out their website for more info about entrance fees (₤5 for non-members) and swimming lessons!
Bonus: Play a game of rounders
My friend did his undergrad in the UK and says rounders is the ultimate British sunny day activity. It’s like baseball but with less equipment and is – he claims – tons of fun. You’ll need at least six people, though more is better. Watch this hilarious and informative video of an Irish elementary school class explaining the rules, and try it out with your friends!
Words and photos by LSE Social Media Ambassador Erika Loggin