Ahhhh, summer. You can almost smell it in the air. Despite the best attempts of the British climate, summer is definitely (maybe) coming to a city near you. Taking over rooftop bars, riverside pubs, and gorgeous pub gardens, London’s marvellous summer pop-ups will help you make the most of it – and we’ve wrapped them all up in one handy list!
1. Midnight Apothecary
A magical torchlit garden sitting outside the Brunel Museum, this lovingly curated event offers floral cocktails, marshmallows to toast over an open fire, and street food amid verdant surroundings. The perfect spot for a cute get-together on a balmy summer’s evening.
Plan your visit here.
Brunel Museum, Railway Avenue, SE16 4LF
2. Roof East
Roof East is a ravishing rooftop playground and the perfect splash of colour that London needs over the summer. There’s plenty on the roster at London’s largest outdoor playground; old favourites Sluggers are back with their batting cages, whilst the ever-popular Birdies crazy golf and East London Bowls Club are also making their return this summer. New to Roof East this summer is their free games area where you can challenge to a game of giant Jenga, Connect Four, Kub, Table Tennis and a whole lot more.
Plan your visit here.Stratford Multi-Storey Car Park, Great Eastern Way, E15 1BB
3. Jack & Boule
Let the good times roll this summer at Jack & Boule, a South Bank pop-up where you can try your hand at a game of Urban Boules. Partake in some (hopefully) friendly competition and then celebrate (or commiserate) with one of their craft beers or refreshing cocktails. With a whole host of street food to choose from too, the boule is well and truly in your court.
Plan your visit here.101 Upper Ground, SE1 9PP
4. London In The Sky
Suspended 100ft above the O2 Arena, this unusual dining experience provides a fully-featured dinner party while you dangle from a great height. It’s every bit as daring as it sounds, and it’s making its return to London in August. Grab brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, sunset dinner or cocktails up in the sky, and toast to our beautiful capital city.
Plan your visit here.Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX
5. Rooftop Film Club
The most dramatic of summer pop-ups is back for another round. Rooftop Film Club’s outdoor cinema screens are showing cinematic tours de force both new and old, at two London locations: Roof East Stratford and Peckham’s Bussey Building. Sink into a deckchair and enjoy Hollywood’s finest films.
Plan your visit here.6. Fulham Beach Club
You won’t need to schlep all the way out to Gatwick to get yourself on a white sand beach this summer. Fulham Beach Club is bringing all of the summer vibes to West London with a jungle beach paradise – think cabanas, beach huts, and a jungle covered pergola. Tiki cocktail, anyone?
Plan your visit here.Neverland, Wandsworth Bridge Road, SW6 2TY
7. Summer By The River
A summer festival amongst summer pop-ups, and it’s back for another year. For three months (June 1-September 1), Summer By The River will be entertaining the masses with music, food, films, and big screen events. Plus, if you like free things, you’ll be glad to know that attendance is on the house, making this the biggest free outdoor festival in London.
Plan your visit here.London Bridge City, 4 More London Place, SE1 2DB
8. Love Pub + Grub
Love Pub + Grub are back for another summer of fun but this time they’ve set up shop in Dalston. The name pretty much describes the whole shebang in a nutshell – and it’s not a bad thing they’ve got going on. Pub = drinks flowing; Grub = all the street food you ever wanted to taste; and Love = a colourful, open-air setting with breathtaking views of London’s skyline. This place is bound to be just the tonic after a winter cooped up indoors.
Plan your visit here.89 Kingsland High Street, E8 2PB
9. Jimmy’s BBQ Club
Jimmy Garcia is a busy boy when it comes to summer pop-ups. Aside from running the food at loads of the other spots throughout the summer and the whole year, he’s also brings his BBQ Club to the South Bank every year. There’s a rooftop restaurant with cracking views of the river, two bars, plenty of picnic spots and, of course, a sea of delicious munch. No wonder it’s proved so wildly popular.
Plan your visit here.The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 8XX
10. Pergola Paddington
Pergolas have been the venue of choice for summer pop-ups in recent years, so the return of this huge, food-filled, sun-drenched one to Paddington is welcome news. The trifecta of food vendors that will be keeping you fed through the summer are Lucky’s Hot Chicken, Salt Shed, and Izakaya by Temaki Bros. So, all in on place you’ll be able to choose from fried chicken, smoky barbecue delights, burgers, bao, gyoza, and more.
Plan your visit here.5 Kingdom Street, W2 6PY
11. Baohaus at Neighbourhood
This one is for the foodies out there. This summer, Baohaus is popping up at the Islington hotspot, Neighbourhood for a 13-week residency. A cult favourite in NYC, this will be the first time Baohaus (and its founder, Eddie Huang) will be crossing the pond to the UK so I would recommend catching them while you can.
Plan your visit here.77 Upper Street, N1 0NU
12. The Luna Cinema
The Luna Cinema are back for again for sunny season, offering another brilliant outdoor spot to catch your favourite movies. Think old and new films, from Harry Potter and Pretty Women to Belfast and Nightmare Alley, at venues scattered all around the city.
Plan your visit here.13. Somerset House Terrace Bar
Ready for its fourth summer season, Somerset House Terrace Bar is back, baby! With a brand new, mouth-watering tapas menu and an updated bright, floral aesthetic; this terrific terrace bar is the perfect spot to sit back, relax, and admire the view this summer.
Plan your visit here.Somerset House, The Strand, WC2R 1LA
14. Skylight
The summery sensation, Skylight, can be found atop two rooftops across the city; one in Tobacco Dock and one in Peckham. Both have jam-packed schedules and both have immaculate vibes. In Tobacco Dock you’ll find the likes of bottomless wings, Mexican brunches and outdoor DJ‘s throughout the whole summer. Over in Peckham, you can expect student Mondays, wine Wednesdays and a BBQ shack – talk about a sizzling summer!
Plan your visit here.15. Frank’s Cafe
Another favourite Peckham summer hangout is back for 2023. Franks Cafe offers rooftop views over southeast London alongside intriguing art installations and gramworthy pics at THAT pink wall.
Plan your visit here.Bold Tendencies, 7th-10th Floor Multi Storey Car Park, 95A Rye Lane, SE15 4ST
Also published on Medium.