My Perfect Summer's Day in London!

If you couldn’t tell already, I love London! Hence why I chose to stay here to study at university. I am extremely lucky to live just outside of the city, so trips in and out of central is very easy thanks to a quick half an hour train journey. Whether I go into London with friends, or with my boyfriend, there is always something different, fun, and exciting to do. However, saying that, I definitely have a few favourite places, like some preferred bars or restaurants I like to go to or some preferred areas that just simply radiate good energy. As the seasons change, my ‘perfect’ day changes with it. During the Wintertime, ice skating, Christmas shopping on Bond Street and maybe seeing the odd theatre show. During the Summertime, I appreciate being outside whilst having an easy picnic, enjoying the many parks in the city.

Making the most of the current heatwave in the UK, my boyfriend and I had what I like to call the ‘Perfect Summer’s Day’, literally entailing things that make us happy, whilst he has some time at home during the summer. We both tend to stick to activities that are pretty simple but enjoyable. In our books, this generally means anything with tasty food and drink, and anything where we can chat and spend valuable quality time together.

I happened to have this day with my boyfriend, but would absolutely do it with my friends too, as having quality time with them is just as important! So, don’t think this is just a relationship only kind of thing because it is definitely not, this just was a date day for us!

First things first, we headed up to London, and began at Marble Arch.

As we walked down Oxford Street, we were on the hunt to find coffee; it sets us both up for the day! We tried Blank Street Coffee for the first time, and I can say it was the best iced coffee I have had in a long time, the range of flavours was great and gave us a chance to spice up our usual coffee order.

Next, we needed picnic food! So, if you walk just a little further from the station, there is an M&S. You cannot beat M&S snack food! We bought food to share and of course some cocktail cans.

With a bag overloaded with snacks, we wondered to Hyde Park and found the perfect spot, and had a wholesome picnic together, chatting and enjoying the sun, the food and being together.

After a few hours had disappeared, we went for a quick walk around the park, before hopping back on the sticky tube, and headed towards Tottenham Court Road. Ending up in All Bar One, we enjoyed a couple of drinks, before dinner reservations later that evening.

If you have managed to catch a look at my previous blog post, you would know that whenever I end up close to Charlotte Street, I must have a browse in the Newsagents and will most likely pick up a magazine or two. This time, I managed to pick up Vanity Fair with The Weeknd on the cover, we managed to get tickets to see him perform in two weeks’ time!

I wasn’t kidding when I said our love language is good food and drink, because we ended the evening off with dinner at Dim T. This has been both of our favourite restaurant for a while now, as we both know we will always get good service and delicious food, plus we LOVE Asian food.

Personally, quality time with friends and/or a significant other, doesn’t always have to be extravagant, because sometimes just chilling, having a coffee in your local town, to catch up and enjoy each other’s company can be more than fulfilling. This day, we both didn’t exactly have a jam-packed day, but it was enough for us to be grateful for each other’s company and have a lovely day out together.

You don’t even necessarily need to do this with someone else either, appreciating your own company is just as special, maybe reading a book in Hyde Park or visiting some of the cool exhibitions around. Everyone’s idea of their own ‘Perfect Summer’s Day’ varies, but I hope this inspires you to consider having your own or gives you an idea of what to do. Plus, making the most of the rare, nice weather we have in the UK is also a reason to have your own perfect Summer’s Day.

Images/Edit/Words By Alice Abel