Blue skies, cheerful locals, buzzing restaurants, pubs and exhibition spaces — summer in London will make you forget all about its rainy reputation. Here are our favourite things to do on a sunny day in the city.

Summer Exhibition

The Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition has been a staple of the London art scene for over 250 years. The show brings together contemporary artistic talent across all media, with almost every piece for sale, and the money going into fostering the next generation of great artists. This year, works include modern masterpieces by household names such as Banksy and Tracy Emin. All the exhibition’s pieces are displayed throughout the Royal Academy’s spacious outdoor courtyard and its numerous galleries. There are few mid-week evenings spent better than amongst the creations of the art world’s most cutting-edge minds with an ice-cold glass of champagne.

Summer pedalos

The Serpentine is the Thames’ lesser-known little sister. A small river that flows, predominantly underground, through London before bursting into the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park. Here you'll find a fleet of bright blue pedalos, ready for a perfect afternoon on the water, watching the resident swans.

Wimbledon

Tennis’ most prestigious tournament is a London summertime classic. The atmosphere is unlike anything else, whether you're watching at a local pub or one of the many outdoor screenings that take place in the city. If you want to feel closer to the action, take a picnic and watch from the famous 'Murray Mound' (named after Britain's first Wimbledon winner since 1977), or if you're lucky enough to get tickets, you can see the spectacle unfold court-side.

Greenwich

Greenwich is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of London’s most historically vibrant boroughs. Located about five miles east of central London, the best way to reach the neighbourhood is by one of London’s water-buses. Once there, enjoy Greenwich’s rich maritime culture, either at the National Maritime Museum, the Old Royal Naval College designed by Christoper Wren, or aboard the world’s last surviving tea clipper, the Cutty Sark. In addition, Greenwich is famous for its outdoor market and charming boutique restaurants.

West End Live

Each summer at the iconic Trafalgar Square, one of London’s most amazing public events takes place; West End Live. You'll find acts from British theatre’s most famous shows and genre-defining modern musicals out in full force for an entire weekend. This year’s line-up includes household names like Mamma Mia and Phantom of the Opera, as well as more recent hit shows, like Aladdin, Thriller and Wicked.

Kew Botanical Gardens

Another World Heritage site, Kew Gardens is home to over 50,000 living plants spread out amongst beautiful garden paths, historical greenhouses and cutting-edge horticultural installations, such as the Davies Alpine House which replicates high-altitude conditions. In addition to its enchanting walkways and Alice in Wonderland-style garden houses, Kew Gardens also houses exhibitions throughout summertime, this year’s showstopper being Dale Chihuly’s 'Reflections on Nature', highlighting his most prodigious contemporary glass sculpture.

Globe Outdoor Theatre

William Shakespeare needs no introduction. The Elizabethan playwright is England’s most legendary wordsmith, behind the language’s most impressive works of theatre and some of its greatest poetry. The original playhouse which performed his works burnt down in the 17th century, but a faithful modern reconstruction was opened over 20 years ago, dedicated solely to the performance of Shakespeare’s greatest plays. This summer’s highlight performance is Henry IV Part I.

Jumeirah’s London properties are in the heart of the city, making it easy to travel to any of London's summertime events.