Despite being a winter baby I’m a summer girl at heart. I love the light mornings, long days and spending more time outside. Sunday marks the first official day of summer in the UK. That’s three months, 93 days, or thirteen weekends, to fill with, well whatever you want. The card above (from Paperchase) pretty much sums up how I hope to spend my summer: living, laughing and loving every minute. Here’s how I plan to fill a few of those weekends…
Take A Trip To The Seaside
One of my friends is moving from London to Hastings. It’s taken a while but I’ve finally gotten over the fact that she’s leaving London. Never having been to Hastings and assuming her house sale and purchase go through on time, I hope to visit before summer’s done. I’m also keen to visit Margate and go to the remimagined (their word) Dreamland amusement park, the UK’s oldest surviving theme park, which reopened today after an 11 year campaign to save it.
Workout Up High
Over the past couple of summers London’s rooftops have been transformed into temporary bars, cinemas and restaurants. This summer, as well as eating, drinking and watching movies, it seems you can also workout in the sky. I plan to do a hula hoop class high above the city and salute the sun with a spectacular view at a rooftop yoga class.
Go To An Exhibition
I’ve long been a fan of Audrey Hepburn’s films but it wasn’t until I read a biography and learned about her life off screen, before and after her movie career, that I became properly obsessed (seriously if the extent of your knowledge is her movies, get reading!). I’m really looking forward to Audrey Hepburn Portrait Of An Icon, a photographic exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery opening July 2nd, which promises portraits from the likes of Richard Avedon, Cecil Beaton, Irving Penn and more.
Picnic In A Park
Food eaten outdoors on a sunny day tastes way better than exactly the same food eaten indoors, I don’t know why, it just does. Which is why on the first sunny weekend of the summer I’ll be gathering a crew, or grabbing a book and getting on my bike and taking a picnic to one of London’s many parks. My fave, possibly because it’s nearest to home, is Victoria Park. And if I don’t quite get it together to make a picnic there are are plenty of cafes for takeaway treats.
Disconnect Now And Again
If you follow me on Instagram you might have noticed that since Saturday I’ve been in Formentera on a very last minute holiday (booked Thursday, flew Saturday). I’ve been working and keeping on top of emails first thing in the morning and checking in again in the evening before I go out but, during the day, I’ve been blissfully unconnected, exploring the island by bicycle and stopping to sunbathe or eat as the mood takes me. I thoroughly recommend it and plan to disconnect at regular intervals throughout the summer.
Well that’s me. What are your plans for summer 2015? Do share below!
I’ve literally been hanging on for summer, and the past few days have been bliss!
If you do go down to Margate, you must visit the Turner Contemporary art gallery – you can tick off two things on your list at once! It’s a beautiful building with stunning views right out to sea. At the moment here’s a Grayson Perry exhibition on but I haven’t visited yet. Ooh, and you can then go to the Cupcake Cafe in the old town and then have dinner at the GB Pizza Co. Brilliant day out!
Our summer is going to consist of day trips to the seaside where we live locally and making the most of the last few days of my maternity leave with my little man! (*sobs*)
I’m even more keen to visit Margate now Tallulah, thank you for all the recommendations and enjoy every last minute of your maternity leave!
I’ve heard that the Reading Rooms in Margate are supposed to be particularly lovely too! http://www.thereadingroomsmargate.co.uk
I’m going to need more than a day to do Margate at this rate!
Yay, this post is making me so excited for summer, Miranda! When the sun is shining and it’s a warm, sunny day, the UK is so stunning. This summer, I really want to take advantage of the fact that we’ve moved out of London and are living in Surrey – there are some lovely things to see around our area. One of my absolutely faves was Clandon Park which sadly got burnt out, it was stunning. 🙁 My fiance was brought up nearby so he knows some lovely pubs for sunday lunches in the sun – perfect.
We’re also getting married in 5 weeks in Italy so will spend a week sunning ourselves near Siena and doing lots of wine and prosecco tasting (someone has to) followed by ten days in the Maldives. I can’t wait, I feel like I haven’t had a holiday in ages!
I love a long, lazy, sunny pub lunch in the summer Kate! Oh my goodness, you are going to have the most wonderful summer and no mistake. Wishing you a wonderful wedding, a fab honeymoon and all the best with the wine and prosecco tasting…!
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Hi Miranda,
I’m going to see the Audrey Hepburn exhibition too – can’t wait! I’m keen to read more about her before I visit. Which biography did you read….was just having a look on amazon and there are so many to choose from! Would you recommend the one you have read?
Thanks! 🙂