A Glorious Summer Day in the Life of London

A summer day in London can be a glorious experience. We’ve been fortunate enough to be in London a few times this summer, and people-watching is one of the sweet luxuries of a visit. Here’s a round-up of some of the chic, interesting, elegant, and eye-catching people and OOTDs that we saw by day. And some of the quiet moments that touched us as dusk set in.

The Luxury of a Photo Journey in London in the Summer

The Luxury Photo Journey is an occasional series here at Dandelion Chandelier. Sometimes we find ourselves in a place so stunningly beautiful that words fail us. In those instances, we’ll let the images do most of the talking.

Like any great city, London is too vast to fully capture in one day (perhaps even in one lifetime). Even one day in the summer, when daylight comes early and lingers late. Our little slice of London for this photo journey is in the central area. Further explorations to come. But for now, here’s what we saw in Piccadilly, St. James and Albertopolis.

A Glorious Summer Day in London

We thought the people-watching in New York was good, but London can definitely hold its own. The weather was so fine on our last couple of visits that we didn’t even go inside for tea. Next time.

Off to Work on a London Morning

We begin our day in London in Green Park, under a bluebird sky.

The Londoners were hustling to work, many on foot. And some by bike.

A few were getting their cardio in with a brisk walk in St. James Park.

A stop at Westminster Abbey mid-morning

After the morning rush, we rambled over to Westminster Abbey for a self-guided tour.

It’s stunningly beautiful any time of year, but in summer, there are lots of families with young kids on school break visiting the iconic church.

The serene gardens of Westminster Abbey are a perfect place to be at midday – but if you want more action, just hang around for the lunchtime concert to begin,

High Noon on Westminster Bridge

At the top of the afternoon, the Westminster Bridge over the River Thames is thronged with people, mostly visitors and people trying to sell them something. A photogenic taxi was too perfect not to include.

Somehow, we never tire of seeing the bright red phone booths in London. Sure, they’re touristy. But it’s London!

A Visit to Buckingham Palace

One of the excellent things to do in London in the summer is a visit to Buckingham Palace. It’s only open to the public in the summer, when the Royal Family decamps to the countryside. It’s a great experience, and the gardens behind the Palace are almost as spectacular as the royal home itself.

An Afternoon in St. James Park

After Buckingham Palace, taking a stroll through St. James Park is the perfect next step. The swans are likely to be out.

The ice cream truck is likely to make an appearance, as well.

If you wanted to, you could happily sit for an hour or two just people watching in London in any park. The crowd at St. James Park is generally extremely chic.

A Quick Stop for Outdoor Art

Every time we visit London, we try to stop at the Royal Academy to see what’s installed in the courtyard. Somehow, we’re never disappointed.

Bookstore Run

There’s a great row of bookstores in Piccadilly that are also on our must-visit list whenever we’re in town. Hatchards, Maison Assouline, and Waterstone’s are all places to get lost in for a while. Especially in the hottest part of the day.

Sweets for the Road

After the bookstore run, stop for a treat at Fortnum & Mason.

Summer Evening People-Watching in London

In summer, the sun doesn’t really set until about 10:00P. Which means the streets, parks, and concert halls are all full of life in the after-work hours. Even on a weekday.

Some are going to BBC Proms concerts at Royal Albert Hall.

Some are just getting the evening going at a fantastic eatery (like Sexy Fish).

And as dusk draws near, others are just quietly passing the time in conversation.

It’s good to know that even in a massive metropolis like London, there’s room for serenity and calm, if that’s what you’re after.

What’s your favorite part of London on a brilliant summer day? We can’t even begin to choose. We’ll just have to keep coming back until we figure that out.

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