When temperatures spike, it can be a shock for some visitors to discover there aren’t many London attractions with air conditioning – a combination of the city’s historic buildings and Britain’s erratic summer weather means it’s not always essential and can’t necessarily be added on later.
contains affiliate links*
So what do you do when there’s a heatwave in London, especially if you’re visiting the city with kids and need to escape the heat?
I’ve picked out some of the main tourist attractions in London with air conditioning, air cooling or places to go where you won’t melt while the heatwave lasts.
London in the heat: need to know
Bear in mind that even those places which have air conditioning tend not to be as fiercely cold as other countries – I’ve needed to put extra layers on when going indoors in the US and Asia before now, but the most you’re likely to find is a pleasantly cool experience.
And while London’s museums and galleries always need to keep their precious exhibits in a climate controlled environment, that doesn’t always translate into a controlled climate for visitors – even where there is a cooling system, you won’t walk in to gusts of icy chill.
A combination of big crowds and the Natural History Museum‘s Grade I listed building means this particular attraction often gets very warm inside – if you are going, the dinosaur gallery has low light and can be a little cooler.
The British Museum has air conditioning in some areas but many are cooled only by fans – and the most popular galleries can get very busy, while the Great Court’s wonderful glass roof doesn’t make it the coolest spot.
And the London Transport Museum has some big open galleries to fit in its collection of double decker buses and other vintage transport, but there’s no air conditioning here either.
To find a guaranteed cool spot in a museum, check out the temporary exhibitions – a great tip from Museum Mum, as the government scheme which insures loans has strict rules about environmental controls so these are a perfect place to escape the heat in London.
London attractions with air conditioning
SeaLife
The SeaLife Centre is one of my top picks for a rainy day in London with kids, but with air conditioning throughout the aquarium, it’s also the perfect spot to shelter from the heat.
Check out my review of visit to Sea Life London aquarium with kids
V&A
If you’re looking for a museum in South Kensington to stay cool, the V&A should top your list – not only does this Grade I building have air conditioning but there’s a fountain in the courtyard too.
The Postal Museum
Less well-known than some of the other London museums, the Postal Museum is even more tempting in the heat – as well as air conditioning, the underground tunnels which once delivered mail across the city are also lovely and cool.
No longer used to transport mail, you can still ride the Mail Rail train during your visit (although do bear in mind that it can be warmer inside the carriages than in the tunnels).
Museum of London
EDIT: The museum is now temporarily closed until reopening in its new site at Smithfield in 2026
The Museum of London also has a cooling and air conditioning system inside, so you can discover the city’s history, right from the days when hippos lived where Trafalgar Square is now – and presumably welcomed the sun.
National Maritime Museum
If you head down to Greenwich (and a breeze on one of the river boats is a definite bonus if you can also find a shady seat), the National Maritime Museum has air conditioning.
The area around the giant map can get warm, but with tales of Polar adventures (as well as Tudor piracy and Pacific explorations), there’s plenty to discover inside while you stay cool.
Tate Modern & Tate Britain
With millions passing through the Tate Modern’s galleries alone, air conditioning has always been essential to protect the artworks – with the added bonus of protecting the visitors from melting as well.
Tate Britain also has air conditioning and tends to be one of London’s quieter galleries, so you can dodge overheated crowds as well.
National Gallery
The National Gallery has boasted some air conditioning since 1949 to protect its paintings, as well as more recent air conditioning added and improved during lockdown closures to keep everyone cooler.
Like the Tate and Museum of London, there’s the added bonus that entry is free.
Madame Tussauds
If you’ve got an attraction full of wax works, you can’t take the risk of them all melting when the temperature rises so happily Madame Tussauds does have air conditioning.
Equally understandably, the waxworks don’t do well with extremes of heat or cold, so the system tries to keep the temperature fairly constant, which means it will never end up being freezing inside.
London Eye
The London Eye’s capsules are all air conditioned – but bear in mind that the glass pods are basically mini greenhouses, so on a searingly hot day, you can still expect it to get warm inside.
Unless you have fast track tickets, you’ll also be waiting in the queue to board for your time slot as well.
London theatres with air conditioning
Many of the West End’s theatres are too old, protected or fragile to have full air conditioning: the air cooling systems are often impressively efficient though, at theatres such as the Apollo.
However, some do have proper air conditioning including the Adelphi Theatre (Back to the Future Musical), the Victoria Palace Theatre (Hamilton), the Vaudeville Theatre (Six), as well as the Criterion.
The Lyceum (for The Lion King), Apollo Victoria (for Wicked), Cambridge Theatre (for Matilda), Prince Edward Theatre, The Lyric (The Smeds and the Smoos), the Theatre Royal Haymarket (for The Tiger Who Came To Tea), the Palladium and the Garrick all have air cooling.
If you’re planning to watch Hercules at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, there’s no air con, so you’ll need to rely on chills from the drama to keep you cool.
Check out TodayTix if you’re looking for cheap theatre tickets and last-minute discounts
Tourist attractions in London with cooling systems
Tower Bridge
There’s no air conditioning inside London’s famous bridge, but Tower Bridge does have ceiling fans inside the high-level walkways to cool visitors down.
And looking down through the glass floor might send a shiver down your spine.
Science Museum
The temperature in the Science Museum varies depending which area you’re visiting, but there’s a cooling system in Wonderlab, which makes it a particularly good spot to escape the heat.
But the basement rooms, including the Garden – a favourite of younger kids – do tend to get pretty warm.
Shrek’s Adventure
If your kids are looking forward to visiting Far Far Away, the good news is that much of the Shrek’s Adventure attraction has cooling systems to stop you overheating.
The Magic Bus also includes water sprays and blasts of air. Lovely.
Other things to do when it’s hot in London
If you’re looking to escape the heat in London with kids, it’s not just air conditioned attractions which can help keep you cool.
Find the dancing fountains & splash pads
Splash pads, dancing fountains, whatever name you give them, they’re unbeatable when it’s hot in London with kids.
Just behind King’s Cross, the fountains at Granary Square are made up of 1,080 choreographed jets – each individually controlled – which squirt in patterns for kids to splash in.
Or on the South Bank, the Appearing Rooms interactive sculpture at the Southbank Centre is a fun alternative, with jets of water creating ‘rooms’ before they vanish. It’s worth knowing that kids need tops on to splash here.
Further along the river, you’ll find the More London fountains near Tower Bridge, while there’s often another set in the courtyard of Somerset House on the opposite bank (only switched on on select dates, depending on events and weather). You can also find more fountains at Leicester Square.
And if splashing alone isn’t enough, Ravenscourt Park in west London has a paddling pool, which reopened in May half-term. Free to use, but you need to prebook a timed slot as numbers are limited.
**If Thames Water brings in a hosepipe ban or other restrictions, fountains will normally be switched off or be on for more limited times – always check before you visit**
Visit the parks
Despite being one of the biggest cities in the world, London also scores well when it comes to green space, with a series of lovely parks – Hyde Park has some great shady spots as well as the Diana Memorial fountain to dip your feet in.
Regent’s Park is another great alternative, or watch the pelicans at St James’s Park. But most of the royal parks will have a few patches of shade to hang out when it’s hot.
If you’re happy to venture out of central London, Kew Gardens and the London Wetlands Centre near Barnes are also great options to escape – there’s water play in the Wetlands Centre playground too
Head up high
The higher you go, the more chance of finding an elusive breeze – the Sky Garden has shady areas and is one of my favourite viewpoints in London. The design of the building means the inside area is ventilated although it’s more likely to feel warm when it’s busy.
Stroll by the water
There are miles and miles of Thames path to explore – and while I’m not suggesting a long walk during a heatwave, you can find a breeze off the water as you sit on the banks. The Southbank is always one of the best options.
Or head to the canals – Little Venice is another lovely spot, while the Grand Union Canal near Paddington is lined with cafes.
If you’d rather be on the water, check out my tips for the best boat tours in London with kids as well as places to kayak with kids
Go for a swim
Although you’ll have to travel out of central London (unless you’re staying in a hotel with a pool), there are lidos around the city where you can have a dip.
Or head west to enjoy the beach at Ruislip Lido – there’s a splash pad here too, although you can’t actually swim in the reservoir. Unsurprisingly it’s a popular spot on a sunny day.
Brockwell Lido
Found in the south London neighbourhood of Herne Hill, Brockwell Lido is a 50-metre unheated swimming pool that’s open year-round. The outdoor swimming pool is family-friendly at all times, with reduced prices for children. But families with toddlers and children under 7 may feel more comfortable at the designated family swim sessions between 10:30am and 11:30am most weekends and holidays.
The lido is extremely popular, especially during the hotter summer months, so swim sessions are booked in 50 minute slots. It’s strongly advised to book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Charlton Lido
Charlton Lido’s Olympic-sized heated outdoor pool is the perfect place to cool off, even during a heatwave – the pool is kept at a pleasant temperature of 22-28C throughout the year so you needn’t rely on a long stretch of sun to warm it up.
Owned by Better Gym, the pool is available to use by gym members and non-members. But if you’re not a member, you will need to book in advance.
Children are welcome during the “Swim For All Sessions” which run at least once a day (and more regularly during school holidays). Little ones can also enjoy the “Toddler Splash Sessions” in the small teaching pool on certain days throughout the week.
More outdoor pools/lidos in London
- Finchley Lido Leisure Centre – the outdoor pool opens from around mid-May throughout the summer months (though weather dependent so do doublecheck). There’s also an indoor fun leisure pool at Finchley Lido that includes a wave machine, jets, and other fun features.
- London Fields Lido – this 50m long heated outdoor pool is kept around 25C all year round. You’ll find both lane swimming as well as free swim areas at London Fields Lido for younger kids.
- Parliament Hill Lido – this non-heated outdoor pool is open year-round and one of the biggest lidos in London at 60 metres by 28 metres. Kids can attend Open Swimming Sessions at Parliament Hill Lido during the daytime.
- Oasis Sports Centre, Tottenham Court Road – central London’s only heated, outdoor pool, this sits on a sun terrace above street level. Kids can attend Swim For All Sessions at Oasis Sports Centre but under 8s and non-swimmers aged 11-17 must be accompanied in the water by a competent adult swimmer.
- Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds – no children under 8 are permitted to swim at Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds but it’s an option for older kids. However, all under-16s must attend with an accompanying adult who will be in the water with them and also need to pass a swimming test!
- Tooting Bec Lido – newly reopened after refurbishment, Tooting Bec Lido is the largest open-air freshwater pool in the UK.
Visit the Tower of London
There is – unsurprisingly – no air conditioning in the Tower, but as anyone who’s visited a castle in winter knows, thick stone walls make for chilly interiors.
So in the height of summer, venturing into the old royal apartments can be blissfully cool. The area with the Crown Jewels is also climate controlled to protect them.
Head inside a cathedral
In the same way, the centuries-old stone walls of both Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s cathedral keep the interior beautifully cool on hot days.
Grab an ice cream
There are some fantastic places to turn cooling down into an art form – for the best ice cream in London, there are a few mouth-watering ideas among the best desserts in London.
Getting around London in the heat
If you’re planning a bus tour, Big Bus Tours may have air-conditioned areas on its buses, although it varies from bus to bus so the company can’t guarantee it.
These tend to be lower deck only (unless you’re on a bus with an enclosed upper area). Bearing in mind that most of the top deck is mostly open to the elements (and also where you’ll get the best views), you’ll need to rely on natural air cooling…
Tootbus doesn’t have air conditioning on its buses.
For more tips on London’s best bus tours with kids, check out this post
On the tube, the Central line is officially the hottest line, while the new Elizabeth Line has air conditioning and is genuinely cool. Otherwise, the lines which stay closer the surface – especially the Overground, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City and Circle – tend to be cooler than the deep lines like the Piccadilly and Northern line.
If you’d rather travel by water, the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers service has air conditioned interiors as well as an open section on the deck to catch a breeze.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission
Natural History Museum/Tower Bridge/girl in goggles/London Underground sign courtesy of Depositphotos, all other images copyright MummyTravels
