Summer parties are the best parties in our book. Picture the scene: the sun is shining; you’ve got a glass of Pimm’s or prosecco in hand; somewhere in the distance you can hear the gentle patter of water, safe in the knowledge that it isn’t falling from the sky. Who says no to that little slice of bliss?
Don’t get us wrong, we love a Christmas party too, but you have to break the year up somehow. Great summer bashes come in all shapes and sizes - cocktail and canape receptions, all the way to big summer banquets enjoyed in the dying rays and gentle breeze of sunset. We've already rounded up some of our favourite summer party venues in London, but what if you need something more expansive for your long list of guests? That's where this list comes up trumps.
For a city that can be so bleak and grey in winter (and indeed, for considerable periods of autumn, spring and summer), London really manages to turn it on when the sun is shining. For starters you have the entire length of the Thames to enjoy a waterside gathering - London boasts plenty of great riverside venues worth looking at if being by the water is a deal-breaker. Not to mention, the capital is a city of magnificent skyline views and sunsets, if you can find a rooftop to see them from. We’ve picked out a few fantastic (and very popular) rooftop venues in this list, including the Johnson Rooftop Terrace at IET London: Savoy Place and roof at Thames-side Sea Containers.
Not everything in this list is exclusively outside, but the joy of a good summer party is enjoying the sun. Still, most of the venues on this list have contingency for when the weather turns foul, whether that be a marquee or an adjoining indoor area where you can take shelter.