Cooling off in Marylebone

With July set to be yet another scorcher, you may well be wondering how to escape from the heat!

Luckily, you don’t have to go far to cool down in Marylebone. Even if you are planning on staying in the city, there are plenty of places nearby that offer somewhere to chill out, cool down, and enjoy a break from the scorching temperatures. Marylebone is home to great parks and outdoor spaces, many of which are ideal for enjoyment with kids in the summer months, while cool patios and yummy cocktails are perfect for adults that want to escape to the sanctuary of air conditioning.

There are a number of places in Marylebone in which you can beat the heat:

Splash parks and pools
Great for kids, splash parks and paddling areas are the answer to these balmy London days. Close by, Hyde Park has lido and padding pools along with plenty of shade provided by trees. The Oasis Swimming Centre is just 20 minutes away in Soho, and has an indoor and outdoor pool available, and just as close is the King’s Cross Pond Club, where you’ll find a natural fresh water public pond – the first of it’s kind in London.

Cold sweet treats
Gelato fanatics should make a stop into Carluccio’s, and enjoy some of the best Italian ice cream in Marylebone. Located on Paddington Street, this Galati parlour favours the traditional methods, and skips all the nasty additives to create delicious frozen yoghurt. For a real treat, head over to Rococo, and pay the Ice Kitchen a visit. Here, you can select one of several decadent, hand-made ice-lollies – and this is not your average ice cream. Foe example, flavours available from the Moxon Street location include Campari and Ruby Grapefruit, Pistachio and Rose, and Pedro Ximenez Sherry with Raisins. For traditionalists, there’s a Baskin Robbins on Baker Street, not to mention ice cram vans that can be found near the parks on hot days.

Cool cocktails
When the heat gets too much, sometimes only an ice-cold beverage will do the trick; luckily, there are plenty of places to find delicious cocktails to enjoy on a sizzling summer afternoon. Coco Momo is still serving up the classic staples of British summertime cocktails, such as Pimms and white wine spritzers, but they’ve also set about creating some new refreshments that can be enjoyed in the sunshine on the terrace. The Churchill Bar & Terrace in Portman Square has been transformed into the quintessential English country garden, filled with fresh flowers and an extensive cocktail list to boot, and people-watching is made easy with a seat on the pavement patio at The Grazing Goat