The UK is going through its fifth heat wave this summer. At this point, trying to stay cool feels like a full-time job.
Unfortunately for me, I’m the sort of person who struggles with both the cold and heat. A breezy day at 70 degrees Fahrenheit is my idea of nice weather.
The hottest temperature recorded this summer so far was 101 degrees in Kew Gardens, London, on Thursday, and the UK’s Met Office says this summer is on track to be the hottest on record.
Of course, this kind of temperature is typical in many parts of the world, but living in a country with an aversion to air conditioning and buildings seemingly designed to trap heat, it’s been quite the struggle.
We Brits talk about the weather constantly — rain or shine. It’s a stereotype that, from my experience (and that of my American colleagues), holds true.
And so, in keeping with tradition, I will offer a little insight into how my fellow Londoners and I have been trying to stay cool on a typical workday in the heat wave.
My job is flexible, but going into the office for AC is a must for me.
Work from home has been mostly out the window for me. Every time I attempt to get work done in my swelteringly hot flat — which somehow feels hotter than the outdoors — I regret not going into the office.
As someone with a short commute, I’m lucky in this regard, so I spent Thursday in the office. For those having to brave a long commute on AC-less public transport, it’s more of a toss-up.
The only issue with this is that the air conditioning is almost too powerful in the office, so a sweater is a must.
After work, the streets were full of people drinking pints.
I’ve definitely spotted more people than usual out socializing after work.
Outdoor, riverside, and park-side venues have been outperforming indoor venues in London and the South East during the heatwave, according to analysis by the restaurant reporting and intelligence firm Tenzo.
Though it must be said, drinking pints of beer is not a way to stay hydrated.
A fan has been absolutely essential.
To actually be able to work in the first place, I need a decent night’s sleep. Without any AC, the only way this is possible is by blasting a fan on my face.
I’m not the only one. Sales of fans were up almost 3,000% in June, Alex Baldock, CEO of electrical retailer Currys, told The Guardian.
But really, I should have invested in an electric mini fan, too.
If you take the tube, you’ll see countless people holding handheld electric fans to stay cool on our mostly AC-less public transport.
In fact, it’s become so essential that the $149.99 Shark ChillPill handheld fan has transformed into a status symbol, as Business Insider’s Joshua Nelken-Zitser reported.
Unfortunately for me, I didn’t get the memo, so instead I’m getting mild wrist pains from my (much cheaper) paper fan.
I tried to book a session for outdoor swimming after work, but it was harder than getting concert tickets.
London’s lidos and outdoor pools are a great option for cooling down after a day of work.
But with everyone having the same idea, you have to book in advance, especially in that 5-7 p.m. window after work.
Business Insider’s Georgia Hennessey spoke to Londoners visiting Sea Lanes in Canary Wharf about how they had to refresh the booking page and pray there was a cancellation just to get some swimming in.
I went to the park instead so I could avoid my always-hot flat.
With the high temperatures and dry weather, drought has been declared in most of England. Lush green grass, perfect for picnics, like at Potters Fields Park by Tower Bridge, has now turned into dusty brown ground.
Festivals, which are normally held in parks and fields, have become more like Burning Man than the rainy, muddy affairs they were in years gone by. My festival attire essential for this summer has been a dust mask, rather than wellie boots.
At the park, I ate a cold dinner; my diet has consisted of no-cook foods.
I usually love to cook, but I’ve had to adjust my diet to the heatwaves.
Turning on the oven or boiling water on the hob makes the flat unbearably hot, and so I’ve mostly got through the summer with salads and grazing spreads.
I wish I could get out of the city more regularly.
Booking a staycation somewhere near the sea or even outside London has been a great idea for many of my friends. While the whole UK is experiencing the heat wave, it does feel cooler when you leave the sweltering ecosystem that is London.
When I went to Wiltshire for a friend’s birthday weekend in August, I actually felt cold — granted, this was at night — for the first time in months. It was strangely nice.
This week, I’m dreaming about getting out of the country to go somewhere cooler.
Instead of going to the usual Spain or Greece, many Brits have opted to go further north to Scandinavian countries.
Online travel agent Trivago told the Financial Times that bookings from the UK for July and August were up 57% in Sweden and 55% in Norway from last year.
Earlier this summer, I went to Dublin, where temperatures are usually cooler than in London. The weather was still warm enough to sunbathe, but don’t be fooled by the photo; the water temperature was still freezing.
When all else fails, a cup of ice-cold water on the forehead will do.
I don’t think I’ve had an icy glass of water this summer without having to place it on my forehead for some instant relief.
I’m more than ready for this heat wave to end — and, more seriously, the extreme temperatures are concerning.
Still, in the depths of January, in the cold, dark, endlessly rainy days, a part of me will miss the heat.
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