Summer is underway, and London hotels are geared up to make the most of warmer weather. Terraces become deck-chair laden champagne bars, and afternoon tea gets all the more tempting without the worry of rain on sandwiches. Keep checking our regularly updated guide throughout the season for the very best pop-ups across the city, from cocktails on a yacht hotel to flower pressing workshops – plus a round-up of Wimbledon 2018 experiences.
The Secret Herb Garden at the Royal Horseguards Hotel
Gin is everywhere, but not everywhere is like the Secret Herb Garden near the banks of the Thames. This al fresco speakeasy is hidden behind Whitehall Garden at the Royal Horseguards Hotel, which boasts historic connections to royalty and British prime ministers; despite this grandeur, the garden is a calm oasis where summer spritzes – plus herb-inspired cocktails – get mixed and pizzas get crisped in an outdoor oven. The hotel has teamed up with Fever-Tree to offer gin and tonic masterclasses (£25) on the last Thursday of the summer months. But the best thing is garnishing your own G&T with the herbs (lavender, rosemary and mint) found throughout the secret garden.
Open until the end of September. Gin and tonic classes are on June 28, July 26, August 30 and September 27
Read the full review: The Royal Horseguards
Laurent-Perrier Champagne deck at the Sunborn London
This gleaming ship, which is moored in the revitalised Royal Victoria Dock, has launched its summer partnership with champagne house Laurent-Perrier to mark four years in the capital. Expect specially created champagne cocktails on the nautical hotel’s top deck – it is 50 years since Laurent-Perrier launched their iconic cuvée rosé – and plenty of seafood-heavy nibbles, from crab-lobster arancini to crispy calamari. The Le Fizz cocktail, a potent mix of St Germain elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon juice and Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée, is sure to be the libation that whisks guests from the London cityscape to the French Riviera.
Open until September 3
Read the full review: Sunborn London
Brunch on the Beach at The Montague
The Beach Bar returns to The Montague on the Gardens hotel for another Bahamas-style pop-up but this time is bringing something brand new to Bloomsbury: a bottomless brunch. A cocktail menu includes tropical classics – piña coladas, sex on the beach – as well as buck's fizz and bloody Marys; knock back as many as you fancy during a two-hour session, which cost £39. The brunch menu is comprised of sharing platters featuring Cumberland sausage with red onion chutney, black pudding scotch eggs, avocado and smoked salmon on toast, and more. Dessert is an ice-cream cone – it is summer and you are at the 'beach', after all.
Every Saturday and Sunday until September 16
The Garden Tea at the Four Seasons Park Lane
A new seasonal afternoon tea from the pastry chef at this Mayfair hotel, who has drawn inspiration from the different areas of Chelsea Physic Garden – one of the oldest botanical gardens in Britain. The experience begins by tasting hot chocolate, made to a recipe original brought back from Jamaica by Sir Hans Sloane (the garden's primary benefactor). Highlights on the afternoon tea stand include the hand-painted wild strawberry and poppy macarons (two symbols of Britain) as well as the 'beehive': a liquid honey centre hidden by almond cream, surrounded by blueberry jelly and an oat biscuit. The cost is £42, but for £55 you get a glass of Champagne.
Open until October
Read the full review: Four Seasons Park Lane
Lisboa Jardim takes over The Terrace at the Radisson Blu Portman Hotel
The colours of Portugal and Lisbon's exhilarating vibe have come to the West End with the Lisboa Jardim pop-up at The Terrace, the restaurant at the Radisson Blu Portman Hotel. In Portugal’s capital, 'Lisboa Jardim' is a garden for the curious, a place that catches your eye and stops you in your tracks; here you'll find an extension of the Portman Square Gardens (which the property overlooks) but with a blue colour scheme and breezy vibe. Cocktails – including a blend of white port with glugs of vermouth – are served in hand-sealed tuna cans, while nibbles span locally made sourdough to pastel del nata tarts.
Open until the end of September
Midsummer Terrace at Sea Containers, Mondrian London
Another champagne-centric pop-up from Laurent-Perrier, who are this time partnering with Mondrian London for a floral terrace wrapped around the Thames-side Sea Containers restaurant. Heady midsummer meadows have influenced the look of the pop-up – dusky pink furniture and pink wildflowers make the space ultra-Instagrammable – and there is a new à la carte menu spanning seafood (strawberry- and champagne-cured sea bass) to summer veg (courgettes stuffed with ricotta, pink pepper and baked lemon purée). The Southbank spot is open to guests as well as members of the public, with the three-flute champagne flight the proper way to experience the setting.
Open until September
Read the full review: Mondrian London at Sea Containers
Yoga in a Masonic Temple at Andaz London Liverpool Street
Warmer weather and longer days is a good enough excuse to find some focus across body and mind. Throughout the summer, Andaz London Liverpool Street is hosting a bespoke yoga pop-up in one of the city’s secret spaces: a hidden Masonic Temple within the hotel, more than a century old and decked in Italian marble and heavy mahogany. Participants get full access to the hotel’s Health Club before and after their yoga.
Sessions on June 24, July 22 and August 19
Read the full review: Andaz London Liverpool Street
Game, set, match! Wimbledon 2018 experiences
Not everyone can crowd into Centre Court to watch the world's finest racquet handlers tackle the All England Club's grass surface. Fortunately there are plenty of pop-up experiences around London help satisfy any Wimbledon cravings. Here's a look at some of the best...
'The Perfect Serve' afternoon tea at The Arch
A traditional British afternoon tea meets Wimbledon whimsy at The Arch hotel's Martini Library. There's no subtlety with this offering: it's all about edible gingerbread tennis rackets and cakes shaped like grass courts and tennis balls. Savoury options stick to classic sandwich combinations – coronation chicken, egg mayo, honey roast ham – and smoked salmon blinis, and another sweet treat follows in the shape of Pimm's and cucumber jelly. And of course strawberries and cream are available (it's Wimbledon after all). It costs £29.95 per person for afternoon tea, or £39.95 if you fancy a glass of Taittinger champagne or a Pimm's cocktail.
Available from July 2 until July 15
Read the full review: The Arch London
Courtyard viewing at Hotel du Vin Wimbledon
If you want to get near to the All England Club but don't have any tickets then head to Cannizaro House, where Hotel du Vin's courtyard pop-up may do the trick. It's close to action – only a two-minute drive, or 20-minute walk, from the courts – and every single minute of the tennis will be shown on giant screens. Expect the courtyard to be decked in tennis-themed props; however, this won't get in the way of two pop-up bars – one serving Lanson champagne and another pouring Pimm's. There's no need to book and entrance is free.
Open from July 2 until July 15
Read the full review: Hotel du Vin Wimbledon
Strawberries, cream and rosé champagne at The Goring
Experience The Championships in an elegant space of calm in the centre of the city, close to Buckingham Palace. The Goring, the oldest privately owned luxury hotel in London and one of just two hotels in the UK with a royal warrant from the Queen, is marking the tournament with a rosé champagne afternoon tea served by their fleet of footmen. Begin with a selection of finger sandwiches, warm homemade scones with clotted cream and jam, cakes, bakes, fancies and tarts, plus a choice of tea and coffee. The best is yet to come, though: strawberries and cream paired with a glass of Bollinger. The tea costs £69 per person.
Available from July 2 until July 15
Read the full review: The Goring
Love for lager at the Dog & Fox
It's not just flutes of fizz or jugs of Pimm's that keep tennis fans hydrated during a fortnight of ball thwacking – and one pub in Wimbledon is leading in a different direction. The Dog & Fox, a feature of the district since the 19th century, is hoping to rally punters onto its open-air beer terrace, which will be serving ice cold Peroni whatever the weather from its pop-up bar. British fans will be hoping Andy Murray stays in the area for the full two weeks; if you want to stay, there are boutique-style rooms in this delightful pub.
Open from July 2 until July 15
Read the full review: Dog & Fox
A boozy Wimbledon garden at the Hyatt Regency
The Winston Churchill-themed Hyatt Regency on Portman Square has also succumbed to tennis fever. The newly refreshed outdoor terrace of The Churchill Bar (inspired by the politician's maritime journeys) will be completely transformed over the two weeks of Wimbledon, with rambling roses, hydrangeas, tennis decorations – plus a large screen to follow it play serve to serve. During the fortnight guests can order food hampers to their table, filled with mini bagels of cream cheese and smoked salmon, fingers sandwiches, and more.
Open from July 2 until July 15
Read the full review: Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill