Where to go on a sunny day in London

London on a proper sunny day is the best version of London. The parks fill up by 11, the lidos by noon, and the pub gardens by 1, and the trick is knowing which ones are still alright by 4pm. Here is the list, the kind I send my mate when she texts me at 10am asking what we are doing because the weather has finally turned.

If you want a calendar of outdoor events this week, the London this-week page has filters for "outdoor" already, which saves the bother of scrolling four newsletters.

The parks worth the trip

London Fields is the East London Sunday — bbqs allowed in the marked area, a lido in the middle of it, and three pubs within five minutes of the gate. The Pub on the Park is the obvious pick but get there before 1.

Hampstead Heath is the proper one. The ponds are open, Parliament Hill is the photo, the Holly Bush in the village is the pint after. Spend the whole day, do not try to fit anything else in.

Victoria Park is the underrated one — bigger than people remember, the Pavilion cafe has a proper coffee, and the lake side is alot quieter than the playground side. Bring a book, plan to stay three hours.

Greenwich Park if you are South — climb the hill once, take the photo, eat at the market on the way back.

Lidos and outdoor swimming

Hampstead Heath ponds — three of them, mixed is the friendliest, £4.50 a swim, open from 7am. The mens' pond on a quiet Tuesday morning is the best £4.50 in London.

London Fields Lido — heated to 26°C all year, £6.85 a swim, you need to book. Saturdays sell out by Friday afternoon.

Brockwell Lido in Herne Hill — bigger, less crowded, the cafe by the entrance is the proper bit. The £25 day pass that includes a sun lounger is the play if you are with someone.

Parliament Hill Lido is the dark horse — heated, art-deco, on Hampstead Heath but at the south end so quieter. £8 a swim, walk up the hill after.

Pub gardens that are still alright at 4pm

The trick is finding a garden that does not turn into a garden party. The Holly Bush in Hampstead — small garden, proper food, the room is the right side of busy. The Spaniards Inn if you have walked the Heath. The Cow in Westbourne Park. The Eagle in Farringdon if you are central — small terrace, the mediterranean menu is honest.

For something East — The Royal Inn on the Park by Victoria Park, The Camel in Bethnal Green, The Crooked Billet in Clapton. All do food until 9, all let you stay if you order at the right pace.

For South — The Holly Lodge on Highgate Hill, The Southampton Arms in Gospel Oak (no kids policy is brilliant), The Compton Arms in Canonbury.

Rooftop bars that take walk-ins

The Culpeper in Spitalfields — the rooftop is small but they take walk-ins until 6. Honest food, honest prices, the view is the alright one rather than the show-off one.

Roof East in Stratford — bigger, mini golf, food trucks, and you can walk in until about 4 on a Saturday before the queue starts.

Frank's in Peckham — summer only, multi-storey car park, the queue starts at 4 but moves fast. Bring a jumper for after sunset.

The Trafalgar St James rooftop is the central one — book ahead if you can but walk-ins work before 5.

Sushisamba if you have the budget for one drink at £18. The view is the entire reason you are paying.

Markets worth the queue

Maltby Street Market on a Saturday morning — open-air, the gin bar at the end does a £8 negroni, and the pies are the call. Get there before noon.

Columbia Road on a Sunday — the flower market is one thing, the breakfast at Lily Vanilli is the other. Be there by 9 or do not bother.

Broadway Market in Hackney — Saturday only, the cheese stall is the best in London, and there are seven pubs within walking distance for the long lunch after.

A reminder that the free London tech meetups list has at least two outdoor summer ones I keep meaning to mention. Free pizza, decent people, alot of beer.

The proper sunny-day plan

The plan I run when the weather is genuinly good — Hampstead Heath ponds at 9am, breakfast at the Wells, walk to Parliament Hill, lunch at the Spaniards, pint in the Holly Bush at 5, train home by 8. Cost: about £45 a head. Mood: untouchable. The kind of day that makes you forget the eight months of grey it took to get here.

If you want to see what is on this week, the London this-week page lets you filter by outdoor and you can save the lot in two clicks. Sound for a sunny week.