Cool Spaces
Cool spaces are indoor spaces where Londoners can find opportunities to shelter from the sun, cool down and rest to take respite on hot days.
Cool spaces may contribute to reducing risks to health deriving from hot weather. However, they are not designed to support vulnerable individuals during hot days and are not a substitute for medical care if an individual is unwell due to overheating.
The spaces are added to our Cool spaces map which goes live from 1 June 2023 until 30 September, in alignment with the heat-health alerting season set out in the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) Adverse Weather and Health Plan.
Outdoor spaces which provide shade, shaded seating, drinking water and toilets are also signposted on the map, however they may still be very hot during hot weather.
Read the Mayor’s guidance on keeping cool on hot days.
About the Cool Spaces project
Cool spaces are suggested by boroughs, community groups, faith-based organisations, cultural organisations, and others, and then validated based on the criteria in the information document below. Some areas of London might be less well covered because Cool spaces rely on submissions from organisations.
If you would like to register a site, you can do it using our Cool Spaces form. Your submission will be reviewed and included in the next update of the map.
Criteria for Cool Spaces (summer 2023)
The Cool Spaces’ initiative is built on three previous iterations and classifies spaces according to two tiers based on the type and number of amenities offered. The tiered classification provides Londoners with an understanding of what can be expected from Cool Spaces and how these can meet their different needs. The classification also helps provide clarity and guidance for organisations wishing to register sites for Cool Spaces.
Refill London
In addition to the Cool Spaces initiative, in 2018, the Mayor of London launched Refill London (with City to Sea), a global campaign that connects people with places where they can refill and avoid single-use plastic.
The free Refill app shows places across London where you can find free drinking water on the go, get coffee and lunchbox refills and find zero waste shopping options.
This is part of the Mayor’s ambitions to reduce waste, especially needless single-use plastic bottles. London now has more than 4,000 places people can refill on the go. You can find where your closest Refill Station is by downloading the Refill app.
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