London’s risk from rising temperatures
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The summer of 2022 saw temperatures above 40°C, the highest ever recorded in England. Climate change could bring hotter, drier summers in London, with longer, more intense heatwaves.
City Hall’s Climate Adaptation team wants to hear your experience to help inform London’s first Heat Risk Delivery Plan.
Join the conversation
Thinking back to the heatwave of 2022:
- How did you cope with the heat in London?
- What helped you stay cool at home or while you were out and about?
- What made it better, and what made it worse?
Thinking of this summer:
- What, if anything, are you doing differently to cope with the heat in London?
- What, if anything, does London need to help you cope with the heat?
Please share as much detail as you can. Eleanor and Annette from City Hall’s Climate Adaptation team will be reading your comments and joining in.
About the action plan
The London Heat Risk Delivery Plan will set out the roles and responsibilities our city needs to manage heat risk. The recommendation for this action plan came out of last year’s London Climate Resilience Review.
Between March and September 2025, Londoners and stakeholders are invited to help inform the action plan. Read more on our background page.
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Log into your accountAnnette Enviro…
Official Representative 2 weeks agoGreat to see so many comments about living with extreme heat in London. Thanks for taking the time to add your comments. This is much appreciated to inform what more London needs to do to manage extreme heat in today's changing climate.
Hazel
Community Member 7 hours agoMore public places should start installing AC, especially in trains and buses.
Show full commentMore public places should start installing AC, especially in trains and buses.
Show less of commentkonane
Community Member 8 hours agoI would add shadows on the streets with trees or with cotton cloth or even with crocheted clothes as used in other countries.
Also it is very important to refresh floors and buildings.
Spread the word in how to manage keeping lower...
Show full commentI would add shadows on the streets with trees or with cotton cloth or even with crocheted clothes as used in other countries.
Also it is very important to refresh floors and buildings.
Spread the word in how to manage keeping lower temperatures at homes without air conditioning (as using shadows or creating air flow)
The population should be trained in how to hydrate and eat during hot weather and also how to prevent risks with elders and babies.
Change shifts to all workers with physical exercise or working outside of buildings with air conditioning, so they can do their work without risking their health.
Silp
Community Member 11 hours agoThere are may countries inthe World with high temperatures, no need to reinven the wheel. first we need AC on all public transport. Then we need more trees/shades and pedestrian only areas. Build buildings with proper outside windows...
Show full commentThere are may countries inthe World with high temperatures, no need to reinven the wheel. first we need AC on all public transport. Then we need more trees/shades and pedestrian only areas. Build buildings with proper outside windows blinds like the ones in Spain and other European countries. Public swimming pools in mayor parks.
Show less of commentelaine33
Community Member 12 hours agoMore trees everywhere! No big squares without trees (granary square).
Spaces by the river covered with trees. Basically outdoor spaces with shade where people can stay FOR FREE. More ponds and lakes
EFMum
Community Member 12 hours agowe need a bold vision for reducing heat. One thing I observe in Spain is the planting of tree canopies in the centre of wide roads. These create shade below and pockets of green and relative cool. Valencia has embraced cycle and scooter...
Show full commentwe need a bold vision for reducing heat. One thing I observe in Spain is the planting of tree canopies in the centre of wide roads. These create shade below and pockets of green and relative cool. Valencia has embraced cycle and scooter paths - even in narrow streets - by restricting parking to one side of the road and increasing use of one way streets to reduce log jams. We need bold action in London. Its not enough to ‘tell’ people to change their transport means we must make it easiest to take alt methods.
nootnootnoot
Community Member 12 hours agoFor goodness sake just make it easier to install air conditioning. Enable people to get two way air source heat pumps. The only thing that can deal with the extreme heat is AIR CONDITIONING. It is not any worse for the environment than...
Show full commentFor goodness sake just make it easier to install air conditioning. Enable people to get two way air source heat pumps. The only thing that can deal with the extreme heat is AIR CONDITIONING. It is not any worse for the environment than heating, in fact I think it's better. And certainly if you use a two way heat pump.
Show less of commentKYB
Community Member 11 hours agoWrong. The best way to cause extreme heat is to add more air conditioning. Walk, ride bikes, plant trees, tax the wealthy, make more swimming pools and make them affordable. Stop driving your cars around for no reason.
sgsgsg
Community Member 3 hours agoAir conditioning is nothing to do with extreme heat. Good air conditioners are multiple times (5-6x) more efficient than gas central heating which is considered essential for health in the winter and no one bats an eye at its use.
Alexandra Clifton
Community Member 13 hours agoWe need to do a lot more to cool down public transport - buses and underground tube lines are absolutely impossible, have felt faint so so many times when it’s hot
Alexandra Clifton
Community Member 13 hours agoSupport for external shutters would make a big difference. And PLANT LOTS MORE TREES, they are proven to make a huge difference <3
Show full commentSupport for external shutters would make a big difference. And PLANT LOTS MORE TREES, they are proven to make a huge difference <3
Show less of commentmighty wiz
Community Member 15 hours agoSome combination of heat pumps with air conditioning or tarditional air conditioning in new builds, I live in a new build and its unbearable even on days that aren't record breaking heat waves and there is not a single thing built into this...
Show full commentSome combination of heat pumps with air conditioning or tarditional air conditioning in new builds, I live in a new build and its unbearable even on days that aren't record breaking heat waves and there is not a single thing built into this flat to mitigate heat or move air through it beyond opening windows or sitting in the dark which doesn't help
Show less of commentJosie28
Community Member 15 hours agoI really struggled. It had a huge impact on my physical and mental health due to being so hot all the time and the lack of sleep due to the heat.
Show full commentI bought a small air conditioning fan unit which you could add ice to which helped cool the...
I really struggled. It had a huge impact on my physical and mental health due to being so hot all the time and the lack of sleep due to the heat.
I bought a small air conditioning fan unit which you could add ice to which helped cool the room a little but was very expensive to run.
I went into the office every weekday to benefit from the air conditioning there and was lucky enough at the time to live 40 minute walking distance to work so didn’t have to use public transport.
Show less of commentOn weekends and evenings I tried to spend as much time out of my flat as possible either in local parks or in pubs or museums - anywhere cooler or with air conditioning. I have since invested in a larger airconditioning unit to help with the warm weather since.
Adsy125
Community Member 21 hours agoScrap the ban on air conditioning in new build housing. It's ridiculous and hurts people. You cannot design a house to passively stay at a comfortable temperature for sleeping (no warmer than 21 °C when it's been 35 °C outside for the past...
Show full commentScrap the ban on air conditioning in new build housing. It's ridiculous and hurts people. You cannot design a house to passively stay at a comfortable temperature for sleeping (no warmer than 21 °C when it's been 35 °C outside for the past two weeks, as we are increasingly seeing.
Show less of commentaniaplam
Community Member 2 days agoAs someone said below - new build developments are heat traps, temperature inside the house is 5 degrees higher than outside, with no proper ventilations system, roof and walls absorbing all the heat. Development promised to build a small...
Show full commentAs someone said below - new build developments are heat traps, temperature inside the house is 5 degrees higher than outside, with no proper ventilations system, roof and walls absorbing all the heat. Development promised to build a small green space next to our building, with trees planted but that never happened. Building is also located right next to the tube shaft, polluting the air and exhausting hot toxic fumes even more in the summer months. We are thus unable to keep our windows open.
Show less of commentymchan87
Community Member 3 days agoWhy does the shortest distance between different area of London have to cross through central london? Can you build any like tunnel or road to bypass the heart area of London in shortest way? I We need to go to the destination fast as...
Show full commentWhy does the shortest distance between different area of London have to cross through central london? Can you build any like tunnel or road to bypass the heart area of London in shortest way? I We need to go to the destination fast as possible, and not travelling in the city as a tourist.
Show less of commentSkie
Community Member 3 days agoYou need to allow shading on the outer side of windows and glazed doors, including in cosevation areas.
Show full commentShading from the inside still allows sun rays to pass through the glass window panes and raise the temperature indoors, so it’s not a...
You need to allow shading on the outer side of windows and glazed doors, including in cosevation areas.
Show less of commentShading from the inside still allows sun rays to pass through the glass window panes and raise the temperature indoors, so it’s not a sufficient remedy.
Mirasim
Community Member 6 days agoI’d like to see more tree planting in car parks - orchards would be nice!
Ryanw302
Community Member 6 days agoWe absolutely need to install air conditioning on the entirety of the London underground network. It's crazy that this public health emergency is allowed to happen.
bnybnybny
Community Member 18 hours agoI have epilepsy and have had to spend most the summer indoors with 3 fans pointed at me because heat triggers seizures for epileptics
marilyngould
Community Member 6 days agoIt's not "how to deal with heatwaves" that concerns me but what we are doing. What we have. (The way.) I'm glad that there are still many places AC free in London as a reminder of how things used to be and work very well for us not a long...
Show full commentIt's not "how to deal with heatwaves" that concerns me but what we are doing. What we have. (The way.) I'm glad that there are still many places AC free in London as a reminder of how things used to be and work very well for us not a long time ago. Besides, AC is a killer. Imagine it's super nice outside, British summer at its best (we are still SO LUCKY) and you have to "enjoy" 'lightly air conditioned" yoga and pilates spaces (they won't open the window, the trend is trendy and never mindful and the Elizabeth Line should operate Manhattan where these things are the norm: cold so cold). I'm even happy the Northern Line is AC free. I'm fortunate to be in England but what does that mean? I's a global life from childhood to death where you find the good and glorify it.
Thank you for reading.
No replies will be given.
Stay in sanity.
What are we doing to ourselves, who aren't our lives, in plural, but (no "one") singularity.
Show less of commentxtergo
Community Member 6 days agoPeople are having heatstrokes and fainting while youre virute signaling
Show full commentPeople are having heatstrokes and fainting while youre virute signaling
Show less of commentKYB
Community Member 1 week agoI wish people would stop driving massive cars around London. Land rovers, BMWs etc. People are way to careful dependent in this city.
Show full commentI wish people would stop driving massive cars around London. Land rovers, BMWs etc. People are way to careful dependent in this city.
Show less of commentxtergo
Community Member 3 days agoYeah because it's the capital city of the UK and people manage massively long commutes, it's impossible for this city to not have cars but honestly the planning is poor, cars and pedestrians should have much more separation
Show full commentYeah because it's the capital city of the UK and people manage massively long commutes, it's impossible for this city to not have cars but honestly the planning is poor, cars and pedestrians should have much more separation
Show less of commentKYB
Community Member 1 day agoCars should not be allowed in Zone 1. High streets should be made car free. There should be more days when cars aren't allowed on the roads. There should be more priority given to bicycles, buses and pedestrians. Our bodies evolved to move...
Show full commentCars should not be allowed in Zone 1. High streets should be made car free. There should be more days when cars aren't allowed on the roads. There should be more priority given to bicycles, buses and pedestrians. Our bodies evolved to move. You don't need 2000kg of metal to move your body a few miles. Dare to dream xtergo.
Show less of commentxtergo
Community Member 18 hours agoYou clearly don’t understand how London works. Zone 1 doesn’t exist in isolation, it’s the beating heart of a mega city and spans 50+ miles. Millions commute in daily from towns like Luton, Slough, Croydon, Reading, Watford, and Essex...
Show full commentYou clearly don’t understand how London works. Zone 1 doesn’t exist in isolation, it’s the beating heart of a mega city and spans 50+ miles. Millions commute in daily from towns like Luton, Slough, Croydon, Reading, Watford, and Essex because London priced them out. You think they’re going to hop on a Brompton and pedal 40 miles to a kitchen porter shift?
Removing cars from Zone 1t creates a privilege fortress. You’re locking out plumbers, delivery drivers, disabled folks, and working-class people who rely on cars to bridge long, indirect, unreliable commutes. You’re turning the economic core of Britain into a gated museum for the childless, rich, and young.
Cities don’t run on bikes and buses. They run on logistics, white vans, tradesmen with tools, ambulances, taxi drivers pulling 12-hour shifts.
What scares me however is not that you're wrong but also where the government is headed, pedestrianisation is great but it should never happen in a way that makes working in this city a nightmare.
The real dream is a seamlessly connected megacity, like Tokyo or LA with fast arteries, reliable transit, and freedom to choose how you move. Your dream? It’s basically Paris: high taxes, housing crisis, riots, and choking the city for the sake of aesthetics giving no thought just because it sounds nice as an idea.
London’s already facing a productivity crisis. You think killing car access is going to fix that? You’re solving aesthetic grievances by destroying mobility, efficiency, and inclusion. That’s not visionary. That’s short-sighted urban decay wrapped in eco-virtue.
What scares me is not that you are wrong, but you have the right idea but the way you choose to implement it, has the opposite effect of what you mean. The government also, has no idea what it's talking about, British urban planning is some of the worst in the world.
Show less of commentlJOnishi
Community Member 1 week agoHi, my comment is probably not related but wanted to tell my experience...
It's regarding Persistent Noise & Vibration from Haringey Café – No Action from Council
I would like to write here to seek your help regarding a serious and ongoing...
Show full commentHi, my comment is probably not related but wanted to tell my experience...
It's regarding Persistent Noise & Vibration from Haringey Café – No Action from Council
I would like to write here to seek your help regarding a serious and ongoing noise and vibration problem I’ve been facing as a resident in Haringey.
A café next to my home has installed a loud fan unit on top of a thin dividing wall. The sound and vibration from this machine run continuously throughout the day, creating a low, disturbing hum and shaking that penetrates my living space.
This has been going on for weeks and weeks in summer even today during cool summer. It affects my health: I feel physically unwell, anxious, unable to rest or sleep properly, and deeply exhausted. In addition there are other noise neusances with the cafe I have been patient with...
I have reported the issue multiple times to Haringey Council, contacted my councillor, and even written to my MP – but no one has taken action.
I feel completely neglected. I am just one individual, but I am suffering every day in my own home.
I am reaching out in the hope that you might consider reporting on this case, or simply speaking with me to raise awareness about the real harm environmental noise can cause – and the lack of response from local authorities.
I can provide a noise diary, copies of my communications with the council and councillors. The owner can be hostile when last one of the councillors approached. I just do tied....
Thank you for your time reading my case.
lJOnishi
Community Member 1 week agoIn addition, I have another very similar case with a noisy cooling fan with a resident in South London. Her council acted very quickly and removed the fan. But with Haringey council, I have been battling through noise neusances with the...
Show full commentIn addition, I have another very similar case with a noisy cooling fan with a resident in South London. Her council acted very quickly and removed the fan. But with Haringey council, I have been battling through noise neusances with the cafe for more than 8 years and still it is ongoing despite my efforts. So this time I wrote my experience here hoping to change something....
Show less of commentTalk London
Official Representative 1 week agoHi lJOnishi. Thank you for sharing your experience, that sounds frustrating.
As City Hall can’t comment on individual cases, we recommend getting in touch with your local ward councillor or Citizens Advice - if you haven’t already.
Best wishes
Talk London