London’s risk from rising temperatures

We had a newborn at home which made the heatwave incredibly stressful. Rather than celebrating the warm weather, I was anxious and terrified my baby would overheat.

How did we cope: 

• Sought out air conditioned spaces like the library (a bust, it was soooo hot inside), a new bar near us (success, the AC was amazing) and nearby museums (Tate modern, which wasn't as cool as I expected).
• Shut up our flat and stayed inside during the day - this had an incredibly negative effect on my mental health as I felt trapped and couldn't see or enjoy daylight between 10am and 7pm.
• Bought a portable air conditioner - this helped a little bit but due to the design of our flat windows the flat would only cool when the AC was on and immediately heated up once it was off. It was expensive, inefficient and bad for the environment.
• Bought fans when moving around - it made public transport slightly more bearable, though the high temperatures meant we needed to limit travel. 

What does London need

• Designated cool spaces. I was really surprised that such a big deal is made of warm spaces in winter but the council/government didn't do anything to offer cool spaces during dangerously hot weather.
• Better guidance, especially for vulnerable groups. I felt completely unprepared for the heat and had no idea how to keep my baby safe. So much is made of a "safe temperature" with zero guidance on what to do when that's impossible. Genuinely, how is my baby supposed to sleep in a room that's 16-22 degrees when it's 27 degrees outside at 10pm and we don't have AC in our rented flat?!
• Consideration of planning laws - proper insulation is supposed to keep properties warm in winter and cool in summer. Our flat held heat like you wouldn't believe. As heatwaves become more common, planning laws should consider how flats cool down without AC.
• Safer public transport - the heat on transport during summer is completely unsafe, especially when facing delays and overcrowded carriages/busses. 

This whole survey made me feel like London is just trying to find a way to put a bandaid on rising temperatures instead of forcing corporations to adapt sustainable practices and incentivizing people to shift to more sustainable behaviors. This did not fill me with confidence that our government is applying correct strategies to fix the problem. 

London summers are getting hotter, and council housing needs to catch up. Existing flats, maisonettes, and houses whether for social housing tenants or leaseholders where the council is the freeholder, should be adapted so residents aren’t left at risk in rising heat. Practical steps like reflective roofs, external shutters, and awnings would make a real difference. This should be treated on par with fire safety, because repeated heatwaves already cause excess deaths and the problem is only getting worse.

Having worked in communications for over 12 years, this survey felt more like a box-ticking exercise than a genuine consultation. It seems many of the decisions on which solutions to pursue have already been made, with much of the responsibility placed on individuals and households.

I’m also concerned that tree planting is only being discussed at a personal or community level. Recent research suggests it should be treated as a citywide priority (see BBC reference below).

Tree planting in city centres needs to "go harder and go faster" in order to help keep them cool ahead of future deadly heatwaves, an expert has said.

Scientists working on the problem have said planting more trees could cut air temperatures by up to 5C (9F).

Breezeways - outdoor passages with roofs that improve airflow - water features and curved buildings could also tackle the issue, but planting more trees should be the priority, said the team from Cardiff University.

 

I spend more time away from built up areas, especially areas with lots of glass buildings and tarmacked roads due to the heat they reflect and absorb respectively. Instead I try to go to parks, and on the hottest days I take myself out of London completely, often to the coast.

I've invested in a strong cold air blowing fan to help when I'm in my flat, and plan my journeys on public transport so that I use lines that offer air conditioning.

is appalling that air conditioning is yet to be absolutely standard roll our across the network. I'm an otherwise young, fit person but  develloped this condition as a result of the stress of my commute - which is decreased iin Winter. 

I've begun to either avoid the central line altogether which is a massive expense/inconvenience, or walk 1.5 miles to Whitechapel to get the Elizabeth line, meaning my commute is way longer and fills me with resentment towards tfl/khans inaction. 

It is one thing to equip myself with self help podcasts, earplugs, spray bottle, drinking water, a fan, and an armoured mindset, it's another to have to depend on total strangers if nothing works and I'm about to pass out. It may be noted, I rarely experience this on the lizzy line... Because although it may get rammed, it is COOLED.

We need proper building regulations and to stop building these inhabitable heat trap towers.

Also air conditioning on buses.

It is insane that the survey does not consider air conditioning. Trees and blinds are good but A/C is essential.

Installation of A/C should be legal on all new builds residential property.

Installation of A/C should be legal on all existing residential property - this means permitted by right without being overridden by Article 4 Directions.

The existing subsidy for heat pumps should be extended to cover heat pumps which also provide A/C. The current rules effectively disincentivise A/C even as thousands die from heat.

The NHS should engage in a capital works programme to add A/C to hospitals.

To cope with the heat, my priority is cooling down. During breaks, I remove my personal protective equipment (PPE) when in the social area of ​​the construction site. I stay hydrated by drinking water and orange juice, and I incorporate fresh fruit, milkshakes, smoothies, and snacks like watermelon, oranges, apple juice, yogurt, warm tea, and salted kefir into my diet.

I also cool my wrists, forehead, and neck with water (not in the wind). I close the curtains indoors and avoid opening windows during peak sunlight. I also invested in a small fan and humidify the air by spraying it with water when it gets too dry.

Install. Air. Conditioning. It’s staggering the opposition to this. There is no point in trying to save the environment if people are dying from heat. Climate change is real and it’s already here, start implementing real solutions to cope with it

I just did as little as I could all day. Heat waves like that give me headaches. The only logical moves to take is tackling climate change. Every individual needs to be taught the life adjustments they can make to reduce their carbon footprints, and every organisation should as well.

The Renters Rights Bill should be expanded to include rights to adequate ventilation, cooling, air conditioning etc. that landlord’s can’t refuse without reasonable grounds. My main issue is I’m not allowed to alter my space or install blinds/air conditioning/ventilation systems to keep myself safe. Renting in London is truly a life of a second class citizen, and it’s everyone who has to fend for themselves.

It should be mandatory for new builds to have proper insulation for heat and cold (walls and roofs) and have solar panels on roofs. Older properties need to be retrofitted for good insulation. Heat pumps have been mentioned for cooling as well as heating (air-source heat pumps) but these do not heat water so are not always suitable. Built-in window shutters, internal or external, would help keep rooms cool. All new residential buildings should have balconies/gardens for outside space and plants. 

So much of London is concrete and tarmac which soak up the heat during the day and act as radiators at night, expelling the heat they absorb during the day. 

New London Buses must have passenger air conditioning as standard. At present the have "air cooling" which is no good, doesn't work. I have had to get off buses after one stop on very hot days, because it's dangerously hot on board and cooler outside.

The London Plan officially discourages installation of air conditioning in new residential buildings, based on false claims that it increases the urban heat island effect. This must change. 

Air conditioning should be standard on new buildings, rather than being expensively retrofitted later, or impossible to retrofit. Dangerously hot workplaces are illegal, but the current London Plan is forcing dangerously hot homes on people. This is wrong.

Air conditioning is very efficient, for example a heat pump can cool as well as heat.

I come from a hot country, so I’m used to dealing with closed curtains and windows during heatwaves. The UK heat hits differently, 32* here are worse than 40* in Italy. I live in a 1930s building, and my flat is right under the roof: the temperatures become unbearable during the day and at night, it’s unhealthy and hard on my husband who works from home, so much so that we had to spend extra money for a portable aircon, that we try not to switch on too much (‘cause it’s not good for the environment, nor for our pockets). With the residents association we’ve asked Wandsworth council to at least paint the roof white, but to no avail. Also I understand that equipping buses with air conditioning would be so expensive, but they need to have at least better air flow, it’s like an awful sauna! Buses and trams in several parts of Europe are equipped with aircon, I get that it’s impossible to do on the tube, but at least above ground this should be made possible. In any case I’m so glad we’re talking about this!

Really useful survey. My only concern was the suggestion of creating more water features / fountains / misting stations in London. While these are nice, they don't feel appropriate given water scarcity concerns in London - particularly in the long term with climate change - unless they use harvested rainwater or recycled water (but this has an energy cost). My preference is to save water for green & blue spaces, and create more public swimming spots - there are not enough in London - would be great to swim in the Thames and canals!

During the heatwave of 2022 I was permitted to work from home on the hottest days. My uniform was not suited to the hotter temperature. When I requested shorts I had to wait as the women's were out of stock. I took early retirement in 2025 and still did not receive them. Companies who require staff/students to wear uniform need to start thinking about providing lighter kit in the future.

This year I have tried to stay in the shade as much as possible. 

I think it will be a great idea for local councils to provide cool spaces and water for those who need it.