Explore London safely this summer

With a cap on customer numbers, Borough’s far calmer these days. There may be a short wait to enter, in a carefully managed queue. It’s worth it for a crowd-free browse of its stalls and upscale supplies, from plump doughnuts and heirloom veg to handsome wheels of cheese. For hot takeaways, check out the Borough Market Kitchen, trading Thursday to Saturday, or head to Mei Mei for Singaporean street food and sweet, frothy teh tarik.  

Hyde Park spans 350 leafy acres, so even on sunny days you’ll find a tranquil corner. Its kiosks and eateries are open again (some takeaway only), while the Lido Café and Bar’s terrace has front-row views of the Serpentine lake. Mornings in the park are quietest, so swing by for breakfast: tarragon-laced poached eggs, or a vibrant acai bowl. Alternatively, plan a picnic on the lawns, or linger in the rose garden for a sweet-scented date.

Set among the cafés and boutiques of Coal Drops Yard, this likeable coffee joint’s handy for St Pancras International station. It’s stepped up safety and cleaning measures, as well as introducing an app so you can order contact-free. Pick-up your drinks (the iced latte’s a standout, made with single-origin beans) and sip it sitting on the grass at nearby Gasholder Park.

Richmond makes for a bucolic day out, with its deer park and quaint, cobbled lanes. From here, it’s an easy stroll along the Thames to Petersham Nurseries, where well-heeled locals browse the mossy statues and old-fashioned roses. Its upscale café is set in the greenhouse, amid the ferns and foxgloves – now with fewer tables and a set price menu. Settle in for a leisurely lunch, starting with courgette-flower fritti and a cool glass of rosé.  

Like the city’s other major museums, Tate Modern has reopened with some changes. All visitors need to pre-book a timed slot online and follow one of three one-way routes winding their way through the collections. A cap on numbers means it’s uncharacteristically quiet, so take your time pondering Matisse’s Snail or Ed Ruscha’s enigmatic slogans. It’s just as orderly inside the blockbuster exhibitions. Don’t miss the Warhol retrospective, now running until mid-November.

With a swathe of daytime traffic bans, Covent Garden’s cobbled streets are refreshingly relaxed. This area’s forte? Quintessential British brands and beauty boutiques, like Miller Harris’ calm, fragrance-filled store. Stop for a spritz as you explore the Market Building’s one-way arcades. On nearby Floral Street, admire Alex Monroe’s nature-inspired jewellery, then drop by cult Danish label GANNI, newly installed at no. 15.

With fewer tables at his East London eatery, Michelin-star chef Tomos Parry has launched summer’s hottest side hustle. Until September, Brat’s in residence at a railway arch by London Fields, with generously spaced alfresco tables and an awning, just in case of rain. The blackboard menu features wood-fired flatbreads and greens with home made ricotta – though the must-try’s the whole turbot, with smoked potatoes on the side.