No Airconditioner? What to do during the summer?

July 9, 2025

This summer in London might be hot for many, but an even bigger problem is that almost all buildings and houses in the UK don't commonly have air conditioning. Today, Peyton & Charmed will help explain why they don't commonly install air conditioning, along with ways to cope if you encounter extreme heat this summer.

First, let's understand the main reason why buildings and houses in the UK don't typically have air conditioning. You might guess the main reason is their conservatism. This can be seen in most buildings in the UK that still retain their old charm and allure. Only a small percentage of buildings have air conditioning, and those are usually newly constructed buildings with a modern look that starkly contrasts with the traditional ones.

Besides not altering the building structures, the bricks used to build them are also designed to trap heat inside. Moreover, if your accommodation has single-glazed windows, the heat that comes through the glass will continue to circulate inside and won't be able to escape.

Even though air conditioning is only needed for a few weeks of the year in the UK, enduring the stuffy heat can be frustrating, right? So, what you can do to alleviate this frustration is to carry a fan with you, whether it's a small portable fan or a desk fan to help circulate the air in your room during the day. At night, you can open your windows to let in the cool breeze to help dispel the daytime heat.  

And if during the day the room you're in becomes too hot to bear, we recommend spending time at air-conditioned museums or shopping centers instead. Air-conditioned museums include the Victoria & Albert Museum or The National Gallery. For air-conditioned shopping centers, you can go to Selfridge's or Westfield London.

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