How to ride the capital’s heatwave this weekend

LIDOS! PICNICS! ROOFTOP BARS! OUR BRILLIANT BUMPER GUIDE

Getting outdoors is the order of this weekend, as the mercury bubbles to 36C. With much of the West End pedestrianised, finding a spot in the sun is easier than ever. Head to Henrietta Street where The Oystermen (oystermen. co.uk) leave the outdoor tables for walk-ins: a dozen Maldon Rocks with a bottle of Muscadet should do it. Totter into Soho and the place is a socially-distanced party; on your way to boulevardiers at the Old Compton Brasserie (oldcomptonbrasserie.co.uk), stop for escargot dripping in garlic at the always buzzing Cafe Boheme (cafeboheme.co.uk). In the calmer Golden Square sits Folie, where the terrace is a slice of Saint-Tropez (folie.london) — the martinis are pleasingly lethal. There’s similar glamour at the newlyopened Garden at the Berkeley, which brings memories of the Med to Belgravia with barbecued octopus and steaks doused in smoked shallot butter (the-berkeley.co.uk).

Also new is Thames-side Tavolino (tavolino.co.uk), where the terrace hums: over icy Negronis and plates of fresh pasta, take in the view of Tower Bridge, the Shard and City Hall. Down the river, while Nine Elms is hardly a holiday hotspot, everyone has fun under the bright yellow canopy at Robin Gill’s lively Darby’s (darbys-london. com).

Those who fancy themselves a dab hand with the grill should try DIY-tapas spot Parrillan, in King’s Cross (parrillan. co.uk). The outside stays unreserved, but if you struggle to get in, nearby Hicce is lovely as well (hicce.co.uk). Over in Stratford, Patrick Powell’s new Allegra terrace welcomes walk-ins on its dramatic outdoor space, while the gorgeous rooftop at Seabird offers views out over Southwark and the city (seabirdlondon. com).