The Joy Generator

THE

GENERATOR

Tell us a bit about yourself and we’ll find you a London experience you’ll love

Written by Paid for by

Time Out

Find your joy in London this summer

ooking for something incredible to do this summer? Luckily, London is absolutely filled with experiences guaranteed to dish out the dopamine – you’ve just got to know where to look. Together

with Transport for London, we’re curating the best of the city this summer and serving it to you via a handy personality quiz. And here’s the best part: all our recommendations are free or under a tenner and easy to get to on public transport. Who doesn’t love getting out and about while saving money?

Let’s go

Explore now

Discover more than 800 Time Out-recommended experiences with the Cultural TfL Map – now updated with amazing things to do on the Elizabeth line network.

If you could only visit one London attraction, which would it be?

Dennis Severs’ House. I’ve done all the big museums and I’ve heard this one’s super quirky.

Kew Gardens. I can’t wait to lose myself in those nature trails…

The Tate Modern. There’s always something surprising to find there.

Pick your favourite mode of transport…

The top deck of the bus, so I can admire the views.

The DLR, so I can sit at the front and pretend I’m the driver.

The Elizabeth line, because it’s just so sleek and smooth.

Congratulations – you’ve got an unexpected day off! What are you doing?

It’s sunny outside, so I’ll take a stroll by a canal.

I’ll head to a neighbourhood I’ve never explored before.

There’s a new show at the National Theatre I’ve been meaning to see.

What’s your dream London date idea?

Chilling in London Fields’ wildflower meadow.

Wandering through Portobello Road Market, searching for treasures together.

Listening to hot new bands at The Shacklewell Arms.

You’re a… sun-worshipper

You’re the first one to arrange alfresco hangs, the kind of person who has an outdoor desk space, you bathe in the smallest patch of sunlight in your living room like a cat – spending time in the sun (responsibly!) is your medicine.

Outdoor Cinemas

Wild Swimming

Olympic Park

Canary Wharf Nearest stop: Canary Wharf Tube station and Elizabeth line. Canada Square Park & Cabot Square, E14. Various dates and times until August 24. Free.

Outdoor Cinemas

Wild Swimming

You can also cool off with some wild swimming at West Reservoir Centre (if you’re a serious swimmer), or if you’re more in the mood for a splash around, check out the Hampstead Ponds and the lake at Beckenham Place Park.

West Reservoir Centre Nearest stop: Manor House Tube station. Green Lanes, N4 2HA. Various times and dates, booking essential. £11

Outdoor Cinemas

Hampstead Ponds Nearest stop: Gospel Oak Overground or Hampstead Tube station. Hampstead Heath, N6 6JA.Various times and dates, booking recommended. £4.50

This summer, we recommend heading to catch the latest sports fixtures and cinema screenings outdoors. Whether it’s Summer Screens at Canary Wharf or outdoor films at Summer by the River, located in the outdoor amphitheatre The Scoop which boasts fabulous views of Tower Bridge.

The Scoop Nearest stop: London Bridge Tube station. The Scoop at More, SE1 2AA. Various dates and times until September 1. Free.

Beckenham Place Park Nearest stop: Hackington Crescent bus stop (352). Beckenham Place Park Lake, BR3 5BS. Various times and dates, booking recommended. £6.20 adults, £3.95 concession.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Nearest DLR/tube/train stop: Stratford Westfield Avenue, E15 2DU. Every day, noon to 5pm. £9 adult, £5 child.

Fancy heading eastwards? There’s the beautiful Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park which you can wrap up nicely by hiring your very own swan-shaped pedalo – they’re iconic.

Olympic Park

Kew Gardens. I can’t wait to lose myself in those nature trails…

The Tate Modern. There’s always something surprising to find there.

Dennis Severs’ House. I’ve done all the big museums and I’ve heard this one’s super quirky.

The top deck of the bus, so I can admire the views.

The DLR, so I can sit at the front and pretend I’m the driver.

The Elizabeth line, because it’s just so sleek and smooth.

It’s sunny outside, so I’ll take a stroll by a canal.

I’ll head to a neighbourhood I’ve never explored before.

There’s a new show at the National Theatre I’ve been meaning to see.

Chilling in London Fields’ wildflower meadow.

Wandering through Portobello Road Market, searching for treasures together.

Listening to hot new bands at The Shacklewell Arms.

Re-take quiz

You’re a… hidden gem explorer

Okay, so you’re someone who loves to be the first to know – especially when it comes to finds across the capital. It doesn’t matter if it’s art, music or natural wonders, you're a one-stop shop of new recommendations that you simply love sharing with others. Giving us a run for our money, eh?

William Morris Gallery

Explore the Woods

Live Jazz and Blues

William Morris Gallery Nearest stop: Walthamstow Central Tube station or Overground. Lloyd Park, E17 4PP. From now until Sunday September 10, free entry.

As well as housing William Morris’ groundbreaking textile designs, the William Morris Gallery is hosting the ‘Fall in Love and Be More Tender’ exhibition in Walthamstow. It’s the first major survey exhibition of fashion designer Ashish Gupta, one of the hottest names in the industry right now.

There are some big hitters when it comes to woods in London, Epping and Ruislip immediately come to mind. However, natural explorers will love Sydenham Hill Wood, which not only houses the last remaining part of the ancient Great North Wood (dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period) but also remnants of Victorian gardens. Exciting stuff!

Sydenham Hill Wood Nearest stop: Forest Hill Overground. Crescent Wood Road, SE26 6LS. Open at all times, free entry.

Outdoor Cinemas

Explore the Woods

Plaquemine Lock Nearest stop: Angel Tube station. 39 Graham St, London N1 8LB. Mon – Thurs 5pm-11pm; Fri 5pm-12am; Sat 11am-12am; Sun 11am-10pm. Free entry.

Live Jazz and Blues

Love bragging about seeing a band before anyone else? Well, you can catch incredible new music at Plaquemine Lock every night of the week. Expect the freshest new sounds in jazz and blues, which have helped the venue earn a cult-like status.

Re-take quiz

William Morris Gallery

You’re an… arty admirer

You’re passionate about arts and culture. And luckily, summer in London is filled with great options both outdoors and indoors (especially for when you want to escape the heat) that’ll fill your brain with pub quiz-worthy facts, and hopefully inspire a little creativity.

Serpentine Pavilion

GDIF Festival

Science Gallery

Serpentine Pavilion Nearest stop: Lancaster Gate Tube station. Serpentine South Gallery, W2 3XA. Tuesday-Sunday between 10am-6pm (runs until October 29) Free entry.

If you’re obsessed with interesting architecture, there’s no way you can miss seeing The Serpentine Pavilion this summer. Created by Lina Ghotmeh, it comes inspired by sustainability and our primal relationship with the Earth with its bio-sourced and low-carbon materials.

Lovingly known as GDIF, The Greenwich and Docklands International Festival is a multidisciplinary arts festival happening in southeast London from August 25 to September 10. From roaming performers to fringe theatre and musical performances, there’s so much to explore for all tastes and ages.

Multiple venues Nearest stop: Various stops on the DLR. Varying locations, dates and times, from free.

Outdoor Cinemas

GDIF Festival

Science Gallery London Nearest stop: London Bridge Tube station. Great Maze Pond, SE1 9GU. Running now until January 20 2024, free entry.

Science Gallery

Curious about ChatGPT? Suspect about Siri? Well, this exhibition at Science Gallery London is just for you. Named ‘AI: Who’s looking after me?’ the show takes a questioning and playful look at the ways artificial intelligence is already shaping so many areas of our lives – not just through our technology, but wider systems like healthcare and justice.

Re-take quiz

Serpentine Pavilion

Let’s go

Written by

Time Out

Paid for by

ooking for something incredible to do this summer? Luckily, London is absolutely filled with experiences guaranteed to dish

out the dopamine – you’ve just got to know where to look. Together with Transport for London, we’re curating the best of the city this summer and serving it to you via a handy personality quiz. And here’s the best part: all our recommendations are free or under a tenner and easy to get to on public transport. Who doesn’t love getting out and about while saving money?

Explore the woods

Live Jazz

Explore the Woods

William Morris Gallery

Live Jazz and Blues

Explore the Woods

Live Jazz and Blues

Olympic Park

Wild Swimming

Outdoor Cinemas

You’re an… arty admirer

Science Gallery

GDIF Festival

Serpentine Pavilion

Outdoor Cinemas

Wild Swimming

Olympic Park

Serpentine Pavillion

GDIF Festival

Science Gallery

Click to discover an activity