Oh my God it’s hot. Now I know that last summer I moaned – a lot – about the lack of sun and miserable weather but I just have to have a little British whinge about the hot weather now. This is too much. Anyone who’s been on the tube this week will know that it has officially become an oven. Apparently it’s well over the legal requirement for the maximum temperature you can transport cattle in. Great.

OK, OK, I’m sorry. I know it’s nice that the sun is finally shining and I shouldn’t complain. I know that rain is on the way and when it comes I’ll complain and wish it was hot and sunny. However, as a Brit I do feel it’s my God-given right to moan about the weather.

So what’s a drinker to do? I can’t face cramming into one of London’s sweatbox pubs or clubs at the moment and I am going to be making full use of the festivals this year. Also, Wimbledon bars are going to be awesome as far as the atmosphere goes – if Murray can continue to succeed. Still, all I really give a damn about right now is keeping cool at London bars.

Luckily for you, we’ve compiled our recommendations of bars with air conditioning so you can escape the blistering heat for a while. Also, of course, there are our recommended beer gardens in London, bars for outdoor drinking and places for alfresco drinks. We’ve even cobbled together a list of the best rooftop bars in London if you can bear being elevated even closer to the sun and – my personal favourite – bars in London parks. I love Hyde Park and sipping on a cold pint (OK, glass of wine) whilst lying on the grass is one of my favourite pastimes. Keeping cool at London bars isn’t so tough, after all.

So stay cool this week, guys – it’s going to get worse before it gets better. I’m sure we’ll see a lot of lobster-faced people by the time the sun disappears. Be safe! And, if at all possible, AVOID THE TUBE!