We love London in the summer! Even though the sun isn’t always out (although we’ve had glorious sunshine the past few days) the long summer evenings are perfect for getting out and about in the city until late at night. With the sun setting well after 9pm throughout July, make the most of the long days with some great attractions that are brilliant for visiting in the early evening or maybe even a bit later!

1. Relive the summer of 2012 at the ArcelorMittal Orbit

History was made at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and you can see where it all went down atop theArcelorMittal Orbit – Britain’s tallest sculpture! This unique sculpture in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park lets visitors ascend 80m to the viewing platform to check out views of the park and the stadium. You’ll also see London’s famous skyline, including The Shard, Big Ben and the O2 Arena. Open until 6pm (last entry 5.30pm)

2. Enjoy a stroll through a London park

If the evening is balmy, few things can top a relaxing walk through one of London’s gorgeous parks. With quite a few open green spaces to choose from even in the centre of the city, you can definitely while away a few hours relaxing in Regent’s Park or chilling out with the wildlife next to the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park. Best of all, it’s completely free! An excellent choice if you’re trying to save the pennies.

3. Take to the River Thames You can’t get near to the coast for a sail, but a cruise on the River Thames is the next best thing. Take a Sundowner Cruise with City Cruises and you’ll sip on a glass of bubbly while enjoying canapés on the open deck as the boat glides through London and a live jazz band provides the tunes. There’s also a bar on board that serves classically British glasses of Pimms throughout summer! 6.30pm – 8.30pm

4. Let your inner animal out for Zoo Lates at ZSL London Zoo

Ever wanted to visit a zoo after hours? Who hasn’t! Zoo Lates at ZSL London Zoo are held every Friday in June and July and let visitors roam the zoo grounds after closing time. The animals are the big draw but there’s plenty of other things to keep you occupied including live comedy, cabaret, pop up bars and street food festivals. Tickets are going fast so snap up yours now. Friday nights from 6pm – 10pm

5. See the sunset over London at The View from The Shard

If you time your visit correctly, on a clear day you can take in a gorgeous sunset 72 floors above London! The Shard is Western Europe’s tallest skyscraper and its panoramic glass viewing gallery offers unobstructed views of the city. You can stay as long as you like at The View from The Shard once you get up there, so if you arrive early you can always just bask in the sights until the sun decides to go down. Open 10am – 10pm 7 days a week

Summer in London is definitely a great time to visit the city – not only do top attractions and landmarks become even more of a pleasure to visit, but there are so many events to go to and seasonal things to do. Whether it’s enjoying a pint in a pub garden or people watching in a park, the warm weather opens up the potential for so many new activities!  Take a look at Time Out’s summer events calendar and keep up to date with what’s going on in the capital over the next few weeks.