A/C for London flat Next June?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A/C for London flat Next June?
Planning a London trip the last week of June next year for my wife, myself & 2 teenage grandchildren. I've been looking into apartments, many of which do not have A/C. Is A/C necessary in London this time of year?
#4
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's obviously not necessary (at any time of the year), since 99.9% of us don't waste money or carbon emissions on such fripperies.
That doesn't mean though, that you won't hit a few days in which flats particularly might get pretty uncomfortable. Temps can hit the low 30s in June (though rarely). Most of us just keep lots of windows open when that happens, but that's not always a realistic solution in a flat, and British buildings are generally designed to retain heat, not diffuse it. Central London, in particular, has a microclimate that can make hot weather really unpleasant on the couple of days in an average year you might hit it - though that's more likely in July and early August.
Depends how tolerant you are of the very slight possibility you can have a couple of sweaty nights. You can always pop out and buy a fan: the reason opening windows in houses works is the through-draught they create, and in a flat where this is rarely possible, fans really can do more than just move hot air around.
That doesn't mean though, that you won't hit a few days in which flats particularly might get pretty uncomfortable. Temps can hit the low 30s in June (though rarely). Most of us just keep lots of windows open when that happens, but that's not always a realistic solution in a flat, and British buildings are generally designed to retain heat, not diffuse it. Central London, in particular, has a microclimate that can make hot weather really unpleasant on the couple of days in an average year you might hit it - though that's more likely in July and early August.
Depends how tolerant you are of the very slight possibility you can have a couple of sweaty nights. You can always pop out and buy a fan: the reason opening windows in houses works is the through-draught they create, and in a flat where this is rarely possible, fans really can do more than just move hot air around.
#6
I lived in the UK for a few years and since then have rented tons of holiday flats and cottages - and the ONLY places I've ever stayed that had a/c were some modern city-centre hotels and a couple of purpose-built timeshare-type resorts. I honestly don't think I've ever once turned on a/c. Has it ever been warm - sure. But more often by far it is cool. Might you hit a warm spell - hopefully yes Will you need a/c - probably not.
This last May/June I was there and hit high temps from 6C (42F) to 28C (82F) / sunshine to sleet.
This last May/June I was there and hit high temps from 6C (42F) to 28C (82F) / sunshine to sleet.
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,271
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I do agree in trheory with everything that has been said but many of my British friends don't realize how our bodies (those of us from many parts of the USA) have become accostomed to a/c not just for the temperatures but for the humidity.
London can get quite humid even on days when the temperature does go much above 20 or 25. (68 to 77 for those of us not used to the real way of stating temperatures).....I've been in a friend's flat in the middle of the afternoon at those temperatures with the direction of the sun coming right into the room and have felt uncomfortable (I know, I sholdn't but that's the way my body is, disgusting). There rarely is a big problem at night with the windows open and no difficulty in sleeping. Also the underground can begin to feel uncomfortable even at those fairly low temperatures for the same reason (I'm just used to the NYC subway where 100% of the cars have functioning air conditioning as do 100% of the buses).
A lot of it is your individual body and the direction of the sun at a particular time of the day! I know it's not the universal feeling but you'd be surprised how dependent we can become on air conditioning just for the humidity nto necessarily the temperature! JMHO
London can get quite humid even on days when the temperature does go much above 20 or 25. (68 to 77 for those of us not used to the real way of stating temperatures).....I've been in a friend's flat in the middle of the afternoon at those temperatures with the direction of the sun coming right into the room and have felt uncomfortable (I know, I sholdn't but that's the way my body is, disgusting). There rarely is a big problem at night with the windows open and no difficulty in sleeping. Also the underground can begin to feel uncomfortable even at those fairly low temperatures for the same reason (I'm just used to the NYC subway where 100% of the cars have functioning air conditioning as do 100% of the buses).
A lot of it is your individual body and the direction of the sun at a particular time of the day! I know it's not the universal feeling but you'd be surprised how dependent we can become on air conditioning just for the humidity nto necessarily the temperature! JMHO
#9
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I had the misfortune of being in London for an early June heatwave (it was in the first 2 weeks of June, just a few years ago) and it ruined my husband's ability to sleep, and therefore had a big negative impact on our trip.
I would ignore other people's insults or guesses about the weather and protect your trip, which is an expensive investment. Ultimately, you may face a trade-off between an apartment that is less your ideal than one without air-con (which you may end up never turning on), but you might think that sensible.
By the way, when the heatwave broke and normal service was resumed, it was rainy and chilly and in the 50s.
I would ignore other people's insults or guesses about the weather and protect your trip, which is an expensive investment. Ultimately, you may face a trade-off between an apartment that is less your ideal than one without air-con (which you may end up never turning on), but you might think that sensible.
By the way, when the heatwave broke and normal service was resumed, it was rainy and chilly and in the 50s.
#10
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Flipkey lists 154 apartments in London with air conditioning
http://www.flipkey.com/london-vacati...ditioning=true
HomeAway lists 88 (probably many duplicates)
http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/sea...r+conditioning
http://www.flipkey.com/london-vacati...ditioning=true
HomeAway lists 88 (probably many duplicates)
http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/sea...r+conditioning
#11
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As janisj has pointed out, it's less a matter of needing it than it is finding an apartment that has AC. Few hotels offer it (with the exception being those at the very high end price wise) and even fewer if any apartments.
#12
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you don;t like hot weather and are used to AC you might easily find you need it in London in summer. We would never take a hotel without AC.
That said, summers are generally cool (at least versus NYC) but you can get a lot of humidity and I have been there when the temps were higher than 90 (not often) but low 80s is fairly frequent. (And for me to sleep I need a room to be 70 or less.)
That said, summers are generally cool (at least versus NYC) but you can get a lot of humidity and I have been there when the temps were higher than 90 (not often) but low 80s is fairly frequent. (And for me to sleep I need a room to be 70 or less.)
#16
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was in London one June when it was 90 F. We had no A/C and thought we would die! I believe that we, as Americans are so used to the A/C that it makes us feel worse. I will never go anywhere in the summer w/o A/C again!
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
3mkids
Europe
4
Apr 24th, 2006 07:43 PM