There’s a reason why London in the Summer is the favoured season, with long, warm nights and the smell of flowers filling the air. There’s simply no denying that when the sun comes out and the temperatures start to climb, London comes alive with all manner of British summertime fun.

This year is extra special, given that we finally have the opportunity to freely leave our homes and enjoy the warmer climes and culture that our fine city has to offer without the burden of the past two years weighing us down.

If you’re wondering how to make the most of your Summer evenings, then take a moment to peruse the ideas and suggestions that Michelle and her team have curated especially for you. (Hint, quite a few ideas will have you filling your sunshine days with all things alfresco!)

Enjoy A Spot Of Outdoor Entertainment

There’s no doubt that bundling up and heading out into the crisp air for an outdoor theatrical experience has a certain wintery ring to it, but if we’re honest, we prefer taking in a live performance when it’s a bit warmer. Not only is there something of the spectacular about a performance beneath the waning light, but it’s also a good excuse to indulge in some online shopping and invest in a few choice pieces to make the event that much more magical.

We would argue that the perfect pairing is a live performance at an Open Air Theatre with one of Sophie Habsburg’s exquisite handbags – a super coveted accessory for ladies in the know, which is available to buy now on the Almost Essential Shop. Of course, it’s hard to trust the weather in London, which is why our ‘just in case’ garment of choice has got to be a piece from Marlin Darlin’s contemporary, Summer collection. Not only is the cashmere of the highest quality and ethically produced, but Michelle has secured 10% off the first buy for AE members, which you can find out more about right here.

It’s hard to choose a favourite among the range of divine colours of these light cashmere pieces, but we wouldn’t be without it when heading outdoors!

Perhaps you would prefer an outdoor film screening? Our top picks for where you can find a pleasant starry night of film and fun would have to be Knebworth House or Greenwich Park, as well as Ascot Racecourse and the beautiful Chatsworth House, where The Luna Cinema will be showing a variety of films.

Of course, no outdoor experience is complete without a gourmet picnic, whilst sat atop a gorgeously comfy and personalised fleece blanket. We adore these, available on our website here, because they really look good, feel incredible, and are the perfect gifts and our favourite picnic accompaniment.

Naturally, you’ll want a few tasty nibbles and we have used Chef Sophie with great success in this regard. Her picnics come in these really nice baskets, filled with treats from her Spring/Summer seasonal menus. Make sure that you contact her through our website to review her sample menus and book a picnic to ensure that your outing is truly a feast for all the senses.

An Extravagant Garden Party With a Difference

Is there anything more quintessentially summery than a garden party?

There’s clearly a reason why Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced bouquet, naturally) alternated between her candlelit suppers and outdoor dining experiences, complete with riparian entertainment. While it may seem somewhat droll, we’re following in her enthusiasm for any excuse to host an exceptional dining experience with our nearest and dearest in the form of a celebratory garden party.

What’s more, each garden party should proffer a golden opportunity to create a truly bespoke alfresco occasion.

A Cinematic Visual

One of our favourite ideas includes centering a garden party around a cinematic experience, where your garden transforms into a whimsical social occasion under the stars, featuring an outdoor screening of a classic old movie. Just imagine a vintage Hollywood dreamboat film on a big screen in the background, a glittering array of fairy lights, candles and lanterns galore.

A Personalised Garden Party 

If that’s not to your fancy, or you want to start your Summer with an extravagant garden party, we suggest taking things to the next level by adding unique touches, like a pop of glowing colour in the form of well designed, fluorescent plexiglass trays. Not only are these butler trays ideal for holding alfresco drinks, but they would look quite sweet set up next to one of these jerry can mini bars dotted around, filled with refreshingly summery beverages.

End off the festivities with an extravagantly colourful pop of musical fireworks, lighting up the sky with a unique firework display, choreographed to a bespoke soundtrack. Accompanied, of course, by a customised menu of delicious treats prepared by great all-round culinary master of the garden party, Beth.

An Elegant Soirée 

You can’t go too far wrong with an elegant soirée. We are simply obsessed with the chic colour coordinated tableware designs from Themis Z, which will create a beautiful visual. Another special addition are these colourful Biot hand blown glasses, exclusive to Almost Essential. While you’re sure to find something to your taste, we adore the stemmed glasses of the Duo and Traditional lines and consider them a real classic, perfect for your outdoor table setting.

We are so excited to add to our collection the bespoke table linen with matching tablecloth and napkins. There are so many options to choose from.

Don’t forget that you can browse our online shop to find all sorts of items to compliment your table, from table linens and bamboo cutlery to crystal ice buckets. Just click here.

Refresh Yourself 

Now that it’s warm enough to go outside and feel the warmth of the golden rays of sunshine on our bare skin, we highly recommend investing in a luxury set of skincare products and tools. We can’t get enough of Spectacle Performance Skincare for its multitasking capabilities. Having used it, Michelle raves about its ability to hydrate, smooth, and soothe the skin, leaving you feeling fresher and toned.

The secret ingredient to feeling confident, though, has got to be knowing that you’re using the contour cream to banish cellulite. The formula encourages collagen and elastin production, a promised vouched for by Michelle, as well as reputable skincare and cosmetic experts, Dr Kersh and Dr Nyla Raja.

Sign Up For More Good News

All the services and independent luxury brands we have recommended to enhance your Summer in London are available to be bought or booked directly from this website. As an added benefit, there are a number of exclusive discounts that have been negotiated for Almost Essential followers.

We also urge you to join Michelle’s Inner Circle – the ultimate little black book and concierge service. For an affordable monthly subscription, Michelle will find and organise thoughtful gifts, highlight a range of brands that have been personally vetted and tested by Michelle, and give you access to services not listed on the website so that you’ll always have the help you need, when you need it.

We hope that this helps you find everything that you need in order to have a wonderful Summer.