No Air Conditioning?

I'm not sure what to say. It doesn't get as hot here as it probably does where you live. That being said, London does get the odd week where I'd prefer aircon.

You know your self better than we do, so if you think it'll be an issue book a hotel with aircon (you might have trouble finding it in a flat.)

The reason there's no AC is because there's no need for it. Millions of Londoners and visitors manage to survive an English summer without AC perfectly well. What is it about allergens in particular that concerns you?

Thank you --

I suffer from sinus issues -- and often when it's warm it's difficult to breath.

Most British homes don't have air conditioning. As a nation we tend to be fresh air fiends - personally I sleep with a window open all year round and hate it when I travel in the US and find that windows are fixed closed in hotels because there's air conditioning.

If you want air conditioning you'll need a modern chain hotel (even then it's not absolutely guaranteed) or a modern hotel-style serviced apartment.

August can get hot - mid-20s Celsius is most common but low 30s isn't unheard of - and London can get stuffy. But it's so rarely truly hot in the UK for very long that we just don't "do" air conditioning in domestic settings.

Either fling the windows open or if it's important to you, find somewhere to stay that has it. Don't expect other nations to be exactly like the US in how we live.... you probably won't have a dryer in the flat, either (we tend to air-dry clothes).

I'm from the mid west also, have been in England in August and never needed air conditioning. Even if the day is warm/hot the evenings cool down a lot. Don't expect to go into cafes, pubs, etc., and have air conditioning, they don't. Like a post above said, you can't travel to a different country and expect it to be "like home". That's the beauty of travel, seeing and experiencing the difference.

The main reason A/C in not common is that generally it's not that hot here plus the cost of retro fitting it (in old buildings) and the cost of running it (our electricity costs are greater than yours, at least they were when I was last working in the US)

Thank you all for the response. Yes, I understand that it is not customary in that part of the world; however, completely natural for me - coming from the US. And right, it is part of the beauty! I traveled in Scotland and LOVED that I had the windows and doors open whist I slept. It was WONDERFUL! I just have difficulty thinking that some places in the world are the perfect temp (70s F). I'm used to 100+F in the summer -- and I HATE every bit of it.

Don't worry about it, you really won't need AC.

Kathy,

I understand your concern. I also suffer through the misery of the hot summers we can get here in Missouri. While it can get warm in London, it is nowhere near the type of heat we get here in the Midwest. I go to England every year (have family there) and we all manage without air conditioning. If its gets hot in England it tends to only last a few days. Sleep with the widows open. No need to worry about nasty bugs coming in either (unlike Missouri). The last several years, I have been in England in July/August the weather has been perfect. BTW Missouri is the worst place I have lived for Allergies. Everyone seems to have them here. I think you will have a lot less problems with allergies in England.

Chiming in as Americans who like "climate control" ;-) We've been in London (always last week of May) when there was no AC and it got stuffy. But we asked for and got a fan. Sometimes opening a window isn't practical due to street noise. We've also been there in almost-June when we needed to turn on a little heat. London - our Favorite City - and its unpredictable weather!

Have been all over Western Europe during hot periods and no had AC - typically it's not needed. But during those sporadic heat waves - good grief, it was miserable.

As I said in another thread on AC today, if it is an old building it will be a lot more comfortable on average than a new one because of all the insulation etc.

Allergies aside, you can look up the average London temperatures for August. Heat waves happen, as do the opposite. Best bet for AC is a newish corporate hotel.

Averages really won't help. The averages will be very moderate. If you want to know what can happen, you need to look at day-by-day historical temperatures for previous Augusts. You can find them on wunderground.com

I toured from London to Edinburgh from early June to the end of June. I died in the heat in London for 2 of the 5 days there. I froze all the way to Edinburgh. It was so hot the 3 days in Edinburgh and without AC, it would have been awful in our hotel. I can always keep warm if it is cold but cooling off without air is not easy when your room is 85 degrees. Some fellow group members were in rooms where the AC didn't work. It was really bad. But, you never know what the weather will be. Watch the weather for the dates you will be traveling. The 15 day future forecast should give you an idea. Remember that heat travels up.!

Have a great trip.

Are you traveling elsewhere? you said "Europe" after all..

I have lived and worked in Europe and also traveled there as a tourist. I am not as "american" in manners as many people, but I have two major American hang ups: Smoking (I cannot stand it in public places) and AC (in the hot summer I need it to sleep). In the UK I don't think it's going to be a problem for you. In the south of Europe, I've never understood how some people can sit in an un-airconditioned restaurant in 90 degree weather, wearing a suit and tie, eating spicy food, and not breaking a sweat. I'm often drenched and passing out. The europeans must be built differently than me.

We spent the whole month of August, 2016 in London. We stayed at the Conrad Hilton St. James Park for 23 days. We also spent 8 nights in the Cotswolds. Believe me there was a heatwave almost the whole time we were in London. We kept going back to our air/conditioned hotel, as the heat was too much for us.