As a series of heatwaves unfurled across the capital, residents ventured out of their warm homes in search of exciting and cooling summer experiences. With the season coinciding with my mother’s first-ever visit to London, I too put on the thinking cap to arrange a series of enticing activities.

Tai Chi: Kew Gardens

With my parents’ background as landscape designers, garden shop owners, and Bonsai growers, a visit to Kew Gardens was a given – but I hoped to experience it in a unique way. Perusing the list of garden activities, the weekly Tai Chi sessions stood out. On a mild summer morning, instructor Michael Burke led us through an engaging hour-long session. Martial arts-inspired Tai Chi movements were paired with the inspiring natural surrounds of Kew – and helpful anecdotes from Michael on the increasingly publicised healing properties of the practice.

Sessions at the Royal Botanical Gardens run from April to September, with tickets from £33 per session (entrance to Kew Gardens is included). After a few moments of appreciative silence to catch our breath, it was off to explore the gardens. The treetop walk is reminiscent of the ‘Boomslang’ in Cape Town’s Kirstenbosch Gardens, and two glasshouses bring together global gardens in an immersive space. 

Dining: Brumus Restuarant and Bar

For our dining experience, it was a tall order: somewhere quintessentially British, in central London, with classy English epicurean fare. Luckily, Haymarket Hotel’s Brumus Bar & Restaurant hit the bullseye, several times over. Brumus is kitted out by British designer Kit Kemp, with her trademark playful panache – bright colours, bold textures, and quirky art pieces throughout. 

We enjoyed live jazz before plates of British-inspired…

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