Workers in the City of London, often named the 'hottest' authority in the capital, have described current heatwave conditions as 'unbearable' as tall buildings effectively trap heat. The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning for extreme heat, with temperatures set to rise to 37C on Wednesday. However, certain areas of the capital feel considerably hotter than others, largely due to a scarcity of shaded areas and green spaces.
Heat trapped by concrete and buildings
A 2023 map from Friends of the Earth highlighted this, showing that London's business district, where 676,000 people work, offers very few locations for people to cool down, which would help offset high temperatures. Dan McLaren, a store manager at the Amathus wine and spirit shop in Leadenhall Market, said it has become 'extremely hot' in the City of London during the summer heatwaves. 'I think [it's] because all the concrete reflects the heat. It's a nightmare, public transport is really super extreme and it's so crowded and hot and hard to be here,' he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Pregnant worker feels claustrophobic
Katie, who also works across all of Amathus' 15 London stores, said that getting around the city is especially hard in the heat as she is pregnant. 'It's not easy at all, I've got a fan, water – what I can to stay cool,' she said. 'It's not fun travelling around really. I felt quite claustrophobic walking here from the Tube because it's crowded, the buildings obviously reflect a lot of heat, people smoking. I was obviously just breathing in pollution really and heat for 10 minutes.'
Construction worker says conditions 'unbearable'
Cadrut works in construction in the City of London, close to Finsbury Square, which is a small park in the area. He said that during high temperatures working becomes 'unbearable'. 'We just take a lot of breaks and drink a lot of water and that's it – you can't do too much because you have to keep working,' he said, adding: 'I'm worried about how hot it is now – we don't have air-conditioning and most of the country doesn't but, what can you do?'
Bakery workers face commute disruptions
Jarlenn and Maria both work at a bakery in Leadenhall Market. While their store has air-conditioning, they said that their commute to-and-from work during heatwaves can sometimes be disrupted due to railway track closures. Maria said that she is also worried about how much hotter London will become over the coming years. Between 2015 and 2024, the number of days exceeding 30C in the UK more than trebled compared with the 1961-1990 average, the Met Office says. 'It is June now and [in May] it was still like a heatwave, maybe not this high, but it's so early in the year for it to be this hot,' she said. 'By next year probably, we'll be having heatwaves in February – maybe not next year but maybe in a couple of years. It's just moving backwards, so every month will be hotter and winter will be more freezing. It is two extremes.'
City of London Corporation's climate action
The City of London Corporation uses heat planning to guide where it plants more trees and green space. It also has planning regulations which try to ensure buildings in the Square Mile cool naturally. Schools in the City also close early if needed, with contingency measures such as timetable adjustments or early collection if required. City of London Corporation Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward, said: 'Our Climate Action Strategy is keeping the Square Mile cool, green and resilient – ensuring it remains a world-leading destination, even in extreme heat. We're taking practical, design-led action – targeting heat hotspots, delivering greener streets, and shaping buildings to stay cooler naturally. Since 2021, we've improved over 17,200 square metres of green space – the equivalent of 65 tennis courts – and seen streets cool down by up to six degrees through tree planting initiatives. And with 180 parks, plazas and churchyards, alongside venues like the Barbican, the City offers an unmatched range of places to escape the heat.'
