As England endures its warmest June on record, with temperatures hitting 37.7°C, and the Met Office forecasting another July heatwave, London Underground commuters are resorting to portable fans for relief. Among them, a new phenomenon dubbed 'Side Blowers' has emerged: passengers who share their personal fans with fellow travellers.
What Are Side Blowers?
Coined by Metro, Side Blowers are generous train passengers who angle their handheld electric fans to cool those around them. On the notoriously hot Central line, which recently reached 39.4°C, these acts of kindness transform miserable journeys into bearable ones.
US News Reporter Sarah Hooper, a self-identified Side Blower, said: 'Most of the time people refuse to accept it (British politeness, maybe I was too American for them) but I angled it towards some people who looked miserable anyways.'
Passenger Experiences
Senior Social Media Journalist Lauryn Berry recalled travelling back from a Harry Styles concert at Wembley: 'Multiple people who had fans kept pointing them at me. They were all complete strangers – just deciding to share the cool air.'
Bethan Sandall, 25, admitted: 'Before the heatwave, when I'd see people with a handheld electric fan on The Tube I'd think "oh get a grip", but now I'm all for it. It's so helpful when other people bring their fans along, makes it a much nicer environment for everyone else on board.'
However, not everyone finds Side Blowers effective. Rob Young, Deputy Head of Platforms, Social & Communities at Metro, noted: 'Travelling home on a packed Lizzie Line train, I actually think the sporadic faint breeze from a woman's fan made me hotter.' Lifestyle Reporter Maicey Navarro Griffiths added: 'I have felt other people's fans before on the tube, but barely. If anything, it's more of a tease than it is helpful.'
The Science Behind Fans
Research published in 2025 found that at temperatures above 35°C, fans may accelerate dehydration and cardiovascular strain by pushing hot air over the skin. Below 35°C, however, fans are generally effective at preventing overheating.
For those braving the heat at home, simple tips include placing a bottle of ice with salt in front of a fan to create a cooler breeze, and keeping curtains and blinds closed to retain cooler indoor air.
