20 UK Summer Bucket List Ideas

Last Updated on 23rd September 2023

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Are you looking for inspiration for your UK summer bucket list? Check out this awesome list of summer bucket list ideas!

Every year when summer rolls around, it can feel super overwhelming when it comes to making plans and ensuring that you tick off as many things off your summer bucket list as possible.

If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to putting together ideas for your UK summer bucket list, this post is for you!

Ultimate UK summer bucket list

Here are 20 fun ideas to add to your UK summer bucket list! From going wild swimming to eating fish and chips at the British seaside to watching the sunset on a balmy summer evening, this list of the best UK summer bucket list ideas means that you’ll have your best summer yet!

1. Have a picnic

Having a picnic is undoubtedly one of the best UK summer bucket list ideas as it positively screams British summertime!

A picnic doesn’t have to be anything lavish and it doesn’t even have to be in a fancy location; a few sandwiches, sausage rolls and packets of crisps in your nearby park will do the job!

2. Watch the sunset – summer bucket list UK

Watching the sunset is something that should be on everyone’s summer bucket list as summer is usually the best time to enjoy an epic sunset!

You can even accompany your sunset-watching with a picnic so you can tick two things off your UK summer bucket list in one go!

3. Go to the beach and eat fish and chips

Going to the seaside and eating fish and chips is one of the most quintessential elements of the British summertime in my opinion!

Some of my favourite British seaside towns include:

• Whitby
• Scarborough
• Margate
• Filey
• Brighton
• Cornwall
• Jurassic Coast

Read more: The Best Seaside Towns In Yorkshire – Beautiful Yorkshire Coast

4. Take lots of pictures

Even if your summer isn’t full of spectacular holidays in exotic destinations and you barely leave your hometown, I can almost guarantee that your summer will still be full of so many amazing memories with your friends and family that it will be worth snapping pictures of every little moment!

5. Spend a rainy afternoon reading

Unfortunately, one of the top things to do on this UK summer bucket list is to spend a rainy afternoon inside reading. Despite the season stating that it’s summer, the weather in the UK doesn’t always reflect that, so one of the best ways to spend a rainy afternoon inside is to get started on your TBR pile!

6. Make a summer playlist – summer bucket list UK

Summer is usually the time of year when there are so many new songs released, so it’s the perfect time to curate your summer playlist, ready for an epic road trip adventure with friends!

7. Go on lots of walks

For a simple, cheap, but fun thing to do in the summer in the UK, simply don your trainers or hiking boots and go on a lovely long walk.

The summer evenings are my favourite time to get my steps in, but you might also want to head out first thing in the morning to enjoy the summer sun before everyone else!

8. Have a water fight/water balloon fight

A water balloon fight is one of the best UK summer bucket list ideas for kids, but that doesn’t mean to say that you can’t join in as an adult as well!

Grab a bunch of friends together and host a fun-filled afternoon of acting like big kids again!

9. Go to a theme park

Going to a theme park is something that should be on everyone’s summer bucket lists, especially if you love riding thrilling rollercoasters!

Even if you’re not the biggest fan of rides and rollercoasters, a day spent at a theme park with friends is still sure to be one to remember!

Read more: The Best Theme Parks In The UK

10. Go on a bike ride – UK summer bucket list

Going on a bike ride is one of the best ways to spend a leisurely summer afternoon in the UK.

You could be more adventurous and head off on an exciting off-road biking adventure if that’s your thing, or you could just stick to a nice casual ride around your home city or a nearby park.

11. Have a spa afternoon/day at home

Pamper evenings are usually more synonymous with the autumn/winter months, but the summer is also a great time to give yourself a good old pamper to enjoy that your hair, skin and nails are looking as healthy as possible ready for the nicer weather!

Read more: The Ultimate Autumn Bucket List UK – Fall Bucket List

12. Enjoy lots of BBQs

The summer season in the UK practically screams BBQ weather and even if it starts to rain, you can bet that we Brits have a backup plan to ensure that we still get to enjoy a delicious BBQ with family or friends!

13. Go wild swimming – summer bucket list UK

Wild swimming is something that’s become increasingly popular in the UK over the last few summers, and as long as you’re doing it in a safe spot and with other people around you, wild swimming in the summer can be such a fun activity!

14. Spend more time in the garden

If you’re lucky enough to have your own garden space, the summer is the perfect time to ensure that your plants and flowers are well looked after and it’s also a great time to sit back and enjoy the beauty of your very own outdoor space!

15. Enjoy time with family

Of course, there is no strict season as to when you should enjoy quality time with your family, but the summer months can be just as fun to spend time with your loved ones as the festive season as it gives you the chance to take fun day trips with them or you can even just enjoy a yummy family barbecue at home!

16. Wander around your home city for a day

Travel in the summer months can be extortionately expensive, even in the UK, so instead of spending a small fortune to go somewhere abroad or even to a holiday resort in the UK, dedicate some time to exploring your home city for a day/weekend instead!

17. Try a new restaurant

Eating at a new restaurant is one of my favourite things to do, especially in the summer months when you get the chance to dine al fresco!

If you’ve been meaning to try out a new restaurant in your home city, the summer is the perfect time to do so!

Read more: The Best Places To Eat In York City Centre

18. Spend an afternoon in a beer garden

There’s nothing quite like spending an afternoon in a classic British pub beer garden! Grab your friends or family or just head for a quiet drink after work with colleagues and enjoy soaking up the delicious sunshine with a refreshing drink in hand!

19. Go on a road trip

The summer is the best time to head off on a road trip in the UK as there are so many beautiful places to explore by car.

You don’t even have to travel very far, as the UK is home to so many beautiful national parks and stretches of coastline that you’ll likely find somewhere amazing pretty much on your doorstep!

Best summer road trip destinations in the UK:

• South Coast England
• Scotland NC500
• The Lake District
• North Wales
• South Wales
• Cornwall

20. Make homemade ice lollies – summer bucket list ideas for kids

For a fun and cheap thing to do in the summer, especially with kids, you can make your own homemade ice lollies! The last few summers in the UK have been prone to a last-minute heatwave and you’ll certainly be thankful if your freezer is equipped with some delicious and refreshing ice lollies if the weather suddenly becomes incredibly hot!

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• My Ultimate A to Z Country Bucket List – Best Countries In The World
• The Ultimate World Food Bucket List
• Unique Life Bucket List Ideas – 100+ Best Things To Do Before You Die

Pin for later – UK summer bucket list ideas

What’s on your summer bucket list? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter at @imjustagirl_16.