25 food experiences you need to tick off this summer

2. Make your own homemade lemonade (and go wild with flavours)

Squeeze out every last drop of summer by making your own tangy lemonade. It’s easier than you think and endlessly customisable – try adding strawberries, raspberries, mint or a splash of elderflower cordial. Serve over ice for the ultimate refreshment when the next heatwave hits. Try our classic homemade lemonade recipe first and, if you've got a glut of raspberries growing in the garden, try our crowd-pleasing pink lemonade.

3. Go strawberry picking and make the ultimate Eton mess

Strawberry picking is a great way to spend a day of the long summer holidays. There’s something endlessly wholesome about wandering through strawberry fields in the sun. It's a great summer's day out for the whole family, as long as you can persuade the kids to put the berries in the basket and not just eat them straight away. Browse our round-up of the best pick-your-own strawberry farms in the UK to find where to go near you.

Once you’re back home, whip up an Eton mess with crushed meringue, softly whipped cream and your haul of berries. Picked more than you know what to do with? Check out our guide to 15 things you never knew you could do with strawberries, from trending sandwiches to tarts and tiramisu.

4. Try a totally new flavour of ice cream (Marmite ripple, anyone?)

You’ve had vanilla. You’ve had chocolate. Summer 2025 is the time to get bold. From small-batch gelato to artisan scoop shops, the UK is full of unexpected flavours right now. Think earl grey, rhubarb and custard, espresso martini, fragrant lavender or even Marmite and sourdough if you dare to go savoury. See our picks of the best ice cream parlours in the UK to discover the ultimate way to cool down.

5. Pack a proper picnic

Step away from the soggy sandwiches and elevate your next picnic to gourmet status. Think flaky sausage rolls, juicy summer salads, sharply dressed slaws and fizz on ice. Bonus points for a homemade quiche or a herby potato salad. A shady spot under a tree and a checked blanket? Perfect. We've got all the inspiration you need to keep you picnicking all summer long, from budget picnic recipes to the best picnic drinks ideas.

6. Fire up a barbecue (even if it’s raining)

Nothing says British summer quite like grilling under a grey sky with an umbrella in one hand and tongs in the other. Go beyond basic burgers and try grilled halloumi skewers, a whole roast chicken, pulled BBQ aubergine and even chargrilled pineapple for a barbecue dessert. See our most popular barbecue recipes for guaranteed crowdpleasers.

7. Eat something from a food truck you've never tried before

Seek out a local street food market or summer festival and try a totally new-to-you cuisine. From Malaysian laksa to Ghanaian jollof rice, there’s a world of flavour to explore – often just around the corner. Ask the vendor for their top pick from the menu and take your tastebuds on holiday, no plane ticket needed.

8. Make your own jam from foraged or local fruit

Plums, blackberries, raspberries – late summer is jam-packed (sorry) with fruit ready to be preserved. If you've got a garden or allotment glut, or are just making the most of bargain supermarket deals while fruit is in season, a batch of homemade jam is a great way to make the most of a summer haul. Homemade jam also makes a lovely gift that will last if you want to get ahead with edible gifts for (whisper it) Christmas.

9. Go to a farmers’ market and build a meal from what you find

Hit up a local farmers’ market and challenge yourself to create lunch or dinner from whatever’s in season. Courgettes, giant heirloom tomatoes, vibrant greens, local cheeses and honey… let the stalls be your inspiration. Ask the producers for tips and eat what your postcode grows best.

10. Upgrade your summer salad

Forget limp lettuce – when British produce is in its prime, a salad can be a main event. Assemble one with juicy heirloom tomatoes, burrata, fresh herbs or grilled peaches – mix and match your favourite flavours and think about textures for something juicy, creamy, crisp and crunchy for the perfect balance. See our top 20 summer salad recipes for colourful platters perfect for sharing that you'll want to make again and again.

11. Have a sunset dinner outdoors

Whether it’s your own garden, a balcony or the local park, there’s something magical about eating as the sun goes down. Wrap up in a jumper, light a few candles or lanterns and serve something easy so you can make the most of the sunset – these five-ingredient summer dinner ideas all take less than 30 minutes. Add a chilled glass of rosé or elderflower fizz and you’ve got golden hour perfection. A must-do summer bucket list item before the evenings get shorter again.

12. Make a jug of Pimm’s and load it with summer fruit

An absolute classic. Wimbledon may have been and gone, but we're still drinking Pimm's all summer long. The unbeatable combination of Pimm’s, lemonade, cucumber, strawberries, orange slices and mint is a true taste of summer. It wouldn't be a British garden party or barbecue without a jug going round to share. Got a big bottle you want to use up? Check out our 10 new ways to use Pimm's for some fresh inspiration, from scones to slushies.

13. Bake a fruit tart with the juiciest British berries

From a glossy glazed strawberry tart or a rustic peach galette, now is the time to celebrate summer fruits in easy bakes. Eat warm with a spoonful of tangy crème fraîche or generous scoop of ice cream, or cold the next morning with coffee.

14. Go wild swimming and pack a post-dip picnic

Whether you head to a local outdoor lido or to the coast for a dip in the sea, pair the chilly thrill of wild swimming with a well-earned feast. Pack a flask of tea and something sweet for a post-dip reward. Towel off, find a sunny patch of grass to warm you back up and tuck in.

15. Dine al fresco at a rooftop restaurant or pub garden

There’s something instantly luxurious about eating high above the city or in a lush garden with a drink in hand. Seek out a rooftop bar or pub with great views and even better food. Whether it’s small plates or pub classics, everything tastes better with fresh air and fairy lights. We've chosen the best rooftop bars in London if you're in the capital this summer, with everything from luxury hotel settings to Mexican mash-ups on the menus and child-friendly wild roof gardens.

16. Try a regional delicacy on your travels

Going to Cornwall? Try a proper pasty. In Scotland? A fresh Arbroath smokie. In Northern Ireland? Soda farls or yellowman. Embrace the local favourites, no matter how quirky they sound. Half the fun of travel is tasting something you’d never find in your local supermarket and then seeing if you can recreate it when you get home.

17. Host a summer sharing party with friends

Invite your favourite people round for dinner and ask everyone to bring a dish. It could be homemade, shop-bought or somewhere in between – from crisps and dips to showstopping desserts. Lay it all out sharing style for everyone to tuck in, grab a drink and build your ultimate eclectic buffet plate.

18. Make your own ice lollies

Get creative with yogurt, puréed fruit or tropical juice blends to create your own frozen treats when the next heatwave hits. Try layering flavours, adding edible flowers or even freezing gin and tonic for an adults-only alcoholic lolly. Making ice lollies is a fun summer project to do with kids and means you can make healthy fruit-filled options that will beat the shop-bought kind hands down. You don't need to buy ice lolly moulds if you don't have them either – large ice cube trays or small yogurt pots also work for freezing your creations. See our favourite ice lolly recipes to get started.

19. Eat something cooked over a campfire

Whether you’re camping in the woods or just have a safe fire pit in the garden, cooking over open flames is a summer rite of passage. Toasted marshmallows, foil-wrapped jacket potatoes or sizzling sausages, the smoky taste is unmatched. Our campfire smoky bean brekkie is the ultimate way to start the day on a camping holiday, then serve up chocolate fondue as a treat at the end of the day. We've tried and tested the best camping stoves to buy to get you started cooking al fresco.

20. Visit a food festival

From vegan camp outs in the countryside to food festivals in palaces and artisan markets along the coast, there’s something for everyone across the UK this summer. We've rounded up the best food festivals across the UK (including our very own Good Food festival happening in August at Goodwood Racecourse). Try new flavours, watch demos, sip craft drinks and maybe even meet your foodie heroes. Come hungry and leave with a full stomach and even fuller tote bag.

21. Cool down with a chilled soup

Gazpacho isn’t just a Spanish classic – it’s the ultimate no-cook cooler for heatwave days. Blitz up ripe tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper and garlic with olive oil and vinegar and serve ice cold. Pair it with crusty bread and a shady spot for the most sophisticated summer lunch around. You can also make a green version brimming with veg for a vibrant twist on the classic.

22. Make afternoon tea at home

Afternoon Tea Week takes place from 11-17 August, so what better time to make an afternoon tea at home? Setting up a classic tea spread is a great rainy day summer activity. Scones, finger sandwiches, mini cakes and a giant pot of tea is everything you need. Lay out your best china or take it into the garden if the sun shines.

23. Pick your own herbs and make a summer pesto

Even a windowsill pot will do if you want to have a go at growing your own herbs – one of the easiest ways to dip your toe into gardening. Gather basil, mint or parsley and blitz with olive oil, lemon, garlic and nuts for a vibrant pesto. Use our classic pesto recipe as the base inspiration and tweak as you like. Toss through pasta, mix into a salad dressing, dollop on grilled chicken or swirl into soup.

24. Have a DIY burger night

Mix your own burger patties (try beef, lamb or veggie), toast buns and then lay out a buffet of toppings for everyone to build their own perfect burger. Pickles? Fried onions? Blue cheese? Salad or no salad? The power is yours. Recreate a taste of an American diner with a bowl of classic burger sauce or see our 10 quick burger sauces you can make in minutes to serve up a selection.

25. Finish summer with a blow-out BBQ feast

Whether it’s the August bank holiday or just a warm Friday night, mark the end of the summer season with a proper feast. Grill everything in sight, pop open something fizzy and toast to a summer well eaten.

How many items on your summer bucket list did you tick off? Now, time to write an autumn wish list...