There’s a heatwave in the UK, and it. Is. SWELTERING.

I can’t stress enough how much the heat in the UK at 33 degrees is unbearable—and how it seems like no one outside the city believes me when I say this.

Truthfully, it’s not just the heat; it’s a perfect storm of humidity (the air is hot and damp), the houses were designed to keep in the heat and save people from the cold British winters (where the air is freezing, and somehow, still damp), and air conditioners aren’t a common part of building infrastructure.

I’m Canadian, and contrary to popular belief, I grew up with hot summers—so when I tell my North American friends about the heat, I get very little sympathy. It’s hot everywhere! is something I hear a lot, along with We get that temperature all the time!

But I remember Canadian infrastructure being set up to handle this; I went from a cooler house, to a car with air conditioning in it, through a drive-through where I’d grab a cold drink, to work—with again, air conditioning. There was always a place where I could cool down.

In London, you walk from the tube (itself a sauna) through to crowds of people sweating all over each other, into bars and restaurants without AC or fans. It’s not good weather to be outside in.

A few year ago, I got heat exhaustion in Portugal, and I’ve been super careful around extreme heat ever since. I’ve been hunkering down in my flat, curtains drawn and fan on, blending up frozen fruits and juice, cold towel on my neck, and I think about anyone who might be coming to London for the weekend looking for sun and fun—this could be a disappointing time, if they’re not careful.

So I’m thinking—if you’re in London this weekend, here are some ways to not get wiped out by the heat:

Loose clothing for the win. I used to think that athleisurewear was best in warm weather; I mean, I’m sweating already, so why not use sweat-absorbing clothing? But if you’re overheating, that heat needs to go somewhere, and gym leggings and a tight shirt will keep the warmth close to your skin. Opt for looser cuts, and lighter fabrics like cotton and linen.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. If you’re hot, you’re sweating, and if you’re sweating, you’re dehydrating. Water is the best. If you have an iced drink, it might cool you down, but if it’s coffee, make sure you drink a glass of water on top of that, because it’ll dehydrate you further. And speaking of water…

If you’re on public transit, bring a waterbottle (and a fan if you’ve got one). I love Transport for London—but the busses, and the tubes, seem to break down even more in the summer. Especially when people are stuffed in like sardines on an air-conditioner-less tube car, and you’re stopped between stations, the heat will get intense FAST. A waterbottle is a non-negotiable; a hand fan, even a non-electric one, will provide a small bit of releif. Also being aware of others will help; in my 10+ years living here, I’ve had more than one person faint onto me in the crowd.

Stay out of the direct sun. This feels a bit obvious to even write down, but the old adage of “Slip, Slap, Slop” comes to mind: slip into the shade, slap on a hat, and slop on some sunscreen. The easiest way to cool down is to not overheat in the first place, so avoidance is key!

Make a mental map of where you can cool off. It’s a small thing, but knowing when you’ll next be able to get a bit of releif from the heat is huge. Think about where might be cooler, that you can pop into if you get overwhelmed by heat—is your there a coffee shop where you can get an iced drink? A public park with a water fountain, where you can wet a tissue and put it on the back of your neck? Does the friend you’re staying with have an air-conditioned gym you could visit? Having stops in mind will help if, like me, you get overwhelmed when you feel too hot.

Rest when you need to. I know there’s a ton of pressure when you’re on a trip to do everything, and push yourself to another bar, museum, or cultural touchpoint. But it’s not worth it to push yourself to the point of exhaustion—whether that’s overwhelm from the heat, or just being anxious about the weather. Rest when you need to, or—like me in Portugal—you might find your body forces you to rest, and you’ll be knocked out sleeping for 48 hours to recuperate. Please take care!

If you’re staying in all day, remember that the night is considerably cooler! I am currently living for the evenings; the sun starts setting around 7pm, and by 9pm I’m out of the house; even a walk around the block is great, as it makes me feel like I haven’t been cooped up all day. London has a ton of nightlife to enjoy; finding somewhere with an outside space—like a pub with a beer garden or a rooftop cocktail bar—is a great way to enjoy London without overheating!

If you have any other travel tips, I hope you’ll drop them below in the comments. And as always—happy travels!