A CANVAS SUMMER IN LONDON

Spending your student years in London? Arguably one the world’s most cosmopolitan and diverse cities. Where the word ‘boredom’ doesn’t exist. We know it's an exciting concept. With countless bars, eateries, shops and iconic places to visit. It's the city to be. A collection of vibrant communities and cultural hotspots. Locations with great food spots, shops and tube stops. Surrounded by green spaces and warm embraces. You can be sure that there'll always be something to do with your pals.

So why not join us in London this summer? Here's our top 5 things to check out plus, we're offering all 22/23 Canvas London residents a 15% discount for up to 7 weeks if you arrive early for summer.*

1) PUB IN THE PARK

27th May-29th Sep - Wimbledon, Dulwich & Chiswick

Presented by Michelin-starred chef and long time Great British Menu judge Tom Kerridge, Pub in the Park is a touring food and music festival that aims to bring a convivial public house atmosphere to the great outdoors with loads of delicious pub grub and equally enticing live performances.

It calls in at three different London locations across the summer: Wimbledon from 27-29th May, Dulwich from 24-26th June, and Chiswick from 2nd-4th September.

Top London chefs like Atul Kochhar and Angela Hartnett will be cooking up a storm for the festival alongside a bunch of London foodie favourites including Hoppers, Cue Point and the Princess of Shoreditch. They’re just a few of the 39 restaurants taking part in the nine-stop tour over the summer, with the menu featuring a whopping 150 different dishes altogether, making it the largest travelling food event in the UK this summer.

And the music side of things looks just as tasty, with the likes of Craig David, Sister Sledge, Soul II Soul Soundsystem, Basement Jaxx and Sophie Ellis-Bextor playing across the London dates of the tour - Check out the full line-ups here.

2) WEST END LIVE

25th-26th June - Trafalgar Square

Musical theatre fans, get ready for outdoor dancing and sing-a-longs with some of the West End's biggest stars: West End Live is back! It's the initiative that turns some of the most expensive forms of entertainment in London into the cheapest fun going. Each year, casts of some of London's best West End musicals emerge blinking into the open-air for a weekend of free alfresco performances in Trafalgar Square, accompanied by fun photo ops, merch stalls, and bags of showbiz atmosphere.

After cancellation in 2020 and a later-than-usual September slot last year, it’s back at its traditional June time slot for 2022.

The official line-up is still waiting to be announced, but given ‘West End Live’ typically includes a short set from the casts of literally every musical in Theatreland (plus a few beyond it) then there’s not an agonising amount of anticipation to worry about.

3) LONDON DESSERT FESTIVAL

15th-17th August - Business Design Centre, Islington

The London Dessert Festival is back for 2022 and this time, it’s taking over the Business Design Centre in Islington with a series of immersive, multi-sensory experiences. Showcasing the latest dessert brands, trends and innovations alongside classic favourites, LDF invites you to truly indulge and digest the full experience of the city’s dessert culture.

There’ll be ten ‘zones’ to explore, including a pick n mix wall like no other, a DIY ice cream decorating station and a pool full of sprinkles, a Future Dessert Lab, an umami bar, an afternoon tea lounge, and a Sundae School where you can learn some dessert crafts from big names in the industry.

There will be a whole load of treats to try, from the classics to new innovations, including a range of pastries, cocktails, Japanese desserts, plant-based snacks and sweet bao buns. if you’ve got a sweet tooth, this is the place to be.

4) NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL

27th-29th August - Notting Hill

Europe’s biggest street festival is officially back after a two year hiatus. We’re thrilled that sound systems are finally set to reappear on the streets of West London over the August bank holiday when the raucous Caribbean festival returns IRL for its fifty-sixth year. Watch elaborate floats and colourful costumed performers wind their way through the streets in the carnival parade, dance to the sound of steel bands and calypso music, and visit the tempting food stalls along the route. After so long out, you can expect it to be a belter, with more feathers, steel bands, Red Stripe, jerk chicken and dancing than ever before!

Both the general public and masters of the masquerade can take part in Mas, the jewelled heart of Carnival celebrations. Mas Bands (operating on a theme that changes every year) will parade through Notting Hill showing the public, fellow masqueraders and the judges their marvellous creations.

5) LONDON PARKS

All summer - Across the city

There's plenty of parks to while away a sunny day in the city as grassy spaces are spread throughout the capital, providing a flower-packed place to unwind and soak up some rays. And like some of the best things in life, frolicking in the park is completely free - at least until you fancy an ice cream. So whether you want a hip park where you can play ping pong, a petal-filled patch for a picnic, or simply somewhere for a kickabout, you'll find it in London. Here's our fave three to check out:

Regents Park
One of central London’s larger parks, Regents Park is primarily made up of open parkland, with several different facilities dotted around the 410 acres. These include public gardens, a lake with waterfowl and a boating area, and an Open Air Theatre. The north side of the park is home to London Zoo, so don’t be alarmed if you hear some strange animal noises when visiting that side of the park.

Walthamstow Wetlands
Located just a 10 min walk from Canvas Walthamstow, these ten reservoirs offer a haven for overwintering wildfowl and are regionally important for breeding birds such as grey heron, tufted duck and little egret. The Wetlands are also home to damselflies, dragonflies, speckled wood butterflies and thick-kneed beetles, and a number of different species of bats and amphibians. It’s cliché, but this is the ideal place to get away from it all. Quiet, peaceful and beautifully scenic — a wonderful contrast to the frantic pace of London (and sometimes student) life.

Crystal Palace Park
This large park in South London is home to a collection of full size dinosaurs. Yes you read that right – dinosaurs. The models were built by the Victorians and make a fun day out trying to spot them all lurking between the trees. The park also has a maze, outdoor concert area, museum and national sports centre, so you won’t fall short of things to do, which makes it worth that little bit of extra traveling from central London.

LIFE AT CANVAS LONDON

When it’s a space tailored to your lifestyle. When it’s home to live in, with all the comforts you need to study and relax, map your dreams and plot your schemes. When it’s a community to feel safe in, with all the support and facilities you need to live well and be social, feed your soul and accomplish goals. When it’s a Canvas, you can truly make your mark.

Both Canvas Walthamstow and Canvas Wembley are ideally positioned to give you the best of both worlds: small-town living in a big city. Student accommodation in London with space to thrive. Both locations are within easy reach of the hustle and bustle of central London but with everything you need to check out and enjoy life at a more relaxing pace. Canvas is a place to make your mark on the world and we’re here to help you do so.

With modern, furnished en suites and studios covering a range of budgets and available on a variety of contracts, choosing a room at Canvas Walthamstow or Wembley couldn’t be easier. You can also select if you’d like a lower, mid, upper or penthouse level room, and even if you’d like a view across the capital.

Our Canvas locations offer all-inclusive bills, round-the-clock security, unrivalled facilities and friendly social spaces to make sure you get the most out of student life in London.

Don't forget, we're offering all 22/23 Canvas London residents a 15% discount for up to 7 weeks if you arrive early for summer.* Chat to our team for more details on finding the perfect room type or to find out more about life as a student in London this summer.

*Terms & conditions apply