london in the heatwave

i live in the east end of london, in a modernist box on the first floor with curtain windows on two sides of the south and east facing living room. in the summer, without air-conditioning, even with the balcony door open, the room turns into a furnace.

in the two weeks beginning 3rd august 2020 london experienced an intense heatwave with temperatures tipping the scales at 40°c. highest temperatures on record (possibly to be superseded next year and the following years). so we decided to move to a hotel in the city, with air conditioning. these pics were taken, mostly in the early morning while the heat was still relatively bearable, around blackfriars bridge and the thames.