Including new restaurants to try, summer staples to shop, beauty products for your basket, and a whole host of seasonal events to attend, these are some of the top things to do in August 2025.
Summer is here, and for the CF team that means trips to Ibiza, Mykonos, Spain and Portugal, with warm-weather accessories like Pucci kaftans, Frankie Shop maxi skirts, and Le Monde Beryl ballet pumps. Back in the UK we’re dining at rooftop restaurants, attending new exhibitions and planning autumn getaways.
See the summer out in style – this is all the inspiration you need.
Sheena Bhattessa, Founder
EAT I’m looking forward to trying the new Shanghai Me at the top of London Hilton on Park Lane for some (no doubt) excellent Asian cuisine. SEE A forever fan of Rosamund Pike, I’m booked to see Inter Alia at the National Theatre, which depicts the entirely relatable work-mother-wife-friend-life juggle. BUY I’m all over two items, one is this mesh maxi skirt from The Frankie Shop, the other a very wearable white cotton jacket from DÔEN. WORK OUT I’ve not picked back up on Pilates with West1Physio since having a baby, but they really are excellent for form and attention to detail when you’re getting back into working out after a while. WATCH I can’t wait to get stuck into Lena Dunham’s Too Much on Netflix. USE For quick and easy (no white marks) use, Bondi Sands SUNNY SPRITZ! is the face mist that I can’t get enough of. It feels clean and light, and does exactly what I need it to (plus it’s SPF 50).
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Katie Silcox, Managing Editor
STAY At home – which is quite the opposite of what any travel editor is ‘expected’ to do in August – especially one who, like me, is based in Greece. But I love Athens in August. Yes, it’s hot, but it’s also empty; as everyone heads off to one island or another, I’ll be enjoying the lack of crowds (and making the most of our very own riviera, on our doorstep). EAT At Ekiben Kitchen, a Japanese restaurant in Athens and one of the city’s current hotspots. BUY Authentic Japanese kitchenware and green tea at the beautifully curated Ikigai Market, which is in the same building as Ekiben. Top tip: this warren of Athens backstreets close to Syntagma Square are hive of East Asian stores and restaurants. COOK Recipes from Bethlehem: A Celebration of Palestinian Food by Franco-Palestinian chef Fadi Kattan (who is also the owner of akub in London). We already cook lots of Arabic dishes in my house, but I’m sure we’ll find a few more to add to the rotation. TRY Rare Beauty’s new launch (7 August 2025): their very first eau de parfum. I’m intrigued by the scent, with top notes of caramel and pistachio, but more impressed by its thoughtful accessibility – the bottle has been designed in partnership with hand therapists and packaging engineers, making it easier for those with mobility issues to spray.
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Becki Murray, Beauty & Wellness Director
STAY My only ‘summer holiday’ this year is a long weekend in Ibiza for a music event. But, what I will be doing is dreaming of staying in one of the really sweet Rick Stein shepherd huts in St Merryn, Cornwall, which are now dog-friendly! I can’t think of anything much better than exploring the coast with my golden retriever in tow. CELEBRATE My boyfriend’s birthday in style at Colonel Saab’s private dining room in Holborn, London. I absolutely adore the food, and his favourite starter, the Indian street food-inspired dahi sev puri, is on the drool-worthy set menu. RELAX Via one of the newly launched 111Skin facial treatments at Pennyhill Park in Surrey, and enjoy the spa’s iconic cabanas there too. These now offer not only cosy loungers and a copper bath with spa jets, but a bounty of 111Skin product goodies. TRY I never thought I’d be raving about salt in my free time, but here I am. Cornish Sea Salt has just launched a (gluten-free) salt-and-vinegar flavouring that I’m totally obsessed with. You might be skeptical, but seriously give it a go – I’m convinced you’ll love it too. WEAR The limited-edition ‘Demi-Lune’ earrings by Dévé that have been exclusively created in partnership with biotech skincare brand Reome. It’s a celebration of how jewellery brings out the gleam of glowing skin, just in time for the summer sunshine.
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Morag Turner, Citizen Enfants Editor
EAT I’ll spend most of August at my beach house in Devon hosting family and friends, but we will definitely be booking tables at The Blue Groove and The New Coast Kitchen in Croyde as both have great menus and are super fun for all the family. USE Swimming in the sea every day is lovely – but it’s terrible for my hair! I’m a huge fan of Oribe products, particularly the Signature Moisture Mask which turns my frazzled locks back into something much silkier in a matter of minutes. BOOK The newly opened Fortingall Hotel in the Scottish Highlands looks like the dream place to book for an autumn weekend away. The interiors are all courtesy of Anbôise, making an incredibly chic, but also cosy, little boutique escape. ORDER Sims Hilditch is one of my favourite interior design studios as I love their traditional, classic style. So I’m looking forward to getting my hands on their wonderful new book Sims Hilditch: Beautifully British Interiors which will be packed with inspiration from many of their projects. The perfect coffee table book. WEAR Clearly the algorithm on Instagram knows me too well as a few weeks ago up popped WMP Eyewear, a really reasonable but super stylish sunglasses brand. I immediately bought the Tate and am also pondering the Dakota. I’m always a sucker for new sunnies!
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Rachel Story, Style & Commerce Director
EAT If you’re a sushi-lover like me, SACHI – now on the top floor of the Pantechnicon building in Belgravia – is an absolute must for expertly sliced sashimi and maki rolls. I first visited when the restaurant was tucked in the basement of the building and I’ve been desperate to see the newly incarnated version ever since it reopened at the end of last year. DRINK Make a beeline for SACHI’s roof terrace, perfect for al-fresco dining and after-work drinks, where this summer sake takes centre stage in collaboration with artisanal sake brand Akashi-Tai. If you love lip-smacking yuzu flavours then the blossom saketini will not disappoint. STAY I’ll be heading to Heckfield Place this month to join my parents for a family lunch at Marle. While, sadly, I’m not staying overnight (hint, hint, parents), I’ll be making the most of enjoying the beautiful grounds and having a snoop in their room while I’m there. BUY I’ve got a pair of suede ballet pumps from Le Monde Beryl in my Net-a-Porter basket that are the most perfect shape to flatter feet and I know will become a staple, trans-seasonal purchase that’ll never date. I’m also eyeing up the brand’s buckled version too.
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Ella Alexander, Fashion Features Director
DO Summer’s version of Christmas is nearly upon us – Notting Hill Carnival takes place over August bank holiday weekend and I can’t wait to dance my way through the streets of London as I do every year. WATCH: Who doesn’t like a party in the park? I have tickets to see the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra perform Studio54 hits at Symphonic Disco in Battersea Park. BUY I know it feels ill-timed to be talking about cardigans in August, but I live in the UK where you’re never far from a cooler evening. I recently discovered Scottish knitwear brand Kiltane, who make the most beautiful cashmere classics – and on my last holiday in Scotland I wore the label’s maroon cardigan over T-shirts almost every other day. It feels delicate but durable. On a more high-summer note, I invested in these chunky Nobody’s Child sandals, which feel very Miu Miu adjacent. DRINK I’ve discovered a great wine bar in Canterbury, where my parents live, and I’m planning another visit this month. Corkk is run by a Master of Wine, and offers such a good selection, including my favourite, Sicilian Zibibbo. READ I’m currently hooked on Miranda July’s All Fours, about a 40-something artist who goes on a road trip from LA to New York. It’s subversive, unexpected and utterly compelling.
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Bibiana Obahor, Head of Graphic Design
TRAVEL I’m headed to Mykonos for the first time and excited for gorgeous weather, great food, and a relaxing few days by the sea. I’ll be staying at My Mykonos Hotel – a stylish boutique spot that feels perfectly in tune with the island’s whitewashed charm. For pasta lovers, EAT at Paper Moon. The first UK branch of this iconic Italian restaurant opened in The OWO last year and is not one to miss. Think old-school Milanese charm, warm hospitality, and authentic Italian in a stylish setting. STAY Later this month, I’ll be surprising my boyfriend with a birthday trip to Vivood Landscape Hotel in Spain. It’s tucked into the mountains, with panoramic views and private pool suites – the definition of a romantic escape. VISIT KIBOU for cocktails with friends. Their summer menu tastes amazing, but the drinks are just as good. WATCH Wednesday on Netflix. Season 2 drops on 6 August, and I’ll be clearing my diary for this one.
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Alex Carello, Head of PR
BUY This summer is all about the string bikini and nothing beats a classic Pucci print, like this set. WEAR I’d pair my bikini with this flowing Kaftan for maximum vintage impact on the beach. TRY I’ve been using the Vitamin C range from L’Oreal for a while now and would highly recommend it. My pores are smaller and lines reduced – what more do I need to say. Using the serum and the face wash combined seems to have the best effects for me. VISIT the Royal Academy of Arts’ new exhibition exploring the connection between Van Gogh and Anselm Kiefer, it’s a highly thought-provoking show, and Kiefer’s enormous canvases really make an impact. It’s on until October. LISTEN I recently discovered KEF, who are true experts in creating speakers for an impressive audio experience. You’ll feel like you’ve been listening to music all wrong once you’ve tried them.
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Ella Mansell, Junior Culture Editor
August, the month of repose, when it feels like the city slows down just that little bit. To make the most of this quieter energy, I am stacking up my summer READING list with Philippa Snow’s latest It’s Terrible The Things I have To Do To Be Me (totally fascinating so far), topped off with a select few books from the recently announced 2025 Booker Prize longlist. While in London, I’m hoping to catch up with friends over a DRINK at the new, Mexico-inspired bar Little Fires before we all head on our summer adventures. I’m going to be based in Europe – between France, Spain, and Portugal for most of August, and am really keen to BOOK a last-minute trip to Seville, even if only for a night or two. I’d love to BUY this beautiful cotton pleated skirt before I head off, it’s so stylish for summer evenings. Finally, at the end of the month, I am looking forward to WATCHING the Venice Film Festival; there are so many anticipated movies set to premier, from Marc by Sofia Coppola to Luca Guadagnino’s After The Hunt starring Julia Roberts.
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