London in summer is something else. The parks fill up, the pub gardens get rammed by half two in the afternoon, and everyone's got that slightly giddy energy of "we should do something." If you're reading this, you're probably in that exact mood right now.
The usual options are there, of course. Lie in Hyde Park until someone kicks a football at your head. Queue forty minutes for a rooftop bar. Tick off a museum you've walked past a hundred times. None of that is bad, exactly. It's just a bit... forgettable.
This summer, do something you'll still be talking about in September. Something you actually make with your own hands and carry home at the end. That's the energy we're going for.
Make Something This Summer
If you haven't heard of tufting yet, you're about to love it. A rug tufting workshop is one of those activities that sounds niche until you're in the room doing it, and then you immediately want to book it for every birthday, reunion, and "we should do something" group chat you've ever been in. It's been quietly becoming one of London's favourite creative experiences, and this summer it makes complete sense.
Here's how it works: you design your own rug, pick your colours, and spend a genuinely enjoyable 3.5 hours making it with a tufting gun. No experience needed. At the end, you leave with a real, finished, handmade rug that you made yourself. Not a voucher. Not a photo. An actual thing you built, start to finish.
It works brilliantly for groups of friends, couples who want something more interesting than dinner and a film, or solo creatives who want a proper afternoon project. Max 10 people per session, which means it stays fun and relaxed rather than feeling like a school trip.
Summer is the perfect time for it, too. Book a morning session, get it done, then head out into the sunshine feeling genuinely accomplished. Try doing that after a rooftop mojito. You can't, because you won't want to leave.
Perfect for Groups, Not Just Hen Parties
Yes, hen parties absolutely love it here. Tufting is one of those rare activities where everyone gets stuck in, nobody feels awkward, and someone always makes something unexpectedly brilliant. It's an instant talking point, and the bride leaves with a rug she actually made.
But it's not just for hen dos. Birthday groups, old friends visiting from out of town, cousins who only see each other at weddings: a tufting session gives you something to do together that isn't just "find a table somewhere and hope the vibe is right."
Colleagues count too. If your team is overdue a proper get-together that isn't drinks in a pub after work, this is a much better idea. Everyone leaves with something they made, everyone has a story from it, and nobody has to pretend they're having fun. They will actually be having fun.
With a max of 10 people per session, every group gets the space and attention to actually enjoy it.
Summer Corporate Away Days
If you're organising a summer away day for your team and you want it to actually land well, tufting is genuinely one of the best options out there right now. No skill needed, no competitive pressure, no awkward trust falls. Just a creative afternoon where everyone makes something different and leaves with a physical reminder of the day.
Our corporate team building sessions run throughout the summer and are popular with companies who want something memorable rather than just another team lunch. Groups have come from all kinds of industries and sizes. Get in touch early, because summer slots go quickly.
What Else is Worth Doing This Summer in London
While you're planning your summer, here are a few genuinely good options that don't involve fighting tourists for a bench:
- Rooftop Film Club Open air cinema across several London rooftop venues. Bring a blanket, get there early. On warm evenings it's hard to beat.
- Maltby Street Market A short walk from London Bridge, this is one of the best food markets in the city. Less chaotic than Borough, better food than most. Saturday mornings are ideal.
- Greenwich Park picnic Free music events run through the summer and the view of the city from the hill is one of London's best-kept secrets. Pack something decent and make a day of it.
- Alexandra Palace terrace The views from Ally Pally stretch across most of north London. On a clear evening it's genuinely spectacular, and there's always something on inside too.
- Southbank in summer The free outdoor events, street performers, and pop-up markets along the Southbank run all season. Easy to spend a whole afternoon without spending much.
- London Fields Lido A heated outdoor pool in Hackney that fills up fast in warm weather. Go early on a weekday if you can. Brilliant for a summer morning before everything else kicks off.
All good options. All genuinely worth your time. And if you want something you can actually take home at the end of the day, something made by your own hands, you know where to find us. Craft Studio London.
How to Book
Workshops run seven days a week, 10am to 7pm. Sessions are 3.5 hours, max 10 people, and everything you need is included. No experience necessary. Genuinely, none at all. You will be shown exactly what to do and the team is there the whole time.
It's £129 per person. You leave with a finished handmade rug and a pretty solid summer memory.
Book your spot at our tufting workshop in London. Summer books up fast, so it's worth grabbing a date sooner rather than later.