How Chiwetel Ejiofor is spending his summer in London

Everyone is happy when the sun comes out in London – Chiwetel Ejiofor included. Here are his top ways to enjoy summer in the capital, from museums to markets.

Chiwetel Ejiofor's summer in London got off to a dreamlike start.

A die-hard football fan, Ejiofor was overjoyed when Crystal Palace defeated Manchester City in May's FA Cup Final to win their first ever trophy. 

Unfortunately Ejiofor couldn't attend the match at Wembley because he was, as usual, filming.

"I would have absolutely loved to have been there," he tells the BBC. "But as a Crystal Palace fan, I feel like my sporting year has peaked! I wish everybody luck as I ride high on that." 

Ejiofor has other reasons to celebrate this summer. He appears in The Life of Chuck, Mike Flanagan's adaptation of Stephen King's sci-fi novella; and on 2 July, Ejiofor will appear opposite Charlize Theron in The Old Guard 2, reprising his role as former CIA operative James Copley.

But when Ejiofor isn't working, he'll be basking in the congenial atmosphere of summertime London. "Everybody's so hyper-excited when they finally see the sun," Ejiofor says. "It's wonderful. You've got the longer days. The sun sets late. It's a fun place to be. Everyone is having a good time. They become a bit delirious, myself included. It's just fun to watch."

What are his favourite things to do in the capital when the temperature rises and the city's famous parks, museums and markets start to heave? Here are Ejiofor's top London picks for this summer.

CE: I used to live down by Exmouth Market. I still go there when it's especially sunny because I just had a blast living there and I love the vibe of it all. I got the place in the early 2000s, so I've had a relationship with the area now for 20 years. I just love hanging out down that way. But there are just so many different neighbourhoods that really come alive in the summer. I think it's all the people hanging out in the parks and the pubs.

CE: (Laughs) I'm in bed at 21:00! There was a certain time I used to go to clubs, but if you ever catch me in a nightclub now, tap me on the shoulder and tell me to go. 

CE: Regents Park is the one that I have the most memories of and spent the most time in. During the summer, I used to love running around it. It's a beautiful park. I used to play a bit of tennis there, too. But these days, I'm more west. So Hyde Park is pretty available. It has all of those great things, too.

CE: I've gone to Wimbledon a couple of times in the past. That's always fantastic, obviously. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on it. I might even get down to see a match, if I can.

CE: I'm sort of lazy in the rain. I don't do much. I get out more in the summer and in the spring. I'm more likely to be found at the Royal Academy of Arts, a museum or just at a gallery in the summertime. I just feel much more energised to get out there. I think people are more excited to head out.

CE: The museum I spend the most time in is the British Museum. Some of that is just out of interest. The exhibitions they have are amazing. Some of it is work related; I might be looking at something for research. I also spend quite a bit of time over at the British Library as well. It's beautiful. All of the books and literature, and just the sheer amount that's available to look at. It's a museum experience without it being an exhibition. I've certainly found myself lost in the historical tomes over at the British Library.

I still love the South Bank. Not only does it have a personal history for me because of my time at the National Theatre, but just all of the museums, the Hayward Gallery, the [Royal] Festival Hall – that whole cultural vibe is really important. The South Bank bridge is a big place for me.

CE: I love seeing plays at the National Theatre. I've always loved performing at the National, especially The Olivier Theatre there. They just changed directors, so I'm very excited to see what happens there at the moment. I'd say the same for the Young Vic as well. That's a place that has been very, very special to me. Not just the work that I've done there, but also the workshops that I did there over the years. My connection to that theatre is very strong.

BBC Travel's The SpeciaList is a series of guides to popular and emerging destinations around the world, as seen through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers.

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