London’s South Bank Centre kicked off its summer season of events this weekend by installing a beach and sky gardens around the Royal Festival Hall to mark 50 years since the Festival of Britain. Lounging on a thick grass lawn a couple of storeys up in the heat was probably one of the best things you could do – unless you wanted to dodge the water jets of Jeppe Hein’s Appearing Rooms. I chose the warm option.

South Bank Centre beachThe Lion and Unicorn by Gitta GschwendtnerThe Lion and Unicorn by Gitta Gschwendtner at London South Bank CentreSouth Bank Centre beach seagullSouth Bank Centre beach hutSouth Bank Centre beach hutThe Lion and Unicorn by Gitta GschwendtnerThe Lion and Unicorn by Gitta GschwendtnerThe Lion and Unicorn by Gitta GschwendtnerJeppe Hein's Appearing Rooms at the South Bank Centre