By 1. Download Drake
Drake's 'Views from the 6' will allegedly be released on Spotify, Tidal, Amazon, and other streaming platforms this May 13. Yes, the reviews have been mixed. But yes, we'll still be playing it continually. Album of the summer? Well, second to Lemonade.
2. Eat shellfish at Café Monico
From the team behind Soho House bring a menu of French-Italian dishes from Lobster Spaghetti or artichoke salad to central London's Shaftsbury Avenue. www.cafemonico.com
3. Visit the new Tate
Bigger, bolder and braver, the new Tate Modern opens next month (May 17) with a new 10-storey building added on to the original power station. As the world's most popular collection of modern art, attracting more than five million visitors a year, the space will see works by artists such as Mark Rothko and Agnes Martin joined by new acquisitions including sculpture artist Ai Weiwei.
4. Take a dip in Cornwall
Britain's largest seawater lido – the Penzance Jubilee Pool – re-opens this May. The art-deco wonder, built in 1935, has been restored to all it's former glory. Pull on your one piece and dive in.
5. Be Dazed
Fans of Dazed and Confused and Boyhood can rejoice as director Richard Linklater returns with his Ludwig filtered new film Everybody Wants Some!! (out 13th May).
6. Spend a long weekend in San Sebastián
As the new joint European Capital of Culture 2016 this city has a fierce line-up of culture to get you flocking. Fly to Bilbao (and stop off at the Guggenheim) before heading to the coastal city for more art, theatre and the best tapas in Spain.
7. Go bowling at Rowans
Jourdan Dunn is a fan… As will be anyone who has seen The Big Lebowski. But it's the fashion world who this summer has embraces the pin sport with salmon satin bowling bombers at Louis Vuitton, and yellow jackets at Valentino. Look the part, then strike it lucky at Rowan Lanes in Finsbury Park. http://rowans.co.uk/
9. Book tickets to Peru
Now there are direct flights from London to Lima on BA, we're going to find the ultimate pisco sour the city has to offer.
10 . Head East for Morito
On Hackney road Sam and Sam Clark have opened their third restaurant. With dishes of southern Spain, North Africa and the East. We recommend the pardon peppers with a side of artichoke.
11. Watch Tom Hiddleston
ELLE cover star Tom is joined by ELLE's actress of 2016 Elizabeth Olsen in I Saw The Light (out 6th May) a story of the country-western singer Hank Williams, who in his brief life created one of the greatest bodies of work in American music.
12. Drink Tequila On Ice
Pour away your Aperol, and save your saki for a rainy day– the drink of summer 2016 is tequila on ice. Try caramel-y Casamigos Reposado Tequila, £59.95, 31dover.com, which is owned by none other than George Clooney. Just add lime and ice.
13. Eat dumplings by the bucket load
If you've walked down Lexington Street in Soho recently you'll have no doubt spotted the queues of people waiting across the streaat from Mr Bao, awaiting their soft, steamed, pillowy buns filled with pork and vegetables. Now they've opened a new branch on Peckham's Rye Lane.
14. Laugh with Greta Gerwig
So much more than a basic rom-com Maggie's Plan (8 July) is a smart, witty take on the story of a dysfunctional marriage between two academics played sublimely by Julianne Moore and Ethan Hawke interrupted by Greta Gerwig.
15. Go Aboard Good Ship Benefit
Never ones to do things by halves, Benefit (the make-up brand) have moored a ship on the River Thames, Victoria Embankment for the summer. Dine in the a la carte restaurant, sip cocktails on the Hoola Deck, book in for a Yoga Ahoy class and more.
16. Be Absolutely Fabulous…
Sweetie, darling, let's go see this film. Saunders and Joanna Lumley will return as Edina and Patsy, who accidently kill Kate Moss. The cameos are insane; Alexa, Suki, Twiggy, and Elton John to name just a few… Out July 1.
17. Be Punk'd
White Lung aren't your average punk trio; the on-stage presence and fierce lyrics brought by front woman, chief hollerer and leopard-print lover Mish Way make them so much more. Vancouver-born Mish and band are now ensconced in LA where she leads a double life as a musician and a journalist for Vice and Rooki> writing about pop culture, sex and her love for Noel Gallagher. They didn't have their own angst to pummel into the band's fourth record so instead they wrote about the issues and stories they'd read from other people's perspectives. The record contains some surprisingly tender moments in the track but don't worry; White Lung still know how to terrorise your cochlear with their double-quick drumming and screaming sentiments such as 'You have dragged us here to watch as you drown.'
18. Read Her
This American Life writer and Transparent actress Tig Notaro takes us on a vulnerable journey through her most harrowing year as she experiences her mother dying, a huge break-up, and being diagnosed with breast cancer. A tragedy turned into a thing of beauty.
19. Head for Hastings
After being damanged by a storm, and then destroyed by a fire in 2010, Hastings Pier will reopen this summer with an outdoor cinema, a farmer market, and lots of live music.
20. Go hiking at Green Man
Where else can you climb a mountain by day and dance in a field by night? Pack your hiking boots and spend time between music sets exploring the hills around the Brecon Beacons in Wales at Green Man Festival, Brecon (18-21 August).
21. Giddy up
Our hunger for the cowgirl look started when Vetements sent shiny brown rodeo boots trotting down its SS16 catwalk, and Mui Mui's metallic cowboy boots became a hot commodity. This summer be sure to watch feminist western The Keeping Room (out 17 June) that brings together Brit Marling and Hailee Steinfeld for a story of two sisters defending themselves from two Union Army soldiers at the end of the US Civil War. We're fully in the wild, wild west.
24. Visit Shakespeare and Company bookshop, Paris
The stuff of literary legend, back in the day it was loved by writers including Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Passing writers can sleep for free in exchange for a few hours work.
25. Enjoy three reasons to rock…
1. Optimist In Black by Daphne Guinness: This extraordinary fashion icon unveils her new album with edgy guitar riffs and mesmerising melodies. Out 17 May.
2. Ash & Ice by The Kills: No one says sex, drugs and rock and roll more than Alison Mosshart and guitarist Jamie Hince do on this new emotionally charged record. Out 3 June.
3. Detour by Cyndi Lauper: After more than 50 million sales to date, Cyndi's 11th album sees her first journey in to country classics recorded Nashville. Out May
26. Plug in to a porno
With their two million listeners willing its return, My Dad Wrote A Porno is finally back for series two in July. Jamie Morton, James Cooper, and ELLE contributor Alice Levine return to read a chapter a week of Jamie's dads next self-published pornographic novel. Headphones advised.
27. Go Orange
All eyes return to Orange Is The New Black on Netflix (17 June) for the fourth series. Featuring everyone's favourite female prisoners, the new series promises new troubles for Piper, Alex, Stella – and all the other residents of Litchfield Penitentiary.
