As the UK have revelled in an extended heatwave this year—or can we now just call it a summer?—people have drawn comparisons to the scorcher of 1976 when temperatures tipped 35℃ on on England’s south coast, and although Faversham, Kent, currently holds this year’s record, Londoners have had their fair share of sweaty commutes these past few weeks; and that’s when trains and the Tube aren’t experiencing weather-related delays and cancellations.

Cancelled journeys and missed connections need no longer be the nightmare scenario they once were due to Day Break Hotels, the platform that partners with brands including Meliá, Starwood, NH Hotels, Radisson, and Hyatt to offer ‘stopovers’ and stays that are personalised to individual client needs. Typically available as half day, evening, or overnight packages, guests can take advantage of heavily-discounted rates to freshen up between meetings in the capital; to avoid further consequences of transport cancellations; or in the case of the summer of 2018, make the best of the sunshine and enjoy a refreshing dip in a hotel’s rooftop pool before watching the sun setting over the city with a chilled glass of rosé.

Although reserving rooms by the hour may’ve earned a bad rap over the years—Tokyo’s ‘love hotels’ and the roadside motels of the U.S.A. once sprang to mind—as travellers’ needs have evolved alongside the demands of city workers, digital nomads, and the location-independent collective, the microstay is a flexible alternative without any preconceived raised eyebrows at check-in. It also means that during the summer in the city, sneaking into a hotel to use their swimming pool is a thing of the past. In exchange of a fee generally 50% less than regular hotel booking rates, those stuck hankering after a refreshing plunge can now rejoice thanks to Daybreakhotels.com.

The Athenaeum, London