We hate to admit it, but the last days of summer are almost here. Suddenly, it’s dark at 9pm again and we’re finding ourselves reaching for a jacket or jumper before we leave the house. Of everything that we’ll be sad to leave behind once autumn rolls in, basking in the sun with an iced coffee or crisp pint in hand is up there with the things we’ll miss the most.
Back in April, a game-changing new map was launched showing Londoners which of their favourite cafés and pubs were in the sun in real time. Now, while we still have a few more weeks of beer garden season to cling onto, that map has been expanded to show pubs across the entire UK (and, for that matter, the rest of the world).
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SunSeekr started as a web app created by Mo Dawod, a self-described ‘sun-obsessed architect who believes life’s too short for shady coffee’. It was first unveiled on Reddit and uses a combination of real-time shadow simulation, Mapbox navigation software and data from OpenStreetMap. Dawod wrote: ‘It simulates how buildings and terrain cast shadows throughout the day, so you can find the sunniest spots around you – and skip the cold corners. It’s a design experiment, a side project, and a bit of summer fun.’
A few months later, Dawod has developed SunSeekr into a free app that you can download on your Apple or Android device. The map is interactive and lets you see sunny spots in real time or plan ahead to see where will be in the sun’s direct path later in the day. If you’ve had enough tanning this summer and would prefer to sit in the shade, it shows you where you can find that too.
With the new app, you can also save your favourite sunny spots to build your own bespoke sunshine map. Plus, you can discover outdoor events going on nearby in real time, unlock exclusive perks at featured locations and find the perfect place for you with filters like dog-friendly patios, laptop-friendly cafés or riverside terraces. There’s no time to waste, really – go out and seek the sun before it’s too late!
You can explore Sunseekr for yourself here.
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