Unlock Your Best Summer Yet: Essential Apps for Outdoor Living

Summer in the UK is a magical time – long evenings, sunshine (mostly!), and the perfect excuse to get outside and enjoy everything from lively garden parties to quiet moments by the pool. To help you make the most of every sun-drenched day, we've curated a list of essential apps designed to enhance your outdoor summer experience. From entertaining friends and family to mastering your BBQ skills and maintaining your backyard oasis, these apps are your secret weapon for a truly memorable season.

Outdoor Entertainment Apps

When the sun is shining and the mood is bright, outdoor entertainment is a must! Whether you're hosting a lively gathering, seeking a fun activity for the family, or simply want to enhance your time spent outdoors, these apps bring the party to your fingertips.

The image shows colorful text spelling 'hue' in red, orange, yellow, green, and blue, with the word 'PHILIPS' in blue underneath.

Hue Bluetooth / Hue Sync App (by Philips)

Control your Philips Hue lights via Bluetooth or sync them to music/playlists.

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Geocaching

Turn any outdoor stroll into a real-world treasure hunt! This app uses GPS to guide you to hidden containers (geocaches) placed by others, often containing small trinkets to swap and a logbook to sign.

Spotify logo on a black background

SoundCloud / Spotify (with Smart Speaker Integration)

Stream custom playlists to your outdoor smart speaker setup.

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SkyView® Explore the Universe / Star Walk 2 Plus

Perfect for summer nights! Point your phone at the sky and these augmented reality apps will identify stars, constellations, planets, and even satellites in real-time.

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DJI Fly (if using a drone)

Control your drone camera, manage footage, and fly with intelligent flight modes.


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Jokers /Heads Up/ Psych

Apps like "Jokers," "Heads Up!," or "Psych!" offer quick, interactive, and often hilarious games that are perfect for groups, whether you're gathered around a patio table or just chilling on the lawn.

They're great for breaking the ice and getting everyone laughing without needing a physical board or cards.

BBQ & Cooking Apps

The aroma of sizzling food on the grill is synonymous with summer. But outdoor cooking can be an art form, and these apps are here to help you master it, ensuring every outdoor meal is a delicious success.

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Tefal OptiGrill App (Smart Grills Companion)

Offers guided cooking programs, timing help, and grill tips.
Works with your OptiGrill Elite for perfect results every time.

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Hey Grill Hey

For a wealth of inspiration and reliable recipes, this app is a treasure trove.

It offers hundreds of BBQ and smoking recipes, often with step-by-step instructions and videos, making it easy to try new dishes and elevate your grilling game, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pitmaster.

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MEATER App

Connects to MEATER smart thermometer to track internal meat temperature and cook time.
Sends real-time alerts and estimates when to rest, flip, or serve your food.

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Weber Connect (also useful even if you don’t have a Weber grill)

Step-by-step cooking guidance, recipes, and live temperature tracking.
Can be used as a standalone smart BBQ planner with tons of expert recipes.

Smart garden and pool

Your garden and pool are your personal summer sanctuaries. Keeping them in top condition and making them truly enjoyable spaces requires a little effort, but these apps can make it significantly easier.

Seek by iNaturalist logo with green leaf and plant patterns in the background.

Seek by iNaturalist

Instantly identifies insects, bugs, butterflies, and more using your phone’s camera.
Uses computer vision + global nature databases to ID thousands of species.

Gardena Smart System logo with text on a white background.

GARDENA Smart System App

Controls Gardena smart sprinklers, sensors, and water systems.
Lets you water your garden remotely, track soil moisture, and optimise plant health.

Logo of a house with a gabled roof, set against a blue sky background with green grassy hills below.

iScape / Neighborbrite

For dreaming up your perfect outdoor space, these apps let you visualise changes before you even dig.

iScape uses augmented reality to superimpose plants, patios, and other features onto a live view of your garden, while Neighborbrite uses AI to generate design ideas from a photo of your yard.

Merlin logo with stylized bird and black, yellow, and red accents.

Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab

Identify birds by photo, sound, or a few simple questions.
Developed by ornithologists with expert bird song analysis; tailored to region (UK packs available).

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Eve Weather App (for Eve sensors/HomeKit users)

Monitors your local garden temperature, air pressure, and humidity with historical graphs.
Helps with plant care and understanding your garden microclimate.

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PictureThis: Plant Identifier

Snap a photo of any plant, flower, tree, or weed—get instant ID and care tips. AI-powered, recognises 10,000+ species and gives maintenance advice.

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Flipr App (for Flipr pool monitor)

Tracks pool pH, chlorine levels, and sends alerts for chemical balancing.
Helps prevent green water or unsafe dips on hot days.