Thursday, August 12, 2010
Off the West-End
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Faces to a name
Left to Right: My Village Café, Primrose Patisserie, Café 202
(Mike’s Café will have to remain a mystery…no picture could be found)
Take a break
Many Londoners’ relish in the non-stop city life thereby getting used to the to-go approach of the big chains. Wait! Slow down! And turn to our fellow Europeans (as well as my suggestions) for inspiration on how to sit back, relax and take a break.
Mike’s Café: Since opening in the 1960s, this place has been bustling ever since. While famous for their traditional English fry up and a great atmosphere, my personal favourite is their homemade milkshake – don't miss out, they even give you the left overs that don’t manage to fit in the glass!
12 Blenheim Cresent, Notting Hill, W11 1NN, 02072293757
Primrose Patisserie: Unpretentious, simple and relaxing. Situated on the doorstep of Primrose Hill Park, this is a great café to sit and watch the world go by. When faced with the decision of which cake to choose, a strong suggestion is the infamous apple cake. That is, unless one has an aversion to apples.
136 Regent's Park Road, Primrose Hill, NW1 8XL, 0207 722 7848 (Nearest tube: Chalk Farm)
Café 202: This café is perfect if you feel like treating yourself for a special breakfast. The brunch menu includes delicious waffles, eggs, pancakes and much more. While there is often a queue on weekends, it goes relatively fast and before you know it, you will be sitting, relaxing and enjoying.
202 Westbourne Grove, Nothing Hill, W11 2RH, 0207 727 2722
My Village Café: The owner is lovely, the food is great and the atmosphere is one of my favorites. Situated towards the Chalk Farm end of Camden Highstreet, this great find has amazing coffee and papers to read as well as wonderful tasters dished out by the staff.
37 Chalk Farm Road, Chalk Farm, NW1, 8AJ, 0207 485 4996Tuesday, April 13, 2010
In England we trust
Whilst most of these posts consider things to IN London, today, I thought I would venture outside of my metaphorical box.
I present to you – The National Trust – a famous institution aimed at preserving England’s beautiful estates and gardens.
Although for many, a trip to a National Trust estate is a by-word for an OAP’s fun day out, this need not result in the younger generation missing out on England’s beauty.
With over 300 places to visit (many of which have overnight accommodation), a National Trust experience can make a wonderful getaway. Whether you find yourself in a Medieval castle or walking amongst gorgeous landscapes, I guarantee that your hours/days/weeks will be very enjoyable.
Whilst entry to the estates and gardens cost on average £10, the purchase of a (heavily discounted) young person’s annual membership for those between 13-25yrs, is £22. This will get you in anywhere without needing a ticket. What’s more, those joining for the first time and paying by direct debit get the bargain price of £16!
Knowing this, I hope your National Trust image will be transformed from its former self to a more interesting and alternative young person’s recreational activity. Enjoy ;)
Links:
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Best of British
One thing unique to England is its pub culture. Whilst it is to blame for many of society’s faults, there are numerous lovely features make one’s local pub well worth a visit. Whether it be relaxing in a cozy setting or stimulating the mind with the aid of the weekly pub quiz, here are some suggestions in effort to increase the frequency of your pub experiences.
In no particular order,
The Hollybush: Tucked away behind Hampstead Highstreet this pub is a secret gem. My favourite day is a Sunday when it gets packed with young professionals, families and locals all wanting the classic Sunday roast.
Tube: Hampstead
The Clifton: This is a lovely place to go if you want something very local as its distance from the nearest tube (only a 20 minute walk away) is too much for most Londoners to handle. With many board games to choose from (Othello being my personal favorite), a challenging Wednesday night quiz and 2 for 1 steak nights make sure to grace this little secret with your presence.
Tube: St Johns Wood or Maida Vale
The Grand Union: This gastro pub has been included in this list mainly for its great atmosphere on a Friday or Saturday night. Don’t judge it on its overly loud music or slightly expensive beer since its main reason for drawing the crowds is its convenient whilst off the beaten track location (just up Camden Road) and funky décor.
Tube: Camden
The Windsor Castle: Whilst many pubs are forced to flourish in either Winter or Summer, somehow this place manages to do so in both. During the former, outside heaters, blankets and mulled wine allow the beer garden to maintain its constant hum of conversation whilst in Summer, good weather and nice jugs of Pimms make sure the fun keeps going all year round.
Tube: Notting Hill Gate
Many others I have failed to mention will make a spurious list which I will add to as they pop into my head. However, as not to bore you further, I will confine their entry to only include their names and website details.
-The Old Bull and Bush (Hampstead/Golders Green)
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Going to the movies
Saturday, December 26, 2009
On your bike!
London is great for many things. However, if you ask people what annoys them most about the city, a top three list may include: Bad weather, Expensive & overcrowded public transport and Traffic (In no particular order)
So as a potential solution to these problems I propose that Londoners trade in their comfortable car seats and excessive tolerance of public transport and start cycling! Perhaps I will be able to generate some enthusiasm with the aid of a lovely list…
- It’s a free way to travel - you could be saving over £1,000 a year, based on an annual travel card; zones 1-2
- It’s a great form of exercise – you can burn anything from around 400-1400 calories per hour, depending on weight and speed
- It’s astonishingly quick – you can cover 4 miles in an average of 22 minutes in central London on a bike, which would usually take 40 minutes by car
- Free cycle maps are available from the Transport for London website
If the content of this post (and my use of smiley faced bullets points!) has captured your momentary interest, a good bike shop that doesn’t exploit its monopolistic power (cough, cough…Evans Cycles and Cycle Surgery) would be Camden Cycles.
This is a secondhand bike shop whose closest tube station is ironically not Camden but Mornington Crescent. Here you can get quality brands at very good prices. What’s more, you can take in your old bike and trade it against the cost of a new one, or simply take your old rusty bike for a reasonably-priced service (£35 vs. £50 when I took my bike to Cycle Surgery).
I paid a total of £200 and gave in my old bike for an almost brand new Pinnacle unisex hybrid. It rides like a dream, which if new would have cost me £500. (Bicycle prices can be anything from £30 upwards so there’s something for everyone!)
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