Ever since I can remember I wanted to live in London. As a teenager growing up in a small town in West Yorkshire, obsessively reading every glossy style magazine I could get my hands on, it felt as if everything was happening there, and I couldn’t wait to make it my home.
Six months after I finished university, having saved up enough money for a couple of month’s rent, I packed my bags, made the move and I’ve never looked back, falling in love with my adopted hometown, even the not-so-good bits. Case in point, the steadfastly unfashionable part of London I call home. Although I’m not sure how much longer it’s going to remain unfashionable, more bearded men carrying skateboards seem to move in every day, but I digress…
Over the years many of my friends have fallen out of love with London and left, either to somewhere with more sun, or somewhere they can afford a garden or, sometimes, both. Despite their departure my love affair with the city has endured. However, like with any great love affair, my feelings ebb and flow and, every now and again, I start to feel a bit, well, over my London life. I can feel it happening again right now. I’m stuck in a rut, doing the same things and going to the same places week in, week out.
When Tom Jones (no, not that Tom Jones, at least I don’t think so…) started to feel similarly weary of living in London he set himself a challenge to discover new things to do. He gathered together a list of London’s hidden gems, sharing an idea a day online on his blog Tired Of London Tired Of Life, and subsequently wrote a book with the same name (which you can buy here
Inspired by Tom I’m going to shake up my relationship with London. I’ve already started to compile a list of places I want to go and things I want to do, like when I visit a city for the first time. And, starting today, I’m going to do something new-to-me at least a couple of times a week. London, we’re not done yet!
Can you help me fall back in love with London? Do you know of any hidden gems, new openings or unusual experiences I should put on my list? Any other books, websites or Twitter feeds to give me ideas for things to do and places to go? Do share below. I’ll be taking photographs of my favourite finds and putting them on Instagram tagging them #rockmylondon
I do wonder when I will get tired of and decide to leave London. My friends who don’t live here can’t understand why I love it so much and I totally understand their point sometimes. It’s busy, it’s hectic, it’s expensive. But..on a day like today with the sun out – there really is no better place to be! I love this city so much. One day, I will leave. But the boy and I have just bought our first place here together, so that day is not yet! My favourite places in London at the moment are…
BYOC (stands for Bring Your Own Cocktail). A little bar in Covent Garden, you pay £20 a head and bring a spirit of your choice and the amazing bartender makes the best cocktails ever for you. It’s actually really good value for money. It only seats about 20 or so people, so by the end of the night you all know each others names, are mixing drinks and telling each other your life stories…
Another bar I love is on top of a multi-story car park in Peckham (bear with me..) – it’s called Frank’s cafe and has the best views of London, without having to pay a pretty penny. It opens for the summer tonight. http://frankscafe.org.uk
I promise I do other things than drink…I’m excited to go to Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre (http://openairtheatre.com) and watch To Kill A Mockingbird later this summer. There’s a range of shows on. Also planning to go to hot tub cinema (http://hottubcinema.com) at some point. Loads of films to watch, whilst sitting in a hot tub. Lovely. Also looking forward to going to Holi Festival at the Olympic Park at the end of this month (http://holifestival.com/uk/en/index) – I did the Colour Run last weekend so apparently I just like getting paint thrown on me.
Ah, London. You do test me sometimes, but I love you really….
BYOC sounds brilliant! I’ve been to Frank’s Cafe but not for a few years, it’s time I returned! Ooh, To Kill A Mockingbird at Open Air Theatre will be amazing. Haha, love that Hot Tub Cinema exists and that they’re showing Hot Tub Time Machine! Ooh the Olympic Park is just around the corner from me! The Colour Run was sold out by the time I got around to signing up, sounds like a lot of fun! Thank you so much for all your suggestions Sian!
Love Frank’s Cafe – the view is amazing! If I remember correctly, it’s not very well signed on how to get up there?! Either that or my friends and I have a really awful sense of direction…!
One of my most favourite things about London is all the hidden gems you can find, usually when getting lost or without intending to at all. There is a street I happened upon near Leicester Sq Tube a few months ago – purely by chance – called Cecil Court. It is a wonderful street of antique book shops (also maps and prints). What I loved about it was just how “old world” it felt compared with the bright lights of Leicester Sq/Piccadilly Circus which are so close by – for a moment you are transported back to Victorian London. Even when you think you might have London figured out, there is a little gem like this that pops up and surprises you! This is why London will always be the best city on the planet.
I love the mix of old and new in London too Ashley, and that you can have lived in London for years yet you can still stumble on a street you’ve never walked down before!
Well Miranda, doing a different parkrun every so often will help you to see parks and areas of London you never knew about such as Burgess parkrun or Fulham Palace parkrun.
Ah, an excellent suggestion Chrissi, exploring London and getting fit at the same time. Win/win!
Miranda, sounds like you wouldn’t be too far from the Counter Cafe in Hackney Wick – delicious bacon sarnies overlooking the canal 🙂
Victoria Park Village is lovely too – my visiting friends always insist on pancakes for Sunday brunch in the Empress of India.
Hmm…there’s food theme emerging!
Big fan of the Counter Cafe, but I’ve never had a bacon sandwich there. Going on the list! Victoria Park village is a lovely part of London, I cycle through there on my way to yoga most days!
I’ve lived in London on and off for almost 10 years (my now husband lived here when we met so I was always back and forth between here and uni in Wales). I’m not one for venturing into Central too often (the crowds, ugh!) but round the corner from Farringdon station is a small Italian cafe that does amazing pasta – normally a choice of 5 freshly made dishes and you get a HUGE helping of one or two & salad for around a fiver – bargain!
I’m a tad biased but Crystal Palace Park is great to stroll around – the Sphinxs, the original stairs, the Laptop Stage and of course, the dinosaurs. What’s not to like?! I believe they are also soon to open up the old subway as well having restored the original features but I’m yet to visit pers
Whoops, somehow hit send without realising and before I’d finished! Sorry about that…!
I’ve lived in London on and off for almost 10 years (my now husband lived here when we met so I was always back and forth between here and uni in Wales). I’m not one for venturing into Central too often (the crowds, ugh!) but round the corner from Farringdon station is a small Italian cafe that does amazing pasta – normally a choice of 5 freshly made dishes and you get a HUGE helping of one or two & salad for around a fiver – bargain!
I’m a tad biased but Crystal Palace Park is great to stroll around – the Sphinxs, the original stairs, the Laptop Stage, the Maze and of course, the dinosaurs. What’s not to like?! I believe they are also soon to open up the old subway as well having restored the original features but I’m yet to visit personally.
Also Domali cafe (also in Palace) is just the best. It’s a veggie cafe, but their mushrooms on toast is to die for. As are the chips with garlic dip. Yum.
Jo I just moved to CP from East Dulwich. Any other food/ pub tips? Or generally in the know things to do?!
Welcome to Palace! Right, where to start?!
Westow House (www.westowhouse.com) is one of my faves for a drink or two – the beer garden out the front gets rammed on a sunny day/warm night. Inside has some very comfy sofas as well. Food is supposed to be good too, but I’ve never eaten there myself. They also have live bands on the weekend I think.
The White Hart (www.thewhitehartse19.co.uk) is also good – food’s good as well and they have regular quiz nights and open mic nights.
The Sparrowhawk (thesparrowhawkpub.co.uk) does excellent food – it’s always rammed at lunch on a weekend!
The Crystal Palace Market (www.thecrystalpalacemarket.com) is just AMAZING! They change the menu because they source local produce. I had the most amazing Mushroom Risotto and Creamed Spinach, with an absolutely stand-out Vodka martini. They are also opening up their own fishmonger/butchers.
Other places worth a visit – Bookseller Crow on the Hill (lovely independent bookshop booksellercrow.co.uk), Good Taste Food (for all your cheese, wine, beer needs! http://www.goodtaste-fd.co.uk) Haynes Lane Food Market (every Saturday, round the back of Sainsburys), Joannas (never been, but heard nothing but good things!), Antenna Studios (if you fancy yoga, pilates, zumba etc), Belle Vous Spa (the staff are lovely and the best value luxury manicures, massages, all things beauty-related) and the upcoming Overground/Crystal Palace Festival (on at the end of June for a whole weekend – lots of stalls, music, general fun!)
There’s also a free local magazine called The Transmitter – comes out every two months or so. They hand it out at Gipsy Hill and Crystal Palace station, but you can also pick it up in most of the pubs and Bookseller Crow as well. Lots of local news, things to do etc.
Wow, just writing this all down makes me realise how much I love CP lol! Enjoy!
Yay thanks Jo! Great tips- I’ve been wondering how I can find a good beauty salon and I’m def going to the bookshop this week! Can’t wait to explore 🙂
I’ve never been to Crystal Palace Jo but I’m really excited to visit now! I might have to wait for the next time my nephew visits, he would go crazy for the dinosaurs! The Domali Cafe sounds amazing. On the list!
Have you tried to find the mayor of scaredy cat town?!
Yes, it’s such fun and the cocktails are amazing (and seriously strong!)
Which bit of unfashionable East London do you live in? Bit far for you, but a guided tour of Chelsea Physic Garden is fun to do on a sunny day and their cafe serves delicious food (needs booking in advance). Hopping on the river boat from Embankment to Greenwich makes me fall in love with London all over again, and Greenwich is great to explore in itself.
Last week, I went out of my area to Forest Hill and visited the Horniman Gardens, which was amazing, and everyone there seemed really friendly too, which is remarkable for London! Every so often, my hubby and I do a guided walk of London with a guy called Peter Berthoud (I think that’s how his name is spelt), and they are fun and a real eye opener, even if you think you really know an area.
Thank you for all your suggestions Ali. I live in Leyton! I’ve been to the Chelsea Physic Garden but I haven’t done a tour or eaten in the cafe. Even being near the river reignites my passion for London so a river boat trip is an excellent idea, the Horniman gardens look lovely and taking a guided walk with Peter sounds like a brilliant thing to do !
I’m working in the city for a few months and feel like a right country bumpkin some days- the options for lunch alone are overwhelming! I really want to make the most of my time in the big smoke and do more with my lunch breaks- anyone got any tips for interesting wanders around Bank?
Hi! What about Shoreditch? All those streets with books shops, interior agencies and small restaurants are amazing. I’m in love with graffiti in London. I know it might be sound silly, but I enjoy Overground – looking at buildings where The City meets Schoreditch is brilliant!