Annie McMonagle-Wilmot

There’s nothing nicer than mooching around London streets and coming across the many rainbow painted houses in some of our city's neighbourhoods. You'll find the prettiest and most colourful streets in west London, so here are our picks of some of the most picturesque spots to explore. Little Miss Notting Hill Farmer Street, Notting Hill Away from the noise of Notting Hill Gate lies Farmer Street, home to multi-coloured houses – and if you’re lucky, you’ll spot one of the many vintage VW vans parked outside too. Little Miss Notting Hill St Stephen’s Mews, Notting Hill One of London’s many pretty mews roads in central Notting Hill. Little Miss Notting Hill Royal Crescent, Holland Park This beautiful, symmetrical terraced crescent is the hub of some of the most sought-after properties in the whole of London. Little Miss Notting Hill Lennox Garden Mews, Knightsbridge This is a quintessentially picturesque mews road in Knightsbridge. Little Miss Notting Hill   Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill Home to some of the best restaurants in Notting Hill, Kensington Park Road is also a pastel house lover’s dream – make sure you catch it in magnolia blossom season for the full effect.      Little Miss Notting Hill Ledbury Road, Notting Hill The famous pink doorstep is a firm favourite of London’s fashion bloggers, so head to Ledbury Road is to find some of Notting Hill’s most vibrantly coloured houses (and a great pub on the corner, The Walmer Castle). Little Miss Notting Hil

If you can’t quite afford your own house in the capital with a huge garden, at least you can kit out your one-bed flat with cacti and plants to pretend you have your own little green space in the city, right? Head to east London to check out these pretty, insta-worthy plant shops for botanical inspiration galore. A post shared by geo-fleur©™ (@geo_fleur) on Apr 22, 2017 at 11:23pm PDT Good for... affordable large plants: Geo-Fleur, Walthamstow This spot is a plant lover’s dream. Geo-Fleur prides itself on selling weird and unusual house plants with a focus on cacti, succulents and large architectural plants (for around £30) – all sold alongside homeware essentials such as candles and pretty notebooks. 15 Penny Brookes St, E20 1BN (or find them at Wood Street Indoor Market, 98-100 Wood St, E17 3HX)    A post shared by B O T A N Y (@botanyshope5) on Mar 16, 2017 at 4:46am PDT Good for... pretty pots: Botany, Clapton Botany on Chatsworth Road in Lower Clapton prides itself on being #notanotherplantshop. It’s filled with a curated selection of homeware, skincare and plants – and a brilliant selection of objects to put them in, from terracotta pots to ceramic ones. Many of their products are available online too. 5 Chatsworth Rd, E5 0LH A post shared by Alula White (@alulawhite) on Apr 9, 2017 a

Queen’s Park is a great little hub, a mere 15 minutes from Oxford Circus on the good ol’ rickety Bakerloo line. It’s got countless foodie spots – but it does Italian restaurants particularly well. If you’re in the mood to indulge in a large glass of chianti with a pizza or a huge bowl of pasta, try one of these places: A post shared by ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀🔹 Andrea Antenucci🔹 (@a__andre) on Dec 27, 2015 at 12:23pm PST Ostuni Ostuni restaurant is dedicated to all things Puglia. It serves traditional pasta from the region and seafood is its speciality – expect everything from shellfish pasta dishes to wild sea bass and bream baked in a salt crust. 43-45 Lonsdale Road, NW6 6RA.    A post shared by Sarah Zezulka (@sarahzezulka) on Jun 9, 2016 at 12:52pm PDT The Salusbury Fresh and delicious stone-fired pizzas are what The Salusbury does best. It offers a dizzying array of toppings for your pizza so you can make your own bespoke creations. 50-52 Salusbury Road, NW6 6NN.  A post shared by @alvincaudwell on Oct 30, 2016 at 9:56am PDT  Ida Ida is also a firm local favourite and if you want to feel like a true Queen’s Parker, head here. Its homely, intimate and candle-lit atmosphere is the perfect spot for a weekend Italian dinner. Run by a husband-and-wife team, the food is focused on traditional home cooking made from hand-me-down recipes – the pasta is also made fresh and hand

Fancy giving the crêpes a miss this year? Feast your eyes on these global pancakes you can try on Shrove Tuesday. Bon appétit!  The Swedish raggmunk   A post shared by Fran White (@franhwhite) on Feb 7, 2017 at 2:52am PST   This traditional Swedish potato pancake can be sampled at the fancy Aquavit restaurant, which serves up the dish in traditional Nordic style with bacon and lingonberries.  The Japanese okonomiyaki   A photo posted by Clansie Xiaoqian Cai (@clansietsai) on Dec 4, 2016 at 12:27pm PST A chewy and crisp Japanese take on pancakes, okonomiyaki is savoury and made from a base of cabbage. There's a huge variety of toppings you can choose from on top, usually seafood. You can taste this at okonomiyaki restaurant Abeno in Bloomsbury – or get a great one at the cash-only Okan, a great Osaka-style street-food café in Brixton Village.    The Indonesian dadar gulung     A photo posted by Cindy Danianty (@cdanianty) on Jun 4, 2015 at 4:34pm PDT Nusa Dua on Shaftesbury Avenue whips up a delicious Indonesian pancake called dadar gulung. Dadar literally means 'pancake' while gulung means 'to roll' and the pancake has a green colour to it that's made of rice and filled with grated coconut and palm sugar. it's delicious if you have a sweet tooth.  The French galette   A photo posted by Happy Balance Nutrition (@happybalancenutrition) on Dec 16, 2016 at 8:22am PST Mamie's in Covent Garden serves up a great selection of savoury galettes, with toppi

North Kensington might seem like a bit of a no man's land, but on the lesser-known end of Portobello Road is the villagey Golborne Road. With a wealth of places to visit, this thriving, multicultural community in W10 is the perfect place to head to this weekend. Here are nine things you should do.    A photo posted by Elizabeth Carter (@carterelizabeth) on Oct 28, 2016 at 1:44pm PDT Swing by Snaps and Rye Pop into Snaps and Rye for a little bit of Copenhagen in London. This bustling little Danish spot is rammed on a weekend with hungry locals wanting their baked rarebit or kedgeree. Eat all the custard tarts  Check out two Portuguese favourites on the road –  O'Porto or Lisboa Patisserie for some of their famous custard tarts.    A photo posted by OLIVIA RED (@thelondonladybird) on Sep 18, 2016 at 2:29am PDT   Pick up cakes that are (sort of) good for you  Pearl and Groove is one of those rare finds – a delicious cake stop that's actually relatively healthy. Grab one of their fresh, seasonal and gluten-free cakes while you're walking around.  Grab a table at Golborne Deli Golborne Deli is a local favourite brunch spot. Grab one of the tables outside to enjoy your scrambled eggs and coffee with a side of people-watching.     A photo posted by Erica Siegel (@ericasiegel) on Sep 24, 2016 at 6:24am PDT   Enjoy one of the elaborate cocktails or a bottle of wine at West Thirty Six West Thirty Six is a lovely four-storey townhouse serving grill-house fare in c

What's Valentine's day without a bit of cheese? Embrace your inner gruyere at these fondue joints in town for a brie-lliant evening.    A photo posted by Patron London (@patronnw5) on Dec 26, 2016 at 11:56am PST Patron, Kentish Town This tiny French deli bar in Kentish Town serves up a delicious molten fondue that consists of three cheeses – emmental grand crus, meule du jura and gruyere d’Alpage. It's melted with an organic sauvignon blanc to give the dish its unique taste and served with as much bread as you can dip. Parfait!    A photo posted by Keely-remey (@squeals2) on Dec 18, 2016 at 8:48am PST Androuet, Spitalfields A cheese lover favourite, Androuet has a pretty remarkable selection of cheeses available in its shop. But it's in the restaurant where you can tuck into a hearty fondue. They offer a classic, the daily 'special' or a blue cheese one which you can order with charcuterie and baby potatoes.   A photo posted by Gemma Ang (@gemmaang) on Sep 25, 2016 at 7:12am PDT Walluc Bistrot, Shoreditch  This wine and raclette bar on Redchurch Street offers two affordable fondues that's a mix of gruyere, garlic, emmenthal and gorgonzola – and they come with side salads and potatoes.     A photo posted by JESSICA FLAVIN (@jessicaflavinphotog) on Oct 30, 2016 at 11:31am PDT The French House, East Dulwich  If you fancy your romantic fondue in casual surroundings, try The French House in East Dulwich or Crystal Palace. The emmenthal and comtéfondues

So, it's January – the start of the annual 'this is my year to get really fit' affirmations. But if the idea of setting off on a slow paced jog in the freezing cold isn't quite floating your boat, there always indoor classes like boxing. With their fun, high intensity and calorie-burning benefits, they've become increasingly popular in London with fusion classes popping up across most of the new class timetables this year.  If you fancy boxing away the crappiness of 2016, check out one of these hybrid classes, mixing the principles of boxing with other workouts you might already be more familiar with if you're not quite ready to channel your inner Rocky Balboa just yet.     A photo posted by Paola's BodyBarre (@paolasbodybarre) on Dec 18, 2016 at 11:21am PST   Boxerina at Paola's BodyBarre Fusing boxing with the grace and poise of ballet and pilates, this class will work your entire body and improve your agility, coordination, core strength and power. If you fancy moving effortlessly from kick-boxing into a deep plié then this is the class for you.    A photo posted by YogaBox™ LDN (@yogaboxldn) on Nov 9, 2016 at 3:00pm PST    YogaBox London The YogaBox classes in Southwark have been created by a yoga teacher and a professional boxer to find the right balance for your body and your mind. The high-intensity, fat burning boxing session is countered with the calming and restorative yoga section during the second half of the class, mixing together the principles of

The Design Museum has gone all west London on us, with a brand new home on High Street Kensington. With three times as much space as its previous Shad Thames location, the museum's not only in a swanky neighbourhood but it's within walking distance of some great local spots. Here are eight places worth visiting the next time you're in the area.  Muffin Man Tea Room Stop off for some afternoon tea at this quaint little tea room, serving up arguably some of the best scones in London. 12 Wrights Lane, W8 6TA   A photo posted by ParisxCalligraphy (@parisxcalligraphy) on Oct 30, 2016 at 2:30am PDT   The Britannia Head straight to this quintessential British pub for a cheeky pint and a game of Scrabble if you're feeling like a rest after a long morning or afternoon strolling around the museum. 1 Allen St, W8 6UX   A photo posted by Pubs of Britain (@pubsofbritain) on Aug 9, 2016 at 2:52pm PDT   Kyoto Gardens The beauty of Holland Park is right around the corner, so a visit to the stunning Japanese gardens section - the Kyoto Garden - should definitely be on your list. There's beautiful manicured sections, a waterfall and even a couple of peacocks thrown in. Ilchester Place, W8 6LU   A photo posted by Amy (@joanamy32) on Nov 1, 2016 at 7:27am PDT   The Ivy Brasserie  Fancy a little treat after your cultured morning? Pop into The Ivy Brasserie on High Street Kensington for a spot of delicious all-day dining. The truffle arancini balls are highly recommended. 98 K

The Time Out’s Love London Awards are back for a third year, celebrating London's favourite restaurants, bars, pubs, cafés, shops and cultural venues - as chosen by you! The polls are only open until October 31, so make sure you show your local London spot some love and vote NOW.  Overwhelmed by all the democratic responsibility? Take inspiration from London blogger Little Miss Notting Hill - she told us where she'd put a tick on their ballot paper.    ‘London has a dizzying array of food available whenever you want. On any decent-sized road you’ll find maybe 20 distinct cuisines, cooked to a great standard, mostly at good prices. New approaches are always being tried out, whether that’s The Ivy and its new chain of cafés, or tiny pop-up stalls selling groundbreaking street food. ‘Things are the way they are because of people like you. Diners in London are informed and culturally aware. Then there’s the talent in the kitchens. Young chefs build empires in no time. Pizza Pilgrims grew from a spot on Berwick Street into three restaurants in a few years. Same with Honest Burgers: from flogging their wares at festivals in 2010, they now have 15 locations. These stories prove what fertile ground London is for simple, quality food presented with heart. Five places I'd give a Love London Award Farm Girl, Portobello Road     A photo posted by Farm Girl Cafe (@farmgirlcafe) on Oct 22, 2016 at 1:02am PDT   'Healthy breakfasts in a gorgeous setting.' Liberty, Soho   A photo p

It's just a few days until the colours and sounds of Carnival take over Notting Hill, where over 60 bands and performers will hit the streets to celebrate. If you want to immerse yourself in all things Afro-Caribbean this bank holiday weekend, here are five ways to get in the Carnival spirit.     A photo posted by rosie. (@rosie7000) on Jun 25, 2016 at 10:01am PDT   Have a trawl at People's Sound Records Head to this legendary Jamaican music store that takes pride of place on the famous All Saints Road in Notting Hill. With a huge collection of vinyl and CDs from all over the world, owner Daddy VGO also hosts a sound stage every year at Carnival right opposite his shop. Bob Marley's former home and recording studio (the former Island Records site) is also just a stone's throw away on Basing Street.     Cottons Rhum Shack, Boxpark, Shoreditch   Order some rum at Cottons This Caribbean/Creole restaurant now has venues in Camden, Shoreditch and Notting Hill. Head here to get Carnival-ready as you fuel up on some rum, jerk chicken or oxtail stew with rice and peas. The original Cottons in Camden also claims to have the largest collection of rum in the UK, with over 300 varieties stocked behind the bar.   Jemma Watts  Hang out at Rum Kitchen  The Rum Kitchen does a mean jerk chicken that rivals any of London's Caribbean hotspots and their Brixton restaurant now hosts resident DJs every Thursday to Saturday. Plus, they do a weekend bottomless brunches which wouldn't be