Claire Roper

Now that the weather's getting colder, warm up with a mug of chocolatey goodness at these popular spots.     A photo posted by Ginger And White (@gingerandwhitelondon) on Jul 24, 2015 at 3:58am PDT 1. Ginger & White G&W are great for coffee and cake, but their hot chocolate with chilli (£3.30) is a real treat – and it packs a punch. 4A-5A Perrin's Court, NW3 1QS. 2. Paul A Young Fine Chocolates Young's classic hot chocolate (£3.95) is made with dark 70 percent chocolate and has the added bonus of being dairy-free. 112 Wardour St, W1F 8WA. 3. Tap Coffee Their hot chocolate (£3.00) is a lovely cup, best enjoyed while having a good chinwag with a friend or reading a chapter or two of a good book. 26 Rathbone Place, W1T 1JD.  4. Cowshed Primose Hill They do a Nutella hot chocolate (£3.00) which tastes exactly as you would imagine. It's a hazelnut-laden dream of a hot drink. 115-117 Regents Park Rd, NW1 8UR.   A photo posted by Marli de Wet (@marlidewet) on Dec 14, 2015 at 5:47pm PST   5. Parlour at Fortnum & Mason Go for their Artisan Hot Chocolate (£7). It's a milky and smooth sipping chocolate. 1st floor, Fortnum & Mason, W1J 9FA.  6. Tina, We Salute You This Dalston stalwart is now settling into new digs over in the Olympic Village and offers a simple, milky hot chocolate (£2.80), which is great with a hearty slice of their chocolate-laden bread and butter pudding. 2 Olympic Park Avenue, E20 1FT. 7. Cafe Godiva at Harrods Godiva chocolates are delicious so it makes p

Ahhh, late autumn and early winter in London. Here's to dark nights, the descending chill and the madness of preparing for Christmas in one of the busiest cities on the planet. Brace yourself by avoiding these shopping scenarios, if you can:  1. Enforced festive cheer. In November.         2. Crowds upon crowds of poor souls, lost in the maelstrom.     3. Entering the John Lewis food hall ten minutes before closing time.    4. Finding displays labelled 'stocking fillers' that include £40 candles, £30 moisturiser, and £50 coffee-table books. How big is that stocking and who's it for?   5. That one friend who thinks Oxford Street in mid-December is 'fun'.   6. Getting to Hamleys just as the toy your niece, nephew or godchild has to have has sold out.    7. Choosing presents for your in-laws, as the countdown ticks on.   8. Meeting people who can't queue properly.    9. Waiting for hours to collect order after order.   10. Coming across people who walk through the streets in packs of four or five. Or those who stop to take selfies in the Christmas crowds.   11. People who suddenly stop and change direction/stop completely/pause to take in the wonder of Oxford Street.  Never a London favourite, and even harder to handle in the pre-Christmas rush. Save yourself the stress by getting to the best Christmas shops in London (early).

Remember, remember the fifth of November: an autumn eve full of bonfires, sparklers and firecrackers that dogs can't stand, but make the night sky look gorgeous. But like most commemorative days, we probably shouldn't overlook the backstory. Here's some fun facts about Bonfire Night: 1. If you don't already know, Bonfire Night aka Guy Fawkes night commemorates the failed assassination of King James I of England and VI of Scotland in 1605. This plan is commonly called the Gunpowder Plot, as its aim was to blow up Parliament while the king was in attendance for the State Opening. 2. The plot was hatched by a group of Catholics who were fed up with their treatment by the law of the land. While Guy Fawkes is the most well-known of the 13 conspirators, their leader was a man called Robert Catesby. 3. Throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth century, November 5 bonfires were popular, but by the nineteenth century, interest in the celebrations dwindled. At the start of the twentieth century, pyrotechnic manufacturers had rebranded the event Fireworks Night. 4. During World War I and World War II, fireworks displays were suspended as the expertise required and the resources needed had to be diverted to the war efforts. <img id="6785097f-eb0d-9032-e226-b7ff07c980fd" data-caption="Blackheath Fireworks" data-credit="© Lewisham Council" data-width-class="" type="image/jpeg" total="197603" loaded="197603" image_id="102939993" src="http://media.timeout.com/images/102939993/image.jpg" c

At this time of year, some areas of London really come into their own, like Belsize Park. The 'Belsize' comes from the French word bel assis meaning well-situated, and nestled between Hampstead and Camden it lives up to its name. Here are five things you can do to see why it's especially lovely in the autumn: &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img id="ea25f903-11b4-17da-e08b-84490b24c5dd" data-caption="" data-credit="Claire Roper" data-width-class="100" type="image/jpeg" total="3906724" loaded="3906724" align="left" image_id="102912107" src="http://media.timeout.com/images/102912107/image.jpg" class="photo lazy inline"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; Claire Roper   Walk around the neighbourhood when the sun comes out.    &amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img id="08b81e69-c984-b715-a076-69123de13996" data-caption="" data-credit="Claire Roper" data-width-class="100" type="image/jpeg" total="3448005" loaded="3448005" align="left" image_id="102912116" src="http://media.timeout.com/images/102912116/image.jpg" class="photo lazy inline"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; Claire Roper Have cakes and coffee at Roni's Bakery. They also do a mean bagel. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img id="78a67cea-c9bd-7f93-3aaa-d4255609a83b" data-caption="" data-credit="Claire Roper" data-width-class="100" type="image/jpeg" total="3937565" loaded="3937565" align="left" image_id="102912111" src="http://media.timeout.com/images/102912111/image.jpg" class="photo lazy inline"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; Claire Roper  Buy too m

We’ve launched a new Blog Network which involves getting a bunch of cool bloggers to write for us, such as Claire from Country Mouse Claire. Here are Claire's favourite secret places in London. 1. Gordon's I first discovered Gordon's with a friend when we were seeking snacks between a matinee and an evening show in Theatreland. A good bottle of wine with a dear friend is truly one of life's greatest pleasures, and when you get to enjoy it in what is reputedly London's oldest wine bar, it's that much better. Their dark caves are perfect for lingering conversations and long overdue catch-ups. 2. Giuseppe's Place   Giuseppe's is an Italian restaurant like no other. I was introduced to the place years ago, and have returned frequently, as if on some kind of lasagne-inspired pilgrimage. Located just off Borough High Street, it's a wonderful place to meet and enjoy some good, hearty, flavourful Italian food. &amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img id="e7a6f8f2-63b6-e0b1-0d7c-f1197273e1be" data-caption="" data-credit="" data-width-class="" type="image/jpeg" total="68652" loaded="68652" image_id="102850174" src="http://media.timeout.com/images/102850174/image.jpg" class="photo lazy inline"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;  3. Leyton Technical Opened in 2013 after a successful pop-up in the same location during the London Olympics, the Technical is a great addition to the ever growing Leyton/Stratford/Leytonstone scene. The selection of drinks is splendid and the food is great too, from quick bar snacks t

In this season of mist and mellow fruitfulness, a long romp in the chilly air can be the perfect addition to a weekend. It's a lovely way to see a side of London we don't always appreciate while barreling from work to bar to theatre to tube. Stopping off at a pleasant pub after a couple of hours outside in the autumn murk is a thoroughly lovely way to enjoy an afternoon. Here are five of my favourite walks, all a stone's throw from the centre of town: The park: Hampstead Heath Alight at either Hampstead Heath/Gospel Oak (Overground) or Hampstead (Northern line) stations. If you come out at Hampstead, remember to take the lifts – it's the deepest station on the Underground and if you take the steps you'll get far more of a workout than you were bargaining for. A few moments walk from Hampstead through the picturesque idyll that is Hampstead Village will take you down to the Heath proper; from Hampstead Heath and Gospel Oak stations you are even closer. The Heath is a great place for a good long walk – if you venture in far enough you can truly forget you are in the city. Traffic noise fades out and is replaced with birdsong, squirrels scurry hither and thither, and if you like a bit of pooch-spotting, there's sure to be many NW3 dogs out on their daily constitutionals. Walk up Parliament Hill for great views across town, watch the ducks swimming on the ponds, or pop into Kenwood House for a little culture or a spot of tea. The pub: The Freemasons Arms is a great post-walk pub