Natalie De Luca

The Nadler Victoria is a great sightseeing base, with theatres, the Tate Britain and Buckingham Palace all within easy walking distance. The hotel service is friendly but unobtrusive – staff will happily dish out tips about things to see and do without becoming overbearing. The rooms have a stylish, pared-back decor, with pale yellow walls, dimmer lights built into the headboards and cute hand-painted pictures of palaces on the walls. With space at a premium in this part of town, there's no in-house bar or restaurant, with guests instead benefitting from discounts at local bars and restaurants. As well as the usual chains there are some great options, including excellent contemporary Japanese restaurant Kouzu and one of the smallest (and cutest) pubs in London, the Cask and Glass just down the road. Instead of a minibar, there’s a tiny kitchenette hidden behind sliding doors. You won’t be rustling up a 'Masterchef'-worthy meal here, but the filtered water tap, microwave, fridge and Nespresso machine are neat, convenient touches. There's also internet-enabled TV, free wi-fi and speakers in the bedroom and bathroom, into which you can stream music of your choice. Rooms range from small doubles to deluxe rooms with king-size beds. Breakfast is delivered to your room at your chosen time and consists of croissants, yoghurts and orange juice. It’s on the basic side, but well priced. Prices start at £120 a night – decent value for the location. The Nadler Victoria is a stylish, welc

Brixtonites love their neighbourhood – so if you've lived there long enough, here are a few observations that'll inevitably ring true.    MCDONALD'S #southlondonshops #brixton A photo posted by South London Shops (@southlondonshops) on Dec 10, 2015 at 4:37pm PST   1. The pull of the 24-hour McDonald's is too strong No matter how many times you’ve promised yourself you won’t, chances are come 11pm on a Friday after several hours drinking and no sign of dinner, you’ll find yourself ordering 20 chicken nuggets, faster than you can say 'gentrification'. There’s a high chance this may be repeated at 3am on Saturday night (damn you Maccie D's and our poor self-control).   A photo posted by hilarymaeallen (@hilarymaeallen) on Dec 8, 2015 at 12:52am PST 2. It’s ALWAYS busy The buzz of Brixton may have attracted you to the area, but the sheer amount of people on the high street at any time of day or night is a menace, especially when you’re trying to run for the tube to meet that friend who you’re already late for. An hour's queue for an Honest Burger isn't ideal either. On the plus side, there’s never a dull moment. 3. Navigating Brixton Village is easy... if you know how You know the difference between the Village and Market Row while tourists are usually walking around in circles, looking confused.    A photo posted by Rasmus Støvelbæk Olsen (@urbanus_1) on Aug 19, 2015 at 12:03am PDT 4. The Victoria line is the best Getting on the Victoria line at Brixton means that

With twinkling Christmas lights going up all over the place, the festive period is well and truly upon us. South Londoners don't need to head to north to embrace the season with these events...  Christmas at Kew  Head to Kew Gardens after dark to enjoy their special winter trail. The mile-long path weaves its way through the botanic gardens with sparkling lights, illuminated fountains and, intriguingly, a choir of holly bushes, all making for a magical evening. There will also be the chance to buy gifts at the Christmas fare.   Christmas Films at The Vaults, Waterloo  The Underground Film Club makes the Vaults in Waterloo their home for winter. Here, you’ll find drinks from ‘Spirited Mixers’ and a food pop-up from a Hawksmoor head chef. And if that’s not tempting enough, then the plethora of Christmas feel good films should be. Choose from the likes of ‘Elf’, ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ and a ‘Home Alone’ double bill. Fondue at The Lodge, Clapham  When the months get colder and you need a warm hug, an evening in a mock alpine restaurant is sure to perk you up. Head to The Lodge for the second year of this ridiculously popular pop-up. This time its home is bigger and has moved from Balham to above the Clapham North pub. Enjoy mulled wine and cider, charcuterie and, most importantly, fondue. Southbank Centre Christmas Market  When those wooden huts appear on the Southbank each year, it's a sure sign Christmas is just around the corner. The stunning riverside setting is a great

Crystal Palace has made a name for itself as a go-to hub for vintage shopping, whether you’re after rare furniture, clothing or a snazzy print for your wall. If you haven’t visited yet, venture down south with this short guide (and bring lots of money for goodies). Church Road, which makes up one third of the Crystal Palace triangle, is the heart of vintage shopping in the area with plenty of shops populating this busy street. Bambinos was the first to appear 27 years ago, and it's still going strong today. It's also home to the popular café Boyce Da Roca. Further round the triangle, off Westow Street, you’ll find Haynes Lane Market, a two-floor treasure trove and hoarders' paradise. Well worth a browse – you could find anything from books and vinyls to trinkets and train sets. With furniture up front and clothing further back, you could occupy yourself for a while browsing through the stock at Crystal Palace Vintage. Vintage pieces are reasonably priced, too. Crystal Palace Antiques is home to four floors of vintage delights for the home, with a previous find including a black Eames DSW chair for £28. Designs of Modernity occupies part of the basement of this Jasper Road treasure, with around ten other dealers occupying the rest of the space.   <img id="08732496-bec7-6d92-3538-4c354b6a7883" data-caption="" data-credit="James Balston Photography" data-width-class="" type="image/jpeg" total="920473" loaded="920473" image_id="102908591" src="http://media.timeout.com/

We’ve launched a new Blog Network which involves getting a bunch of cool bloggers to write for us, such as Natalie from South London Blog. Here are Natalie's favourite places in London. 1. Rivoli Ballroom In deepest darkest south-east London lies a real star of a venue. Opposite Crofton Park station sits the Rivoli Ballroom, which is a stunning Grade II-listed 1950s ballroom. Stepping inside for the first time was like stepping back in time, as the interior boasts plush red velvet and Austrian crystal chandeliers. Still operating as a dance venue today, regular events include the monthly jive party, which is a must. Don’t worry if you’ve never jived before - I hadn't - but there’s a lesson at the start of the evening to show you the ropes. And if you don’t get the hang of it I found that watching the vintage clad regulars was fun in itself. 2. Olympic Studios In a leafy corner of south-west London is a cinema, bar and restaurant with cool credentials and comfort that will change the way you view your local Odeon forever. I discovered it recently and can't wait to go back. The two-screen cinema in Barnes has seats with plenty of leg room - so not having to stand up to let your fellow cinema goers get past you when you're seated is a game-changer. Once operating as a recording studio, hence its name, Olympic Studios hosted sessions for the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Who and Queen back in the day and I love the thought of being somewhere with so much musical history.     

South London has had serious cinema credentials for a while now as home to both the BFI and the IMAX in Waterloo, which boasts Britain’s biggest screen. But venture even further south and you’ll be rewarded with unique and historical venues and a real sense of community brought together by a shared passion - cinema.  Here’s five reasons cinephiles ought to head south, pronto: 1. Possibly the cheapest cinema in London Less than a fiver for a film - that’s almost unheard of, right? Well not at the PeckhamPlex where this cheap as chips price is a reality. Films cost just £4.99 or £5.99 for 3D. Showing the latest blockbusters as well as a range of art-house and independents, it's also played host to premieres and screenings of films by local filmmakers.  2. Free film festivals There’s a whole website dedicated to Free Film Festivals, with the aim to create 'community-run film festivals in...small geographical areas or neighbourhoods'. Six of the nine festivals currently listed on the site are in south London, with the inaugural Streatham Film Festival being the latest addition and including events such as a screening of 'Amy' in a jazz club and a film-themed music night in a local record store. Other festivals take place across Peckham and Nunhead, New Cross and Deptford, Herne Hill and Camberwell, with South Norwood and Thornton Heath being the next up and starting on October 9. Festivals can encompass a whole range of film-related events including screenings in unusual settings