Sonya Barber

When you’ve got a baby in tow, it can be tempting to stay close to home, as days out with a teeny one can feel daunting. Then by the time you’ve got a full blown toddler, you’re desperate for activities to entertain them (and yourself) worth the tube meltdowns on the way home. Luckily, London is packed full of things to do for teeny ones and weary parents – places that’ll give you a warm welcome, offer a refreshing change of scene and get your little one enjoying the city before they can even write their name. Many of the capital’s parks, theatres, shops and museums put on events and activities designed to delight under-threes. Some are geared to grown-ups with babes in arms, others are tailored to appeal to active crawlers and new walkers. But in truth, these fun baby and toddler activities aren’t always easy to find – especially when your brain is fried from lack of sleep.  As Time Out London’s former News & Events Editor, I thought I knew how many amazing things the city had to offer, but having a kid has unlocked a whole other level. This list of London’s best activities for babies and toddlers reveals a whole new side of London that you’ll only discover once you have little ’uns in tow. This is your chance to dive headfirst into a new world of colourful, captivating, silly, soft, squidgy and occasionally sticky fun. There are also plenty of ways to explore the city on a budget; check out the best free things to do with kids in London, or find some rainy day fun at Lond

Londoners are potty for clay. Places on pottery courses across the city are getting snapped up quicker than a discounted Edmund de Waal vase, so if you want to sink your hands into some wet clay and imagine you’re in ‘Ghost’, you’d better book your London pottery class in advance. Here are four things to remember before you get behind the wheel: Be ready to get messy Bring an apron, unless you don’t mind walking around in clay-splattered clothes for the rest of the day. Some places will provide one, but check before – you know what happens if you assume.  Stay centred It can take a while to centre your clay on the wheel, but it’s worth getting it spot-on so your pot’s walls are an even thickness. You'll thank yourself for your patience when you see your finished product.  Go slow Any quick movements can throw your pot off-centre and that can be the beginning of the end. Remember the old saying: slow and steady wins the race (or, in this case, makes a stunning piece of pottery).  Be philosophical Just when it looks like you’ve made a beautiful vase, it collapses! Take a deep breath and start again. That one just wasn’t meant to be – and that 'failure' was just opening the door to something even better next time.  Recommended Need for more inspiration for new hobbies? Check out our list of the best classes in London.

There’s honestly nowhere in the world like Soho. The haunt of poets, gangsters, trendsetters and many a louche genius, the seedy, sleazy and impossibly romantic heart of London’s West End is also home to loads of great independent shops, cafés, bars and, most importantly, restaurants. Its culinary diversity has been fuelled by centuries of immigration and cultural cross-pollination. From rustic French fare to Mediterranean small plates and tasty tapas, here is Time Out’s list of our absolute favourite Soho restaurants. Whether you fancy a slap-up meal or are just in the market for a mid-town pitstop, we have you covered. RECOMMENDED: Here are London’s best restaurants. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor and spends so much time eating in Soho that she basically lives on Greek Street. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. The hottest new openings, the tastiest tips, the spiciest reviews: we’re serving it all on our London restaurants WhatsApp channel. Follow us now.

Breakfast is truly the most important meal of the day, and luckily for London, the city caters to every possible whim. These days, London isn’t just home to the fry-up, but the ubiquitous smashed avocado on toast, the shakshuka and many more besides. In fact, London genuinely might be the best place to eat breakfast in the entire world. Whether you’re the kind of person who favours a posh restaurant over a greasy spoon, or who champions a caff over a swanky hotel, we’ve rounded up the ultimate list. From morning mezze to croissants, udon noodle bowls and south Indian platters – it’s all here. RECOMMENDED: Breakfast’s a little too early for you? Try one of London’s best brunches instead. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. The hottest new openings, the tastiest tips, the spiciest reviews: we’re serving it all on our London restaurants WhatsApp channel. Follow us now to tuck in.

As in any world-class city, there’s no shortage of five-star hotels in London. In fact, there are close to 100, making it the city with the most five-star hotels and pipping Dubai to the post. But how much choice is too much choice? That's an awful lot of reviews to read through… Just as well, then, we’ve narrowed it down to the cream of the crop so you don't have to: our top luxury London hotels with tip-top service, outstanding restaurants and plenty of creature comforts. There are famous London institutions such as The Ritz and Claridge’s on our list, but we’ve also included exciting newbies such as The Ned and Sea Containers London. So if you’ve got cash to splash, go spoil yourself at one of these high-flying venues for a superior London sleepover. RECOMMENDED:🛏 Check out London’s best Airbnbs🏨 Full guide to the best hotels in London This article was written by London-based experts who know their stuff when it comes to the city's hotel scene... and then some. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Hackney might have the reputation for being the hipster playground of London, but it’s a lot more than just ‘Real Housewives of Clapton’ memes. The actual borough of Hackney stretches from family-friendly Stoke Newington up to Stamford Hill, down to buzzy Dalston, Haggerston and Hoxton and over to leafy Clapton via Homerton. And in the middle, there’s often-overlooked Hackney Central and often-overpopulated London Fields, both filled with lovely things to do and excellent places for eating, drinking and being very merry. I’ve lived in Hackney since 2008 and despite a lot of changes, it’s still my favourite place in London. So here are 20 of the best things to do, places to eat and cool stuff to see. Enjoy! RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in HackneyThe best bars and pubs in HackneyThe best hotels in Hackney

There’s a reason why so many romantic comedy films are set in London; quite simply, it’s one of the best places in the world to be loved up. The picturesque Little Venice, the historic Whispering Gallery at St Paul's Cathedral, and Waterloo Bridge (which has breathtaking views of the city) are among the many romantic places to visit at any time of year – and we can’t get enough. But to encourage your love to reach full bloom, it's important to pick a hotel with the right kind of vibe. Breakfast in bed, complimentary cocktails upon arrival, and pampering spa packages are the sort of special touches that can make all the difference when you’re in the mood to woo... or maybe even pop the question. Take a look at our favourite romantic hotels in London.  Updated in May 2024: To keep our curated lists tip top we always keep an eye out for any new or trending properties. And this time around we've set our sights on this hidden sanctuary in Shoreditch, and this luxury hotel in South Kenso that's all about British elegance.  Looking for more options? 🛏 Check out London’s best Airbnbs ❤️‍🔥 or London's naughtiest hotels. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Why not enjoy your dinner with a side of strange? London is home to hundreds of amazing restaurants, but sometimes everyone hankers for a talking point with their tapas. We’ve rounded up a serious bunch of entertaining eateries: oddball decor, kooky culinary concepts and – yes – cats. Our list of unusual restaurants will delight animal lovers, garlic fans, and yodellers and more. You’ll find these joints in venues as varied as a boat, a prison and a church crypt. This is dining with a difference.  RECOMMENDED: The best weird bars in London. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Giant snails, fresh naan bread, slabs of cocoa butter and hot gözleme: you can find them all on Ridley Road. This multicultural artery opposite Dalston Kingsland station has been an integral part of the Hackney community since the 1880s, and today there are more than 150 stalls and shops selling Afro-Caribbean, Asian and Turkish wares six days a week. But as gentrification races through Dalston (there’s even an M&S now), Ridley Road faces mounting interest from developers, which currently sees the indoor Shopping Village threatened with demolition. To document this pivotal period, Future Hackney (a National Lottery-funded collective of visual artists and storytellers) has set up camp on the market strip. Working with young residents, it’s using street photography and a makeshift studio to capture strikingly honest portraits of the diverse local community. This autumn, the results will cover the Shopping Village building as it meets its fate. Until then, you can follow Future Hackney’s progress on Instagram for the latest from one of London’s most fascinating streets. Photography by Future Hackney.

Physical presents are out, memorable things to do are in. Everyone has that one friend or family member who is just impossible to buy for, so instead of trawling around Christmas markets and getting squished on Oxford Street, why not get them an unforgettable London day out instead?  Send the Londoner who has everything to a group harmonica class, turn them into a London Zoo keeper for a day or pay for them to abseil down the ArcelorMittal Orbit. Maybe check how they feel about heights before you splash out on that last one…

Last week, I donned my hard hat for a trip up the skeleton of the new kid of the London skyline, the bulbous 20 Fenchurch Street with ‘more up top’. The new 38-floor skyscraper, already affectionately known as ‘The Walkie Talkie’, is set to open in 2014 and will be packed full of lovely new offices of various sizes (19% of space has been pre-let). However, unless you’re planning on relocating your business to greater heights, I don’t expect this aspect to be of great interest to you. Instead, we’re most excited about what will be happening on those crowning floors: the Skygarden. It’s yet to be confirmed exactly what will be in the huge glass atrium apart from some plants and a still-to-be-decided restaurant, but, unlike the Shard, we do know that it will be free to go up and take in the view. And it is quite a view. The core of the building is already built, with the rest of architect Rafael Viñoly’s curvy shape rapidly developing around it. Here are a few snaps from our peek around the site and ascent up the tower...

In a nutshell: Longplayer is a 1,000-year-long piece of music composed by Jem Finer (guitarist from The Pogues), which you can listen to in a lovely old lighthouse in Docklands. Where is it? Swerve around the A-roads of East India Dock, duck down Orchard Place (less scenic than it sounds) and you’ll come to arts hub Trinity Buoy Wharf. Go past Fat Boy’s Diner and the colourful work studios of Container City to find London’s only surviving lighthouse. What does it sound like? You won’t find any ‘Fairytale of New York’ vibes here. Finer has created a piece of music with singing bowls. The effect is a constant harmonious hum that can be heard resonating throughout the lighthouse. It started playing on December 31 1999 and has been going ever since, organically developing with no repeats. (Although every time we go it sounds pretty much the same!). What makes it great? Visiting Longplayer is a magical experience. Climb up to the glass lantern room at the top of the tower and gaze out at the panoramic view of the Thames and beyond. The enchanting echoing sound makes everything feel cinematic – perfect for romantic moments or just staring out over London contemplating the meaning of life. When should I go? It’s open every weekend. Times vary throughout the year though, so be sure to check before you go.  Read more in our 'So you've never been to...?' series

Since Kidzania in Westfield closed, Role2Play has become the go-to spot for toddlers into roleplaying games. If your child turns your home into incessant tea parties and ice cream shops, this will let them live out their fantasies. There are scenarios including supermarkets, cafés, garages, building sites, vets and doctors – it’s almost as fun for you to watch them get into character as it is for them to do it.

Good play cafés are a haven for parents but sadly they’re surprisingly hard to find in London. Enter Sandscape – a play café with a fun sandpit in Finsbury Park. The people who set this up clearly know how transfixed babies and toddlers are by sand; you’ll actually get to enjoy your coffee here as £4 gets you an hour slot for your little one to thoroughly explore the toys, slide and sandpit. 

Not only does this children’s bookshop have a brilliantly inclusive range of books for all ages, ithas also got weekly interactive storytelling events, craft sessions and even book groups forbigger kids. Big name kid’s book authors and illustrators such as Joseph Coelho and FionaLumbers, Julia Donaldson and Rob Biddulph stop here for event and there’s a secret theatre inthe back which has sensory shows for children aged 0-3.

When you think of a dream location in Amsterdam, chances are those beautiful, tall, seventeenth-century canal houses are what spring to mind. Well, the Pulitzer hotel isn’t just one of those: it’s 25. Occupying a whole block between two of the city’s most beautiful canals (so special they’re a UNESCO World Heritage site), the hotel has stitched together these restored Dutch houses to form a three-dimensional maze of rooms, suites, atmospheric bars, restaurants, ostentatious sculptures, winding corridors and leafy courtyard gardens – the immersive world of the Pulitzer. This place is truly an architectural marvel: think Hogwarts or Gormenghast, but with more Dutch gables. From the moment you check in, the hotel team (numerous, uniformed and assiduous-yet-relaxed) go above and beyond to make sure you’re completely taken care of. Need a rental bike, a taxi with a kid’s car seat, a boat ride, a firmer pillow, a late checkout, a midnight negroni? Nothing is a problem. I didn’t have a dissatisfying staff interaction throughout my whole stay. For breakfast, there’s polished brasserie Jansz, sitting in an enviable corner spot right on a canal, with huge sash windows. It’s also the obvious choice for dinner, but we found the quality of cooking was actually a notch higher at the more relaxed Pulitzer Garden lobby restaurant, where they dish up lobster linguine and burrata-and-tomato casarecce with a smile. Rooms vary tremendously, each different thanks to the idiosyncrasies of the mas

Wilton Way is one of the cutest streets in Hackney, with a row of charming shops that have a nostalgic feel to them. One of the most lively hangouts is Wilton Way Deli which has two shops: one a coffee and lunch hotspot, the other a wine shop and deli that’s also a bar and pop-up restaurant. There’s an ample amount of outdoor seating spread between the two, which fills up with a post-work crowd who know that it catches the last of the rays in the summer months, making it the ideal spot for an aperitivo.

Not only does Five Points Brewery make great beer, it also has an excellent place to drink it. There’s a cosy tap room for colder days, and a courtyard for sunny evenings, where you can get well-acquainted with their beers and sample some BBQ treats. And if that wasn’t enough, on Thursday and Friday between 5pm and 7pm, you can get a pint of their freshest tank-beer for this bargainous price of £3.99. Good luck finding one that cheap anywhere else in Hackney that isn’t a ’spoons. Keep an eye on their Instagram for pop-up events, talks and festivals.

Talk about an east London institution: Mare Street’s Hackney Empire has been entertaining the crowds of the East End since 1901, with interludes as a bingo hall and television studio (it was even once at risk of being flattened into a car park.) Its gilded stage has been graced by Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel, Houdini, Marie Lloyd, Julie Andrews, Louis Armstrong and countless more superstars from recent times. Stellar comedians and one-off special gigs are the big draws here, along with the legendary yearly panto, which books up far in advance. Also popular are the tours of its Grade II-listed auditorium, which take place during Open House London weekend in September.

What’s better than having a delicious sauna to sweat out all those city toxins? Having that delicious sauna with awesome views across that very city, of course. It’s a badly kept Hackney secret that perched on top of Netil House there are a series of private sauna cabins, showers and cold water plunge barrels which you can book for 30, 60 or 90 minutes. Prices start at £11 per person and it’s a great innovative date idea or way to catch up with a sauna-loving pal. And once you’re all sweated-out, head across the roof to Netil360 for pizza, drinks and a chill out.

If you’ve heard of Popham’s Bakery, chances are it will be thanks to their incredible selection of pastries and pasta. By day, it’s all perfect buttery croissants, maple bacon danishes and wondrous cheese, spring onion and Marmite swirls. Once night falls, they switch to wildly delicious pasta dishes. And as if that wasn’t enough, they now have their own homeware shop next door that’ll make you want to burn everything in your house and start again. Stylish ceramics and glassware, linen napkins, candles, cookbooks: it’s all beautiful. Plus there are workshops teaching everything from quilting to leather work. Disclaimer: we can’t be held responsible for how much money you might spend here.

You could easily walk past Bad Manners as you were strolling through the St John at Hackney Churchyard just off the Narrow Way. But you’d be missing out on some spicy delight: this unassuming hut is serving up big attitude and big flavours. The Mexican- inspired menu features some seriously delicious delicacies, with specials such as crispy pork belly taco with crying tiger sauce and chilorio pork burrito stuffed with Doritos for a special extra crunch. On weekends, the few tables outside quickly fill up so go early before it all sells out.

Originally from Margate, natural skincare brand Haeckels has its only London shop on Broadway Market, selling cult-status skin and body care products and intoxicatingly fragranced candles. Upstairs is a colourful treatment space offering unique facials, massages and body treatments. The magic not-so-secret ingredient is Margate-grown seaweed (and it’s the hero in many of Haeckels’ products) so for the full experience, go for the invigorating seaweed and walnut scrub, which also comes with a dreamy massage. You’ll gain a whole new respect for kelp.

If you’re into crystals, tarot and astrology (and who isn’t these days?), you need to pay a visit to She’s Lost Control on Broadway Market. Aesthetically pleasing sets of tarot cards sit next to books about waking your inner witch, as well as stylish jewellery, natural skincare and gifty bits and bobs for the horoscope obsessive in your life. But if you’re considering a visit, plan ahead and book in to have your aura photographed. At the back of the shop, you and your aura get snapped and then you’re guided through what the different colours could mean. Once you’re happy with the interpretation, you get a nice printed out polaroid of yourself surrounded by a cloud of colour, which is a pretty cool souvenir even for non-believers.

Eggs. Meat. Breadcrumbs. You lot just can't get un oeuf.  Harwood Arms: Fulham   A photo posted by Shu, Two Hungry Girls (@thgsupperclub) on Aug 25, 2015 at 11:59pm PDT 'A Michelin-starred eggy snack. What's not to like?!' Debbie Walpole via Facebook The Bleeding Heart Tavern: Farringdon 'They do a venison scotch egg with a cranberry relish that I can't help but eat with tears of joy in my eyes.' NE via www.timeout.com The Adam and Eve: Homerton   A photo posted by The Adam and Eve (@theadamandevee9) on Sep 9, 2014 at 6:14am PDT 'The Cornwall Project scotch egg. Hands down the best (and I've had a lot).' Liz Pie via Facebook Scotchtails: Borough Market   A photo posted by scotchtails (@scotchtails) on Mar 16, 2015 at 7:06am PDT 'Marvellous, luscious, unforgettable. With sweet potato chips...sigh.' Catherine Cerni via Facebook Fortnum & Mason: Piccadilly   A photo posted by Fortnum & Mason (@fortnums) on Mar 24, 2015 at 6:50am PDT 'The original. If you're gonna have one, you might as well go to the place that invented them.' Michail Finlay via www.timeout.com The Pig and Butcher: Angel   A photo posted by The Pig & Butcher, Islington. (@pigandbutcher) on May 30, 2015 at 6:43am PDT 'The most sublime scotch eggs in the city.' Dave K via www.timeout.com Did we miss your favourite? Let us know in the comments! Want more cracking news? Egg restaurants are the latest London food trend. Or read about the London restaurant that's frying whole ostrich eggs.

Hungry and in an insane rush? Hot-foot it over to iFalafal in Petticoat Lane market on Goulston Street where this falafel wizard will you whip you up a tasty Middle Eastern snack in just 17 seconds. The street food vendor is taking fast food to new speedy heights and is getting a reputation as London’s 'falafel wrap master'. The £3 wraps come with a lightning speed addition of falafels, houmous, pickles, cucumber, lettuce, chilli sauce and tahini. They're getting such a reputation that there's even a Reddit thread called 'The Fastest Falafel Wrapper in London'. Don't believe us? Prepare to be amazed:   Still not impressed? Check this:      Hungry? Here are some more places to get some damn good falafel in London.

Have you ever sweated so much that you worried your face would never return to its normal hue? That’s what happened when we braved a SoulCycle class in New York. The legendary 45-minute spin classes launched back in 2006 kickstarting the craze for frantic pedalling in dark rooms to loud music and motivational exhortations. Part workout, part rave, part life coaching session, plenty of places have tried to replicate the SoulCycle model but the original is still the best – and the toughest. For the uninitiated, this is next-level spinning: the workout is intense and fast-paced, the music is pumping, the room is warm, the instructors are unfeasibly enthusiastic and all the riders are 100 percent into it. The studios themselves are slick and stylish, the toiletries and changing rooms are luxurious, and the whole experience is mildly terrifying, totally exhilarating and strangely addictive. There are currently 90 SoulCycle studios across America and Canada with the likes of Beyoncé, the Beckhams, Lady Gaga, Michelle Obama and Madonna all big fans. Now it’s finally opening its first international outpost in London this June. About time. The 3,500 square-foot, multi-level venue opening in mid-June at 3-4 Great Marlborough Street in Soho will feature a mega 60-bike studio, an onsite shop stocking all the paraphernalia you need to look like a spinning badass and a programme of live concerts and events. But how will all the collective whooping and motivational chat go down with us re

Getting a cheap and tasty bite to eat near Leicester Square is about to get tougher after the sad news that Jewish deli Gaby’s is closing at the end of October. The unassuming little family-run café on Charing Cross Road has been serving up falafel and salt beef to hungry theatregoers since 1965. In a sea of boring chains, Gaby’s offers a refreshing selection of affordable Middle Eastern dishes to regulars, tourists, celebs and anyone else who was drawn in by the impressive selection of salads in the window. It’s the perfect place for a pre-lash takeaway pita or a quiet meeting over a cuppa. Now the lease is ending and 82-year-old proprietor Gaby Elyahou is set to embark on a well-earned retirement. His 72-year-old nephew Menachem Kojman, who also works in the deli, says that he just can’t battle the surrounding West End chains and high rents any more. Unfortunately, the family haven’t found anyone else to take over the business, so with a heavy heart they’ve announced that Gaby’s is serving its last latke at the end of the month. This isn’t the first time that Gaby’s has been under threat. Back in 2011, the deli battled redevelopment before getting a reprieve by its landlords after a high-profile campaign from actors, politicians and writers including Jeremy Corbyn, Boris Johnson, Miriam Margolyes and Vanessa Redgrave. But it seems that this time, unless there’s a miracle in the next few days, Gaby’s will go the way of other central London eating institutions like New Picca

An aquatic dinner in an underwater mess hall. An intergalactic trip to an unexplored planet. A secret tunnel into a fairytale forest. These are the kinds of bonkers experiences that interactive supper club Gingerline has dreamed up over the years, popping up at secret venues along the length of the former East London line, now Overground (orange on the tube map, hence ‘Gingerline’, geddit?). Now, after eight years of playing with food, Gingerline is back with its biggest adventure yet – aptly named ‘The Grand Expedition’. This time, the founders are straying off the Overground to a huge, top-secret location on the Victoria line for a new edible journey which they describe as a ‘floating, feeding, falling dream’. While that might sound a bit like what happens when you accidentally take too much Night Nurse, the organisers say it actually means diners are going to be taken on a journey around the world with five interactive courses of food paired with wacky performances. More fancifully, it’s ‘part dance spectacle, part multimedia simulation, part poetical dreamscape.’ Is that a flowery and ambiguous description? Yes. But that’s the point.  Each new Gingerline show is shrouded in mystery – you have to leave phones at the door and there’s a strict ‘no spoilers’ policy to keep it all a total secret. One of the pioneers of ‘immersive dining’, Gingerline has been taking adventurous eaters on clandestine dining escapades since 2010. Foodie founders Suz Mountfort and Kerry Adamson

Ever wonder what’s lurking on those abandoned VHS tapes? Watch two guys turn that grainy old footage into a two-night comedy show VHS tapes – remember them? Anyone born before the mid-1990s will probably feel a flutter of nostalgia for those chunky boxes of magical analogue entertainment. Once the most cutting-edge tape-based technology where you could – shock horror! – record a show straight off your TV, nowadays video cassettes are mostly relegated to charity shops and car boot fairs. Learn how to massage an opossum But it’s in these very places that childhood pals Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher make some of their best discoveries. Since finding an incredibly awkward McDonald’s employee training VHS tape in 1991, they’ve been on the hunt for the weirdest, silliest and most outrageous videos they can get their hands on. Trawling through car boots, thrift stores, warehouses, and even skips across the globe, they’ve amassed an impressive collection which includes weird instructional gems such as ‘Mastering the Art of Carving’, ‘Telepathic Communication with Animals’ and ‘Rent-A-Friend’. See Angela Lansbury styling it out in a towel In 2004, they decided it was time to show the world the delights of their archive, so they started the Found Footage Festival, a show where they screen carefully chosen clips from their greatest VHS finds alongside hilariously dry commentary. They even do ‘where-are-they-now’ updates. Find out why you’re bathing your cat wrong Now the boys are

From diehard lido fans to really wild swimmers, Sonya Barber meets six Londoners who love to make a splash Every morning I immerse myself in the cool refreshing water of London Fields Lido for 30 minutes of granny breaststroke. Apart from the occasional annoying splasher, it is a soothing, meditative retreat – a necessary antidote to the stress, noise and pressure of city life, and a break from staring mindlessly at my phone. It’s amazing how much a few gentle lengths can dramatically improve my mood and make me feel like a functioning human being again. It’s a solo, simple, primitive pleasure. I’m not the only one who appreciates the joy of taking a dip in the city. Swimming memberships in London are on the up (leisure centre chain Better reports a 15 percent increase in the past year) while there are plans to open new swimming spots in Peckham Rye Common, the River Thames and the lake in Beckenham Place Park. And you only need a sunny day to see hundreds of people patiently queuing outside lidos, pools and ponds across the city. Whether it’s for exercise, escapism or just cooling off, swimming is a treasured pastime for many Londoners. Here, some swimming enthusiasts share their stories about why they love taking the plunge.  Mike Kahn, 65 (pictured above) ‘I discovered Parliament Hill Lido totally by chance. I used to change trains at Gospel Oak every day but had no idea what was just behind the trees. One evening, my train was cancelled, so I went for a walk and there it

For a small street, Broadway Market’s got a big reputation. Neatly connecting London Fields to Regent’s Canal, it was home to a busy fruit and veg market from the 1890s until trade petered out in the early ’00s. On May 8 2004 the market was relaunched by the local community, and has since grown into a booming Saturday spectacle that’s famous across London. Each weekend people flock to buy fresh produce, vintage clothes, flowers, coffee, books, groceries, street food and handmade goodies – and to generally hang out. On a sunny Saturday, the market can be almost too busy to walk through. But the rest of the week, despite the coffee shops, restaurants and chic boutiques, it still feels like a local high street complete with a kebab shop, post office (the best place to get cash), Costcutter, old-school barber shop and excellent hardware store. Even off market day, you’ll find it buzzing with people pottering about, nattering over coffee and doing their weekly shop. On summer evenings, the pubs overflow on to the pavement and throngs of Londoners grab takeaway pizzas to scoff in the park. But make sure to visit in the colder months for Christmas trees, steamy café windows, quirky presents and as cosy a festive vibe as you’ll find anywhere in the city. Drink this A post shared by Jimmy Mikaoui (@jimmmmik) on Dec 14, 2017 at 1:24pm PST A glass of wine upstairs at The Cat & Mutton, a classic East End boozer overlooking London Fields. A few pints of craft beer in The Do

On market days, Ridley Road is the beating heart of Dalston, bursting with shoppers, trader banter, reggae rhythms and the smells of wafting incense and butchers’ shops. It’s been a market street since the late 1880s, and was once the centre of Hackney’s thriving Jewish community, but these days Turkish, African, Jamaican, Asian, Indian and Middle Eastern traders set up side by side. Unlike lots of bits of Hackney, Ridley Road has so far managed to fend off regeneration. It’s a strong community and a hub for locals to do their weekly shop and catch up on the neighbourhood gossip. Forget halloumi fries: the only street food you’ll find here is gözleme, patties and jerk chicken. And despite being just off the Kingsland Road ‘strip’, there’s only one bar: the wonderfully unpretentious Ridley Road Market Bar, which hosts some of the best nights out in east London. The road comes to life each September for Hackney One Carnival, with a joyful mix of families, art-school kids and old locals dancing to competing soundsystems and drinking home-made rum punch. It’s the kind of scene that captures everything brilliant about London – even when it’s raining. Eat this A fresh spinach-and-feta-filled flatbread from the gözleme stall. A ‘Wannabe’ pizza from the Slice Girls residency outside Market Bar. A bag of samosas, bhajis and other fried treats at Kashmir Kebabish. Jerk chicken with rice and peas at Jerkmaican café and stall. A fresh, hot cheese roll from local hole-in-the-wall naan bre

Despite sounding Like a regal version of the ’90s kids show, the Fun Palaces popping up all over the UK this weekend have nothing to do with either Pat Sharp or Prince Charles. Hundreds of museums, libraries, National Trust properties, small arts spaces, village halls and theatres are taking part, hosting two days of community-led cultural events to show off local talent. There are over 30 palaces appearing in London, each offering loads of free activities for all the family. At the National Maritime Museum you can meet mermaids, watch a ‘Star Wars’ parody, listen to a nautical-themed choral performance and create a giant rainbow kite. Over at the Museum of London, there’s a Festival of Radical Fun on Saturday, celebrating Londoners’ DIY spirit. Meanwhile in Camden, loads of local places are joining together for idiot Olympics, giant board games, and plenty of tea and cake. Not a mullet in sight, just a whole lotta fun.  Find out more at www.funpalaces.co.uk.

Since Swingers opened in the City last year (and with all the other pop-ups across town), we're all getting pretty damn good at crazy golf. We've done the courses at their site next to The Gherkin multiple times and now we're up for a new sporting challenge. Luckily, the Institute of Competitive Socialising is about to open its second site in the old BHS store just off Oxford Street and this one is going to be pretty immense.       The 20,000 square foot site will be seaside-themed with a hidden entrance through a souvenir shop, a bandstand bar, a promenade lined with beach huts full of street food, a Grand Hotel Bar inspired by seaside hotels and two nine-hole courses full of jumps, loops and moving obstacles. Swinger West End is due to open in February 2018 but you can start booking tickets from November 14.  Until then, book some games to keep your hand in at Swingers in the City.  

The late Soho dandy Sebastian Horsley called Soho ‘a madhouse without walls’, and if you stroll down Old Compton Street today, you can still get a flavour of that electric eccentricity. Running from Charing Cross Road to Wardour Street, intersecting the hectic grid of lower Soho, it pulsates with theatre-goers, rickshaws, café-dwelling people-watchers and parading characters. It’s a thoroughfare for tourists and busy media types, a high street for the local community, and home to some of Soho’s oldest surviving businesses. Over the years, Old Compton Street has given refuge to many minorities and subcultures, from the Huguenots in the 1680s, through the poets Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine, to the British rock ’n’ rollers who played at 2i’s Coffee Bar in the ’50s. Today it’s one of London’s main LGBT+ hubs. It’s seen tragedy – in 1999  the Admiral Duncan pub was bombed in a homophobic attack – but strength and unity too. Crowds congregated here in 2016 after the Orlando nightclub shooting, and it’s a major focus of London’s annual Pride celebrations. When I interviewed Horsley about Soho in 2008, he lamented: ‘The air used to be clean and the sex used to be dirty, and now it’s the other way around.’ But despite the sanitisation, Old Compton Street clings on to its alternative filthy spirit. Drink this A post shared by Lizzie Munro (@lizzieamunro) on Sep 2, 2017 at 10:50am PDT A potent, bottle-aged negroni at tiny cocktail and coffee haven Bar Termini. A pint at ol