You and your loved one have taken the day off to fully enjoy the day. The restaurant is booked. Chocolates and flowers are on the agenda. Need a few more ideas? You can count on London to bring an extra touch of magic: See the stars At the Royal Observatory in Greenwich you could spend a...

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, this week’s recommendations are sure to win your sweetheart’s affection. Granted, an exhibition of paintings by apes and elephants may not be the conventional celebration of romance; but who wants conventional anyway? Forget flowers and...

Pubs are the heart of a neighbourhood. We all love a good pint of course, but it would not taste the same without the warm atmosphere, the wooden counters, the soothing noise of glasses being filled, the catching up with friends. The Gun Too little known, this excellent gastropub is a 10mn...

I took a trip to Barcelona recently as a treat for my boyfriend’s birthday. I love Barcelona, it’s a beautiful city built on historic foundations but has such a modern and vibrant feel to it and it reflects in everything you do in the city, from the parks to the architecture to the...

Another week, another dose of Capital Culture.THEATRE: The Importance Of Being Earnest, The Theatre Royal Haymarket, Until 11th Feb After an acclaimed run at The Old Red Lion in Islington, Oscar Wilde’s comedy of manners (and errors) transfers to the West End for just 15 performances. I...

With Valentine’s Day coming up I thought I’d help all those petrol station flower givers out there with a romantic run down of the top four most romantic places in Europe. Feel free to add your favourite romantic travel spots in the comments below!River Seine, Paris Paris is a bit of a...

I’ve never really understood people who write about small non-events that present no insight or relevance to anyone but themselves. Why do they waste the energy? It takes a lot less effort to blurt mindlessly about inconsequentialities than it does to come up with something fresh and...

I do remember a time when going to an Indian restaurant meant a basic, very white deco, a menu mostly limited to classics: korma, masala, biryani, vindaloo. In London, though, the experience can be a real travel for the senses. I have selected the best places in town would you wish to add a...

This week’s recommendations: for your viewing/listening/experiencing (delete as appropriate) pleasure.THEATRE: The Pitchfork Disney, Arcola, Until March 17th The 21st Anniversary production of The Pitchfork Disney opens this week, at the wonderful Arcola. Philip Ridley’s...

The River Thames has been in existence for something close to 58 million years. It is by far the oldest attraction in a city famed for its history, offering a transient avenue of clear space that cannot be obstructed or built upon. Indeed, it is timeless and peaceful, a vital respite in a...

I hope you enjoy this week’s recommendations of Capital Culture!ART: David Hockney RA: A Bigger Picture, Royal Academy, Until April One of the big shows of the season opens this weekend. The Bigger Picture explores Hockney’s return to East Yorkshire – after years spent in LA...

‘Travel’ is a word with a very broad meaning. Fundamentally, it describes movement; the conveyance from one place to another. More often, however, we use it to describe a journey into an unknown frontier; a voyage of exploration and discovery. To go travelling insinuates something...

The nation seems to be in a collective mourning for the loss of festive fun. Combined with the horror of returning back to the dreaded grindstone and having to run yourself ragged on school/after school club runs, many of us are experiencing what is commonly known as ‘the January...

I hope you have all had a lovely week – are fully recovered from celebratory shenanigans – and are ready to strengthen your acquaintance with 2012; she has a lot to offer.MUSIC: Trailer Trash Tracys, The Lexington, Thursday January 12th Woozy neo-shoegazers the Trailer Trash Tracys...

You wouldn’t think it to look at the city now, but hills played a significant role in London’s establishment, and also in its subsequent growth. When the earliest settlers came across the area and scanned their surroundings for a suitable place to set themselves, their gaze wasn’t met...