Image by Peter Hoffer

Located just minutes from the UK Houses of Parliament (where the cacophony of MPs barking at one another fill the Westminster air), the wonderful St. John’s Smith Square provides discerning classical music fans to feast their ears on a wide programme of concerts and recitals.

Built in the early 18th century, St. John’s Smith Square is an example of English Baroque architecture.  But the real joy of the building is the acoustics that makes a building of its size seems so intimate.

The types of concerts range from lunchtime concerts, chamber orchestras and Christmas carols.  A particular highlight is the Rosenblatt Recitals, which gives audiences a tastes of opera arias but familiar and obscure.  A night of classical music does not have to be expensive; it’s quite easy to get tickets for about £10.

The Smith Square restaurant downstairs also provides quick meals before the concert and some wine and snacks during the interval (I can highly recommend the cakes).

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St. John’s Smith Square | Art & culture, Music | Concert ticket £ 10
Smith Square,SW1P 3HA | Central | +442072221061
Varies check website

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Image by Peter Hoffer

Admittedly, cemeteries should be visited in certain circumstances (for example, you wouldn’t want to take a guy/girl there on a first date). However when you need to unwind or just want to learn a bit about London’s history, then the Victorian cemeteries are a rich way to explore and see the Victorians’ unique relationships with life and death.

Although I am a big fan of Highgate Cemetery, I find Nunhead Cemetery in south London more suitable for quiet walks and exploration. Unlike Highgate Cemetery, admission is free and visitors are not required to join a group led by a guide. I can sit in a stone bench and listen to the wildlife or admire the monuments families made to their loved ones.

There are many photo opportunities dotted throughout the grounds: stone angels whose faces are faded from the rain, ivy creeping over statues, tombstones with names barely legible whose inhabitants might be forgotten forever. It’s a perfect playground for budding photographers to hone their craft.

Rather than being a depressing place, I find a walk around Nunhead cemetery gives me lots of time to think, learn a bit about London’s history and ultimately remind myself on the joys of life.  To get more out of the surroundings, consider volunteering with the Friends of Nunhead Cemetery who carry out preservation work once a month.

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Nunhead Cemetery | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Linden Grove, SE15 3LP | South-East
08:30 – 16:00 daily

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Image by Peter Hoffer

When I first arrived in London, I assumed that the British love for tea was just a cultural stereotype. Little did I know that stereotypes hold some grains of truth. After living here for years, I have slowly begun to adapt to relaxing with a ‘cuppa’.

So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there is a museum dedicated to tea. The Twinings Tea Shop and Museum boasts a large selection of tea with many flavours not found in regular supermarkets. There are teas for everyday drinking and flavoured loose teas if you’re planning a proper tea party. There is even a special Twinings blend made for the Royal Wedding. I don’t know if Wills and Kate were given a few crates of this tea as a gift.

However it is the back of the shop that is the real draw – a small room dedicated to the history of Twinings tea and the tea trade in general. As someone who didn’t grow up in the UK (or in a tea drinking environment), the exhibits gave me a broad overview on how integral tea is to the British way of life.

While browsing the old Twinings advertising or retro packaging, visitors are welcome to enjoy (surprise) a cup of tea. The staff is happy to advise newbies to tea and introduce them to brand new blends – the White Tea and Pomegranate is my favourite!

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Twinings Tea Shop and Museum | Art & culture, Coffee & tea | Free
216 Strand, London, WC2R 1AP | Central | +442073533511
Mon – Fri 08:30 – 19.30, Sat 10:00 – 17:00, Sun 10:00 – 16:00

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Image by Peter Hoffer

When I began making friends in London, a big revelation for me was the difference in toys and games everyone played with as children. In one conversation I mentioned playing “Hungry, Hungry Hippos” as a child. My British friends informed me that in the UK, the game is called “Hungry Hippos”. Perhaps in America the hippos are hungrier?

A visit to the V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green reveals not only how different cultures today experience childhood, but explains how people throughout history experienced play through toys and games. A walk around the galleries explains key themes surrounding these toys and asks questions you might not necessarily think of with playtime – what did it mean to be a child in Tudor England? How do toys differ across a number of cultures?

The displays are not all serious though. There are many interactive exhibits that bring history to life. I dressed up as ‘The Mad Hatter’ on my last visit, but I had to eventually let other children have a chance to play as well.

The exhibits I found most engaging were the dollhouses – a grand collection of intricate houses from Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods reflecting tastes in fashion and interior decoration. What fascinated me most was the level of detail in each of these dollhouses – even their kitchens were well equipped with tiny copper pots and pans. All of the houses are enclosed in glass displays, so no playing with these houses is allowed.

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V&A Museum of Childhood | Art & culture | Free
Cambridge Heath Road,E2 9PA | East | +442089835200
10:00 – 17:45 daily

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Image by Peter Hoffer

For such a small art gallery, the Dulwich Picture Gallery does feel like a giant in the art world. Within the rooms the walls are graced with paintings by Rembrandt, Watteau, Poussin, Gainsborough and Canaletto. I often find the gallery’s intimate and relaxed setting gives me more permission to enjoy the paintings. The natural lighting and unobtrusive curators also adds to the peaceful walk through the gallery.

The Dulwich Picture Gallery was England’s first art gallery purposely built for public enjoyment. Sir Francis Bourgeois and Noël Desenfans were instrumental in putting together the collection about two hundred years ago. You can thank them yourself – they are buried in a mausoleum in the centre of the museum!

The big spring exhibition is a study of Anthony Van Dyck during his time in Sicily.  The Gallery has even provided a YouTube video to get visitors excited about the exhibition!

The added bonus of visiting the gallery is seeing the village of Dulwich itself. Although it is only a 15 minute train ride from Victoria station and London Bridge, I feel like I am in village straight out of an Agatha Christie novel. Tiny churchyards, a village hall and many quaint shops will greet you as you make your way to the gallery.

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Dulwich Picture Gallery | Art & culture | General admission £ 5.00
Gallery Road, Dulwich SE21 7AD | South-East | +442086935254
Tue – Fri 10:00 – 17:00, Sat – Sun 11:00 – 17:00

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Image by Phoebe Ferris-Rotman

At the top of China Town is London’s best cinema. The prices are less than the outrageously priced Hollywood junk shown in Leicester square and the venue is so welcoming people hang out here without even watching a film. The Soho Curzon is part of a chain of five similar cinemas, though my personal favourite is the Soho edition as it’s the most central and the layout is most inviting.

At street level a retro-styled café has over 20 different pastries and cakes and serves hot soup, coffees and organic wines. Downstairs a spacious bar is adorned with brown leather sofas you sink down into and tables where you can find people having pre-movie drinks, post-movie chats or just enjoying the artsy atmosphere.

The three cinemas in the basement show a selection of art house independent and less commercial titles. The Soho Curzon regularly hosts Q&A sessions with film directors and script writers along with special previews. Film festivals and a monthly quiz are also on the agenda.

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Soho Curzon | Art & culture, Bars, Cinemas, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Ticket £ 12.00
99 Shaftesbury Avenue | Central | +448717033988
Box office 11:00 – 21:00 daily | Bar 11:00 – 23:00 daily

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Image by Phoebe Ferris-Rotman

The Tricycle has been running since 1980 and despite being in the northwest, far from the glamorous West End theatre hub, it has become one of London’s most adored and respected theatres. Eleven years ago a one-screen cinema was added on and in 2001 the Creative Space was built for educational workshops.

The theatre’s directors try to present work which reflects the cultural diversity of its neighborhood Kilburn, a heavily immigrant area and has put on plays by Irish, African-Caribbean and Asian writers.

The cinema kiosk serves ice cream and candy and it has a bar/café which has a simple menu of pasta, sandwiches and jacket potatoes. There is a separate eating area which doubles as an exhibition space. On Mondays cinema tickets are only £6.50.

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The Tricycle | Art & culture, Bars, Cinemas, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Theaters
269 Kilburn High Road | North-West | +442073281000
Box office Mon – Sat 10:00 – 21:00, Sun 14:00 – 21:00 | Café & bar Mon – Sun 12:00 – 23:00 (12:00 – 20:00 for food)

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Image by Charl Asuit

This iconic venue in south west London is conveniently located near the Balham rail and underground stations. There is something happening each night of the week whether it’s a comedy show, a dance class, a concert or club night. You can also chill with a pint or two by the fireplace or soak in the lively atmosphere as you sit by the bar.

I discovered the Bedford when I began to learn to dance lindy lop with Swingland. Since then I have been going for different reasons. First, dancing Argentine tango on Thursday and every other Sunday with Tango Fandango. Then there’s the Banana Cabaret comedy club on Friday or Saturday, depending on who’s on the bill. The Shakespearean globe structure provides a stage not only to well-known comedians such as Milton Jones but also for the up-and-coming, too. And last but not the very least, the best tasting (quite possibly) bowl of chips in London. But at times I’m just after the usual pint and a bit of sports on telly (yes, women like watching sports, too!) with friends then the Bedford can be just that as well.

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The Bedford | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Restaurants (Pub) | Wine £ 3.00
77 Bedford Hill | South-West | +442086828940
Mon – Thu 11:00 – 23:00, Fri – Sat 11:00 – 02:00, Sun 12:00 – 22:30

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Image by Pritaya Sriolong

Everybody loves anything free, right? London gives residents and visitors alike many opportunities to enjoy this wonderful city at no cost – museums, galleries and other events. The Scoop is a venue beside the City Hall that offers a variety of free stuff, too. Apart from providing everyone with a space to just sit down and relax, you can enjoy a bit of entertainment and culture, too.

Events ranges from film screenings, exhibits, concerts and community activities are often staged at The Scoop, especially in the summer. The best part of these events is the fact that they are open to the public and most likely free. You will need to check their website or sign up to their mailing list to get regular updates.

If there is nothing then perhaps you might catch a sighting of London’s ‘infamous’ mayor, Boris Johnson, at the City Hall.

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The Scoop | Art & culture, Cinemas, Relaxing, Festivals & events | Free
2A More London Riverside,SE1 2DB | South-East
Film screenings Wed – Fri from 19:30

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Image by Peter Hoffer

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the expeditions by Captain Scott and Ernest Shackleton exploring the coldest places on Earth. To help commemorate the occasion, the Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace is showcasing a collection of photographs from these polar exhibitions.

The photographs are the closest many of us will get to trekking through the Antarctic and meeting with local penguins. Some photos reflected the camaraderie of these hardy men while others represent the sheer loneliness of standing at the bottom of the world. Despite the warm and cosy confines of the gallery, I did feel a distinct chill while admiring these photos – how did these adventurers stay warm, stay sane, and ultimately stay alive?

The Queen’s Gallery is also worth seeing for the surroundings itself. Again, many of us will never be invited to have tea at Buckingham Palace, but for less than a tenner, you can enter part of the palace and share the artistic treasures that the Queen enjoys.

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The Queen’s Gallery | Art & culture | Admission (1 year admission) £ 7.50
The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, SW1A 1AA | Central | +442077667301
10:00 – 17:30 daily

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