For me, spring in London is when it’s at its best – the city has woken from its winter cocoon and the excitement of long nights, picnics in the park and a continuous stream of festivals generates an infectious buzz in the city. Therefore, with the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympics set to take centre stage – so will your social life – regardless whether you like the royals or have even seen the Olympics.

To kick-start the celebrations off, the historic Andaz Hotel, next to Liverpool Street station, is running a series of Jubilee Afternoon Tea ceremonies in the exquisite 1901 restaurant until June. Themes include, the Brandy Man and the Empress of India, and pay homage to the Queens of England – and their most famous legacies.

March is dedicated is to Queen Elizabeth I, and aptly named ‘The Virgin Queen’- as she never married. Expect miniature hamburgers and hotdogs, chocolate brownies and peanut brittle to celebrate her American connections, mixed with a quintessential favourite – cream and jam fresh scones. Ensure you save enough room for the cocktail, made with Appleton Estate Rum, mandarin and passion fruit purée, ginger beer – possibly the best I’ve ever had.

If the American theme doesn’t float your monarchist boat, the next few months will have Austrian, Indian and traditional British themes.

To help you feel even more royal, each guest will also go in the draw to win a pair of diamond stud earrings!  God Save the Queen indeed!

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Andaz Hotel | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Sandwiches) | Jubilee Afternoon Tea £ 45
40 Liverpool Street, EC2M 7QN | East
Mon – Sat High Tea 15:00 – 16:30

Located south east of central London and perched on the Thames is Greenwich, a village like area of London which is rich in British maritime history. While Greenwich is known for its markets and the meridian line, evidence of its maritime history can be seen everywhere you look.

Come the weekend, Greenwich is flooded with Londoners and tourists alike, so at some point refuge and a glass of wine is needed. And to offer you that protection is the Trafalgar pub, which is tucked away along the river and located on the Greenwich Maritime World Heritage Site.

Built in 1837, The Trafalgar, is bursting with history and use to be one of Charles Dickens’ favourite watering holes. And despite being over 170 years old, it has maintained its Victorian charm; wooden floors, cosy fire places and large bay windows facing out onto the river – making it a perfect hiding place on a dark and cold London winter’s day.

The Trafalgar also has a small but charming restaurant and the main pub serves up all the usual favourites including their specialty – fish and chips.

So next time you’re in Greenwich be sure you stop off at the Trafalgar to really get a feel of Greenwich’s past.

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The Trafalgar | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (English) | Mains £ 13.00
Park Row | South-East | +442088582909
Mon – Thu 12:00 – 23:00, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 00:00, Sun 12:00 – 22:30

One of the best ways to spend an afternoon on a cold London day is tucked away in an old pub. And for some true old London charm go to the George Inn in Borough. This pub was rebuilt in 1676 after a fire swept through it, however despite it not being the original building, ye old London is still very present in this beautiful old Inn.

The George Inn was once a coaching terminus, and it’s rumoured that Charles Dickens used to frequent the middle bar which was previously a coffee shop. So you don’t get much more ‘olde England’ than this little place.

Hidden down in one of the many alleyways in Borough, the George welcomes you with a huge cobble stoned courtyard area which is always full of punters during summer. Once inside you are greeted by the low beamed ceilings and cosy little rooms, complimented by dimmed lighting. The only downside is that seating is limited inside and it can get very crowded, so best to get in early.

The George also makes its own Ale, George’s Ale, and has a range of other beers and alcohol to send you on your merry way. The restaurant serves up the usual pub favourites – which could be better – however the pub is a historic little gem, certainly worth the visit.

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The George Inn | Bars, Restaurants (Pub)
77 Borough High Street | Central | +442074072056
Mon – Sat 11:00 – 23:00, Sun 12:00 – 22:30

My initial impression of the Piano Bar was that it would be a dimly lit sophisticated bar with a crooner like pianist playing the occasional old-blue-eyes track. And while New York, New York, was played, it was the Alicia Keys rendition. And like most the crowd, by this stage I was twirling around on the tiny dance floor by the piano with Prosecco in hand, belting out the lyrics with new found friends and dance partners.

Given its appeal, you need to book a table well in advance – and the best place is on the stools surrounding the piano. The show starts at 8pm, so expect to hear a mixture of Elton John, to even, err, Britney Spears. Ok, so I appreciate this takes the cheese levels up a notch, however the energy the crowd gave ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’ was as if our lives depended on it!

The only downside is that drinks are a little pricey, but entry is free so the cocktails are well worth the inflated expense. And as our night sadly came to an end, we stumbled into the throng of Soho, positively uplifted and in search of the next high.

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The Piano Bar | Bars, Music, Snacks | Cocktails £ 9.50
75 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0NE | Central | +442072877699
Tue & Thu 12:00 – 23:30, Wed 16:00 – 23:30, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 00:00, Sun 18:00 – 23:00

Located in the thick of Soho’s sex shops and bars is the sultry Madame JoJo’s. Once a strip club, Madame JoJo’s is now famous for its eclectic music nights, with everything from rockabilly and deep funk, to indie and soul.

Whilst the nature of business has changed, its strip club days can still be clearly visualised as the interior still resembles its former self – dimly lit and slightly decedent with a dash of tacky. As for the atmosphere, it certainly has a seductive Moulin Rouge feel to it, mixed with an ‘if-these-walls-could-talk’ vibe pulsating off the mirrored walls.

As for the crowd, most people tend to put particular effort into their appearance. If you go on rockabilly night, expect to see some girls in 50′s-style dresses, or even burlesque – so it’s a great place to go if you want to be someone else for the night!

So next time you’re in Soho, and you’re after a late night club with a slight edge, be sure to swing past Madame Jojo’s with your dancing shoes or feather boa.

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Madame Jojos | Bars, Music | Entance from £ 3.00
8-10 Brewer Street | Central | +442077343040
Tue 20:00 – 03:00, Wed 22:30 – 03:00, Thu 19:30 – 02:30, Fri – Sat 22:00 – 03:00, Sun 21:30 – 03:00

Taxidermy and bric-a-brac aren’t the surroundings I’d usually pick for a cocktail bar, however this place not only pulls it off, it does it in style. Situated in an old meat packing factory, this kitsch establishment is a favourite with the fashion and media world. Even Madonna, the material girl herself had a birthday there.

Its location, down a gritty East London street, combined with the unusual choice of stuffed animals and dolls is a stark contrast to the glamorous clientèle draping off the ornate sofas.

The cocktail menu is impressive, as is the care and attention put in to making each drink. The extensive list features titles such as the Moulin Rouge, Kangaroo, Restless Romance and Dr Strangelove; all of which are made with the finest tipples!

Be sure to call ahead and reserve a sofa to make the most of your evening!

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Lounge Lover | Bars, Music | Cocktails from £ 8.00
1 Whitby Street | East | +442070121234
Tue – Thu & Sun 18:00 – 00:00, Fri 17:30 – 01:00, Sat 18:00 – 01:00

Gilgamesh was the son of the greatest King in biblical times, and is believed to have lived a heroic and adventurous life. To his tribute, Gilgamesh encapsulates his greatness by creating a breathtaking visionary restaurant. The construction of the place alone appears to have been bigger than Ben Hur; it hosts the world’s longest bar, which was hand carved in India by an impressive 10,000 men.

The food is Asian fusion, everything ranging from Dim Sum at lunch to a large selection of sushi followed by a few Thai favourites. The prices are also varied, ranging from £ 9.35 for scallop sushi, to £ 30.25 at the higher end of the scale for the hoba miso chilean seabass. Gilgamesh also caters for larger groups and offers the exclusive chef’s table for groups of 8-12 people, where you will be served a range of dishes from Grilled Wagyu with Spicy Ponzu and Truffles.

Gilgamesh also boasts a glass tea room which is lit with candles at night, in addition to a private bar, the Babylon Lounge Bar – where you can sip your cocktail while dangling on a hanging sitting chair.

Gilgamesh’s grandeur is certainly in keep with the biblical king’s reputation, therefore if you’re after a bit of magnificence, you’ll really enjoy the Gilgamesh experience.

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Gilgamesh | Bars, Restaurants (Asian fusion)
The Stables Market Chalk Farm Road | Central | +442074284922
12:00 – 00:00 daily

The London Fields Brewery is, as you might expect, a small independent brewery in London Fields. They produce hand crafted ales in a railway arch, my favourite of which is probably the Session Ale, although I am also rather partial to London Fields Gold. The beers themselves are well worth recommending, but what separates London Fields Brewery is the fact that they have special ‘events’ on Saturdays in the courtyard outside the arch!

The events themselves aren’t a weekly thing, so you had better check the website or, better still, sign up for the newsletter as I have done. What comes with the LFB newsletter is all the details of forthcoming events and although they are different there is a basic principle behind them – have some live music, sell some beers including guest ales (last time I went it was the excellent Meantime Pale Ale on draught) and have an Argentinian grill doing burgers and steak sarnies (which are great)!

All the events have been free so far (fingers crossed this continues) and while there are downsides like the portaloos, the courtyard is covered and heated, the bands are usually local and good, the beer is excellent and it is all quirky, independent and different, things which I really like. 

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London Fields Brewery | Bars, Festivals & events | Per bottle £ 3
374 Helmsley Place, E8 3SB | East | +442072540008
Sat 11:00 – 23:00

A few years ago Hoxton was simply the best place to go out in London. It was a thriving, bustling area full of interesting pubs, bars and clubs, but unfortunately now Friday and Saturday night in Hoxton is much more like a night in the West End with stag and hen parties littering the pavements. Luckily there a still a few good places to be found however, and one of them is the little basement bar Happiness Forgets.

Tucked away under a (good) Thai restaurant, Happiness Forgets is a great little find. I went in thinking it might be nice to stay for one or two but then, a few hours pass, and I suddenly realise I have spent the night there! Luckily, the bar shut at 11pm!

There is a ‘no wallies’ door policy which has to be applauded seeing where it is. The music is good (no DJs) and the bottled beers have been well-sourced, including a personal favourite of mine Meantime Pale Ale. The cocktails themselves are good (‘high end cocktails, low rent basement’) especially the Perfect Storm, which went down far too easily last time I went!

It’s small (so don’t come in a large group) but has been well decorated with vintage furniture and miscellaneous ‘bits and pieces’ which I like. This is definitely not a chain, however the owners do now have a pub nearby – The White Horse – which is also worth a visit.

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Happiness Forgets | Bars | Cocktail £ 7.00
8-9 Hoxton Square, N1 6NU | East | +442076130325
Mon – Sat 17:30 – 23:00

Bradley’s Spanish Bar is a little (well tiny actually) hidden gem, just off Oxford Street but a million miles away from all the uniform chain pubs in the area. 

First things first, although it says it is a tapas bar on the sign outside, there is no food on offer. The toilets are also ‘an experience’! But these things all go to add to the charm of Bradley’s. It’s a bit tatty. It’s a bit run down. It might be difficult to get a seat. But for all that, it is simple one of the best bars in the area.

The vinyl-only jukebox is quite rightly regarded as the star of the bar and it definitely attracts an eclectic soundtrack to the night – punk to funk in one difficult step is commonplace. Add in the draught Spanish beers, the slightly tacky decor and the general quirkiness of a place that seems quite out of its time and place and you have a bar that is a real star. It isn’t cheap, or as cheap as you think it might be from the outside, but then not much in London is. 

Tacky. Dirty. Tiny. Eccentric. Unusual. Unique. If I was going to meet anyone in a bar near Tottenham Court Road this is the one I would suggest, especially if they had never been there themselves.

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Bradley’s Spanish Bar | Bars | Pint £ 4
42-44 Hanway Street, W1T 1UT | Central | +442076360359
Mon – Sat 12:00 – 23:00, Sun 15:00 – 22:30