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

Despite its relative small size compared to the more famous Hyde Park or Richmond Park, the area of Holland Park boasts many draws, including a playing field for pick-up games of football or cricket, an ecology centre, rugged woods for brisk jogs, and a hostel. The park even hosts opera performances in the summer!

My favourite part of the park is the peaceful Kyoto Garden, which is like a tiny pocket of Japan inside and English park. When I first moved to London, my apartment was only minutes away. I would often spend time here to get away from the cramped space of my flat and the noise from my busy street.

The garden was opened in 1991 as a gift from Kyoto to commemorate the long friendship between Japan and Great Britain. The garden is carefully designed to reflect key traits of Japanese gardens, including stone lanterns, tiered waterfalls and plenty of fish. The crashing water is occasionally mixed with the squawks of peacocks who wander around the park. Despite these occasional birdcalls, a few minutes in the Kyoto Garden will have a restorative effect to your spirit.

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Kyoto Garden | Relaxing | Free
Ilchester Place W8 | West
07.30 until 30 minutes before dusk daily

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Image by Peter Hoffer

For many Londoners (myself included), the closest we get to farm animals is the butcher’s counter at our local supermarket. What many people do not know is that there are several working farms within London. When I am in the mood to play ‘Old McDonald’, I head over to London’s largest city farm – Mudchute Farm.

Located just minutes from Canary Wharf, the farm feels completely separate from the world of stock and bonds in the hectic financial district. The sights (and very strong smells) of the animals remind me more of the simpler ways of life. Our food does not magically appear in ready-to-eat packages and spending time with the animals in Mudchute Farm reminds me of that.

Mudchute Farm has plenty of animals you would expect at a farm (pigs, sheep, chickens) and some you might not (llamas). There is also a pets’ corner and scheduled ‘animal encounter’ sessions to give young Londoners a closer relationship with farm animals. The staff are happy to answer questions and depending on the time of day and what needs to be done, they might enlist the help of the young (and young at heart) to assist with some farmyard tasks.  You can even follow the ‘Animal of the Month‘ on the website!

I tend to spend most of my time leaning against a fence watching the young horses gallop around their enclosure. A couple hours here will give you a taste of the peaceful country life without leaving the confines of the city.

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Mudchute Farm | Relaxing | Free
Pier Street Isle of Dogs, E14 3HP | South-East | +442075155901
Tue – Sun 09:00 – 17:00

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Image by Phoebe Ferris-Rotman

This laid back cafe serves a varied selection of vegetarian and vegan food. The savory selection ranges from sandwiches, soups and deli items such as homemade hummus and pates.

There are also delicious hot mains like vegan lasagna, roast Mediterranean bake and spinach, tofu and spelt tartlet all served with your choice of three hot or cold sides such as edible flower salad, red cabbage or broccoli and kale.

The food is very tasty and filling, yet at the same time super healthy, and it’s no surprise that many of the dishes include super foods like goji berries and guarana.

A selection of fresh juices from the smoothie bar gets you salivating while the desert counter boasts vegan cashew-based homemade vegan ice cream with fruit, muffins, flapjacks, cupcakes and truffles.

In the evening, classic cocktails, wine, beer and cider is served and the location is lovely. The bright and airy space in the heart of Camden, with nearly half its walls in the form of large windows, has a gorgeous view, overlooking the canal. Watch out for live music and DJs in the evenings as well.

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inSpiral Cafe, Bar & Lounge | Bars, Music, Relaxing, Snacks, Restaurants (Veg) | Meal £ 7.45
250 Camden High Street | North-West | +442074196798
Mon – Thu 10:00 – 22:00, Fri – Sat 10:00 – 02:00, Sun 10:00 – 23:30

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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

There are many moments in Londoners’ lives where we get very annoyed at the little things: people who stand on the left rather than the right of escalators for example (very annoying!)

However spending a few minutes in Postman’s Park with the Watts Memorial will make any cynical Londoner re-evaluate the important things in life.

Unveiled at the beginning of the 20th century, the Watts Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice is a haunting collection of ceramic tablets commemorating those people who sacrificed their lives for others. Along with the names of the heroes, the plaques record the stories of how they sacrificed themselves – often for total strangers. Some people drowned to save others, while others perished by fire or were trampled by runaway horses.  

The park itself is quite small and easily overlooked by tourists rushing to St. Paul’s or the London Wall. Personally, I think spending a half hour of reflection here will have more impact than any tourist destination London can offer.

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Postman’s Park | Relaxing | Free
Little Britain and King Edward Street | East
08:30 – dusk daily

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Image by Andrew Sidford

Victoria Park Village (which obviously isn’t a real village) is a little leafy secret in East London on the edge of Victoria Park. Consisting of just the two shopping streets, Lauriston Road and Victoria Park Road, this ‘village’ feels somehow different. Perhaps it is the proximity to the park itself (which is Britain’s oldest public park, built in 1842!) or the lack of through traffic, but whatever it is, it is definitely working.

House prices around the village are now sky high and the shops do tend to have an upmarket feel to them, but there is a very varied selection of (mostly) independent shops, pubs and restaurants. 

The Royal Inn On The Park has an excellent selection of draught beers and is packed for the very good Sunday lunch. The Lauriston has DJs and excellent pizzas to go with their beers. The Empress Of India is an great restaurant open for brunch onwards, serving meat from the award-winning Ginger Pig butchers across the road. For fish you can go to Jonathan Norris Fishmonger or if you don’t want to cook it yourself head across to the Fish House for a good old fashioned fish and chips! 

Coffee, cakes and snacks are to be found at Elbows Cafe, Amandine Café and Loafing; excellent Vietnamese can be had at Namo; Su Sazzagoni has traditional Sardinian food; Bottle Apostle excellent wines; The Deli Downstairs is great for fresh bread, cheese and hand made pies; while Haus makes sure your own home is tastefully decorated and furnished. Lovely.

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Victoria Park Village | Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants (Various)
Lauriston Road,E9 7HJ | East
Depending on location

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Image by Jivamukti Yoga London

Like many, you’ve sweated it out in Bikram after being enticed by one of the introductory offers circulating town. Although, after 90 minutes of gruelling poses in Delhi-like temperatures, you discovered the combination of trying to maintain consciousness and not slide off your mat was an upward battle you weren’t going to win. Rest assured dear yogi – there is an alternative.

Jivamukti Yoga, located in Westbourne Park, offers an equally challenging workout except without the 40 degree heat and the threat of your neighbours sweat flicking in your face.

Founded in New York, it is a form of Hatha Yoga performed to chill out music, while inked-up highly spiritual instructors effortlessly take you through the sequence while stopping to give a privileged few massages (and no, noises of appreciation are not acceptable!).

A little warning for those downward-dog sceptics out there – it does rate quite high on the hippy thermometer – as the class opens and closes with chanting. Fortunately, there are no solo performances, and the awkwardness of this will fade, providing you don’t fall into a total euphoric state and shout an extra ‘OM’ once the class has clearly stopped. Happy chanting.

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Jivamukti Yoga London | Relaxing | 10 days (introduction) £ 10
300 Kensal Road | West | +442089603999
Mon & Wed 07:00 – 20:45, Tue & Thu 10:00 – 21:00, Fri 07:00 – 20:30, Sat – Sun 09:00 – 18:30

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Image by Hyde Park Stables

Nestled in the centre of London lies Hyde Park – an oasis away from the hustle and bustle. Therefore, horse riding through the nation’s landmark park is undoubtedly such a special way to experience the park, and a more traditional way of experiencing London.

The Rotten Row, the bridleways around Hyde Park, have been famous throughout England for over 300 years. Therefore, to continue this grand tradition, the Hyde Park Stables offer lessons and horse rides through the park all year round.

Located just a few streets back from the park and down a cobblestone mews, the stables offer one-hour lessons which cost up to £59, in addition to 10-week courses and private classes.

Beginners are welcome and can rest assured that the friendly staff are on hand to help, ensuring that the well tempered horses remain safely within the park at all times.

Bookings are required in advance and gift vouchers are also available.

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Hyde Park Stables | Relaxing | Group lesson £ 64.00
63 Bathurst Mews | West | +442077232813
Daily

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Image by Charl Asuit

Greenwich Park is the home of the Prime Meridian Line. It is where GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) starts and thus, poetically, where time begins. The Prime Meridian Line used to be a line drawn on the earth (not around the globe though as I would imagine) but now, it is represented by a green laser beam. This line can be seen clearly in the night sky.

The park also hosts the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory. As it sits on top of a hill, the place is perfect for sky watchers and star gazers. But apart from science, Greenwich Park also offers spaces for sport, dining (including picnics) and simply relaxing.

For the London 2012 Summer Olympics, Greenwich Park will be the venue of the Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon events.

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Greenwich Park | Relaxing, Snacks
Greenwich | South-East
06:00 – 21:00 daily

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