Stanfords travel book shop first opened its doors in 1901 and has since seen its fair share of customers, ranging from classic authors to modern day travel writers such as Bill Bryson and Michael Palin.

Centrally located between Covent Garden and Leicester Square, Stanfords is three stories high and is stocked entirely with guide books, maps, travel literature and accessories. Therefore, for any lover of travel and escapism, a visit to Stanfords is an idyllic way to spend a rainy afternoon and plan your next holiday.

Stanfords has an impressive selection of guide books covering every corner of the globe and detailed road maps to assist even the most adventurous traveller plan their next trip. Scattered among the books and maps are travel journals, colourful travel photography books and old fashioned world globes – making Stanfords a great place for a unique present.

And for those unable to travel, yet forever dream of a sejourn in exotic and far away places – travel literature lines the century old walls, allowing your imagination to be transported across the globe. Understandably, Stanfords is my favourite bookshop in London!

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Stanfords | Relaxing, Shopping
12 -14 Long Acre, WC2E 9LP | Central | +442078361321
Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri 09:00 – 20:00, Tue 09.30 – 20:00, Sat 10:00 – 20:00, Sun 12:00 – 18:00

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

Situated in London’s China Town is legendary Wong Kei’s. Rude staff, crammed shared eating arrangements and the ambience of a school canteen. However without a doubt, cheap and authentic Chinese food every time.

Split over three floors and as packed as a train at peak hour in China, even its worst critics haven’t managed to tarnish its reputation. In fact, some people actually come to Wong Kei’s not just to sample the traditional Chinese food, but to experience the main issue that got the critics tongues wagging in the first place. The rude staff.

Faithful customers of Wong Kei’s are be able to recall the days they were yelled at by the staff, being told to put down their chop sticks, hurry up and leave. Where talking leisurely with friends over a bottle of wine and a three course meal would lead to an outburst from a waiter and your table being cleared just as you were tucking into your Cantonese beef steak. Therefore, I’m slightly disappointed to admit that every time I’ve eaten at Wong Kei’s I’ve never been yelled at – I actually even received a thank you on my last visit!

Regardless of the staff, if you’re looking for a fine dining experience, Wong Kei’s is not the place for you. However if you’re after cheap and cheerful Chinese, potentially minus the cheerful, be sure to stop past on your next night out in the West End.

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Wong Kei | Restaurants (Chinese) | Mains from £ 5.00
41-43 Wardour Street | Central | +442074378404
12:00 – 23:00 daily

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

Tintin might be better associated with Belgium, but there is a tiny shop hidden on a side street in Covent Garden dedicated to the crafty Belgian journalist (and his dog Snowy).  The Tintin Shop is a cosy shop (definitely not as spacious as Captain Haddock’s Marlinspike Hall), but it is packed with plenty of gifts to keep Tintin fans happy.

The Tintin books are the centrepiece – hardcover editions, special collectors’ books and Tintin art books pack the shelves.  For fans who know all of Tintin’s adventures by heart, there are other items like t-shirts, coffee cups, framed posters and stuffed Snowy dolls to keep everyone pleased.  For serious collectors, there are special figurines which can cost hundreds of pounds, but who wouldn’t want the Thompson twins or Professor Calculus sitting on their desks? 

The recent Tintin film may have introduced Tintin, Captain Haddock and Bianca Castafiore to a new generation of Tintinologists.  This shop ensures that new fans and old can tag along with Tintin on all of his thrilling adventures.

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The Tintin Shop | Shopping | Tintin postcards £ 1.55
34 Floral Street, WC2E 9DJ | Central | +442078361131
Mon – Sat 10:30 – 17:30, Sun 12:00 – 16:00

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

Shopping on the King’s Road in Sloane Square is a serious business; anyone caught idling on the pavements will be run over by determined shoppers who will show no mercy when looking for the perfect gift. Bargain hunters here wear determined faces and take their shopping extremely seriously.

Yet on Saturday afternoons at Duke of York Square, shoppers and locals seem to take time to chill out. Steely faces melt into smiles, and gruff mutterings turn into laughter. The Farmers’ Market seems to have that kind of effect on people.

An hour or so wandering around the stalls at the Duke of York Square Market is a relaxing tonic for the mind and a treat for the stomach. The air is filled with smoky British sausages mixed with the fragrance of Jamaican rum cakes. French cheese carts stand next to Nigerian food stalls. A short meander is like walking through a global gastronomic wonderland.  The market is also a few steps from the Saatchi Gallery, so you can combine modern art with eclectic food.

On the Saturday afternoon of my visit, a local jazz band entertained locals as they sat down on public benches to chat and eat. I munched through a few empanadas at one booth before sneaking some chocolate at another. I figured the carrying of shopping bags would burn the calories.

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Duke of York Square Market | Shopping, Snacks | Empanadas £ 2.00
80 Duke of York Square | Central
Sat 10:00 – 16:00

I love to relax with a good book. I also like to chill out with a glass of wine. But try taking a hardcover book into a bar. It’s dim. It’s crowded. And you’ll probably be sitting next to a very desperate guy chatting up a girl way out of his league. Not an ideal place to dive into a book.

The solution to the above dilemma can be solved at the V&A Reading Rooms in South Kensington (which has recently been transformed to give a more ‘Continental vibe’ – think sidewalk cafes and street musicians). Located just a few minutes from the V&A Museum, this little bookshop/bar offers space for the more discerning readers just wanting some peace and quiet. Many of the books specialise in design, but there are many other books covering current events, poetry and literature as well.

This cosy spot is actually two bright and airy rooms full to the ceilings with books, with the first room also holding a small bar. Rather than separate you from the book stacks, tiny tables are placed throughout the rooms to actively encourage you to challenge your interests as your taste buds drown in wine or espressos. Just be sure not to spill any of your drink into their books – that’s just rude.

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The V&A Reading Rooms | Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks | Glass of wine £ 4.60
No.8 Exhibition Road, South Kensington | Central | +442072250594
Open from 11:00 daily