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).

Details about this spot (Show on map)
St. John’s Smith Square | Art & culture, Music | Concert ticket £ 10
Smith Square,SW1P 3HA | Central | +442072221061
Varies check website

Copyrights Spotted by Locals London

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.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Nunhead Cemetery | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Linden Grove, SE15 3LP | South-East
08:30 – 16:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals London

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!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals London

Image by Peter Hoffer

Macaron shops have been appearing over London for the last year or so. These baked treats seem to be the new fashionable trend for those with a sweet-tooth. I have done my duty as a good Londoner (much to the disappointment of my dentist) and sampled a few macarons around town and my favourite is, without a doubt, those of Ladurée.

This Parisian chain of confectionary shops has three stores in London (the others are in Harrod’s and Covent Garden). However I think the Burlington Arcade shop feels the most French. Just looking into the windows of Ladurée seems indulgent (much like looking at the neighbouring jewelry and cashmere shops in the arcade). The shop assistants are dressed impeccably and the edible window decorations are sumptuous to behold and just oozes sophistication.

The flavours of the macaroons cover a range from vanilla and pistachio to rose and Madagascar chocolate. They are pricey for their small size (£1.60 each), but they are worth it once you bite into these pillowy pockets of sugar.

There is not much seating space, so I would recommend buying a selection of flavours and share them with a friend while promenading through Burlington Arcade. I guarantee that all of the Ladurée macarons will disappear by the time you finish your walk.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Ladurée | Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks | Each macaron £ 1.60
71-72 Burlington Arcade | Central | +442074929155
Mon – Fri 08:30 – 18:30, Sat 09:00 – 18:30, Sun 11:00 – 17:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals London

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.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Kyoto Garden | Relaxing | Free
Ilchester Place W8 | West
07.30 until 30 minutes before dusk daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals London

Image by Peter Hoffer

With cold weather and hours of darkness creeping into London, I try to find ways of keeping my mood up at this time of year. I can think of no better way of beating the winter blues than with the Scandinavians (who know more than a thing or two about dealing with the cold and the darkness in winter).

Scandinavian Kitchen consists of a cosy café in the front selling coffees, pastries, salads and open-faced sandwiches. I find that the smorgasbord combination dishes are the best deals for lunch (you can sample lots of different sandwiches for a lower price). When I am in the mood for just a snack, I tend to have a Swedish cinnamon bun with my coffee.

In the back is a small shop that sells Nordic goodies to many homesick Scandies. Whether it’s a bar of Daim, pickled beetroot or some frozen herring, chances are it will be here. Additionally the staff members are always happy to help with your food questions (and are known to give free hugs too). They were an immense help when I tried to cater a Eurovision party.

Located only minutes from Oxford Street, Scandinavian Kitchen makes for a perfect break from frantic shopping. There’s additional seating downstairs where you can also visit ‘Odin’s Throne’ (you’ll need to see it for yourself to know what I mean!)

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Scandinavian Kitchen | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Sandwiches £ 2.00
61 Great Titchfield Street, W1W 7PP | Central | +442075807161
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 19:00, Sat 10:00 – 18:00, Sun 10:00 – 16:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals London

Image by Peter Hoffer

When it comes to icy treats, frozen yogurt tends not to be top of my list – generally I find it a bit too tart for my tastes. However the frozen yogurt at Yog can make a fan out of even those skeptical of frozen yogurt.

Although the flavours are limited (3-4 offered), they are tasty: the pomegranate is subtly sweet while the dark chocolate has a deep creamy flavour. Plus the yogurt is non-fat and under 200 calories which means I feel less guilty about adding cookies toppings (or coconut flakes or brownies or Belgian chocolate chips). There are other offerings like smoothies if I feel especially healthy, but I tend to stick with the chocolate yogurt and fresh strawberry topping.

If the idea of eating frozen yogurt in the cold months makes your teeth chatter, there are hot toppings like hot pears with cinnamon or warm apple.  These fruit toppings count as one of your servings of fruit a day, right?

At only £2.40 for a regular bowl, Yog makes for an affordable treat and a popular hangout for local students. It’s also housed in a former dairy, which is reflected in the design indoors. Yog is also open late most days, which makes this a healthier post-pub treat than a kebab.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Yog | Snacks | Yogurt bowls £ 2.40
45 Charlotte Street, w1t 1rs | Central
Mon – Sat 11:00 – 23:00, Sun 12:00 – 22:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals London

Image by Peter Hoffer

I find second-hand bookshops in London can fit on a scale with two extremes. On one side are bookshops so immaculately organized that book lovers might be afraid of taking books off shelves or displays for fear of altering the bookseller’s vision. On the other side are bookshops so disheveled that you feel like you are exploring your grandma’s dusty attic.

Located underneath the Brunswick Centre near Russell Square station, Skoob Books falls somewhere between the two ends of the spectrum. I can best describe the bookshop as ‘organized chaos’. The books are grouped in key sections throughout the underground shop, and the titles are arranged in alphabetical order on the shelves (and many times on the floor too).

The selection of books is numerous without being overwhelming (and if the shop doesn’t have the title you want, they can order it for you). Being located near many universities, Skoob also has a rich selection of titles not normally found in other second-hand bookshops: philosophy, science, economics. But if you’re just looking for a good novel, there are plenty of those too.

The lack of windows and natural light might be a turn-off for some, but for me it just reinforces the feel of adventure, like Aladdin searching through the treasures of a magical literary cave. And if you need a break from browsing, there’s a piano in the middle of the shop that people are welcome to play.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Skoob Books | Shopping | Used books £ 4.00
66 The Brunswick WC1N 1AE | Central | +442072788760
Mon – Sat 10:30 – 20:00, Sun 10:30 – 18:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals London

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.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
V&A Museum of Childhood | Art & culture | Free
Cambridge Heath Road,E2 9PA | East | +442089835200
10:00 – 17:45 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals London