The quaint suburban borough of Richmond is perched on the outskirts of London. But hop on a South Western train, and you'll shoot out of London Waterloo in a matter of mere minutes. Twenty to be more exact.
The first place you should head to is Richmond's Riverside.
Each time I amble along the tranquil pond-coloured waters, I feel a million miles away from London's hectic city centre. The riverside is a wonder for walking any time of the year, and summer is no exception.
Often there will be a whole host of wildlife; a team of ducks quacking and herons standing proudly on their moss. So, keep your eyes peeled on that balmy summer stroll.
If gazing at the river isn’t enough for you, head to one of the cosy riverside pubs to reward yourself for your walking efforts. The iconic White Cross, perched next to the water, dishes up hearty British grub to satisfy your stomach. Think beer-battered fish and chips and tasty homemade pies.
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A must try for me at Paradise Soho are the gigantic grilled ceylonese prawns - tender and smokey from the charring & the cashew curry along with a hopper.
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As an independent wine bar their focus is on stocking wines from smaller producers, lesser known regions and grape varieties, and also female winemakers.
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The team at the Penny Drop are real coffee geeks in the best possible sense of the word and go to great lengths sourcing the best coffee beans out there.
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If you arrive in the morning you’ll find their popular morning buns with a variety of fillings, sticky buns, beignets, and more!
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Rondo La Cave is a hip wine bar situated in the basement of the Hoxton hotel and has a charming rustic interior with dim lighting.
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The menu has all the brunch classics you’d expect and also some more unusual offerings as well as weekend specials that change regularly...
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Quiet yet somehow buzzing, classy yet unpretentious, central yet hidden. What impresses me most is the concentration of great spots in such a small area.
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The Bloomsbury farmers market is a small market for fresh produce and lots of different food stalls held every Thursday on Bloomsbury square.
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Southwark Brewing company has a range of traditional beers such as ales, IPAs, porter, and bitter - all really fresh and available on draft or bottle.
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Museum Lates is a concept that is essentially a late-night opening when you can explore the exhibitions without the day-trip crowds getting in your way.
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Stir Coffee Brixton is a lovely neighbourhood coffee shop located on the corner of Brixton Hill and Arodene Road which has a very chilled vibe.
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It was set up in 2009 by Highbury resident and cat enthusiast Doreen Rolph, as a place to raise funds for local animal welfare organisations.
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