For fans of the video game SimCity, the biggest pleasure is not merely to create a prosperous city, but to build a safe place where traffic flows smoothly, where residents are happy and with a minimum number of natural disasters (including Godzilla attacks).
Visiting the Building Centre in central London is like stepping into the video game. Along with an impressive model of London, the Centre encourages visitors to learn about the latest developments in architecture and urban design affecting the capital. Spending an hour or so at the Building Centre shows just how challenging keeping a busy city like London organised, as well as beautiful, can be.
The Centre regularly hosts exhibitions, debates and seminars aimed at these topics. Other exciting events tackle a range of issues from interior design to the psychology of building design for people's well being!
For those passionate about these subjects, there's a bookshop where curious visitors can take books home to feed their interests. Even for those with little knowledge of urban design or the intricacies of environmentally-friendly architecture, spending time at the Building Centre will give you topics to think about next time you wander London...or play SimCity.
Find your way with 222 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Aside from its compelling history, what really sets Fitzrovia Chapel apart is its extraordinary gold mosaic ceiling. So don't forget to look up!
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Twice a week, all the tables are pushed to one side, and the bookshop is transformed into an intimate venue for author talks, film screenings and debates.
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Walpole spent most of his life transforming the building into his own ‘little Gothic castle’, with battlements, arched doorways and stained glass windows.
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What really sets Book 28 apart, is their commitment to sourcing intersectional literature that would be unlikely to appear in your average public library.
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Designed in 1822 by Thomas Cubitt (the architect behind large parts of Belgravia & Pimlico), Woburn Walk retains many of its original Georgian shopfronts.
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Savour your food, indulge in good conversation and when you’ve scraped your plate clean, go out onto the patio for a long, drawn-out coffee in the sun.
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Everything I’ve tried in this restaurant is delicious and plentiful. I love the bread, the dips and I can guarantee that their saffron rice is to die for!
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I immediately fell in love with Redemption Roasters for their strong mission, big social impact, and great coffee of course. Plus an excellent brunch menu!
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At the ground level - a quirky interior, cosy seating areas, and a great selection of drinks and food! But if you go upstairs though you will discover...
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An a family-owned independent cheese shop that opened in 1994 and has been going strong since then. Their selection of cheeses is outstanding and varied.
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Barnsbury Wood is enjoyed by Londoners all year round, but it is at its most glorious in the summer months when the trees are drenched in golden sunlight.
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The gardens and pergola are open to the public and are a great spot for a walk or a peaceful afternoon with a good book in hand while lying on the grass.
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222 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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