The first time I stepped in to The Social I could not believe I hadn't had the pleasure of visiting previously... As more and more of my friends have come to realise I write articles about the hidden treasures of London I'm put under more and more pressure to pluck somewhere interesting out of thin air wherever I am in London. Most of the time I relish this and can expertly duck us in to a cool wine bar or backstreet restaurant but there are still a few areas of London where I am short of ideas!
Oxford Street, it has to be said is a one stop shopping heaven/nightmare. Whichever way you look at it your tired feet will at some point give up on you and you'll be craving a sanctuary... Established by Heavenly Records at the end of the 90s - The Social is it. With a colour scheme reminiscent of The Big Lebowski film set and a - just on the right side of kooky - cocktail list featuring some classics and new faves (but sadly no White Russian).
The wooden clad interior and fab brown leather booths take you a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street and you can even grab one of the gourmet Hot Dogs if you need to seriously refuel. Feel free to get carried away as most nights they open the basement club for nights including Hip Hop Karaoke!
Find your way with 222 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Built back in 2010 on the site of a disused railway line, it’s a local secret: a quiet, forest-like space to retreat to when city life becomes overwhelming.
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Inside, the rooms have distinctly different decorative styles. This is to give an idea of how the house would have looked at each stage in its history.
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It was once the site of the Eel Pie Hotel, a 19th-century guesthouse turned jazz venue and now it’s been transformed into a hippie artists’ colony...
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The domed Arab Hall – a glittering chamber inspired by the inside of the Castello della Zisa in Palermo – is what most visitors come for.
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Features of particular interest include the Architectural Library, the Solar Stair, a central spiral staircase with 52 steps for each week of the year...
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Tucked away in Bermondsey, Morocco Bound does it all, it is at once a bookshop, café, co-working space, beer bar and intimate events venue.
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The Phoenix Garden is remarkably inconspicuous: a bombsite turned car park turned community garden hidden behind high hedges and wrought iron railings.
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"London Fields Lido" is for those rare days when it's actually hot and sunny. Beat the crowds, head over to this colourful pool and meet me there!
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"Caravan" London is one of my favourite restaurants for having one of my favourite meals of the day: brunch. It's easy to savour every last bit here and...
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"Chuku's" in North London serves Nigerian tapas that invites you to 'chop, chat and chill!'
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In the heart of Southeast London sits "Eltham Palace and Gardens". Once a medieval estate, in the '30s it was styled with mesmerizing art deco furnishings.
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222 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
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