Super London "To do" List- Let's go!

This is listed on buzzfeed as venues for dates- but I don't think you need to be on a date to do these!
I think this looks like an epic london challenge!

I'm always whinging that I have nothing to do but I could quite easily if only I'd get my bum in gear head into london- and the vast majority of these are cheap or free.
I'm sure I can persuade people to come with me.. maybe..

Anyways, once the weather is looking better I think I could do quite a few of these in one or two days aremed with an all zones travel card and bit of forward planning!
Or maybe just have a few lazy days in the holidays in London.
Either way- I'm going to these:
Come with me!

Matthew Lloyd / Getty

1. A walk on the Southbank.

@jackhunterblair on Instagram

@jeera on Instagram

@jackhenryjames on Instagram

Stroll along the Thames, thumb the used books on sale, watch the skateboarders and pretend you own the city. There are plenty of places to stop to have a bite to eat, as well as loads of bars including the BFI and the National Theatre.

Tube: Waterloo, London Bridge or Southwark

2. Gordon’s Wine Bar.

@everlongart on Instagram

@_janss_ on Instagram

@_janss_ on Instagram

This dark and discreet, bar is perfect for whispering secrets over glasses of delicious wine. The food’s good too, and the location is super easy.

Tube: Charing Cross or Embankment

3. Pedalos in Hyde Park.

@taliaco on Instagram

@alexdealexs on Instagram

@bisho_bisho on Instagram

Skip the row boats and relax with pedal power. The pedalos are hired by the hour, and during the summer there may be a queue. There are few more pleasant ways to spend a hot afternoon than by slowly splashing around a city centre lake.

Tube: Green Park or Hyde Park Corner

4. A drink at Madison.

@herepooch

@lazyrivers on Instagram

@madisonlondon1

This city centre bar is notable for its view of St Paul’s Cathedral. And what a view. Bring your date at sunset and prepare to swoon.

Tube: St Paul’s, Mansion House or Bank

5. The Trocadero.

@andreit10 on Instagram

@fbautiista on Instagram

@rebeccabrittle on Instagram

Hear me out. Sure it’s not glamourous. But what could be more fun than a tenner’s worth of tokens, a bag full of jelly sweets and the chance to win a massive teddy bear for your boo?

Tube: Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square

6. The Shard.

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@barrypilling on Instagram

@gigina08 on Instagram

It’s a little pricey, but the Shard has a massive wow factor. Top tip, to avoid over-crowding, book for the hour before sunset.

Tube: London Bridge

Matthew Lloyd / Getty

7. The Geffrye Museum.

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@mr_londoner on Instagram

@ladyfacejose on Instagram

The best hidden museum in London, the Geffrye lets you wander through houses throughout history. It also has a beautiful walled garden and a great coffee shop. Bliss.

Tube: Hoxton Overground

8. Hackney City Farm.

@carolinabkoster on Instagram

@martagianotti on Instagram

@sweaterspotter

Geese, sheep, goats, donkeys and more. An idyll in East London, with a brilliant coffee shop, and the option to buy fresh eggs to take home.

Tube: Hoxton or Cambridge Heath Overground

9. The Aubin cinema.

@katerynam on Instagram

@davidwchow on Instagram

@orlsbrodie on Instagram

Snuggly and cosy - with blankets and couches, the Aubin is a cinema with a difference. You can also bring in wine and food, making it perfect for a low-key date night.

Tube: Shoreditch High Street Overground

10. A drink at Sager and Wilde.

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@lucysiddall on Instagram

@rachaelnell on Instagram

Sager and Wilde is still quite new, but it knows exactly what it wants. Low-key and quietly sophisticated, they serve perfect grilled cheeses alongside even more perfect wine choices.

Tube: Hoxton or Cambridge Heath Overground

11. Play table football at Bar Kick.

@d4vestory on Instagram

@mikemcm86 on Instagram

@tomaltmann on Instagram

This lively Shoreditch bar serves decent beer, and has enough foozball tables to keep anyone happy. If you’re further north, then Cafe Kick in Angel has a similar vibe.

Tube: Old Street

12. A drink at Evans and Peel Detective Agency.

@postscriptwpt on Instagram

@missapples on Instagram

@avytabby on Instagram

This below the radar bar has a touch of intrigue. You’ll have to assume an identity, and tell nobody. It’s worth it for the mouth-watering Old Fashioned though.

Tube: Earl’s Court

13. The Electric cinema.

@laurariascos on Instagram

@deciedoc on Instagram

@clairemichie82 on Instagram

So super classy, the Electric is a Notting Hill institution. Double-couches, mood lighting, and red velvet everywhere. Ideal.

Tube: Ladbroke Grove

14. Museum Lates.

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@annablaseby on Instagram

@shochdorf on Instagram

Choose your museum - the V&A, the Science Museum or the Natural History Museum. Now stay out after-hours, peering the exhibits, doing crafts, and having a bite to eat and a glass of wine.

Tube: South Kensington

Matthew Lloyd / Getty

15. Have a picnic on Primrose Hill.

@hianastasia on Instagram

@monamuo on Instagram

@henrydmarshall on Instagram

Grab your picnic basket and a rug, and take to the Primrose Hill. When you’re not pointing out the skyline, keep an eye out for local celebrities like Gwen Stefani and Harry Styles.

Tube: Chalk Farm or St John’s Wood

16. Zoo Lates.

@igotsleeves on Instagram

@djironman on Instagram

@shanalot on Instagram

Ever wanted to see what the giraffes got up to after dark? During the summer, London Zoo stays open for adults, with food trucks, dancing and of course, the animals.

Tube: Camden Town

17. King’s Cross and St.Pancras Station.

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@joel_webster on Instagram

@incendiaryblonde on Instagram

A train station? Not just any train station. Follow in Harry Potter’s footsteps at Platform 9 3/4’s, sip on champagne at the bar, and recreate the opening of “Wannabe” at the next door St Pancras Hotel (where the video was filmed). And if you’re feeling flush, the Eurostar is right next to you.

Tube: King’s Cross St Pancras

Matthew Lloyd / Getty

18. Lunch in Brixton Village followed by a Brockwell park walk.

@harryengall on Instagram

@hoponbaby on Instagram

@melvispelvis on Instagram

Nibble your way around Brixton Market (we recommend dumplings at Mama Lan’s and then a burger at Honest Burger) before walking it all off at Brockley Park.

Tube: Brixton

19. Try the maze at Crystal Palace.

@godard_girl on Instagram

@crystalpalacepark on Instagram

@ralphfuller on Instagram

Get lost in the maze at Crystal Palace before going to say hello to the dinosaur sculptures.

Tube Crystal Palace Overground

20. Greenwich Observatory.

@helzyeahh on Instagram

@dadayka on Instagram

@kim_bc on Instagram

Take in the stars and the skyline and stop time (metaphorically) by stepping over the Meridian line. What more could you want?

Tube: Greenwich DLR

21. Up the O2.

@bencerisola on Instagram

@josephraison on Instagram

@5am3t13nn3 on Instagram

Test your head for heights by climbing the side of the O2. Sure it might be scary, but it’s certainly a talking point.

Tube: North Greenwich

Craft workshops

Recently Domestic sluttery posted about craft workshops as a suggestion for things to do in the new year- Most of them look awesome, and this really inspired me to book something and try something new.
http://www.domesticsluttery.com/2014/01/do-something-less-boring-instead-2014s.html

Unfortunately there isn't a whole lot going on in Bedfordshire- or the south east for that matter- so I started out looking for craft courses in london.

Homemade london was my first port -of -call. I really wanted to do their dressmaking day course and handbag making.
http://www.homemadelondon.com/workshops
I was bit gutted though as both courses would have cost £315- don't get me wrong- to learn a news skill thats not too dear really, but it was £115 over my budget (the budget being my combined xmas money of £200).
So, I want away and had a think- and I'm really glad I did- I'd whinged to my mum about how expensive the course was and she messaged me a link to The Makery in Bath.

They run the same dress making workshop for £45.
Sold. that's a saving of £120
So, if you care to join me for a day of dress making- In April- Please do book..
http://www.themakeryonline.co.uk/workshops/sewing-textiles/teens-dressmaking/

I had another look online for courses I'd like to do- and found a course in london which teaches you how to make your own shoes! SHOES! So, I've booked summer sandal making in July for £80 - here is the link if you too would like custom footwear made by your own fair hand:
http://icanmakeshoes.com/courses/

This leaves me with £75  to book another course.
I'm not sure what yet.
I was tempted by knicker making, and the makery but it's tooo sooooon.
I might book perfume making at homemade london. or maybe hold out for a drawing course at bedford college... orrr maybe something else completely.

My other crafty success is that I do surveys for yougov- you get paid £50 every time you reach 5000 points. each survey is worth between 25-50 points so it's slow money- but it's a nice treat- and surveys are really not time consuming.
Some of the surveys only allow you prize draw entries- for every entry you get a "bronze prize"- Every month they send a survey for the prize draw points, so I've now bagged:
* 1 free personal training session
* half price pottery painting
* 1 free family portrait photo

I'm redeeming them next month so I'll let you know how I get on! I think that's a pretty sweet deal for like 5/10 minutes of my time- especially the family portrait!

If you fancy doing surveys here is the sign up link btw- it seems unfair to brag and not show you how to get free goodies too!- surveys are emailed to you but no spammy stuff. :)
https://yougov.co.uk/refer/H0tjX1cxFV1ufh5J5TGO2Q/

Rebecca Sagoo ceramics workshop

We had a pottery workshop in December run by Rebecca Sagoo- She's just started out running her own ceramics parties business.

We made tea light holders with punched out designs- they were deceptively fiddley to make!

They finally came back from being fired this week- We lit them to surprise the girls- they were really pleased!

I was pretty chuffed too!

Look how cool!

It's just a shame we had to set them up indoors- it was waaaayyyyy too freezing cold to set them up outside!

The Shard, The ball's Brother's Restaurant, Fishgoteque, Choccywoccy do dah, Camden, White lion bars and Shebeen

Today Traff and I went to London to use my birthday "Shard and Lunch" voucher- We were so luck with the weather- it was freezing cold but the views were amazing!
We also managed to fit in an incredible amount of other missions.
My feet hurt and my knees are cold- but it was soooo worth it.



We headed into london on the train and got off at London Bridge- It's not an area of london I know very well, And as we were a bit early for Lunch we had an explore.
We went for a look around the Cathedral and Borough market before returning to the Hays galleria for our food (The restaurant was really lovely- they let us come in a bit early as they weren't too busy so we were able to have a really relaxed lunch rather than being in a rush!)

The lunch menu is set but the options are really good- Traff had protabello mushrooms with cheese and garlic on bread to start- I tried some without being asked to and it was delicious!
For mains we both had butternut squash risotto- it was really good- Just the right balance of sweet and peppery.
I had lemon tart for pudding and did not share with Traff.

I also had a cocktail- It was called a "summer cup" and had gin. and lots of fruit. Some of the fruit looked like frog spawn. I assume this to be passion fruit?


After finishing lunch we had just over an hour to spare before our Shard booking- So we went on a mission- to find the fishgoteque fish and chip shop near waterloo station:

Mission completed.

I wanted to go to the Old Operating theatre museum too- it;'s supposed to be interesting in a very gross way, but we didn't have time.
Next time!
Traff didn't look enthusiastic, So maybe I'll need a more intrepid partner for this adventure...


On to the SHARD! I've been so excited about this! I've wanted to go up the shard since they completed building it So to go within the 1st year is pretty good.



It's impressively tall from the ground- but once we were at the top it didn't feel very high up! The views were completely worth the entrance fee. I promise.
I caouldn't get over how far you could see- and how densely populated london is.
It's insane.
We saw so many trans and busses (The trains looked like caterpillars!) and all the cars with their lights on. We managed to spot the olympic stadium, Wembley stadium, St Pauls, The Tower of London and Traff found more major landmarks but I got distracted watching the trains.
And there was a helicopter.
London never stops. not even for a second.


So, All sharded out- and the viewing platform was insanely busy! I think we'll go again when all the hype has died down a bit- it's still a really new attraction and it's popular with tourists and locals alike.
We booked inadvertently for sunset too- which people had waited around to photograph making the platform even more busy than it probably had been an hour before.
It was beautiful.
It really was. Even over the heads of the 4 or 5 deep crowd.
There is no restriction on the length of time you can spend on the viewing platform. Perhaps it would be better to book for the morning, quite early and just stay up there a few hours before it gets really busy and you have to wait about to look at the views.

We headed to Oxford street to meet Amanda- The plan was to meet by Topshop, Go to Choccywoccydodah eat cake then mooch about.
Amanda ended up meeting us late- and by the time we'd found eachother in the chaos of Oxford street and made our way to Choccywoccydodah on Carnaby Street their cafe was closed for the evening. Although their chocolate sculptures are incredible!
I really do want to eat cake there, Maybe on my Operating theatre museum trip.
We tried another coffee shop on Carnaby street but they told us there was a 20 minute wait.

Rather than stand around in the cold we headed to Camden for Record shopping and Street market food.
I love camden street food- Normally I have moroccan but Amanda persuaded me to try "Bang Bang" Chicken, It's deep fried chicken with spices.
It is comfort food.
Especially with noodles and blackbean sauce.
We got to the market about 7:30 so many of the stalls were closing up- This is the food markets "happy hour" and massive trays of food cost £3.
I'm making sure this information sticks in my brain. I need more happy hour camden street food in my life!


We walked up through camden to Kentish Town to get the train home- the last newsagents before you turn right from Camden high street towards Kentish town sells white lion bars.
And  Peanut lion bars.
And polish Kit Kats of all different flavours.
Armed with Sweets for the train we headed on towards the overground station.
When we go there we realised we'd missed our trains by seconds, So we went to SheBeen Speak easy- under the Canteen restaurant (It's directly opposite the overground station).
Amanda had never been there before and was really impressed.
I was impressed because they had a new menu.
Traff was impressed because he got to read "5 go to the seaside" by Enid Blyton.



So a good, Gin soaked day was had by all. Except Traff. Who is now Enid Blytons biggest fan.