What to do in London when it rains

29-06-2016 Local Black Bookbest things to do in London, city guide, London, London guide, rain, things to do in London, travel, what to do in london, what to do in London when it rains1 Comment

? It’s raining, it’s pouring… ?

But it’s no reason to stay in! Even in the rain, London’s quite an exciting city !

(and it’s just as well as it’s not exactly famous for its gorgeous weather anyway…)

So put your (rain) boots on and take a look below for a few ideas of what to do in London when it rains!

1. Invest in a new umbrella

Not only is it a matter of survival (no way this £1 Primark one is not going to survive the wind gusts!), but it’s also the perfect excuse to step back in time and visit London (and the world)’s only store specialising in umbrella retail.

What to do in London when it rains | Buy an umbrella at James Smith & Sons

Founded in 1830, James Smith & Sons offers a wide range of outstanding umbrellas, as well as repair service for them.

What to do in London when it rains: buy an umbrella at James Smith & Sons

A rain-themed Aladdin’s cave of sorts!

2. Go to the pub

The ultimate British fix when something goes wrong.

Your government just made a terribly stupid decision? Go to the pub, that’ll cheer you up!

Your football team got out of a major tournament? Go to the pub.

The weather’s so awful you can’t even…? Go. To. The. Pub.

There’s pints and comfort food, and comfy chairs and you can just hide away from the world for as long as you’d like.

God save the pubs!

There are many great pubs to choose from, but if it’s not too much of a trek, give Radicals & Victuallers a go. They have live sports & board games & mac’n’cheese and are a perfect rain-escape plan!

3. Have afternoon tea

You know what makes everything better? Cake.

And tea, and a couple of hours in a plush chair catching up with your favourite people.

Which is exactly why afternoon tea is perfect for rainy days.

Go to Little Nan’s vintage & funky tea at Sutton House or treat yourself to Cake Boy extraordinaire Eric Lanlard’s version at Palmcourt at the Parklane Hotel, sit down aaaaand relax!

4. Visit the Kew Gardens

Grim weather is one of the most depressing things there is.

But nothing loads of flowers can’t fix.

And there’s only one rain-prooved place for that: the Kew Gardens.

A rainy day is the perfect time to visit, because you’ll have the place almost to yourself and can truly take your time to discover Mother Nature’s most incredible creations!

Flower power!

5. Play the time away at Draughts

Draughts is London’s first board game café and a haven for game lovers.

With a huge library of games – 600 and counting! – as well as food and snacks, a range of local craft beers, ales, ciders, and wines, it’s a brilliant spot to stay dry and have fun!

Check & mate, weather man!

6. Close your eyes and pretend like you’re actually on the French Riviera

This Summer, Le Méridien Piccadilly is bringing Nice to London!

Their Terrace Bar & Grill, has been transformed into an idyllic coastal resort, complete with sun loungers, sun umbrellas, blossoming climbing plants, espadrilles, apéritif and even a pétanque field!

Le Méridien Piccadilly Summer Soirée | Cake + Whisky

Summer vibes regardless of the weather? Count me in! Read more

What’s your favourite thing to do in London when it rains? Any top tips?

10 more things to do in London with your parents

23-04-2016 Local Black Bookcity guide, London, parents, things to do in London, travel, UK, what to do in london3 Comments

Being a good host is such a tough job! You have to thing of everything, plan everything, double-check everything, all while keeping everyone’s interests and preferences in mind.

Luckily sometimes, somebody else (me!) does all the hard work for you and makes the whole thinking-and-planning bit far easier!

I already wrote about some ideas of things to do in London with your parents before, but in my experience, more ideas are always welcome when it comes to organising the best London trip ever for the best parents ever (obvs.).

Since my parents re-visited recently, I thought I’d share what they’ve enjoyed doing this time around!

1. Visit the Kew Gardens

Plants, flowers, trees & carrot cake = perfect ingredients for a blooming lovely day in London!

If your family is anything like mine (a.k.a. 100% obsessed with all tings plants & flowers), a visit to the Kew Gardens will easily be the highlight of their trip!

2. Have a Sunday roast

Sunday Roast is one of England’s most glorious culinary traditions and one that is very family-friendly indeed.

The best roasts are to be found in London’s top gastropubs, my personal favourite being The Smokehouse (just look at these roasties!!)

3. Revisit history at the Tower of London

Tower of London | Cake + Whisky

Castle, fortress, prison, military GQ… The Tower of London has always played a predominant role in the history of London and the UK. With just a few steps, you’ll go from long forgotten past to present, and everything inbetween.

4. See the Changing of the Guards

A well-loved classic and one everyone should see once in their life, so if your family hasn’t witnessed the Changing of the Guards at Buckinham Palace, make sure you put it on the list for their next visit!

5. Have Afternoon or Cream Tea

Tea, cake and good company… Is there any better way to spend some quality time with the ones you love? (pictures from a lovely afternoon tea at Le Méridien Piccadilly)

6. Go to a Farmer’s Market

Cake + Whisky | Borough Market

No matter how impressive you want your parents’ trip to London to be, don’t forget to incorporate some of your own favourites things into your plans so they get a chance to take a peak into your actual, everyday life.

… and since I spend most of my free time at farmers’ markets anyway…

7. See a West End show

London’s theatre scene is second only to New York’s and tickets to a West End show are definitely amongst the best ways to spend the evening (especially since tickets are often not as expensive as one would expect!).

8. Go to a surprising restaurant

Be it because of the views, the settings or the food itself (traditional Japanese udon, spicy Sri Lankan curries, vegetarian delights… your call!), London always has a trick up its sleeves when it comes to food!

9. Take a Thames Boat Tour

Sure, that’s a bit of a tourist-y cliché. But then again, boats are the coolest form of public transports EVER!

10. Show them around your workplace

I know it sounds like a strange idea, but the truth is, your parents just want to know everything they can about you and your life and what you do every day and where you go and who you see. So, well, maybe showing them where you work is a nice, easy lil’ step forward, don’t you think?

What’s your favourite thing to do in London with your parents? Anything I need to add to my list for next time?

Kew Gardens

21-04-2016 Local Black BookDay trip, garden, Kew Gardens, London, nature, parc, travel, UK, what to do in london3 Comments

There’s only one way to do Spring in England.

The minute the sun comes out, you have to rush out and make the most of the weather while it lasts.

Tough life, but eh, I’m not the one making the rules!

One of the very best place to enjoy a spot of Spring sunshine is the Kew Gardens.

Founded in 1840 (!!), its living collections include over 30,000 different kinds of plants.

Kew Gardens | Cake + Whisky

Including tulip fields as far as the eyes can see…

…and a stunning tropical glasshouse.

Complete with palm leaves big enough to double as umbrellas!

Take that, unexpected April showers!

Go up the stairways and you’ll find yourself at the top of the floral world.

A view from above is always a good idea before going back down & explore every tiny detail of Kew’s fantastic collections.

Delicate flower bunches…

…leaves in every shade of green…

… some truly bizarre plants…

… and some just plain beautiful!

Take advantage of a ray of sunshine to hop to the Waterlily house.

A small but perfectly formed glasshouse, home to some of Kew Gardens most beautiful specimens.

Including these beauties, and many, many more!

If the weather forecast is fine, take a stroll around the park to see Kew’s gardeners’ incredible flower arrangements.

… or just let your inner dog run wild after the park’s wildlife!

Kew Gardens | Cake + Whisky

The Princess of Wales Conservatory is another must do on a visit to the Kew Gardens.

Kew Gardens | Cake + Whisky

Recreating ten climatic zones under one roof, it’s home to some of Kew’s most vibrant specimens.

Kew Gardens | Cake + Whisky

There are flowers every colour of the rainbow.

Kew Gardens | Cake + Whisky

Delicate tiny blossoms live side by side with gigantic ones (such as this impressive Amorphophallus titanum, who only bloom once every couple of years and is said to smell rather horrible).

Kew Gardens | Cake + Whisky

And then there are the always fascinating carnivorous plants…

Kew Gardens | Cake + Whisky

Newt time you’re nearby, go! I’m sure will find it absolutely succulent!

Just make sure you make a pit stop at The Orangerie on the way.

Kew Gardens | Cake + Whisky

With floor to ceiling windows, white wood, loads of evergreens and the moistest of carrot cake, the place is an Instagramers’ dream come true.

… but then the blossoming magnolia trees aren’t doing half bad at that either!

Kew Gardens | Cake + Whisky

A truly unbe-leaf-able place!

So many beautiful plants I didn’t want to leaf!

Find more info (and book tickets) here

Lumiere London 2016

18-01-2016 Local Black Bookart, arts, London, Lumiere London, pop-up, what to do in london1 Comment

Last weekend, Londoners and visitors were invited to see the city in a new light with Lumiere London, the biggest-ever light festival to hit the capital.

Produced by Artichoke and supported by the Mayor of London, a host of international artists illuminated four of London’s most iconic areas: King’s Cross, Mayfair, Piccadilly and Westminster, creating opportunities to see iconic architecture transformed with 3D projections, interactive installations and other extraordinary light works.

There was so much to see we didn’t managed to cover it all, but what we did see was so gorgeous I couldn’t resist sharing a few pictures.

IFO (Identified Flying Object) by Jacques Rival

This giant, neon-lit birdcage has been a KX feature for a while, to the delight of art enthousiastic and kids-at-heart (there’s a swing in the cage’s centre!).

Joining the Dots by Cleary Connolly clever video installation inspired by the work of psychophysicist Gunnar Johansson on how the mind can perceive the human body.

Very much in tune with its environment, using the newly-opened German Gym as its backdrop!

Dresses by Tae Gon Kim

Beautiful, shimmering dresses frozen in London shop windows. One of my favourite pieces.

Circus of Life by Ocubo

Featuring acrobats, jugglers, dancers and performers, as well as the faces of some of the people who live, work, or play in King’s Cross.

Which, judging by the crowds, seemed to have made it a popular piece.

Or maybe we were just all there for the tea…

I Haven’t Changed My Mind in a Thousand Years by Beth J Ross

Bringing the wisdom of the past to the present.

A welcome bit of a modern clash with the very fancy Piccadilly Arcade (where change of heart over a Rollex or a diamond necklace happen far too often!)

Les Voyageurs by Cédric Le Borgne

Sitting on rooftops, frozen mid-air in flight, they invite you to glance up and around, offering the possibility of connection between dream and reality.

It sure got me dreaming of flying away to Neverland ( and I might also have sung a little bit…)

You can fly, you can fly, you can flyyyyyyyyyy!!

195 Piccadilly by NOVAK

From the home of the Royal Society of Watercolour Paintings to that of the prestigious BAFTA nowadays, the stunning building at 195 Piccadilly is a fascinating piece of London’s architectural history.

Even more so when arts manages to combine past and present and explore the different genres of cinema and television.

Luminéoles by Porté par le vent

Lumiere London 2016 | Cake + Whisky

Brightly coloured “dancing” fish, floating and swooping through the air. Simply beautiful.

Shaida Walking. 2015 by Julian Opie

Yet one more art piece projecting Carnaby at the front of London’s street art scene.

And last but not least…

1.8 London by Janet Echelman / Studio Echelman

Strung between buildings at Oxford Circus, this enormous net sculpture is named after onf of the astonishing impacts of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

Such was the strength of the vibrations that the earthquake momentarily sped up the earth’s rotation and shortened that day by 1.8 microseconds.

Using data from NASA, Studio Echelman turned this phenomenon into this wonderful interactive piece of art.

Proof is you ever needed one of how beautiful science is.

And a truly brilliant way to start 2016 indeed!

Kensington stroll and night at the BBC Proms

13-08-2015 Local Black BookBBC Proms, cheap, concert, event, exploring London, Kensington, London, music, must-do, orchestra, Royal Albert Hall, South Kensington, things to do in London, what to do in londonLeave a comment

It’s Proms season!

Actually, it’s been for quite a while, but I hadn’t managed to make my way to the fanciest of all music festivals.

Or so it was until yesterday, when I left work early and Uber-ed my way to South Kensington for an evening of classical music at the Royal Albert Hall.
Continue reading “Kensington stroll and night at the BBC Proms” →

Kensington stroll and night at the BBC Proms

13-08-201513-08-2015 Local Black BookBBC Proms, cheap, concert, event, exploring London, Kensington, London, music, must-do, orchestra, Royal Albert Hall, South Kensington, things to do in London, what to do in londonLeave a comment

It’s Proms season!

Actually, it’s been for quite a while, but I hadn’t managed to make my way to the fanciest of all music festivals.

Or so it was until yesterday, when I left work early and Uber-ed my way to South Kensington for an evening of classical music at the Royal Albert Hall.

Founded in 1895, The Proms is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts held annually in the Royal Albert Hall.

Often described as “the world’s largest and most democratic musical festival”, it’s a very civilised affair indeed; no mud or camping here; it’s all about the Champagne and classical music.
And to some extend, the queues… But well, when the best tickets in the house are only £5, I suppose it’s only fair game.

Having picked up a couple of raffle tickets, we left the Royal Albert Hall behind and raced off towards South Kensington to pick up a few bits for a little pre-concert improvised picnic. After contemplating our many options for a quite a while (and deciding that a pudding-only meal wouldn’t be reasonable despite how delicious everything in La Patisserie des Rêves‘ window looked), we settled for an old favourite: Comptoir Libanais. We picked up enough baba ganoush to feed a small army (and a few baklawas too, I simply couldn’t resist that amazing window display) and carried our feast back to the Royal Albert Hall. Soon after we returned, we were led into the Royal Albert Hall.
From then on, my jaw didn’t stop hitting the floor for the entire evening.

The architecture, the music, the company… Everything was perfect and made for one of the best nights I could ever have wished for.

For obvious reasons, I didn’t take pictures of the concert so I’m afraid you’ll have to go check it out for yourself some time soon!

Have you ever been to the BBC Proms?

10 things to do in London with your parents

01-05-201530-04-2015 Local Black Bookbest of london, Borough Market, Covent Garden, London, London parks, Monument, must-do, must-see, parents, parks, South bank, top 10, tourist, Tower Bridge, what to do in london4 Comments

My parents are visiting next week. Which would be all good and exciting and everything if my dad didn’t happen to not be the biggest fan of big cities (this sentence is quite an understatement of his actual feelings towards them) and wasn’t sacred of “being bored” (his words).

So obviously, I started compiling lists (yes, plural!) of things for them to do when they’re here (boredom doesn’t stand a chance against my list-addict superpowers!!). Here are my top 10 must-do!

1- Walk along South Bank … It’s been proven that it is impossible to get bored of these views!

2- Notting Hill It simply would be rude to ignore pretty pastel houses.

3- ALL THE PARKS! Are we actually in the middle of one of the biggest cities in Europe? Yes? Really? (Also, deers. If that doesn’t win my dad over, I don’t know what will.)

4- Borough Market Markets in France are very different from what we get here in London (mostly produce-focused vs mostly street-food focused) and the Borough Market miraculously manage to mix both concepts perfectly. Plus litterally ALL THE FOOD!

5- Climb the Monument Best view at the best price (+ extra exercise!)

6- Walk around Covent Garden It’s just so pretty. Also, there are pies. And tea. Which is basically my idea of heaven.

7- Take a peak of the best museums My favourites include The Tower of London, the V&A and the Museum of London.

8- Have a pub dinner. (pictures from last week’s very succesful dinner at The Pig & Butcher. Really good food inc. *THAT* Brulée Rice Pudding.)A great way to prove that British food can be very (VERY) good indeed and make your mum stop sending absurd care packages (my own mum has gotten better lately though, she doesn’t send pasta anymore!).

9- Teatime!

10- And most importantly, catching up on everything and spend time together!And if this happens to be over a few rounds of cocktails or some cake, well, what can I do about it?

What do you like to do in London with visitors? Anyhting I should add to my list?

#FiftyChefs: The Hands that feed London | Photography | Shoreditch

13-04-2015 Local Black Bookart, exibition, Katie Wilson, London, photography, what to do in london4 Comments

“I grew up in a family where food was very very important. It was never just fuel. Food is social. It’s an import moment in the day where you should get together with friends, family or someone else.” says Michel Roux Jr on the introductory picture of Fifty Chefs: The Hands That feed London.

From that moment on, I knew I’d love it. 50 or so chefs, facing the objective of the talented Katie Wilson, revealing how they came to cooking and showing how a lifetime behind the pots and pans has changed them. Showing their scars, reminding us that despite it looking like a very glamourous choice of carreer, life in a kitchen is tough, loud, tiring. But in the honest eyes and the tired smiles, each one of them still shows that cooking is their life and no matter how hard, they wouldn’t exchange it for the world.

Some of the UK’s top chefs and some not-so-well-known, yet still top-knotch restauranteurs.I especially liked reading about Nuno Mendes‘ (of the Chiltern Firehouse fame) tatoos (and how they remind him where he comes from and went through).
Also very touching where those stories about those places which became some of London’s top dining spots almost by accident. Because the people who created them worked hard, day and night, and cared about the quality of the food and the service they were providing to their customers.So many hands, so many faces, so many stories making up London’s exciting, incredibly diverse food scene.My favourite of the pictures was probably that of Bread Ahead‘s Justin Gellatly, which reminded me of my dad’s (who started working as a pastry chef when he was 15). I guess when it comes to food, we never really forget what we grew up with…From Shoreditch, with love! ❤

Brick Lane’s Beigel Bake | Salt beef or smoked salmon? | London

23-03-201518-03-2015 Local Black Bookbagel, beigel, Brick Lane Beigel Bake, cheap eat london, cheap london, food, London, London lunch, London restaurant, London's best sandwiches, Restaurant, restaurant review, Restaurants, what to do in london, where to eat in londonLeave a comment

Beigel Bake on Brick Lane is a London institution that’s been around for as long as I can remember. It’s open 24/7 and there is always, ALWAYS a line. Not really surprising considering the value for money those guys offer!

It’s all made on site (watching the bakers make the bagels will keep you busy while you queue!), very generous (I swear there was half a pack of cream cheese in my bagel!), and stupidly cheap too!

It might look a bit dodgy, but do not run away!
Decisions, decisions… (I wanted everything!)
That time I manage to click a perfectly non-blurry picture… of the brown paper bag! #failThe smoked salmon + cream cheese: fresh, slightly sour cream cheese and the most melty salmon; a real beauty! And look at the bagel dough! Very springy, but still soft and pillowy…
But the kind of all bagels is without a doubt Beigel Bake’s Salt Beef! Generous chunk of meat, just teased by the spicy taste of American mustard… it doesn’t get much better!And a picture of Shoreditch, just because!

What: Beigels in all their glorious forms. But it would be a mistale not to get the -massive- salt beef. Or the -ridiculously indulgent- smoked salmon with cream cheese!

Tip: When you’re there, you might as well grab 6 plain bagels to put in your freezer and use for emergency breakfast/brunch/lunch/dinner… You know what I mean!

How much: Ridiculously cheap: plain beigels are £0.30 a pop; smoked salmon + cream cheese will set you back 1.60 and London’s best salt beef beigels are a bit over £3.

Where: Brick Lane Beigel Bake, 159 Brick Lane, London E1 6SB

Cake for breakfast at Lang, Shangri-La, The Shard

04-03-201505-03-2015 Local Black Bookcake, deli, Lang, London, London restaurant, Shangri La, The Shard, what to do in london, where to eat in london7 Comments

I don’t think there’s anything that could make me more happy than having cake for breakfast. So just try to imagine how I was feeling on my way to a breakfast meeting at Lang at Shangri-La, which specialises in cakes… A very good reason to cross town early in the morning if you ask me!

Pass the doors, you’ll be greeted not only by the lovely staff (and if you’re as lucky as I am, by an adorable food blogger, just as excited as you are at the perspective of cake!), but also by those drool-inducing croissants on the counter. Luckily, I managed to part with all the viennoiseries. Partly thanks to this impressive art piece, made entirely of coffee cups and saucers. I don’t know what it is with me, but I just can’t resist accumulations of loads of similar objects.However, we weren’t here for the art! Luckily, while we settled at our table, the staff was bringing out the goodies! Including pastel macaroons of every shade… which I just narrowly prevented myself from ordering!We ordered some tea and chatted away, waiting for the cakes to be put inside the display window (we were so early they weren’t available yet!).And suddently, here they were. Rows after rows of glorious, jewel-like creations. We did the only appropriate thing: went to the counter, admiring each detail, oh-ing and ah-ing and getting a bit snap-happy… After a first -long- look, I still couldn’t decide (I did narrow it down to 3 contenders though!).To be completely honest, I still wasn’t sure what I’d be having until the very last minute, when the waitress turned to me and ask me the dreaded “And what would you be having Madame?” question. However, my date seemed very sure of her choice. She went for the Yuzu Cheesecake (Baked & whipped cheesecake, yuzu sponge, salted biscuit and orange compote). Seing the shiny orange icing and the layers of airy cheesecake, I started second-guessing my own choice… But I really shouldn’t have! Look at this beauty! I got for the Rou Nen, which name is just as mysterious as its appearance! But my brain has been screaming for Spring to FINALLY arrive for the last two weeks, so I just couldn’t resist the cherry blossom-inspired chocolate piece! Once I managed to convince myself to destroy this piece of art (isn’t it always heartbreaking?), I finally discovered what was hidden under the spotless white dome (White chocolate coconut mousse, mango, citrus madeleine and sesame seed croustillant). Far too quickly, it was all gone. That’s the problem when cakes are light as a feather and absolutely delicious. You eat them without even realizing it. And then you start wondering if you should get this yuzu macaroon that’s being in the back of your mind for all this time…