London October Half-Term

      ,   No comments
October 25 - November 4

It seems like the kids just started school and it is already time for a break.  Four family-friendly outings worth checking out over October Half-Term:

Design Museum : The World of Tim Burton — Catch the last stop of a decade-long touring exhibition featuring paintings, photos, sculptural installations, sketchbooks and storyboards from the filmmaker who brought Batman, Beetlejuice, Edwards Scissorhands and The Nightmare before Christmas to life October 25 - April 21, 2025.
£19.69 / adult or £9.85 / children (ages 6-15)
www.designmuseum.org ✆ +44 2038 625937
224-238 Kensington High St, London W86AG
Kew Gardens : Halloween Trail — New spooky light trail open from dusk until dark October 18 - 25 6 pm - 10 pm, October 27 - November 3 4 pm - 10 pm.
Starting at £15 / adult (member) or £17 / non-members
www.kew.org ✆ +44 2083 325655
Kew, Richmond TW9 3AE

Natural History Museum : Wildlife Photographer the Year — 60th anniversary photography exhibition features some of the world's best wildlife photographs taken by professional and amateur photographers October 11 - June 29, 2025.
Starting at £15 / adult (member), £9,25 / child (age 4-16), includes free museum admission
www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy ✆ +44 2079 425000
Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD 

Southbank Centre : The Elmer Adventure — 55 minute musical adaptation of David McKee's Elmer books suitable for ages 3+, October 30 - November 3.
£16
www.southbankcentre.co.uk ✆ +44 2038 799555
Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX

Even if you miss out on these, keep these venues in mind for family-friendly programming throughout the year!

London Cocktail Week

      ,   No comments
October 3 - 13

London Cocktail Week is an 11 day festival that features Signature Cocktails at some of the best bars in London. A £20 wristband entitles you to £8 (£6 non-alcoholic) drinks at 200+ venues. The festival also includes lunch and dinner pairings, masterclasses, parties, tastings, and more.

Some highlights include:

Balthazar(Covent Garden) — French-inspired bar will offer a Raspberry and Champagne Martini (Tanqueray Red gin, cacao blanc liqueur, raspberry liqueur, Champagne cordial).

Brasserie Zédel (West End) — Enjoy either Notorious (Vodka, Giffard Creme de Cacao liqueur, Oloroso sherry, Chamord, clarified milk) or The Thin Man (Tanqueray London Dry gin, passion fruit liqueur, lemon, sage)

Hutong (Southwark) — Shanghai Bar will serve up a Silk Road Martini (Aniseed-infused vodka, peated whisky, dry vermouth, rosemary garnish).

London Marriott Hotel (Grosvenor Square) — The Luggage Room will feature three choices: Riposa (Olmeca Altos reposado tequila, bitter aperitif, grapefruit soda, lime, egg white, cream), Oaxacan Up (Del Maguey Vida Puebla mezcal, Italicus Rosolio Bergamot liqueur, clarified lime cordial) and even a non-alcoholic option Naperol Sprtiz (Non-alcoholic bitters, orange, grapefruit, peach soda).

OXO Tower (Southbank) — Pop into this riverside bar for views and choice of three drinks: Kumor (Nikka Coffey vodka, Lillet blanc, lychee puree, yuzu citrus seasoning, orange bitters, orange syrup), Kiiro (Nikka Coffey Grain whiskey, chocolate bitters, Italicus liqueur, earl grey syrup, yuzu citrus seasoning, and a non-alcoholic Seeds of Change (Guava juice, crushed raspberries, lime juice, pomegranate syrup).  They will also offer a Nikka Whisky Experience for £25 (Flight of three whiskys accompanied by a a spiced pork belly bao bun).

Sea Containers Hotel (Southbank) — 12th Knot located on the top floor of Sea Containers hotel will offer a Lychee Cosmo (Grey Goose vodka, triple sec, lime, cranberry juice, lychee) and a non-alcoholic Jappy Colada (Citrus botanical spirit, orgeat, chamomile, lime, fresh pineapple, elderflower, vanilla, coconut cream, coconut water).

sketch (Soho) — Stop in at this stylish bar for A Punch as a Treat  (Dark rum, 12 yo rum, Chambord, lemon juice, lime juice, raspberries, vanilla yoghurt, sugar syrup) and a non-alcoholic They Demystify (Clarified pineapple juice, pistachio syrup, citric acid solution, topped with ginger bear).

St Pancras Renaissance Hotel (Kings Cross) — 1869 located in the iconic St Pancras Hotel, 1869 will offer Midnight Ritual (Buffalo Trace bourbon, Gonzalez Byass amontillado sherry, activated charcoal, bitters, Demerara sugar, applewood smoke), Pink Lady (Respirited vodka, grapefruit sherbet, rose syrup, lime and pineapple juice) and a non-alcoholic Unclover Club (Grapefruit sherbet, pineapple juice, cherry syrup, citric solution).

Whether you are looking for a stylish bar with great architecture, food and/or views, there is something for everyone during London Cocktail Week and beyond!

www.londoncocktailweek.com

International Chocolate Day

      , , , ,   No comments
September 13

Chocolate made its debut in Mesoamerica, present-day Mexico in 450 B.C. Today, there are endless varieties found around the world. With the combination of higher cocoa content and quality ingredients, UK chocolate tends to be richer and smoother.

International Chocolate Day September 13th is the perfect excuse to try 7 of the best in London and Surrey:

 Bachmanns Patisserie and Chocolate Creations —Handmade award-winning chocolate by leading chocolatier, Ernst Bachmann, using Felchlin Grand Cru chocolate from Switzerland based in Weybridge.

Charbonnel et Walker — Founded in 1875, this Royal Warrant holder is one Britain's first and finest chocolatiers.
Dark Sugars — Using West African cocoa, Dark Sugars began trading in Borough and Spitalfields markets in 1997 and established its first brick and mortar store on Brick Lane in 2013.
 www.darksugars.co.uk

Hotel Chocolat — Before Amazon and eBay, Hotel Chocolat began selling chocolates on-line in 1993. The first store opened in 2004 and today there are 126 stores.
 www.hotelchocolat.com
Monty Bo Jangles — Chocolatier famous for their cocoa dusted truffles and winner of 48 Great Taste Awards.
Prestat — Founded in 1902 by Antoine Dufour, inventor of Prestat's famous chocolate truffle - chocolatier to Queen Elizabeth II and Roald Dahl’s favorite shop.
 www.prestat.com
 
William Curley — William Curley is a Scottish chocolatier and winner of the Academy of Chocolate's Britain's Best Chocolatier Award four times.
www.williamcurley.co.uk 

Since chocolate doesn't just taste good, but it is good for you too — there is really no reason to wait to indulge!

Kids Week Theatre Eats

      , , , ,   No comments
There is still time to take advantage of Kids Week promotion that runs until September 6th where kids 17 and under go free with a full price paid adult ticket (plus half-price tickets for two additional children).

Family-friendly places to eat close by:

Guys & Dolls (Ages 12+) — The auditorium with wraparound seating is transformed to the streets of Manhattan and bars of Havana. In addition to traditional seating, 'standing' immersive tickets where audience members can be part of the action are available for purchase as well.
Adult + Child from £39.50

Ivy Tower Bridge — Just a minute walk away, Ivy Tower
Bridge is the perfect place to get a bite to eat before the show.  They are currently featuring a special two course menu for £19.17 (Monday - Wednesday 11:30 am - 3 pm and Thursday - Friday 11:30 am - 6:30 pm).  Request the corner table on the patio for the best view of Tower Bridge.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Ages 8+) — While North American productions have been reduced to a single play, London will maintain the original two-part format of the most awarded play in history.
 From £30 / part
www.uk.harrypottertheplay.com ✆ +44 3303 334410
Palace Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 5AY
Tip : Friday Forty — Every Friday 40 tickets are released for every performance the following week for £40 (£20 per part).  The TodayTix lottery closes at 1 pm on Friday and winners are notified by 5 pm. www.todaytix.com

Inamo - Soho — To create a bit of your own magic, book a 5 pm afternoon tea at Inamo - Soho (a 7 min walk from the theatre) between the two parts. Considered London's only interactive restaurant guests control their dining experience, the digital projections on your table surface can be changed with a swipe of a finger, including selecting a tablecloth, ordering, watching the chefs and playing retro games.
 From £19.95 / person
www.inamo-restaurant.com/promos/afternoontea ✆ +44 2078 517051
134-136 Wardour St, London W1F 8ZP

Les Miserables (Ages 13+) — It is the longest running London musical and has been translated into 22 languages and shown in 53 countries. Initially, there were plans for it to be a full-scale opera — luckily this didn't happen.
From £40.50
www.tigerstealive.com ✆ +44 2079 308800
18 Suffolk Street, London SW1Y 4HT
Balthazar — Located in Covent Garden, Balthazar is nearly identical to its original New York location. Their taste of Paris lunch and pre-theatre set menu Join us for a taste of Paris with our delectable Prix Fixe menu, available from £24.50 from Monday to Friday – 11am – 7pm.
www.balthazarlondon.com ✆ +44 2033 011155
4-6 Russell Street, London WC2B 5HZ 

The Tiger Who Came to Tea (Ages 3+) — In its 15th year, this show is an adaptation of the classic picture book by Judith Kerr.  With a running time of only 55 minutes, this Olivier Award nominated production is a perfect introduction to the theatre.
Adult + Child from £19.50
www.tigerstealive.com ✆ +44 2079 308800
18 Suffolk Street, London SW1Y 4HT
Cafe in the Crypt — Across the street from Trafalgar Square is St. Martin’s in the Fields Café located 7 minute walk from the Theatre Royal Haymarket. This 18th century building with its brick-vaulted ceilings is a great place to escape the stream of tourists. They offer a basic afternoon tea minus the fancy cake stand. They also have a good and inexpensive ‘cafeteria’ style lunch.
 www.cafe-in-the-crypt ✆ +44 2077 661158
Duecannon Street, London WC2N 4JF

These combinations are worth trying beyond Kids Week!

Wimbledon Walk

      , ,   No comments

The Wimbledon Championships is the oldest and considered the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. Wimbledon is the sixth smallest London borough and is home to 200,000 residents — except for two weeks a year when it hosts over 500,000 additional tournament attendees.

The event transforms postcode SW19 from the moment you arrive at Wimbledon Station and throughout Wimbledon Village.  This year's tag line 'Always like never before' was on prominent display. 

In case you missed it, here is a sampling of stops to make, including this year's standout shops.
Walk 2 minutes
Elys — Established in 1876, Wimbledon's first department store is well-stocked with an array of tennis and Wimbledon themed items. The restaurant also offers a well-priced Afternoon Tea (sandwiches, fresh baked mini scones with clotted cream and jam, trio of mini desserts and pot of tea) starting at 2 pm for £13.




Well before the tournament and for a time afterwards, the businesses in Wimbledon Village feature creative tennis-themed displays. Each year it gets better and better and it is worth skipping the black cab queue and walking up the hill to Wimbledon Village.

Walk 13 minutes 
From restaurants and pubs to charity shops and specialty businesses, all cleverly decorate their store fronts.
Plan ahead for Wimbledon 2025 Signup for the public ballot here and be the first to know when tickets go on sale in September for for June 30 - July 13, 2025 Championships.

There is also an option to queue the day of, 4 Top Tips can be found here.

And of course, if the tickets or rain affects your plans you can always soak up the spirit of the Championships with a walk!

London’s Highest Free View

      No comments
Horizon 22


Opened August 2023, offers Horizon 22 London's highest panoramic views (833 feet compared to 800 foot views found at The Shard) — best of all it is completely FREE.

Located at 22 Bishopsgate, you will travel 26 feet per second up 58 floors of London's second tallest building. The viewing gallery offers 300° photo opps of some of London's most iconic buildings and views of: 
  • Reservoirs and Walthamstow (North) 
  • Croydon and the Downs (South) 
  • Wembley (West) 
  • Canary Wharf (East)
Tickets are released at 10 am 60 days in advance and can be booked on their website. Daily release may include earlier dates if there have been cancellations. You can also 'walk up' on the day and scan a QR code to see availability (the earlier the better since slots go quickly).

While you are in the area . . .

If you need a quick bite or find yourself with extra time before or after your visit, there is an Amazon Fresh market (one of 14 stores in London) located a 4 min walk away at 20 Gracechurch Street.

(Unlike traditional stores, Amazon’s Just Walk Out Technology automatically tracks the products you've taken (or returned) and charges your card accordingly and the receipt is sent to your Amazon account.

For other free views, see Free Rooftop Views.  

Indeed, sometimes the best things in life are free!


Hampton Court Riverside Tea

      , , ,   No comments
and much more . . .

The heatwave has made way for some warmer temperatures and sunshine in the forecast — a perfect reason to visit Hampton Court Palace in East Molesey.

Despite being one of Henry VIII’s favorite residencies and one of the filming locations for Bridgerton, the number of annual visitors to Hampton Court Palace (500,000) is relatively low compared to other tourist attractions such as Tower of London (2.9 million) and Westminster Abbey (2 million).

It is also home to the world’s largest annual flower show, the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, that runs until July 7th.

Close by, the small village of East Molesey boasts quite a few antique shops, boutiques, independent stores and restaurants, including two options for a riverside afternoon tea:


Miss Polly Riverside Cafe (23 min walk) — Located on the
grounds of the Historic East Molesey Cricket Club, Ms. Polly Riverside Cafe serves a generous portioned, affordable afternoon tea (selection of finger sandwiches, mini sausage rolls, variety of vegetarian & non vegetarian quiches, selection of cakes and a pot of tea / cup of coffee per person) with a choice of riverside or cricket pitch seating. It is a good option for a kid-dog friendly casual tea when the weather is nice and it is possible to sit outside. 
£21 / person (3 person minimum)

The Mitre (8 min walk) — This boutique hotel is located on the banks of the River Thames next to Hampton Court Palace. Their 1665 Brasserie offers a cream tea (plain & fruity scones, clotted cream, homemade jam, tea or coffee) or full afternoon tea (assortment of sandwiches and sweets, scones, clotted cream, homemade jam, tea or coffee)
Mitre Cream Tea £13 and Mitre Afternoon Tea £40
Take advantage of the good weather while you can!