The pop-up has been one of the cultural and economic successes of recent years. Whether that be the pop-up shop, gallery or restaurant the idea of using what was underused or vacant for something new and exciting seems to have worked. It cuts down on the outgoing costs and, if you do it right, can create it owns buzz of excitement. Which is exactly what The Seagrass is doing right now.

Housed is the still-operating 19th century Manze pie and mash shop on Chapel Market in Islington, The Seagrass is using the fantastic decor (original tiles, wooden pews and marble counter) of what would be a closed evening space to create a fantastic ‘new’ restaurant.

Three courses for £ 30 (cash only payment) and it isn’t licensed, so it is a BYOB (normally the mongrel of the restaurant world) but that just means you save money on the wine and can be guaranteed to be drinking something you enjoy. 

I had the lobster and crab bisque, the sea bass fillets and the chocolate brownie. All were excellent, although I think I should have had the roast duck starter judging from the comments around my table!

As with all pop-ups it is hard to tell how long The Seagrass will stay at this venue, but judging from how many smiling faces were tucking into the food last night, I think it will be here for a while. Let’s hope so. 

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The Seagrass | Restaurants (British) | Three courses £ 30
74 Chapel Market N1 9ER | North-East | +447902015200
Thu – Sat 19:00 – 23:30

For me, spring in London is when it’s at its best – the city has woken from its winter cocoon and the excitement of long nights, picnics in the park and a continuous stream of festivals generates an infectious buzz in the city. Therefore, with the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympics set to take centre stage – so will your social life – regardless whether you like the royals or have even seen the Olympics.

To kick-start the celebrations off, the historic Andaz Hotel, next to Liverpool Street station, is running a series of Jubilee Afternoon Tea ceremonies in the exquisite 1901 restaurant until June. Themes include, the Brandy Man and the Empress of India, and pay homage to the Queens of England – and their most famous legacies.

March is dedicated is to Queen Elizabeth I, and aptly named ‘The Virgin Queen’- as she never married. Expect miniature hamburgers and hotdogs, chocolate brownies and peanut brittle to celebrate her American connections, mixed with a quintessential favourite – cream and jam fresh scones. Ensure you save enough room for the cocktail, made with Appleton Estate Rum, mandarin and passion fruit purée, ginger beer – possibly the best I’ve ever had.

If the American theme doesn’t float your monarchist boat, the next few months will have Austrian, Indian and traditional British themes.

To help you feel even more royal, each guest will also go in the draw to win a pair of diamond stud earrings!  God Save the Queen indeed!

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Andaz Hotel | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Sandwiches) | Jubilee Afternoon Tea £ 45
40 Liverpool Street, EC2M 7QN | East
Mon – Sat High Tea 15:00 – 16:30

This once derelict house was bought by the Late American artist, Dennis Severs. Severs had been inspired by ‘Olde England’, so he renovated the house to reflect the 18th and 19th centuries. Eager to share his passionate creation with the public, Severs opened his house up to visitors.

With no signage outside, the house looks like any other Victorian townhouse. Although once inside, it’s quite a different story, as I felt I had entered a time capsule and had been ejected out somewhere between the 18th and 19th centuries.

Spread out on four floors, each of the ten rooms tells a different story. Props such as the remains of half eaten toast and cups of tea make the visitor feel as if someone just left the room. While the more permanent structures, such as the uneven floors, low beamed ceilings, antique furnishings and the smell of gas from the fire places lingering through the air allows the visitor to visualize and smell yester-year. The flickering of candles leave you feeling as if your presence is being observed by the occupants of the house, which of course are only as vivid as your imagination will allow.

Since Severs death in 1999, funding to keep the house open has been limited, therefore Severs intricate interpretation of centuries gone by can only be kept alive for as long as people continue to visit this special little place.

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The Dennis Severs House | Art & culture | Entry from £ 7
18 Folgate Street | East | +442072474013
1st & 3rd Sun 12:00 – 16:00, following Mon 12:00 – 14:00

Stanfords travel book shop first opened its doors in 1901 and has since seen its fair share of customers, ranging from classic authors to modern day travel writers such as Bill Bryson and Michael Palin.

Centrally located between Covent Garden and Leicester Square, Stanfords is three stories high and is stocked entirely with guide books, maps, travel literature and accessories. Therefore, for any lover of travel and escapism, a visit to Stanfords is an idyllic way to spend a rainy afternoon and plan your next holiday.

Stanfords has an impressive selection of guide books covering every corner of the globe and detailed road maps to assist even the most adventurous traveller plan their next trip. Scattered among the books and maps are travel journals, colourful travel photography books and old fashioned world globes – making Stanfords a great place for a unique present.

And for those unable to travel, yet forever dream of a sejourn in exotic and far away places – travel literature lines the century old walls, allowing your imagination to be transported across the globe. Understandably, Stanfords is my favourite bookshop in London!

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Stanfords | Relaxing, Shopping
12 -14 Long Acre, WC2E 9LP | Central | +442078361321
Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri 09:00 – 20:00, Tue 09.30 – 20:00, Sat 10:00 – 20:00, Sun 12:00 – 18:00

Located south east of central London and perched on the Thames is Greenwich, a village like area of London which is rich in British maritime history. While Greenwich is known for its markets and the meridian line, evidence of its maritime history can be seen everywhere you look.

Come the weekend, Greenwich is flooded with Londoners and tourists alike, so at some point refuge and a glass of wine is needed. And to offer you that protection is the Trafalgar pub, which is tucked away along the river and located on the Greenwich Maritime World Heritage Site.

Built in 1837, The Trafalgar, is bursting with history and use to be one of Charles Dickens’ favourite watering holes. And despite being over 170 years old, it has maintained its Victorian charm; wooden floors, cosy fire places and large bay windows facing out onto the river – making it a perfect hiding place on a dark and cold London winter’s day.

The Trafalgar also has a small but charming restaurant and the main pub serves up all the usual favourites including their specialty – fish and chips.

So next time you’re in Greenwich be sure you stop off at the Trafalgar to really get a feel of Greenwich’s past.

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The Trafalgar | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (English) | Mains £ 13.00
Park Row | South-East | +442088582909
Mon – Thu 12:00 – 23:00, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 00:00, Sun 12:00 – 22:30

One of the best ways to spend an afternoon on a cold London day is tucked away in an old pub. And for some true old London charm go to the George Inn in Borough. This pub was rebuilt in 1676 after a fire swept through it, however despite it not being the original building, ye old London is still very present in this beautiful old Inn.

The George Inn was once a coaching terminus, and it’s rumoured that Charles Dickens used to frequent the middle bar which was previously a coffee shop. So you don’t get much more ‘olde England’ than this little place.

Hidden down in one of the many alleyways in Borough, the George welcomes you with a huge cobble stoned courtyard area which is always full of punters during summer. Once inside you are greeted by the low beamed ceilings and cosy little rooms, complimented by dimmed lighting. The only downside is that seating is limited inside and it can get very crowded, so best to get in early.

The George also makes its own Ale, George’s Ale, and has a range of other beers and alcohol to send you on your merry way. The restaurant serves up the usual pub favourites – which could be better – however the pub is a historic little gem, certainly worth the visit.

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The George Inn | Bars, Restaurants (Pub)
77 Borough High Street | Central | +442074072056
Mon – Sat 11:00 – 23:00, Sun 12:00 – 22:30

Located just up the road from the debauchery that is Camden, lies Primrose Hill – a quaint village like area that is known for its celebrity residents and some of the best views of London.

The most picturesque way to get there is by walking along the canal from Camden, where you’ll pass houseboats and buskers before popping out at the Primrose Hill exit. The streets are lined with beautiful mansions and perfect gardens, leaving you feeling like you’ve stumbled across a quintessentially English film set. This is quite fitting considering many English film stars have made this little area their home.

The high street (Regent’s Park Road) has a distinct village like feel to it, complete with a continental food store, cafes, specialty stores and restaurants. Come the weekend in summer, alfresco dinners and punters from the pub spill out onto the pavement, creating a lively yet relatively relaxed atmosphere. However, if a picnic in the park sounds more like your cup of tea, be sure to pass by Shepherd’s continental food store for delicious French pastries, bread and tasty Italian treats.

From there, head up the steep hill in the park until you reach the summit – and you’ll be welcomed by fantastic views of the city. During summer, it’s packed with sunbakers, ball games, picnics and people drinking cider in the sun. All in all, a very English way to spend an afternoon!

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Primrose Hill | Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Snacks, Restaurants (Various)
Primrose Hill | North-West
24 hours daily

My initial impression of the Piano Bar was that it would be a dimly lit sophisticated bar with a crooner like pianist playing the occasional old-blue-eyes track. And while New York, New York, was played, it was the Alicia Keys rendition. And like most the crowd, by this stage I was twirling around on the tiny dance floor by the piano with Prosecco in hand, belting out the lyrics with new found friends and dance partners.

Given its appeal, you need to book a table well in advance – and the best place is on the stools surrounding the piano. The show starts at 8pm, so expect to hear a mixture of Elton John, to even, err, Britney Spears. Ok, so I appreciate this takes the cheese levels up a notch, however the energy the crowd gave ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’ was as if our lives depended on it!

The only downside is that drinks are a little pricey, but entry is free so the cocktails are well worth the inflated expense. And as our night sadly came to an end, we stumbled into the throng of Soho, positively uplifted and in search of the next high.

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The Piano Bar | Bars, Music, Snacks | Cocktails £ 9.50
75 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0NE | Central | +442072877699
Tue & Thu 12:00 – 23:30, Wed 16:00 – 23:30, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 00:00, Sun 18:00 – 23:00

Located in the thick of Soho’s sex shops and bars is the sultry Madame JoJo’s. Once a strip club, Madame JoJo’s is now famous for its eclectic music nights, with everything from rockabilly and deep funk, to indie and soul.

Whilst the nature of business has changed, its strip club days can still be clearly visualised as the interior still resembles its former self – dimly lit and slightly decedent with a dash of tacky. As for the atmosphere, it certainly has a seductive Moulin Rouge feel to it, mixed with an ‘if-these-walls-could-talk’ vibe pulsating off the mirrored walls.

As for the crowd, most people tend to put particular effort into their appearance. If you go on rockabilly night, expect to see some girls in 50′s-style dresses, or even burlesque – so it’s a great place to go if you want to be someone else for the night!

So next time you’re in Soho, and you’re after a late night club with a slight edge, be sure to swing past Madame Jojo’s with your dancing shoes or feather boa.

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Madame Jojos | Bars, Music | Entance from £ 3.00
8-10 Brewer Street | Central | +442077343040
Tue 20:00 – 03:00, Wed 22:30 – 03:00, Thu 19:30 – 02:30, Fri – Sat 22:00 – 03:00, Sun 21:30 – 03:00

Located along ubér cool Upper St in Islington, the Gallipoli Bazaar restaurant is a combination of Lebanese, Turkish and Mediterranean cuisines – offering a huge variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

The restaurant is one of the ‘Gallipoli’ branded restaurants along Upper Street, and offers a reasonably priced menu with all the traditional favourites such as kebabs, tangines and cous-cous. The set menu is fantastic value at £16 per person, which includes a vegetarian starter followed by any main, dessert and a coffee.

The restaurant is split on two floors, however still manages to illuminate a very warm and inviting feel to its customers. Deep red fabrics line the chairs and sofas, and beautiful coloured glass fittings hang from the ceiling – creating a cosy atmosphere.

However if word gets out it’s your birthday, be prepared to partake in some forced chair dancing whilst gyrating to excitable Turkish music. Fortunately, they sell a good selection of alcohol which makes the chair dancing exercise slightly less horrifying.

To complete your experience, take a seat outside and choose from a variety of fruit flavoured tobacco before lighting up a traditional shish pipe and watch the world go by.

It’s Gallipoli Bazaar’s authentic food and lively atmosphere that keeps the regulars coming back, always ensuring for a romantic night evening or great night with friends.

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Gallipoli Bazaar | Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Turkish/Lebanese) | 2 course set menu £ 14.50
107 Upper St | North-East | +442072265333
Mon – Fri 18:00 – 23:00, Sat – Sun 13:00 – 00:00