An absolutely lovely place with gardens and an arboretum to walk through - the trees are lovely in summer but downright gorgeous in the autumn. There's a lovely cafe to relax in afterwards and since there's over eight miles of woodland [more...]

Situated in a magnificent red-brick building, Gray's Antiques is home to a huge number of dealers. Here you'll find everything from furniture to jewellery and from Bakelite to objets d'art. Prices are surprisingly reasonable, with some [more...]

Don't be fooled - Books for Cooks in Portobello Road may look like any other [more...]

Let the sounds of city life fade away as you visit Freightliners Farm in the heart of Islington. This is the UK's only urban farm with a completely [more...]

Giraffe's motto is individuality and great fresh food. They say they are not a chain, but a herd, and each cafe is designed differently.

They do great brunch food, fresh smoothies and all. And the one on the Soutbank has amazing [more...]

Gabriel's Wharf, on the South Bank of the Thames, is a charming spot, with little boutique shops, market stalls, art galleries and cafes. After a summer stroll along the river, stop for a bite in one of their outdoor cafes, or head up [more...]

For romance on a budget look no further than The Troubadour. This café has a wealth of hidden charms… there are small crowded tables, wooden benches, food to die for, hippies playing chess and idealists putting the world to rights. [more...]

The biggest bookshop in Europe. More books than the most dedicated bookoholic could read in a lifetime plus plenty of author readings and other events. And the cafe is a great place to meet up, especially for a blind date.

Mike's Cafe stands out among the hyper-trendy buzz of Portobello Road - there's nothing sophisticated here (bonus!) just good old-fashioned food at good [more...]

A nice little park doing its bit to keep London green. There are tennis courts, a cafe, a children's playground and a rose garden. More unusual delights include pond dipping, an animal enclosure, a butterfly tunnel and an organic nature [more...]

These two woods lie on either side of Muswell Hill Road. Both are great for walking in (lots of leaves to kick through in autumn!) Highgate Wood opens out into a large grassed area - great for kicking around a football or playing [more...]

Don't embarass yourself by asking for a chai tea latte or some other nonsense in Maison Bertaux (28 Greek Street in Soho).

Straightforward French coffee, English tea, the finest cakes and pastries, and some rather wonderful and [more...]