Why I love London

London is often billed as one of the best places to live in the world, and in spite of the noise, the pollution and the expense of living here, I'm inclined to agree. Here's why:

1. There's always something new to discover

I've lived in London most of my life, and I still haven't seen every part of it...and for the parts I do know well, there's still restaurants and bars and parks I've yet to visit. For someone who loves exploring, London is the perfect place to live as there's so much to see.

2. There are numerous green spaces

47% of London is green space, which isn't bad for a capital city. These green spaces include parks with interesting features such as giant buddhas or Japanese gardens or free zoos, as well as farms and peaceful stretches by the river; you certainly don't have to leave the city to feel closer to nature.

Greenwich Park

3. It's a great transport hub

I love travelling [as well you know by now] and I'm lucky to live somewhere that has so many flight connections to the rest of the World. London also train connections to European destinations as well as the rest of the UK, so it's a fantastic base for starting adventures.

Waiting In Luton Airport

4. There's so much variety

Some cities only offer a few different types of food in their restaurants, but London offers every type of cuisine imaginable - over the years I've sampled Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, Portuguese, Lebanese and Indian food, all within one city. Not only is there a huge variety of food in London, there are also a huge variety of cultures, as well as different types of music, different accents, different beliefs and different types of entertainment. London is a true melting pot, and that's what makes it so fascinating.  

A mixture of foods at Camden Market

5. It's not uniform

I love that London is not set out on a grid. Whilst grid systems are easy to navigate and make sense logically, I like how higgledy-piggledy London is, literally full of twists and turns. I love how it's a mixture of different architectural styles, and how new skyscrapers are often housed next to centuries' old buildings. Everything in London is a mish- mash, and as that's how I view my personality, it suits me down to the ground.    

I'm in the mood for dancing...

I haven't been writing about books much lately, but don't worry, this isn't because I've gone off books - I don't think I'll ever stop being a bibliophile. On the contrary, reading books is still often the best part of my day and I'm reading a cracking one at the moment, but I'm currently a bit stuck for new ideas for book posts on here [I think they're brewing away in my subconscious though], so I've been writing a lot about travel and living in London - two subjects which I love exploring.

I went to a fantastic club last week, and had the best time [in fact I'm going again tonight, which is unusual for me] and that got me thinking about my favourite London nightspots. These places won't suit everyone [they mainly play R'n'B and pop] but I think they're very good at what they do:

1. Babble, Mayfair

This is the affordable way to experience Mayfair's nightlife. Whilst other Mayfair clubs are outrageously priced and so snooty they won't even let you in unless you're super wealthy [cough, Mahiki, cough], Babble is actually free to get in to if you get there before 10pm and has a happy hour, which runs from 5pm to 8pm every day! It may be small, but it wasn't too crowded when I went and it's aesthetically pleasing and it feels grown-up.  The music is spot on - you won't be able to stay in your seat, you will find that you absolutely can't resist the urge to dance when you come here.

2. Metra, Leceister Square

It's 6 years since I went to Metra, so it might be absolutely awful now, [apologies if it is] but when I last went, it was my idea of clubbing heaven. The DJ and I seemed to be kindred spirits, because every song he played, I loved. I didn't hear one dud song that night. Metra may be expensive to get in [I'd advise booking in advance] but once you're in, it isn't pretentious [at least it wasn't] and there's ample room to move around in [which is a must for me...as I can be a very flamboyant dancer]. Metra was so good I stayed until 5am!

3. Be at One, Soho

Me and my friends like this bar so much that we all went there a bit too much, and now we're taking a little break from it. This is such a welcoming place, really lively and fun. If anyone thinks Londoners are just a bunch of cold fish, they should come here - we'll show you just how warm and inviting we can be! The staff like to dance and get involved too, no surly faces here!

4. The Ice Wharf, Camden

Camden might be a trek to get to [unless you live there], but it does have an atmosphere that's all its own. I always tell people they can't see London without visiting Camden - it's usually my first port of call when showing friends around. The Ice Wharf has the kind of feel of a really great hostel - its international, its bustling and its cheap. Been to numerous great parties here - it's so good, I'd advise staying here, you really don't need to move onto another venue, even though technically it's more of a bar than a club...but that's just semantics, as you can dance until your feet fall off if you so chose here.

Loving the Electric blue of the Ice Wharf - with my friends. Apologies for the blurriness.

5. Vodka Revolutions, Clapham Junction/ Clapham Common

I love both of these Revolution bars - I love the different flavoured vodka, I love how they have a sizable dancefloor, I love that there are loads of great pubs and bars near both, making it easy to get pre-drinks in without having to schlep for miles. And once again, I love the music - there's such a party feel in both Revolutions, and the best birthday I ever had was my 26th, which I had at the Clapham Common one. It was a happy, happy night [Pharrell was playing a lot that evening...]

   Me and my friend Elaine getting in a party mood at Revolutions!

Places in London Tourists Should Avoid

I like dispensing advice on this blog, and while usually that advice is writing related, today I thought I'd tackle the subject of tourists in London, since they seem to be everywhere! I love my city and I'm proud that people want to come and visit it; my attitude is the more tourists, the merrier. I think that London is one of the most diverse and interesting cities in the world, but it can be difficult to know where to start or which places to avoid if you're not from here, so I thought I'd compile a list of places that I don't think are worth seeing, and have provided my own alternatives for each one. Of course, this list is highly subjective...so if you are a planning to visit London and have stumbled across this blog, feel free to disregard it entirely!

1. Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament

Maybe it's because it's a view I'm so familiar with, but Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament hold zero interest for me. Yes the architecture is beautiful, and yes they are both important London landmarks, but I don't think they are worth a special trip in themselves...as an activity, it really doesn't take long to take a couple of pictures of them both, and as far as I'm concerned doing a tour around the inside of the Houses of Parliament is only worth doing if you're super interested in politics...which I'm not. Both actually look better from across the river rather than up close anyway.

Alternative: Take a river cruise down the Thames instead. The cruises start from Westminster, so you will be able to get a look at the famous clock tower and Government building, but the key is that the boat moves away from Westminster fairly speedily, so you're not stuck outside in a crowd looking up at a giant clock, surrounded by thousands of people for an hour, feeling bored, thinking "now what?"

2. Oxford Street

Now, Oxford Street certainly has a great range of shops and I must confess I do pop by it a couple of times a year to get one or two things [but that's mainly because it's near my parents' house] but boy, does it have a lot of crowds. Going down Oxford Street always feels incredibly stressful - there are people everywhere, in your face, behind you, beside you and you end up feeling hot and bothered, and irrationally cross. There are great long queues in each shop and for some reason, all of the shops are ridiculously warm. It's more of an endurance test than a pleasant shopping experience and I'd say avoid it, unless you absolutely must go there.

Alternative: Westfield Shepherd's Bush/ Westfield Stratford City

I find both Westfield shopping centres to be a lot calmer [and cleaner] than any of London's high streets. They also are a lot cooler [in terms of temperature and design] than other similar malls. There is a fantastic choice of shops and restaurants in both, and both have maps and information points spread throughout the centres, which are laid out in an oval[ish] shape, so you can easily retrace your steps and find the shop you are looking for, unlike Oxford Street where you could potentially end up wondering up and down for hours, trying to remember which shop is where.

Not too crowded...Westfield Shepherd's Bush

3. Cafe De Paris Nightclub, The West End

Eugh, I hate this place! It's pointlessly expensive, elitist, everyone looks really unhappy and fake and the music's really lacking. I didn't see anyone really enjoying themselves when I went - no one was letting loose, or even dancing that much. I didn't see the Cabaret, but I can't see how it could be any good when the entire venue had no atmosphere whatsoever. Avoid, avoid, avoid.

Alternative: Sway Bar, Holborn

Sway Bar is funky and fun. The drinks are still a little on the expensive side, but it doesn't take too long to get served, and people are genuinely here to have a good time. There's a nice range of music, with one room dedicated to current chart stuff and another purely dedicated to cheese [yes please!] People in this club know how to party, and there's not a snob or bitch in sight.

Love the dance floor in Sway Bar!

4. Any branch of Aberdeen Angus Steak House

It's a fact that these places are almost solely visited by tourists, since most Londoners won't go near them. In fact, a quick google search describes this chain as being among London's worst restaurants! Case in point, I've never been, but I've got friends who have and they told me it was abysmal. They said that the service was practically non -existent, everything was overpriced, the sides aren't included with the steak and when the food does come [after taking ages to arrive] it's mediocre. Don't go here just because it's convenient...it's really not worth it.

Alternative: GBK or The Bear and Staff, Leciester Square

I understand why tourists like chains, they are quick, easy and helpful if English is not your first language, so I have nothing against recommending a different chain as an alternative to Angus Steak House. I much prefer GBK [or Gourmet Burger Kitchen], especially the Waterloo Branch. The burgers are juicy and tasty, the staff are helpful, you can get a decent meal for under a tenner and you usually can get a seat fairly easily without a reservation. For those wishing to avoid chains altogether, I'd say try one of London's many pubs - if you're in the West End, the Bear and Staff pub does awesome pub grub, though it can be a bit crowded at times.

Make mine a burger at GBK.

5. Piccadily Circus

Oh yuck. More crowds, horrible neon lights, loads of traffic, little to actually do...I just don't get the appeal of it. If you enjoy feeling suffocated, then by all means come here. There are a few decent clubs and bars hidden around here, but you really have to know where to find them.

Alternative: London's lovely parks

London actually has a surprising number of great parks. My favourites are Holland Park and Battersea Park. Holland Park is great for flower lovers, and has a lot of variety and different sections, such as a Japanese garden, old woodland and a playing field, whilst Battersea Park incorporates a soothing river walk, traditional English gardens and even a tropical garden.

Isn't Holland Park pretty?

I hope you enjoyed my little guide to London, have a great time if you find yourself visiting here!





      

5 Literary things to do in london this Autumn

Sometimes sitting at home reading a book just isn't enough, sometimes you want to do bookish things with bookish people. Here are 5 ways to be sociable and literary in london this Autumn:

1. Go on a literary Pub Crawl

What could be better than combining booze and books? I can't think of many activities.  The London Literary Pub Crawl not only takes you on a journey of discovery around some of london's most famous literary pubs, it also introduces you to the authors associated with the pubs themselves.  Fancy meeting Virginia Woolf, Dylan Thomas or Charles Dickens? By going on the London Literary Pub Crawl, you can. Or at the very least, you can meet very convincing actors purporting to be them, which is practically the same thing. And you can get drunk at the same time, which is always a bonus.

2. Go Book Crossing

Have an expensive book habit that you are struggling to fund? Well, why not grab one of your old ones and swap it for another for free? Book crossing basically involves doing just that. You turn up to a bookcrossing event, which take place all over London [and other cities], place your book or books on the table and then you are allowed to delve into a wonderful pile of used tomes that have been left there by other bookcrossers. Once everyone has satisfied their lust for new reading material, there usually is the opportunity for people to sit around and discuss the books they've brought along, or anything else that may be of interest to the group. Unlike bookclubs, bookcrossing events will usually have different people each time so if you didn't like one event, don't be put off going to another.

        
3. Go to a Book Slam Event

Ever been to a literary nightclub? No? Well, such a thing does exist. Book Slam is London's first Literary nightclub, which manages to combine live readings from new writers as well as more established ones, live music and even a DJ! Music and books make great bedfellows and it's a lot more grown up than your average local disco, and you actually get to sit down for once! You need to get on the mailing list to take part, but its well worth doing if you want to have a different night out to your usual friday night at 'spoons.

4. Meet an author

 I personally think that meeting authors is a great way to enhance your reading experience.  I think it's really interesting to hear writers give insights into their own work, and since writers are in the business of understanding humanity there will usually be at least one author you can relate to at a literary festival or event. Authors often make good public speakers [although this isn't always the case] and should hopefully be pretty entertaining. I think its fantastic to hear a writer reading aloud their own work, as they will know exactly how it was meant to be read. One of the best places in London to see authors in the flesh is London's Waterstones Piccadily, as they host 'thousands' of literary events every year. Best of all the events are often free.      

I love this women's writing.

5. Take Part in a Literary Salon

Bored with the shallow conversation of your friends? Get your brain engaged with in depth literary discussions at London's Literary Salon, but be warned its not for literary lightweights, so if your taste in books is more Proust than Clarkson you'll be right at home. Get ready to dissect some literary masterpieces among other great thinkers, and to answer some heavy duty literary questions.    

My Favourite London Bookshops

London is undoubtedly a literary city; there are blue plaques everywhere asserting that Thomas Hardy lived here, or Charles Dickens lived there, there are pubs dedicated to writers and there are cafes designed for book readings, some of the biggest and best libraries in the world are to be found here and of course, there's a huge array of bookshops to choose from. As I've said elsewhere, I don't often buy books in bookshops, but I do love to browse them, and these are my favourite places to do just that:   

1. Waterstones, Piccadily

Some people might object to chain bookshops, but I'm not one of them. It's always easy to find books in Waterstones, and in my experience Waterstones staff are usually very helpful. This is my favourite branch in London because not only is it the biggest branch [in fact it is Europe's biggest bookshop - there are six floors of books!], it is also rather lovely looking with it's broad staircases, it's impressive frontage and vibrant displays. And when you're done browsing, there's the 5th floor cafe to chill out in, which has brilliant views, and fabulous food.    


2. Daunt Books, Marylebone

If you're a travel book collector [like me] then this is the shop for you. Shelves and shelves of travel books, including the lovely big lonely planet ones just waiting to inspire you. Again, this is a good- looking bookshop with a pretty stained glass window dominating the back of the shop, built in shelves, and old fashioned lettering. Plus they give you tote bags when you purchase something, so you can declare your love for their books to all and sundry after you've left.  

  

3.Brixton Bookmongers

This is actually my nearest bookshop, but that's not why it's made the list. This one is great for finding obscurities [I particulary love their magic section, as I found a purple velvet spell book in there the other day, which made me feel like a character in a fantasy novel] and is definitely one of the cheaper bookshops to buy from, as all the books are secondhand. There's also a squishy green sofa in the back which is super comfortable if you want somewhere to sit while you decide what to buy.            

4.Black Gull Books, Camden

This was actually the first bookshop I visited in London aside from my local, and I remember loving the fact that there were books seemingly spilling out of the shop, as there are shelves inside and out. As with the rest of the shops in Camden, there are many unusual treasures to be found here [I once found a beautiful copy of Tolkien's The Silmarilion tucked away almost out of sight] and it's a good sight for people watching, as well as book browsing, since it's located in a sunny yard, very close to Camden Lock.

What are your favourite bookshops in London or elsewhere?