5 Things To Do in Krakow

by Jenna Makowski

During my year-long stay in Poland, I often ran into a prevalent stereotype about Krakow: that it’s the heart of Old Poland and the center of the Polish past. With a thousand-year history reaching back to a first recorded mention in 966, as well as a central market square and historical architecture left largely intact during World War II, Krakow does have a deep history.

That sense of depth resonated with me during the summer that I spent in Krakow. The more time I spent wandering Krakow’s streets and sitting in its cafes, the more I found myself wanting to learn about its rich and nuanced history.

Here are 5 things to do in Krakow to get a sense of the city’s history, as well as its contemporary life.

1. Walk on the Vistula

The Vistula River divides Krakow into three districts. The Old Town, with the main market square and the Wawel Castle, is Krakow’s center. South of the Old Town, in the middle of a dip in the river, is Kazimierz.

This former Jewish district is currently reviving with new local restaurants and trendy bars. Finally Podgorze, the Vistula’s right bank, is a district which carries heavy historical associations of being transformed by the Nazis into a WWII ghetto.

With walking and cycling paths running along both of its banks, the Vistula is a popular spot with local Krakow residents. I crossed paths with joggers, amateur and professional cyclists and picnicking families during the summer afternoons that I spent on the Vistula.

There are also a number of historical sites on the Vistula’s banks. Following the Vistula path below Wawel Castle and heading east leads to the Skalka Sanctuary, an 18th-century shrine and monastery with crypts holding the remains of well-known Poles, such as composer Karol Szymanowski and novelist and activist Czeslaw Milosz.

Crossing the river and heading north, the Vistula path becomes ul. Tyniecka, a paved road leading to Tyniec Abbey, a functioning Benedictine Monastery. As I cycled the 13-km path, I was surprised at how quickly the scenery changed from urban Krakow to rural country. The Tyniecka trail follows the Vistula the entire way, passing grassy meadows and rural homes. The Tyniec Abbey sits on top of a look-out point with panoramic views of the river valley and hills. The area has a rich history, housing a monastery on site since the 11th century.

2. Check out a museum

Many museums in Krakow have exhibits that give insight into various points on Krakow’s historical timeline. The World War II era, for example, is addressed from different perspectives in the Podgorze District. The former Schindler Factory, internationally known from scenes in Spielburg’s Schindler’s List, has been converted into an interactive multimedia museum. The exhibits narrate the city’s history throughout the war.

A few streets away on Plac Bohaterow Ghetta square, the Eagle Pharmacy Museum takes a local and personalized look at individual war stories. The pharmacy’s owner, Tadeusz Pankiewicz, continued to operate even as the neighborhood around him was transformed into the ghetto. The pharmacy became a point of hope in the ghetto as his staff treated illnesses and smuggled letters from the outside.

For a more contemporary look at Polish history, the International Culture Centre on the Old Town market square holds regular exhibits. The centre’s goal is promoting dialogue between cultures and gaining a deeper understanding of European cultural policies, multiculturalism, history and identity. Their exhibits are always fresh, changing every few months. I caught an exhibit that chronicled the Orange Alternative, a peaceful resistance movement that took root in the 1980s and formed a basis for the country’s larger Solidarity movement.

3. Find the former ghetto wall

At the beginning of 1941, most Podgorze residents were relocated to other areas of Krakow, while the city’s Jewish population was forced into the center of the district and walled in. Many of the pre-war brownstone buildings lining the streets of the district housed ghetto residents.

There are two places left in Podgorze to see remnants of the former ghetto wall, eerily integrated into their surroundings – a row of brownstone apartments and a local school. One stretch of wall is on ul. Lwowska and the other is on ul. Limanowskiego.

4. Go to the Market Square in Podgorze

The market square in Krakow’s Old Town is the center of tourist life. I often overheard languages as diverse as German and Japanese begin spoken from full tables and ran into street vendors selling mass-marketed souvenirs. The market square in the Podgorze district, however, mirrors local squares in smaller Polish towns and opens a window onto contemporary Polish life. It’s a place where local neighborhood residents come to shop and catch the bus. There are also a few local restaurants near the Podgorze market square with all-Polish menus and traditional Polish foods.

St. Joseph’s Cathedral towers over the square. Constructed in 1909, the architecture draws from old Gothic styles, with intricate and lacy spires. There is a quiet stone grotto in the back, filtering the noise off the main street.

5. Read at a local bookstore

Massolit Bookstore, on ul. Felicjanek in the northern section of the Old Town, offers insight into Krakow’s history through its book selection. With crammed bookshelves blocking the windows and creating a dimmed and cozy atmosphere, Massolit sells a wide variety of new and used books in English. They specialize in academic and history books about Poland and Central Europe not easily found in mainstream bookstores. The store’s small cafe creates a comfortable atmosphere for an afternoon coffee and read.

Special thanks for this article to: Jenna Makowski

Polish Food: Eating and Drinking in Krakow

by Jenna Makowski

In my experiences growing up as a third-generation American of Polish descent, Polish food always symbolized a holiday: pierogi on Christmas Eve, stuffed cabbage on Easter. Eaten only a few times a year, such dishes became endowed with a heightened sense of significance.

Upon moving to Poland, however, I felt like a kid in a candy store when I realized that the traditional holiday dishes I’d grown up with were woven into the daily Polish diet!

While there is some regional variety in Polish cuisine, most Polish dishes have become ‘nationalized’ (partially as a result of people like my great-grandparents carrying them to new countries). Variety comes in more nuanced forms, such as individual chefs’ preferences. Krakow is a great city to taste and experience a variety of Polish food, with Polish restaurants ranging in style from traditional to more experimental.

Breakfast (śniadania) serves as a good introduction to Polish food. One of my favorite breakfast dishes is naleśniki, or Polish pancakes. Similar to French crepes, naleśniki are rolled from a flour-based batter and stuffed with fruit, cream, chocolate, cheese or meat. Paper-thin yet filling, naślesniki are a strong way to start the day.

A bar mleczny, or a milk bar, is an inexpensive place to try naleśniki. These starkly decorated and sparsely equipped cafeterias have been serving cheap, home-cooked meals since the Communist days.

There is a milk bar in the Old Town on ul. Grodzka, near the Church of Sts Peter and Paul. Just around the corner, on ul. Senacka, is a small joint specializing in Polish pancakes, simply called Nalesniki. This is a good place to try a wide variety of both sweet and savory pancakes. If you’re looking for a dining experience away from the tourist center (and with Polish-only menus), there’s another neighborhood milk bar in the Podgórze district, south of the Old Town, on the Podgórze rynek (town square).

Obiad, the word for lunch in Polish, carries with it a set of customs and habits. The main meal of the day, it’s usually eaten in the late afternoon. Pierogi, Polish dumplings, are my all-time favorite Polish food. Ever since my grandmother showed me how to make her personal recipe (with hand-rolled dough, it’s an all-day affair), I’ve become a connoisseur of the various kinds of pierogi dough and stuffings; each and every recipe is different.

Standard types include pierogi ruskie (potato and cheese), pierogi z serem (sweet cheese), pierogi z kapusta i grzybami (cabbage and mushroom) and pierogi z miesa (meat). Ul. Sławkowska in the Old Town is a good option for pierogi. Just a few doors down from each other, Domowe Przysmaki and Pierogarnia both specialize in pierogi menus.

Other common Polish lunch dishes are kotlet schabowy (pork cutlet), gołumbki (stuffed cabbage) and bigos (meat stew). Salads, called surowki, usually consist of shredded root vegetables in a vinegar-based dressing. In Krakow’s Old Town, Polskie Smaki on Ul. Świętego Tomasza has a wide choice of typical Polish food. With an English menu, I’ve seen both locals and visitors every time I’ve eaten there. Bazylia, on Ul. Limanowskiego in the Podgórze district, is another great place for traditional Polish cuisine, and a great local neighborhood experience.

If you’re interested in more experimental Polish cuisine – or if you’re a vegetarian – Green Way on Ul. Mikołajska is a nice option. Cutlets from soy, pierogi and gołumbki with veggie stuffing and curries add a twist to traditional Polish cuisine.

For a quick snack, try food from a street vendor. Zapienkanki are a commonly offered choice – a halved load of French bread with mushrooms and cheese, toasted on the spot, and topped with sauce. Oscypek, smoked cheese that originates regionally in the mountain towns of the Tatras, also makes for a good snack. Small chunks can be purchased in stores throughout the Old Town, or from cart vendors in the underpass by the train station.

Though I was well aware of stereotypes regarding Polish culture and vodka, I’ve found that beer tends to be the Polish drink of choice. Zywiec, Tyskie and Okocim are the most well-known lagers. Ordering a tatanka is an easy introduction to Polish vodka. Made with the commonly exported Zubrówka vodka – bottled with a blade of grass – and a shot of apple juice with cinnamon, this cocktail tastes like apple pie. Walking down Ul. Jozefa in the Kazimierz district will lead to more bar and café options than is possible to try in a week. I recommend Moment, with its menu of creative and hip drink concoctions.

Special thanks for this article to: Jenna Makowski

6 Ways to Experience the Beauty of Bled

by Jenna Makowski

Just under sixty kilometers north of Ljubljana, Slovenia, near the convergence of the Italian/Austrian border, Lake Bled is one of the most photogenic spots in Europe. Or so I’d heard.

On the hour-long drive from Ljubljana to Bled, I tried to clear my mind of the romantic and overly-descriptive lingo I’d been reading about the lake in my local guidebook. The author had told me to expect a dramatic natural setting, with an aqua-tinged glacial lake wrapped in the Julian Alps. I’d also been prepared for impressive architecture, like a medieval stone castle and a gothic-spired church.

While I had no doubts that the scenery was indeed beautiful, I wanted to experience the lake and its surroundings for myself, to develop my own set of adjectives to narrate my experiences.

Here are six ways to experience the beauty of Bled and the surrounding area.

1. Simply walk.

A walk around the lake’s perimeter seemed an engaging way to experience Lake Bled for the first time. The 6-kilometer path takes anywhere from 1 to 3 hours to walk, depending on your stride. I made two official stops along the way. First, to climb the fairly steep path to Bled Castle on the lake’s northeast side. The 11th-century site was managed under Germanic and Austria-Hungarian aristocracy until WWI, and has vantage points with panoramic views of the lake and mountains. Second, for a quick walk through Hotel Vila, on the lake’s northern shore; the former summer residence of Josip Tito has been converted into a 4-star hotel.

But it was the unofficial stops along the way that pushed me to notice the nuanced details of the lake. I took a few minutes to photograph the shadows of overhanging leaves on the lake’s flat surface; a moment to investigate a swan’s nest partially hidden behind a bush. These were the details that, for me, revealed the lake’s beauty.

2. Pack a picnic lunch.

While the four-star lunch menu and lakefront patio at the Tito hotel sounded enticing, one thought played on rewind in my mind as I walked along the lake’s path. Eating right on the lake sounds much better; I wish I’d packed a lunch. Various spots along the trail would have been nice spots for a blanket and picnic lunch, from wooden walking paths lying at the right height above the water for dangling feet, to quiet grassy patches underneath trees, one or two meters from the lake’s edge.

3. Hike to Vintgar Gorge.

A scenic path running from the lake’s northeast corner leads directly to the Vintgar gorge, four kilometers away from Bled. Once inside the gorge, a wooden-paneled walking path, built directly into its sides, allows walkers to perch above and zigzag across it. As the river flows along the terraced gorge floor, it collects in aqua and turquoise pools, shades of water so deep and cool that I wanted to dive in and be swallowed by them. My walk through gorge put me in an unusually positive frame of mind; I didn’t realize until after I left that I’d experienced a natural bout of intense color therapy.

*The gorge is reachable by car or bus as well.

4. Have dessert before dinner.

A full day of hiking led to a well-deserved, late afternoon dessert. The restaurant at Hotel Vila Preseren, on the lake’s eastern shore, has a rich selection of homemade cakes. Kremsnita, a locally-invented dessert of layered cream and custard cake, has its place on the menu. I opted instead, though, for a slice of spiced cinnamon cake; it was one of the best desserts I’ve ever tried.

5. Participate in the art of outdoor café-ing.

I’d first noticed a distinct sense of outdoor café culture in Ljubljana; full tables, slow meals and relaxed conversation characterized my evening in the city. A similar culture exists in Bled as well, with many of the lakeside resorts offering outdoor patios and seating areas. But a walk through the town of Bled itself, slightly away from the lakeside resorts, reveals additional dining options. There are a number of local cafes, bars and restaurants in the tiny town, where the scenery shifts from water-gazing on the lake to people-watching on the streets.

6. Drink the wine.

With red grapes growing near the Italian border and white grapes near the Austrian, Solvenia has a tradition of wine-making. Two back-to-back trips to a small wine bar, located at 7 Cesta Svobode in Bled, served as my introduction to the varieties of Slovenian wine. The tiny, locally-managed shop holds more bottles than seating, with a few outdoor tables and one large, round communal table inside; every seat was taken. The bartender traced the route of our tasting list on the map hanging in the corner as we sipped. After the tasting tour, I settled on a glass of dry white from a local Traminec grape.

How to get to Bled:

By car from Ljubljana: the journey takes about an hour (depending on where you are in Ljublana), driving north on highway E61.

By train from Ljubljana: trains arriving in Bled use the Lesce-Bled train station, which is approximately 4 kilometers outside of central Bled. Running frequently throughout the day, the journey can take anywhere from 1-2 hours, depending on the line.

www.slo-zeleznice.si

By bus from Ljubljana: there are frequent and regular bus connections between Ljubljana and Bled.

www.alpetour.si

*How to get to Vintgar gorge: In addition to the 4-kilometer walk, it’s also possible to reach the gorge by car or by bus. Routes are available in the tourist office.

Special thanks for this article to: Jenna Makowski

Five things you can’t miss seeing in Budapest

Numerous of backpackers jump over the city of Budapest thinking it’s too far east, or there isn’t much to see. What they don’t know is that they’re missing out on a variety of beauty by not visiting Budapest.

Below are five places that I think every backpacker should visit in Budapest.

The Millenary Monument

This particular monument is significant to the Hungarian’s history since it represents all the Hungarian Monarchs and Princes of Transylvania. They were all leaders of the Hungarian tribes. Anyone who loves history will fall in love with this monument.

The houses of Parliament

Anyone who thinks their home country has striking Parliament buildings, well think again and take a gander at one of Europe’s most splendid Parliament buildings in Budapest. The Parliament buildings began construction in 1885, but were not complete until 1904. Yet, what is so incredible about the design of them is the Gothic detail. The outer walls are decorated with statues of the Monarchs and the military commanders.

Fishermen’s Bastion

Many travelers are unaware of the landmarks of Budapest. That one side of the Danube River was once called Buda and the other side was called Pest hence the name Budapest. The Fishermen’s Bastion is one of the capital’s landmarks, offering a panoramic view of Pest. It looks like a mini castle on a hill that was reconstructed in the early 19th century, at which was connected to other towers and corridors around the fortress.

St. Stephen’s Basilica

The largest cathedral in Budapest that now holds models of the Italian Renaissance era. Before reconstruction in the early 19th century the cathedral was once the neo-Classic style that many of the other buildings hold. Its 96m dome is just enough to keep one staring for hours.

The Chain Bridge

The name doesn’t sound so amazing but supposedly the man who created this bridge was known as “ the great Hungarian.” Began construction in 1832, and wasn’t complete until 1849, but what is so lovely about this bridge is that it was the first element that made the two sides – Buda and Pest come together.

Eating gelato in Italy

When someone says Italy, the following normally comes to mind: Pasta, pizza, tomatoes, olives… One cannot go wrong with Italian food! But one less obvious food group in Italy is gelato, Italian ice cream. With so many flavors to choose from, it’s easy to fall in love with Italian gelato. And let’s just say that it’s difficult to go back to nestle ice cream. Gelateria’s are almost at every corner in Italy. They are normally grouped in 4 types: nutty, fruity, creamy or “other”.

The nutty types of flavors include pistachio, mandorla (almond) and nocciola (hazelnut). Nocciola is definitely one of the more popular ones in this group. It’s delicious and everyone must try it at least once.

The fruity types of flavors include fragola (strawberries), lampone (raspberry), limone (lemon), melone (melon), frutti di bosco (a mix of forest type of fruits such as blueberry, blackberry, etc), mela (apple) and pesca (peach). This group should normally be called sorbetti since they’re not milk-based products. They are also rich in flavor and really tasty.

The creamy types of gelato include fior di latte (literal translation is flower of milk but it’s a basic sweet cream type of ice cream), café (coffee), amarena (fior de latte base but with sour cherries), cocco (coconut) and stracciatella (fior di latte base with a mix of chocolate).

The other types of gelato include zuppa inglese (it literally means “English soup” but it actually refers to triffle, mix of cookies, sweet wine and cream) and riso (means rice but it’s similar to a rice pudding). Gelateria’s can concoct whatever flavors they want so they would be part of this group.

With so many flavors to choose from, an ice cream addict can’t go wrong! Enjoy…

Visiting Barcelona in 24 hours

Barcelona is one of those places one will love or learn to love. If you love it, you will want to extend your stay because it’s filled with a rich culture, history and night life. If you’re lucky enough to have a long layover or short stay in the city, here are some things to do before hopping on your next flight, bus or train:

Visit Antoni Gaudi’s work

La Segrada Familia, Guell park and Casa Battlό are places to visit when in Barcelona. All three places are impressive to see but one may be restricted on time so it’s important to prioritize based on preference and go for it!

Eat Tapas and Paella

Although Spanish food is not as rich as the Italian, it’s still good. An adventurous eater who likes to try a variety of dishes would opt for tapas. Tapas are small Spanish appetizers, served hot or cold. It can vary from olives to fried squid. It’s a perfect choice for anyone who wants to try various dishes or not very hungry. It’s important to always ask how many tapas one should order to have a complete meal. It varies across restaurants.

A more conservative eater may want to stick to what he knows so it that case, paella is a great option. Paella is a rice dish that originated from Valencia, Spain. It can be served with meat, seafood and/or vegetables. It’s rich and so yummy!

Drink sangria in Placa Reial

Placa Reial a cute little square in the heart of Barcelona that is very lively at night, especially around dinner time or when people go out dancing. One can easily spend a night by ordering a pitcher of sangria with friends and just watch people. The sangria will be tasty, the company will be great good and the ambiance will be fun! No one can leave Barcelona without drinking sangria.

Enjoy a flamenco show

After drinking sangria, enjoy a flamenco show in a nearby local place. Although flamenco is not renowned in Barcelona specifically since it’s more popular in the south of Spain or in Madrid, it still represents Spain in general. It’s a gypsy type of dance full of emotions and rhythm.

9 Things You Have To See and Do during a Prague Weekend

Prague is the heart of the Czech Republic and is quickly becoming one of the most beloved tourist destinations in the world due to its unique blend of Russian and Polish culture mixed with ancient architecture and of course plenty of beer gardens. While in town make sure you do/see the following nine things if you want to get the most out of your Prague weekend.

Try a local Czech beer

Beer is a national treasure to the people of Prague, so make sure that you try out at least one or two of the local brews such as Gambrinus or the local, nothing to do with America, Budweiser Budvar while you are in town.

Ride Tram 14 across the city

Tram 14 is a great little red tram that travels across the city providing stunning views of Prague Castle and along the Vltava river

Visit the DOX

The official art centre of Prague, the best example of contemporary art there is in Prague and a great attribute to the anarchist and individualistic spirit of the city.

Check out the Astronomical Clock

Since 1490 the wooden clock has been telling the story of death, greed, vanity, and the end of the world through tiny wooden saints that pop out of the door on the hour.

Meet and greet with the gargoyles

It should go without saying that Prague is surrounded by gargoyles and saint statues, but if for some reason you have trouble paying attention to your surroundings, make sure to at least keep your eyes peeled for the gargoyle on Charles Bridge, the Angel of Death, and Kafka.

Check out the underground scene

Outside of the typical club scene, Prague is known for its wide range of underground indie rock bands making almost every musical act one worth your time and money to see. The Akropolis theatre or the Lucerna Music Bar are great places to start out looking for some fresh names with great hooks.

Experience anarchy at night

The only way to describe the clubs in Prague is by saying that they are true anarchy as everything goes and anything flies, but you simply will never have as much fun taking part in an organized movement of sheer sporadic craziness in your life.

Try out a pub

After a night of dancing or downing the local beers you are going to need some grub to get going and back on your feet for Sunday. With this in mind, head to one of the local pubs like the U Kašpárka for some great hangover grub that may not be healthy, but is thick and feast like, making it exactly what the doctor ordered.

Go to the famed Prague Castle

A stop in Prague is not complete without the customary visit to its castle. While the Prague Castle is easily seen and distinguished from the skyline of the capital city, until you actually walked into the castle courtyards and look out from the buttresses you have not truly experienced it.

Special thanks for this article to: Euro Travel Blog from the UK

London weeks started

Show us your London, and win a long weekend to a city where you have never been.
Publish your photo on our Facebook Page’s wall, tag yourself, and you already qualified.

The more “like” your photo gets, the greater chance to win. If you have a story related to the photo, don’t be shy, and tell us.

The game will close on 31st of May.

Game description!

We would love to see beautiful or funny pictures about London. Don’t be shy, upload your photo to our Facebook Page  and win a 3 night City Break for 2 person in a city of your choice.

How to proceed?

1. Upload your photo to europenethotels fan page’s wall

Upload it here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/europenethotelscom/321659022333

2. Go to Photos, find yours, and tag yourself on the photo.

That simple. You already qualified!

Who will win?

You can decide who to win!
The winner will be who’s photo will get the highest “like”

What to win?

The winner will have to choose the destination from europenethotels.com and also will be able to choose the dates. The prize is 3 nights apartment accommodation for 2 people in a chosen destination.

Terms

- We accept only one photo per user

- The long weekend includes the apartment accommodation for 3 nights in the chosen city.

- You have to choose the destination and the apartment from www.europenethotels.com

- We do not limit the travel dates, its your choice

- The total cost of the chosen apartment must be up to 400 euro

Happy Travel !

London weeks by europenethotels

Coming up on 30st of April

Including

- a game where you can win a long weekend,

- we will show you 16 Awesome Hidden Gems of London

- insight interviews with our new partners in London.

Stay tuned…

16 Awesome Hidden Gems of London

London – the land of tea and crumpets, the Queen and the red phoneboxes. Every guide book will tell you to stop at Trafalgar Square or look around Harrods.

But if you want to try something a bit more, well, local, then try these places out. (Go on, they’re near the tourist stops you do want to go to…)

1. Franco Manca

London may not be known for its pizza, but that may change. Franco Manca in Brixton offers handmade pizzas on a slow-rising sourdough crust, finished with various seasonal toppings. All for less than £7. And after you eat dinner there, you can head to one of Brixton’s many clubs for a fantastic night out.

NEAR - Brixton Academy

Credit: JP Hussey on Flickr

2. Bea’s of Bloomsbury

If you’re in the mood for afternoon tea, this is the place to go. Tucked away in – you guessed it – Bloomsbury, this cafe has a set afternoon tea starting at £9 per person. Its cakes are baked and decorated in a kitchen in the back, and everything, from the decor to the porcelain to the wonderful staff perfectly illustrate the charm of British eccentricity. The only downside? It’s incredibly popular with the locals, so you have to book a table, often well in advance of your visit. But it’s so worth the wait.

NEAR - British Museum

Credit: Food Stories on Flickr

3. 606 Club

This club has been showcasing the best British-based musicians for over 30 years, making it a great place to find some hidden musical gems as well. Because of licensing restrictions, they can only serve alcohol to non-members along with a “substantial meal”, but with offerings like Welsh rack of lamb and fresh sea bass, that shouldn’t be a problem.

NEAR - Chelsea Stadium

Credit: m@teo on Flickr

4. Gordon’s Wine Bar

Even though this bar is right next to Charing Cross Underground station, it can be easy to miss: you have to turn down a small walkway, then down a steep set of stairs to the bar. Housed in 17th century cellars, it has the atmosphere of a centuries-old tavern, though that could also be because it is London’s oldest wine bar.

NEAR - Trafalgar Square

Credit: Ewan-M on Flickr

5. The Albion

The oldest operating country pub in London, The Albion was established when Islington was still mostly farmland and fields. Now it’s an incredibly popular pub with a large beer garden in the lush and green Barnsbury area. Though that might be enough to make it a local favourite, it’s the pub’s award-winning Sunday roast that makes people trek from all over the city to spend an afternoon here. But be sure to book a table – at least a few weeks in advance.

NEAR - Upper Street, Islington

The Albion - used with permission 

6. Sunday Upmarket

Here you’ll find some unique items, like vintage dresses, handmade hats and one-off pieces of jewellery, often being sold by their designers. And if you feel like having a bite to eat, you can sample the cuisine of Spain, India, Ethiopia, the Caribbean, amongst many others. It takes every Sunday place in the Old Truman Brewery, an 11-acre collection of shops, restaurants, offices and other spaces.

NEAR – Brick Lane

Credit: LiB on Wikimedia Commons 

7. Monmouth Coffee Company

If you love coffee, this is the place for you. Monmouth Coffee Company makes strong, silky drinks that allow the nuances of a superb roast shine through. They even roast their own beans, supplying many of the other top coffee shops in town. Its employees’ immense knowledge and sublime technique are probably why it regularly features on lists of the top coffee shops in London.

NEAR – Borough Market and Covent Garden

Credit: sashafatcat on Flickr

8. No 12 bus route

If you really want to ride a big red bus to see some of London’s most famous sites, there’s no need to buy those expensive tickets for cheesy tours when you can hop on the northbound 12. Catch it just outside Lambeth North Underground Station, then take it across the river. It takes you past the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, 10 Downing Street and Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus. For just £2.00.

NEAR – Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus

Credit: oyxman on Wikimedia Commons

9. The Bar at the Courthouse Hotel

Ever wanted to know what it’s like to spend the night in a 19th jail cell? No? What about hanging out with up to seven of your friends enjoying “legal-themed cocktails” ‘til the wee hours there? If your answer is yes, then this is where you need to go. Plus, you’ll be hanging out where both Oscar Wilde and Keith Richards were held whilst awaiting their trials.

NEAR – Oxford Circus

Credit: Mark Hillary on Flickr

10. East End shopping

(Beyond Retro and www.beyondretro.com and Absolute Vintage)

We’ve already mentioned the East End is great place to shop (see Sunday Upmarket), but if you are heading over that way sometime that isn’t Sunday, you won’t be at a loss for great vintage shops and unique boutiques. They line just about every street around Brick Lane, and they pretty much all have great finds. The biggest – and arguably, best – vintage shops are Beyond Retro and Absolute Vintage, but be sure to stop in a couple of the random shops, too. You’re guaranteed to find something you never knew you couldn’t live without.

NEAR – Spitalfields Market

11. The Roof Gardens

The gardens, spreading across 1.5 acres, are actually three themed gardens: the Spanish Garden, based on the Alhambra in Granada; the Tudor Garden, inspired by that period of British history; and the English Woodland. The English Woodland mimicks the natural English countryside, but it has quite a few ducks as well as a few somewhat unexpected residents – the Gardens’ four flamingos, Bill, Ben, Splosh and Pecks. All of this sits 100 feet above Kensington High Street, on top of soil just 1.5 meters deep.

NEAR – The Serpentine

Credit: Rosalind Mitchell on geograph.org.uk

12. Gay Hussar

Though its traditional Hungarian dishes are still served by friendly staff, people come here for the history. The Gay Hussar’s heyday was after World War II, when the leftist intelligencia and Labour MPs would congregate here to eat, drink and plot the occassional political coup. This rich history is memorialised with the caricatures of various Labour MPs that practically wallpaper the amospheric dining room.

NEAR – Shaftsbury Avenue

Credit: Baston on Flickr 

13. VV Rouleaux

So we’ve made it clear where to shop if you want to buy unique handmade products (see East End shopping), but if you like to make those products yourself, you should make your way to this shop on Marylebone High Street. Packed with the company’s own brand of trimmings and edgings, from ribbons, tassels, tie-backs to flowers and interior and fashion accessories, the store, like our mothers’ jewellery boxes, holds all the shiny, pretty things that fascinated us as children.

NEAR – Madame Tussauds

Credit: Robert on Picasa 

14. Urban Golf

If you thought golf could never be an urban sport, this place will prove you wrong. It’s more chic hangout than simple putting mats, with its locations’ distinctive interior design, state-of-the-art technology and bars serving sushi and lager keep guests fuelled for their games. The golf itself is played in a small room with a screen and two sensors. You tee up with a real ball and club, hit the ball into the screen, which projects one of 22 world-famous courses on the wall. The super-sensitive sensors measure the speed and direction of the shot, allowing it to figure out how your shot would have played and projecting its flight onto the simulated green. Whether you’re a tech-head or a golf freak or just a bit curious, you need to try this one out.

NEAR – High Street Kensington, Soho and Smithfield

Credit: riklomas on Flickr 

15. Renoir Cinema

This cinema is part of a renowned chain, Curzon Cinemas, that specialise in independent films. But this theatre focusses on French art house films and movies by new world talent. Pretty much the antithesis of Leicester Square’s glitz and shimmer, it seats only 500 people at its two screens, and its bar is, like its sister cinemas, a sophisticated, laid-back destination in its own right.

NEAR – ish to the British Library

Credit: Robin Schroder on Flickr 

16. Village Underground

Part studio, part art collective and part nightclub, this venue embodies artistic vanguard, where the cultural forefront of London comes together. Artists can put up their studios in retired Underground tube carriages, and a restored Victorian warehouse forms the backdrop for its events – maybe a DJ one night, an upcoming band the next, a mixed-discipline art experience the day after that.

NEAR –Shoreditch

Credit: diamond geezer on Flickr