Sketch out of this World...

Champagne in the Parlour

Have you ever been to a restaurant that can make you feel like you are travelling through different eras and genres? One minute you are enjoying a drink in a swanky parlour and the next you are enjoying dinner in an explicable pink art gallery. Every centimeter of Sketch was planned out so flawlessly that they even managed to make a trip to the toilet unforgettable. In fact Sketch is so incredible that even if the food were horrendous it would draw people in for the unique environment alone, so once you consider the top notch quality of the the food anyone could understand why Sketch is a must see London hot spot.

Boasting a two Michelin star restaurant called the Lecture Room, Sketch is a culinary mastermind creating tantalizingly tasty dishes. The Lecture Room is a cozy restaurant reminiscent of a modern twist on a bourgeois club/restaurant from the 20s. With comfortable armchairs around well dressed tables one can relax while feeling incredibly posh.



If you can not manage to score reservations for the two Michelin star Lecture Room then it would hardly be a hardship to wrangle a reservation for the Gallery. The modern art gallery surrounds its guests with original works of art from the walls to the tableware. Its menu, totally inspired, takes the familiar and unfamiliar and molds them into culinary masterpieces, food in the form of art to compliment that gallery in which you sit. Undergoing a total remodel every two years, the Gallery is a fluid canvas that evolves with the times, keeping up with the hottest trends of the art world.

Interested in visiting Sketch but either couldn't get a reservation or don't have loads of money to spend on food? Visit the Parlour or the Glade for a deliciously comforting menu in a luxuriously sexy setting and enjoy a divine cocktail while you wait.

Whether you are there for dinner or just fancy, you must pop into the East Bar to enjoy the hip and artistic atmosphere. Great for casual conversation with friends or an unpredictable date night with a loved one, this bar provides an intimate setting in a club like atmosphere for a classy & exclusive night out on the town.

(Check out this video walking through the restaurant... you will be surprised where we end up...)

Dinner in the Heavens

Aqua at the Shard:

Enjoying a delicious 3 course meal that melts in your mouth with every bite, the amount of food on your plate is only disappointing until you look up and find yourself admiring the never ending views of London surrounding you.

Aqua is located on the 31st floor of the Shard offering fine dining with a spectacular view. Floor to ceiling windows enable guests of Aqua Shard to catch a glimpse of every inch of London, historic and new, in all of her glory. Specializing in British cuisine, the menu provides a delightful taste of British culture to London tourists and delectable versions of local delights to her British guests. With locally sourced ingredients, the knowledgable staff can easily tell you where the food on your plate has come from while giving you a detailed description of the delights listed on the menu.

Boasting a brilliant breakfast and dinner menu,  the real highlight of Aqua Shard is the set menu for lunch. To visit the Viewing Gallery at the top of the Shard it costs £30 if you buy it on site and all you get to consume is the view. However, for £35 you are served a three course meal and get to dine among the heavens taking in the breathtaking views of London all around you.

I happened to go for a celebration in the sky in honour of my fabulous aunt's birthday. However, providing more than just a felicitous occasion, this restaurant left a taste in my mouth and a stunning vision in my mind that I want relive over and over again. Now a staple on my London tourist circuit, Aqua at the Shard provides the perfect lunch with a view to break up a full day of tourism in London.

(Equipped with naught but an iPhone I have only a few pictures, none of which do it justice. To see more visit, www.aquashard.co.uk)

Afternoon Tea at the Ritz

This bear has been in hibernation for the holidays and what better way to wake up from a long sleepy winter than with food! Over my next few posts I will be treating you to exquisite fine dining across London.

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You only live once and the one beautiful undeniable fact is that we all need to eat to survive. So why not treat yourself to some fabulous food with an unforgettable experience. London is one of the many major metropolitan cities around the world where foodies can unite to indulge themselves. With an endless array of choices, one can dine inside the mind of a brilliant chef, eat among astonishing history, and enjoy the height of sophistication in the local culture.

On my most recent trip to London, as a celebration of various events, I was lucky enough to find myself in three deliciously exquisite London hot spots and each experience left an imprint that will forever remain in my soul. 

We will start out with my childhood dream and go for tea at the Ritz before visiting my next two hot spots later this month. 

The Ritz:

There are not words to describe tea at the Ritz. Elegance & sophistication, opulence & grandeur these words don't even begin to shed light on the palatial hotel and the overall royalty of the experience. Sitting in a crowded room one would not expect to have such detailed and individualized service but the Ritz (unsurprisingly) delivers an experience like no other.

The highlight however, (and rightly so) is not the service but the food. Deliciously delicate sandwiches, richly sumptuous cakes, and warm decadent scones never disappear from the table, despite how many you eat, as they are refilled before you can even notice they are gone. Mouth watering from the bottomless nibbles, hot tea is the perfect compliment, refreshing your pallet while quenching your thirst. The wide array of loose leaf teas on the menu are impossible to choose from as they all sound so delicious, yet luckily you can choose as many as you like given there is room in your tummy and on the table.

Although this culinary adventure is not inexpensive at £50 per person, it is worth every penny. So if you are going to London (and will have the spare time & money) then why not indulge and book yourself afternoon tea at the Ritz. (Just don't forget to the dress the part or you may not be granted entry.)

Top 5 Tips for Exploring London (Affordably)

As a Brit, I know I am biased, but London truly is my favorite of the large metropolitan cities (with Paris following in at a very close second). London is so rich in history and culture I could happily just wander the streets with a smile on my face the whole time as I take it all in.

When convincing someone to visit London, one of my biggest selling points is that the public transportation is so good and the roads are so well signposted that it is a safe and easy city for anyone capable of reading a map to navigate.

Whether you have never traveled before or you have circumnavigated the globe countless times over, London needs to be on your tourist destination checklist.  Yet with that being said, there is no denying that while London has an endless possibility of things to do and see it is not renowned for being the world's most inexpensive city. So I have written for you this list of my top 5 tips for exploring London affordably to help you visit this glorious city within whatever budget you may be able to afford. (For tips on getting to London on a budget check out my tips for traveling without  breaking the bank)

Travel Using Either Big Bus Tours or the London Underground

• London in deceptively large and with everything there is to see it is easy to "over walk" yourself and end up exhausted, so do yourself a favor and take advantage of the public transportation!
• Hop on & hop off: A Big Bus Tour is a fantastic way to be a tourist in London because not only do you get interesting information along the way but one ticket will get you around the whole city as you can hop on & off the bus as often as you please.
• Looking for a fast way to get across the city? Grab a tube map and buy a day travel card and navigate the Underground lines for a fast and efficient way to get around the city.

Take Advantage of the Free Public Attractions!

• London offers countless free museum exhibitions across the city with fascinating things to see. Visit the National Gallery which boasts a stunning display of priceless works of art or head over to the British Museum and view a snapshot of our world's history through the astonishing artifacts housed there.
• London is a city with many old traditions which you can witness during your adventures. If you wander through Green Park to Buckingham Palace you may be able to witness my favorite age old tradition, the changing of the guard.
• For a full list of free attractions check out VisitLondon.com 

Get Up Early and Book Your Tickets in Advance!

• If you want to visit a popular museum that charges a fee, such as the Tower of London or the National Maritime Museum (which are both well worth the visit), book your tickets in advance! The lines grow long quickly and you can end up spending more time in line then at your destination. Skip the queue and beat the crowds for an overall improved experience.
• Hoping to see one of the many fabulous London productions in or around the West End? Book your tickets as early as possible, look on LastMinute.com or Timeout.com for some great last minute deals on theater tickets. 

Make a Plan...

• It would be easy to spend a week in London and still not see and do everything on your list. So make a loose plan to decide what you want to see and when so you can book whatever tickets you need to in advance.
• Some attractions need a whole day and others you can group together. The Tower of London or the National Maritime Museum really are full day excursions. The Victoria & Albert Museum on the other hand, is right next to the Natural History and the Science museum (all of which are free admissions), so if you are interested in visiting them all, you could plan to visit them on the same day or stay close by and spend a full day in each one. 

Dedicate some Time to Relaxation and Enjoy one of the Many Parks!

• When the weather is nice take the time to relax in one of London's beautiful parks. Stop in a Tesco Express,  M&S Simply Food or a corner-shop Waitrose to buy some lunch, and enjoy a picnic on the lawn. Sit back, relax, and enjoy people watching in one of the world's busiest cities. 

With Love, From London

There is nothing quite so inspiring as wandering through London in the early hours of a Sunday morning as the city slowly come to life. In that first golden hour, as the majority are still recovering from their Saturday night shenanigans, one can find a tranquil escape wandering along the cobblestones and tarmac.

There is never a dull moment in London. The vibrant city feeds on the life buzzing within it, which is one reason why the quiet moments are likely to hold the most promise of excitement, for it is within these moments that the unexpected can and will occur.

Exiting Westminster Station to the stunning backdrop of the nation's most iconic image contains an element of magic in and of itself. The beautiful clear blue sky speckled with the occasional flirtatious cloud created an idyllic setting to take in the grandeur of the Palace of Westminster with its unforgettable Elizabeth Tower which holds Big Ben.

Yet the view, despite all its glory, was not the highlight of the moment. Walking towards Westminster bridge in order to cross over towards the London Eye, we noticed a commotion on the other side of the road. A massive Panavision crane was in motion focusing on a crowd moving on cue. We stood and watched as Rebecca Ferguson filmed a mini scene for Mission Impossible 5 in awe at the process unfolding before us. Though strangely surreal it was thrilling to watch this small frame of filming take place and it took us quite some time to pluck up the courage to give up hope of watching the next frame occur and walk away from the recurring scene before us.

Walking on past the London Eye and crossing back over the Thames on the Millennium bridge, we watched the street vendors prepare to open for the day and the taxis begin to prowl. Passing the old home of Scotland Yard, we eventually found ourselves at Trafalgar Square where police were holding back traffic for an approaching military parade. Brass band trumpeting away at full force they marched towards us from Buckingham Palace passing through Admiralty Arch and disappearing off down the road.

Passing under Admiralty Arch, we were soon in the heart of St. James' Park and tummies rumbling ready for breakfast we were happy to find we weren't far from one of my favorite stops. Just nest to the waterfowl pond, sits a little restaurant called Inn the Park. Here we sat down for some heart warming tea and a scrumptious breakfast which disappeared quickly. Sitting outside, admiring the fountain and watching the number of people in the park quickly multiply we  finished off our drinks and headed back into the busy city of London we know so well.

London is a magical city which is heaving with people 85% of the time, so if you find yourself lucky enough to be exploring London, make the effort to wake up early on a Sunday morning to experience the city in its true glory and maybe even experience some of the unexpected magic that will undoubtedly occur.