Having my London Summer Hot List was a great motivator last season – it had me seeking out public art exhibitions, zooming into the sky for brilliant sunset views and trekking to East London for the deliciousness of Broadway Market. Getting out in winter can be a bit more of a challenge – when it’s windy and cold, sometimes all I want to do is curl up on my sofa. Instead, I’ve compiled my London Winter Cool List (see what I did there?!) to jog me into action. Here’s what made the cut!
1. Pop-Down at The Vaults
A previous Christmas pop-up experience at Forza Winter
I love a foodie experience with a twist, so when I read that popular supper club Cuisson was taking their innovative street food to The Vaults in Waterloo it was quickly added to my must-try list. They promise “interactive elements” alongside innovative dishes using seasonal produce – and all within walking distance of my house. I’m intrigued! I loved the amazing wintery menu Forza Win(ter) served with a side of fun a couple of years ago, so I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of spin Cuisson put on their offering.
2. A Walking Tour
This was on the summer list but I didn’t get myself organised enough – but as walking tours are year-round I now have no excuse! After experiencing a ghost tour in summer (spoiler: not so spooky when there’s beautiful sunshine all around), I might need to try being terrified in winter. More relaxing on my nerves would be one of Yannick of London Unravelled‘s reportedly fabulous tours that I’m still yet to try, or a foodie-focused ramble round East London.
3. Windsor Castle or Hampton Court Palace
Another miss this summer was Buckingham Palace, so I’m adding some other royal residences to the winter list. I’m guessing either will be beautiful in autumn colours and austere in winter, so I’ll be journeying slightly further afield to see how the other 0.0001% lived!
4. Silent Disco at The Shard
My best silent disco experiences so far have been at Glastonbury – I’m guessing a night of headphones at the Shard will be a much less muddy affair! The Shard in general is still on my London List as I’ve not made it further than the bars at the 35th floor. The views (and cocktails there) are amazing enough, but I’d love to see my beloved city from near the very top. Add in the fun of switching channels from disco to house and watching everyone dance to their own beat, and I’m sure it’ll make for an amazing night out.
5. A Supper Club Experience
I’m fascinated by the idea of supper clubs, where a talented amateur or chef hosts a group in their home or a small venue and serves their own menu. After meeting Guan many moons ago I’ve wanted to try his Malaysian Nyona supper club ever since. More recently, Connie’s post on Scratch Secret Supper Club had me salivating. A super-intimate foodie experience – I can’t believe I haven’t ticked this one off a long time ago!
6. An Art Exhibition
I love visiting galleries and public art spaces, but am often lazy about actually doing so. In London there’s really no excuse as the city is brimming with art! Exhibitions on my list this season include The World Goes Pop at Tate Modern, Ai Weiwei’s Royal Academy show, and the ever-stunning Wildlife Photographer of the Year at the Natural History Museum.
7. Winter Wonderland
Because there’s nothing that gets you into the Christmas spirit like children running round high on candyfloss and clutching giant bears. I kid, I kid. That’s Oxford Street. But seriously, I had a blast at Winter Wonderland last year – I’d advise going later in the day on a Saturday and taking full advantage of the fun fair rides, checking out the German Beer Hall, and of course the carousel bar. This year I want to be a little more organised and book myself in for the Ferris Wheel – I bet the views over the park will be spectacular.
8. A Play at the National Theatre
I’m lucky enough to live fairly close to South Bank, which is without a doubt one of London’s cultural hubs, boasting both the Old and Young Vic, Royal Festival Hall and National Theatre, to name but a few. While I’ve been lucky enough to see incredible productions at both the Vics, I haven’t yet treated myself to a selection from the wealth of culture staged at the National Theatre. Coupled with a variety of eateries that are always humming when I go past, I would like to see As You Like It or maybe Jane Eyre and really make a night of it!
9. Christmas Extravaganza Take Two
And while we’re on a Christmas theme, I want to recreate the awesome walking tour I did two years ago that took in many of the incredible Christmas lights dotted around London. They generally start switching on in early December and I was blown away by the variety and beauty of lights in a relatively small area. It definitely got me in a Christmassy mood!
10. Visit a travel-themed bar or three
When I put the call out on Twitter for ideas for this season’s list, Jen of She Gets Around suggested Imperial Durbar, a Raj-styled bar in South London. And that got me thinking – London has a wealth of travel-themed bars – so why not visit a few? I’m not travelling around Europe as much at the moment (the reason why will be revealed soon, I hope!), so this is a great way to catch up with friends and also slake my travel thirst. A Lady in London listed some great venues here – anyone for a tipple?!
So the challenge is on! Any other great suggestions for London this winter? Do you have a similar list for your hometown?
Linking up for Travel Tuesday with Bonnie, Lauren and Courtney
