She Loves London

Month: March 2013

  • 13 Reasons Why London is the Best City in the World (According to Twitter)

    13 Reasons Why London is the Best City in the World (According to Twitter)

    As snow falls in March, it’s easy to feel a little downbeat about the city you live in – and those of us living in London are no exception.

    But when you stop and look around, or do a search on Twitter, it’s clear there are many, many reasons why 8,174,100 people are proud to call this vast metropolis their home.

    So I’ve compiled 13 touching snapshots of this sprawling, multi-faceted place to help us remind ourselves just why London is the best city you could possibly live in, out of ALL of them.

    (Probably)

     

    1. London offers a warm welcome to all its international visitors


     

    2. London is a hotbed of romantic intrigue 

     

    3. London takes pride in its appearance

     

    4. London has a robust and reliable public transport system

     

    5. London is a haven for urban nature and wildlife lovers

     

    6. London has a rich selection of inspiring public exhibitions

     

    7. London has an inclusive attitude towards all creeds and cultures

     

    8. London is alive with ambition and entrepreneurial spirit

     

    9. London is intent on providing affordable housing for all

     

    10. London’s balmy spring weather allows for an outdoorsy culture

     

    11. London holds manners and social etiquette in high regard

     

    12. London’s sights and sounds will keep the whole family happy

     

    13. London is so good, a lot of people find it very difficult to leave

     

    So you see it may be snowing in March, but it could be worse.

    You could live in a place where the sun always shines, but nothing interesting ever happens.

    And if all else fails, we can always laugh at Dalston.

    If anything has made you like London lately, or flown into your face on the street, give it a cuddle and let me know.

  • Dogs in Shops: The Canine Bookmonger on Coldharbour Lane

    After London and dogs, next on my list of favourite things in the big wide world of everything would have to be books.

    Why is when Ellen alerted me to this beautiful member of staff in Bookmongers – a second hand bookshop on Coldharbour Lane in Brixton – it was pretty much like all my blackberry mojitos arriving at once.

    Best of all, he’s what I like to call a Proper Dog. (aka, big).

    Dogs in Shops: Barking about Books on Coldharbour Lane

    The shop is owned by Patrick Kelly, who opened it 20 years ago when he moved over from the USA – here’s a little video about him and Bookmongers. Their story, the character of the place and the general brilliance of second hand books pretty much sums up everything I love about London’s independent shops.

    On which note, you’ll find Bookmongers at 439 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LN.

    Thank you to Ellen Munro for the picture – she also runs one of my favourite blogs, Dogs on Trains.

    Speaking of reading, this year I’m one of 20,000 World Book Night volunteers, which basically means that on 23rd April I’ll be giving out free copies of Damage to people who wouldn’t normally read, like some sort of London-based book Jesus.

    So if you know anyone who could do with a push towards literature, let me know. I will hunt them down. 

    There are more dogs in shops here – and please feel free to send me any you find.

    Have you met this dog? Are you World Book Night-ing too? Let’s be friends. Friiiieennnnnd.

  • Questions People Ask When you Blog About London

    Questions People Ask When you Blog About London

    When you’ve got a blog about London, people expect you to know stuff.

    “Hey!” they say, bounding up to you all expectant ‘n’ that, “You know about London. Six people, Saturday night. We want jazz with a casual hip hop interlude, a sit down dinner and a fine selection of craft beer on tap, preferably north of the river. Where can we go?”

    It is at this point you invoke the Knowledgeable Face – an expression that involves pursing your lips together, looking at the sky, crinkling your brow and counting to three – before running through the options.

    “Hmm. Dunno. Not a clue. I’d ask on Twitter. Or, actually – you tried TimeOut?”

    “Oh, I just thought…” they begin, disappointment etched across their face like rampant teenage acne, “I just thought you might know. Because of your blog and stuff.”

    Then they walk away, muttering about there should be an Ofcom for blogs or something and you call after them, “Hey! Come back! I know things! Ask me the five different types of people you can expect to meet on the tube! Ask me where the cool kids sit on the bus! Oi! 139 FANS CAN’T BE WRONG, SUNSHINE.”

    Dog on Hampstead Heath overlooking London

    It’s like look, here’s the deal.

    I might not know where you can find a decent meal west of Kingsland Road, and I think I’ve been to Western Australia more times than I’ve been south of the Thames – but that’s because my social plans are an exact science.

    It’s taken years to hone this stuff, to get it down, to master the art of what I like to do in London – and when I find it, I stick to it.

    I’ve come along way since those heady days of wandering aimlessly around Leicester Square looking for any bar that’ll have me, and I’m quite proud of the fact that now, my social life on any given day can be pinpointed with GPS accuracy.

    Sunday? New Rose. Tuesday? Carluccios and Colebrooke. Saturday? Ruby’s, then the Lion. Friday? Anywhere, god dammit, it’s Friday! Then usually Barrio. Brunch? Dalston Emporium or Bardens. Can’t go home, won’t go home? The Nest. Weekday, starving, need food? MeatLiquor. Hungry after work? Wahaca, Covent Garden. Belly dancing? Gallipoli. Fancy a walk? Hampstead Heath. Dead people? British Museum.

    Ask me where to go, where’s good, what’s new, what’s happening and I will reel off one of the above.

    Ask me which carriage to stand in to get on the Metropolitan line train at Baker Street and off right in front of the stairs at Pinner? Depends on the platform, but your best bet is the second pillar down near the Snack Stop.

    And sometimes, when you’re a Londoner, that’s the only sort of knowledge you need.