Arranging catch ups with your mates can feel like a bit of a task. Finding a date you can both do, identifying the WFH situ, and a part of town, and finally a place where you both want to actually eat.
But it is a good way to occupy your evening, especially because someone recently observed that once you reach your 30s, all social events are actually birthday drinks, to which I offer the counter argument that ‘no! social events are also housewarmings, baby showers, engagement parties and Christmas!’, which isn’t depressing at all.
It’s not that the concept of the mid-week accidental boozy dinner totally goes away when you get past your 20s. But there does come a point in adult life when midweek evenings become watching Netflix, weekends are the domain of Family Events, and catching up with mates is relegated to 10 minutes of rushed speed-dating style Q&As conducted while following the host into kitchens, gardens, toilets, or towards front doors; batting away other guests trying to say goodbye, and trying to find out what they’ve been up to in the two months since you saw them last.
So midweek dinners, then: dinners are the one. A few hours on a Wednesday night to sit down with one or two mates and have conversations that don’t begin with ‘so, what are you doing with yourself these days then?’ or ‘what is it you do again?’. Somewhere nice, but not too spendy. Nothing you’ve got to queue or book ten years ahead for. Just somewhere you can rock up after work, where the food’s decent, a bottle of wine doesn’t cost £30, and the service is included but you don’t really mind because you’re pretty sure the waiter just gave you a cheeky smile. Bobs your uncle, Fanny’s your aunt, everyone’s in bed by 11:30pm.
But the eternal question: where?
1. Caravan, Exmouth Market
You’re pretty much good to eat anywhere on Exmouth Market – but shout out to Caravan in particular because the burrata is delicious, and they’ll almost always find you a seat if there’s just a couple of you if you just walk in on the night. It’s also a bit less shouty than the Kings Cross branch.
I once took not one, but two vegans here for dinner on a Thursday night after an extended happy hour, after which neither were either sober nor, indeed, strictly vegan. One of them did, however, declare this place the best fucking tapas I’ve ever had – and the other one has been here so many times on various dates before that she doesn’t even need to look at the menu any more. It’s great. Low lit little booths, sharing plates, and G&Ts as big as your head. On. The. Strand.
Absolutely feels like you’re walking into a hotel restaurant, but is ten times better than that because the menu is almost entirely dim sum and you can order as little or as much as you want. Me and a mate went here recently after work and it was easy to get a booking, and everything we ate was delicious.
Oh good god, the food in this place. You might have to angle around a bit for a table if there’s more than 3 of you, but it’s a pub, so you can always kill time outside or at the bar. This is a good place if you don’t want interruptions – order at the bar from whatever’s on the blackboard (it’s above the chefs) that day. The pasta is banging, but lots of people also rate the fish and massive steak sandwich. It’s good value, delicious, and because it’s a pub, you can hang around for as long as you like after you’ve eaten.
After Leather Lane’s food market shuts down for the day, Kin’s just there with its Asian Street Food, chilling, waiting. It’s pretty small in there, but the pad thai is excellent and the service is quick. It can get busy, so book in advance.
The best thing about Gallipoli is 1) the mezze and 2) that there’s about 80 (alright, three) branches along Upper Street, so if one’s busy, you can just keep trotting up the road until you find a branch with some spare tables. Stuff your face with hummus and stay there as long as you want.
Mexican tapas is a bit of a minefield in London – and I’m not saying you’d make a proper beeline for this place from south London, but if you find yourself in Dalston in need of good cocktails, very good picky-bits, and chorizo in red wine that genuinely melts when you eat it, this is the place.
Sometimes you just need to gaze into the eyes of your mate over some good, solid, French food and say those immortal words: you gonna drink that moules marinere sauce or can I have a bit? This place also does, joy of joys, RACLETTE. Order a day ahead.
In 2016 I went to Japan for the first time, and this place was the closest I’ve come to finding somewhere even close to the low-key but delicious comfort food that is Okonomiyaki. One of my favourite places to meet a friend for dinner, but isn’t the one for big groups. The truly amazing thing is the location: tucked away behind the London Eye.
Most “things to do in London” lists on the internet are terrible.
Have you seen them? The ones always recommending afternoon tea at the Wolseley and that you queue up with all the tourists to take a little spin on the London Eye?
Guys. Come on.
We’re in this beautiful, weird, stupid, expensive, ugly, graffitied, Victorian-terraced, high rise, opulent, ornate, Georgian, glass-fronted, gilded, domed, Roman-walled city. There’s a lot more to do here that doesn’t involve the going to the bloody London Dungeons.
Here are some completely normal, average, achievable, nothing special and mostly free things that are worth doing in your spare time.
1. Park yourself and your mates in Granary Square
A little trot from Kings Cross Station is Granary Square, where there’s lot of seating (and shade if it’s summer and hot). The whole area is pretty decent – Coal Drops Yard has good shops, Granary Square has food, kids and dogs can faff about in the fountains. And if it starts raining, you can go see something immersive at Lightroom or get a negroni and eat a burrata to yourself at Caravan.
2. Make your way along Camden Passage up to the Camden Head
3. See cool science stuff in the Wellcome Collection
This place is cool in a niche, slightly off beat, vaguely human-body-ish way. And by that I mean one time I saw an exhibition featuring Victorian sex toys and another time I saw actual real life brains. It’s always free, sometimes there’s a queue on Saturdays for the main exhibit, but in the week it’s usually quiet. Also, great cafe.
4. Look at whales and dinosaur bones in the Natural History Museum
Yeah, I’m recommending the NHM even though it’s touristy because it’s actually very cool and they’ve got whales. Follow this advice, and go to the Queens Gate entrance. Be there when it opens and not a moment later. The dinosaurs move now! The paid exhibitions are quieter, the National Geographic Photographer of the Year is always an excellent shout. Good for a day off work.
5. Go find the dead people in the British Museum
Literally: enter in the British Museum. Bring a buggy because they’ll let you skip the queue. Locate the Egyptian mummies. Photograph the main hall. Leave the British Museum (via the gift shop).
6. Walk, drive, bike or horse ride around Richmond Park
If you want to gallop around on horses, I recommend Stag Lodge stables. Otherwise just bring your adult scooter. Or feet. Or bike. Whatever. It’s like going to Wales or some other part of the country with lots of grass. If you’re driving or need a place to meet mates, head to the Roehampton Gate, there’s a big car park, a cafe, and toilets. Cross the road, chuck down a blanket. Keep an eye out for deer.
7. Watch an extremely good documentary
The tiny Bertha Dochouse screening room at the Curzon in Bloomsbury only shows documentaries, and there are only 55 seats. Which in practice means great, interesting, often niche and award winning films and fewer people to loudly eat popcorn and accidentally forget to mute their phones.
8. Play darts and board games in a pub near Farringdon
Alright Farringdon isn’t short on pubs, but the Old China Hand is a great, independent, lesser known little spot where they have board games, a chess club on Wednesdays (7pm), and you can order pizza in if you need something to eat. It’s open Wednesday to Sunday, and closing times are, I hear, negotiable depending on how much fun everyone’s having that night.
9. Hire a bike and take it for a ride
Old favourite Santander bikes are still going strong, and dockless Lime bikes are pretty much everywhere at the moment. TFL’s got a fun little random route generator to get you started.
10. Find the terrapins in the Barbican Conservatory
This is one of those places I like to surprise people with every so often because what no one expects to find right in the middle of this big concrete monstrosity that is the Barbican is a very cool tropical garden full of massive plants, occasional fish, and the odd turtle. It’s open, well, when it’s open, and you’ll need to book (free) tickets in advance.
11. Play tennis indoors at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre
Indoor courts are gold dust around this city, so hiring one costs about £32.50 for an hour at Lee Valley. But if it’s not raining, they have outdoor courts too (£13). They’ll supply the racket and balls. All you need is one (or three) friends.
12. Walk from Victoria Park to Camden along the Regent’s Canal
Or any stretch of the Regent’s Canal, really. There are gazillions of places to just stop and eat along there, or you can hop off for food and coffee at Broadway Market. The canal towpath runs all the way from east to west, with a bit of a gap around street level near Kings Cross / Angel.
13. Have a nice long boozy lunch or daytime dinner at Dishoom
Oh god, Dishoom. Probably some of the most well known Indian restaurants in London (other than Tayaabs?) – but for good reason. The best time to avoid the queues is in the middle of the day, or breakfast time, or turn up bang on 6pm.
14. Wander along the Barbican High Walk and see Roman ruins
Hi, this is your daily reminder that this city is OLDand most of it isn’t in a museum yet. It’s just there, in Barbican, on the street, waiting for you and your little modern 21st century feet. Here’s a handy route and map.
15. Harass dogs on Hampstead Heath
…then once you’ve done that, get a cuppa tea and eat cake at in the cafe at Kenwood House.
17. Have a chilled pint right on the Thames in Limehouse
The Grapes in Limehouse is probably one of my favourite pubs, this ^ is the view from the little wooden terrace. It’s mega old, proper local, and they do a good fish and chips. Go at sunset, photograph the shit out of the Antony Gormley Sculpture.
18. Find yourself a good travel book in Daunt
Straight to the Marylebone High Street branch, folks. It’s this Edwardian wooden book cave that specialises in travel books. The staff are very good. Plus, if you don’t have a Daunt book bag yet, are you really a Londoner? And while you’re there…
19. Cafe-hop along Marylebone High Street
Shop ‘n’ walk along the quieter, posher alternative to Oxford Street. Then go find The Gunmakers and have a pint.
20. Watch a film (with wine) in the Garden Cinema
This is a beautiful little independent cinema near Covent Garden with a reasonable membership, mega varied programme of new and old films, a good bar, and lots of member events.
21. Befriend pigs and donkeys at a city farm
Lower your expectations because, you know, this ain’t Yorkshire. But there’s city farms in Mudchute, Stepney, Spitalfields, Hackney Road, Surrey Docks, and Kentish Town. Contrary to popular belief, kids are not a pre-requisite for entry.
22. Do some stuff at the Barbican Centre
Coming in strong with another entry for the Barbican Centre – which is just generally a good spot if you’re at a loose end: there’s free wifi, cafes, free exhibitions, obvs loads of classical music and stuff, a library, and a cinema which you can bring your baby to and even does screenings just for kids on the weekends.
23. Have a quick peek and a drink in Wilton’s Music Hall
There are loads of ramen places in London now, but the original Bone Daddies in Peter Streethas always been my go-to. The food comes quickly, you won’t queue long if it’s outside of main dinner or lunch times, and communal tables and window seats are extra good if you’re rolling solo. They’ll supply the bibs.
25. Spend an hour looking at excellent photography
The Photographer’s Gallerywas London’s first – and it’s got exhibitions across three floors. You’ll find it just off Oxford Street which is good if you were like “hey let’s go shopping” and instantly regretted it. It’s open late on Thursdays, and is free on Fridays after 5pm.
26. Read the slightly depressing plaques in Postman’s Park
Sod All Star Lanes, it’s bloody extortionate. The cheap, original, far mire fun bowling alleys are this one in Queensway, and Rowan’s in Finsbury Park. Although if you’re central, Bloomsbury Lanes is good if you’re a group of 6 or fancy ending the night with some karaoke and an 80s night.
28. Get an excellent view of London from Ally Pally
That’s Alexandra Palace, for the non-believers. While we’re on the subject, the views from Primrose Hill, Greenwich Royal Observatory, and Parliament Hill are also worth getting slightly out of breath for.
29. See a beautiful Japanese garden in Holland Park
When the Olympics finished, it left behind its massive swimming pool, a mountain bike course, loads of walking tracks, tennis courts, white water rafting, and a velodrome where you can just go and sit and watch the cycling and have a coffee. Just FYI.
31. Look around the free exhibitions at the British Library
The BL always has some pretty interesting free exhibitions downstairs, there’s also space just to sit quietly and have a cuppa in the foyer. You can also become a member for free, and go into the reading rooms which are probably the only mobile phone free space left in London.
32. Say hi to the giraffes without actually going into London Zoo
Walk around to the north end of Regent’s Park by the canal, and as well as many dogs, ye shall also be rewarded with a few long necked horses aka giraffes, often seen peeking over the fence.
33. Saunter down Roupell Street in Waterloo
…aka the most London-looking street in London. It’s a beaut. Don’t even think about not sauntering. This road was made to saunter along, like a Victorian gent.
35. Walk through the City when it’s completely dead
You know where’s really nice on a Sunday? Moorgate, Farringdon, Smithfield, Barbican, Bank, St Pauls, Fleet Street, Cannon Street, all round there. It’s quiet. Everything’s closed. There are no suits. Just the odd lost, slightly bewildered looking tourist, the occasional branch of Pret, and a fair few pigeons. Bring your camera. Chuck on a good podcast. Stop in one of the little hidden city parks for a snack.
36. Get on a bus to anywhere
Yeah I know – buses, shut up about the buses. But seriously: get on one, pay £1.75, sit on the top deck, preferably at the front. Now get on a few more: for the next hour, it’s free! Some of them literally follow the same route as the big sightseeing companies. Plus, spend enough time on buses and you’ll develop a superhuman (/cab driver-like) ability to find your way around London without looking at CityMapper once.
37. Sit on Southbank and people watch
Next time you’re up early, grab a cuppa and plant yourself down on one of the big stone blocks outside the Southbank Centre. Or, if it’s raining, go inside the Southbank Centre (or Royal Festival Hall). You’ll find a load of spare tables and seats in one of London’s best free public spaces. Sit there. Drink your tea. Eat a croissant. Watch all manner of people walk past. They also do a lot of free events, especially for kids. Have a lovely day.
38. Take the tube to Greenwich, and get the Thames Clipper back.
Why does getting a boat home from anywhere somehow make you feel like you earn £100k more than you actually do? Even if that place is along the Thames and the boat is sponsored by Uber? Idk. Anyway, go to Greenwich, because it’s far enough away to warrant the journey home (unless you live in Greenwich, in which case, go somewhere else) and in the right light has this kind of film set quality about it, and then feel the warm, wealthy glow of casually announcing to anyone who can hear you: sorry, I must dash, I’ve got to catch my boat.
39. Shop in a quiet place
Oxford Street’s a bit frenetic for me on a Saturday. But One New Change (again, in the city) tends to be completely dead at the weekend. There’s not a huge amount of shops, and it’s no Westfield, but there is a Zara, H&M, and also an Aesop. And did I mention the lack of people?
40. Stay in bed
It’s a big city, we live busy lives, you work hard. Have a nap. You deserve it.
Got some other normal suggestions? Chuck them in the comments below.
2015 was the year I decided to start making the most of London, beyond the pubs and hangovers (although there were plenty of those, too. I’m not dead).
I started playing tennis on Saturdays. I did a bit more yoga during the week. And when I wasn’t lying on a mat, breathing, I went to lots of events and gigs. Not the huge stadium jobbies, but the little ones; or, at least, anywhere that doesn’t cost £50+ per ticket and sell binoculars at the bar.
Thing is, you usually remember a gig. You might remember it because it was very very good, or because it was bad, or because you were excited, or mildly disappointed, or because you’d had a crap day followed by three incredible hours in a magical, strobey, packed, loud, laser-filled room.
And if you’re 5ft 3, you will also remember, in exacting detail, the thread count of the t-shirt belonging to the very tall man who stood in front of you.
So, in order of gigs attended since January, here’s who I saw in 2015 – and why it was good.
1. Ghostpoet at Chats Palace, Homerton (28th January 2015)
Ghostpoet did this show in a no-frills, library-turned-arts centre in the middle of Homerton. And you know, it’s these little venues – full of history, converted from something else, saved and staffed by the local community – that make seeing live music in London so bloody good. And Ghostpoet was excellent: he tested the new album on us, threw in some old favourites, and basically, all hail a venue that’s at capacity with 250 people in it. That’s 10000 less people to get in my way.
2. TOKiMONSTA at Oval Space, Hackney (12th February)
Oval Space is another really cool venue next to the huge, imposing gasholders by the Regent’s Canal. We went to see LA DJ / producer TOKiMONSTA, and what I’m about to say isn’t a reflection on her, honestly, because it was really good. But it was one of those nights where you say, 9 months later, “Remember that Thursday when we went to Oval Space and got really pissed and danced loads? That was a really good night.” and sort of forget who you were dancing to. The photo is blurry, and rightly so. No time for photos when you’re dancing yourself better.
3. Jon Hopkins at Brixton Academy (24th April)
This man. This man. Musician / producer behind what’s been the soundtrack to most of my waking activity since 2013, Immunity. Brixton Academy is also one of my favourite venues in London, so mix that with some mesmerising music, lasers and strobes, massive projections, and a slanted floor (seriously, the tall people, they find me every time) and you’ve got a pretty much perfect night. PS. Jon, call me.
4. The Prodigy at Alexandra Palace (15th May)
Is this how it ends? I wondered, between the hours of 12am and 2am, is this how I go?Crushed between a sweating mass of men raving to Smack My Bitch Up? Turns out, the average audience at a Prodigy gig is now either 32+ (Jilted Generation, your time) or under 20, and young enough to be most of the other half’s children. In fact, one woman in the loos had ticked both boxes and was there with her son. Either way, when this is the result, you can’t really complain. A+ show, Keith. Keep it up.
5. Kwabs at Somerset House (17th July)
I hadn’t listened to much of Kwabs’ music before, but then that’s the best thing about seeing anything and anyone at Somerset House. Whether it’s a film or a gig, or people falling on their arse ice skating – the setting is so beautiful, and atmospheric, and has a magical way of timing the good bits just for when the sun starts to set a lovely pink colour, that you’ll end up having a really good time anyway. And so I do not remember much of Kwabs, but I remember that is what we did.
6. Knife Party at Brixton Academy (Halloween / 31st October)
Putting aside the potential pitfalls of marketing an event called Knife Party in Brixton, we should probably acknowledge the disconcerted feeling of walking out of the tube to find fake blood dripped on the pavement and what look like victims of a zombie apocalypse stumbling down the main road. I think we were the oldest at this gig by about five years, but that’s ok. We danced. We sweated a lot. It was fun. I got to wear my skeleton onesie again. Also, I have never seen so much traffic on the way home at 5.30am. Seriously, London. Take a break, you’ll wear yourself out.
7. Lapsley at The Dome, Tufnell Park (4th November)
Fun story: the last time I went to The Dome was a Saturday when I was about 16, for an indie / rock night, and my friend’s parents picked us up at 3am at the end. This time, it’s Wednesday, I’m 31, me and Harriet drink our weight in cider then go up the road for an ill advised night cap, then get an Uber home. Hangovers ensue. When will we learn? We will not learn. Conclusion: Lapsley is very talented. And me and Harriet have no regard for a school night.
8. Talib Kweli at the Jazz Cafe, Camden (19th November)
Where to start? This was the best gig of the year, maybe one of my favourites ever. Seeing a hip hop legend who’s worked with pretty much every producer and artist you love is one thing, but also seeing him on this tiny stage at the Jazz Cafe with only about 400 other people is another level entirely. After a few gigs this year where the crowd was… not unfriendly, but perhaps indifferent, this time it definitely felt like we were surrounded by like-minded, chatty, happy people who were all there for exactly the same reason: for good times and amazing music. Mr Kweli was on for about 2 hours, did a big encore, and we went home with Get By in our heads for the next week.I loved this night. I loved it very much.
9. Four Tet / Chvrches at Alexandra Palace (27th November)
Disclaimer: we missed Four Tet because I was eating a pie. In other news, Chvrches were good – I think we decided that Lauren Mayberry’s stage chat was endearing (some in our group said “annoying”) – but… ah, I don’t know. Despite it being a sold out show, and the tunes being good, and her voice being amazing, the atmosphere was a bit flat. Then again, the last time I’d been in Ally Pally I’d basically feared for my life, so maybe this was a safer alternative.
10. Elliot Moss at Moth Club, Hackney (4th December)
Getting into Moth Club involved walking through what is essentially the bar area at an old folks home, going through more doors, and then entering a sparkly glitter ceilinged alternative universe. If that sounds unlikely, welcome to Hackney. Anyway, after a week of binge-listening to Elliot Moss I now knew at least four songs, which enabled me to dance and even sing along with assured competence. My mate Yas was right. I did like his music. It was an excellent end to the year.
And so endeth 2015. Thank you to the friends who came with me to gigs, and the friends who made me their +1s too.
