Tag Archives: West London

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Kid-Friendly London Itineraries

Child having fun

No matter what age your children may be, London is a great city to take them to. Whether you plan to be spending your time in the sophisticated West End, or the edgy and upcoming East End, here are a few kid-friendly itineraries to consider.

West and North London
If you are staying around the West or North end of London, then start your day off at the ZSL London Zoo. The oldest scientific zoo in the world, having opened its doors in 1828, children of all ages love seeing all the animals that are housed here, from the giraffes to the penguins. Since the zoo is right on the doorstep of Regent’s Park, head to the park for a picnic lunch and a bit of exploration. Once you have eaten and relaxed, walk to the south end of the park, where you will find Madame Tussauds. This is a great activity for children, as they will delight in seeing wax statues of all of their favorite celebrities.

East London
To begin your kid-friendly day out in East London, head to the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green, which will delight both children and adults with their nostalgic toy collections, as well as the many toys available for children to play with. After the museum, take a stroll around the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, which is a leafy oasis that has been created on the old Eastern Curve railway line. This is a great opportunity to show your children exactly how their food is grown, which is something that kids in London often do not get to experience. This is also a great spot to grab some lunch, while your children play in the large sandpit outside the café. If the weather is pleasant, head back to Bethnal Green, to the Victoria Park Kid’s Fountain Playground, where the gushing fountains in the Splash Playground will keep your children entertained for quite a while. Finally, if your children love animals, the Lee Valley Riding Centre offers one hour pony trekking sessions for families, and this will take you through the area’s stunning nature reserves and patches of woodland.

Central London
There is no shortage of child-friendly activities to take part in in Central London, with one of the most popular being the London Eye. Make your way there as early as possible in order to avoid the crowds, before taking a stroll along the banks of the river. The Natural History Museum should be your next stop, as there are so many interactive activities here that will enable your kids to really learn about natural history in a hands-on way. Nearby is the V&A Museum of Childhood, which again has plenty of child-friendly daily activities, from treasure hunts to storytelling sessions. If your children enjoy museums, Ripleys Believe it or Not is not too far away, and will no doubt delight them, while those who would prefer to spend some time outdoors can spend the rest of the day exploring the famous London landmarks in the area, from Big Ben to Westminster Abbey.

London is such a kid-friendly city, and you will never be short of activities to do with your children. From the museums of Central London to the nature and wildlife of East London, these are just a few of the child-friendly activities that you will find in the city.

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London’s Spring Art Exhibits

Exhibit in London

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London’s art scene is always thrilling, and this spring sees some truly exciting exhibits hitting the capital. From pieces by an underground cartoonist to historic Dutch paintings, these are some of the hottest art exhibitions in London this spring.

R Crumb: Art and Beauty
Robert Crumb was considered to be the most famous underground cartoonist in the world, although his underground status has been slowly diminishing over recent years as the artist has begun the transition into the world of art galleries. Crumb’s latest exhibit, held at the David Zwirner gallery in West London, features 54 pieces of work that the artist has been creating since the mid 90’s, many of which put Crumb’s erotic imagination on display. Women are the focal point of many of his pieces, and a number of recognizable sports stars are on display, as well as snapshots and drawings of everyday inspiring women on the streets of London.

Dutch Flowers
Flowers are not just visually pleasing, but are in fact symbols for everything from passion to love to sympathy to celebrations, and the Dutch Flowers exhibit is all about these beautiful botanicals. Located at London’s National Gallery, the display of paintings dates back to the seventeenth and eighteenth century, and while the exhibition may be small, with just 22 paintings in an intimate setting, the talent on display is extraordinary. From microscopically accurate representations of plant life to vases overflowing with blooms, Dutch Flowers mirrors the inspiring balance between nature and art, while also depicting the many different concepts that flowers symbolize.

Royal Academy of Arts

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Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse
Gardens have always served as immense forms of inspiration for artists all over the world, and this is especially true for the Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and Avant Garde movements. Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse can be found at the Royal Academy of Arts, and features a collection of work from world-famous artists. Dating from the 1860’s to the 1920’s, pieces from the likes of Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, Matisse, Cezanne and more are on display, depicting exactly how the modern garden has shaped the work of these master artists. Many of the pieces here are classics, and, when displayed with others that also focus on the same subject matter, the overall effect is most definitely powerful.

Conceptual Art in Britain
There is plenty of debate about conceptual art, and while many may only associate it with the past decade, conceptual art actually arose over forty years ago. British artists played a huge role in the development and evolution of conceptual art, and this exhibit depicts this impact in a clear and concise manner. Key pieces of British conceptual art are on display, with the overall exhibition aiming to make conceptual art more intelligible and appreciated by the general public.

London has long since been an epicenter for art and culture, and the city is constantly home to some of the most exciting art exhibitions around. From classic pieces by world-famous master painters to modern British conceptual art, these exhibits are the highlight of London’s art scene this spring.

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Local Eateries in London

Savoy, London

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Each of London’s neighborhoods is packed with amazing restaurants, and recent years have seen an increase in the popularity of the more local joints. From Michelin-quality dishes created from seasonal British ingredients to a historic chophouse that has been around since the 1800’s, these are some of London’s best local eateries.

Quality Chop House, Farringdon
First opened in 1869, the Quality Chop House is not only a much-loved local restaurant, but also has a wine bar, a shop and a butcher on site. The restaurant still retains certain features from when it was first opened, including the classic polished wooden booths that line the dining room. Each day, the restaurant receives their order of fresh produce before writing up the daily menus, with each dish inspired by their latest ingredients. From the Wild Garlic Soup to the Hereford Mince on Dripping Toast to the Devon Crab, each of the dishes makes full use of seasonal ingredients, resulting in a truly British culinary experience.

Lardo, Hackney
Lardo is a must-visit for any pork aficionados, as the restaurant only uses native breed pigs that have been bred specifically for their signature dishes. While this industrial-chic pizzeria may produce Italian-inspired dishes, the majority of ingredients used are quintessentially British, from the fennel pollen to the English asparagus to the rabbit. Of course, ordering their Lardo pizza is essential, as these melt-in-your-mouth strips of meat are what you will return to the restaurant for time and time again.

Claude’s Kitchen, Parsons Green
A stylish, modern British eatery, Claude’s Kitchen first opened its doors in 2013, and it did not take long for the restaurant to quickly become a local favorite. Again, this is a restaurant that creates menus inspired by British ingredients, with innovative dishes of Michelin standard. With fresh fish brought in daily from the south of Cornwall, and all meat being free-range and organic, the freshness of the ingredients plays a huge part in the final outcome. Whether you opt for the Octopus and Bream served with blood orange, Campari and seaweed, or the Guinea Fowl served with morels, popcorn grits and wild garlic, Claude’s Kitchen gives you the opportunity to taste some of the very best of the new wave of conceptual and creative British cooking.

Marianne, Notting Hill
Small and intimate with seating for just fourteen, Marianne is considered to be more of a micro-restaurant, and is run by one of the best female chefs in the city. The menu features classic, fine dining dishes, each with an elegant and feminine touch, and only uses the freshest of seasonal ingredients to guarantee the utmost quality. With dishes such as the Hebridean Scallop Ceviche with Blood Orange, the Highland Wagyu Fillet, and the Mille-Feuille of Wild Mushrooms, Truffles and Hollandaise, this is a great restaurant to visit if you want to sample classic British fare.

London is filled with restaurants from every corner of the globe, but it is the local British restaurants that really stand out. With thoughtful dishes, fresh and seasonal ingredients, and talented chefs, these eateries are a must-visit the next time you find yourself in the city.

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Best Cafes in London

Woman having coffee

London has cafés on just about every street, from large international chains to small, independent businesses. Whether you’re after a quick morning caffeine fix or a leisurely lunch with refreshing cocktails, OROGOLD has put together a list of some of the best cafés in London.

Workshop Coffee Co.
The Workshop Coffee Co. has locations in Clerkenwell, Holborn and Wigmore Street, and is the proud recipient of a variety of awards, from Best Independent Café to Best Vegetarian Breakfast. With its primary focus on high-quality coffee, the café also serves up delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners and weekend brunches, placing a large emphasis on conscientious ingredient sourcing, as well as a fantastic selection of wines and beers.

Caravan
Caravan’s original branch is at Exmouth Market, but it is their King’s Cross location that OROGOLD really loves. The space is large, airy and full of light, making it a pleasure to relax with a coffee or a meal. The café’s kitchen is semi-open, while at the back, they have their very own roastery, giving the air a perky scent while giving the café freshly roasted beans to use in their delicious Espresso Martinis.

Hummingbird Café
The Hummingbird Café is an independent antipodean-style café in the heart of London’s Shepherd’s Bush. Their focus is on delicious Ozone coffee, drinks and simple food cooked with plenty of love. Their menu quickly earned them a place in the hearts of many Londoners, who flock their daily for a hearty lunch and a decadent slice of freshly baked cake. If you are visiting the Hummingbird Café for the first time, OROGOLD suggests timing your visit so that it doesn’t clash with the weekend brunch rush, as the café can get extremely busy.

Kaffeine
Kaffeine has two locations in West London, and was first opened in 2009 to provide London with an Australian-style café. The café strives to create the perfect cup of coffee, and has all the necessary equipment in place to do so, from what is considered to be the holy grail of espresso machines to one of the finest coffee bean grinders in the industry. Their menu focuses on fresh and seasonal food, and is changed every week to reflect their fresh produce.

Long White Cloud
Located in the trendy area of Hoxton, in East London, Long White Cloud is a café and gallery space that has quite a loyal following. Their menu features delicious organic and free range produce, all of it locally sourced as much as possible, with the Full English Breakfast being an OROGOLD favorite. Being a thriving gallery space, the café hosts a variety of exciting art exhibitions, most pieces of which are available to purchase directly from the café.

London has more than its fair share of cafés, but these are some that really stand out to OROGOLD. Whether because of their emphasis on the best coffee in the city, or due to their focus on fresh, seasonal and locally sourced food, these cafés are ones that we always try to visit whenever we find ourselves in London.