King's Night at Dutch Centre

What we're reading

• London marathon runner reunited with finish line helper...
• ...while a gorilla is still doing the marathon as we type.
• Up to 40 people were found living in a three bedroom house in Edgware.
• Kensington's candy cane house is here to stay.
• The community-owned pub in Tottenham that serves free lunches to vulnerable locals.
• Talks to resolve Southern Rail row to reconvene.
• Tom Hardy becomes a real life vigilante, by helping to catch a moped thief in Richmond.

Things to do today

KENNEL CLUB TOUR: A rare chance to get inside the Kennel Club's new headquarters in Piccadilly. Learn about what the canine-centric organisation does, and visit its art gallery and library. Kennel Club (Piccadilly), £5, book ahead, 11am

LUNCHTIME LECTURE: There are 1.2 million species recorded as existing on our planet, but estimates project that's only a fraction of the true number. Listen to Chris Yesson speak on his journeys in the Arctic discovering entire new species. Grant Museum of Zoology, free, just turn up, 1.30pm-2.30pm

BOOK CLUB: The newly re-opened National Army Museum has a book club. This month they're discussing Pankaj Mishra's Age of Anger. National Army Museum, free, book ahead, 6.30pm-8pm

KING'S NIGHT: It's the Dutch monarch's birthday, which means it's party time. Head to the Dutch centre for drinks and 'orange madness'. Dutch Centre, £10/£5, book ahead, 6.30pm-10pm

SCIENCE MUSEUM LATES: It's the last Wednesday of the month so the Science Museum is open late for an adults-only event. The theme this month is food and drink — learn about food science through talks, hands-on events, and of course, the legendary silent disco. Age 18+. Science Museum (South Kensington), free (charge for some events), just turn up, 6.45pm-10pm

Operation Red Rocket at The Rose Lipman Building

SHORT FILMS: See a range of award winning short films at Spot Night. After the films there's a Q&A with their makers; hear about their creative processes and their insights into the industry. Hackney Picturehouse, £6, book ahead, 7pm

MUDLARKING: Greenwich Historical Society hosts mudlarking expert Nicola White, who shares her experiences of finding items on the Thames foreshore to use her art. James Wolfe School (Greenwich), £3, 7.15pm

SEXUAL THEATRE: It's time for an honest chat about sex with researcher/artist/provocateur Louise Orwin. Camden People's Theatre, £12/£10, book ahead, 7.15pm-8.25pm

RETRO FUTURE FOOD: The year is 1965 and the space race has already been won. Step into Operation Red Rocket for a past glimpse of an imagined tomorrow. With an epic five course meal. The Rose Lipman Building, £55, book ahead, 7.30pm-11pm

BEER COMPETITION: It's a good old fashioned Brewery Brawl down at the Jackdaw and Star tonight. In the red corner it's the reigning champ Canopy Beer Company. Opposite them in the blue corner, the challenger, The Five Points Brewery Company. Basically you drink a lot of beer and pick your fave. Jackdaw and Star, £10, book ahead, 8pm-11pm

Art review: endangered species

Copyright Louise McNaught

Louise McNaught's style sits somewhere between fine art and street art — her bold paintings, prints and sculpture usually featuring animals. This time she's focussed on endangered species: a polar bear, rhino and shoal of hammerhead sharks are found in her latest show. Louise McNaught: Edge of Existence at Curious Duke, 173 Whitecross Street, EC1Y 8JT, until 29 April, free ★★★☆☆ (Monday-Saturday) Tabish Khan

Theatre review: failing to deliver

Photo: Mauel Harlan

Christopher Hampton's 1970 play The Philanthropist — a sort of inverted riff on Molière's The Misanthrope — is a witty, absurdist comedy on the negative effects of benign passivity and the cocooned self-centredness of academic life that's out of touch with the real world. Unfortunately — despite some amusing moments — too many lines fall flat in Simon Callow's strangely disconnected revival with a talented cast of comic TV actors who seem out of their depth on stage. Simon Bird, Matt Berry, Tom Rosenthal, Charlotte Ritchie plus Lily Cole appear to be lost in a collective state of vacancy where no one really inhabits their admittedly unengaging characters or relates to each other. The Philanthropist, Trafalgar Studios, Whitehall, SW1A 2DY, £26.50‒99, until 22 July ★★☆☆☆ [Monday‒Saturday] Neil Dowden

Good cause for the day

HOSPITAL ABSEILING: Abseil 150 feet down the the face of St Thomas' Hospital for an enormous thrill and a brilliant cause. All money goes towards Guy's and St Thomas' charity raising money for the hospitals. St Thomas', £25/£30, book ahead, 12 May, noon-6pm

Throughout its life, London's status as a major metropolis led to it attracting its fair portion of crime, which in turn led to prisons being built, many of which are no longer standing today. We've found a few interesting modern structures that now sit on their remains.

Tate Britain which is where Millbank Prison once stood. Photo: James Beard

Millbank Prison

Author Henry James once visited Millbank Prison and described it as, 'lying there, sprawling over the neighbourhood with brown, bare, windowless walls, truncated pinnacles and a character unspeakably sad and stern.'

Standing on its former site is a radically different establishment: Tate Britain. The gallery doesn't inspire the same misery as its predecessor for most people, but we're sure there's a modern art hater out there somewhere — dragged along on a family day out — feeling like an inmate on the inside.

Newgate Prison

It's a nice touch that you can still see menacing bars from the Old Bailey. Photo: JAY

This is perhaps the most apt out of any of the transformations listed. From one branch of the justice system to another, where Newgate Prison once stood is now the Old Bailey. Instead of sitting in a cell, this is now the place where you find out you'll be sitting in a cell.

Coldbath Fields Prison

Mount Pleasant's neighbour looks like it might still be a prison today. Photo: Joe Dunckley

Coldbath Fields Prison* and Mount Pleasant Mail Centre share more than their unusual names. They're also built on the same bit of land in Farringdon.

*Seriously, was You're Not Going To Have A Very Nice Time Jail already taken?

Gatehouse Prison

The memorial is the column on the left of this picture. Photo: David Bank

The Gatehouse Prison was the gatehouse of one of London's most famous landmarks, Westminster Abbey. Dissenters against the church were held here until the place was torn down in 1776.

The very spot it once stood is where tourists mill about and congregate today. It's also the spot for the Westminster Scholars' Crimean War Memorial.

Palace of Placentia

Old Royal Naval College. Photo: Daniel Coyle

The Palace of Placentia is a beautifully named royal residence from the 15th century, and was the birthplace of Henry VIII. However, the palace fell on hard times and just over 200 years after its creation, it became a much less glamorous biscuit factory, and a prisoner-of-war camp during the English Civil War.

Charles II wanted to rebuild the palace so had it demolished, with the site remaining empty until 1694 when building began on Sir Christopher Wren's Greenwich Hospital. That lasted until 1869, after which the building was transferred to the Navy for use as a training site. Nowadays it's famous as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Old Royal Naval College.

Tothill Fields Bridewell

Photo: Joe Dunckley

Tothill Fields Bridewell is the second Westminster spot on this list. It stood from 1618 to 1877, going through numerous incarnations: at times it was a men's prison, at others a women's, and was even a juvenile prison for a period. When the prison closed in 1877, its foundations were found to be so sturdy that they were reused when the cathedral went up in its place.

Tower of London

The most recently functioning prison on this list. Photo: Matt Brown

Where the Tower of London once stood is now... the Tower of London. This one isn't going anywhere anytime soon, but its days as a prison are long behind. It's an oft-quoted bit of trivia that the last residents of the prison were east London's favourite gangsters, the Kray Twins, who left in 1952.

Lewisham. Photo by Matt Brown.

The modern borough of Lewisham stretches from the Thames, down to Beckenham Place Park in the south, and across from Forest Hill in the west of the borough to Shooters Hill in the east.

It's probably most well known for being home to a massive cat statue, the Horniman Museum and Millwall FC. But here are some other things you might not know about the borough.

1. Famous Folk from Lewisham

Famous people who were born in Lewisham include Gary Oldman, Alexander McQueen, Jessica Hynes, Maxi Priest, Louise Redknapp, Danny Baker and Sid Vicious.

Louise Redknapp, born in Lewisham.

Other celebrity residents include Robert Browning, Jude Law, Ian Wright, Mica Paris, Steve Wright, Edith Nesbit and Kate Bush.

2. It's home to a rare surviving 1950s ballroom

You probably know about the Rivoli Ballroom in Crofton Park.

But did you know that it used to be a cinema?

It's pretty rare that a London cinema is turned into a ballroom (it's usually the other way round), but that's just what happened. The building first opened as the Crofton Park Picture Palace in July 1913; the last film was shown on 2 March 1957, after which the building was converted to a dance hall by local businessman Leonard Tomlin.

It reopened as The Rivoli on Boxing Day, 1959 with a large Canadian sprung maple dance floor.

The Rivoli Ballroom. Photo by Travelling Miles.

In 2007 the Rivoli Ballroom was given Grade II listed status. Its unique interior makes it a popular place for films, videos and photoshoots.

Tina Turner, Elton John and Oasis have all made music videos using the space; notable live performances include The White Stripes in 2007, and Damon Albarn in 12014.

3. Lewisham is home to a new, ancient stone circle

Wait, ancient and new?

Well, the stones that make up the Hilly Fields Stone Circle are indeed, ancient.

The 12 granite boulders (from Mount Struie, near Scotsburn) are around 400 million years old; the Caithness flagstones that form St Norbert’s Gate and the central flagstone are around 350 million years old.

The Hilly Fields Stone Circle. Photo by Cath Dupuy.

But the stone circle itself is relatively new: it was installed to mark the millennium.

But it's more than just a local art project undertaken in the run up to the year 2000. Stand in the right spot, and the circle works as a sundial, with you acting as a gnomon.

4. Lewisham has Europe's largest police station

Lewisham is home to Europe's largest police station, which opened in 2004 on Lewisham High Street. It's about 10,000m2.

Lewisham Police Station. Photo by RachelH.

5. The borough has suffered three significant train disasters

Through the decades, Lewisham has seen more than its fair share of rail accidents.

The Lewisham rail crash in 1857 occurred just east of Lewisham railway station on 28 June 1857.

11 people were killed when one train ran into the delayed train in front, which had stopped just 200 yards from the station. The driver and fireman of the second train were charged with "neglect of duty causing the deaths of 11 persons", along with the Blackheath signalman who had failed to send the appropriate signals.

In December 1957, a crowded passenger train to Hayes stopped at a signal under a bridge. In the dense fog, the following steam train to Ramsgate failed to see the train, and crashed into it. The collision causing the bridge to collapse onto the steam train.

Now known as the Lewisham Rail crash, 90 passengers and crew were killed, and 173 injured.

The rail-over-rail bridge being dismantled after the crash at St Johns, Lewisham.

A decade later, in November 1967, a packed Sunday evening train service from Hastings to Charing Cross derailed between Hither Green and Grove Park railway stations.

Of the 12 carriages, 11 were derailed and four turned onto their sides. There were 49 fatalities and 78 people injured.

6. Ever heard of the Battle of Lewisham?

In 1977, the Battle of Lewisham saw the biggest London street battle against fascists since the Battle of Cable Street in 1936.

It all kicked off on 13 August 1977, when 500 members of the far-right National Front (NF) attempted to march from New Cross to Lewisham. The march was organised on the back of increasing electoral success at that time.

Various counter-demonstrations, by around 4,000 people led to violent clashes between the two groups and between the anti-NF demonstrators and police. 5,000 police officers were present; 56 officers were injured (11 were hospitalised) and 214 people were arrested.

The Battle of Lewisham. Photo from the Goldsmiths website.

It was the first time police had used riot shields in England.

The event is to be commemorated with a plaque in August 2017; read more about it here.

7. Home to an idiosyncratic house

The Stone House in Deptford is a Grade II* listed building, built between 1771 and 1773 by George Gibson the younger.

Stone House as seen from the entrance in Lewisham Way, Deptford.

It's made of Kentish Ragstone, a limey sandstone dating from the Cretaceous period, which gives the building its rustic appearance.

Side view of Stone House, Deptford. The column portico is visible to the left.

In the 19th century, the distinctive house acquired the nickname the Comical House: maps from the time show it labelled as such.

8. It's a bit of a wasteland for cinema fans

For 14 years from 2001 and 2015, Lewisham was the only borough in London without a cinema.

In 1930 there were 30 venues in the borough showing films; lewishamlostcinemas website has pictures of some of the most well-known superimposed over modern images which makes a nice resource for social history nerds.

Since 2015, Lewisham has boasted two cinemas: the independent, not-for-profit Deptford Cinema; and Curzon Goldsmiths, located inside the campus of Goldsmiths College in New Cross.

Deptford Cinema

9. There's a Lewisham in Sydney too

The Lewisham down under was named in 1834, after the estate of Joshua Frey Josephson, a businessman and judge.

He named the Sydney suburb after the London Borough of Lewisham.

The other Lewisham, looking rather lovely on this property website.

Did we miss any other interesting Lewisham tidbits? Let us know in the comments below.

Suvlaki Restaurant in Soho, one of the largest on this list with around 30 covers!

Sometimes the biggest flavours can be found in the smallest of places. In a city as big as London, intimacy isn't something that's particularly easy to come by, but these restaurants have managed to carve out their own tiny, delicious spaces on the London dining scene. Just be prepared to queue, or book weeks in advance.

Afghan Kitchen

If it's intimacy you're after, then Afghan Kitchen in Islington delivers on two fronts. Not only does it cater for only around 30 guests, but with just two tables downstairs and three upstairs, you may also be expected to share with your neighbours. The need for communal dining is inarguable, and gives you plenty of opportunity to size up the Afghan delicacies being devoured by those next to you.

The size of the menu matches the minimal surroundings, with just a handful of meat, fish and veggie dishes available. And with flavours this good, that's all you need. This is fresh, honest home-cooking in a space that's probably no bigger than your living room. Our recommendation? Go with friends and order everything on the menu to share.

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Jin Kichi

Lucky, lucky Hampstead. If you're wanting to visit of an evening, make sure to book well in advance as it's not just the locals who fill up the 20-odd seats at this mini Japanese restaurant. With a dozen tables and a few bar stools, Jin Kichi still manages to fit in a central grill where punters can see, smell and hear the sizzle of their Tebasaki and Yakitori skewers in the making.

Sushi, soups and noodle dishes are also available. There are even some vegetarian offerings, although they don't quite match up to the full-flavoured sumptuousness of the meat anfd fish dishes. Oh, and if sake isn't to your liking then try the Shochu Cocktails instead. Delicious.

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Morito

Morito serves tapas with North African vibes, riffing off the flavours of its parent restaurant, Moro, next door. Another, larger, Morito has recently popped up on Hackney Road but it's this tiny venue in Exmouth Market which gets our vote.

Ok, yes, it's technically a tapas bar. But with Barrafina's recent move to a larger venue, another tapas restaurant had to take up the mantle of "most likely to have you queuing for dinner by 4pm". No reservations, hardly any tables, many amazing flavours. Don't miss the deep-fried chickpeas with pomegranate.

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Seven Park Place

Situated inside St James's Hotel in Mayfair, Seven Park Place has all the usual trappings of 5* hotel dining - Michelin-starred, renowned Head Chef, first-rate suppliers - but with one key difference: there are just 26 covers. 

Head Chef William Drabble serves up classic French cuisine with an emphasis on fresh, British produce. Meat and fish feature VERY highly on both the a la carte and tasting menus, so veggies might be best trying elsewhere, but the quality is exceptional. 

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Sushi Tetsu

The best sushi in London shouldn't (and doesn't) come easy. With just seven seats, those wanting to enjoy the flawless produce of this husband-and-wife-run sushi bar in Clerkenwell need to get on their booking A-game. Lines are only open for reservations at Sushi Tetsu twice every month, for up to six weeks in advance. It's a faff, with engaged lines, disappearing dates and the need for that all-important number on speed dial.

So is it worth it? Yes, absolutely. Sushi and sashimi only, Toru and Harumi Takahashi have honed their skills to perfection and you won't find better elsewhere. Our tip is to go for one of the set 'Omakase' menus (literally meaning "entrusting the chef") and enjoy the best on offer that day. You won't be disappointed.

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Kitchen Table

Tucked away through a curtain at the back of Bubbledogs restaurant in Soho is Kitchen Table. Michelin-starred, Kitchen Table offers up a no-choice, daily-changing menu of around 12 dishes to just 19 lucky diners - who all sit facing the kitchen.

Serving meticulously-sourced, exquisitely presented British fare (including many foraged ingredients), guests have the opportunity to watch their food being prepared right in front of them. The courses are clever and creative, and guests are encouraged to interact with the chefs as much as they like.

Reservations are taken months in advance and with standards so high, it's not hard to see why. 

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Casse-Crôute

Once a small wine bar, now a very small French restaurant, Casse-Croûte does the classics, and by jove it does them well. The rotating daily menu is short and sweet with French favourites such as escargots, cassoulet and Sable Breton frequently on offer. The restaurant's insistence on writing the specials exclusively in French only adds to the experience (the specials are also tweeted daily so you can start salivating at your desk hours before dinner). 

With such delicious dishes, around 25 covers and tables packed so closely together that you know first-hand what everybody else in the restaurant has ordered, it's as close to Paris as you'll get in the capital.

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Marianne

Often touted as the 'smallest fine dining restaurant in London', Marianne has just 14 covers: a table for six, a table for four, and two tables for two. That's your lot. It's intimate, of course, but there is also luxury. Muted Farrow & Ball pinks and blues give the tiny space a real elegance, and regardless of how long you waited for your reservation, it always feels like you've been warmly invited into a private dining room.

Head Chef Marianne Lumb comes with impressive classical training and the delicious European delicious dishes come direct from her, and a single assistant's, hands. Tasting menus (with vegetarian options) offer lunch and dinner delicacies aplenty. Just don't forget to book.

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The Araki

Not content with just being one of London's smallest restaurants, The Araki is also one of the capital's most expensive. Serving around 11 courses of sushi from an 'Omakase' menu to 10 lucky diners, you can expect the privilege of being cooked for by chef Mitsuhiro Araki to set you back £300. Before drinks. 

It's an eye-watering sum, but then sushi is expensive. And very good sushi is very expensive. What makes Araki's creations even more notable is their intergration with European produce: squid caught off the Cornish coast and the signature tuna sashimi, fresh from Ireland. Opened in 2014, it took less than a year for the restaurant to be awarded two Michelin stars. Well... it's cheaper than a trip to Japan we suppose.

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Suvlaki

This 30-seat restaurant was started by a group of friends from Athens wanting to bring the fresh, flavourful delights of Greek food to London - and it succeeds in its mission. The small, simple menu offers juicy, charcoal-grilled meat skewers and wraps in batches of three, plus a selection of signature dishes such as moussaka, spicy lamb chops and feta-stuffed burgers.

The team has recently been joined by Michelin-starred Alfred Prasad as consultant chef. Interesting move for what is essentially a street food restaurant. But with celeb chef Elias Mamalakis still at the helm we're sure that Suvlaki's authenticity is here to stay.

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Source suvlaki

1939 in London. Anderson shelters were being built and headlines spoke of the war. Elsewhere though, life went on as normal, with Thames beaches, East End pubs and traffic on Regent Street.

Soho shop window, 1939
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Piccadilly Circus, on the night before the 1939 blackout took effect
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Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, Christmas 1939
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Regent Street, 1939
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Swimming in the Thames, 1939
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Fulham FC footballers clear snow from the pitch before their cup tie with Bury, 1939
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Harlesden clock, 1939
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Piccadilly Circus, Christmas 1939
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Cannon Street tube station, London, 1939
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The Hope Tavern on Pollards Row, Bethnal Green, 1939
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Workmen erect Anderson shelters in the street for houses without gardens, September 1939
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Children of Polish Jews on their arrival in London, February 1939
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King's Cross Station, 1939
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British soldier brings tea to comrades working to repair banks of the River Ravensbourne, which flooded South London, 1939
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A couple strolling hand in hand across Tower Bridge, 1939
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Mount Pleasant sorting office, Christmas 1939
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London's smallest fire station 1939
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An Austin LL (Low-Loader) taxicab, which was introduced in 1934. The rear portion of its roof could be folded down.
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Female fire guards practising a hose drill on the Bank roof, 1939.
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A boy plays football with a baby giant panda at London Zoo, 1939
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Tower Bridge, 1939
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Tower London, 1939
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From bubbling cocktails in a hidden RV van to a secret bar behind a giant mirror, here are London's most weird and unusual bars. You're welcome.

Ice Bar 

A bit of a tourist trap, but this bar is pretty cool (pun intended). It's completely made of ice: The bar is ice, the walls are ice, the tables are ice, even the cocktails are served in chiselled ice blocks. There's also lots of crazy (Instagrammable!) ice sculptures. At £13.50 per person for half an hour entry, one visit is probably enough - but who wouldn't want a Facebook/Tinder profile pic with a giant ice guitar?

Source ICEBAR LONDON

Source ICEBAR LONDON

Trailer Happiness

Notting Hill has a rockin' tiki bar, nestled down in the depths of Portobello Road. It's all retro tiki style, with lots of browns and beaded curtains. You'll feel like you're on the set of That Seventies Show, and a pair of your widest bellbottoms would not be out of place.

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Sketch

Enter this eccentric 18th century townhouse into a crazy wonderland of forest themed restaurant/bars and alien-like pod toilets. You might have seen pictures of the flamboyant Pink Panther style tea room The Lecture Room, which comes with a bonus Michelin star.

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Source sketch

The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities

Visiting this basement museum is like rifling around a crazy guy's attic - which is basically what you're doing. Once you're done gawping at Russell Brand's pubes (yes really), head up to the cocktail bar, which is just as insane and disconcerting, with taxidermy galore among other crazy stuff.

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Bar Soho

This Soho bar is an Instagrammer's dream. Have a drink in the fairground-style dodgem seats, or maybe cosy up in the bathroom, where you'll find two big yellow bathtub sofas and pottys for tables (all sounds a bit gross, but we assure you it's actually all very swish). The actual bathrooms are just as epic, with Rolling Stones' lips as urinals. Don't miss the signature drink - the Soho Porn Star Martini - which comes in a glowing Martini glass.

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Barts

This truly is a hidden bar - we spent a fair chunk of time hunting around Chelsea before we finally located it. We won't reveal exactly where because that would just spoil the fun...
When you knock on the door, a little panel slides open and you're asked for a secret password. Inside it's 1920s speakeasy meets garish 1960s warehouse, candlelit with vintage leather seats, crazy pop-art style paintings and mismatched wooden chairs. You'll be raiding the fancy dress boxes by your second G&T. Plus, there's an awesome comic book themed cocktail menu to boot.

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Barrio Central

This tropical-themed bar chain is still up there as one of London's quirkiest party places. With a fresh beach theme, these places are bursting with Latin attitude and vibrant colours. The Soho outpost has a brightly striped wooden shack you can hire out, and the Shoreditch one has a retro-style caravan. 

Angel: 45 Essex Road, Islington, N1 2SF

Shoreditch: 141-143 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JE

Brixton: 30 Acre Lane, SW2 5SG

Soho:

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Ninetyeight Bar & Lounge

This Shoreditch bar isn't talked about much, but it sure is up there on the 'crazy' list. Head down the winding spiral staircase and into this narrow little bar which looks a bit like Willy Wonka on acid. The walls and ceiling are all white, but it's chock-a-block with crazy bits and bobs, from gumball machines, to rocking horses and kitsch dog paintings - and this isn't even the weirdest bit. Go off and explore this quirky townhouse --the oddest part by far is the 'bandage room' where every piece of furniture is wrapped up like a dummy. 

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Source ninetyeightbar

The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town

Head to The Breakfast Club on Artillery Lane and make a beeline for the giant Smeg fridge. Open it up, and instead of shelves of milk and veg, you'll find the entrance to a hidden bar. Kitsch and dimly lit, this place is a fun take on classic New York speakeasies. There are quirky cat paintings and other random stuff, including the disco toilets, with retro tunes, a turning mirror ball and My Little Pony wallpaper. Definitely unsual.

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Bunga Bunga

This bar/club is a cheeky - if obvious- nod to Silvio Berlusconi's Bunga Bunga parties. The place is covered in faux and real Italian paraphernalia, from hanging scooters to tongue-in-cheek political posters and an overwhelming  red, white and green theme. The music is perfectly cheesy to match, along with the yards of pizzas and that infamous bottomless brunch.

There's now also a Covent Garden branch of Bunga Bunga. 

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Evans & Peel

A speakeasy with a special twist - you'll be greeted by a 'detective' on the door, where you'll be talked through your 'case' to be solved. But once you've covered all the legal work, back goes the office bookcase, and... wow! A hidden speakeasy with crackling ragtime tunes, candlelit tables and cocktails stiff enough for Humphrey Bogart.

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Looking Glass Cocktail Club

We're not sure why this secret bar isn't talked about more... but then it is, techinically, a secret. Inside the Hackney Road venue, go for the giant mirror and it opens up, revealing a large hidden bar. It's all candlelit, speakeasy vibes here. Weekends get a bit weird though, with a dominatrix-style lady whipping everyone on the butt. Living up to its Alice In Wonderland theme, it's trippy in here.

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WC

Set in a century-old former toilet, but now the WC actually stands for Wine & Charcuterie -  both are on offer at this little bolthole, strategically placed next to Clapham Common station. When we said little, we mean just three booths, and a handful of tables and chairs, so book ahead.

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The Four Quarters

This retro arcade game bar/diner is one for your inner 80s child, although they'll be gutted when they realise how crap at Street Fighter II you've got. This place is packed with machine games, but it's still a decent pub with good hot dogs, burgers and craft beers and a soundtrack of tinny, computerised beeping - and a lot of real-life swearing. 

They've also got a second location in Hackney Wick:

Unit 8 Canalside, East Bay Lane, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, E20 3BS

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Cahoots

Themed on a 1940s tube station, this place is spot on from the start. The stairs down to the bar look just like an old Underground entrance, with retro advertising and those very distinct TFL tube tiles lining the walls. Inside the bar you'll 'Mind The Gap' signs, old tube maps and vintage leather suitcases. But the star of the show is a vintage train carriage - hop onto one of the seats and sip cocktails in teacups while listening to live jazz and blues. 

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Source Cahoots

The Natural Philosopher

Mac computer repair shop by day, cool little bar at night, plenty of people wander past this place without realising it exists. The actual bar area is sunk right into the floor - you have to peer over and look down to order. The rest of the bar is lit by flickering candles, with a hidden little room to the right. 

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The Schoolhouse

The school theme was so spot-on we even started getting homework anxiety. There are rows of wooden school tables and wire metal lockers stuffed with all sorts of nostalgic stuff, like NOW music compilations, Furbies and science beakers. The cocktails are just as on theme, served up with pipettes and Jammy Dodgers. And in case you have a yearning for school dinners, the meals are served up on plastic trays - ah, the good old days.

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The Woods - Downstairs At Red's True Barbecue

Upstairs it's all sticky ribs and bibs. Downstairs, though, is an enchanted wooden forest, serving up craft beer, bourbon and cocktails. There's an abandoned piano set in the middle of the fairylit 'woodland', and a huge tree growing right through the middle of it. It's all very atmospheric in here - a drink under the stars, the cheat's way.

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ABQ

Themed on the crazy crime drama Breaking Bad,  they've really pulled out all the stops inside this run down RV so that you feel like you're in there cooking with Walter and co.
Don your yellow jumpsuit and get ready to make some 'science' (or, in this case, DIY cocktails). Ingredients, aparatus and instructions are provided, and the result is epic cocktails. Expect bubbling flavoured foam and dry ice galore. Bars don't get more badass than this.

Source ABQ

Source ABQ

Little Nan's Rio Bar

Hipster kitsch from head to toe - think Dalston jumble sale meets 90s teenager's bedroom, with floor-to-ceiling posters and jazzy wallpaper, and dressing up boxes. There's even a rocking horse thrown in the mix because. well, why not? Tuck into novelty cocktails while listening to cheesy retro bangers.

Find Little Nan's elsewhere in London:

Peckham: 16 Elelina Road, SE15 2DX 

Catford: Broadway Theatre, Catford Road, SE6 4RU

Deptford: Arches, 13-14, Deptford Market Yard, SE8 4BX

Source southlondonblog

Source Little Nan's Bar

The Bletchley

This place is based on the secret home of second world warcodebreakers Alan Turing and co., and they've gone so on-theme they've even managed to source actual authentic enigma machines. Pop on your military-style jacket and get to work trying to crack the codes that will send messages to the back room mixologists. By revealing details like your flavour preferences and your favourite colour, the bar team will mix up a very bespoke, apparently one-off cocktail recipe just for you.

Source thenudge

Ever been to London's sixth least used station — Birkbeck? It doesn't have a Sunday service, and during the severe Southern strikes, didn't have a weekday service either, meaning trains only stopped here on Saturdays. Let Geoff Marshall show you around...

Also in this series:

• Belmont
• Drayton Green
• South Merton
• Crews Hill

While it's TfL's job to keep Londoners moving on public transport, occasionally it encourages people to use their feet.

40 free guided walks are taking place across London on the weekend of 20-21 May — and the topics are eclectic as ever.

Hidden alleyways and courtyards, secret diaries, ghosts, film and TV locations, and the 'real' West End are a few of the things this year's talks focus on. All are led by an experienced Walk London guide, so you know you're in safe hands.

Don't be put off if you've got kids, either. The Animal I-Spy in the City walk, for example, invites you and the little ones to discover dragons, lions and unicorns in the heart of the City.

Walks range from around one to five hours in length; be sure to know what you're letting yourself in for before you sign up.

The walks are happening across London from 20-21 May. Book onto one or two here.

For more information about walking in the capital, and to download TfL's Walking Tube map, click here.

Things to do today is sponsored by CommuterClub.

Caught at Stratford Picturehouse and Rich Mix

What we're reading

• Gorilla man is still crawling his way through the London marathon.
• Battersea Power Station delays building affordable homes due to 'wider economic changes'.
• Chasing London's feral green parakeets.
• Inside London's oldest cigar merchants'.

Things to do

SYRIAN CONFLICT: This new Imperial War Museum exhibition highlights the origins and human impact of the current Syrian conflict through photos and personal objects and stories. Imperial War Museum (Lambeth), free entry, just turn up, 27 April-3 September

SLEEP WELL: Set yourself on track for a good night's sleep — learn how to make your own wheat pillows, lavender bags and camomile tea bags at this workshop. Lower Marsh (Waterloo), free, just turn up, noon-3pm

BLACK CABARET QUEEN: Celebrate the life and work of London-born singer Evelyn Dove. Speaker Stephen Bourne has just written a book about the cabaret performer. Black Cultural Archives (Brixton), £3, book ahead, 1pm-2pm

SCI-FI: Today marks the launch of Sci-Fi London, a festival dedicated to showcasing the best of British science-fiction film out there. On the opening day you can see the UK premiere of Caught, in which journalists ask a mysterious couple one too many questions. Stratford Picturehouse and Rich Mix, £5-£10.75, book ahead, 5pm & 8.45pm respectively

MUSEUM LATE: One of London's best small museums, the Hunterian, is closing for three years. To make sure everyone gets a chance to say farewell, it's staying open late on certain evenings in the run up to the closure. Hunterian Museum, free, just turn up, 5pm-8pm

Dead Talks at The Harrison Gastro Pub & Hotel

OVER THE RAINBOW: Nicola Field, an original member of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners, is discussing a new, expanded edition of her 1995 book Over The Rainbow: Money, Class And Homophobia. Review bookshop (Peckham), £5, book ahead, 7pm-9pm

EXHIBITION LAUNCH: Beautiful Glorious Chaos is the name of this bar's latest exhibition, and that's what we're expecting at the launch night tonight. The Book Club (Shoreditch), free, just turn up, 7pm-midnight

DEAD TALKS: Spend an evening listening to the laughable and ludicrous ideas of the past. Explore the practices and notions that fell by the wayside over time: see the embryonic drawings of Ernst Haeckel and find out why cows are no longer legal tender. All proceeds go to Inner City Centre, a psychotherapy and counselling practice. The Harrison Gastro Pub & Hotel, £6, book ahead, 7.30pm-9.30pm

POLITICAL COMEDY: Join a bunch of comedians for a 'celebration' of the first 100 days of Donald Trump's presidency. 2 Northdown (King's Cross), £10, book in advance, 8pm-11pm

JAZZ QUARTET: Listen to the groovy tunes from the Chris Laurence Quartet, four of the most respected musicians in their field, who perform with intensity and creativity. Lauderdale House, £12/£10/£7, book ahead, 8.30pm

Sponsor message

Make your money go further with CommuterClub

Fancy saving money on your commute? We all know that annual tickets are much better value than the alternatives, but the upfront cost can be pretty daunting. CommuterClub lets you pay in instalments — you'll get the savings of a yearly travelcard, but with 11 monthly payments.

Get up to £300 more in your pocket, and say goodbye to long queues for costly monthly tickets.

An added bonus: when you sign up to CommuterClub, you'll also get a Gold Card, giving you 1/3 off National Rail fares, and 2 for 1 on tons of London attractions.

Until midnight Friday 28 April Londonist readers get an extra £20 off their first month.

Art review: weaving magic

© Chris Ofili. Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro, London, The Clothworkers’ Company and Dovecot Tapestry Studio, Edinburgh. Photography: Gautier Deblonde

Chris Ofili has created a sumptuous massive tapestry that sits perfectly in The National Gallery. He has combined Renaissance imagery with references to black culture. It's a stunning centrepiece supplemented by studies that include comparing footballer Mario Balotelli to a mythical figure. Chris Ofili: Weaving Magic at The National Gallery, until 28 August, free ★★★★☆ Tabish Khan

Theatre review: up a blind alley

Some charming tunes and an unfamiliar story about the 15-year old Louis Braille — who invented a tactile reading system for the sightless — set in Les Misérables era France could have launched a clever new musical. After successes like Ragtime and Titanic, Charing Cross Theatre has a misfire with a book that fits its score awkwardly. It's a vision of Paris where it never gets light and there are some appalling lyrics translated by Ranjit Bolt where only the clichés survive. Sweet singing including newcomer Jack Wolfe as Louis, Thom Southerland's now-familiar rotable two-tier staging, and smart black and white costuming help. But not enough. Read more here. The Braille Legacy, Charing Cross Theatre, Villiers Street, WC2N 6NL, £17.50-32.50, until 24 June ★★☆☆☆ [Monday-Saturday] Johnny Fox

Guided walk review: Travel through the thin veil of London

In the London of folk-horror pioneer Arthur Machen, sinister ancient horrors – troglodyte races and malevolent fauns – lurk just beneath the surface; all that’s required to see them is to ‘lift the veil’ and step into this magical world. On this fantastical dusk walk around Holborn and Bloomsbury, Rich Cochrane and Robert Kingham seamlessly entwine centuries of history, myth, philosophy and literature to weave a wholly engrossing journey (with a couple of pub stops) that will completely change how you see the city.

Walk lasts approximately 2.5 hours with a 30-minute pub stop en route. Tickets £17.50/£12.50 concessions. Dates available 27 & 30 April ★★★★★ James Drury

Good cause for the day

FASHION FUNDRAISER: Four years ago Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh collapsed. To mark the anniversary Traid Dalston is hosting a night of late night shopping, where all proceeds go to garment workers in Bangladesh. There's also a workshop where you can make your wardrobe moth repellent. Traid Dalston, workshop is £10, book ahead, 6.30pm

Funzing

Fun things to do with our friends and sponsor Funzing.

Anyone can travel the world in style for next to nothing. You just need to know how! Our friends at Funzing UK are organising a unique talk with Nicky, aka The Miles Mogul. He's a music lawyer, photographer, traveller and most importantly air miles Guru. Come along and hear stories from Nicky's first class adventures and leave knowing how to do it yourself on a shoestring. This is a unique chance to learn the secret hacks and tips he's gathered over the years on how to travel in the ultimate style without breaking the bank. Get tickets

Every January you do the same thing. You make a New Year's resolution to lose weight, be thriftier, quit smoking or possibly even to start exercising. Yet how many of us find ourselves in the exact spot we started in once the month is up? This talk by Dr Gabija Toleikyte, explains why the brain resists changing habits of a lifetime. She'll also explain how to create long lasting change, by working with your brain rather than against it. Get tickets

What does it mean when someone flicks their hair or crosses their legs while they’re talking to you? Dr Peter Collett analyses the role of body language in relation to dating. £10 Get tickets

1981 in London; Prince Charles and Lady Diana got married, Mod fashions were in, and the first London Marathon took place. Take a look at what else was going on in the capital that year.

New Romantics, 1981
Source Pinterest

Women on scooters, South London Rosettes, April 1981
Source Buzzfeed

Whitehall Theatre, London, 1981
Source Old London

Wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer, 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral
Source Londonhistorian

Club For Heroes, Steve Strange, 1981
Source Testpressing

At the Tabernacle, Notting Hill Gate, April 1981
Source Buzzfeed

Arsenal goalkeeper Pat Jennings helps water the Highbury pitch during pre-season, 1981
Source Vintage Footy

Notting Hill Carnival, London 1981
Source Old London

Ralph Lauren opens in London, 1981
Source Ralphlauren

The Specials: Ghost Town, 1981
Source This Brutal House

West Ham vs Chelsea football match, 1981
Source Old London

Ska twins, Chuka & Dubem, 1981
Source Rbma

Marvin Gaye in Covent Garden
Source Impossible Cool.

Red phone box. Charlotte Place, London, 1981
Source Old London

Strand Palace, London, 1981
Source Londonhistorian

Fournier Street, 1981
Source Uniformbooks

House in Stepney, London, 1981
Source Sir William Davenant

Mod girls, 1981
Source Pinterest

U2, Hammersmith Palais, 1981
Source Old London

Odeon Chelsea (now Curzon Chelsea), 1981
Source Rob Baker

Runners on Tower Bridge, in the first London Marathon, 1981
Source Times Sport

Vivienne Westwood's World's End shop, King's Road, 1981
Source 1972projects

U2 - Adam, Bono and Bruce. Backstage, 1981
Source U2

Martin Degville, King's Road, 1981
Source Pinterest

James and Linda McCartney, London, 1981
Source Paulmccartney

London Mod revival, 1981
Source Pinterest

We don't know about you, but being nosy is one of our top pastimes. Doing it over a coffee - or a glass of something cold - even better. So, with that in mind, we've put our heads together to find a selection of some of our favourite cafes to while away a while, doing a spot of people watching. Whether it's hustle and bustle, tourist central, some parklife or casual waterside vibes you're after, we've listed the best. Grab yourself a latte and watch the world go by with this little lot. 

Bar Italia

THE original Soho coffee bar, Bar Italia (est. 1949) is the answer to most things in life. It closes only between 5am and 7am, otherwise you can grab an excellent coffee or Peroni anytime, and sit outside drinking in the glorious Soho atmosphere. Unchanged for decades, inside is almost as characterful as the people watching to be had from the pavement where you'll see anything from harried media workers, celebs, drag queens and tourists who've finally managed to track down 'Soho'.

Source The Bar Italia Soho

Source The Bar Italia Soho

Monmouth Coffee Company

Definitely one of the best coffee shops in town, single origin coffee beans are imported and then roasted in nearby Bermondsey before being served up as incredible cappuccinos and lattes. Seating is sparse, but it's worth hanging around for a perch at one of the little benches outside, facing into busy Borough Market to while away a few minutes gazing into the crowds. Be prepared to queue any day of the week, but don't go in a hurry on Fridays and Saturdays when the market is in full swing. 

Source instagram

Source instagram

Daylesford Organic

For an altogether different crowd, head to this all day organic cafe and farmshop near Sloane Square. There are a few Daylesford branches around, but this one offers some of the best in posh people watching as healthy looking locals - and the odd celeb - do their weekly shop at the deli. The menu is nothing short of heavenly, from duck egg breakfast dishes and truly inventive salads to rare breed burgers and everything in between. All ingredients are sourced straight from Daylesford farms and organic wherever possible; that makes their triple mac'n'cheese healthy, no? 

The Riverfront at the BFI

A meander along the South Bank is well punctuated by a stop off at the BFI, even if you're not in the mood to catch a film. Sit out on the riverside terrace if it's warm enough and soak up the melting pot atmosphere of sightseers, office workers and lovers, or head inside for coffee and cakes on the sofas. We like the fact it's open til late - 1am Fridays and Saturdays - and sitting outside with a cocktail or coffee feels downright Mediterranean come summer. 

Source benugo

Source benugo

Lido Cafe

A stomp around Hyde Park offers decent people watching in its own right, but should you find the need for refreshment then the Lido Cafe is what you're after. Overlooking the Serpentine, the building is Orangery-style, so you'll get a good view if you're sitting in but do pull up a pew at the outside dining area if you can to make the most of the Royal Park. We've had a nice polenta cake here in the past, and it's also licensed. 

Source royalparks

Shoreditch Grind

Situated on the western side of the Old Street roundabout, Shoreditch Grind offers up both exceptional artisanal coffee and decent people watching from the melting pot of visitors to the area. Hipsters, City workers, good time girls and boys can all be spied from your viewing platform whilst nursing your cold brew coffee next to an edgy neighbour furiously typing away at a Macbook. Late nights offer a different perspective along with an altogether more alcoholic menu. 

Source Shoreditch Grind

The Breakfast Club

Not just a breakfast spot, this E20 outpost of the ever-popular mini chain of cafes is our personal fave thanks to its chilled-out canalside location. There are a handful of cool little cafes, bars and restaurants along here, but metres from the water, The Breakfast Club will sort you out with those all day Benedicts. The pace here is a little slower, but you can spend many an hour here eyeballing Boris bikers and watching the world go by. We like. 

Source instagram

There's a seven-acre park in central London that's freely open to the public, yet also off-limits to many.

Coram's Fields in Bloomsbury carries the unusual restriction that adults must be accompanied by children. You can't go in unless you have a kid. Those with bikes and dogs are also forbidden.

Set beneath a canopy of mature plane trees and peppered with architectural relics of the Georgian era, the park is a lovely place to explore — so long as you meet the qualifications.

Obviously, it's a child's wonderland, with swings, slides, sandpits, ropeswings and climby climby things to suit all ages. Our little one had a great time.

Our pint-sized reviewer tries out the humpy-climb thing.

Over to the west, a Pets' Corner is home to goats, chickens, rabbits and other animals. Opposite, a small cafe offers baguettes, jackets and refreshments. These and other facilities are housed in an attractive colonnade, which surrounds three sides of the park. To the rear are sports pitches for teens.

These lands have long been a sanctuary for children. This is the site of Thomas Coram's Foundling Hospital, which gave shelter to unwanted children from 1739 until the 1920s. You can learn more about that institution at the nearby Foundling Museum.

After the Foundling Hospital moved out, campaigners ensured that the land would continue its child-friendly ways. Coram's Fields opened in 1936 and continues today as a charity. The organisation puts on regular activities and drop-in sessions — check its website for details.

Coram's Fields can be found on Guildford Street, nearest station Russell Square. Entrance is free, open 9am-dusk.

London's Magnificent Seven is a collection of grand Victorian cemeteries, scattered around the city. With tombs the size of small houses, they can feel like their own (ghost) towns.

From lion tamers, to exploding coffins, to three policemen buried in one grave, these cemeteries have some fascinating (and altogether bizarre) stories to tell. Click a cemetery on the map and find out amazing trivia and secrets about it. Warning: you may run into some ghosts.

Illustration by Freya Illustration

There are few things we enjoy in life more than good, old-fashioned melted cheese, so it was about time we went to visit Grill My Cheese at Leather Lane Market. They're cooking up some seriously gourmet cheesy goodness — you'd brie mad not to try it.

Like this (who wouldn't?)? Don't forget to check out London's Cheese Bar.

Raw breakfasting, at NAMA.

Step away from the watery sausages and overdone scrambled eggs, and start your day with a side of quirk at these more unusual breakfast spots. Tea porridge, bacon naan and trotter baked beans anyone?

Dishoom

We love Dishoom. We love it for lunch, we love it for dinner, and you can be sure we love it for breakfast too. Spicy omelettes, chicken keema topped with fried eggs and of course, that hangover-busting bacon naan roll. This popular mini chain has Londoners jumping out of bed and racing for Indian breakfast dishes.

To drink, try the hearty Breakfast Lassi packed full of creamy yoghurt, fruit and oats. Or for hair of the dog, the Dhoble breakfast cocktail with gin and fresh orange juice will wipe the sleep from your eyes in no time. 

Source instagram

Source instagram

Hawksmoor Guildhall

We like to think of Hawksmoor's breakfast offering as the 'make or break' option. Go with a friend, opt for the innocent-sounding 'For 2 to share', and then embark on a Big Breakfast mission to see exactly who has what it takes to pass the finishing line.

A meaty monster, this sharing platter comes topped with bacon chop, sausages (made with three types of meat), black pudding, short-rib bubble and squeak, bone marrow, trotter baked beans (yes, even the beans aren't meat-free), eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, gravy and ... unlimited toast. The portions are generous and you're likely to need another few hours in bed to recover afterwards.

Source eatlikeagirl

Source Hawksmoor

The Attendant

If you've ever had a hankering to devour breakfast in a toilet, here's your chance. The menu at the Attendant is much what you'd expect from any regular cafe - granola, muesli, porridge, pastries - except you'll be enjoying your breakfast choice in a former Victorian toilet. 

Built around 1890 and still operational as a public loo until the 1960s, the original Doulton & Co urinals now form a seating bar where you can take your brekkie and, erm, flush it down. Good coffee, too.

Source the-attendant

Source the-attendant

Flesh and Buns

Specialising in Asian comfort food, Flesh and Buns serve up flavourful, addictive parcels of deliciousness to hungry punters all day. But their Sunday Brunch menu takes the proverbial chicken yakitori biscuit. 

The set price menu allows you to choose from a selection of small dishes including Korean fried wings, mixed seafood ceviche and spicy tuna roll, before selecting your 'flesh' dish, which ranges from rib-eye steak to crispy piglet belly. For dessert (because you're not full yet)? S'mores, with your own little tabletop fire to cook them on. Of course.

Source Flesh & Buns

Source Flesh & Buns

NAMA

Possibly as far away as you can find from the greasy spoons of old, Nama is all about healthy, raw, vegan food. Also gluten-free friendly and organic, their breakfasts take 'natural' to a whole new level.

Their Full English features cashew scrambled 'eggs', aubergine 'bacon', herbed 'sausage' and raw tomato ketchup. Not a single item is cooked and the flavours are pretty inspired. It is expensive (£12 for the Full English) but it delivers on taste, presentation and nutrition. Guilt-free breakfasting isn't easy to come by, but these guys have it nailed.

Source namafoods

Source namafoods

OPSO

Head to Opso of a weekend morning and this contemporary Greek diner is unlikely to disappoint. Traditional dishes such as Bougatsa (crispy phyllo pastry filled with semolina custard) and Kolouri (sesame-covered milk bread, served with goat's curd) are yummy, but there are a couple of curve balls on the menu too. 

Choose rice porridge infused with Earl Grey tea for complementary, aromatic flavours. Opt for snails served with bacon and chips for a full on whack-in-the-face of salt. Job's a good'un.

Source opso

Source opso

Cereal Killer Cafe

In many ways, Cereal Killer Cafe should be banned from this list. After all, what is more 'usual' for breakfast than plain old cereal? 

But with over 120 cereals on offer from around the world, plus a selection of milks that make our teeth disintegrate at the very thought (bubblegum milk - eesh), Cereal Killer Cafe offers a breakfast selection that quite simply cannot be found anywhere else. It's gimmicky, sure, but nearly three years on twins Alan and Gary Keery are still going strong, so they must be doing something right. 

Source cerealkillercafe

Source instagram

Flight Club

Putting quite a lot of trust in the steady hands of their punters, Flight Club in Shoreditch has made the brave decision to combine boozy brunch with games of darts.

£30 each will get you at least 30 minutes of darts with real-time scoring, a bottle of prosecco per person and two hours of endless pizza (another interesting breakfast choice, but good for soaking up the booze we suppose). The atmosphere is buzzy, the pizza is flowing and your ability to focus on a single, fixed point is likely compromised. Hurrah for prosecco!

The Bloomsbury branch is now open and ready for your breakfast bookings. 

Source flightclubdarts

Source flightclubdarts

M Victoria Street

Quinoa porridge, kale and eggs, fried chicken - tasty, but nothing too unusual for a breakfast menu, right? What makes M Restaurant's breakfast offering out of the ordinary is that every Saturday, guests are invited to bring along their furry friends to enjoy the '6 Legs Brunch Menu' together. 

That's right, while you crack on with your bacon and peanut butter waffles, so can darling Fido. As you're tucking into a chicken liver and steak salad, little Mimi can join you with their very own plate dried chicken livers. It's certainly ... unusual ... but that's the point, isn't it?

The Dolphin, Sydenham. By M@.

Sitting outdoors with a good, honest pint is one of the timeless joys of London. Fortunately, our city is blessed with hundreds of al fresco drinking spaces, from tiny roof terraces to sprawling gardens. Land value being what it is, you're most likely to find the bigger, more verdant types the further out you go, although there are plenty of beauties in the inner suburbs. And here's a teaser: can anyone think of a zone 1 beer garden with grass?

Our map below is a work in progress. It shows recommendations from Londonist readers, as well as the many places we've personally enjoyed. We've included any pub with a sectioned-off open space, including small roof terraces. But it has to be towards the pub end of the drinking spectrum, rather than chain bars and clubs.

West

Uxbridge/Ruislip

Swan & Bottle

Traditional British grub is served up in this canal-side boozer. Watch the boats putter by.

Swan & Bottle, Oxford Road, Denham, Uxbridge, UB8 1LZ

The George

Harvester boozer with all the classic pub grub and an outside space.

The George, Bury Street, Ruislip, HA4 7TJ

The Orchard, Ruislip

The Orchard

A Beefeater pub with a huge sea of green, studded with oversize umbrellas.

The Orchard Ruislip, Ickenham Road, Ruislip, HA4 7DR

Richmond

London Apprentice

Big old famous neighbourhood pub that offers amazing views of the river from its beer garden.

London Apprentice, 62 Church Street, Isleworth, TW7 6BG

The White Cross

Victorian pub with a great view overlooking the Thames.

The White Cross, Riverside, Richmond, TW9 1TH

Steins

Bavarian beerhouse with lovely Thames-side views.

Steins, Towpath (Footpath below at the river), Petersham Road, Richmond, TW10 6UX

The Marlborough, Richmond

The Marlborough

Sizeable beer garden, we reckon one of the best in London.

The Marlborough, 46 Friars Stile Road, Richmond, TW10 6NQ

The Greyhound

This gastropub has a stunning view of Kew Gardens, with a garden out the back with benches and private wooden 'pods'.

The Greyhound, 82 Kew Green, Richmond, TW9 3AP

Twickenham

The White Swan

The front beer terrace is regularly surrounded by water at high tide, so watch out. It's in our list of best pubs on the river Thames.

The White Swan, Riverside, Twickenham, TW1 3DN

Chiswick

Express Tavern

Traditional English pub, with no jukebox, fruit machines or pool table in sight. It has a lovely, well-manicured garden with patio. The lawn is, however, out of bounds, as it was traditionally a bowling green.

Express Tavern, 56 Kew Bridge Road, Brentford, TW8 0EW

The Bell and Crown, Richmond

The Bell and Crown

18th-century Fuller's pub located right on a leafy towpath, with a conservatory and restaurant.

The Bell and Crown 11-13 Strand-On-The-Green, Strand on the Green W4 3PL

The Duke of Sussex

Victorian pub with beautiful wide windows. Beautiful garden. Tapas recommended.

The Duke of Sussex, 75 South Parade, W4 5LF

Acton

Grand Junction Arms

A huge beer garden with bonus benches right out on the river too.

Grand Junction Arms, Acton Lane, Canal Bridge, NW10 7AD

The Swan

Tucked-away pub with a relaxing, leafy garden.

The Swan, 119 Evershed Walk, Acton Lane, W4 5HH

Ealing

Drayton Court Hotel

Fuller's pub with huge beer garden.

Drayton Court Hotel, 2 The Avenue, Ealing, W13 8PH

The North Star

Voted the best in Ealing by Londonist readers. This is old boozer meets smart gastro pub with a bamboo-like tunnel that protects you from the elements.

The North Star, 43 The Broadway, W5 5JN

Rose and Crown

Friendly neighbourhood pub with colourful hanging baskets and a large beer garden with benches.

The Rose & Crown, Church Place, St. Mary's Road, Ealing, W5 4HN

The Grange

Voted one of the best pubs in Ealing by Londonist readers, with a large walled garden – heated in winter.

The Grange, Warwick Road, Ealing, W5 3XH

Kensal Green

The Masons Arms

This local gastro pub has a roof terrace and one of West London’s largest beer gardens.

The Masons Arms, 665 Harrow Road, Kensal Green, NW10 5NU

The Ealing Park Tavern

A neighbourhood local with a large, colourful beer garden and fun events over the summer.

The Ealing Park Tavern, 222 South Ealing Road, W5 4RL

Ealing Park Tavern

Kensington

Windsor Castle

Refurbed old boozer with real ale and a beer garden with an outside bar.

Windsor Castle, 114 Campden Hill Road, Kensington, W8 7AR

The Sun In Splendour

With a vibrant yellow exterior and a 'secret' little garden out the back.

The Sun In Splendour, 7 Portobello Road, W11 3DA

Shepherd's Bush

Eagle

A smart gastropub and relaxing garden, with faux grass, beanbags and deckchairs in the garden. Around the corner from the Sipsmith Distillery, so expect to get stuck into the G&Ts.

Eagle, 215 Askew Road, Shepherd's Bush, W12 9AZ

Hammersmith

Thatched House

An airy pub with a log fire, conservatory and a beer garden.

Thatched House, 115 Dalling Road, W6 0ET

The Thatched House

The Old Ship

This renowned Hammersmith pub is located right on the river.

The Old Ship, 25 Upper Mall, Hammersmith, W6 9TD

The Cross Keys

Palm trees and colourful flowers in this tropical-looking beer garden.

The Cross Keys, 57 Black Lion Lane, Hammersmith, W6 9BG

The Cross Keys, Hammersmith

The Salutation

Chilled secluded garden and good beer.

The Salutation, 154 King Street, W6 0QU

Queen's Head

A huge, inviting oasis of trees and cold beer on warm evenings.

Queen's Head, 13 Brook Green, Hammersmith, W6 7BLg

Barnes

The Red Lion

Nestled in one of London’s leafiest areas. There's a big no-frills beer garden with benches and parasols.

The Red Lion, 2 Castelnau, Barnes, SW13 9RU

The Sun Inn

Overlooking the famous Barnes village pond, with a beer garden and bowling green.

The Sun Inn, 7 Church Road, Barnes, SW13 9HE

The Coach and Horses

A great little pub with real ales and a green beer garden.

The Coach and Horses, 27 Barnes High Street, SW13 9LW

Putney

The Green Man

Smart venue, with a tidy seating area.

The Green Man, Wildcroft Road, Putney, SW15 3NG

The Green Man, Putney

Fulham

The White Horse

Known for its barbecue and sunny beer garden. Great beer too.

The White Horse, 1-3 Parsons Green, Fulham, SW6 4UL

Aragon House

Ivy-clad pub with a huge beer garden hosting summer barbecues.

Aragon House, 247-249 New King's Road, Fulham, SW6 4XG

The Crabtree

A pretty well-to-do pub in a pretty well-to-do area, with sweeping Thames views.

The Crabtree, Rainville Road, W6 9HA

The Crabtree, Fulham

Battersea

The Ship

Great Thames views – expect busy times during the summer months.

The Ship, 10 Thames Bank, SW14 7QR

The Magic Garden

Hippy-style pub garden that looks like an eclectic al fresco living room.

The Magic Garden, 231 Battersea Park Road, SW11 4LG

The Prince Albert

What this smart gastropub lacks in character, it makes up for in patio-ed beer garden.

The Prince Albert, 85 Albert Bridge Road, SW11 4PF

Chelsea

The Troubadour

The likes of Jimi Hendrix have played at this renowned Chelsea pub. There's a café downstairs and a little garden at the back, enveloped in trellises and trees.

The Troubadour, 263-267 Old Brompton Road, SW5 9JA

The Phene

This SW3 pub prides itself on its swanky garden — soft furnishings and all.

The Phene, 9 Phene Street, Chelsea, SW3 5NY

The Phene

Coopers Arms

Located just off the King's Road, this Chelsea pub has Victorian features, craft beers and a beer garden.

Coopers Arms, 87 Flood Street, Chelsea, SW3 5TB

Wimbledon

Hand in Hand

19th-century cottage on the edge of Wimbledon Common, with a garden-like back yard with calming green views.

Hand in Hand, 6 Crooked Billet, Wimbledon, SW19 4RQ

Rose & Crown

A Wimbledon pub with a cosy patio-ed beer garden.

Rose & Crown, 55 High Street, Wimbledon, SW19 5BA

The Alexandra

Good old-fashioned pub with a spacious terrace and a balcony out the front.

The Alexandra, 33 Wimbledon Hill Road, SW19 7NE

The Alexandra, Wimbledon

The Sultan

Red-brick pub with real ales and a walled garden.

The Sultan, 78 Norman Road, SW19 1BT

White City

Garden Bar

True to its name, the garden here really is something, wood decked and extensive, and beautifully fairy-lit at night.

Garden Bar, 41 Bramley Road, Notting Hill, W10 6SZ

North

Barnet

Ye Olde Mitre Inne

A tremendous 16th century inn with the feel of a village pub and a garden, complete with a stone kiln.

Ye Olde Mitre Inne, 58 High Street, Barnet EN5 5SJ

East Finchley

The Ranelagh

Pints and Sunday roasts in a decked pub garden. Lovely

The Ranelagh, 82 Bounds Green Road, N11 2EU

The Ranelagh, East Finchley

John Baird

Nice back garden, along with a decent selection of beverages, and a Thai restaurant in the same building if you're peckish.

John Baird, 122 Fortis Green Road, N10 3HN

The Maid of Muswell

Smart neighbourhood pub with a covered terrace.

The Maid of Muswell, 121 Alexandra Park Road, N10 2DP

Crouch End

Ye Olde Cherry Tree, Southgate

Ye Olde Cherry Tree

This pub garden makes you feel like you've just taken a stroll to a countryside pub — a great city escape.

Ye Olde Cherry Tree, The Green, N14 6EN

The Orange Tree

Beautiful garden and a wonderful, traditional pub.

The Orange Tree, 7 Totteridge Village, N20 8NX

Camden

The Pineapple, Kentish Town

The Pineapple

A popular Kentish Town pub, with a conservatory and beer garden.

The Pineapple, 51 Leverton Street, NW5 2NX

The Junction Tavern

A large Victorian building with an airy conservatory and a buzzing beer garden.

The Junction Tavern, 101 Fortess Road, NW5 1AG

Abbey Tavern

A great summer spot, with a large roof terrace and beer garden.

Abbey Tavern, Abbey Tavern, 124 Kentish Town Road, NW1 9QB

The Constitution

Not a huge garden, but a decent enough suntrap.

The Constitution, 42 St Pancras Way, NW1 0QT

The Edinboro Castle, Camden

The Edinboro Castle

Huge beer garden with plenty of benches, but on sunny days can get very busy.

The Edinboro Castle, 57 Mornington Terrace, NW1 7RU

The Hawley Arms

An autographed rock star hall, a small garden and bonus roof terrace.

The Hawley Arms, 2 Castlehaven Road, NW1 8QU

The Engineer

Based in leafy Primrose Hill with a walled garden.

The Engineer, 65 Gloucester Avenue, NW1 8JH

Proud

This party pub/bar is known for its barbecues.

Proud, Camden Market, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AH

The Lock Tavern

Buzzing lock side pub with a rooftop drinking area overlooking Camden Market.

The Lock Tavern, 35 Chalk Farm Road, Camden Town, NW1 8AJ

Princess of Wales

This pub has a rare basement garden, which has/had a fake Banksy.

Princess of Wales, 22 Chalcot Road, NW1 8LL

Pembroke Castle

Has a small terrace area — but be warned — it's often full.

Pembroke Castle, 150 Gloucester Avenue, NW1 8JA

Stoke Newington

The Stoke Newington Tea House

Previously the Daniel Defoe — now specialising in loose tea (!) with a large terrace beer tea garden.

The Stoke Newington Tea House, 102 Stoke Newington Church Street, Stoke Newington, N16 0LA

The Londesborough

Friendly neighbourhood pub with a beer garden and Sunday lunches.

The Londesborough, 36 Barbauld Road, Stoke Newington, N16 0SS

The Auld Shillelagh

Lively Irish boozer with pot plant-studded garden.

The Auld Shillelagh, 105 Stoke Newington Church Street, Stoke Newington, N16 0UD

Holloway Road

North Nineteen

Family run pub specialising in ales and whiskies. Paved, but nice garden.

North Nineteen, 194-196 Sussex Way, N19 4HZ

The Swimmer at Grafton Arms

The roof terrace here is a nice sun trap.

The Swimmer at Grafton Arms, 13 Eburne Road, N7 6AR

The Faltering Fullback

A veritable Ewok's Village of a beer garden.

The Faltering Fullback, 19 Perth Road, N4 3HB

Islington

The Crown

A smart local, standing here for over 100 years, with Victorian charm and an outside seating area

The Crown, 116 Cloudesley Road, N1 0EB

The Albion, Islington

The Albion

Georgian pub with an extensive garden.

The Albion, 10 Thornhill Road, Islington, N1 1HW

Earl of Essex

Located just off Regent's Canal, with a menu matched to one of 20 craft beers.

Earl of Essex, 25 Danbury St, Islington, N1 8LE

The Lord Clyde

Gastropub with a nice little courtyard garden.

The Lord Clyde, 340-342 Essex Road, Islington, N1 3PB

Hampstead

The Black Lion

A large split-level garden with a full sunset view

The Black Lion, 295-297 West End Lane, West Hampstead, NW6 1RD

The Windmill

This hotel/pub has a neat little garden out the back, with a mix of chunky picnic benches, elegant garden sets and a leafy green wall.

The Windmill, 57 Cricklewood Broadway, NW2 3JX

The Duke of Hamilton

Duke of Hamilton

This traditional, 18th-century pub is one of the oldest in London, with two good gardens, one semi covered. Pop up food stalls over the summer.

Duke of Hamilton, 23-25 New End, Hampstead, NW3 1JD

The Freemasons Arms, Hampstead

The Freemasons Arms

This smart Hampstead pub looks like a country house, with an airy conservatory and an opulent beer garden.

The Freemasons Arms, 32 Downshire Hill, Hampstead, NW3 1NT

The Garden Gate

This wood-panelled 19th-century pub has a popular, large, heated garden.

The Garden Gate, 14 South End Road, Hampstead, NW3 2QE

The Stag, Hampstead

The Stag

Around since 1874, this Hampstead gastropub has private cabanas in the back garden.

The Stag, 67 Fleet Road, Hampstead, NW3 2QU

The Spaniards Inn

A green garden offering al fresco dining.

The Spaniards Inn, Spaniards Road, Hampstead, NW3 7JJ

Highgate

The Flask

With preserved Victorian features and a partly covered area at the front of the pub.

The Flask, 14 Flask Walk, NW3 1HE

Red Lion & Sun

A shady garden which sometimes does hog roasts in the summer.

Red Lion & Sun, 25 North Road, Highgate, N6 4BE

The Bull

Trendy pub with a small outdoor decking area.

The Bull, 13 North Hill, Highgate, N6 4AB

The Woodman, Highgate

The Woodman

One of the largest gardens in Highgate, with both covered, decked patios and al fresco benches.

The Woodman, 414 Archway Road, Highgate, N6 5UA

South

Balham

The County Arms, Wandsworth

The County Arms

Sitting on the edge of Wandsworth Common, a refurbed Victorian building-turned pub with a large sun drenched garden, with small tables, family benches and parasols. Dreamy.

The County Arms, 345 Trinity Road, SW18 3SH

The Avalon

Lurking between Clapham and Balham — this gastro pub sure pulls in a crowd. Boasting three outdoor spaces — a roadside terrace, a secluded courtyard, and a large back garden with its very own bar.

The Avalon, 16 Balham Hill, SW12 9EB

The Hope

Beers with a view of Wandworth Common. Dog-friendly.

The Hope, 1 Bellevue Road, SW17 7EG

The Nightingale, Wandsworth

The Nightingale

Built in 1853, this cottage-style pub is steeped in character. The garden features a charcoal barbecue.

The Nightingale, 97 Nightingale Lane, SW12 8NX

The Devonshire

This 'Secret' bar garden is one of the biggest in Balham — head here for al fresco dinners and barbecues.

The Devonshire, 39 Balham High Road, SW12 9AN

Earlsfield/ Tooting

Leather Bottle

300 year-old pub with an immense beer garden, beach huts and outdoor games.

Leather Bottle, 538 Garratt Lane, Earlsfield, SW17 ONY

The Selkirk, Tooting

The Selkirk

Large lawn and decking area.

The Selkirk, 60 Selkirk Road, SW17 0ES

The Antelope

Now has a restaurant in the refurbished garage in its spacious and sunny yard. With Sunday roasts, a fireplace and a quiz night.

The Antelope, 76 Mitcham Road, SW17 9NG

Streatham Common

Leigh Arms

Quaint, friendly local with a no frills beer garden.

Leigh Arms, 1-3 Wellfield Road, SW16 2BT

Sutton

The Hope

A courtyard, large decked garden and mini-orchard, all at the rear of the pub.

The Hope, 48 West Street, Carshalton SM5 2PR

Croydon

The Builders Arms

Traditional-looking pub, with a beer garden and live sports shown on big screens inside.

The Builders Arms, Leslie Park Road, Croydon CR0 6TP

Ruskin House

Beautiful, spacious garden and patio area.

Ruskin House, 23 Coombe Road, Croydon CR0 1BD

Clapham

The Windmill on the Common, Clapham

The Windmill on the Common

This country-style pub is always bustling on the weekend. It's got a spacious conservatory and generous garden located right on Clapham Common.

The Windmill on the Common, Windmill Drive, SW4 9DE

The King & Co

Trendy craft beer pub with food pop ups and a small terrace at the front.

The King & Co, Clapham Park Road, SW4 7BZ

Brixton

Grand Union Brixton

Verging more on bar territory, but this is (we reckon) one of the best beer gardens in Brixton. It's huge, with a campfire and a circle of tree houses you can book out individually.

Grand Union Brixton, 123 Acre Lane, Brixton, SW2 5UA

Trinity Arms

Voted by Londonist readers as one of the best pubs in Brixton, with a handsome interior and healthy-sized beer garden — they call it 'hidden', but we say, not very.

Trinity Arms, 45 Trinity Gardens, Brixton, SW9 8DR

Duke of Edinburgh

A popular choice amongst Brixtonites, with a huuuuuge garden with a Glastonbury-esque feel — hay on the ground, fell tree benches and an outside kitchen.

Duke of Edinburgh, 204 Ferndale Road, SW9 8AG

The Falcon, Clapham

The Falcon

Out the back you'll find yourself in a tropical(ish) paradise. Or hang around in the front garden and watch the Clapham wildlife.

The Falcon, 33 Bedford Road, Clapham, SW4 7SQ

The Landor

Clean cut pub with a bushy beer garden hosting al fresco parties in the summer.

The Landor, 70 Landor Road, SW9 9PH

East

Whitechapel

Still and Star

Tiny pub with a small area devoted to outdoor drinking.

Still and Star, 1 Little Somerset Street, E1 8AH

Hackney Wick/ Stratford/ Leytonstone

Crate Brewery, Hackney Wick

Crate Brewery

Set up in an old factory with canal-side drinking and pizza.

Crate Brewery & Pizzeria, 7 The white building, Queen's Yard, E9 5EN

Howling Hops

Huge beer tanks behind the bar and plenty of sun-drenched benches outside. If there's any sun.

Howling Hops, Unit 9A Queen's Yard, White Post Lane, E9 5EN

The Red Lion

Shabby chic London boozer with ales, British food — great beer garden with graffitied walls and table football under a covered area.

The Red Lion, 640 High Road Leytonstone, E11 3AA

The Birkbeck Tavern

Local pub with a walled garden.

The Birkbeck Tavern, 45 Langthorne Road, E11 4HL

North Star, Leytonstone

North Star

Nice, cosy back garden with live DJs outside in the summer.

North Star, 24 Browning Road, Leytonstone, E11 3AR

The Cuckfield

There's a conservatory and generous beer garden within this former 19th-century coaching inn.

The Buckfield, 31 High Street, E11 2AA

The Nightingale

A cosy pub with benches outside. Plant yourself down.

The Nightingale, 51 Nightingale Lane, E11 2EY

Clapton

The Princess of Wales, Clapton

Princess of Wales

This rural pub sits on the edge of Hackney and Leyton, with views of the River Lea from one side, and large areas of parkland on the other. A city escape in the city.

Princess of Wales, 146 Lea Bridge Road, E5 9RB

The Crooked Billet

This Clapton gem has a nicely sized beer garden, with sheltered huts and outside screens so you can catch the game and some rays. Winner.

The Crooked Billet, 84 Upper Clapton Road, E5 9JP

London Fields/ Mile End/ Bethnal Green

Royal Inn on the Park

Steeped in history, this magnificent place has a small beer garden.

Royal Inn on the Park, 111 Lauriston Road, E9 7HJ

Pun on the Park, London Fields

Pub on the Park

Like it says on the tin, located right on the edge of London Fields, this is the perfect summer drinking/ partying spot, with a huge park-sided beer garden, with boules — plus dancing and DJs inside on the weekends.

Pub on the Park, 19 Martello Street, E8 3PE

The Misty Moon

Traditional east end boozer with an enclosed beer garden

The Misty Moon, 456 Bethnal Green Road, E2 0EA

The Old George, Bethnal Green

The Old George

If all the studied tattiness isn't your thing, there's a slightly more polished anteroom and a pretty big beer garden out the back.

The Old George, 379 Bethnal Green Road, E2 0AN

The Carpenter's Arms

Set in the heart of Brick Lane, it’s nice and airy with lots of large windows, world wide beers and a tiny terrace tucked out behind some backrooms.

The Carpenter's Arms, 73 Cheshire Street, E2 6EG

Shoreditch/Hoxton/Haggerston/Dalston

The Red Lion

Cracking rooftop seating area, but you have to carry your pint all the way up. Don't try when you're tipsy.

The Red Lion, 41 Hoxton Square, N1 6NH

The Fox Craft Beer House, Haggerston

The Water Poet

The City's favourite beer garden. Generously sized for this part of town, with a good atmosphere and delicious food — served outside in the summer.

The Water Poet, 9-11 Folgate Street, Spitalfields, E1 6BX

Old Fountain

With cask ales and a roof terrace.

Old Fountain, 3 Baldwin Street, EC1V 9NU

The Crown and Shuttle

Has a surprisingly large beer garden.

The Crown and Shuttle, 226 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6PJ

The Fox Craft Beer House

With a small hidden roof terrace and benches outside the front.

The Fox Craft Beer House, 372 Kingsland Road, E8 4DA

The Talbot

Seating around the front and the back, plus a little balcony upstairs too.

The Talbot, 109 Mortimer Road N1 4JY

The Water Poet, Spitalfields

The Scolt Head

Grab a craft beer and head out to the ivy-clad garden out the back, with its own lamppost.

The Scolt Head, 107A Culford Road, N1 4HT

The Victory

Smart city pub with a front drinking area.

The Victory, 27 Vyner Street, E2 9DQ

Tower Bridge

The Town of Ramsgate

This ship-like riverside pub claims to be the oldest pub on The Thames — where James II's famous Hanging Judge was captured back in the 17th century.

The Town of Ramsgate, 62 Wapping High Street, St Katharine's & Wapping, E1W 2PN

The Captain Kidd

This old warehouse has large windows overlooking The Thames — plus a large yard downstairs right by the river.

The Captain Kidd, 108 Wapping High Street, E1W 2NE

The Old Salt Quay

The Mayflower

Another riverside pub vying for the ‘Oldest Pub on The Thames’ title. With a tiny Thames-side terrace.

The Mayflower, 117 Rotherhithe Street, SE16 4NF

Old Salt Quay

A modern converted warehouse overlooking the Thames

Old Salt Quay, 163 Rotherhithe Street, SE16 5QU

Prospect of Whitby

One of London's most famous pubs, from the 1520s. With a sought-out drinking terrace out the back.

Prospect of Whitby, 57 Wapping Wall, E1W 3SH

Canary Wharf

The Gun, Coldharbour

Located right on the river. Boom!

The Gun, Coldharbour, 27 Coldharbour, Poplar, E14 9NS

Clerkenwell/Farringdon/The City

The Fence

There are better pubs in the area, but this is one of the few with a beer garden at the back.

The Fence, 67-69 Cowcross Street, Farringdon EC1M 6BP

Crown Tavern

No garden, but lots of outside space on the concrete, with tables

Crown Tavern, 43 Clerkenwell Green, Clerkenwell, EC1R 0EG

The Argyle

Modern pub with a roof terrace area — rare for this part of town.

The Argyle. 1 Greville Street, EC1N 8PQ

The Old Bank of England

High ceilinged pub in the former Bank of England’s Law Courts

The Old Bank of England, 194 Fleet Street, EC4A 2LT

Ye Olde London, Ludgate Hill

Ye Olde London

Has a pleasant courtyard space.

Ye Olde London, 42 Ludgate Hill, EC4M 7DE

Central

Covent Garden

The Punch & Judy, Covent Garden

Punch and Judy

18th century pub with a roof terrace overlooking the piazza.

Punch and Judy Covent Garden, 40 Henrietta St, WC2E 8RF

Fitzrovia/Bloomsbury

The Carpenters Arms

Wood-panelled pub with a small roof terrace.

The Carpenters Arms, 68-70 Whitfield Street, Bloomsbury, W1T 4EY

The Grafton Arms

19th-century Bloomsbury pub with real ales and a nice little back terrace.

The Grafton Arms, 72 Grafton Way, Bloomsbury, W1T 5DU

South/south-central

Waterloo

Doggetts Coat & Badge

Named after the 300 year old boat race (oldest in the world) that hits The Thames every July. with summer barbeques in the beer garden out the back.

Doggetts Coat & Badge, 1 Blackfriars Bridge, SE1 9UD

Founders Arms

The riverside views says it all.

Founders Arms, 52 Hopton Street, SE1 9JH

Rose & Crown

A new development means it's sadly in the shade most times.

Rose & Crown, 47 Colombo Street, SE1 8DP

Vauxhall

The Fentiman Arms, Oval

The Fentiman Arms

Great split level beer garden with covered decking for when it rains, patio heaters for when it's cold, and trees giving natural shade for when its sunny.

The Fentiman Arms, 64 Fentiman Road, Oval, SW8 1LA

Prince of Wales

No beer garden as such, but you're allowed to take your drinks onto the grass of the square. Apparently, it's 'amazeballs'.

Prince of Wales, Cleaver Square, SE11 4EA

Southwark

The Anchor Bankside

Popular tourist pub with riverside beer garden, plus roof terrace.

The Anchor Bankside, 34 Park Street, SE1 9EF

The Old Thameside

Raised seating area overlooking the river.

The Old Thameside, Pickfords Wharf, Clink Street, SE1 9DG

The Mudlark

With a concreted drinking area to side of pub.

The Mudlark, Montague Close, SE1 9DA

The George Inn

The yard is given over to seating at this historic pub.

The George Inn, The George Inn Yard, 77 Borough High Street, SE1 1NH

The Horniman

This former tea warehouse offers riverside drinking with good view of the City.

The Horniman, Hay's Galleria, Hays Galleria, 18-19 Battle Bridge Lane, SE1 2HD

Woolpack

A narrow little pub with a nice little garden out the back.

Woolpack, 98 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UB

The Roebuck

Victorian pub with a beer garden

The Roebuck, 50 Great Dover Street, SE1 4YG

Camberwell

The Sun

Trendy pub with a garden in the front and back.

The Sun, 61-63 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, SE5 9NS

Fox on the Hill

This Wetherspoon hosts a large garden on a slope.

Fox on the Hill, 149 Denmark Hill, Camberwell, SE5 8EH

Peckham

Frank's Bar

Okay… yes bar — but it’s pretty epic. On top of multistorey car park, with vast city views, this makes for a killer sunset spot. Only open through summer.

Frank's Bar, 95A, Rye Lane, SE15 4ST

Bar Story

Arty venue with flowing cocktails and a rustic outdoor space, with fires to keep you going through the evening.

Bar Story, 213 Blenheim Grove, SE15 4QL

The Rye, Peckham

The Rye

Lovely green garden that's part deck, part grass. Has table tennis.

The Rye, 31 Peckham Rye, SE15 3NX

New Cross

The New Cross House

Spacious local with a decked beer garden.

The New Cross House, 316 New Cross Road, SE14 6AF

Herne Hill/ Dulwich

Florence

Upmarket bar with a decked garden.

Florence, 131-133 Dulwich Road, Herne Hill, SE24 0NG

The Plough, Dulwich

The Plough

Large pub with a conservatory, outdoor decked area and barbecues in the summer.

The Plough, 381 Lordship Lane, Dulwich, SE22 8JJ

The Railway Tavern

A no frills pub with tree houses out the back

The Railway Tavern, 7 Station Rise, West Norwood, SE27 9BW

The Rosendale

There's a huge beer garden at this former coaching inn.

The Rosendale, 65 Rosendale Road, SE21 8EZ

Dulwich Woodhouse

A smart pub in leafy Dulwich with a smartly preened beer garden with cute wooden huts.

Dulwich Woodhouse, 39 Sydenham Hill, SE26 6RS

Bridge House

A two-tiered beer garden — heck yes!

Bridge House, 2 High Street, SE20 8RZ

Swan & Mitre

Georgian pub with guest beers and sports

Swan & Mitre, 260-262 High Street, Bromley, BR1 1PG

The Dolphin, Sydenham

The Dolphin

Spacious lawned beer garden with preened hedges, it feels a bit like a scene out of Alice In Wonderland (if you forget about the brick walls behind you).

The Dolphin, 121 Sydenham Road, SE26 5HB

West Norwood

The Paxton

Modern bar with a beer garden and Sky sports.

The Paxton, 255 Gipsy Road, West Norwood, SE27 9QY

Hither Green

Ladywell Tavern

The tavern has had a makeover; now it's all about top quality wine, acoustic live music. It still has that nice little beer garden with wooden benches.

Ladywell Tavern, 80 Ladywell Road, Ladywell, SE13 7HS

Jolly Farmers

A great local pub with real character.

Jolly Farmers, 354 Lewisham High Street, SE13 6LE

The Station

Serving up real ales and a sunny courtyard.

The Station, 14 Staplehurst Road, Hither Green, SE13 5NB

Blackheath

The Dacre Arms

A friendly local 'old man's pub'.

The Dacre Arms, 11 Kingswood Place, Blackheath, SE13 5BU

The Railway

A local pub with a roof terrace and board games for the winter months.

The Railway, 16 Blackheath Village, Blackheath, SE3 9LE

The Princess of Wales, Blackheath

The Princess Of Wales

This Victorian pub has a part-covered and heated garden.

The Princess Of Wales, 1a Montpelier Row, Blackheath, SE3 0RL

British Oak

Classic British pub, with craft ales, wood panelled walls and a beer garden with live chickens (yes indeed).

British Oak, 109 Old Dover Road, Blackheath, SE3 8S

Greenwich

The Vanbrugh

This local pub is middle class all the way, with a lunchtime mums and babies club and a lawned garden.

The Vanbrugh, 91 Colomb Street, Greenwich, SE10 9EZ

Cutty Sark

Over 200 years old, and full of (tasteful) nauticalia, this pub comes with a great riverside terrace.

Cutty Sark, 4-6 Ballast Quay, SE10 9PD

Old Brewery, Greenwich

Old Brewery

This Greenwich gastropub serves seasonal British food, Meantime beers and boasts a nice outdoor terrace.

Old Brewery, The Pepys Building, The Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, SE10 9LW

The Gipsy Moth

This small pub has a very decent patio garden with retractable roof.

The Gipsy Moth, 60 Greenwich Church Street, SE10 9BL

Richard I

With streetside seating and a large beer garden, heated in the winter.

Richard I, 52-54 Royal Hill, SE10 8RT

The Guildford Arms

With a sunken decked beer garden.

The Guildford Arms, 55 Guildford Grove, SE10 8JY

Woolwich

Dial Arch

Lots of tables out front so you can sit in the sun, but often people sit on the grassy square that Dial Arch borders.

Dial Arch, Major Draper Street, Woolwich, SE18 6GH

Danson Stables

Converted 18th-century stables

Danson Stables, Danson Park, Bexley Heath, DA6 8HL

Things to do today is sponsored by the Old Royal Naval College.

Rhythm Passport at Rich Mix

What we're reading

• It's going to cost £18 million to get London ready for electric black cabs.
• The capital's rogue landlords to be named and shamed on new City Hall database.
• Sadiq Khan has launched a new police unit to tackle online hate crime.
• A couple got kicked out of their own wedding at the Tower of London.
• All of London's abandoned tube stations.

Things to do today

FREE FILM FESTIVAL: Herne Hill Free Film Festival kicks off today with a screening of The BFG — and an appearance by the star of the film (and local resident) Mark Rylance. Other films lined up for the festival include Victoria, Easy Rider, and The Big Lebowski. Various locations, free, book ahead, 28 April-29 May

MARKET: After a series of pop-up events last year, Canopy Market is returning to King's Cross. Plenty of independent traders offering fantastic wares from designer pieces to fresh produce, alongside some live music. West Handyside Canopy, free, just turn up, 28-30 April

LITERARY FESTIVAL: Writers of the World Unite is four days of inspirational discussion courtesy of Little Atoms and Speaking Volumes. Speakers include Russian poet Maria Stepanova, Guardian columnist Owen Jones, young people's laureate Caleb Femi, dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson and many more. Waterstones Piccadilly, free, book ahead, 28 April-1 May

WAR ARTISTS: Museum curator Emma Mawdsley leads a tour around the War Paint exhibition, discussing how, in an age before photography, artist impressions were the only images of war available. National Army Museum (Chelsea), free, book ahead, 11.30am

NATURAL HISTORY LATES: The theme of this month's late is sounds in nature. Find out how animal sounds are used to identify and classify them and get hands-on at pop-up science stations, or just explore the museum's exhibits after hours. Natural History Museum (South Kensington), free entry (charge for some activities), just turn up, 6pm-10pm

Catfest at Catford Constitutional Club

V&A LATE: There's a perpetual oxymoron in the digital age. Our desire for privacy is at odds with our appetite to share our lives online. The V&A invites you to take a data detox and subvert your smart technologies at this late night opening. V&A, free entry, just turn up, 6.30pm-10pm

AUTISM TALK: An estimated 700,000 people in the UK are affected by autism. In A is for Autism, Dame Stephanie Shirley shares her hands-on experience of the disorder, providing a virtual reality demonstration of life for someone on the spectrum. The Royal Institution, £18/£15, book ahead, 7.20pm-8.45pm

BIKER SPEED DATING: A night of live music, motorcycles and speed dating. You don't have to be a biker to go, that's just the location. Rebel's Alliance Motorbikes (Shoreditch), £20, book ahead, 7.30pm-9pm

WORLD MUSIC: Three of the most powerful world music collectives — Lakuta, Native Soul and The Family Atlantica Duo — unite under one roof, with a bag full of infectious tunes ready to tear up the dancefloor. Rich Mix, £10, book ahead, 8pm-1am

ROCKAOKE: Live out your ultimate rockstar fantasy, with a live backing band behind you and a (hopefully) forgiving crowd in front. Star of Kings, £3/free, book ahead, 9pm

Sponsor message

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You may already be aware that the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich has an impressive Painted Hall. In fact, it's so impressive, it's often referred to as 'the Sistine Chapel of the UK'.

You can now get up-close to this sky-high artwork on a new tour. Ascend 60 feet and see the paintings from a special observation deck, for the first time in over half a century.

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Art review: Picasso the matador

© 2017 Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Courtesy Gagosian. Photo: Maurice Aeschimann

Picasso was obsessed with bullfights and this exhibition builds on that. The collection of paintings, sculpture and drawings focuses on bullfights, matadors and the myth of the minotaur. Picasso captures the unbridled energy of these scenes in powerful masculine paintings. Gagosian Gallery has gone all out here and transformed the gallery into a museum-esque show that wouldn't feel out of place in, say, the Royal Academy — it's a truly spectacular exhibition. Picasso: Minotaurs and Matadors at Gagosian Gallery, 20 Grosvenor Hill, W1K 3QD, until 25 August, free ★★★★★ (Tuesday-Saturday) Tabish Khan

Art review: slow moving art

Image courtesy Marlborough London

George Rickey's sculptures slowly flex, rotate and transform. Their slow, moving grace had us transfixed. He was a contemporary of the more famous Alexander Calder, but his works are just as effective. George Rickey: Sculpture from the Estate at Marlborough Fine Art, 6 Albemarle Street, W1S 4BY, until 20 May, free ★★★★☆ (Monday-Saturday) Tabish Khan

Good cause for the day

CATFEST: Slightly misleadingly named, the third edition of Catfest has absolutely nothing to do with furry felines. Instead it's at Catford Constitutional Club and is a three day festival in aid of Women for Women International. The first night is all about dancing, later on during the weekend there'll be a vintage market, craft fair and a screening of Hidden Figures. Catford Constitutional Club, free (donations encouraged), just turn up, 28-30 April

Funzing

Fun things to do with our friends and sponsor Funzing.

Anyone can travel the world in style for next to nothing. You just need to know how! Our friends at Funzing UK are organising a unique talk with Nicky, aka The Miles Mogul. He's a music lawyer, photographer, traveller and most importantly air miles Guru. Come along and hear stories from Nicky's first class adventures and leave knowing how to do it yourself on a shoestring. This is a unique chance to learn the secret hacks and tips he's gathered over the years on how to travel in the ultimate style without breaking the bank. Get tickets

Every January you do the same thing. You make a New Year's resolution to lose weight, be thriftier, quit smoking or possibly even to start exercising. Yet how many of us find ourselves in the exact spot we started in once the month is up? This talk by Dr Gabija Toleikyte, explains why the brain resists changing habits of a lifetime. She'll also explain how to create long lasting change, by working with your brain rather than against it. Get tickets

What does it mean when someone flicks their hair or crosses their legs while they’re talking to you? Dr Peter Collett analyses the role of body language in relation to dating. £10 Get tickets

Asking for someone's seat on the tube can be embarrassing and awkward. On the flip side of the coin, it's not always easy to spot someone who might need your seat. TfL's 'Please Offer Me a Seat' badge aims to tackle the issue.

Following a six-week trial, in which 98% of the 1,200 trying out the badge said they'd recommend it, 'Please Offer Me a Seat' will now become a familiar slogan across London's network. Anyone with a condition or illness that's helped by sitting down can apply for a badge for free. In particular, it's thought the badge will help those who have a condition or illness that's not immediately visible to others. The slogan is also available as a card.

Val Shawcross, Deputy Mayor for Transport, says: "Many people living with an illness or condition, long or short-term, struggle to stand while using public transport and require a seat. These badges will help them, and I hope that they soon become as iconic as the Baby on Board badges that are widely recognised by Londoners and have been helping pregnant women get a seat for over a decade."

You can claim your free badge or card here.

This is a sponsored article on behalf of the British Academy.

Enid Blyton no longer belongs on your childhood bookshelves — the recent reinventions of her books have taken the world by storm. Let's face it, no 2016 Christmas stocking would have been complete without an on-trend adult Blyton book such as Five On Brexit Island and Five Go Gluten Free.

The creator of the new adult Enid Blyton books, Bruno Vincent, is giving a talk on 17 May about how he reinvented The Famous Five, a 75 year old series, and how the books became such a success.

Five give up the booze, Bruno Vincent, Quercus

It's just one of the brilliant events during the British Academy's Literature Week — six days of exciting book-based activities from 15-20 May. This year's theme is adaptations and transformations, with a number of events looking at how kids' books have been reworked for grown-ups.

What about books from your childhood that have made it to Theatreland? From Story to Stage is an event focusing on children's books that have been reinvented for adult theatre. Part of the Canada 150 celebrations, it takes place on 15 May at the British Academy HQ, and includes a talk and a performance.

Producer Adam Blanshay

Join renowned Canadian producer Adam Blanshay — who has worked on plays and musicals from Twelfth Night to The Light Princess — and West End performer Rosalie Craig for a celebration of theatre and stories. You'll even get a glass of wine included in the ticket price.

Rosalie Craig will be performing at the From Story to Stage event

Not just for big kids, these events looking at the journey from children's novels to works for adults are set to be eye-opening, whether you're a book lover, theatre geek, or just have a soft spot for Enid Blyton.

Find out what else is on as part of Literature Week 2017, and get booking to make sure you're in on the action.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has scrapped plans for the Garden Bridge which was due to be built across the Thames, according to The Guardian.

Khan made the decision, saying that he couldn't provide the financial guarantees needed to get the project off the ground. Although the mayor doesn't have the power to completely stop the bridge going ahead, it's unlikely to receive adequate funding without his backing. It was revealed last year that a further £52m was needed to fund the bridge, despite receiving sponsorship from the likes of Sky.

Khan previously caused delays to the project in 2016 when he implemented the condition that no more public money should be spent on the bridge.

The bridge is famously supported by Joanna Lumley, and was due to be designed by Thomas Heatherwick, responsible for the 2012 Olympic cauldron, and the new Routemaster buses. It has caused controversy throughout the planning period, due to the amount of public money being spent on it, the fact that it would be closed for private functions on a semi-regular basis, and the need to cut down several mature trees on South Bank (above) in order to construct it.