Outdoor ice skating in Central London:
In the style of Central Park, New York, Londoners have taken to outdoor ice skating with huge enthusiasm and the apartment is situated about 10 mins in a bus or taxi to the most famous, festive and fun of these winter rinks, Somerset House. It is a gorgeous Christmas treat, with music and a bar overlooking the rink, where you can get warm with a spiced mulled wine. Make sure you book ahead of time online or go there and buy tickets.
Historic Walks In Clerkenwell:
Clerkenwell is has a very rich and fascinating history and you will find guided walks advertised both locally and in Time Out magazine. Everything has gone on here from the grisly execution of William Wallace (Brave Heart), down at Smithfields (end of my road) to the founding of the Knights Templar..(St John's Gate - lovely museum 30 seconds from apartment) -
St Bartholemews is an exquisite and ancient church facing the old execution site at Smithfields (London's famous meat market where the local restaurants buy their meat and poultry, as can you, if you get up early enough! )
Exmouth Market:
This is a much-loved and lively market street at the Islington end of Clerkenwell. It is a lovely place to meet a friend or take your laptop/book/newspaper and sit in any number of cafes and people-watch. Toward the end of the week, at lunchtime food stalls assemble offering wonderful fresh hot and cold food from Italy, Spain, Morocco, India. A lovely fella called Jeremy runs a well-known, frequently written about coffee/music shop called Brill. A friendly, buzzy place where you can browse his serious music collection, ask questions about obscure albums or artists and Jeremy will have an answer or an opinion. His smoked salmon bagels are heaven! Treat yourselves. Across the road is very famous Spanish/Moroccan restaurant called Moro, a wonderful place to eat formally or just to sit at the bar and enjoy their delicious tapas and sherry. Next to Moro is a fabulous bookshop, lovely for browsing. If you like Sebutio and Margeritas head for Kick Bar. Do not miss this street.
