A perfect London afternoon

If by chance you find yourself in London not knowing what to do or need to escape the sheep run with the package deal tourists, I might have a suggestion on how you can pass the time...

London is an eclectic city alive with the weird, the wonderful, the extravagant and the utterly bland, together creating a city so charming and fashionable that it could not be copied or sufficiently praised. So discovering this place could take years . Here is my attempt in one day:

Take a trip on the London Underground. Every visitor MUST do this! A network so well planned, so reliable, traveled on by thousands daily and a wonderful place to see the best and worst of London fashion!

Jump off at Picadilly Circus. No it is not a circus. There is nothing funny to it, except maybe all the Japanese tourists looking for the circus. Picadilly is a landmark and a bustling square with beautiful architecture, gift shops and flashing cameras.

Appreciate the buildings, buy some overpriced curio from a shop and head down towards China town, two blocks further. This must be the most elegant China Town in the world, hosting neat little restaurants and pretty red lanterns hanging in the streets with Chinese shopkeepers flaunting their quintessential British accent.

You'll find yourself surrounded by quaint brick houses and small buildings perfectly balancing on tidy sidewalks where the most trendy deli's, boutiques and speciality shops hang out. This is Soho, renowned for being cool. And it is! The people that pass you are cool. The shops are cool. Even the "bobbies" on their horses are cool. Here you find trendy 20-somethings sipping Latte's at boutique sidewalk cafe's, arty vintage shoppers with mustaches and top hats, luxury vehicles parked in front of uber cool apartments and an energy that makes you feel like saying "absolutely fabulous darlin"


Here on a pretty street, you'll find a famous bakery called The Hummingbird Bakery. This little shop is so famous all around as it was the first bakery to start the cupcake fashion, perfect a red velvet cupcake and still can afford to be an exclusive cupcake shop. Yet, as I walk in, it is only a humble sweet shop with a friendly lady behind the coffee machine welcoming me in, unaware of the celebrity status of the place.

Go ahead and order a warm coffee and a famous cupcake and savour as you see the eclectic Londoners stylishly popping in for their daily cupcake and coffee fix. I do also recommend the Raspberry Mousse Cheesecake Brownie if cupcakes don't tickle your fancy!

After replenishing your energy and soothing your sweet tooth, you could take a souvenir last cupcake, may I recommend the Brooklyn Blackout, or simply take home the Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook, you won't regret it!

Lazily stroll through the streets of Soho and rumble through the vintage shops and music stores, where you can find anything from vintage Versace dresses and handmade leather sachels to crazy 80's dresses with shoulder pads and polka dots.


No trip to England would be complete without a good old Pub Grub and the perfect place to do this must be here: Sheperds Tavern in Mayfair. 

Take a walk through Green Park, Hyde Park and down a cobble stone street where tourist don't tread but Bugatti's and Rolls Royce roll, and you'll stumble upon a little red pub in this picturesque and posh neighbourhood.

Inside you will be greeted by a very friendly and loud "How are you folks" and will immediately be offered a choice of beer on tap, plus a short background of each one. Then a fantasticly large menu will be placed in front of you and most items will be recommended. All gloriously British, with a posh twist and a Birkin bag in hand.

The largest steak I have seen this side from Africa arrives with perfectly greasy fried mushroom, tomato and gravy. My traditional Steak and Ale Pie came with English Sausage, crispy chips, loads of tomato sauce and a rich gravy. Nothing grubby about this pub lunch! Wash it down with a beer and you are ready to brace the crisp cold air and head to M&Ms World.

The best concept store I have visited so far! M&Ms world is every kid's dream come true and with four floors filled with M&M's, any adult instantly becomes a child! It is impossible to resist filling your basket with every colour and flavour, shape and size M&M! The music is loud and energetic, the lights are bright and the life sized M&M men smile at you around every corner. Here you can load your dispensary, bottle, box or even London bus with your favourite colour, or buy M&M pajamas, t-shirts, bags and postcards and have your picture taken with the famous little sweet men, brought to life here. This place is so cool and you will not find a single person n there without a smile on their face. This is my new happy place!

Fill a bag of sweets and take your trip home with the Londoners while wondering whether they love their city as much as you do!