The Trafalgar Chelsea

When walking around Kings Road in Chelsea, you may get bored and need a drink. Go to the Trafalgar. Not only do they have drinks but they have amazing french fries too. We stopped inside to get away from the cold and grab a drink while resting our legs. Sadly with these winter days you feel like its ok to have a drink at 4pm, “hey, its already dark”. I indulged in a large glass of rose and sat in a comfortable armchair with no intention of moving again for a while. 

They play relaxing music low enough for you to have a casual conversation and not have to yell. There are so many tables that you don’t eavesdrop on anyone else either. They have about 10 different beers on tap, I challenge you to taste them all! They also do a discounted beer of the day. 

I really liked having a break there, sometimes everyone needs a little pick me up after a day in the cold. If you live around there I really recommend an afternoon in the pub with friends. 

Here’s their website: http://www.thetrafalgarchelsea.co.uk/

Canary Wharf Ice Rink

One cold evening my flatmate Emily and I decided to go Iceskating. After a little research we found out the Canary Wharf Ice Rink is only 11 pounds for students. So off we went to get into the Christmas mood. 

Iceskating in England is different from Iceskating in Europe in the sense that you pay for a “session” which is usually an hour long, and you have to get off the ice and return the rental skates after your session. We planned well, so we arrived 20 minutes before our session, put our bags in lockers, and exchanged our shoes for skates. I tend to get used to the ice more if I listen to some My Chemical Romance, so I put on Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge and off I went on to the ice. 

Over the course of the hour, I only fell over twice. Emily managed to never fall over. It was nice to skate outside and see all the Christmas lights. I love iceskating because its a work out without being too sporty, almost everyone can skate a little. 

It was really nice to see the mix of people skating and since it was a Monday night it wasn't too crowded so you could skate which ever direction you wanted. Overall, I loved it, it was probably my best skating experience in the UK. Its a great place to go after work for a bit, and there are bars right next to it, so you can get a drink to warm you up after. 

Here’s the rink’s website: http://www.icerinkcanarywharf.co.uk/

(TimeOut.com has also featured all the other open-air rinks that have been set up around London)

Poppies

When people ask me “where can I get the best fish and chips in London?” I rarely have to think more than a second. Poppies is the best. If you get your food “to go” I recommend getting a regular portion of chips. The chips are amazing, traditional, English, chips. They serve them in a cup, wrapped in a newspaper tube, and fill it up quite a lot. Trust me, a regular is enough, I’m never able to finish them alone. Their fried codfish always smells amazing, and the one time I tasted it I vowed to eat there again. 

Unfortunately it’s in between Spitalfields Market and Brick Lane Market, so I rarely stop there to eat because there’s so much to choose from in that area on a Sunday afternoon. If you happen to walk past though it’s worth the stop. I think of it as one of London’s mini landmarks of English culture that every tourist should taste. To add character to their restaurant the waitresses are dressed in adorable 50’s diner clothes and always look fabulous.

Also, a true “Englishman” covers the chips in vinegar and salt, try it if you dare. 

Here’s their website: http://poppiesfishandchips.co.uk/

Paramount

If you’re looking to have a drink with a view and you can’t afford the Shard, the next best option is Paramount bar and club. You need to call to make a reservation, but after that you don’t even have to worry about being on time. The building where you find Paramount is called Centre Point, and the closest station is Tottenham Court Road. Upon arrival, you walk up the stairs and talk to the reception, they then take you up to the 33rd floor where you will find the bar. 

This isn't just an ordinary bar, its a bar with an amazing view. I like to go there around Christmas time because they’ve already set up all the lights so there’s even more to see. The drinks aren't cheap, but with a view like that it’s worth it. Also, their wine glasses are bigger than in most places around London. The staff is incredibly polite, and they know exactly when to approach you and when to leave you alone. That to me is very important I need to read the whole wine list before choosing one, and I hate being rushed.

After making your order, walk around the bar, since all the exterior walls are made of glass you can see London from every direction. Last time I went I spent hours just awing at the view. I never expected to see that much of London especially since somehow its always grey here. Overall, if you want to treat yourself to a good drink and a nice evening I strongly recommend Paramount. Where else can you go to see all the Christmas lights? 

Here’s their website: http://www.paramount.uk.net/

Tulum Tacos

In Shoreditch there’s a little “food village” with a collection of different pop-up food stands. I recently went to Tulum Tacos and tried their Churros with a side of Corona. My friend chose to go for the Nachos which also looked amazing. When walking into the tent type room, we looked at all the different stands, but this one stood out to us the most. I quickly scanned over the menu and knew that the Churros was what I wanted most. 

They made the Churros for me right there. Frying them for about 10 minutes and heating up some amazing chocolate sauce. Also, it was the first time I had cinnamon on Churros, and let me tell you, it tastes like heaven. The open space is great for sitting down and relaxing with a beer in hand and having a chat with friends. They’ve put little outdoor heaters everywhere which is also great because that way you don't have to eat with your jacket on. 

I’m contemplating going back for a full meal, and trying food from another stand but always ending my meal with those amazing Churros. They were seriously the best I’ve had in a very very long time. 

Here’s their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.660167014013168.1073741825.146616148701593&type=3

Panic! at the Disco at The Forum

About a week ago I had the wonderful opportunity to finally see Panic at the Disco live for the first time. I had booked the ticket in July, so I was practically counting down the days until the show since then. Doors were at 7, but I assumed that since they had a support act not that many people would be there that early. I got to The Forum in Kentish Town at about 6:50 and the queue for the concert went around the block, it must have been at least 400 metres long, if not more. 

Once finally inside, I was able to leave my coat in the cloakroom, and buy a band t-shirt for my sister. I would have spent money at the bar too, if it hadn’t been so crowded. But what more can you expect from a sold out show? The inside of the Forum is really beautiful, it has a baroque feel, but with brighter modern colours. If I wanted to I could have gotten a seated ticket on the upper balcony of the venue. 

The support band, New Politics was amazing and they really got the crowd going. The singer even jumped into the crowd for a bit which of course made everyone scream and jump for joy. When there were guitar solos he would break dance too, I was really impressed. When they finished their set, there was only a short break before Panic at the Disco came on. Everyone went absolutely mad when Brendon Urie came on stage. It was really great to be part of something with so many people. I love music because of the way it connects people. The crowd was so in sync we were louder than Brendon. Overall it was great to see him perform.

The only downside was how aggressive the crowd got, and that he was the only one present from the original band. If you ever hear of any gigs at the Forum I recommend you go, its such a nice venue and even if you’re immersed in the crowd you can still see the band really well. 

Here’s Panic at the Disco’s website: http://www.panicatthedisco.com/

Here’s New Politics’ site: http://newpoliticsrock.com/

and here’s the venue’s webpage: http://mamacolive.com/theforum/

The Stylist's Rail

Having spent half my Friday on Facebook I saw that there was something going on at the Hoxton Hotel on the Saturday. And I decided to check it out. It was the Stylist's Rail at the Hoxton Hotel. I had gone to one of their previous events with some friends at Birthdays in Dalston back in May so I was looking forward to seeing how it would be different at a hotel. 

Upon arrival I heard some really great music, and saw some really beautiful photos in the hallway before I even got to the clothes. Once I stepped into the room I felt underdressed, everyone looked so edgy and so “London” and I was just in jeans and a t-shirt. But I got over it pretty quickly because the music was so good. After browsing through a few racks of clothes I found a few really cute items. I had only brought 30 pounds with me, so I had to look through and pick the few items I really really liked. 

I’m really happy I chose what I did, I’ve worn both items a few times already, and when I’m a little less broke I’m looking forward to going to another one of their sales. Bring friends, and head over to one of their events, it would have taken me much less time to choose what I wanted if my friends had been there with me. And if you’re a little fashion forward its a great place to go to find something a little different or a trend item that you think might be having a “come back”. 

Here’s their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheStylistsRail