36 hours? Why not 48, you may ask? A weekend is 48 hours! Well, you keen beans you, we like our lie ins. And a lie in means sleeping (or at least not moving) until 10am earliest, consequently cutting a fair few hours out of the day. That being on top of the early Sunday night bedtime. We are realists over here, and taking all this extra sleeping into account there are about 36 hours left of a weekend. So here goes…
Friday night:
[Tea Time In Wonderland]Whether you’ve just arrived into the big smoke or are at the end of a long week in the city, Friday nights can be both aspirational and exhausting. There is always the good intention of going wild, dancing until 5 and munching on cheesy chips as the sun rises…but if you’re anything like us, you’ll find yourself lagging around 11, forcing another tequila shot down when all you really want is teddy and a hot chocolate. Especially in this weather. Our suggestion to best let your hair down without breaking either the bank or yourself, is to cosy up in a fun pub and start the weekend the way you wish it to go on – full, drunk and happy.
Here are 3 of our favourite Autumn pub picks. All include open fires for extra cosy points.
1. The Old Red Lion
[The Old Red Lion]With its open fires, candlelit bar and wisteria filled walled garden (blankets and all), The Old Red Lion has a real village feel perfect for a relaxed Friday night. Yet with its homemade real ales and closing time of 1am, it doesn’t necessarily have to be too relaxed! Put your feet up or party – this is a pub for all!
42 Kennington Park Rd, SE11 4RS
2. William IV
[TimeOut]Gastropub at its best, William IV is the perfect mix of classic pub staples with a retro twist. The food is delicious and raring to be washed down with one of the many real ales on offer. There are also boardgames, newspapers and a piano (!) to keep yourselves entertained. All the ingredients for an awesome autumnal evening.
7 Shepherdess Walk, N1 7QE
3. The Antelope
[The Antelope Pub]With a spacious open bar and seating area, grand dining room, lounge and garden, Antelope is perfect for any social occasion. 8 hand pumps with an ever-changing selection of regional and locally sourced ales and a whole host of cosy corners, this is definitely one of our top Friday night picks (but we’d get there as early as possible for a fireside sofa spot!)
76 Mitcham Rd, SW17 9NG
Saturday morning (after the lie in):
This, my food loving friends, is the bacon naan from Dishoom. [Esquire]Brunch, brunch, BRUNCH. That’s all we have to say. Brunch. Do it. And find out here where the best spots are. We’ve already done our research…because Saturday brunches are the best. Plus, if you’re hardcore, you can always make it a boozy brunch!
Saturday afternoon:
Eddie Peake [Londonist]Whether it’s visiting a museum or dipping your toe into the vast pool of art, London is the place to be for a Saturday of sophistication and stimulation (as in brain stimulation…naughty). Take a stroll along the Southbank and pop into the Tate Modern or Hayward Gallery while stopping off at the food markets along your way for a quick post-brunch snack. Potter around South Kensington and hit up the V&A, Natural History Museum (‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’ exhibition is on at the moment) and the Science Museum all in one. Or simply sniff out the latest art exhibitions such as Eddie Peake at the Barbican Centre, ‘States of Mind’ at the Welcome Collection or Alice in Wonderland at The British Library.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2014 (People’s Choice) and what we look like in the bath. [Huh Magazine]
Saturday night:
[The Gentleman’s Journal]Dinner and drinks, of course. In Soho. But why not try somewhere a bit different, ey? Like Señor Ceviche for some Peruvian cuisine, or the Ember Yard for some small plate sass with this tapas triumph of a restaurant. And while London Cocktail Week might have ended, there’s no excuse not to head out for a few, particularly with bars such as Milk and Honey or the Experimental Cocktail Club in your midst.
Sunday morning:
No activities available. Computer says no.
Sunday late morning/early afternoon:
Yup, this was taken in London. [BBC]An autumn walk. Nothing could be better. Sleep, brekkie and a long walk in the fresh air (yes, there is fresh air in London…and we know where to find it!) is a great Sunday making. There are some seriously stunning spaces, from hidden gardens to beautiful secret walks (that funnily enough often happen to have a nice little pub at the end of them…*ahem*).
Sunday afternoon:
[Roast]Sunday afternoon means one thing: Roast. Dinner. To end a walk with a roast dinner is probably better than having a head, hand, foot and shoulder massage all at the same time…and (we imagine) that’s really hard to top. Had a roam in Hampstead Heath? Pop into the Spaniards Inn for a delicious roast. Been for a ramble around Richmond Park? The Roebuck will be waiting for you. Alternatively, even if you haven’t been for a walk any of these Sunday dinners will equally knock your socks off (and you’ll still deserve them…almost as much).
