My favourite London spots.

Hello again!

Just thought I'd write a bit of a random post on a Sunday evening because it's been a while! I spend quite a bit of time in London, be it seeing shows or just having a day trip to Oxford Street for a bit of retail therapy. These are some hidden gems that you may not know about or have just walked past - hopefully it'll encourage you to try them out next time you're in the city!

• The Theatre Cafe.
  
  
  
  

It's actually become a bit of a running joke now that I cannot walk through Soho and not go into the Theatre Cafe. It is such a cool place - they serve musical themed drinks, Defying Gravitea being a personal favourite! The staff are as big musical geeks as the customers they attract, so expect to hear a lot of singing from behind the counter as well as from the tables! You can put your own favourite musical songs on the playlist from the iPad at the counter, meaning sometimes you'll hear new ones you've not heard of before. You can get a brownie (so nice by the way!) and a cup of tea for under £5, which for Central London isn't bad at all. Just get off the tube at Piccadilly Circus and walk up Shaftsbury Avenue, it's right opposite the Queens Theatre, so in a perfect place for a pre/post show treat. Oh, and make sure you check out the toilet, it's pretty special, trust me!

• MOD pizza

This one is a bit more obvious and not really a hidden secret, but it is my favourite place to eat for sure! You create your pizza exactly how you want it, choosing from about 30 toppings and no matter how many you get, it's all the same price. It's in Leicester Square so perfectly central and has outside seating which is ace as it's in a prime location for people spotting! The staff are some of the nicest too, the minute you walk in, a chorus of 'Hello' will be heard across the restaurant as they all greet you every time you enter; I think that makes for such a fun atmosphere. 

• Kalimera

There seems to be a bit of a running food theme here, ah well here's another one! If you find yourself in the Camden end of the city, you have to check out this food stall. It's right at the end of the food market and serves chicken, pork and halloumi souvlaki, with added Greek spice and some tzatski thrown in for good measure. It's one of the nicest things I've had and Camden Food Market is such a great place for food in general, with enough variety for the fussy eaters. When I was last in Camden, this place caught my eye, and although it's a bit pricey (£7) I think it's well worth it!

• Zedel Brasserie

This is another food place - but that's not why I love it. Underneath the Parisan style cafe, there's an intimate music venue which seats about 50 people. I've only been here once, but it is the venue of choice for many jazz and theatre singers. Its classic American theme and chilled decor makes it the perfect place to enjoy their cabaret, comedy and jazz nights. Just watch out for the drinks prices, their cheapest cocktail is still quite pricey, combined with the service charge! It's just off Piccadilly Circus, right opposite the Piccadilly Theatre, where Annie is currently playing. 

• TKTS Booth

If you're looking for last minute theatre tickets, or just want the chance to see something else before you leave the city, then look no further! This absolute gem is in the centre of Leicester Square, right outside the Odeon Cinema and offers discount tickets for just about every show on the West End. The queues often get quite long in the middle of the day, so get there early to ensure you have the best choice!

So there you have it, my favourite 5 hidden gems - granted some are more hidden than others! If you've got any others you can recommend for my next trip, I'd love to hear them!

Charlie x

Meeting Rachel Tucker at Zedel.

The Theatre Cafe - told you you have to visit the toilets!

Theatre Cafe memorabilia - there's a lot!