“Better days are coming.
They are called Friday, Saturday and Sunday”
I don’t know about you lot, but I haven’t been this giddy with excitement about Friday since… well, last Friday.
Whether plotting ahead or going with the flow – here are a few simple rules I follow for making the most of any weekend.
It’s really as easy as A, B, C…
Art
Visit the 250th Summer Exhibition at The Royal Academy (helmed this year by none other than iconoclast, Greyson Perry) or immerse yourself in the evocative world of Pablo Picasso. Combined, the myriad of art galleries and museums in London offer something for everyone – whatever your mood, or whichever school of art you’re inclined towards. Explore the must-visit exhibits this summer, here.
Brunch
The only credible reason to really crawl out of bed on the weekend and give in to gluttony. A yolky situation is never amiss, and neither is that side of banana pancakes to go with your fry-up. Washed down with a good glug of fizz of course. Top picks for weekend brunch, here.
Carousing
Rewind to the late night revelry that accompanied the evening before.
Of late, I’ve been particularly partial to the new Annabel’s, drawn back by the club’s outrageously over-the-top sense of fun (expect anything and everything from a unicorn hanging atop the main staircase, to a life-sized bronze gorilla standing guard outside the nightclub!). Explore more, here.
Drama
But for a more low-key yet just as transfixing evening, I’m always keen on the theatre.
My most recent visit was to see a preview of the upcoming #RiverStage festival, the largest free outdoor arts festival returning to the Southbank this summer with five weekends of theatre from The National Theatre, along with live music, DJs and family workshops! Find out more, here.Â
Eurostar
Of course, if it’s a long weekend, Paris is always a good idea.
Film Night
From Ocean’s Eight to Jurassic Park, there’s a rather spectacular line-up of blockbusters, worth carving out an evening at the cinema for! If you prefer staying out in the sunshine, Rooftop Film Club is back – their Queen of Hoxton rooftop terrace is particularly inviting, with a futuristic Las Vegas theme – or ‘Lost Vegas’ – in full swing.
And then there’s Secret Cinema, which will be presenting Baz Luhrmann’s rendition of Romeo + Juliet in a top-secret outdoor location. Expect live bands, DJs, choirs, artists and lots of debauchery set against the dazzling world of Verona Beach!
Game of Thrones
It’s going to be another year before we can tune in to the final Season of wargs and White Walkers, dragons and deceit, intrigue and untimely deaths we never saw coming… Let’s be honest. Until then, we’re all secretly spending some part of the weekend re-watching past seasons in the hopes of unravelling those burning questions we so desperately need the answers to.
Hygge
Of course, rewatching GoT is likely to leave you emotionally traumatised in one way or another. Sounds like as good a time as any to pursue hygge – “a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or wellbeing.”
That’s the official spiel in the Oxford Dictionary anyways.
For me, hygge has always been about cherishing oneself and others and celebrating simple pleasures… It’s really as simple as a picnic in the park with friends, a bouquet of fresh flowers to brighten up a dull morning (see M), or a comforting glass of RosĂ© at the end of a long day!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjeLh0CF0j6/?taken-by=the_foodiediaries
Indian home food
Speaking of comforting, Sunday nights are usually reserved for home-food that’s not really home-cooked. So essentially, a meal/ takeaway at one of my (many) favourite Indian restaurants in London. Read the full list, here.Â
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdcTzmMltBY/?taken-by=the_foodiediaries
Jollity
Summed up quite simply as: Good friends. (Good food). Good mood.
King’s Arms
Because, really. Where else are you going to be when the clock chimes 5p.m. on a Friday, than at your local pub?
Love London
Join the Insta-gang to hunt down pretty-in-pink front doors, give into #WisteriaHysteria and find other Instagrammable ways of declaring your undying love for #PrettyCityLondon.
Markets
I do love moseying along the thriving markets of London too, from following the foodie trail underneath the arches of Borough Market, to picking out the colours of the season from the vibrantly-overflowing buckets of flowers lining Colombia Road Flower Market!
Notting HillÂ
This colourful corner of London is still one of the most attractive destinations on an idyl afternoon, when you can idly potter around Portobello road, stopping to pose by the pastel-hued homes before carrying on to one of the neighbourhood’s picturesque cafes…
O…
… Oops. Going to have to get back to you on this one.
Petrichor
This is London. Chances are that it’s going to be pouring for a good part of the weekend.
Fret not cherubs, all is not lost as there’s something quite enchanting about a stroll in the park after it rains. I think the word we’re looking for is petrichor…
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUPx3zIFAvZ/
Queuing
Of course, here’s hoping that it doesn’t rain whilst we’re waiting in line to get our hands on the next on-trend treat in town. Discover London’s most Instagrammable cafe, here.
Rooftop Drinks
Cocktail hour certainly calls for many heady visits to the city’s rooftop drinking destinations… Explore more, here.Â
Scones
Luckily the only debate here is: jam first, or cream?
The Shop at the Bluebird, Covent Garden
Spread over 15,000 square feet, the flagship concept store of The Shop at the Bluebird (rightfully) bills itself as whimsical “playground of wonders.” Set across a triple-height day-lit atrium, the whimsical dĂ©cor is as much fun to explore as the expertly curated collection of womenswear, accessories and homewares. Really, this is just the place you need to bookmark for fleeing the madding crowd of central London
Umbrella
Never leave home without one. Because (and at the risk of repeating myself here), This. Is. London.
V&AÂ
But if the weather Gods have been mercifully kind, head to the iconic courtyard of the V&A to catch some rays. Throw in a wander around the museum’s permanent collection, or gawk at the long-lost contents of Frida Kahlo’s wardrobe, and it will have been a Sunday remarkably well spent indeed.
Waffling
From waffle ice cream cones at Duck & Waffle Local, to eggy Hong Kong-style bubble waffles and even doughnut-waffles (apparently now a thing in Maltby Street Market), there are oh-so-many scrummy spins to this weekend staple…
It kind of makes you rephrase the lyrics to LMFAO’s Party Rock Anthem.
Everyday I’m wafflin’, wafflin’, wafflin.’Â
No? Just in my head? Oh dear, that’s embarrassing.
Xystus
The ancient Greek word (denoting the covered portico of the gymnasium), might offer a quick reprieve if my old Oggsford tutors have been reading this post… Not to mention, save my waistline! You see, weekends are usually when I’m able to put in the maximum time and effort in my modern-day xystus. { If you’ve ever wondered how I stay in shape, eating out as much as I do – have a read, here }
YOLO
When in doubt, it’s all the justification you need for that extra sliver (okay fine, slice) of cake or pat of cream on your scone. For another round of fizz, or to stay out dancing with pals till the early hours of the morning. You get the drift.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bjoeoe-lfGn/?taken-by=the_foodiediaries
Zeitgeist
Because as we’ve well established – we Londoners are not above standing on chairs for that perfect top-down #flatlay shot of brunch, or standing around gawking on the streets as we nail the next Insta-worthy shot to brighten up our feeds…
#WeekendWarriors #Millennials #LondonbyLondoners.
So. What’s your idea of #WeekendPerfection?
Explore more things to do in London, here.Â
love this alphabet:)
Thank you 🙂 was a fun post to write! X
What a cute post- love love it!! Can’t wait to see you soon, leftie!
Thanks K! Re R: rooftop film club to see Baywatch?! It looks so darn good! X