Pop Brixton

A new pop-up outdoor opened over the weekend, built from metal shipping containers for that typical East-London boxpark look. But wait. It's not East London at all, in fact, Pop Brixton is in that deep, dark area that exists south of the river..

If you've ventured down there before, you'll have already sampled many of the treats that are available from Brixton Market, some of which feature at Pop too. The containers are still filling up, but for now, there's bars aplenty, plus a mix of food stalls from the classic market ramen to meat grills and Mexican. It's quite short on seating, but there's room to stand around. Best to get down early though, many of the stalls were running out of stock by 10pm..

Top tip: the lychee vodka shots are definitely worth a try!

Find it at: 53 Brixton Station Road, SW9 8PQ

A day trip to Brighton

I've always loved the sea, so when the long weekend came around I just had to head down to the coast.

Brighton is less than an hour from London, with trains running from London Bridge, Elephant and Castle and Victoria. For the cheapest prices, book in advance and look for deals on specific train lines.

The city has a relaxed vibe during the day, with the exception of the bustling pier, complete with arcades, fairground rides and traditional seaside souvenirs.

For a more cultural side, we wandered through the Lanes, an area of art galleries and cosy pubs. The Indian inspired Royal Pavilion is definitely worth a look too, if you fancy a walk round it's gardens.

In the evening, we took a walk along the pebble beach and made a few patterns out of stones. 

Hej Coffee, Bermondsey

It was a sunny bank holiday, so we wandered towards Bermondsey. Finding out way into the sun-trap of Bermondsey Square, we stopped at the cosy little Scandinavian coffee shop, Hej on the corner.

The staff are incredibly friendly, giving it a local feeling and the cinnamon buns (of course) are delicious, especially when heated up. The walls are decorated with contemporary art, and there's an arty mock-moose head above the fire (don't worry, it looks nothing like a living moose!).

Find it at: 1 Bermondsey Square, London SE1 3UN

Top tip: If you don't fancy the buns, try the 'everything cookie'..

Meeting the Moomins, Skandium

Last weekend we paid a visit to Skandium, a Scandinavian design shop in Kensington who were hosting a special day to celebrate the release of the new Moomins film. I'm a huge fan of the Finnish trolls myself, so just had to go along and meet one in person.

 The shop itself stocks various impeccably designed furniture pieces, from sofas to light fixtures, as well as Moomin crockery, toys and Scandinavian sweets. If you're at all interested in product design, the store is a must-see, even if, like me, you'll be wishing you had your own home to fill with their products.

Warner Bros Studio Tour: The Making Of Harry Potter

Leave your pride at the door, and suspend your disbelief as you enter the Warner Bros Studio Tour. There's no shame in fan-girling as you tread the floors of the great hall, or scream with delight on your first broomstick ride.

Although the trip, and souvenirs may be a little pricey, The Making Of Harry Potter is a truly unique experience, looking at the intense workload and attention to detail that went into creating such an incredible world for the big screen.

You can sample butterbeer (although taking any home is not allowed), climb aboard the Hogwarts Express and practice your wand-waving skills, with enthusiastic staff members explaining each section, if you ask them nicely.

Top tips: Turn up at least 30 minutes early, there's a long queue to enter. The canteen outside isn't great, and is quite expensive, so it's worth eating before you head in.

How to get there: Coaches depart from London Victoria, or take the train from Euston to Watford Junction, where buses run to the studio every 20 minutes

Comptoir Libanais, Soho

Last Sunday we wandered around Soho, looking for a place to eat that didn't have a minimum of thirty minutes waiting queue. I'm not a particularly fussy eater, but being vegetarian does limit the choices, even in a place as diverse as Soho in central London.

Luckily, we stumbled across the artfully decorated Comptoir Libanais, a chain of Lebanese restaurants with colourful themes. The food was rich, but not stodgy, a vegetarian moussaka came with the aubergine cooked perfectly and layers of creamy sauce. We tried the flavoured vodka as well, which was stronger than expected, but equally refreshing.

If you're fancying something more healthy, there are a variety of wraps, each comes with a salad, or mix things up with a mezze platter piled high with tasty dips and fresh flatbread to share.

Find it at: 59 Broadwick Street, W1F 9QH

A Day Out In: Greenwich

Last weekend we took the Thames Clipper down to Greenwich village, an assortment of cute little shops and food markets, scattered about the bustling area.

Although you can find a handful of stalls by the riverside, the main food area is within Greenwich market, just round the corner from the Cutty Sark. It's definitely worth taking out cash before you go, there's a long queue for each cash point and you'll be needing it if you want to try any delicious food! 

Once we'd stocked up, we wandered over towards the University campus, where there's a green to sit in the sunshine. Not far from there is the Meantime Brewery, where you can buy a range a locally produced (if a little pricey) beers, and take a tour of the brewery itself. 

After a quick pint (or two), we strolled past the Naval Museum, up to the Royal Observatory, where you can see far across London, from the city over to the O2 Arena. 

Plonk Golf, Dalston

If crazy golf takes your fancy, I'm sure there's plenty of places in London to meet your needs, but none as unique as Dalston's own Plonk Golf. Set in an old snooker pub (with snooker tables included), you can work your way around the cleverly designed course, drink in hand.

It's a great date location, as the bar is quiet enough to chat, and there's some comfy sofas if you want to get cosy. Some of the holes are quite a challenge though, so expect to rack up a high score on your card!

Find it at: Efes, 17B Stoke Newington Rd,N16 8BH