Flat Iron Square is almost too tiny to be marked on any map, however it can be spotted if you study the pages of your A to Z, or take a ride in a helicopter over Southwark!
This tiny square (well, triangle really) has been renovated recently and there's a little cafe hut in the middle offering all sorts of tasty nibbles, and several other great eateries in the shade of the Shard.

The Island Cafe
1 Flat Iron Square, (off Union Street) London SE1 0AB
+44(0)20 7407 2224
Nearest underground: Borough
Google map: bit.ly/n5Atqw

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Cheap and tasty Mexcian fast food on Botanic Avenue. With excellent vegetarian and meat burritos, tacos (hard and soft) and salad bowls, nothing costs over £5 and is extremely filling and tasty. Be aware it can be very popular with the local students at peak times!

73 Botanic Avenue, Belfast, County Antrim
+44 (0)28 9031 5334
www.boojummex.com‎

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

In February 2011, Camberwell reopened after years of renovation work.
Now painted bright white inside, Camberwell’s pool has balconies lining the high walls, recalling those ancient, darker, brick-walled Victorian pools where I did my bronze medal life-saving awards many moons ago. The re-tiled 25m pool has very warm (for my chilly Atlantic and Irish Sea childhood training!) water and the clean, but damp changing rooms are also a little overheated. One drawback is the incredibly complicated opening time system, to cope with all the different sessions on offer, from aqua aerobics to ‘splash and floats’ to swim school. There are also many opportunities for lane swims, women-only swimming and general watery mayhem. When the lane system is in operation, some go clockwise, some anti-clockwise; I'm not sure why this is ... an anti-wave idea perhaps?!
The Victorian public baths first opened in 1892, and the grade II listed façade is in the Flemish Renaissance style, which explains why I always had a vaguely Antwerpian feeling when walking past!
There is also a friendly café, a gym and a sports hall within the historic, buffed up walls.

Camberwell Leisure Centre
Artichoke Place, off Camberwell Church Street, London SE5 8TS
+44(0)20 7703 3024
www.fusion-lifestyle.com/centres/Camberwell_Leisure_Centre
Buses 12, 36, 436, 345, 171, 68, 468 to Camberwell Green
Google map: bit.ly/ptl0Fi

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

The longest running organic bakery in London started out in 1982 in a disused post office in Clapham. The bakers use the best quality flours to produce divine breads, pasties, pastries and cakes. The aroma of fresh bread draws in customers from all over south London, and there’s even a home delivery service. Scrummy.

www.oldpostofficebakery.co.uk/
76 Landor Road, London SW9 9PH
+44(0)207 326 4408
Google map: bit.ly/iAQSqo

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Greensmiths is an amazing food emporium, café, cheese heaven and bakery.
The aroma from the cheesemonger’s section reminded me of old fashioned speciality shops last smelt in my early childhood. So evocative. I was offered a tasting nugget of Coolea cheese made by a Dutch couple who moved to Cork, Ireland, it is a bit like a hard, tangy Gouda, and very moreish!
Fresh meat is delivered from the Ginger pig farm in North Yorkshire, while bread, pastries and cakes come from the superb Old Post Office organic bakery in Clapham’s Landor Road.
The Waterloo wine merchant provides the bevies, and the Solstice fruit and veg department looks like something out of Harrods food hall, with every aubergine polished to within an inch of its life and every grape gleaming in the sunlight.
The café is located upstairs and outside on the pavement. My friend enjoyed the all-day veggie breakfast and I wolfed down a roast beef and horseradish ciabatta sandwich, refreshed with specialist coffees and other brews from Caffe Antica.

www.greensmithsfood.co.uk
27 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7RG
+44(0)207 921 2970
Google map: bit.ly/lv6Hte
Open Mon-Fri 08.00—20.00, Sat 08.00—18.00, Sun closed
Overground train or Northern Line underground to Waterloo, Bakerloo Line underground to Lambeth North, bus 12, 53, 148, 159, 453, N109, 171

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Radio Days is an Aladdin’s cave, crammed to the rafters with vintage clothing, memorabilia from the 1920s to the 1980s, piles of hats, Bakerlite telephones, radios, jewellery, old advertising boards, plaques, retro packaging, old clocks and watches, sheet music, Art Deco objects and large dollop of kitsch.

www.radiodaysvintage.co.uk
87 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7AB
+44(0)207 928 0800
Google map: bit.ly/jy6ydb
Open Mon-Sat 10.00—18.00
Overground train or Northern Line underground to Waterloo, Bakerloo Line underground to Lambeth North, bus 12, 53, 148, 159, 453, N109, 171

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Charlie Chaplin learned to tap dance on the wooden board covering the shoot down to the cellar outside his uncle’s cavernous yet cosy Jolly Gardeners public house.
Chaplin’s dad used to tinkle the ivories at the 120-year-old inn and scenes from the film ‘Snatch’ were shot on location here
Situated in the historic Black Prince Road, London’s first German gastro-pub has 16 great German beers gushing from gorgeous ceramic draught taps and 32 bottled brews. There are lots of 'weiss' (white) wheat beers and I sampled a version called 'Hell'....which was heavenly.
The kitchen serves up lots of sausages, schnitzels and Bavarian specialities. Two big screens show the German Bundesliga and we watched a medley of Wimbledon matches and live performances direct from Glastonbury. I won’t even mention what a great atmosphere there was during the football World Cup…!

Zeitgeist @The Jolly Gardeners
49-51 Black Prince Road, London SE11
+44(0)207 840 0426
Google map: bit.ly/j19D2I

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

This delightful garden was originally laid out by social reformer Octavia Hill.
Hill (1838-1912) was an amazing woman and way ahead of her time. She was a pioneer of affordable housing and many consider her the founder of modern social work. She campaigned tirelessly for the environment and open spaces and co-founded the National Trust, which today protects over 300 historic properties and keeps 250,000 hectares of land open to everybody.
Hill believed in humane housing conditions and arranged for the construction of two rows of pretty cottages and a community hall, designed by Elijah Hoole. The garden predated the buildings and was laid out in 1887. It was created to provide ‘an open air sitting room for the tired inhabitants of Southwark’ and had an elaborate layout of curved lawns, flower beds and serpentine paths, an ornamental pond with fountain, bandstand and covered children's play area. There were once two mosaics in the garden. One showing ‘The Sower' was restored in 2005 and can still be seen.
Bankside Open Spaces Trust used Heritage Lottery funding to restore the garden to its former glory, complete with pond, bridge, fountain, flower beds and paths winding through this lovely Victorian garden.

50 Redcross Way, London SE1 1HA
Jubilee Line underground to Southwark
Google map: bit.ly/jsTIXR

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Our tour operator stopped in Liverpool and took us to this gem of supping-hole. A historic venue located on the docks of the city, it is perfect venue on a hot summer's day when you can sit outside and enjoy a drink.

The Colonnades, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 4AD
+44(0)151 709 2367
Google map: bit.ly/kagCON

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

This pub is the epicentre of Otley's quaint and distinct culture. Expect to find locally produced real ales, folk music and a quiet, busy atmosphere.

44 Bondgate, Otley, West Yorkshire LS21 1AD
+44(0)1943 463 233
Google map: bit.ly/mo8g0j

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

A store in Hackney that is full of interesting films, posters, projectors, batteries and old cameras - EVERYTHING is Super 8 or Super 16 and you can even get the owner to come round your house and project a film the old fashioned way!

35 Lower Clapton Rd, Lower Clapton, E5
+44(0)20 8985 1766
Google map: bit.ly/iPHf7y

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

A true rarity amongst an ever increasing, all consuming swarm of commercialisation.
Haggle Records is one of a kind, a visit to this record shop is essential to any vinyl enthusiast or music afficionado passing through London.
The owner, Lyn, is a truly captivating man. Always with a story to tell, always offering advice when it is requested. A quintessential English gent - with a wealth of knowledge of all genres, in particular, jazz.
I have spent hours in Haggle, on my hands and knees, (trying) to trawl through as many of the 40,000 plus titles as possible. Everything from Rock to Soul, Jazz to Dance, Classical to Punk - and everything in between!
If you're looking for a second hand record shop experience, you will not do wrong by checking out Haggle records.

www.hagglevinyl.com/
114-116 Essex Rd, Islington, London, N1 8LX
Opening hours: 9-7pm Monday-Saturday
9.30-4pm Sunday
+44(0)207 704 3101
Google map: bit.ly/lrX7XO

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

The Castle Hotel is a charismatic and very welcoming pub in the heart of Manchester city centre. It specialises in real ale and quality ciders and also has some fantastic bar food on offer.

66 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LE
+44(0)161 237 9485
thecastlehotel.info/
Google map: bit.ly/maaS1H

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

You might have thought Boris Karloff was born in a creepy castle somewhere in Eastern Europe, but, in fact, if you go to East Dulwich you can see a blue plaque on the wall of the house where Frankenstein's monster was born William Henry Pratt on 23 November 1887.

Boris Karloff birthplace
36 Forest Hill Road, East Dulwich, London, SE22 0RR
Google map: bit.ly/kot5og

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Excellent Indian restaurant serving all the favourites in a stylish yet casual setting. The lamb chops malai and tandoori chicken are particularly tasty. Plenty of vegetarian and seafood options. Take away also available.

22 Camberwell Church Street, London SE5 8QU
+44(0)207 701 6004
hungryhouse.co.uk/safa
Google map: bit.ly/mROqhj

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Sophocles is one of the best bakeries in south London and knocks all other Camberwell cakey places into a cocked hat. Where else can you try a kolokotes: a Cornish pasty-shaped sweet pastry case hiding an unusual and surprisingly tasty mix of pumpkin, raisins, cous cous and spices? It sounds strange but one of these is worth a journey on the number 12 bus alone. This Greek-owned bakery and patisserie tempts me inside daily, with its irresistible, fresh bloomers, whose fluffy white (or brown) bread, with a crisp sesame and aniseed dusting, cries out to be slathered in butter. There is a vast range of sweet pastries, creamy cakes, fruit tarts and almond pies dripping with honey. I only recently spotted the savoury section at the back, hidden behind the small café area, where elderly Greek gentlemen sip sticky coffee. However, I’ll be back soon to try a feta and spinach pastry, a crimson slice of pizza or a made to order sandwich. Tasty.

Sophocles Bakery
24 Camberwell Church Street, London SE5 8QU
+44(0)20 7252 6316
Bus 12, 171, 345, 36, 436 to Camberwell Green
Google map: bit.ly/lF8fAn

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Eleven years ago, two Italian brothers opened Camberwell’s GXgallery in a painting frame shop, which still occupies the front space. The art-loving brothers bought the pet shop behind and expanded the arty area to include an exciting exhibition space in a former bakery in its cellar. I am as guilty as anyone of walking past, gazing into the very bright, white ground floor gallery and thinking ‘I might pop in next time…when I feel a bit more confident’, but now I am kicking myself for being such an art-wimp. It turns out the GXgallery is a friendly and welcoming space for artists: they encourage young talents and foster new masters. On the rainy Wednesday when I visited, the manager was out at a degree show in Wimbledon. Every August, the gallery shows a selection of degree shows from art schools in Wimbledon, Chelsea, Camberwell and beyond.
The ground floor gallery is a modern, clean white space, but downstairs in the cellar, a former bakery has been converted into a wonderful venue for art: the old bread ovens give a glimpse into the spooky world beneath the street, a beautifully-restored, original dumb waiter almost gives off the scent of freshly-baked biscuits and little nooks and crannies provide intimate areas for artists to show their work.
Stop press: on 15 July, artist Peter Blake brings his Art Bus to Camberwell, and parks outside the GX for one night only.

GXgallery
43 Denmark Hill, London SE5 8RS
+44(0)20 7703 8396
www.gxgallery.com
Overground to Denmark Hill
Buses 68, 468, 35, 45, 171, 36, 436, 345, 12 to Camberwell Green
Google map: bit.ly/mJiWhw

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

My family and I went here. The food was nice and well priced in good sized portions and with a friendly atmosphere. Delicious Spanish food, perfect wine and reasonable prices. I highly recommend it.

www.sangriatapasgrill.com/
232 High Road Leyton, E10 5PS
+44(0)203 417 0363
Google map: bit.ly/kWwAVB

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

When stranded in the strange 1960s limbo of the double roundabouts at Elephant & Castle, the only place to seek suitable solace is the Rockingham Arms. It's so in keeping with the whole Elephant ambience, it should be on every visitor's list as an essential London experience.
It's a Wetherspoons pub, which keeps up the theme, and also this means that the prices are very, very competitive. I tried two ciders for the first time; a South African Savannah Dry and a Healey's Cornish Rattler; both were delicious, heady tipples, and neither broke the bank. A huge range of beers from Turkey, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Belgium, as well as all the usual brews, completes the line up. There's food too. The clientele range from elderly gents nodding off over a pint of mild, students, Milwall fans, groups of girls in hot pants, Polish builders; in fact everyone is welcome and everyone seems to be having a jolly good time.

119 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BN
+44(0)20 7940 0890
Nearest tube: Elephant & Castle, bus 12, 171
Google map: bit.ly/jmipKv

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

It's a pop-up Bombay beach bar located right in front of the Hayward Gallery - and the huge cuddly toy fox! - so if you are emotionally exhausted after Tracey Emin's exhibition, you can gather your strength with an exotic cocktail, some naan bread rolls stuffed with tasty things, and a loud blast of Bollywood and Bangra tunes, all right by the Thames. A fun venue.

Dishoom Chowpatty Beach Bar
Pops up from 13 May to 4 October
Queen Elizabeth Hall Terrace
Belvedere Road, London Se1
Nearest tube: Waterloo or Embankment
Open Mon-Fri noon until late, Sat-Sun 10am until late
Google map: bit.ly/kyKaPS

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends