The museum is housed in a former ice warehouse and features the history of the ice trade, ice cream and the canals! You can get a barge trip through Islington tunnel and down to Camden, it is hidden away in Kings Cross and is a perfect place to take the kids for an afternoon.

12-13 New Wharf Road
London
N1 9RT

www.canalmuseum.org.uk

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The second in a series of independent and personal travel guides from a London design firm. It includes insider tips, recommendations, pics and numerous further links.

www.madeinearnest.com/BuenosAires.shtml

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Very near MACBA (which is a must-visit). Simply fantastic food. Mains of cod poached in mint and grapefuit oil and seared tuna in wasabi and sesame were both gorgeous. Very relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Carrer dels Angels, 8
08001 Barcelona

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Another ridiculously well designed restaurant in L'Eixample serving a Spanish/Chinese hybrid, which is actually a lot better than it sounds.

Muntaner, 100
08036 Barcelona
www.outofchinabarcelona.com

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A 70s-designed Tortilleria in Gracia straight out of a film set (think the milk bar in A Clockwork Orange and you are close).

All-white leather and black wall paintings with ridiculous variations on the humble tortilla. Fantastic place full of the pretty people.

C. La Granada del Penedès, 25
08006 Barcelona
www.flashflashtortilleria.com

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Is it the best second hand record store in the world? Probably not, but it is easily the best in Toronto. Jazz, soul, funk, hip hop, Brazilian, boogie, Blue Note originals, Salsoul 12s. The lot.

607 Queen Street West
+1 416-603-0254

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Lovely gallery in a superb location specialising in modern and Ligurian art, with possibly the friendliest staff ever.

We arrived to be told it was closed (out of season), but instead of that being that, the staff had a little chat between themselves and decided that it would be OK for us to go and look at everything anyway.

They gave us a book, got the caretaker and he proceeded to take us up to where every piece of art they owned was in storage! Hung on rollers in a vast space in the attic.

No way would they have the space to show everything in the museum, yet they let two tourists have the run of the place. Great fun and a truly once in a lifetime experince. The sort of thing that only the owners and workers of galleries get to do.

Via J. Ruffini 3, Genova
www.museovillacroce.it

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Fantastic and underrated modern art museum/ gallery on Djurgarden (past the huge tourist destination, Vasa Museum). Every year it hosts about four exhibitions of contemporary and modern art.

We were there for an exhibition of Alberto Giacometti and it was amazing to see 'Walking Man 1' in full height. His drawing and paintings were an absolute revelation and it was a great way of spending the afternoon.

Djurgårdsvägen 60
STOCKHOLM
www.liljevalchs.stockholm.se

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The 'Church in the Rock' is the most striking piece of religious architecture in Helsinki.

The chuch was hewn from a huge chunk of granite, the walls left as jagged bedrock, into which a concrete altar was poured. The copper roof seems to float above the church as the light come from a circular window on to which the roof sits. A proper 'wow' moment.

Lutherinkatu 3, Helsinki

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The place from where the Five Corners Quintet get their name and THE area in Helsinki to buy music. Vinyl and jazz included but you can get anything from Sibelius to Carl Craig.

Three great shops for any digger: Eronen, LifeSaver and Digelius.

Laivurinrinne, 00120 HELSINKI
www.dubjazzsalsa.com
www.lifesaver.net
www.digelius.com

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Helsinki is full of design. It is everywhere and there is even a 'Design District' - an area of 20 odd streets and incorporating 150 shops that caters for everything; interiors, clothing, art, antiques, restaurants, galleries, museums and more.

Every participating store has a free Design District map which details every other store involved and what they specialise in. A great idea.

www.designdistrict.fi/design_district

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Brilliant 'design' hotel. Superbly located opposite the cathedral with only six rooms, all of which are enormous and have massive floor to ceiling windows.

Piazza San Lorenzo 16
www.palazzocicala.it

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A wonderful building with a fabulous courtyard which has a history of the chair as a permanent exhibition (not as dull as it sounds) with a lot of Arne Jacobsen alongside Kaare Klint.

Oh, and it has the best museum cafe I have ever eaten in.

Bredgade 68
1260 København K
Phone 33 18 56 56
kunstindustrimuseet.dk

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Walking distance from the city centre, Hietaranta is sheltered by the city, with perfectly clean water and is so shallow as to be very child friendly.

A must see in the summer and also in the winter when the sea freezes (supposedly). We spent a great afternoon there in mid August with only about 30 other people. A real highlight.

Hiekkarannantie, 00100 Helsinki

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