Take a taxi to the Camley Street Nature Reserve in King’s Cross. This secret oasis of calm in the city is former coal yard, that’s been transformed into a pond, meadow and woodland nature reserve with a visitor centre.
12 Camley St, Kings Cross, London N1C 4PW
telephone: +44 (0)203 897 6150
wildlondon.org.uk
Head across the river to the House of Illustration, an excellent little gallery that celebrates illustration in all its forms, from adverts to animation, picture books to political cartoons.
2 Granary Square, King's Cross, London N1C 4BH
telephone: +44 203 696 2020
houseofillustration.org.uk
Have dinner at German Gymnasium, an atmospheric restaurant that was recently voted one of the most beautiful in the world. The first purpose-built gym in England, and the indoor venue for the first National Olympic Games back in 1866, today it serves up German, Austrian and Eastern European cuisine, including house specials such as Vienna Schnitzel and Schupfnudel, a kind of hand-rolled potato noodle served with celeriac purée and wild mushrooms.
King's Blvd, Kings Cross, London N1C 4BU
Telephone: +44 20 7287 8000
germangymnasium.com
Finish the evening off with a pint in a traditional Victorian pub, The Lamb on Lamb’s Conduit Street
94 Lamb's Conduit St, London WC1N 3LZ
telephone: +44 207 405 0713
thelamblondon.com
The next day, enjoy a leisurely breakfast on the beautiful Dalloway Terrace
16-22 Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3NN
telephone: +44 207 347 1221
dallowayterrace.com
Then head off blue plaque hunting – starting with Virginia Woolf, and making your way towards The Brunswick Centre, where you can browse the shops and deli's
The Brunswick Shopping Centre, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 1BS
telephone: +44 20 7833 6066
brunswick.co.uk
Carry on to the Foundling Museum
40 Brunswick Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 1AZ
telephone: +44 207 841 3600
foundlingmuseum.org.uk
Then, walk down through Holborn to Lincoln’s Inn Fields and have lunch at the pizzeria on the green there
Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LJ
telephone: +44 20 7242 5351
benugo.com
While you’re in the area, have a look around the Royal Courts of Justice
Strand, London WC2A 2LL
telephone: +44 207 947 6000
Walk back to The Cartoon Museum http://www.cartoonmuseum.org/ and spend a happy hour chuckling at cartoon strips throughout the ages
35 Little Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1A 2HH
telephone: +44 207 580 8155
cartoonmuseum.org
Stop by the October Gallery http://www.octobergallery.co.uk/ for a look at the latest contemporary art
24 Old Gloucester St, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 3AL
telephone: +44 20 7242 7367
octobergallery.co.uk