LONDON LIFE

What’s new

DON’T MISS...

Literary focus

Fed up with characterless chain pubs and bars? Then try The Swan & Edgar — a new pub in Marylebone with a literary focus. Adding a creative twist to this local boozer, the bar is made entirely out of second-hand books and the seating crafted out of tweed provided by local residents and Savile Row tailors.
www.swanandedgar.co.uk

Food lovers should make sure they squeeze in a trip to the Covent Garden Real Food Market. The West End piazza is hosting the market every Thursday afternoon and evening until
24 September, with opportunities
to sample gourmet bites in between sightseeing or purchasing some fresh produce to take away. You can then enjoy the mouth-watering delights while taking in some of Covent Garden’s variety of street entertainment.
www.coventgardenlondonuk.com

Blood bath

The London Dungeon is delving into the stomach-churning history of the pre-anaesthetic world with an interactive operating theatre. Watch in horror as a butcher-surgeon gets to work on human dissection, courtesy of a death-like corpse complete with horribly realistic removable organs. Thank goodness it’s the 21st century. www.thedungeons.com

Chocolate heaven

Bar for sharing

Rococo Chocolates has opened a branch in Belgravia, selling delicious chocolates and a range of coffees, teas and hot chocolate. Serious chocoholics can also learn how to make the stuff at the Rococo School of Chocolate.
www.rococochocolates.com

Aquum is a new restaurant and bar
in South Clapham featuring classic and bespoke cocktails as well as a tempting range of snacks and sharing platters. There’s also a dance fl oor and a VIP lounge for those looking to make a real evening of it.
www.aquum.co.uk

Marine world

Personal shopping

The London Aquarium has been transformed into Sea Life London Aquarium with new species — green turtles, seahorses, octopuses, cownose rays and guitar sharks. New features include a glass tunnel walkway and — for those brave enough — a Shark Walk Finale, where you stand on a fl oating platform above the eyes of fi ve species of shark.
www.londonaquarium.co.uk

The Sheraton Skyline Hotel has teamed up with Westfi eld London to offer a personal shopping service. The package includes a telephone consultation with a personal shopper from House of Fraser, followed by a visit by said shopper to your hotel room with a selection of items to
try on and/or purchase. Prices start at �69, including one night’s accommodation.
www.sheraton.com/skyline

FREE!

ART & DESIGN SHOW

Free Range 2009, the graduate art and design show, is opening its doors to visitors until 20 July. Take the chance
to see the work of more than 3,000 graduates from some of the country’s
fi nest art and design colleges in this free event held at the Old Truman Brewery in east London. It features photography,
fi ne art and interiors, including furniture design, with several pieces for sale. www.free-range.org.uk

London Dungeon

W2L SUMMER 2009 13

WORDS: KELLIE SMITH. IMAGES: BRITAINONVIEW; VISITLONDON; TUSSAUDS GROUP; COVENT GARDEN FOOD MARKET; ALASTAIR MUIR