My Old Dutch
The original London Pancake house – now with 3 branches in central London, in Kensington, Holborn and Chelsea. Great selection of sweet and savoury Dutch-style pancakes and other Dutch delights.
www.myolddutch.com

Kensington Creperie
One of London’s best French creperies tucked away in South Kensington. Great location for combining with a visit to the museums. The waffles are great too!
www.kensingtoncreperie.com

Riding House Cafe
Not actually a pancake house but they do have fantastic buttermilk pancakes with berries and vanilla clotted cream on their brunch menu. A great location if you are planning some West End shopping or weekend walking in Bloomsbury.
www.ridinghousecafe.co.uk

Pancakes at Riding House

Brick Box
Great creperie in Brixton Village, savoury galettes and sweet crepes with interesting range of fillings – something for everyone. Plenty of shops, bars and cafes in Brixton Village to wander round afterwards.
www.thebrickbox.co.uk/brixton-village-market.html

The Breakfast Club
With 4 branches and counting the Breakfast Club is the place to be on a weekend morning. They do a great range of American Pancakes for brunch and pancakes and berries for dessert in the evenings.
www.thebreakfastclubcafes.com

Dazzle Jewellery Exhibition
The annual Dazzle jewelry show held at the National Theatre is now in its 31st year, and it is quickly becoming a must-attend Christmas event. The event includes a host of some of the world’s top jewellery designers who present their special one-of-a-kind pieces right in the foyer of the National Theatre. The exhibition has become known for its vibrant and unusual pieces from both well-established designers and promising new designers alike. This year Dazzle promises collections from a very vibrant batch of recent graduates along with renowned jewelry makers like Jane Adam, Emiko Aida, and Alan Ardiff, whose works are currently on display in museums and galleries from the United States to Japan. Opening times for the exhibition will be 9.30 to 10pm Monday to Saturday.

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Hyde Park’s sixth annual transformation into a winter wonderland includes an ice rink, a Christmas market, carnival rides, a giant ferris wheel, Santa’s Grotto, and delicious food and drinks. New for this year’s Winter Wonderland is the Magical Ice Kingdom, a wintery walk-through world complete with woodland creatures and, of course, a unicorn-pulled carriage. The 53-metre-high Observation Wheel no doubt offers one of the most beautiful and romantic views of London’s happenings.

Design Museum
Curated by Melbourne jeweller Dr. Susan Cohn, the Unexpected Pleasures exhibition at the Design Museum serves a perfect stop for couples and romantics alike. The exhibition is divided into three sections: Worn Out, celebrating the experience of wearing jewellery; Linking Links which looks at the ways in which meaning and narratives are expressed in jewellery; and A Fine Line which gives an insight into contemporary jewellery. The exhibition features over 130 jewellers and is a celebration of the art form.

If you’re so inspired, couples may want to head to the West End afterwards for a private showing at 77 Diamonds, a unique diamond retailer that has sold made-to-order pieces to oligarchs and supermodels alike. The firm, which takes its name from the date of the first recorded engagement ring in 1477, offers up dramatic discounts compared with its London rivals by cutting out intermediaries when buying diamonds. Every piece from engagement rings to special occasion pieces are all hand crafted according to your taste and vision.

Chelsea Physic Garden Christmas Fair
Held in heated marquees with stalls upon stalls of unique gifts, clothing, chocolates, and jewellery, the Physic Garden Christmas Fair is another perfect walk for couples to enjoy. During the Fair, the Garden’s own Tangerine Dream Cafe serves hot breakfast and lunch along with seasonal favourites such as mince pies and a signature game stew. The garden itself is London’s oldest botanical garden and offers a beautiful walk, carefully curated and hidden behind tall brick walls in an idyllic and quieter setting away from the city’s noise and bustle.

Highgate Cemetery
A wander around the ivy-clad ruins of this Victorian cemetery is creepy enough, with its overgrown, neglected tombs and gravestones. But add in the stories of the Highgate Vampire who reported;y haunted the cemetery in the 1970s and you’ll no doubt have shivers running down your spine!  The most atmospheric part of the cemetery is the West Cemetery. Take an organised tour and explore the catacombs, tombs and maze of overgrown gravestones and memorials.
http://www.highgate-cemetery.org/ 

Hunterian Museum
If you prefer something a bit more scientific head to the Hunterian Museum in the Royal College of Surgeons building. Wander the exhibition and check out the  specimen collections, skeletons, body parts in jars and pickled organs galore – definitely not one for the squeamish! This gruesome collection is a tribute to science and the history of medicine.
Closed Sundays and Mondays. Free admission. Part of  the Temple Tranquility London walk.
35-43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields WC2A 3PE www.rcseng.ac.uk/museums

Bleeding Heart Yard
The name says it all really!  Legend has it that on January 27 1626 the mutilated body of society beauty Lady Elizabeth Hatton was found in the cobbled courtyard. She had been murdered and her limbs strewn across the ground, but her heart still pumped blood.
Greville St EC1N 8SJ

Tower of London
Site of many beheadings  - 112 people were executed within the walls of the tower or on Tower Hill. Famous executions included Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey and Thomas Moore. Known as a place of torture and imprisonment and now also ghost sightings. Some of the most sighted ghosts include the Princes in the Tower, allegedly murdered by their uncle Richard III, Anne Boleyn and the White Lady, who apparently brings a strange perfume smell with her on her hauntings.
www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon

50 Berkeley Square
50 Berkeley Square has a long held reputation as being the “Most Haunted House in London.” It is said that it is/was haunted by the spirit of a young woman who committed suicide by throwing herself from the top floor windows and that there have been many ghostly sightings of her since.
Mayfair W1J 5BA 

Ten Bells pub
Long known for its associations with Jack the Ripper, as it is the pub that supposedly some of his victims used to drink in. It is suggested that Annie Chapman may have drunk at the pub shortly before she was murdered. On the wall opposite the bar is a giant sign listing the victims of Jack the Ripper. Check out the original tiling as you go in to.
84 Commercial Street E1 6LY

Now don’t have nightmares…

As ever, each walk comes with step by step instructions and easy to follow maps as you follow the route of recommended shops. The walks are designed to coincide with the Olympics, so include directions from the Olympic Park to the starting point of each walk. The walks are free to download from the London shopping walks page of the SalesGossip website.

We’ve got 6 different London shopping walks for you to choose from – each covering a different London area and listing thegreat shops that reflect the style of each area. So from gentlemen’s tailoring in Savile Row and the boutiques of Marylebone and Primrose Hill, to the up and coming trends of Shoreditch, we think we have something to suit everyone

Happy shopping!

Enter Regent’s Park via York Gate on Marylebone Road. Once one of Henrys VIII’s hunting parks it is now one of London’s Royal Parks. The park is surrounded by grand Regency terraces and there are 8 villas dotted along the Outer Circle and Inner Circle. Start by walking through the Inner Circle to Queen Mary’s Garden, home to an amazing rose garden.

Amble through the park taking in the boating lake towards the NE corner.
www.royalparks.gov.uk/The-Regents-Park

On the northern edge of the park is the Regent’s canal and London Zoo. If you walk along the canal you should be able to see some of the animals on the other side. From the zoo entrance on the Outer Circle you can see the giraffe enclosure.

Exit the park across the Primrose Hill Bridge over the canal and then cross Prince Albert Road to Primrose Hill. Walk up to the summit to enjoy dramatic views across London.

Exit the park onto Regent’s Park Road, the main street through beautiful Primrose Hill “village”. The boutiques and eateries of Regent’s Park Road are perfect places for celebrity spotting. From here it’s a short walk to Haverstock Hill and Chalk Farm station.

From Charing Cross or Trafalgar Square head to Whitehall, cross into Horse Guards, marked by the two mounted sentries in ceremonial uniform. You could try and catch the Changing of the Guard which takes place daily, Mon-Sat 11am, Sun 10am.

Walk through Horse Guards Parade to St James’s Park, the oldest of the royal parks. Look out for the pelicans, they are fed daily at 2.30-3.30pm near Duck Island cottage. From the bridge across the lake are great views of the London Eye, Buckingham Palace and Whitehall. Take a stroll through the park and you should lots of spring flowers and ducklings in the lake.

St James's Park

If you fancy brunch or lunch head to Inn the Park, a cafe/restaurant in a gorgeous setting near the lake. www.innthepark.com

After a stroll around the park exit onto The Mall – the tree-lined “red carpet” leading to Buckingham Palace. If you missed the Changing of the Guard at Horse Guards you could try and catch it here. April – Aug daily 11.30am, Sept-March alternate days.

Check to see if the Queen is at home – a flag always flies above Buckingham Palace. When the Queen is in residence, the Royal Standard flies. If not the Union Jack flies instead.

Head back through St James’s Park onto Birdcage Walk, named after the Royal Aviary which used to be situated here. Pass through Queen Anne’s Gate and wind your way to Parliament Square and Westminster station.

Starting with South West London, here’s a great walk for sunny Spring day in Richmond.

Start at Richmond station and walk down George Street through the town centre to the river. It’s a lovely walk along the river, lots of pubs and cafe to stop off at and enjoy the sunshine.  Tide Tables cafe underneath Richmond Bridge is a great place to stop off for a coffee or lunch and watch the world go by.

Continue to walk along river on the Thames Path to Petersham Meadows. Nearby is Petersham Nurseries, where you can stop to look at the plants or for tea.

Continuing along the river past the meadows you will reach Ham and Ham House, a National Trust property from the 17th Century, with formal gardens as well as and the wilderness garden and kitchen garden. Inside the house is a collection of textiles, furniture and paintings.

To get back to Richmond station walks back towards Petersham Meadows and walk back to Richmond via Star and Garter Hill and Richmond Hill rather than along the river. At the highest point are the Terrace Gardens which have a great view over Thames Valley. If you need another cuppa stop at Hollyhock Cafe in the gardens. From the Terrace Gardens it’s a short walk back into Richmond centre down Hill Rise.

If you would like to treat your mother with something special this year, how about a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Marks and Spencer? Or a fabulous outing in London? It’s a lovely time of year to enjoy some sites of the city. Here are a few ideas for a fun day:

EDF Energy London Eye

The world’s highest observation wheel is an exciting feature of London’s famous skyline. Climb aboard one of 32 capsules that hold up to 25 people, and get ready for incredible views of the city that will no doubt leave you breathless. You can see more than 50 famous London landmark during the 30 minute experience.

Wallace Collection

On Manchester Square just north of Oxford Street is the Wallace Collection, housed in a beautiful historic mansion. The collection of 18th century French paintings, family treasures and armoury was bequeathed to the nation by Sir Richard Wallace in 1897. Head to the Great Gallery to see the 17th Century Old Master paintings. Set in the beautiful courtyard is a cafe/restaurant run by Peyton and Byrne.

Sherlock Holmes Museum

If your mother loves a good mystery, she may be a fan of the Sherlock Holmes Museum, which depicts the living quarters of fictional characters Holmes and Doctor Watson. Discover waxworks and a charming gift shop that offers a variety of collectibles and souvenirs.

Kew Gardens

Beautiful at any time of year but especially so in spring time. Take your mum to see over 5 million flowers that come into bloom about now.

Afternoon Tea

Treat your mum to a decadent afternoon tea in one of London’s finest eateries. The Covent Garden Hotel, Fortnum and Mason, The Wolesey, The Langham and of course The Ritz are all great choices.

St Paul’s Cathedral

One of the most significant icons in the city, St. Paul’s Cathedral is beautiful place to visit. Climb to the top of the dome (530 steps!), walk around the ground floor, and visit the crypt for the full experience. Prince Charles and the late Lady Diana were married in this famous cathedral, an historic event that many will always remember.

Start at the London Bridge end of Bermondsey Street and walk along the street towards Bermondsey Square. On your left is the Fashion and Textile museum, founded by designer Zandra Rhodes. www.ftmlondon.org

A White Cube gallery recently opened on Bermondsey Street, it’s the largest of the three White Cube spaces and the largest commercial art gallery in Europe: http://whitecube.com/

There are some great places to stop for a refreshment break along Bermondsey Street:

The Garrison gastropub www.thegarrison.co.uk/
Coffee @ Bermondsey Street, for a caffeine fix
Village East for brunch, lunch or dinner www.villageeast.co.uk
And two new bars/restaurants opened by José Pizarro, Pizarro tapas restaurant and José, Sherry and tapas bar www.josepizarro.com/

At the end of Bermondsey Street is Bermondsey Square, home of Bermondsey antiques market on Fridays 4am – 1pm.

Maltby Street
On Saturdays 9am – 2pm several food retailers open the doors of their warehouses, roasteries and breweries under the railway arches near Maltby Street to create a food market of sorts. The traders change each week so check the website to see who will be there when you plan to visit.
Maltby Street, Millstream Road, Stanworth Street, Tanner Street  www.maltbystreet.com

Stop for a cheeky glass of wine at 40 Maltby Street which sells and serves wine from small-scale producers and also has a small kitchen. Only open Thurs-Sat. www.40maltbystreet.com/

From here it’s a short wander towards Shad Thames, the river and Tower Bridge.

Back row of the cinema
Book a two-seater sofa at The Electric cinema in Notting Hill or The Aubin in  Shoreditch and snuggle up on the back row of the cinema.

Gaze at the stars
Visit the Greenwich Observatory Planetarium and experience the wonders of the night sky and explore the solar system. Real images from spacecraft and images from telescopes with advanced CGI are projected onto a fully immersive dome for an out of this world experience.

Highgate Cemetery
Taking your date to a cemetery might sound a bit creepy but a wander around the ivy-clad ruins of this Victorian cemetery  really is romantic. The most atmospheric part of the cemetery is the West Cemetery. Take an organised tour and explore the catacombs, tombs and maze of overgrown gravestones and memorials.

Have a ball
Museum of London are hosting a Pleasure Garden Ball on Valentine’s Day. Promising a night of dancing, drinking and decadence as they recreate Georgian London’s pleasure garden. Don’t forget your masquerade mask…

A flight for two
Enjoy a private capsule for two, a bottle of champagne, chocolates and London’s skyline at sunset with a special Valentine’s flight on the London Eye.