Returning back to work in darkness, light relief arrived this week in the
form of Lumiere London – the capital’s first free light festival spanning 30 locations. Juggling terriers, shimmering dresses and neon birdcages were just a
few of the magical sites emblazoned across the city. Intrigued, I nipped out on
Friday night to find out what King’s Cross had on offer.
Lumiere London
Packing your gym bag with a feeling of dread? The familiar pilgrimage from desk to treadmill marks the start of another year packed with good intentions. But by the end of January, over one third of us will have packed in our post-work gym visits altogether. If you’re looking to make a change this year, read our top five alternative ways to exercise and discover a whole new world of adventure.
Hooping
With a startling array of uber-trendy eateries springing up daily in King’s Cross, eating out at work has never been so tempting. The latest wunderkind on the block is the German Gymnasium. Amidst the sauerkraut and schnitzel, an enticing kaffee and kuchen menu caught my eye. Served up during peak office sugar craving hours, I slipped away from my desk to savour some afternoon strudel.
kaffee und kuchen at the German Gymnasium
With baubles, fir trees and tinstle popping up in offices across the capital, the festive frolics have arrived. But if you’ve ever wondered about the origins of Christmas trees, puddings and stockings, all is revealed at the Geffrye Museum’s fascinating Christmas Past exhibition. From 17th century parlours to cutting-edge warehouse conversions, Christmas Past traces the homes, decor, food and rituals that have shaped Christmas over the last four hundred years.
Christmas Past at the Geffrye Museum
“Do not enter if you feel unwell.” “Search for the walls when you want to get out.” screamed the warnings plastered outside the Wellcome Trust’s latest exhibition States of Mind by Ann Veronica Janssens. A post-work tipple to calm the nerves appeared to be out of the question too. Joining the long queue snaking round the mysterious pink-shrouded room, I braced myself for a disorientating state of altered consciousness on an otherwise mundane Thursday after work.
States of Mind, Ann Veronica Janssens
With the mercury hitting 34 on the hottest day of the year so far, I wilted out of the office in a state of near melt-down. Desperately seeking shady trees and wide, open spaces, I headed straight for the sanctuary of the world’s most famous botanical gardens to experience Spicy Lates – part of Kew’s Full of Spice Festival. Exploring the origins of our favourite seasonings, the festival takes you on a fascinating journey from distant lands to our dinner table today. Departing the tube inferno, I made straight for the giant inflatable chilli pepper.
Spicy Lates
“Don’t worry, everything on the menu’s already dead,” pronounced our dark and mysterious Romanian waitress with a reassuring smile. An ominous start to an evening spent exploring the exotic at Archipelago – London’s culinary portal to world cuisine. Putting my squeamish sensibilities to one side, I joined two colleagues on a gourmet rampage across dark continents, sampling the dubious delights of python, bison, zebra and a kangaroo kebab or two thrown in for good measure.
Archipelago restaurant interior
Hot-on-the-crumbs of the Cereal and Porridge Cafes, toasties are the latest addition to London’s sizzling single snack cafe trend. Promising quick and comforting sustenance in the tricky starvation hour between work and play, I decided to succumb to the cheesy delights of The Melt Room on my way to an evening out.
The Melt Room
As Alexander McQueen fever hits London, Working Process and Savage Beauty were two of my must-see exhibitions of the year. Featuring the largest retrospective of his work in Europe, the lavish garments on display at Savage Beauty had me reviewing my staid, work wardrobe with some disdain. From slinky shell dresses to raffish tartan and taffeta numbers, the fabulously flamboyant world of McQueen whisks you out of the conformity of the corporate world and into journeys you never believed were possible.
Savage Beauty
Fabulously flamboyant and creatively kitsch, Sarastro has been on my post-work dining wish list for a long time. Situated in the heart of London’s Theatreland, the famous eaterie is a golden grotto stuffed to the rafters with the most eye-popping curiosities. Add to the mix a talented trio of musicians and a dash of erotic art and you get the feeling anything could happen. Donning my glad-rags, I tottered along to join the show after the show.
Sarastro