Hi! I’m Rachel, From London. I am born and raised in North London and currently working as a nurse in a central London. I started learning Hebrew almost 2 years ago right from red class, and now I am in Lime class! It’s hard to believe how far I have come! In my free time, I love to run and spend time outdoors, usually with a book and coffee in hand. I absolutely love living in London, it has so much to offer and is always guaranteed to surprise you.

1. Where do I get my coffee?

📍Redemption Roasters Bloomsbury – 84b Lambs Conduit Street, WC1N 3LR

As I work long hours at the hospital, coffee is a must. Just behind the hospital I work at is Redemption Roasters, a socially conscious take on coffee! Their mission is to reduce reoffending through employment. The roastery for the coffee shop is located at a prison, where they provide roasting and barista training to young offenders. Their coffee is great, and they have an amazing selection of pastries and cakes, with excellent good vegan options. An absolute favourite for me, and super convenient.

Photo credit: Bex Walton, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

2. Where do I go when I’m feeling fancy?

📍Bubala Soho – 15 Poland Street, W1F 8QE

📍Cahoots Soho – Kingly court, W1B 5PW

Not overly fancy (as I am a simple girl) but Bubala in Soho, is a must try. A fully vegetarian restaurant celebrating the flavours of the middle east. Their ‘Bubala knows best’ sampling menu is a perfect way to try everything they have on offer. They have great wine pairings and even home-make their own ‘gazoz’, a Turkish fruity soft drink. The smoked artichokes are a dish I think about regularly, and their hummus with Harissa is perfect. You can then end the evening with a drink at one of the many amazing bars in Soho, one of my favourites is ‘Cahoots’, a 1940s themed underground cocktails bar, based in an old tube station.
Photo credit: Ewan-M, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

3. Cultural hub

📍Regents Park Open Air Theatre – The Regents Park, NW1 4NU

Although London isn’t known for our great weather, one of my favourite spots is Regents park open air theatre, An outdoor theatre located in Regents park. Throughout the summer months they feature shows, musicals, singers based in an amazing outdoor setting. The theatre is nestled in Regents Park so perfect for catching a show after a sunny day in the park. I’ve seen many shows there and just keep going back due to the constant variety of shows staged in the theatre.

Photo credit: Alan Stanton, CC BY-SA 2.o, via Wikimedia Commons.

4. My go-to outdoor spot

📍Hampstead Heath – NW3 7JP

Hampstead heath is a must visit for anyone in London. Walking through Hampstead heath feels like walking through the countryside but with gorgeous views of London’s landscape. It also hosts the natural swimming ponds, not for the faint of heart, particularly in Winter! I love grabbing a takeaway coffee and bringing a book to spend an afternoon reading on the Heath. I would also recommend heading up parliament hill in the park for either sunrise or sunset for gorgeous views.

5. A place that I don’t like in the city

📍Camden Market – Camden Lock Place, NW1 8AF

Camden Market, a staple of a London teenagers’ day out with friends. Although iconic, it is always super crowded, and I find the quirky atmosphere it used to boast has reduced over the years.  Although the market stalls are great, it feels more catered to tourists, and the prices reflect that. Again, there is a great offering of international food, but the queues are always long and the prices high. If you would like to visit, there is definitely some great hidden spots, but I recommend going earlier in the morning before it becomes overrun.

6. A significant person for you who was born in the city or currently lives there

There are so many people born and raised in London that contributed to making it the amazing city it has become. I can’t really name just one but a great project in London is the English Heritages blue plaque project. Dotted on London buildings are 1000s of blue plaques celebrating the notable individuals who either lived or worked there. It celebrates London’s rich history showcasing men and women in history. These can be spotted all around London and is a great way to learn about London’s history (and do your own walking tour of London!). However, favourable mentions go to Charles Dickens, with his museum based in Bloomsbury, or following in the footsteps of the Beatles and seeing the iconic Abbey Road Studios.