Ok, so looking back on my Five Things I'm Doing this January, I didn't do too bad...
Revision has been number one at the moment, so all things considered I did pretty well and managed four out of five on the list. With my new cinema pass I went and saw Mary Queen of Scots and The Favourite, both were amazing and I highly recommend you go and see them if you haven't. I visited the Jewish Museum in Camden, Portcullis House in Parliament Square, and ate in China Town at least every other day, so all things considered I think I had a pretty successful January.
February. My number one priority again will be revision, but I'm sure I'll have a little bit of time for myself, so here's my top five suggestions on what to get up to in this chilly month in London.
Number One
Carrying over from my January to do list is to visit Hampton Court Palace. I never got round to trekking all that way, but I promise this month I will.
Number Two
Get to know the London Docklands area. This is in the revision category I'm afraid, as next weeks coach practise for the Blue Badge tour guide course takes us through an part of London I'm not so familiar with. So for those who follow me on Instagram, expect lots of posts on a really fascinating area which I'm sadly less familiar with. I visited the Museum of London Docklands yesterday which was a great starting point, and I highly recommend a visit (just not on a Saturday as there were children everywhere!), which follows the history through it's Roman beginnings and into one of the most successful ports in the world. Plus it's free.
Number Three
With the two main exhibitions at the National Gallery closing a few days ago (the Impressionists and the Mantegna and Bellini one), I'll have to wait patiently until the next blockbuster. But opening towards the end of the month is Boilly: Scenes of Parisian Life, a lesser known artist who worked through the French Revolution, but still managed to produce daring and playful depictions of Parisian life. Some of his controversial paintings got him into trouble with the authorities, but his wonderful "genre scenes" of everyday life painted during a shift in France's political environment, gives us a unique encounter on what life was like going through a very turbulent part of France's history.
Number Four
Food wise I'll obviously continue eating in China Town, especially with the Chinese New Year just a few days away, but there's a few places I'd like to put on my February list. A visit to Ping Pan Asian in Selfridges is at the top as I absolutely adore Malaysian food (especially Laksa!) and this recently opened restaurant looks right up my street. Abuelo in Covent Garden also looks delicious, describing themselves as an "Australian meets South American coffee-house and kitchen". Their honey whipped mascarpone on sourdough with fresh figs & crushed pistachios seems to be popping up on Instagram a lot, and I'm desperate to check it out for myself. And lastly I must finally get round to trying out the pastries at Pophams Bakery in Islington. It's another place which has tempted me through the powers of social media - just have a look for yourself on their Instagram page!
Number Five
And finally, a visit the Fitzrovia Chapel not far from Goodge Street station is a must this month. This beautiful Grade II listed building looks incredible, and one of London's many hidden treasures. It's only open on Wednesdays, but it's definitely going in my diary.