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35 best birthday ideas in London
Address: Oblix, The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street, London SE1 9RY; Hutong, 33 St Thomas Street, London SE1 9RY; Searcys at The Gherkin, The Gherkin, 30 St Mary Axe, London EC3A 8BF; Sky Garden, 1, Sky Garden Walk, London EC3M 8AF; Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High, 22 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4BQ
Website: oblixrestaurant.com; hutong.co.uk; searcys.co.uk; skygarden.london; gordonramsayrestaurants.com
4. Sip on cocktails with a skyline view
Few outings result in as much smugness as a rooftop soiree – especially when the sun’s beating down on the capital. There’s no shortage of rooftop bars to choose from across the capital, each offering a unique USP, whether it’s the zingy cocktails shaken and stirred behind the bar, the delectable nibbles on the menu or a view that frames London’s skyline in a new light. Looking for something to break up corporate life in the city one afternoon? Secure a spot at the Culpeper, where margaritas and seasonal spreads are enjoyed in the shadow of glittering skyscrapers, the gherkin among them. For something in the heart of the action, and within easy reach of the bright lights of Soho and the West End, if dinner and dancing are on the agenda, there’s Kitty Hawk, the buzzy rooftop restaurant and bar with plenty of al fresco space overlooking Trafalgar Square atop Page8 Hotel. Alternatively, forgo minimum spends and don the sunnies at Frank’s, a vibey rooftop spot that spills across a car park-esque space, for pints aplenty.
Address: The Culpeper, 40 Commercial Street, London E1 6LP; Kitty Hawk, 8 St. Martin’s Pl, London WC2N 4JH; Frank’s Cafe at Bold Tendencies, Bold Tendencies, 7th-10th Floor Multi Storey Car Park, 95A Rye Ln, London SE15 4ST
Website: theculpeper.com; etmcollection.co.uk; boldtendencies.com
5. Have a picnic
Hear us out. While the British weather doesn’t always play ball, we’re very lucky as Londoners to have a plethora of verdant spaces dotted around the capital. Pack up a picnic basket – or a battered ‘bag for life’, we’re not ones to judge – with your favourite treats and claim one of London’s green spaces as your own for an afternoon. Among our favourite parks in London are Hampstead Heath, where there is no shortage of tucked-away spaces to settle into for picky bits and games, and Primrose Hill – a delight on a balmy day as the sunsets over the city and the skyscrapers begin to twinkle. For the ultimate al fresco spread, indulge with pre-picnic visits to some of the best delis in London for snacks, spreads and tipples that’ll be the talk of the picnic blanket.
