The Orange

Belgravia is one of the most sought after districts in central London. Well-known for its luxurious and extremely expensive town houses, this prestigious neighbourhood is laid back with plenty of boutiques and 'yummy mummy' cafés - an ideal spot for a sophisticated Sunday brunch.

The Orange on Pimlico Road was the perfect venue to relieve us of our hazy hangovers. Away from tourists and the general hustle and bustle of London, the restaurant was airy, relaxing and rather peaceful. The Orange doubles up as a restaurant and a hotel and has a modern vintage interior.

As might be expected of any great restaurant, the breakfast menu provided the essentials: light bites, eggs any style, pancakes, full English and omelettes. To see the full breakfast menu click here.

My die-hard Bloody Mary friend was sadly not with us, so instead we stuck to coffee and tea:



Teapigs Green Tea



Iced Coffee

The full English was tempting, but we all managed to resist, which was good for me as I struggled to devour my mountain of poached eggs and grilled bacon.

Poached eggs and grilled bacon

 



Eggs Benedict

 

Goat's cheese, caramelised onion and tomato omelette

The food was delicious and the portions generous. We were also pleasantly surprised when the bill came: affordably priced and we were more than happy to pay service charge, thanks to the very accommodating waitress. Looking forward to returning for lunch or dinner next time!

Friday Fish and Chips @ Poppies

I think it's fair to say that everyone in Britain loves fish and chips. Traditionally eaten on Fridays and regularly consumed across the country. You just can't beat this yummy fried food!

However, this time I swapped my usual evening beach walk along Bournemouth's promenade, with fish and chips in hand, for a slightly different experience at Poppies in Shoreditch, London.

Located on the corner of Hanbury Street and Commercial Street, this restaurant is always packed! No surprise from the number of its loyal customers.

The thing that sets this 'chippy' apart from the local on your high street is it's1940/50s theme. Old records on the wall, an old fashioned jukebox and, to top it all, the waitresses in bright sailor-style dresses. A great, traditional atmosphere - even the wall frieze was made up of Cockney rhyming slang!

So, let's get down to the food.... Similar to the majority of chippies dotted around the UK, Poppies serves up all the usual dishes: fish, chips, pies, battered sausages not forgetting the cider to wash it all down with. Premium priced compared to your local chippy (outside of London!), I hoped this London-famous restaurant and take-away would live up to my expectations.

 

Wondering what this is a picture of? Go on have a guess....

What you are looking at people is Jellied Eels. You are probably making a very similar sound to my reaction...URGH! My Dad insisted on ordering these and making me try some. If you have a strong stomach or a really adventurous appetite then give it a go. The eel really wasn't that bad, it was the jelly on top that put me right off the dish. However, this must be popular or it wouldn't be on the menu!!

Luckily my main was on its way....

Having read a couple of reviews before booking our table, many customers suggested opting for a large portion of fish and chips. Take note, however, that the above is a regular size so make sure you're hungry before ordering the large! I chose the haddock, as cod doesn't really do it for me. As for the chips, I can definitely say that these were the best thick cut chips I've ever eaten. They weren't greasy at all and not too many of those teeny, crispy ones so you feel like you are getting your money's worth.

 

Watch out for the side orders, the salads are generous! I personally wasn't sold on the mushy peas my Dad ordered, but luckily we were sharing amongst three so at least there was no waste.

If you fancy eating in at Poppies, I would advise you to book a table, particularly at weekends. The service was swift. Otherwise I am sure the take-away tastes just as good!

Website: http://poppiesfishandchips.co.uk/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/popsfishnchips
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PoppiesFishandChips?ref=ts&fref=ts



 

Up at the O2

Now I'm not the best with heights, but when I was given the opportunity to climb the O2 in London, I couldn't say no!

For those of you who haven't heard about Up at the O2, this is a chance for people like you and me to climb the former Millennium Dome in Greenwich. Did you know that the dome was built in representation of a year? 12 yellow spikes to represent the 12 months of the year, 365 metres round and you guessed it, 52 metres high to represent the number of weeks in a year. Clever eh?

So yes, we climbed 52 metres high and got an awesome 360 degree view of East London:

You might have spotted the rather sexy onesies we got wear, so fetching I didn't want to take mine off!

Tickets start from around £25.00 and are discounted if you have O2 Priority Moments. The whole experience lasts about 90 minutes with about 15 minutes spent at the top of the dome on the viewing platform.

WARNING: don't be fooled thinking this is an easy trip! The ascent most definitely works your legs. But trust me, it's worth it when you call you friend and say your standing on the top of the O2!!!

Website: http://www.theo2.co.uk/upattheo2
FAQs: http://www.theo2.co.uk/up-at-the-o2-faqs.html