Now that the worst of the winter weather seems to be finally easing off, lots of fun London activities are quite rightly taking themselves outdoors. Theater is one of London’s biggest selling points, and one of the city’s beloved spring and summer activities is to catch an Open Air Theatre production in the stunning surrounds of Regent’s Park, or take in a riverside performance in the more urban setting of The Scoop on the South Bank.

Here are the details for how to enjoy London’s outdoor theater offerings this year:

Open Air Theatre
Regent’s Park
Web site

Open Air Theatre stages four outdoor theatrical performances annually. Starting in May, the 2011 program includes productions of William Golding’s sinister classic, “Lord of the Flies,” John Day’s comic ballad opera, “The Beggar’s Opera,” Shakespeare’s “Pericles” re-vamped for audiences of six years and over, and the popular Gershwin musical, “Crazy For You.”

Tickets for Open Air Theatre at the bottom end of the scale are delightfully affordable, starting from around £14 per person, and each production offers a window of dates with reduced ticket prices.

Book online or by phone on 0844 826 4242. You can make further savings by buying tickets for two or more productions at once or buying group tickets, and under-18s and senior citizens qualify for concessions. Check out the Open Air Theatre’s Web site for more information on dates and prices.

The Scoop
Thames riverside
Web site

An outdoor venue of an altogether different nature is The Scoop, a modern sunken amphitheatre by the river in the shiny More London complex, hosting theatrical performances from April to September. This year’s line-up includes lively Shakespeare adaptations, modern re-workings from The Merry Opera Company and a version of Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales.”

The Scoop holds an audience of 800, and it’s absolutely free to catch a production here. Get there early to bag a space, and you might want to bring something to sit on, as the surfaces are quite hard. For further information on events and how to get there, see the More London Web site.

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There are many worthwhile child-friendly attractions in London, but when you’re on a budget some of the entry prices can be intimidating. To balance out costs during your visit, consider these four free activities, guaranteed to entertain the whole family.

Exploring Hamleys
188-196 Regent Street
London W1B 5BT
Tel: 0871 704 1977
Web site

Opening hours: Mon-Wed, Sat 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Thur and Fri 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun noon-6 p.m.
Free entry

Treat the little ones to the UK’s ultimate toy shop experience at the flagship Hamley’s store on Regent Street. Wander seven magical floors containing all sorts of toys, and let them play to their hearts’ delight. It’s free to go in, but you may struggle to leave without making a purchase.

The V&A Museum of Childhood. Photo: Avail

Playing and learning at the V&A Museum of Childhood
Cambridge Heath Road
London E2 9PA
Tel: 020 8983 5200
Web site

Opening hours: daily 10 a.m.- 5:45 p.m.
Free entry

Excellent free museum with row upon row of display cases packed with toys throughout the ages, all the way up to the present day. Alongside the static displays there are interactive corners where children can play with exhibits and try on shoes from different eras, plus rotating exhibitions catering to young ones, with low-mounted displays and multimedia features.

An afternoon on Hampstead Heath
Web site
Free entry

Escape to over 800 acres of parkland to the north of the city, where the heath offers bags of space to run around in, hills to roll down, pools, ponds and signposted walks. There’s a wealth of family-friendly pubs around the edges; better still, pack a picnic and have lunch perched on a hill overlooking the city.

Going back in time at the Ragged School Museum
46-50 Copperfield Road
London E3 4RR
Tel: 020 8980 6405
Web site

Free entry; donations welcome.
Opening hours: Wed and Thur 10 a.m.-5 p.m., first Sun of the month 2 p.m.-5 p.m.

This compact museum was once a school for impoverished Victorian children, and now plays host to a fascinating museum on the history of the school, its founder and the surrounding East End. Call to find out about special interactive sessions held in a recreated Victorian classroom led by a stern schoolmistress.

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London’s East End is one of the trendiest spots on earth, its once dowdy streets undergoing continual gentrification. This is where to head to see some great alternative art galleries and to shop in everything from high-end boutiques to second-hand emporiums and artisan markets.

There’s no end of pricey restaurants and cafés offering admittedly great food, but there’s still a handful of places in the east offering tasty meals at affordable prices. Here are five of our favorites:

Tay Do Café
60 Kingsland Road
E2 8DP
Tel: 020 7739 0966
Web site
Hours: Mon-Fri: noon – 3 p.m., 5 p.m. – midnight; Sat noon – 3.30 p.m., 5 p.m. – midnight, Sun noon – 3.30 p.m., 5 p.m. – 11.30 p.m.

Sample price: Pho from £7

The point where Shoreditch High Street becomes Kingsland Road heralds the start of a string of affordable Vietnamese restaurants. Competition between them is fierce, and public opinion diverse; we personally like Tay Do Café, an unpretentious little canteen where there’s rarely a wait for a table and the prices stay reasonable. The pho soup is excellent, and other stand-out items are the grilled lamb chop starter and the Vietnamese spring rolls. The “bring-your-own booze” policy makes this a cheap and tasty option.

Raizes
460 Hackney Road
E2 9EG
Tel: 020 7739 2009
Web site
Hours: Mon to Fri noon – 3.30 p.m., 6 p.m. – 10.30 p.m.; Sat and Sun noon – 11 p.m.

Sample price: Feijoada £9

Venturing east from Shoreditch High Street, a walk up Hackney Road will bring you to Raizes, an authentic, low-key Brazilian restaurant, serving up huge flavorsome dishes and hosting the odd evening dance event and capoeira class. Here you can sample all manner of Brazilian delicacies ranging from polenta frita to feijoada, rounded up with desserts such as the delicious açaí na tigela, made from the acai super-food berry.

E. Pellicci
332 Bethnal Green Road
E2 0AG
Tel: 020 7739 4873
Hours: Mon to Sat 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Sample price: Chicken escalope, chips and peas £6.50

An East End institution and community hub, this simple London café feeds a happy, hungry mix of people, ranging from market traders and art students to TV celebrities. Whoever you are, the staff at Pellicci’s offer one of the warmest welcomes in London, alongside enormous portions of English and Italian favorites, such as top-notch traditional breakfasts, lasagne, breaded chicken and a variety of pies with lashings of gravy. You can, and should, get chips with everything.

The Camel/The Florist Arms
Both on Globe Road
E2 0JD

Camel Tel: 020 8983 9888
Hours: Daily noon – 11 p.m.

Florist Tel: 020 8981 1100
Hours: Mon to Sat 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Sun noon – 10.30 p.m.

Sample price: Pie and mash £9/Pizza from £6

If you’d like a simple, filling meal washed down with a few drinks in relaxed surrounds, head for one of these two delightful pubs, tucked away on Globe Road near Bethnal Green tube station. Simple pie and mash at the Camel or authentic Italian pizza at the Florist both make good stomach liners for a few rounds in either of these quality East End boozers.

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London is a pricey city, and visitors tend to suffer a decent hit to their wallets before they even get to cocktail hour. Here are three trusted happy hours around town to ensure you get a bit of a bargain to kick off your night.

Dirty Martini’s

11/12 Russell Street
WC2B 5HZ
Tel: 0844 371 2550
Web site

Happy hour: Monday to Thursday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday all night.

Classy after-work kind of place, worth getting a bit dressed up for. It’s in a chic basement off the Covent Garden piazza, away from the crowds and street performers, and the cocktail list even includes diet-conscious options for those still hanging on to their New Year’s resolutions. During the daily happy hour, choose from half-price bottles of wine and glasses of champagne (with bottles of champagne offered at a £10 discount), as well as delicious martinis for £4.

Mustard Bar and Lounge

2 Old Change Court
St Paul’s
EC4M 8EN
Tel: 020 7236 5318
Web site

Happy hour: Monday to Friday 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The oddly named Mustard Bar is in the City’s square mile financial district, located just a few steps from the towering dome of St. Paul’s. Top off your trip around the cathedral with some weekday discount drinks, with selected cocktails and beers for £6 and £2.50 respectively, and 20% off selected wines (presumably all served without mustard).

The Roxy

3 Rathbone Place
W1T 1HJ
Tel: 020 7255 1098
Web site

Happy hour: Monday to Friday 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Saturday 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Cheerful studenty place just north of Oxford Street, with a rowdy line-up of club nights and a young clientele. Good for a fun weekday binge when you’re on a budget. Take your pick from half-price cocktail pitchers at £7.95, two for one Grolsch beers at £3.40 and half-price bottles of wine.

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Milk Bar

Considered by some to serve the best coffee in London, Milk Bar pulls in discerning visitors with its grungey look and with-it crowd. The famous flat white is a perfect size, strong, aromatic and smooth, born from a blend available only at Milk Bar and sister establishment Flat White, located just around the corner on Berwick Street, and equally crammed full of customers. The handy help-yourself water tap is a nice touch, and there are also chunky sandwiches, filled croissants and muffins on sale.

Espresso £1.80, flat white £2.50
Flat 1, 3-5 Bateman Street
W1D 4AG
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tel: 020 7287 4796

FoodHall

For one of east London’s finest morning pick-me-ups, head to the upmarket FoodHall on Old Street. Made using the Climpson and Sons espresso blend, and served with unfailing good cheer, the coffee here is flavoursome and well-balanced, and you’ll rarely leave without one of their delicious snacks to go with it. The deli-style food includes pastries, meringues, pies, and even full roast dinners and good quality heat-at-home meals.

Espresso £1.75, white coffee £2.50
374-378 Old Street
EC1V 9LT
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 8.30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 9.30 a.m. to 5p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tel: 020 7729 6005

Tapped & Packed

This cute, minimalist little place, on the approach to the Charlotte Street gastro hub, offers a rotating seasonal coffee menu featuring beans from several top-notch suppliers, and is a real connoisseur’s choice. Alongside the espresso menu, there are three brewing methods to choose from: filter, aeropress and siphon. Breakfast includes pastries and porridge, and there are fresh sandwiches, salads and soups for lunch. And those forgotten tea drinkers will be delighted to hear that there’s an impressive tea list here too.

Espresso £1.20, flat white £2.20
26 Rathbone Place
W1T 1JD
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 7p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tel: 020 7580 2163

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A proper afternoon tea in London can be an expensive affair, with the classic set-up usually costing a hefty £40 or £50 per person. Delightful as it is to indulge at renowned institutions such as Fortnum and Mason or Claridges, you can save a bundle of cash by booking an alternative high tea prepared by students of the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu patisserie school.

Afternoon tea with Le Cordon Bleu

Tea party with Le Cordon Bleu

108 Marylebone Lane
UK W1U 2 (tel. 020 7969 3900)
Web site

This monthly event, at which you can feast on the elaborate creations of pastry chefs in training, is held at 108 Marylebone Lane Restaurant & Bar, at the Marylebone Hotel. The menu includes an enticing array of cakes, pastries and classic scones with jam and clotted cream, plus other treats such as sugar sculptures, macaroons and strawberry and champagne mousse.

The next event takes place on December 1, 2010 from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. The price per head will be a very reasonable £9.95. The first two events of 2011 will be held on February 8 and March 9 at the same time, and places are priced at £13.95. Bookings, plus information on further dates, are available via email or phone.

Other options for tea and cake

If your visit to London doesn’t coincide with one of Le Cordon Bleu’s events, here are some alternative budget-friendly options for a great afternoon pitstop.

Bea’s of Bloombsury
44 Theobald’s Road
WC1X 8NW
Web site

Afternoon tea: £9.90
Served: Monday through Friday 2:30 p.m.-5:30; Saturday and Sunday noon-5:30 p.m.

Candid gallery café
3 Torrens St
EC1V 1NQ
Web site

Open: Monday through Saturday noon-10: p.m.; Sunday noon-5 p.m.

Betty Blythe’s Fine Food Pantry
73 Blythe Road
W14 0HP
Web site

Open: Daily 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

The Bridge Coffeehouse
15 Kingsland Road
E2 8DA

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Highgate Cemetery

Highgate benefits from an elevated position in the north of the city, and is regarded as one of London’s most beautiful resting places. Look out for highlights such as the Gothic catacombs, the Egyptian Avenue and the Circle of Lebanon.

Claim to fame
Author of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide,” Douglas Adams, physicist Michael Faraday, novelist Stella Gibbons and the parents of Charles Dickens are all buried here.

Visiting Highgate Cemetery
Hours: Opens weekdays at 10 a.m., weekends 11 a.m.
Closes March 1-October 30 at 5 p.m. (last admission 4:30 p.m.); Closes October 31 to February 28 at 4 p.m. (last admission 3.30 p.m.)
Entry £3 per adult / £2 for students with valid ID
Tel: 020 8340 1834
Web site
Tube stop: Archway

Pitstop
The Wrestlers (020 8340 4297, open daily)
Great neighborhood pub with a roaring fire in winter and friendly staff. Especially nice for a Sunday lunch.

Brompton Cemetery

Brompton Cemetery. Photo: Gorfor

Brompton cemetery was designed by Benjamin Baud, and features a compact layout set around a central avenue leading up to a chapel. With its slightly tumbledown air and stunning stone angels, it’s a charming place for a peaceful autumnal stroll.

Claim to fame
Parts of “GoldenEye,” “Johnny English” and “The Wings of the Dove” were filmed here.

Visiting Brompton Cemetery
Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in summer, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in winter.
Free entry
Tel: 020 7352 1201
Web site
Tube stop: West Brompton

Pitstop
The Troubadour (020 7370 1434, Web site, open daily)
A cozy 50s coffeehouse/restaurant, with homely cuisine and live music in the basement. A good stop-off for a hearty feed.

Kensal Green Cemetery

Influenced by the stunning Père-Lachaise site in eastern Paris, Kensal Green features 72 acres of sprawling garden cemetery in which you can lose yourself for hours. The Friends of Kensal Green run two-hour introductory tours of the site every Sunday from March to October, and on the first and third Sundays of the month from November to February (2 p.m. start).

Claim to fame
Engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, newsagent W. H. Smith and mathematician Charles Babbage are all buried here.

Visiting Kensal Green Cemetery
Hours: April 1 to September 30: Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
October 1 to March 31: Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(Bank Holidays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
Free entry; suggested £5 donation for guided tour
Tel: 020 8969 0152
Website
Tube stop: Kensal Green

Pitstop
The Paradise (020 8969 0098, Web site, open daily)
This sprawling public house features gorgeous fittings and great food in its romantic dining room, and it’s far enough off the Portobello Market trail to provide a relaxing break after a tour of the cemetery grounds.

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London is full to bursting with museums and galleries. Here are three small and unusual choices, none of which charges a penny to enter.

Sir John Soane’s Museum

13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A 3BP
Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry 4.30 p.m.)
Free entry
Tel: 020 7405 2107
Web site

Set in the architect’s former residence, a stately brick townhouse, Sir John Soane’s Museum displays his fascinating collection of artifacts and personal effects, gathered from the 1780s to the 1830s. Exhibits range from Egyptian antiquities and Greek and Roman pieces, to medieval domestic objects and various sculpture, ceramics and stained-glass items. Architecture fans will also find much to delight in the assemblage of architectural prints and models.

The Geffrye Museum

Kingsland Road, E2 8EA
Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays and bank holidays noon to 5 p.m.
Free entry
Tel: 020 7739 9893
Web site

Period interiors at the Geffrye. Photo: Kake Pugh

Sited in an elegant row of eighteenth-century almshouses with beautifully tended gardens, the Geffrye Museum is a great stop-off if you’re in the Shoreditch or Dalston area.

Touting itself as a “museum of living rooms,” the collection of furniture, textiles and decorative arts, arranged into decade-specific spaces, provides a fascinating insight into middle-class lifestyles from the seventeenth to late twentieth centuries. Background information is given on the circumstances of the day, allowing visitors to travel through the decades and witness the imprint of different fashions and tastes on the central room of the home.

Ragged School Museum

46-50 Copperfield Road, E3 4RR
Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., first Sunday of the month 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Free entry
Tel: 020 8980 6405
Web site

Visit Dr. Barnardo’s former Ragged School in Mile End and discover how he managed to educate and feed multitudes of poor East End children in these canalside premises. The top-floor exhibits offer a glimpse into Victorian living, while the ground floor rooms give a detailed and absorbing history of the East End in general.

Best of all are the interactive sessions in the first-floor classroom, where “pupils” of all ages sit at old-fashioned wooden desks, complete with chalk and slate, while a stern Victorian-style “teacher” puts them through their paces.

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Even for tourists enjoying a reasonably relaxed vacation, the city of London can be a tiring place. But if you’re out and about exploring Shoreditch and the East End, duck into Hackney City Farm for a welcome respite and a miniature slice of the countryside, all free of charge.

The farm

Strolling down the rather mundane Hackney Road, you really wouldn’t expect to find such a charming and rural little patch, but beyond the gates of the Hackney City Farm there’s a cute little paddock full of pecking chickens, various shelters full of chinchillas, rabbits and guinea pigs, and even a shed full of huge snoring pigs (plus a large mud pit for them to wallow in.) Nearby, a small field hosts a couple of lively goats and other four-legged friends. It’s a real treat to be a few steps from a busy bus route, yet feel completely surrounded by animals and greenery.

Needless to say, Hackney City Farm is a family-friendly space, so if you’re travelling with children you could time your visit to coincide with feeding time at 4pm. Besides the daily chow downs, there is a small garden to wander in, tended by locals and their children, and if you don’t want to return to the traffic, hop over the stile at the northern end of the farm and have a wander in Haggerston Park. Bonus tip: If you’re staying at a Cheapo hotel or pension that offers a kitchenette, consider purchasing some duck or hen eggs hatched on site that morning.

Hackney Farm cafe. Photo by ana gasston

The café

Now onto the refreshments. It’s safe to say that this little child-friendly café has earned itself a bit of a reputation for its Italian chefs and simple wholesome cuisine, winning a Time Out award for best London family restaurant. If you’re hungry stop by for a traditional fried breakfast, Sunday roast dinner, healthy salad and Mediterranean vegetable dishes, all at reasonable prices.

More info:

Hackney City Farm
1a Goldsmiths Row
London
E2 8QA

Phone: +44 (0)20 7729 6381

Hours: 10 am to 4.30 pm. (Tuesday to Sunday, including bank holidays). Free entry; donations welcome.

More urban farms in east London:

Spitalfields City Farm

Mudchute Park and Farm

Stepping Stones Farm

Surrey Docks Farm

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The Art Deco pool, dating from 1932, was closed for 18 years before being renovated and re-opened in 2006. The water here, set in an Olympic-sized 50-meter-long pool, is heated to a balmy 26º Celsius (78.8º Fahrenheit) all year round. The vast rectangle of blue is bordered by a broad concrete lounging area, in turn bounded by a series of lockers and changing booths in cheerful primary colors.

A relaxing open-air swim

The water is really clean, and as you bob along you’re overlooked by a block of flats, a few neighboring houses and a couple of the taller trees from London Fields itself. But the rest is open sky, and it’s strangely liberating to paddle about in the early evening and see a pale moon appear above you. Sessions range from public swimming to exercise in lanes according to speed (slow, medium or fast), and there are lessons on offer for various levels of proficiency.

The pool in winter. Photo by sarflondondunc.

Although winter is approaching, there are a select few who won’t be easing off on their outdoor exploits. Taking the plunge in December is just a bit too terrifying for the likes of me, but for proof that such brave people exist check out the excellent poolside photography series by Madeleine Waller, featuring winter portraits of the heartiest local swimmers.

Sartorial tip

Here’s a tip for the fashionistas out there: If you’re struggling to find a swimsuit that doesn’t make you cringe with dread, and you’re willing to pay a bit more, try the wonderful Samantha Sage. Her designs are about as flattering you can get, and they inject a bit of vintage-inspired fun into your exercise routine. If only you could find goggles this attractive.

London Fields Lido
Hackney
London
E8 3EU
Tel: +44 (0)20 7254 9038

Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. (Monday to Friday), 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday)
Prices for non-members: £4.10 (adults 16 and over), £2.45 (children)
Web site

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