Best & Cool Bars in Arsenal

"What: Sky Garden may be known for its lush greenery (the perfect backdrop for an impromptu photoshoot), but its sprawling views of the capital are also worth a mention. The Sky Pod bar, which isn’t separated from the rest of the space, allows guests to stand around admiring the views or pull up a chair to rest their legs. All the usual drinks can be found here (including a selection of signature cocktails), while the food menu features sharing platters of charcuterie, seafood or dessert."

"Travel 43 floors up and see a unique perspective of landmarks like The Shard, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and more. With massive floor-to-ceiling glass windows, an open-air terrace, and beautifully landscaped scenery, you’ll have an abundance of options for IG pics. It also houses a swanky restaurant and bar, so you can relax and soak in the views with a drink in hand."

"Sky Garden is on top of one of the skyscrapers found in London. You can visit levels 35 through 37 of the "Walkie Talkie" for free—just make sure to book a ticket in advance."

"I don’t think I know anyone who has been to Sketch and not ‘grammed a pic, so it’s no shock that this is one of the best places to take photos in London. Every detail at Sketch has been thought through, so make sure you capture some of them. Of course, you can take a photo in the egg/space ship bathroom, but it’s been done before!"

"There's few other places where celebrity spotting in London goes down to the extent it does at Sketch. Legend for its creative profile in the drinking and dining world, Sketch is somewhere you go for an experience that's wholly unique, scattered with luxury (and a few celebs) as well as some incredible food and drink."

"We won’t lie to you, going to The Gallery at Sketch isn’t about the food. This central-London spot is all about the pink dining room. The service is theatrical while the toilets aren’t to be missed for a photo op."

"It's part of London's vast culinary mythology, and it feels a bit like stepping back in time to Covent Garden's theatrical heyday. J Sheekey offers a cornucopia of the city's freshest seafood in a darkly lit, brass embellished ambience which is perfect for highbrow romancing or laid back business dealings. Start with scallops in a halfshell with garlic and chilli for £17.50, and move on to a grilled Dover sole with bearnaise for £39.50."

"Sheekey has been a firm favourite for the wealthy and well-known ever since, with the likes of Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller and Bradley Cooper recently spotted dining there. Located in Covent Garden, the fuss-free, deliciously fresh fish menu makes it a faultless dining experience."

"A jewel of the Covent Garden dining scene, this incredibly smart restaurant was opened by 1890s fishmonger Josef Sheekey on the permission of Lord Salisbury (who wanted somewhere to eat after the theatre)."

"Avenue in the heart of St James’s is always buzzing with the chatter of London’s trendy set, and never more so than at weekends during the brunch service. Choose from two or three courses, sit back and enjoy a catch-up with friends as your Prosecco is constantly topped up by waiters on stand-by – and trust us, the drinks are top-notch. Standout dishes include the Avenue Cheeseburger, Native Lobster Roll, and the Caramelised ‘Eggy Bread’ if you still have space for dessert."

"An elegant brasserie serving up modern European food in the heart of St James’ offering lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Diners can expect a menu filled with contemporary dishes in a relaxed environment."

"Independently owned Hammerton Brewery run regular events from tastings and tours to brewery-based yoga sessions. Using the finest quality ingredients and modern brewing techniques, they are renowned for their unique sips."

"Restaurants Contemporary European Covent Garden. Marcus Wareing’s casual venture is formal enough for a special family meal, but also pro-youngsters – offering a seven-course tasting deal for adventurous ‘culinary kids’ alongside the regular children’s menu. Armed with the recipes, wannabe Junior MasterChefs can even try out the dishes at home."

"For more casual dining in the Covent Garden neighborhood, head to Tredwell’s, which prides itself on being welcoming to both adults and children. The kids’ menu offers crispy chicken breast, cheesy tomato pizza, and more, while the standard menu boasts a selection of fish, chicken, duck, and steak. There’s also a prix fixe menu and a special Sunday roast."

"With famous chef Marcus Wareing at the helm of this Covent Garden restaurant, you know you're in for a treat. Make your way to Tredwells, where poached pollock, hanger steak and indulgent desserts washed down with Champagne await."

"Located southeast of the city center, Crystal Palace Park was named for the impressive iron and glass structure that was built just three years earlier in Hyde Park and then moved to the top of Sydenham Hill in 1854 for the new park's opening. Although the original structure burned in 1936, the Crystal Palace Museum was built by the same company as the palace, and today it contains photos, scaled replicas, and artifacts from the grand edifice that visitors can enjoy while at the park. The original Italian Terraces and Sphinx-guarded staircases that once surrounded the palace still stand, giving visitors perspective on the actual size and presence of the former building."

"They’re not the most anatomically accurate dinosaur sculptures ever made, but from 1854 they are the world’s first – and youngsters go crazy for them. They, like the fiendish maze (considerably less fiendish in winter when the hedges are bare), were among the many attractions of the cutting-edge Victorian pleasure grounds created to surround the Crystal Palace, relocated from Hyde Park (no.22) to the top of Sydenham Hill. Not all have survived; the palace itself burnt down in 1936 – but the simple pleasures that remain, combined with many later additions (including an urban farm and skatepark), make for a charming and idiosyncratic park."

"Last but certainly not least is the reptile ruling Crystal Palace Park. A real adventure in South East London, with a lovely cafe, multiple paths to follow and some massive stone lizards, making this park a little more exciting than your average hang out!. Now why not check out"

"Darlish, the Persian ice cream specialists, set up shop under the gaze of St Albans’ medieval Clock Tower in spring 2018, bursting onto the scene with a clever seasonal special – hot cross bun ice-cream sandwiches. All the ice cream is made by hand in St Albans, and it sits in creamy mounds under silver domes on the countertop. On the wall behind, blackboards spell out the day’s flavours: try floral orange blossom studded with pistachios and apricot, aromatic coconut and cardamom, or sweet cream and sour cherry."

"Originally home to one of London’s largest fruit and vegetable markets, Covent Garden now broadly refers to the West London district famous for its high-end shopping, theatres, entertainment complexes, and the Royal Opera House of London."

"Rich Mix allows creativity in all its magnificent forms – live music, theatre, poetry, film, art, design and drawing, so it’s a little distinct from the other places on the list, but the charity behind the cross-media arts centre, The Rich Mix Cultural Foundation, has a pretty inspiring goal. And that’s to offer the public space to discover more about the creative offerings of people from various migrant populations. Since taking over the former clothing factory on Bethnal Green Road, Rich Mix has put on many free exhibitions, screenings and concerts."

"This fantastic creative space in the East End, on the site of what used to be in a leather factory, has regular exhibitions featuring emerging and established artists. 39-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Free entryrichmix.org.uk"