Tucked between the Fulham and Gloucester roads is an old-fashioned pub – with Chesterfields and Victorian partitions – that has the propensity to feel like the Mediterranean. On any summer’s evening it’s buzzing, with people perched on the wall outside sipping Aperol Spritzes. The south- facing terrace is always fully booked on sunny weekends. And in the winter diners will find reliable British favourites such as beef Wellington on the menu. A classic London pub that isn’t sticky or stuck in a rut.

Even if they’re sheltering under an umbrella for much of the year in this city, Londoners still like to look good. And where do they go for all things beauty? Santi London. We like this pristine spa for facials and rejuvenating massages, sure, but where they really shine is the realm of medical aesthetics. 

London’s two best Polish restaurants are down the road from each other in South Ken. There is nothing modern about Ognisko or Daquise but they’re both consistently ram-packed. Daquise is where Edward Raczyński, the exiled Polish president, plotted to overthrow the communist regime. The beetroot gazpacho and potato salad are timeless, as is the sprinkling of dill that comes on top of everything. Always cheery, this is the sort of place where the maître d’ greets regulars by name.

It’s worth taking a day to explore Exhibition Road: there’s the V&A, the Natural History Museum (its unique collection of dinosaur skeletons is a must with kids), and next door, the Science Museum. It may be completely insane during school holidays but it’s a wonderful space, with a focus on interactivity that means there are things to push and play at every turn. The flight simulator and live exploding science shows are as much fun for adults as children. Teenagers will get lost in the gaming gallery.