Tapeo, the custom of moving from one tapas bar to another, is now just as feasible in London as Barcelona thanks to the city's hot tapas spots.

So if you're in London and fancy a dose of Spain's finest, then check out these top tapas bars as recommended by experts in The Week. Take along the map we've put together below to make your tapeo experience even more convenient.

Barrafina: 54 Frith Street, London W1 (020 7813 8016)
Squaremeal.co.uk calls Barrafina the "best place for tapas this side of Barcelona." Don't miss the creamy ham croquetas, cured meats and shellfish cooked a la plancha (on the grill). Around £46 a head (go early or late to avoid queuing).

Tierra Brindisa: 46 Broadwick Street, London W1 (020 7534 1690)
Small and sleek, and a great place to get prawns cooked with garlic and chilli, "meltingly tender" filet steak, and the Torta de Barros cheese on toast. Around £36 a head, including wine and service.

Dehesa: 25 Ganton Street, London W1 (020 7494 4170)
An "informal yet sophisticated Spanish-Italian tapas bar," according to Time Out. Opt for grilled squid with chickpeas, chorizo and mint for "comfort cooking at its most vibrant". Around £36 a head, including wine and service.

Cigala: 54 Lamb's Conduit Street, London WC1 (020 7405 1717)
Harden's reviewers rave about Cigala's "substantial and tasty" Spanish dishes, "good choice of wines" and "welcoming" service. The experts recommend cured meats from Teruel and Extremadura, marinated anchovies and chicken livers fried with onions and sherry. Around £44 a head, including wine and service.

Barrica Tapas Bar: 62 Goodge Street, London W1 (020 7436 9448)
Time Out recommends Barrica to people who "like great Spanish wines and good food". Sound like a winning combination to us! Featuring classic dishes from across Spain, the cured meats are a particular hit. Around £31 a head, including wine and service.

Salt Yard: 54 Goodge Street, London W1 (020 7637 0657)
The London Evening Standard calls Salt Yard relaxed and "intimate" and close to "culinary heaven". Try the acorn-fed jamón ibérico, and the courgette flowers stuffed with Monte Enebro cheese. Dinner around £33 a head, including wine and service.

View Tapas Bars in London in a larger map

Photo Credit: iStockPhoto.com.

Do you fancy arriving off the back of a long-haul flight feeling refreshed and ready-to-go instead of jet-lagged and jaded?

According to Hong Kong based Pilates experts, Iso Fit, doing just a few of the method's stretches and exercises during your flight will make your journey more comfortable and enjoyable - both for you and your body. Pilates stretches and exercises can help strengthen your lower back and promote circulation in your legs (how good would it be if your shoes actually fitted your feet after 13 hours in the air?!).

The following on-board exercises are designed for normal, fit travellers. Those suffering from osteoporosis or disc problems should avoid any exercises with flexion or flexion and rotation.

The Hundred Breathing at 35,000 feet
With your seatbelt on or off, sit up tall, inhale for a count of five then exhale for a count of five using short percussive and consecutive breaths. Do ten sets of this breathing, concentrating on keeping your core (abdominal area) pulled in and up and breathing into your lower back and sides. If you have high or low blood-pressure use only a breath pattern that feels comfortable for you.

Hamstring Stretch
While the seat belt sign is off, get up and walk to the back of the plane. Stand with your feet hip width a part, place your hands on something hip height (maybe the snack bench) and bend your knees. Arch your back and try to keep your tailbone sloped upwards as you attempt to extend your legs slowly. Think downward dog but with hands on a something higher than the floor!

Knees Up!

1. Unbuckle your seatbelt but remain seated, pull your right knee into your chest. Without moving anything but your arms and knee, circle your knee in the hip joint three times in each direction. Think of using your core to move your knee not just your hands. Not a good choice of movements if you've had a hip replacement, mind you!
2. After the last knee stir, release your hands and hold each knee into your chest, pull your core upwards and inwards and count to five.

Seat stretches

1. Sit tall and cross your arms across your chest. Pull your core in and up and bend right then left just moving your upper body not your hips. Make sure you do not disturb the passenger next to you*
2. Stay in the same seated position as the side bend and now twist the upper body to the right then the left, avoiding moving your hips.

Roll Down
Inhale and sit up tall. As you exhale curl your chin to your chest rounding your spine forward toward your knees. Keep your tailbone and sitting bones pointing straight down towards the floor and avoid tucking the pelvis under. Then roll up sequentially through your spine until you are sitting up tall once again. Use your hands on your thighs to guide you if you need. Repeat this three times. On the last roll down reach down and grab onto your ankles to get a deeper stretch.

Look up at the stars
Lace your fingers behind your back and rotate your palms onto the seat behind you to open up your chest. Inhale and look up at the ceiling. Exhale to draw your abs back towards your spine and return back upright.

Iso Fit can be found at 8th Floor Yu Yuet Lai Building, 43-55 Wyndham Street, Central. For more information about Iso Fit and its classes, please telephone 2869 8630 or visit www.isofit.com.hk.

Photo Credit: istockphoto.com.

The 13th century explorer, Marco Polo, described the Chinese city of Hangzhou as the "City of Heaven" and "the most beautiful and magnificent in the world." Today, seven centuries on, keeping this cultural legacy intact in a city that is booming and growing is no mean feat, but it's one that several new hotels in Hangzhou are aiming to achieve - including the brand new Banyan Tree.

The Banyan Tree Hangzhou, which opened in January of this year, is designed in the traditional style of the Jiangnan region. Like the neighbouring XiXi Wetlands, the property is surrounded by channels and lakes, with picturesque bridges and a pagoda within the grounds.

Consisting of seventy-two suites and villas, The Banyan Tree Hangzhou feels almost like a (very luxurious) village. We stayed in a Premier Water Terrace - one of the suites within the main building - which with its own sitting room, balcony and spa treatment room, plus a bedroom with a free standing hot-tub, and vast bathroom, was both very spacious (120 sqm) and fantastically indulgent. I was able to view a Water View Villa too, which though more private in it's own mini-grounds and with better views, didn't feel as spacious as the suite.

All of the suites and villas in the hotel are themed according to the four seasons, with colour schemes to match. In terms of mod-cons, guests have access to free in-room WiFi, plus the hotel's DVD and CD collection.

The Banyan Tree's location, 15 minutes away from downtown Hangzhou and the famous West Lake within the Xixi National Wetland Park, should - and no doubt shall - spell complete tranquility. At the moment however, it's the first finished property amongst a number of new hotels going up in the Westbrook project, which means there's some construction noise. This was minimal during our three-night stay though, especially as visiting the city's famous sights keeps most visitors busy from dawn till dusk.

The hotel's concierge team can help to organise all sorts of tours and full- or half-day trips. Though these definitely do not come cheap (around 2,000 RMB for a full day) in the heat and humidity of summer, and with limited time on our hands, it was well worth splashing out on. Our guide spoke impeccable English and took us tirelessly from one hot-spot to another explaining the history and significance of each; no need to cart along a cumbersome guide book. Our day tour took in Hangzhou's main sights of Fei Lai peak, and its 300 limestone carvings; the Temple of the Soul's Retreat; Longjing tea village (pictured below) and the Dragon Well; Leifeng Pagoda; a private boat trip on West Lake; the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon; and a historic shopping street. Not bad for a day's work!

If you do get sightseeing weary, the Banyan Tree Spa is a great haven. The pages-long treatment menu is full of solutions to ease you from stone into butter, and there's also a large indoor swimming pool and daily yoga or tai chi sessions to help you unwind. If you have a spa treatment room within your suite or villa you don't even have to walk to the spa - they will come to you.

What is worth heading out for though is dinner. Perhaps due to teething problems, the Banyan Tree's food is not its strong suit. On our first evening we tried the Chinese restaurant, Bai Yun, where Hangzhou and Canton flavours take centre stage. It's impossible to judge the food here as I am no aficionado of Chinese cuisine; some of the dishes on our tasting menu were fantastic - especially the West Lake fish - and others less so. It is the resort's Waterlight Court restaurant that really lets the side down. The breakfast buffet is average, and the a la carte menu a disappointment. I ordered a Caesar salad with "grilled chicken breast" and was served romaine leaves with processed chicken slices. On another occasion we asked for a vegetarian pizza and received something that can only have come out of a freezer packet. Let's hope it was the head chef's weekend off...

Food aside, the Banyan Tree Hangzhou was a great place to spend a weekend away from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong: scenic and indulgent with a young team keen to cater to your every need. Though Marco Polo's superlatives may not yet quite apply, they no doubt soon will.

Room rates start at RMB2,700 per night for a Water Terrace Suite and RMB3,700 per night for a Water View Villa (rates are subject to 15% tax and service charge).

Until 28 February 2011 enjoy the Romance in Hangzhou Package from RMB 5,998. Price includes a two-night stay in a Premier Water Terrace with daily breakfast for 2 people, plus:

- One set dinner at Waterlight Court for 2 people.
- One afternoon tea at Tea Lounge for 2 people.
- One 90-minute massage session (inclusive of a 60-minute massage and 30 minutes calm-time) for 2 people at Banyan Tree Spa Hangzhou.
- One in-suite Intimate Moments experience, inclusive of one bottle of red wine.
- Oriental bath experience in Onsen Treatment Room.

Banyan Tree Hangzhou: 21 Zijingang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310030, People's Republic of China; Tel: +86 571 8586 0000; Fax: +86 571 8586 2222; Web: www.banyantree.com.

Photo Credits: Pagoda on Lake by Mlq4296 (Creative Commons), Banyan Tree courtesy of Banyan Tree Resorts; Longjing Village by Simon Archer-Perkins.

Is this news for real, or is it just another of Ryanair's PR stunts?

Talking about new proposals for the low-cost airline, Ryanair's chief executive, Michael O'Leary, said: "We've been looking at... taking out the last 10 rows of seats so we will have 15 rows of seats and the equivalent of 10 rows of standing area."

According to a Ryanair spokesman Boeing has been consulted over fitting out Ryanair's fleet with "vertical seats" that allow passengers to buckle up whilst standing up. The standing-room only seats would cost between £4 and £8 per person.

The Daily Telegraph reports that the Civil Aviation Authority says the plans would struggle to meet safety requirements. A spokesperson said: "It's aviation law that people have to have a seat-belt on from take-off and landing so they would have to be in a seat. I don't know how Mr O'Leary would get around that one. During turbulence passengers also have to have a seat-belt on."

Again, O'Leary stated that Ryanair intends to introduce coin-operated loos, or "toilet tax" as the move it is being dubbed.

Landing in a country like Hong Kong bang smack in the middle of typhoon season can be a little daunting, especially when a typhoon signal is raised. So, with cyclone season just around the corner, what better time to start preparing for Hong Kong's next big tropical storm? Here are iloho's top 10 to-do tips for getting through the next typhoon.

Tropical cyclones are prevalent in Hong Kong from May to November. Warnings start being issued whenever a tropical cyclone centred within 800 km of Hong Kong poses a threat to the territory. The warnings start at T1, which means that there is a storm looming that might pose a threat to Hong Kong, and go up to a T10, which signals serious hurricane-strength winds.

The most common signals we see are T1, T3 and T8. T3 means strong winds are a-blowing (or expected to blow), and T8 sees Hong Kong's work force rejoicing, as it signals home time. Famously, one of the bars on Lan Kwai Fong - Stormy Weather - gives customers free shots once the T8 signal has been hoisted.

For the more sensible (ahem) amongst us, here are the best ways to prepare for one of Hong Kong's typhoons:

1. Check the weather reports: Obvious, I know, but Hong Kong's weather is very fickle and things can turn from nice to nasty in a short space of time. Keep an eye open too in the lobbies of big buildings and office blocks, you'll see warnings in place (like the ones pictured above) if there's a storm coming in. The Hong Kong Observatory's website can be accessed here.

2. Batten down the hatches: Even if you're just passing through and have left a couple of things out on your hotel balcony, make sure you bring them in. Once a typhoon comes in there's absolutely no guaranteeing that they'll be there once it's over. Also, move any pricey objects you've either bought or brought with you from off the floor. If rain starts coming into your room you don't want things getting ruined.

3. Stock up on food: If it looks like there's a whopper of a typhoon coming make sure you're prepared and stocked up with enough food and water for 48 hours. Most of Hong Kong's supermarkets don't close right away, giving you enough time to grab the essentials.

4. Stay inside: To avoid being walloped over the head by flying objects like branches, make sure you stay inside for the duration of the typhoon. Don't venture out until there's been official word that it is safe to do so.

5. Don't sit by the windows: They might break, which wouldn't be pretty. Also, draw curtains and close shutters if you have them.

6. Fix tape to the windows in an older building: This will help to curtail damage should the windows blow in.

7. Make alternative travel plans: In a T8 most flights will be either delayed or cancelled, so it's a good idea to come up with a back up plan.

8. Stay away from coastal areas: Once a T3 has been hoisted, steer clear of Hong Kong's beaches and coastal areas as winds and waves can be very strong.

9. Move into a corridor or hallway if the storm becomes severe: You'll be less exposed to glass windows here, and therefore safer.

10. Make sure you have a torch / flashlight: It will be very handy in case there is a power outage. I think the Mini Maglite is great for travellers as it's so small and light.

Photo Credit: Typhoon Signal by Carol Green via Flickr (Creative Commons).

By Christina Newberry

With so many vacationers booking their own travel packages online, or doing serious online research before contacting a travel agent, online review sites have become an essential part of the travel-planning process. But it can be frustrating trying to get a good picture of what a hotel is really like when there are great reviews mixed with terrible ones – leaving you wondering if the travelers could possibly all have gone to the same place.

When checking out vacation resorts in tropical destinations like Mexico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic, there are a few complaints that you can safely ignore, since they will not impact the quality of your vacation – or your tan. Here are the top 5 complaints you should ignore in any review of a tropical vacation destination.

1. My flight was delayed / the weather was bad

While a delayed flight and an unseasonable rainstorm will certainly impact how much you enjoy your holiday, these things are totally beyond your hotel's control. While the flight and hotel are often booked together for vacation packages, the hotel is not able to control the airline's scheduling or behavior (never mind the weather!). Reviewers' negative comments about flights and weather can be totally disregarded when choosing a hotel. For those who have had negative flight experiences, rather than take the problems out on the hotel, write a seperate flight review, contact your travel agent, tour operator, or airline for assistance or compensation.

2. There was a cockroach in my room
Welcome to the tropics! If you find a cockroach in an upscale hotel room in New York City, you should certainly call it to the attention of both hotel management and others who might be thinking of visiting that hotel. However, in warmer climates, cockroaches thrive outside, and often come in through open windows or doors. The presence of one in your room, while disturbing, does not mean the room is dirty or that the hotel has a roach problem. Giving a hotel a bad review because of a cockroach in your room in the tropics makes about as much sense as panning a hotel in Chicago because there was a little spider in the bathtub. Unless reviews mention entire families of cockroaches taking up residence in the hotel, this complaint is safe to ignore.

3. There were too many locals / the staff didn't speak enough English

If you want to be surrounded by your fellow countrymen, speaking your own language, you're best off traveling in your own country. It shocks me every time I see the "too many locals" comment in a review, but it pops up surprisingly often. Why not enjoy mixing with the locals instead of hoping for isolation from the culture you're visiting? In terms of English, any hotel catering to American, Canadian, or European tourists will have someone on hand with enough English skills to get you through any emergency situation. But for day-to-day interaction at the hotel, why not try to brush up on your abilities in the local language instead? Unless you want your vacation experience to be exactly like home, but warmer, this complaint can be totally disregarded.

4. The buffet was bland/repetitive (especially in Cuba)
There are two reasons why this common complaint can be ignored (and a third why it should be ignored if you're traveling to Cuba). First, a buffet is meant to serve a wide variety of tastes, and it's not reasonable to expect you'll like every item. Keep in mind that if things are a bit repetitive, you don't have to have every item you like every day – it's a buffet, so there are sure to be lots of choices, even with repeats. Second, no all-you-can-eat buffet is as gourmet as a formal restaurant – even at home. You should keep your expectations for gourmet dining in check at any all-inclusive. If things really are boring and repetitive, try some of the foods that are aimed at the local visitors – with new sauces, spices, and flavors to try, you should find the choices anything but boring.

Unless, of course, you're in Cuba, which is where that third reason comes in. When you travel to Cuba, you must remember that you are visiting a country that cannot get any goods from the United States, and lacks the infrastructure to transport perishable goods within its own borders. This situation, combined with a general lack of wealth in Cuba, means that many items you'd expect are simply not available. This is true across the board at Cuban resorts. If you can't handle a few green tomatoes and repetitive food, don't go to Cuba. If you do go, remember that no matter how bland your food may be, you are getting so much more than any local. Ignore this complaint and be thankful that you have so much at home that boring food on your vacation could possibly seem like something worth complaining about.

5. The bed was too hard
This is a cultural preference. Canadians and Americans seem to like their beds much softer than anyone else in the world, so when traveling we're often uncomfortable on hard beds. This does not mean, however, that the beds are cheap or the hotel is attempting to punish its guests – local visitors actually prefer the beds this way. Most hotels that cater to Canadians and Americans will have egg-crate-style foam mattresses available as mattress toppers. This softens the bed significantly, and deals with any discomfort for those used to soft beds. Just ask for one to be added to your bed on check in. Unless you have special chiropractic needs, this complaint can be safely ignored.

So there you have it – the top 5 reasons to ignore a bad hotel review. Use this list to help you get the real scoop on a hotel before you book, and know what to expect when you arrive. Keeping your expectations reasonable is the best way to ensure a happy holiday.

Photo Credits: iStockPhoto.com and ilhan gendron.

The gastropub phenomenon has inspired very mixed feelings amongst Brits. Some think it has reinvigorated pub culture and dining, whilst others believe it has stripped traditional boozers of their unique character.

One recent restoration that has been lovingly undertaken is that of The Orange on London's Pimlico Road. A year ago The Orange was a bit of a dark old flea pit; granted, it was atmospheric, but it was beloved of old timers who would sit embracing a pint for hours on end. Now it heaves with Chelsea's smart young things and you have to book in advance to guarantee a table in one of the bright and airy dining rooms.

The food at The Orange is simple and delicious. The wood fired pizzas are fantastically thin and crispy with delicious toppings such as spiced salami with artichokes and mushrooms, and torn chicken with pancetta, sage and pecorino. Salads are generous and come bursting with scrumptious ingredients. There is also a good selection of mains such as rib-eye steak, slow cooked shoulder of pork and herb crusted salmon.

Part of the restoration at The Orange included adding four simple and chic boutique bedrooms. Rates start at £155 + VAT per night, but that doesn't include breakfast. If you get well and truly stuck in of an evening it's good to know that you don't necessarily have to schlep home!

The Orange
37 Pimlico Road, London, SW1W 8NE; Tel: +44 207 881 9844; Web: www.theorange.co.uk; Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday 8am to 11.30pm; Friday & Saturday 8am to Midnight; Sunday 8am to 10.30pm.

Photo Credits: Exterior shot by Emma Torry; Food shot via www.theorange.co.uk.

In Saturday's How to Spend It magazine award winning writer, Margaret Atwood, shares the ingredients for her perfect weekend in Toronto, Canada.

According to Atwood, winter visitors to Toronto should check out snow-tubing in Horseshoe Valley, winter birding, and forest walks in places such as Sir Winston Churchill Park and Leslie Hill Split.

For lunch in Toronto you should check out Live (264 Dupont St), which does great vegetarian food; Cantine (13 Avenue Rd), for a superlative bowl of soup; or Le Sélect (432 Wellington St West), a good weekend lunch spot serving up French bistro food (pictured below).

If you want some good dinner options you should look into Take Sushi (22 Front St West), for good Japanese and 93 Harbord (93 Harbord St) for Middle Eastern cuisine - both come highly recommended by Atwood.

L'Espresso Bar Mercurio (321 Bloor St West) is a favourite coffee place, right across the street from Toronto's Shoe Museum.

If you're up for a swanky night out in Toronto, Atwood suggests the new opera house (735 Queen St East), "the auditorium rests like an egg inside the building on huge, rubber elephant legs. The sound is excellent."

• Live: 264 Dupont St (North East corner of Dupont and Spadina), Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5R 1V7; Tel: +1 416 515 2002; Web: www.livefoodbar.com.
  
• Cantine: 13 Avenue Rd, Toronto, Ontario M5R 2H6; Tel: +1 416 923 4822; Web: www.cantine.ca.
  
• Le Sélect: 432 Wellington Street West, Toronto M5V 1E3; Tel: +1 416 596 6405; Web: www.leselect.com.
  
• Take Sushi: 22 Front Street West, Toronto, ON M5J 1C4, Canada; Tel: +1 416 862 1891; Web: www.takesushi.ca.
  
• 93 Harbord: 93 Harbord Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1G4; Tel: +1 416 922 5914; Web: www.93harbord.com.
  
• L'Espresso Bar Mercurio: 321 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, M5S 1S5 (southeast corner of Bloor & St. George); Tel: +1 416 585 2233; Web: www.lespressobarmercurio.com.
  
• The Opera House, Toronto: 735 Queen Street East, Toronto, ON M4M 1H1, Canada; Tel: +1 416 466 0313; Web: www.theoperahousetoronto.com.

To read the full article visit www.howtospendit.com.

Photo Credits: Snow tubing by DrewOtt; Le Sélect via www.leselect.com.

By Helena Iveson

Ah, Venice. The city which has enough romance and magic to entrance even the most hard bitten of tourists, travel fiends who've been around the block more times than you've had hot dinners. But while mind-blowing beauty is on every calle corner, tourists whom are entranced by anything served up at the city's notoriously bad and pricey restaurants are rarer than a cheerful gondolier.

Then Il Ridotto opened on the lively Campo SS. Filippo, and Venice-bound gourmets now have a dining destination that is as much an attraction as the churches and grand squares. If you're organised enough to book way ahead at this intimate and stylish restaurant run by Gianni Bonaccorsi (there are just 6 tables), you'll enjoy Venetian art on your plate.

The chef personally welcomes you to his pared-back refuge from the crowds and visits each table to explain the menu which changes daily, depending on what he found at the city's Rialto Market. After an amuse-bouche of a perfectly plump prawn on a bed of truffled mashed potato, the first course arrived without any fuss, and when we tasted the fabulously rich homemade tagliolini with a surprisingly light Fassone beef ragu, the fireworks began. The secondo (which incidentally is the same size as the first so pace yourself) was squid stuffed with scampi and prawns in a clam sauce and was as colourful as a Venetian carnival mask.

For dessert, the deliciousness of the chocolate tart with its oozing soft centre kept us digging in, even though we were as stuffed as the squid, and after that it was a pleasure to sit back at our table by the window and sit, Murano glass in hand, and have an unobstructed view of the kitchen at work. It was just Bonaccorsi and a younger apprentice, and there was no Gordon Ramsey-style theatrics, but instead a calmness and creativity at play that set the tone for the rest of the restaurant. Our bill for two was €100 with half a bottle of wine: for Venice and for this quality, that was a bargain.

Il Ridotto
4509 Castello, Campo SS Fillippo, Venice, Italy 30122; Tel: +39 041 520 8280; Web: www.ilridotto.com.

Photo Credits: Venetian Gondolas via iStockPhoto.com, Il Ridotto via www.ilridotto.com.

By Helena Iveson

"This is the Roman way, don't worry," Italian chef Daniela del Balzo said cheerfully, as she reversed her Fiat 500 the wrong way up a one-way street. Not that she could really see out of the window anyway, as the boot was full of delicious goodies that we were taking back to her stylish apartment in a ritzy area on Aventine Hill near the Colosseum to cook for lunch.

Daniela's irreverent charm made the time we spent with her, learning to buy and cook as real Romans do, the highlight of a recent trip to Rome. We'd just spent an hour in Testaccio Market, where generations of Italians have gone to shop since it opened in the 1800s, sniffing, tasting and elbowing the weak out the way to get the freshest and most perfect food possible.

The neighbourhood is a working-class stronghold known as Rome's stomach – it is here that you would have once found the city's slaughterhouses, but they've been closed down and transformed into chi-chi art galleries and apartments as the area undergoes galloping gentrification. Daniela explained that she'd recently taken celebrity chef Gary Rhodes around the market and he'd been poking and prodding the produce just like any good Roman housewife.

The market's 50 or so stalls include the freshest glistening fish on display at a fishmongers that proudly displays a picture of Italian legend Marcello Mastroianni, the stall holder's cousin; picture-perfect fruit and vegetables such as shredded chicory and ready-trimmed artichokes that looked as though they were dug out the ground that morning; plus one of the best selections of cheese, ham and meat that you will find in all of Italy.

After lugging our bags into Daniela's apartment, over espresso and biscotti and with Italian opera on in the background, she talked us through the menu which included both local and Neapolitan dishes from her hometown.

While Daniela poured us a generous glass of prosecco, we made some snacks to get us in the mood: bruschetta and prunes wrapped in bacon, a rich courgette frittata and slices of Bresaola topped with ricotta cheese and arugula. Daniela encouraged us to taste, seasoning and pouring on extra-virgin olive oil at will, which had been made from groves at her family's holiday home in Abruzzo. Then we started on our pasta course of fettuccine with artichokes and pasta with Broccolo Romano. The thought of the last dish did make my heart sink as the vegetable was described as a combination of broccoli and cauliflower which aren't exactly must-orders for me, but once it was braised with anchovies and made creamy with pecorino, I could have licked the bowl.

Our main course was Involtini alla Romana, strips of veal rolled up with prosciutto and celery and braised in a white wine and marjoram sauce. Oh, and tiramisu to finish, followed by more coffee, biscotti and chocolates. Or at least I think that's where we finished, as Daniela generously topped up our wine whenever we weren't looking.

After we bade farewell, with heartfelt kisses and thanks and promises to come again, we walked - or rather staggered - down Aventine Hill armed with our recipes, feeling like we didn't need to eat again until we next returned to Rome.

Testaccio Market is open everyday bar Sunday from 6.30am – 2pm.
For more details of Daniela's Cookery School contact Context Travel (www.contexttravel.com).

By Helena Iveson

Sometimes airports can be such a bore. What with crazy queues at security and cramped seats and cardboard food on the plane, it's no wonder that "staycations" are one of the travel industry's top trends.

For Singaporeans, the popular island resort of Sentosa, just a quarter of a mile from the mainland, is a very popular staycation destination, though up to now the attractions have been more family-friendly than fabulous. And while the newly-opened Resorts World is attracting all the publicity, the ultra-exclusive hotel Capella Singapore is where travellers in the know are heading, armed with Gucci bikinis and the latest copy of Vogue.

From the moment you glide up the meandering private driveway to the two colonial buildings that serve as the hotel's reception area, the hustle and bustle of Singapore feels a very, very long way away. Star architect Lord Norman Foster restored the dazzlingly white bungalows, and also added a stylish, undulating space behind them which houses the bulk of the hotel's fabulous accommodation and two restaurants. This earthy red building mirrors the contours of Sentosa's terrain, and guests enjoy spectacular views out to the South China Sea.

And it's not just the views that are dazzling: the Capella's spacious Modern Asian style rooms come with a state-of-the-art touch screen which controls every aspect from air-con to the blinds, iPod docking stations with Bose speakers, a wall-hung plasma TV, a Nespresso machine coffee machine, a private balcony and a open plan bathroom with a deep stone bath.

Staff are far too well mannered and discreet to name their celebrity guests, but when we were there, it looked as though a couple of local A-list celebrities, armed with huge sunglasses to keep out prying eyes, were lounging by one of the cascading pools. In fact, Capella Singapore, is the kind of place that you can picture someone glam like Beyonce sashaying past one of the resident peacocks that freely wander around the tropical gardens. Who needs Bali when an island paradise is just a ten minutes' drive away?

Capella Singapore
1 The Knolls, Sentosa Island, Singapore
Tel: +65 6377 8888
Web: www.capellasingapore.com

Photo Credits: Siloso Beach on Sentosa Island by mrreynolds; Capella Singapore courtesy of Capella Hotels.

By Turner Wright

If you're planning a trip through the States read this guide to American accents before you head off on your travels. It's an amusing, astute look at the weird and wonderful differences in dialect and pronunciation across the USA.

I'm a Texan first, then an American, then a citizen of the world. Without fail, every time I encounter someone on the road who has an inkling of knowledge of American accents, I hear:

"So you're from Texas? You don't really have an accent, do you?"

...a fact for which I praise my upbringing each and every day. Still, that doesn't stop me from occasionally throwing on a twang, and spitting out:

"Yessum, I surely do. Yee-haw! Giddy-up there! Have ya'll seen my horse?"

I guarantee I'm not the only city-raised respectable Southerner who's felt compelled to feign, wishing for a moment we had more evidence of our heritage... and perhaps feeling a little embarrassed we have to make the effort. After all, every state is the proud owner of its own distinctive twang, its essence representing the character of the state's history and its people.

TEXAS

Screw Alaska. We're the biggest of the lower 48, so we deserve to be first. The Lone Star State. The Texas accent can be mistaken for the southern drawl of neighboring states, but it tends to be a little more focused; when Michael Caine was studying to speak like a Texan in the movie Secondhand Lions, he probably got the best explanation I've ever heard:

'...[British] English is like all-soldiers-standing-to-attention.' He said, 'In Texan, everybody leans on each other, goes like that. The words just lean on each other and they go through jus' like that. It's all slow and you don't have to worry about nothin'.'
I said, 'Texans do talk slow, don't they John?'
He said, 'They sure do, Michael.'
I said, 'Why's that?'
He said, 'Well, I reckon it's 'cause we're all very big and carry a lot of guns - people just listen.'

Source: YouTube

THE SOUTH
Like Texan (or I guess the rest would say "Texas is like us"), the southern accent is drawn out, tends to drop the end of words, and is a close relative of the English accent. I hesitate to lump the masses together, as each state is quite distinct, but for the most part Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia (the Virginias are pretty unique in themselves), North Carolina, and Arkansas natives bear the burden of this form of speech.

In the south...

• "Liar" rhymes with "fire"
• Be on the lookout for expressions that would make Shakespeare turn in his grave: "You're dumber'n a sack'a potatoes."
• "Ya'll" (= you all) is a dead giveaway
• "Get 'er done!" will always produce a reaction (thanks to Larry the Cable Guy)

BOSTON
Boston and indeed most of eastern Massachusetts has a wicked retarded accent, best used for cheering for the Red Sox, doing kegstands, and grabbing something sweet from the packie (liquor store). In any case, try changing all the short "a"'s to "ee"'s (e.g. Mary = Meery); "o"'s to soft "a"'s (e.g. Boston = Baston) and "r"'s at the end or in the middle of words to "h"'s (Nomar Garciaparra = Nomah).

The Wicked Good Guide to Boston English

MIDWESTERN
The midwestern accent is probably the most neutral of accents in all forms of English. Head over to Nebraska, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania and enjoy the flat-sounding voices. I believe this is why there are so many telemarketing firms and phone operators in Nebraska; companies want to be understood. Without any real inflection or flare, midwestern speakers may as well be the hardest to pin down by language enthusiasts.

NEW YORK
Ahh... yes. Your first thought is probably the deep NY accents you hear Italians using in mob movies; in fact, whenever I try to feign this one, I start with: "Hey Tony, go whack this guy, will ya?"

Given the geographically small area of New York City, it's amazing we find such varieties of speech. From all five Boroughs - Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx - to Long Island and northern New Jersey, many visitors to the big apple (I don't care if they officially changed the name) claim to be able to hear differences between these regions. In fact, the classic New York accent is the result of European immigrants, and now lies mostly in the mouths of the working class; talk to a cabbie from JFK airport into Manhattan and you'll see what I mean.

The Story of the New York Accent.

THE DAKOTAS
Pop the movie Fargo into your DVD player and discover... well, an exaggerated version of a Minnesota accent. For North and South Dakota, there are strong Scandinavian and German roots influencing their inflections, with a result not far off from the neutral dialects of the midwestern states. Double "o" sounds are indistinguishable from their use in "root" (i.e. book = b-oo-uk), and soft "a"'s are replaced by soft "o"'s (father = f-oh-ther). In North Dakota, the Canadian influence is also unmistakable.

CALIFORNIA

A lot of the latest American slang spreads from New York City and Los Angeles, tending to produce a speech faster and much harder to pin down. In general, the "A"'s are flatter, the "R"'s are hard, and the accent is more liked a toned down version of the 1980s Valley Girl. In all likelihood, you'd be more likely to recognize someone as Californian based on their cultural expressions and knowledge of Spanish rather than any specific accent.

Photo Credits: Texas by atmtx; Boston by JMaz Photo; New York by diebmx; California by casch52 gone for a short time.

If you've always dreamt of diving down to 20,000 leagues under the sea, then news of Virgin's new "underwater plane" will be music to your ears, though perhaps not to your wallet.

The Necker Nymph, Virgin Limited Edition's DeepFlight three-person aero-submarine (what a mouthful...), is an open cockpit winged sub that will take tourists down to the ocean floor on an underwater flight to explore shipwrecks, swim side-by-side with dolphins, or cruise along with whales. Needless to say, it is the first of its kind on the market.

Capable of diving down to depths of 36,000 feet Necker Nymph has the flexibility to glide peacefully over reefs or up the excitement ante with 360 degree turns. The open cockpits afford near ideal 360 degree viewing for passengers, creating a uniquely open experience. Dives can last up to two hours.

Like all DeepFlight subs, Necker Nymph has near-zero environmental impact: it won't land on precious reefs and has low light and noise emissions to keep ocean ecosystems from being disturbed.

Necker Nymph is available either when chartering Necker Belle, Virgin's luxury 105 foot catamaran (weekly charter costs U.S. $88,000), or when staying on Richard Branson's Necker Island. When taking Necker Belle for 7-nights' exclusive hire, the sub is available at an additional weekly rate of US$ 25,000.

Images via Virgin Limited Edition.

Snow bunnies, this is one for you... Japan's 61st annual Sapporo Snow Festival kicks off this Friday 5th February and runs for a week. The festival attracts 2 million visitors every year and showcases snow statues and sculptures on a massive scale: 244 in total this year.

Teams from across the world head to Sapporo to take part in the snow and ice sculpture contest, which transforms the city into a glittering, icy spectacle of winter whimsy.

We recommend stopping into the Sapporo Snow Festival en route to a few days of skiing up in Niseko.

For more information about the festival visit www.snowfes.com.

Photo Credit: Sapporo Snow Festival by sachman75 via Flickr (Creative Commons).

I was flicking through a recent copy of Condé Nast Traveller and stumbled across their version of the 2010 travel hotlist (which you will have seen everywhere by now, no doubt). CN usually sort the wheat from the chaff though so I though this list was worth sharing.

They have broken the must-visit destinations for 2010 down into seasons, so starting with spring...

WHERE TO VISIT IN SPRING 2010

Beirut, Lebanon: Hoping to once again become the playground of the Middle East, Beirut is hot right now. Check into the newly opened Le Gray or the Four Seasons.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Super convenient for the Euro traveller, especially since the completion of a high-speed rail track from Brussels (that connects with the Eurostar), Amsterdam's the perfect destination for art lovers in early 2010. The city's main attractions this spring are the Pioneers of Modern Art exhibition at the Hermitage Amsterdam (from 6 March - 17 September 2010) and the reopening of the Stedelijk museum of modern and contemporary art.

Utah, USA: The new Aman resort, Amangiri, will be drawing the crowds to Utah this spring. Located out in the wilderness of Canyon Point, where the states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona meet, the area is home to one of the most dramatic landscapes in the USA. Added to this is the new law legalising alcohol throughout the State.

Morocco: La Mamounia hotel has been reopened in Marrakech and there are new Easyjet and Ryanair routes to Agadir, with flights to the hyped coastal town of Mirleft coming soon.

Istanbul, Turkey: Lauded as one of 2010's European Capitals of Culture, Istanbul is still a hot destination. Favourable rates of exchange only add to the attraction.

Rome, Italy: Visit Rome to check out the new MAXXI_National Museum of the XXI Century Arts, which exhibits 21st century art and architecture.

WHERE TO VISIT IN SUMMER 2010

South Africa: South Africa is going to be a serious hotspot come the World Cup kick off on June 11th. Savvy travellers should combine a trip to the World Cup with a beach break in Mozambique.

Shanghai, China: The Expo 2010 runs from May to October in Shanghai, and CN recommends staying at the legendary Peace Hotel, overlooking Shanghai's Huangpu River. For more Shanghai travel recommendations click here.

Solta, Croatia: The island of Solta has managed to stay off the beaten tourist track despite being just 30 minutes away from Split by ferry. This summer is the last before a planned revolving hotel and marina spoil Solta's tranquillity, so now is the time to go.

Papua New Guinea: Hot on the heals of the successful BBC series Land of the Volcano, Papua New Guinea can expect a rise in tourists this summer.

WHERE TO VISIT IN AUTUMN 2010

Dubai: For a bit of sunshine and a new fashion hotel openings; the first, The Armani Hotel Dubai, in the Burj Dubai Tower, followed by the Palazzo Versace in the Culture Village of Dubai Creek.

Nicaragua: Check out the surf and book into the country's first boutique hotel, the Contempo.

Uruguay: La Solana, on Portezuelo beach just west of Punta del Este, is the hippest boutique hotel opening in Uruguay this autumn. Also check out the new Estancia Vik to the north-east of José Ignacio.

Sri Lanka: Due in part to the recent stability in Sri Lanka, it is set to be a big destination later on this year. Home to a couple of stunning Aman resorts and the Reef beach villa in Wadduwa, travellers won't be hard pressed to find stylish hotel choices.

WHERE TO VISIT IN WINTER 2010

Colorado, USA: Ski heaven thanks to big changes for the 2010/11 season: the five star Nell Residences are opening in Snowmass, Aspen; a new Four Seasons is launching in Vail; and the Denver Ski Train, which takes ski bunnies to Winter Park, is set for a comeback.

Tasmania: Stay in the lap of luxury at the spa suites of the Saffire resort on Great Oyster Bay.

Antarctica: Travel in serious style on Le Boreal, "the newest and first all-balcony stateroom and suite vessel in Antarctica", chartered by Abercrombie & Kent.

Photo Credits: Amsterdam by MorBCN; Nicaragua by vtoxic; Solta by bullro; Great Oyster Bay by Gary Hayes. All images via Flickr (Creative Commons).

Iconic British handbag designer, Lulu Guinness, is being honoured at the Metropolitan hotel in London from 15th - 27th February with an afternoon tea inspired by her Autumn / Winter 2010 collection, "Kiss and Make Up".

Guests can look forward to lipstick cookies, make-up palette chocolate cake, and low-fat (fashionistas don't do fat afterall) cupcakes decorated with Lulu's famous lips and Pollyanna bags.

An even more delicious offer, for fashion-hungry travellers to London, is that everyone who has the "Lulu Tea" will receive 15% off all products in the Lulu Guinness Ellis Street store in SW1.

We like the look of this travel inspired canvas handbag (£225) as a super-chic hand baggage option.

The Lulu tea is available in the Met Bar from Monday 15th - Saturday 17th February 2010, from 3pm - 6pm. Price £25 per person. Reservations must be made in advance on +44 (0)20 7447 4757.

Metropolitan Hotel, London: Old Park Lane, London, W1K 1LB; Tel: +44 (0)20 7447 1000.

Lulu Guinness, Ellis Street: 3 Ellis Street, London, SW1X 9AL; Tel: +44 (0)207 823 4828.

Having bespoke suits, shirts and shoes tailor made in Hong Kong is a sartorial rite-of-passage for many business travellers to "The Fragrant Harbour". It's quick, convenient, and your new clothes can be shipped back to you with a minimum of fuss.

The trouble is that it can be exhausting looking for the best quality, fair prices and good service in a city as teeming with tailors as Hong Kong. Luckily for you business travellers we've done the legwork so you can use your precious down time for more client schmoozing or to sample the delights of Lan Kwai Fong.

GET SUITED

The British Textile Company: Danny Tam's business has been running since the 1960s when it began in Shanghai. His hand crafted suits, made from English and Italian fabrics, take a week to complete and require two to three fittings. Prices for a tailor made suit range from approximately HKD 4,000 to HKD 8,000 depending on the quality of the fabric. In order to get the perfect fit, Danny recommends coming with a good idea of the style you want so that you can give them the best instructions possible. Orders can be placed from overseas and door-to-door delivery generally costs 10% of the total order. You can also have shirts, coats, waistcoats, dinner jackets, morning suits and ladies' clothes made here.
The British Textile Company, Shop G17, Ground Floor, Holiday Inn Shopping Mall, 50 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong; Tel: +852 2730 3464; Fax: +852 2735 4999; Email: tkw1122@netvigator.com.

A-Man Hing Cheong Co. Ltd: This tailors has been up and running since 1898 and its success is tenable by merit of its super smart location in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Suits take five to seven days to make and require three fittings. The fabrics on offer are of the highest quality, imported from the UK or Italy. Prices for a bespoke suit range from HKD 8,000 to HKD 20,000, so excellence doesn't come cheap (they have to pay the rent somehow…). The good news is that once they have your measurements on file you can call or email in your orders and they will ship the finished product anywhere in the world to you for free.
A-Man Hing Cheong Co., Ltd, Unit M2 Mezz. Floor, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 5 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong; Tel: +852 2522 3336; Fax: +852 2523 4707; Email: amhcltd@netvigator.com.

GET BOOTED

Mayer Shoe Co.: Quite literally follow in the footsteps of Henry Kissinger, local Tai-pans, and Hong Kong's former governors at this famous 46-year old shop. Also located in the glitzy Mandarin Oriental Hotel, the Mayer Shoe Co. specializes in bespoke ladies and gents shoes made from top notch European and American leather. The shoemakers can copy styles from a magazine picture, remake your favourite pair of banged up brogues, or you can choose from their collection of house styles. A pair of tailor made shoes takes between seven and ten days to make and costs from HKD 3,500.
Mayer Shoe Co., M-3 Mandarin Oriental Hotel Arcades, 5 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong; Tel: +852 2524 3317; Fax: +852 2524 5513; Email: mayerhk@netvigator.com.

Kow Hoo Shoes: Kow tow to Kow How: beautiful, butter soft handmade shoes are the order of the day at this 82-year old company. The shoemaker is also an octogenarian, so it takes six to eight months for each pair to be ready; sadly, shoemaking by hand is a dying trade. Each customer has a wooden shoe last crafted to the exact shape of their feet, so once you have ordered from Kow Hoo once you can email or fax across any style you like to be made to your exact specifications. You can also choose send in your old shoes to be remade if you've lost a pair you love. The leathers come from Europe, and exotic skins can be sourced if the fancy takes you. Prices start from HKD 6,800 and international shipping costs about HKD 280.
Kow Hoo Shoes, Shop 241, Prince's Building, 10 Chater Road, Central, Hong Kong. Tel: +852 2523 0489; Fax: +852 2877 1783; Email: kowhoo@hotmail.com.

GET SHIRTY

Best Shirt Maker Company: Tommy Lo has been doing his company's name proud since 1968, and his bespoke shirts have attracted Hollywood stars to the shop above Wellington Street. Fabrics at the Best Shirt Maker Company come from Japan, the UK and Italy – the finest being the Italian ones – and samples can be sent overseas. Prices start at HKD 400 for a tailor made shirt from Japanese cotton and go up to HKD 1,000+ for a bespoke Italian number. Allow one week for shirts to be made; if you live abroad you can email or call in your orders and Tommy will ship them.
Best Shirt Maker Company, Flat C, 1/F, Fortuna Building, 63 – 69 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong; Tel: +852 2525 3562; Fax: (Call before sending) +852 2110 0835; Email: best_shirt_maker@hotmail.com.

If you have had any good experiences having suits and shirts tailored and shoes handmade for you in Hong Kong we'd love to hear from you. Please leave your tips and comments below.

Image Credits: Suit via iStockPhoto; Shoe Last by Artbandito

London seems to have gone Lebanese food crazy. Since the last time I was in the UK's capital all sorts of mezze and falafel places have cropped up, notably a new chain called LebanEats, which seems to have outlets everywhere.

If you're after the seriously good stuff though you should head straight to Comptoir Libanais on Wigmore Street. There are other branches across the city, but this is the most centrally located.

Queue up at the deli counter for takeaway wraps, mezze, salads, tagines and drinks, or grab a table and settle in. The mezze platter to share - with hommous, tabbouleh, baba ghanuj, falafel, spinach fatayer, pickles and pitta - is a bargain for two at £9.50. The wraps, especially the falafel and the super garlicky chicken taouk, are less wallet friendly at £4.50, but also delicious. Highly recommended is the fab halloumi salad, which comes with all the usual trimmings and costs £5.50. Apparently you have to try the prawn falafel (£3.50) too, although sadly I didn't have the room.

If you're in need of a pitstop post-Selfridges shopping spree, or you want cheap eats before catching a concert at the Wigmore Hall then Comptoir Libanais is a great place. You can bring your own wine too and they won't charge corkage.

Comptoir Libanais, 65 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1PZ; Tel: +44 (0)20 7935 1110. For details of other locations please visit lecomptoir.co.uk.

Image via Comptoir Libanais on Facebook.

Business travellers may be a road-weary lot, but we think that this selection of Christmas goodies will fill them with holiday cheer; we hope they please the road warrior in your life!

Heavenly Travel Blanket

There's nothing worse than being uncomfortable when you're travelling long-distance or overnight to an important meeting – so avoid it. Indulge your favourite business traveller with the Heavenly Travel Blanket from Westin. We've all heard the hype about their duvets, pillows and bed linens, and now the "heavenly" experience has been packaged up and made road ready. Opened up, it's a full sized blanket – folded it's a compact travel pillow. Nifty huh?!
Price USD 60 (ships internationally). Available online at www.westin.com/store.

Passport Cover

It's funny what a difference the little things can make. These leather passport covers from Smythson are ultra chic and luxurious, and will transform check-in from glum to glam. Choose from an array of styles and colours for traditionalists and fashionistas alike.
Price from £60 / USD 100. Available online at www.smythson.com.

Travel Journal

Encourage the business traveller in your life to record their journeys (and jot down the details of fab places to take you to later) in this super smart envelope wrap travel journal from Aspinal of London. It's got more than a whiff of the Victorian explorer about it, perfect for bringing some romance and a dash of the exotic into mundane business trips.
Price from £25 / USD 39. Available online at www.aspinaloflondon.com.

Flip Mino HD

If your road-warrior is more techie than traditional, the Flip Mino HD camcorder is the perfect gift to help them remember where they've been and what they've seen. It's also a great little device for recording up to 120 minutes of personal messages from exotic climes and emailing them over to friends and family. It is very easy to use, lightweight and small.
Price from USD 229. Available online from Amazon.com.

Digital Luggage Scale
This is a great stocking filler or present from the dog for your business traveller. Brookstone has a portable digital luggage scale that you can use to weigh your bags and avoid any hassle or unforeseen costs at the airport. The scale can measure up to 75 lbs / 34 kg.
Price USD 29.95. Available from Amazon.com.

In-flight Travel Bag
Get pampered at 30,000 feet with a gorgeous kit from skincare and fragrance guru, Jo Malone. Keep your skin in tip top condition so you look and feel great in those all important business meetings.
Price £76. Available online at www.jomalone.co.uk.

Recorded Bedtime Stories

If you know someone who is on the road a lot more often than they would like, this could make a great gift if they have children or grandchildren. Cherished Voices is a company that allows business travellers to record bedtime stories, in their own voice, over the phone that are then burnt onto a CD and shipped to the child. A very special way to stay in touch.
Price from USD 30 – 50. Available online at www.cherishedvoices.com.

Wine Ratings Guide iPhone App
Clients can be hard to please, so help out your favourite business traveller with this nifty iPhone app that helps to select the best bottle of wine on the menu. For the bargain price of USD 1.99 this application from Nirvino will turn anyone from clueless to connoisseur: 1 million wine ratings, a food pairings wizard, and a regional wine guide (so you can pick the best local tipple). Look like a genius, even if you're not.
Price USD 1.99. Available online at www.nirvino.com or via the iTunes store.

Screaming Pillow
Another delayed flight? A client who won't play ball? A deranged hotel receptionist? Let it ALL out on a screaming pillow. Business travel can be pretty stressful, so take a little piece of mobile therapy with you on the road. Simply place your face on the pillow and scream.
Price USD 19.99 (+shipping and handling). Available online at screamingpillows.com.

Luxe City Guides: World Tour Box
From LA to London, Beijing to Berlin – tour the world in style with 12 of the fab Luxe City Guides. This is one for business travellers who appreciate the finer things in life and don't want the slog of researching where to find them. Price USD 110. Available online at Amazon.com.

London is a well known shopping destination, and there's a lot more to the UK's capital than Oxford Street and Topshop... Hit London's markets and you'll head home with a suitcase full of original pieces plus a slice of real London life.

Here are three of our favourite London markets to add you your travel itinerary:

Columbia Road Flower Market, E2

Every Sunday Columbia Road comes into bloom with thousands of brightly coloured flowers and plants. Barrow boys call out for customers and savvy Londoners come out in force to stock up on bargain price flowers and foliage. You can get your hands on everything from a single stem to a 10 foot banana tree, and if you're not interested in buying flowers there are masses of photo opps.

Open on Sundays from 8am until 3pm(ish). Closest stations are Old Street and Bethnal Green.

Spitalfields Market, E1

Fashionistas and foodies will love Spitalfields. It's chock-a-block with 110 stalls selling clothes, crafts, antiques, arts and organic produce. Glass roofed and weather-proof, you should set aside a good few hours for treasure hunting here. Rest assured: there are plenty of cafes and restaurants where you can refuel.

If you've got the energy, Columbia Road and Spitalfields can be done together as they are within walking distance of each other.

Open Tuesday - Friday from 10am to 4pm and Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Closed on Monday and Saturday. The closest station is Liverpool Street.

Borough Market, SE1

Foodies and photographers will think they've died and gone to heaven... Borough Market is home to London's very best meat, fruit, veg, cheeses, fish and oh so much more. Come either to shop or to sample the delicious food, which can be eaten straight from the stalls or in the gardens of Southwark Cathedral. It's worth making the effort to get to Borough Market early as around lunchtime it gets horribly busy. Saturday is the best day to visit.

Open on Thursday from 11am to 5pm, Friday from 12pm to 6pm and Saturday from 8am to 5pm. The nearest station is London Bridge.

Photo Credits: Columbia Road Flower Market by estherase; Spitalfields Market by vertcerise; Borough Market by RedJamJar.