There are two galleries situated in the centre of Hyde Park in London - one on either side of the Serpentine Lake. The Serpentine and the Serpentine Sackler Gallery are both free to visit and you may leave a donation if you wish.
My friend and I paid a visit on a beautiful clear spring day recently as we had both never been to either gallery, and surprisingly had not visited the park for some time either.
There are a few underground stations within easy walking distance depending on which end of the park you want to enter from. We came from the north side and the closest station, Lancaster Gate and it was a lovely 10 minute walk getting there.
The Serpentine Gallery was formerly a tea pavillion and was opened in 1970 housing the works of up and coming artists, and the most recent exhibition of a Swedish painter Hilma Af Klint called Painting the Unseen. Her works were never displayed while she was alive and her will stipulated that they not be shown for at least 20 years after her death.
The Serpentine Sackler Gallery on the other side of the lake was a former gunpowder storage (also known as The Magazine) in the Napoleonic wars and is a Grade II listed building restored by the gallery and the Royal Parks, with an extension to include The Magazine restaurant designed by the late architect Zaha Hadid. It was opened to the public in September 2013. I'm sorry to say that I didn't know it was there until recently.
We had planned to have lunch at The Magazine after visiting the Serpentine gallery so went early as we had not made a reservation. We didn't need one but I would suggest that if you don't want to be disappointed it would be worth booking in advance particularly on a warm summer's day. It was a beautiful fluid space with plenty of natural light. What was a great way to wile away a couple of hours over a glass or two of Provence Rose.
I'm so glad to have discovered these little gems in the middle of a park in the heart of London and look forward to revisiting again.
Kofler & Kompanie, who run The Magazine have a summer event coming up to support Crisis, the homeless charity - it looks like something most foodies will appreciate!
"This summer marks the 25th birthday of Kofler & Kompanie, and what better way to celebrate than with an incredible line up of chefs, taking the concept of al fresco dining at The Magazine to a whole new level.
Taking
place over nine Friday nights between June and August and featuring
some of the UK's most exciting young chefs, The Park Table is one long
curving table seating 50 diners with the stunning backdrop of the late
Zaha Hadid designed Magazine restaurant and Serpentine Sackler Gallery.
The Magazine Chefs Emmanuel and Felix have also invited some of
tomorrow’s hopeful stars to participate, with trainees from the
Skylight Café at Crisis, the homeless charity to work alongside them.
All profits will go to Crisis for what promises to be an unforgettable
dining experience."
The galleries and restaurant are closed on a Monday. Hours are between 9am and 6pm.
Hilma Af Klint - The exhibition closes on 15th May so if you want to see it now's the time to go.
Next up at the gallery - New York painter Alex Katz 2nd June - 11th September 2016
My friend and I paid a visit on a beautiful clear spring day recently as we had both never been to either gallery, and surprisingly had not visited the park for some time either. 
The Serpentine Gallery was formerly a tea pavillion and was opened in 1970 housing the works of up and coming artists, and the most recent exhibition of a Swedish painter Hilma Af Klint called Painting the Unseen. Her works were never displayed while she was alive and her will stipulated that they not be shown for at least 20 years after her death. 
The Serpentine Sackler Gallery on the other side of the lake was a former gunpowder storage (also known as The Magazine) in the Napoleonic wars and is a Grade II listed building restored by the gallery and the Royal Parks, with an extension to include The Magazine restaurant designed by the late architect Zaha Hadid. It was opened to the public in September 2013. I'm sorry to say that I didn't know it was there until recently. 
We had planned to have lunch at The Magazine after visiting the Serpentine gallery so went early as we had not made a reservation. We didn't need one but I would suggest that if you don't want to be disappointed it would be worth booking in advance particularly on a warm summer's day. It was a beautiful fluid space with plenty of natural light. What was a great way to wile away a couple of hours over a glass or two of Provence Rose. 
In the spirit of looking to find different things to do whilst in Dubai, I was made aware of the delightful Manolo Blahnik Collection Fashion Afternoon Tea at Raffles Salon. 
London is typically synonymous with the traditional afternoon tea so it seemed like a great idea to sample it elsewhere .. and where better than Raffles in Dubai. 
The sandwiches, scones and cakes were beautifully presented and absolutely delicious and there was a wide range of different teas available. Of course we could not finish everything so they offer a take home pack so you can continue your feast at home. You do have to sign a disclaimer if you choose this option.
The Manolo Blahnik Collection is offered every day in Raffles Salon, located in the lobby, from 2pm to 7pm. 
I had heard of Bab Al Shams through a friend and really wanted to give it a try. Having limited time meant that I could only do one night but 2 or 3 would have been infinitely better! I also picked the most perfect time of year to go - 30C during the day and lovely cool evenings. I would imagine that during high summer it would be unbearably hot and uncomfortable so I would definitely avoid July and August unless you like those kinds of temperatures!
We arrived around 2pm and checked into our beautiful room. I've always loved traditional Arabic decor - give me that any day over a neutral, minimalist room as lovely as it can sometimes be. I grabbed a quick coffee from the Nespresso machine and we headed down to the pool for a swim and some lunch. We could have taken the offer of a free camel ride and falconry displays in the late afternoon but we chose to chill out by the pool and take advantage of an evening cocktail whilst viewing the spectacular sunset from the roof top bar. As the live music played and the sun went down the full moon rose on the opposite side. A perfectly magical romantic vision in the quietness of the surroundings of this desert oasis. 
Included in the cost of AED495 (about £100) is a show with dancers, musicians and the story of the camel caravan - with live camels and horses on the periphery of the fort. There is a fireworks display on Thursdays and Fridays so we were lucky enough to experience that too. I also tried Arabic coffee for the first time which has the unmistakable flavour of cardamom .. not my favourite so I'll stick with my regular espresso! 
I wrote this blog post almost 2 years ago and was reminded of it today as I travelled to work on the tube. I watched yet another young woman apply her make up as she sat there surrounded by commuters. She seemed oblivious to them but I wonder what makes people want to do this in front of complete strangers? Even as a professional I wouldn't dream of it and find it unsettling to have people stare at me while I work, unless of course it's for demonstration purposes.
I'm
also horrified at the state of some people's personal make up bags and
if it were up to me I would chuck out most of it and start again!
Grubby, old and definitely unhygienic! Spring is here so treat yourself
to some fresh make up and a new bag! I'm coveting an Anya Hindmarch one (left) - I'd better start saving up!
Each morning and evening a mother hen and her chicks could be heard cheeping away and they would pass by the terrace in a little group. Other visitors were geckos (they love insects but clearly didn't catch enough!), and a couple of cats who never seemed to mind or bother the chicks much to my surprise. They must be too well fed!
All of the restaurants I like are situated on the water's edge and are al fresco. It's always best to book in advance of your trip if you want to get in and get a table right on the sea side. 
The Beach View run a free golf buggy shuttle every day at 9.30 and 10.30 into Holetown where there is a large supermarket and shops. It's fun to sit on the rear facing seat and enjoy the 10 minute ride! To get back you can get a cab or ride the bus for B$2 each (US$1 or £0.70) - another fun option. 
Recommended restaurants on the west coast - 
One of the best ever travel wallets I have come across is the Bellroy wallet. It keeps everything you need including your passport to hand. It really is amazing how much you can put in it. It's the best investment I've made! 
Wow, a year goes by so quickly .. I can hardly keep up! It's been a busy one again with lots of trips revisiting old haunts and discovering new ones. 
