Eating at Smith’s in Wapping

In London for my birthday, we decided to eat locally, and since we were staying in Shad Thames, the choice was lots of nice but a bit run-of-the-mill-and-not-special-occasion-y places. Or Smith’s. Smith’s it was. We walked across Tower Bridge and strolled along the river to Smith’s, a large, rather green, …

Victoria & Abdul

Oh dear. What a let down. The story, that of the unlikely friendship between an ageing Queen Victoria and her Indian servant, is not only a delectable one, but the additional fact that Abdul Karim’s diaries were only recently discovered is also thrilling. Add the incomparable Judi Dench to the …

UNCLE VANYA at the Almeida Theatre, London

Let’s start with a disclaimer, shall we? I’m not a “professional” critic, nor, sad to say, even a regular theatre-goer these days.  (Further disclaimer : I live in New Delhi, and so am many, many miles from anything remotely resembling London’s amazing theatre life.) Even so, the level of bowled-over-ness …

Hurry ! Hurry ! Last few days of the Pre-Raphaelites at Tate Britain

The utterly magical Pre-Raphaelite exhibition at  London’s Tate Britain closes on 13 January 2013, and if you haven’t yet seen it, do yourself a favour and go now.   I am a hopeless Pre-Raphaelite junkie.  Have been since my Oxford days, but even for an addict like me, this exhibition …

Valentino frocks at Somerset House

The exhibition VALENTINO at London’s Somerset House is simultaneously wonderful and also quite frustrating. There are utterly beautiful, fabulous dresses on display, and a very nice layout – it was done like a catwalk – but possibly the worst exhibition information leaflet ever. The exhibition lighting was so dim, and …

MUGHAL INDIA exhibition at the British Library

For anyone with an interest in India, then the blockbuster “Mughal India” exhibition at the fabulous British Library in London is not to be missed. As in absolutely not to be missed. Let me rephrase that first sentence somewhat.  For anyone with an interest in India and/or history…this exhibition is …

Steak & Co – a surpisingly good, old-fashioned find in central London

So there we were, sauntering up St. Martin’s Lane in central London – as one does – on a beautiful summer evening.  We were on the lookout for a restaurant to eat dinner, but without anything particular in mind.  A pretty, absolutely charming young woman standing in the street asked …

Where to eat good Polish food in London ?

Our London based friends were already great fans of GESSLER AT DAQUISE, a Polish restaurant in South Ken, and so at their suggestion,  off we headed, the 4 of us, on a lovely summer evening. The restaurant has been in London since the 1940s, and the slightly faded, old-fashioned decor …