Best French Bakery in Ascot

"Located on the 43rd floor of the Walkie Talkie building in the City of London, the Sky Garden is the capital’s highest public garden and one of the coolest places to visit in London for free. The garden’s large plant-filled atrium has floor-to-ceiling windows with amazing panoramic views out over the city below and is open throughout the day and into the evenings on weekends – making it one the best free things to do in London at night too!. There’s also an open-air covered terrace on one side."

"If a trip up to the stunning viewing gallery of one of London’s tallest buildings sounds like a pocket drainer, think again. Situated inside a glass oasis at the top of the “Walkie Talkie”, Sky Garden is London’s highest public garden, filled with greenery and boasting panoramic views of the capital. It’s totally free to head up there, but you’ll need to book in advance, with post-lockdown visits starting up again from July 29."

"For a lunch date to remember, 155 meters high at the top of the famous ‘Walkie-Talkie’ building, the Sky Garden offers spectacular views of the city. But it’s the incredible tropical garden which makes this iconic London landmark a must-see. There are multiple restaurants and bars to choose from, but for informal yet stylish lunchtime dining, we highly recommend Darwin’s Brasserie to take in some of the best views of the city."

"Chin Chin pioneered the use of liquid nitrogen to make ice cream in a retail setting when it opened its first ice cream ‘lab’ in Camden Lock in 2010. Its founders were convinced that hand churning with liquid nitrogen was better than any other method, and they had stumbled on the future of ice cream. Nowadays, the company has grown to three locations and over 300 innovative flavours, from sweetcorn to wild blueberry to coffee and olive oil."

"The sweet treats get scientific at Chin Chin Labs, where all the ice cream is hand-churned with liquid nitrogen. Its short but inventive menu of regular flavours includes tonka bean and burnt butter caramel, with an array of topping options including bee pollen honeycomb and truffle crumble."

"For something a little different, head to Chin Chin Labs, the go-to parlour for liquid nitrogen ice cream in London. Watch as your dessert is frozen to order using a dash of liquid nitrogen, and select from an exciting array of weekly-changing flavours at this cool cafe in Camden."

"This North London bakery describes itself as ‘a bit health conscious’: cakes contain low fat and sugar, but enough to ensure they taste delicious. Cutter & Squidge cakes make the perfect centrepiece for a big celebration too: the Macron Drip Cake, for instance, is a layered creation decorated with macarons, topped with chocolate shards and finished with 24 carat gold. Vegan cakes are also available, and everything can be personalised."

"If you gave a bunch of five year olds a box of crayons and told them to draw birthday cakes, you’d probably end up with something that looks quite a bit like the celebration cakes at this Soho bakery and café. That’s not a bad thing. Cakes with names like “Strawberry Eat-On Mess”*, “S’Mores”, “Apple Pie” – as a cake, and “Popcorn Drip” are short on cake and very long on globs of frosting, fillings, toppings and childlike humor."

"Cutter & Squidge are bringing the latest in hybrid desserts to London. Here, they have invented the Biskie. This is a biscuit-cookie-cake creation filled with buttercream, jam or caramel."

"The Pantry is unique in the openings we had in 2019 as its name hails back all the way to the Second World War. It takes its name from The People’s Pantry, which was set up during the war to offer meals to the citizens of Reading, which would supplant their harsh ration diet. Sadly, the Peoples Pantry was destroyed during an air raid which killed 41 people."

"Duci brings Sicilian desserts to Chiswick, offering everything from classic cannoli to brioche con gelato – a toasted, super soft brioche roll filled with two scoops of ice cream – and a sweet, marzipan-like gelato flavour of almonds. 8 Devonshire Rd, London W4 2HD"

"For the Mr Darcys and Elizabeth Bennets of this world, a cosy night in a Georgian townhouse should do just the trick. Add the fact that French restaurant L’Escargot has entertained most of Soho’s most famous bon viveurs in its 90-year history, and you’ll detect a frisson of scandal in the air. For ultimate date ambience, be sure to grab a table in the front dining room: plush velvet furnishings, scarlet red walls and a chandelier hanging from its period ceiling are all built for romantic revellers."

"Just a short walk from London’s West End theatres,L’Escargot offers a fantastic pre-theatre menu as well as their usual a la carte fare and Sunday lunch options. Choose a table in front of the roaring wood fire and enjoy a whole lobster, sample the liquorice beef or opt for the traditional snails. All of the dishes on offer are the usual French bistro classics with a L’Escargot twist, and can be accompanied by a bottle of fine French wine; just ask the waiter to hand-pair the wine with the dishes."

"Georges Gaudin, the restaurant moved further up Greek Street in 1927 and was renamed after its best-loved dish. Perhaps its most famous period was in the eighties when it was taken over by Nick Lander and Jancis Robinson (their son Will now runs the Quality Chophouse among others) and the dining room was run by the iconic GM Elena Salvoni. After a few years finding its feet in a modern dining scene, it’s now firmly back, firing on all cylinders as one of Soho’s most iconic restaurants."

"With its promise of ‘health and happiness’ boxes and its ‘fresh not fried’ ethos, Itsu epitomises Asian-themed clean fast food. It was a colour-coded conveyor-belt pioneer, but sushi is just one of its ‘eat beautiful’ star turns – don’t miss the ‘potsu’ pots, fusion gyoza and rice bowls. Flagship site: 47 King’s Road, SW3 4NB"

"Sumi, in Westbourne Grove, is sushi master Endo Kazutoshi’s version of a lower key restaurant, an analogue to his Michelin-starred restaurant Endo at the Rotunda in White City. But low-key here means beautiful brushed wood interiors that will hopefully welcome guests again soon, and a trio of bento boxes with superlative quality chirashi. One of the most luxurious takeaway options out there right now."

"Having already opened his fabulously-reviewed Endo at the Rotunda, sushi master Endo went one further opening this new sushi bar in the heart of lockdown. Notting Hill residents were the first to enthuse about the amazing bento boxes. If you were missing top drawer sushi during the lockdowns, just looking at Sumi's Insta account might break you."

"A firm favourite of art students and the avant-garde cognoscenti, this ground-breaking gallery doesn't have a permanent collection but is devoted to hosting edgy exhibitions of contemporary art. It made its name by staging exhibitions by both established and emerging artists, including the first UK shows by Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Frida Kahlo. The gallery’s ambitiously themed shows change every couple of months (check online) and there’s also often live music, talks and films on Thursday evenings."

"Founded in 1901 to bring art to the people of east London, it is now internationally acclaimed for its exhibitions, education and event programmes. In the past, the gallery premiered artists such as Frida Kahlo, Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko."

"The Whitechapel Gallery is a touchstone for contemporary art internationally, plays a central role in London’s cultural landscape and is pivotal to the continued growth of the world’s most vibrant contemporary art quarter."

"Located among the greenery of Kensington Gardens in London’s Hyde Park, the Serpentine Gallery and its nearby Sackler Gallery—with an extension by Zaha Hadid—have held some of the most exciting exhibitions in the city in recent years. There is also the much-anticipated annual Serpentine Gallery pavilion commission, which since its inception in 2000 has showcased the work of architects like Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry, Bjarke Ingels, and Francis Kéré. Last year, a black pavilion by Mexican architect Frida Escobedo was on view from June to October."

"Championing new ideas in contemporary art since 1970, the Serpentine Gallery has presented pioneering exhibitions for half a century from a wide range of emerging practitioners to the most internationally recognised artists of our time. Across two sites in London’s Kensington Gardens, this art museum presents a year-round, programme of exhibitions, architecture, education, live events and technological innovation, in the park and beyond. Which art museum will you visit next?"

"There’s no permanent exhibition at the Serpentine, and the gallery shows just one exhibit at a time, usually by one contemporary artist. This focus means that visits here are far less frantic than at most museums, and with its location in the middle of Kensington Gardens, it’s the perfect gallery for those who might not typically be into galleries. Gareth Gardner/Sir John Soane’s Museum"

"One of the best places to eat outdoors in North London is The Gatehouse, offering a slice of tranquillity in its stunning beer garden. Pull up a chair and tuck into pub dishes with Spanish influence and freshly pulled pints while soaking up some summer rays."

"Spread across two floors, Kitty Hawk is a hot spot for lunch near Liverpool Street. Join the swanky bar and restaurant as they serve hearty steaks in their downstairs venue, and if you're looking for a spot of liquid lunch head upstairs to the swish and buzzing bar."