14 Cosy Ways To Spend The First Weekend Of November

Pull up a stool at London’s newest Indian pub

Chef Avi Shashidhara, formerly of The River Cafe and now of Pahli Hill, has opened his first independent project, The Talli Queen, in the 120-year-old former Queen Adelaide pub.

Inspired by India’s toddy shops, military canteens and neighbourhood bars, the menu is built around a custom tandoor and charcoal grill, with dishes like Toddy Shop Fried Fish, Kerala Duck Curry and a Lucknowi Goat Biryani, all designed to be ordered freely rather than in courses. There are 18 draught lines, including cask ales, plus a Sunday lunch that swaps the roast for Slow Cooked Mutton Biryani and a Pork Tomahawk with Naga chilli and ginger sauce.

Where: 412 Uxbridge Rd, London W12 0NR
Website: www.talliqueen.com

Pay a visit to this neighbourhood favourite

If you’re looking for a reason to head to Queen’s Park, Don’t Tell Dad on Lonsdale Road is the place to go.

The Michelin Guide-listed all-day bakery and restaurant starts the morning with expertly crafted pastries and speciality coffee, moves on to generous lunchtime sandwiches made with its own breads, and turns into an open-kitchen restaurant in the evening.

Chef Luke Frankie’s Anglo-French menu balances playful nostalgia with refined comfort, with dishes like the acclaimed Oxtail Crumpet with Dripping Crumb, Whole Halibut with Clams and Courgette, and Longhorn Sirloin with Anchovy, Rosemary and Paprika Butter.

Where: 10-14 Lonsdale Rd, London NW6 6RD
Website: www.donttelldad.com

Make the most of Friday lunch with this deal

Two of north London’s best Italian restaurants have launched a Friday Worker’s Lunch that proves a midday meal doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

At Ornella in Hackney, the Milanese-inspired pastas include handmade tagliolini in a rich Roscoff onion broth, while over at LUPA in Highbury you’ll find Roman classics like Bucatini all’Amatriciana and Head Chef Naz Hassan’s Paccheri alla Carbonara. Each deal gets you the pasta of the week and a glass of house wine or beer for £15, served every Friday from 12pm to 3pm. A very good excuse to step away from your desk.

Where: 51 Wilton Way, London E8 1BG / 73 Highbury Park, London N5 1UA
Website: www.ornella.com / www.lupa.com

Try the latest addition to London’s pizza scene

The team behind cult sandwich spot Mondo Sando is branching into pizza, and the result is everything we could ever hope for.

Launching in the evenings at Cafe Mondo this month, OVEN PIZZA is a Detroit, Sicilian and Grandma-style pan pizza with an overnight proof and a restrained, caramelised frico crust. Toppings put a distinctly Mondo spin on classics, from The Midlander with Lincolnshire sausage and sage-pickled onions to a Mushroom XO Ragu, with weekly specials that may include a Scotch egg pizza.

Where: 26 Camberwell Grove, London SE5 8RE
Website: www.mondosando.com

Try a new frozen yoghurt flavour at Yo-Chi

Yo-Chi is saying thank you to its new British fans in the most British way possible, with a limited-edition Earl Grey frozen yoghurt landing at its Notting Hill Gate venue this week.

The flavour has delicate bergamot notes and Yo-Chi’s signature creamy texture, and it was the unanimous winner after a team tasting of four new contenders. Add a custard cream topping for the full tea and biscuit experience, or pick from more than 30 other toppings. It’s available until the end of the year, so there’s no need to rush, but you’ll want to try it soon.

Where: Yo-Chi Notting Hill, 81–85 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3JS
Website: www.yochi.com

Try this white truffle menu

Calling all truffle lovers! Bocconcino has just launched its limited-edition white truffle menu, celebrating one of the most luxe seasonal ingredients.

Available for just a few months of the year, this exclusive menu brings the rich, earthy flavour of white truffle to everything from starters and mains to dessert. If you’re looking for a seriously indulgent dining experience this season, this one is not to be missed.

Where: 59 Great Marlborough St, London W1F 7JY
Website: www.boccocino.com

Celebrate Diwali in style

Cult London institution, Kricket, is marking the festival of lights this Saturday with two must-visit events. At Shoreditch, a 90-minute candle-making workshop with Hackney studio Ohros lets you blend your own bespoke soy wax candle from more than 30 scents, with a Botivo serve to sip on, for £45.

Meanwhile, over at Canary Wharf, the family-friendly Diwali Mela will be complete with a Dhol drummer, screen printing with artist Natasha Kumar, henna, face painting and bottomless biryani, chai and fresh lime soda.

Where: 35-42 Charlotte Rd, London EC2A 3PB / Unit 6 Frobisher Psge, Canary Wharf Estate, London E14 5HA
Book here

Shop dreamy partywear at this sample sale

For those on the hunt to perfect their Autumn/Winter wardrobe, cult fashion label Sister Jane has you covered this weekend. Head straight to Mayfair for its annual sample sale, where you can shop all your favourite pieces at a discounted rate.

Taking over The Music Room on Davies Street this Friday and Saturday, the sale offers up to 75% off across Sister Jane, Sister Jane Menswear, and sister brand Ghospell. Shoppers can rummage the rails for exclusive runway samples, rare archived designs, and statement one-off pieces perfect for upcoming festive parties.

Where:58 Davies Street, W1K 5JF
Website: www.sisterjane.com

Work out 36 floors up at this Barry’s takeover

For this weekend’s wellness billing, Sky Garden is teaming up with Barry’s for a skyline workout this Saturday.

The 50-minute band and mat session takes the energy of Barry’s signature Red Room to London’s highest green oasis, with 360-degree views and an exhilarating soundtrack. It costs £30, and afterwards you can refuel with breakfast pastries and smoothies, or head downstairs for a well-earned spot of brunch. With just 70 spaces and the last session having sold out in record time, you’ll want to move quickly.

Where: Sky Garden, 1 Sky Garden Walk, London EC3M 8AF
Website: www.skygarden.com

Join a festive embroidery workshop

This Sunday, One Aldwych is hosting a festive embroidery workshop with the Royal School of Needlework, the experts who stitch for fashion houses and royalty.

Inspired by this year’s Bayeux Tapestry-themed Christmas decorations, you’ll create your own snowflake emblem on an embroidery hoop, a keepsake for the tree or a gift worth giving. No experience is needed, just a little patience and a love of making. Even better, the workshop also comes with a roast and a glass of wine.

Where: 1 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BZ
Website: www.onealdwych.com

Get a head start on holiday shopping at the Spirit of Christmas Fair

London’s grandest festive shopping destination is returning this week as the Spirit of Christmas Fair takes over Olympia London from 2nd to 8th November.

Bringing together hundreds of curated independent brands and boutique British makers under one roof, it is the ultimate playground for uncovering bespoke gifts, artisan fashion, handcrafted decorations, and luxury homeware you won’t find on the high street. Between ticking off your gift list, visitors can drop into creative craft workshops, sample gourmet treats at the Artisan Tasting Stage, or toast the season with a glass of fizz at the Louis Roederer Champagne Bar. It’s an unmissable one-stop festive experience to kick off your winter shopping in effortless style.

Where: Olympia, Hammersmith Road, London, W14 8UX
Website: www.spiritofchristmas.com

Try an alternative yoga class

If your autumn needs a reset, Hotpod Yoga is one of the most restorative ways to spend an hour in London. Every class takes place inside an immersive purple pod heated to 37°C, which gently relaxes your muscles, improves flexibility and helps you switch off from the outside world.

Calming scents of lavender, orange and lime oil, low glowing light and soundscapes that you won’t hear anywhere else complete the effect. With classes for every level and a flow for every feeling, from easing tight muscles to quietening a busy mind, it’s as welcoming to first-timers as it is to regulars. With studios dotted all over the city, this weekend marks the perfect time to try it for yourself.

Where: Venues across London
Website: www.hotpodyoga.com

Feast by the fire at The Hand and Flowers in Marlow

Hop on the Elizabeth line out to Maidenhead and branch into Marlow for the pinnacle of comforting British pub dining.

Tom Kerridge’s iconic The Hand and Flowers remains the only pub in the UK to hold two Michelin stars, making it an essential cold-weather pilgrimage. With riverside walks along the Thames right on the doorstep, it turns a simple Sunday lunch into an unforgettable rural treat.

Where: 126 West St, Marlow SL7 2BP
Website: www.handandflowers.com

Soak in seaside culture at Turner Contemporary

A breezy 90-minute high-speed train from St Pancras lands you right on the Kent coast for an idyllic autumn day trip. Head straight to Turner Contemporary on Margate’s seafront, where world-class contemporary art exhibitions sit against panoramic views of the stormy North Sea.

After wandering through the light-filled galleries, stroll into the Old Town to browse independent vintage boutiques before warming up over natural wines and small plates at Sargasso right on the harbour arm. It’s the ultimate coastal culture hit to clear the cobwebs without straying far from the capital.

Where: Rendezvous, Margate CT9 1HG
Website: www.turnercontemporary.com