The National Trust opens its doors to all of the public once a year around March to celebrate the start of Spring. This year, that is the weekend of the 20-21st March 2010, where entry to all of the National Trust’s properties are free of charge. While the majority of the properties are castles or grand houses out in the countryside, there are plenty of historical properties closer to home in London.

London has many famous parks in the center of the city in zone 1. However, some of the less crowded and more spectacular ones can be found further afield. One such park is the Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park, located close to Canary Wharf the O2 Millennium Dome. Here, you’ll discover an abundance of wildlife as well as have spectacular views of the Thames River.

Never been to Borough Market? Here are the top 5 (food related) reasons why you should, and why you will keep going back again and again once you make that first trip. From simple fruit and veg to artisanal bread and ostrich steaks, this place in SE1 is one of the more quirky places in London.

Shoreditch has come a long way in the last 15 years. Once upon time it was simply known as the entrance to Hackney. But now it is known for being trendy, creative and funky. Today, Shoreditch is the home of great bars, clubs and art galleries and most importantly great shops. Let me take you on a little tour!

If, like me you were initially put off seeing films on the big screen by the high price of cinema tickets in London, you should check out the Prince Charles cinema. It is London’s best and by far the cheapest independent cinema and Quentin Tarantino’s favourite UK “grindhouse”.

Originally a market where chickens and vegetable roots were sold, Spitalfields have survived through the centuries and at the moment is reliving its glory, with the market packed on the weekends and full of interesting stalls selling anything from vintage clothing to hand-carved furniture. With its easily accessible location on the edge of the City, there isn’t a more perfect place in London to visit this winter!

Used in the 19th & 20th centuries as a commercial waterway linking Paddington to the River Thames, Regent’s Canal is now a reminder of London’s industrial past. Nowadays, it serves as a nearby retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city, with a few canal boat tours plying their trade up and down these historical waterways.

This bowling and ice skating establishment has been in London for eons, and is one of the rare few bowling alleys left in London. On my second visit there, everything looked the same as one my first visit years ago, and although it really is a typical bowling alley aimed at kids and office parties, this is probably the only place in London that you can go to for bowling, ice skating, and dust off your Dance Dance Revolution skills.

One of the silver linings of spending a freezing cold winter in London is the numerous outdoor ice skating rinks that pop up everywhere in the city. It seems that every year, more and more outdoor ice rinks open in parks, squares, and really any clear outdoor area. But it has also gotten really expensive to go ice skating too, with average prices of around £10 plus for only an hour. If you have a family of four, it can easily cost £30-£40 for barely an hour of family fun! This is a guide of all the outdoor ice skating rinks in London, ranked in order of price, so you can find the cheapest ones!

Burberry is the ultimate symbol of British fashion, sold across the world and worn by millions. Personally, I’m not too fussed about their checked pattern, but their trench coats are absolutely fab and of the highest quality. A pity then, that their prices are so high. But, as always, if you know where to go you can find bargains for luxury brand name clothes, mostly at factory outlet stores.
So when I heard from my friend of this Burberry factory outlet shop right in the heart of London (ok, I admit, not central London), I knew I had to share it with readers of the London Insider.