38. Diverse Dining In London

One of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, London’s vibrancy is reflected in its wonderfully eclectic dining scene. We’re not satisfied with sitting down to a good old British classic in a normal dining room, and are constantly looking for ever more weird and wonderful ways to enjoy our 3 meals a day. From undiscovered international cuisines to weird and wonderful dining concepts, sample some of my favourite restaurants in London for deliciously diverse dining.

33. Friday Nights Piano Night in London

I first came across the Piano Bar a year ago. After a rubbish day at the office a friend suggested we go for a quiet drink. Several bottles of wine and a rendition of Rocket Man later, we resurfaced on High Street Kensington! With charismatic players, fantastic tunes and decent priced drinks (£16 for bottle house wine) the piano bar has fast become my “go to” location for post work drinks, girly catch ups and first dates.

30. Flat Caps at the Ready London: A Night at "The Dags"

Greyhound racing. It’s hardly Ascot is it? Yet it’s a wonderful, authentic part of London that’s slipped gradually away along with jellied eel and the fried egg sandwich. The largest one in Walthamstow, far beyond the perceived edge of civilisation for most of today’s Londoners, shut in 2008 and just three of these once ubiquitous stadia survive in London today (Crayford, Romford and Wimbledon).

Ok so if I’m going to sell this to you it’d better be good, right? After all greyhound races either brings up visions of celluloid gangsters screaming “dags, get the dags!” (a la Brad Pitt in Snatch) or grimy visions of an elderly relative, a sea of flat caps and childhood boredom (a la my actual childhood)...

28. A Rich and Poignant Past: Wartime London

Showing the Imperial War Museum to a newcomer to London recently, I was reminded of how little attention most of us pay to the heritage of wartime London all around us.

With the richness of the 21st century city on offer and our ever-busy lives, it’s easy to understand why. Yet the spirit and the shape of this great city are so inseparable from its times at war, and there are so many opportunities to see and find out more, it can be really rewarding to spend a little time learning about the experiences of the city during wartime.

24. London's 'Ripping' Yarn: Jack the Ripper Tour

I know it sounds naff, touristy, and outright geeky, but the Jack the Ripper tour by London Walks deserves a place as one of the 100 Great Things About London. Please keep reading. I’ll explain; if you love London, which you do, and you don't mind a bit of history then it will interest you. Parts of London which you walk past every day suddenly come alive with meaning and significance; if that pushes your buttons then it’s a must. If you're not that into history, then please it you may even enjoy it more.

The Maguiver-esk tour guide thunders through his pre-rehearsed lines, gory detail after gory detail with as much empathy as the shipping forecast. As a hardened veteran of Victorian London he is no stranger to the blood stained cobbles of the East End and spares no expense in recounting each of the ripper’s murders to a mob of blood thirsty tourists. This is hilarious.

23. Lights, Stars, Music: A Date at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

For an atmospheric night of theatre, entertainment and romance you cannot beat the Open Air Theatre at Regent’s Park. Because of the glorious British weather, the Open Air Theatre only runs during the “summer” months (May to September) but it is a must for anyone who hasn’t been. Last year’s Crazy for You was an all-singing-all-dancing extravaganza and I loved every minute of it. The show wasn't something I usually would jump at to go see, if it was showing in the usual West End theatres, but at Regent’s Park it was an absolute treat!

17. Putting the 'Art' into clogged arteries: London's Fast Food Greats!

So the economic downturn seems to have created a capital craving for good ol' fast food. Here's some of the finest:

Lucky Chip at The Sebright Arms:

A street food take on pub grub. If you like your burgers sloppy, greasy, and named after film stars, Nettil Market's burger van based Lucky Chip have taken residency at the transformed old man's pub The Sebright Arms.

14. A Shortcut to happiness: Swing Dancing in London

Want to get fit without trying? Meet fun friends, pretty girls and fine young men? Laugh out loud? Well these are all common side-effects of swing dancing!

When I first came to London seven years ago, knowing no-one and keen on anything that didn’t cost much, I turned up shyly to a free Christmas concert in the Royal Festival Hall ballroom. With a whirl of live big band music and a roomful of people grinning with pure excited energy, my love of swing dance was born.

13. Weekly wine tasting for a Fiver...in Kensington!?!

For about 3 years now, every Thursday evening I go to the Whole Foods Market for an event they call “Thirsty Thursday”. I believe it started as a marketing ploy but has slowly turned into an un-missable London Social Event.

The premise is simple. For £5, you get to try 5 small glasses of wine and 5 small plates of food. The evenings are usually themed and generally try to promote different goods available in the store, trying to get you to taste things you might ignore, or might not realise were available.

6. Zoo Lates: See the animals in a whole new way!

Going to the zoo doesn't just have to be for toddlers and hassled parents trying to keep tabs on their over excited children, there is in fact a whole animal kingdom out there waiting for the rest of us; Zoo Lates at London Zoo.

As the last of the lunch boxes and school coaches roll out of the gates, the green picnic spaces make way for pop up bars, food stands (from Ostrich burgers to Spanish Tapas), live music, a circus tent and the piece de las resistance, a silent disco - get there early to avoid disappointment, this attraction is almost as popular as the animals!

2. Night at the Museum... without Stiller

So you think you’ve been to the Science Museum? Not like this you haven’t. Keen to get more young adults into science, the museum, alongside others in London, has been throwing their doors open after hours for special Lates events.

Open access, exclusive demonstrations and yes, “refreshments”, combine to make one of the most educational and fun nights you’ll have out in town this year. To get the most out of these events the key is to arrive early and know what you want to see. We went to the Science Museum, V&A and British Library and all were quite busy with queues starting early and demos packed out. However once you get in the door the experience is pretty surreal and quite cool.