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The Culpeper is an old-school Whitechapel boozer gone a little bit fancy. Exposed brick and scuffed communal tables are updated with the addition of angular light fittings and plenty of foliage. There’s a decent range of beers on tap, a list of natural wines and cocktails that feature herbs grown on the roof of the building. In fact, there’s another bar up there, with a glasshouse-style undercover area and al fresco tables among the potted fruit trees and beds of thriving greens.
You can’t go wrong, really, since there’s also a solid menu of rustic pub grub created from seasonal produce. The fantastic Sunday roast is particularly grand if you’ve been up early searching for bargains at the neighbouring Petticoat Lane Market.
region: Europe
Walk on the roof of the Oslo Opera House
For a relatively small place Norway’s capital Oslo punches well above its weight when it comes to interesting sights. And one of the best ways to take in this leafy city is from a rather elevated position. Standing atop the arresting, angular Oslo Opera House, set by the water’s edge in the very heart of the capital, will allow you privileged views of the Oslo Fjord, with bright clapboard houses scattered along its shore line. While turning 180 degrees on the spot will provide views of both the city, and beyond the hills and mountains that surround it.
The marble-embellished roof of the opera house was designed by Norwegian artists Kristain Blystad, Kalle Grude, Jorunn Sannes. And aside from enjoying the near 360-degree panoramic views from on top of it, the opera house also plays host to a number of events, such as plays and concerts performed both within its walls and outside in its sprawling forecourt. Whether you take a stroll on the iconic roof or see a moving ballet performance, the Oslo Opera House is a highlight of any visit to the Norwegian capital and should be at the top of your to-do list.
Hop around storied isles
If you haven’t been you dream about going and if you have been then all you do is dream about going back. Greece is the type of place that leaves you with a lingering taste for more. An overwhelming (yet very much welcome) array of local food, drink and ancient sights surround you, whether you’re sailing the Cyclades, exploring the Ottoman influence in the Dodecanese or immersing yourself in the mythology of the Ionian islands. And with more than 6000 isles at your toes there is plenty to uncover.
Heading north come Aussie winter means trading short, cold days for balmy European nights. Your daily routine on these Hellenic islands might consist of eating spit-roasted lamb souvlaki on the heady shores of Mykonos, cycling to the lazy beaches of Naxos or exploring the archaeological sites splashed all over Rhodes.
The Nordic craze taking snowboarding to a new level
What do you get when you combine skis with kitesurfing get-up? One hell of an extreme snow sport that’s not for the faint-hearted. Snowkiting is a Nordic craze popular with surf junkies and serious snow bunnies who mix disciplines for awesome airborne adventures. Get yourself to Finland, grab a pair of skis or a snowboard, strap yourself into your kite harness and let the wind take you where it will. Okay, so there’s a little technique involved, particularly if you don’t want to find yourself hurtling towards the North Pole.
Cruise Norway’s waterways
Norway is beautiful come snow or sunshine, but to witness this Scandinavian beauty at its most magical you need to pay attention to the light. Or more precisely, the lack thereof, as is the case in northern Norway from November to February. A cruise along Norway’s coast has been recognised as one of the globe’s most beautiful sea journeys, but with dramatic differences in weather year round, when is the best time to do it? The calendar’s two extremes – winter’s long Polar nights and summer’s ethereal midnight sun – are the undeniable highlights.
Winter is of course the perfect time to see the northern lights. And with Hurtigruten’s Northern Lights Promise you are guaranteed to see these fleeting light shows from onboard one of their ships. What’s more, rather than just holing up inside for the winter, Norwegians love to party. So there are many festivals in the winter like the Northern Lights Festival in Tromsø; the Tromsø International Film Festival; and for the really active, the Polar Night Half Marathon (spiked shoes essential!).
There’s also an abundance of snow adventures on offer with Hurtigruten, including shore excursions such as dog sledding safaris, snow scooter trips, snow-shoeing, sleigh rides, and more. Plus if you arrive in November prepare to get festive at one of the many Christmas markets.
Between May and August, under the soft midnight sun, the incredible scenery of Norway’s fjords are on full display from the panorama decks on board. Spring and Summer are also wonderful times to see wildlife. From polar bears in Svalbard, to puffins at the Vesterålen archipelago, all visible even from the ship’s deck. Or get onshore and take a midnight hike across a glacier and you can even take a dip in the ocean! Admire wildflowers blossoming as the tundra comes alive – get out among nature on a trekking excursion and marvel at the beautiful colours of summer blooms. No matter what time of year it is, a cruise up the Norwegian coast is probably going to be a little bit magnificent.
Rest your head in a turreted abode
Swish resorts don’t usually tug at our heartstrings, but sometimes a property comes along that breaks all our rules. Located in the Fermanagh Lakelands on a private 250-hectare peninsula, Lough Erne blends heritage and modern extravagance. Lodges and turrets, featuring decadent trimmings and spectacular views, line the glassy waters of Castle Hume Lough. For golfers there are two championship courses. If swinging isn’t your thing, there’s still plenty to do. Sail across Lough Erne to little isles for a picnic among historic ruins then treat yourself to a massage at the resort’s Thai-inspired spa before an evening of farm-to-table fine dining at Catalina Restaurant.
The themed hotel that’ll rev your engine
Get your motor running in one of the themed rooms at this ode to the engine, V8 Hotel. Located in the heart of Motorworld, where there’s a museum, flight simulator, indoor theme park, restaurants, a brewery and outlet shopping mall, this former airport hotel has smart suites with artwork bearing an automotive scene. It’s the beds set up between car wash brushes or kitted out like a roadside camp on Route 66, however, that really rev the beating of our hearts. Top of the line is the Mercedes Suite with a car bonnet at the end of the bed and a sundeck overlooking the countryside.
The Dam’s sexy new skyscraper hotel
We’re all up for a bit of urban redevelopment and this is one of the best examples happening anywhere in the world at the moment. The 22 storeys of the Toren Overhoeks are undergoing a complete overhaul with a musical edge to become A’DAM Tower. Here, you’ll find music schools, nightclubs and a number of restaurants, including Moon, which revolves to offer 360-degree views of the city. Be close to all this action at Sir Adam, which opened in late 2016. Not surprisingly, there’s a music theme to its low-key luxe rooms, with Crosley turntables, vinyl records, original artwork and mirrors etched with lyrics. The huge windows are also decked out with benches so you can look out over the city while listening to some fresh beats.
Sleep in an Arctic hotel carved from ice
Ever fancied sleeping in an ice cave? Sweden’s Icehotel has to be one of the globe’s most wildly dreamy buildings, constructed from scratch every year entirely out of ice and snow deep in the Arctic Circle. Each year artists from all over the world come together in the village of Jukkasjärvi, next to the Torne River, to take part in creating designs out of snow, ice and the magical light. You’ll tuck in for the night atop a bed frame expertly carved from ice and under a snug reindeer hide, naturally.
Not only can you stay in this beautiful sub-zero structure, but you can also learn the art of ice sculpting too. If that all sounds a little too much like hard work then perhaps retire to the Icebar instead for a cocktail served up in a chiselled ice glass.
And if you can’t visit during Europe’s winter, then fear not – you can still have the Icehotel experience. As of December last year the new Icehotel 365 opened earning the property the grand claim to fame of world’s first permanent ice and snow hotel.
Take refuge in a rustic Roman palazzo
When we first went to Italy’s capital as teenage backpackers, we stayed in spare rooms in a nun’s quarters. Not exactly party central. You can understand, then, our excitement arriving at this treasure. Around the corner from Piazza Navona and with five-star features, G-Rough is anything but. Within the raw concrete walls of each of its 10 suites, set in a building from the 1600s, are pieces of furniture by famed Italian designers including Giò Ponti. The wine bar is a much more luxe space, but its best-kept secret is the tiny roof terrace. Wait until the sun is dropping from the sky and head up here with an Aperol spritz to watch the sky, with its horizon of tiled roofs and cathedral domes, turn golden.
