• Added: 12th of September 2008
• Area: Ealing
• Category: Food and Drink

London W5 2NP
020 8579 7857

DorisH said
Not the greatest shopping experience
I've only been there a couple of times for a few bits, but I wasn't particularly impressed with this supermarket. It stocked a reasonable range of products, given that it is quite small. However, the aisles seem particularly narrow and the queues were long. There weren't even any good offers or reductions to cheer me up.

The location is very handy, near the Tube station and on one of the main shopping streets, so that's probably why it is so squashed and busy, but even so I wouldn't rush back.

• Added: 12th of September 2008
• Area: Charing Cross
• Category: Arts and Culture

London WC2N 5DN
020 7839 3321

DorisH said
Fabulous place
This place hardly needs a review. It's stuffed with some of the treasures of western art -- and it's free! As with many other places, I try to do little and often rather than one big visit -- my excuse is that I take my kids but actually, I can't digest too much beauty in one go!

Beautiful environment, beautiful pictures; the only trouble is that everyone else thinks so too, particularly when there's a big exhibition on!

Final top tip -- great place for Christmas cards (especially in the January sales!).

• Added: 12th of September 2008
• Area: South Kensington
• Category: Arts and Culture

London SW7 2DD
0870 870 4868

DorisH said
Amazing place -- spend a week!
Another reason why London is such an amazing place to live -- the Science Museum. Fascinating exhibits, and free!

There's an absolutely huge range to see -- in fact, I'm sure you could spend a week there and not see the whole lot. The basement hands-on kids' section is popular with the young 'uns, but a bit sweaty and chaotic for me -- a bit of natural light and ventilation would be welcome...

That apart, it's highly recommended to all ages. Enjoy.

• Added: 11th of September 2008
• Area: Penzance
• Category: Restaurants

Penzance TR19 7BT

DorisH said
Amazing views, good food
You'd be hard pressed to get a better view than the one on offer here. The Beach Cafe is built with a large decked balcony directly overlooking Whitesands Bay, and the Atlantic. There you can enjoy the usual drinks (including 'hot chocolate with everything', my children's fave). There's also a restaurant inside which serves all day, including locally caught fish.

The staff are very friendly if rather overworked at times and the food is fine for what is effectively a monopoly! Not the cheapest, but the quality is good.

• Added: 11th of September 2008
• Area: South Kensington
• Category: Arts and Culture

London SW7 2RL
020 7942 5000

DorisH said
So much stuff, so little time
What a fabulous place! I've been there several times with my children, and each time I have to tear them away.

I find the building itself very impressive. The exhibits are amazing, and there is always something new to see. The educational room in the basement is fantastic, full of hands-on exhibits for the children to explore, and very helpful staff to guide the children. We've also had very good experiences with staff elsewhere. (I learnt how to tell the difference between a moth and butterfly, for example.)

The only thing is, it's heaving in school holidays and at weekends.

• Added: 11th of September 2008
• Area: Ealing
• Category: Restaurants

London W5 3JT
020 8567 7541

DorisH said
Good reputation, not quite sure why...
We went here a while ago, partly because friends who used to live in Ealing raved about it, and said that it was so special that they celebrated their wedding anniversary there every year. The other reason was that we got a leaflet with a special offer through the door!

I don't remember much about the food -- it was fine, but not particularly memorable. I do remember that we ate in the basement, which wasn't particularly appealing. It was quite squashed, and also dark (obviously).

Even with the special offer, the food was quite pricey. I haven't hurried back.

• Added: 11th of September 2008
• Area: Ealing
• Category: Restaurants

London W5 5DA
020 8566 4458

DorisH said
Good food, but pricey
I've eaten here once and got takeaway bits a few times. The meal I had was good, but nothing particularly special. Speed of service was average, staff were fine.

The takeaway stuff is also tasty, but incredibly overpriced. I recently bought a medium tub of olives and the same size tub of pickled onions (they've probably got a fancier name for them -- admittedly, they were pickled in balsamic vinegar) and it came to £13! Incredible! They were good, but not that good!

My other beef is that queues can be quite long.

• Added: 11th of September 2008
• Area: Ealing
• Category: Food and Drink

London W5 4XB
020 8579 5515

DorisH said
Good for celebration cakes
I got the cake for my son's christening from here. I found the staff very helpful and friendly, and the cake itself was nicely made. It came with lots of glitter and silver balls as well which wouldn't have been quite what I'd expected, but then again I left the design to them! It was reasonably priced too, for a large cake.

We also tried some of their 'normal' cakes and sausage rolls (rude not to when popping in to order!) and they were also good.

Recommended.

• Added: 11th of September 2008
• Area: Ealing
• Category: Restaurants

London W5 5DA
020 8840 3297

DorisH said
Friendly, authentic, reasonable
I've been here several times and always had a good evening. The food has always been good, the staff are very friendly and the prices are reasonable for London. The decor is nothing special but in the summer eating in the courtyard is quite nice and if eating inside, it's usually busy and jolly. Recommended. Incidentally, I haven't been there with children but I've seen kids there several times.

• Added: 11th of September 2008
• Area: Ealing
• Category: Food and Drink

London W5 4QT
020 8840 9419

DorisH said

Nice little branch of Sainsbury's, which has a good range of all the basics, plus the odd more interesting item. The fruit and veg offer is good for a shop this size and the staff are friendly, although the queues can be long on a Saturday morning. Easy parking right outside the door.