Fab "Festival of Love" signage on the Southbank this summer

I have just spent a precious child-free weekend with my husband cycling around London on Boris Bikes and had the most fantastic time. You may already be familiar with the bikes, so I apologise for being late to the party on this one, but I genuinely had not realised just how brilliant they are - and only £2 for 24 hours - £2 ! Who knew there were still bargains to be had in London. And cycling is definitely the fastest and most pleasant way to get about in the heat. The app was a bit hit and miss, but it's a minor gripe.

The fourth plinth has got this magnificent fellow on it

Being on bikes meant we could cruise around town to places as diverse as the the Real Food Market behind the Royal Festival Hall on the Southbank and the restaurants around Charlotte Street. We loafed around in the heat in Regent's Park, checked out the Sunday market at Spitalfields, and the graffiti on Leake Street and parked the bikes right outside Tate Britain, as well as visiting some fab eateries including Lantana Cafe, Barnyard, Rosa's, Scoop and The Modern Pantry. We got a last minute deal and stayed here, on Russell Square. I'm now even more into Bloomsbury than I was before, it is so central.

Another reason to visit Tate Britain, not the other one

The new spiral staircase at Tate Britain is worth a visit to the museum alone - it is stunning. We came in via the new riverside entrance, through the cafe, and the architects Caruso St John have done a beautiful job on the interior to create a feeling of lightness and calm. I particularly liked the clusters of ceiling lights they've used throughout. And the patterned tiles, obvs. Read more about it here.

Yep. Pretty sold on Boris biking. And holidaying in London now I don't live there anymore.

And just when you think you've seen it all you pop round the corner and find this little gem - Pollock's Theatrical Print Warehouse and Toy Museum on Whitfield Street, Fitzrovia.