Where we visited in 2019

Favourite exhibition this year
The Sony Photography exhibition

Your best memory from the experience
I went in expecting to look at some nice landscapes, wildlife and portrait pictures and came away feeling like I had been to an art exhibition; pleasantly surprised, challenged and intrigued. There were lots of favourites but what really stayed with me was the architecture section and specifically the swimming pools series. We went in thinking we would skim past it, but instead we spent almost 20 minutes there, drawn in by the clever perspectives, optical illusions and the longer we looked at the pictures the more beautiful they became.

Shared by
Dinisha

Favourite experience this year
Sozai cooking school

Your best memory from the experience
We learnt to make ramen from scratch! From making the noodles to the soup you learn about what makes ramen great and get given the recipe and a list of locations across London where you can find authentic ingredients.

Other people should visit if
They enjoy cooking and particularly Japanese food. The realisation that it’s not as difficult as you think is fantastic and is one of the things I love about cooking. Having the confidence to make great food is rewarding, so being able to make something as seemingly intricate as ramen makes it all the more enjoyable when you get to eat it at the end.

Shared by
Pete C

Favourite place you’ve visited this year
Mexico City

Your best memory from the experience
My first visit to the city surpassed all expectations. Here are four highlights:

1 / The view from Chapultepec Castle: this hilltop castle is the perfect place to take in the Mexican capital’s awe-inspiring scale.

2 / Exploring Hipódromo: this neighbourhood is built on the site of a former racecourse. The pace is slower these days: the leafy streets are lined by bars and cafes, including El Moro, which has served its renowned churros since 1935.

3 / Lunch at Contramar: this stylish seafood restaurant opened in 1998 and, despite its size, is still reservation only most days. The tuna tostada, one of chef Gabriela Cámara’s signature dishes, lived up to its billing.

4 / Mezcal at La Clandestina: this is a small bar with a big reputation. It’s owned by a mezcal producer that favours traditional production methods and typically there are around 20 mezcals – in differing styles – to try. They serve great cocktails, too.

Other people should visit if
They love Mexican cuisine, eclectic architecture and the unique dynamism of major metropolises.

Shared by
Dave

Favourite exhibition this year
Saatchi Gallery and Kaleidoscope exhibition by Laura Buckley

Your best memory from the experience
The visual effect of the Kaleidoscope installation was mind blowing, I remember standing in front of it for good 15 minutes just looking at the colours and shape changes. I also enjoyed watching other people interact with the installation; when I go to museums I really enjoy seeing how others interact with the art.

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Pati

Favourite place you’ve visited this year
Portofino, Italy

Your best memory from the experience
We went for a long weekend to visit some friends and loved the experience. The food was definitely one of the highlights! One evening we went for dinner at a restaurant next to an old monastery that can only be reached by boat or hiking over the hills from Portofino. The setting was incredible and the boat ride to get there made it even more memorable.

Other people should visit if
They like amazing seafood, focaccia, pasta, warm sea and/or admiring huge boats.

Shared by
Annabel

Where we’re visiting in 2020…

Museum of Architecture Gingerbread City – Somerset House, until 5 January 2020

Olafur Eliasson in Real Life – Tate Modern, until 5 January 2020

Winter Lights Festival – Canary Wharf, until 25 January 2020

Nam June Paik – Tate Modern, until 9 February 2020

Akoko restaurant – opening in Fitzrovia, February 2020

Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharoah, until 3 May 2020