Hill

The good thing about having friends who live in London is that over the years we've picked up a fair few things to do that don't involve getting the tube into central London and then mixing it with the thousands of tourists once we're there. A favourite thing to do is to get the bus up to Muswell Hill, have some food, and then head down through Highgate Woods with its excellent playground, to the lovely Queens Head with its excellent little outdoor cafe. There's also a small jungle walkway for the kids and a fantastic rope swing deep in the woods for kids and grown-ups alike.

All very idyllic, offset by the fact that you walk down the lovely and gentillic Cranley Gardens to get the bus home, a street made famous by being the residence of serial killer Dennis Nilsen back in the early 80s, a fact that our host was very kind to point out to us th first time we ventured there.

Shuddder, summat nice to make up for all that...