The Angel, Bermondsey Wall East, south London

A salt-of-the-earth riverside pub where you can still get a pint and a packet of crisps for less than four quid, the Angel offers panoramas of Tower Bridge, the Shard and London's docklands. Refreshingly old-school, this Sam Smiths run-establsihment still has its original Victorian interior with dark wooden screens, snugs, open fireplaces, old fashioned prints, vintage radiators and paned sash windows. There is a small open air terrace on the river, as well as a comfortable upstairs lounge with captivating views over the Thames. The punters at the Angel favour loud conversation, punctuated with the occasional obscenity, over music. This pub is a precious throwback to a London fast disappearing into the mists of time. 8/10

Oulton House Farm, Norbury, Stafford,Staffordshire

Surrounded by lush rolling green countryside, Oulton House Farm is a cluster of single-storey and double-storey converted barns capable of housing 30 or so people. The site, which still has a handsome Victorian farmhouse, is a tad isolated. But you can walk into the village of Norbury and the nearby Shropshire Union Canal. Although the barns appear to have been furnished quite recently, they have been kitted out on a tight budget. You may find the double beds narrow and short, while the mattresses can sag. The windows won't open very far and the rooms can get stuffy. Still, each house has a spacious kitchen and large lounge, complete with WiFi, big sofas, armchairs and television. In the grounds, there is a slightly dilapidated tarmac tennis court, a table tennis table, and a games room with a pool table, as well as trikes and other stuff for the kids to mess about on. At the back is an enclosed paddock with a football goal and a trampoline - active families will like Oulton House Farm. 7/10

The Sutherland Arms, Tibberton, Shropshire

Having added a large extension in November 2014, the Sutherland Arms feels slightly schizophrenic - half historic country pub, half modern hotel restaurant. Moreover, the fresh and fancy decor is a bit incoherent - wooden slats are mixed with arts and crafts swirly wallpaper, glitzy chandeliers and tiled floors.  The Sutherland Arms, which claims to be able to sit 60 people for dinner, certainly isn't very cosy. If you are a large party, you might be offered a three course menu featuring three choices per course - the options tend to be old-fashioned and unimaginative pub fare.  To start, the prawn cocktail can be poor, but the soup is better. Among the main courses, the steak and ale pie is not bad. Although the accompanying chunky chips can be a bit greasy, they are tasty all the same and you get a pile of nicely-cooked vegetables. For desert, the apple pie can be a little lame. Moreover, on a busy evening, the waiting and kitchen staff seem extremely stretched and the service can slow almost to a halt. Fortunately, the Cumberland beer on tap is very smooth and goes down a treat. 6/10

Norbury Junction, Shropshire Union Canal, Shropshire

The meeting point of the Shropshire Union Canal and the now defunct Shrewsbury Canal, Norbury Junction is a popular place to park your narrowboat. For landlubbers, it is also a good starting point for a canal-side stroll. If you head south along the lush, green towpath, you'll pass under elegant stone bridges and through atmospheric woodland. On your return, you can grab a drink in the surprisingly edgy pub or the unsurprisingly chintzy tearoom.

London Riviera, near Tower Bridge, central London

A pop-up bar with its own palm trees, brightly-painted deck chairs, heavy duty sound system and alligator, London Riviera brings many splashes of colour to the austere charcoal and steel palette of the More London complex. Serving cocktails, beer, fruit juices and fast food, typically with chips, this sprawling establishment seems to be a bizarre fusion of European and American Latin styles.

Heart Beat, Covent Garden, central London

The work of French artist Charles Pétillon, the 54-metre long Heart Beat installation in Covent Garden features 100,000 white balloons, illuminated by pulsating white light. Pétillon says the goal is to draw attention to Covent Garden's role as the beating heart of London.

Stage 8, Tour of Britain, central London

Palace Street, central London

Only a stone's throw from Buckingham Palace, a block of houses in an elegant Victorian terrace on Palace Street are boarded up and in sore need of some tender loving care. Next to Westminster City School, these four-storey blocks still have ornate green wrought iron balconies and railings. Further down the street is the Cask and Glass, a characterful and compact Shepherd Neame pub with tables in the sun.