Pitch perfect

Heading to London for the ICC Cricket World Cup? Here’s where to soak up the atmosphere between matches. By Michelle Margherita.

The pub

When Mother Kelly’s (motherkellys. co.uk) super-hip tap room opened in East London, it quickly became one of the coolest craft-beer bars in the capital. Now there’s one south of the river in Vauxhall, just a 10-minute walk (or three-minute Uber ride) from the Kia Oval. Housed in a disused railway arch, the bar features 33 taps serving everything from lagers and IPAs to stouts and limited-edition collabs.

The café

Can’t face another plate of eggs, black pudding and beans? Not to worry – Australian brekkie king Bill Granger, of legendary Sydney café Bills, has four London eateries called Granger & Co. (grangerandco.com) that serve a sunny-side-up slice of Aussie deliciousness until noon. Try poached eggs with St John’s toasted rye, avocado, lime and coriander or more-ish coconut bread.

The restaurant

Open for just a year, Italian joint Bancone (bancone.co.uk) is breathing life into the culinary dead zone that is Covent Garden. The short, simple menu from head chef Louis Korovilas (formerly of one-Michelin-starred Locandi Locatelli) is sensational: the pasta is al dente, the sauces are packed with flavour and, best of all, it’s super-affordable.

The museum

It’s a shame The British Museum (britishmuseum.org) often falls off the obligatory London galleries list (Tate Modern, Tate Britain, the V&A, National Portrait Gallery) because it really is one of the world’s most fascinating museums. Custodians of the Rosetta Stone, the controversial Elgin Marbles, heaps of Egyptian mummies and currently exhibiting Edvard Munch’s iconic painting The Scream, it’s also an architectural delight – and most of the exhibitions are free.

The park

Ticking boxes for nature and history, Greenwich Park (royalparks.org. uk) is one of London’s best-kept secrets. Stroll the manicured gardens to spot the red and fallow deer, stand on the Prime Meridian, from which every place on earth is measured (longitude 0° 0’ 0”), take a tour of the Royal Observatory (home of Greenwich Mean Time) and view the world-famous Cutty Sark clipper on the Thames not far from the park. (Clockwise from far left) The Great Court at The British Museum; jasmine tea-smoked salmon, poached eggs and avocado at Granger & Co.; preparing pasta at Bacone; the London Eye

The walk

When the sun is shining, there’s nowhere more “London” than South Bank (southbanklondon. com). For a Thames-side walk, start at London Bridge and follow the river west, taking in the food scene at lively Borough Market. Further on, explore The Golden Hinde historic replica galleon, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the Tate Modern. At Southbank Centre, check out the pop-up stalls and busy events calendar, see the art at Hayward Gallery or ride the London Eye for sweeping city views.