Living in a city, any city, can really take its toll on your energy and stress levels. Luckily the last few years have seen almost everyone take to yoga in some form or another. From stressed-out company execs to yummy mummies, there are those wanting to lose weight and those wanting to introduce their feet to their forehead via a backwards handstand. For Londoners, doing yoga is now as much a part of daily life as trains that are forever late and dodging tourists in Covent Garden. There are hundreds of yoga studios and acclaimed gurus in London. Here are five of the best.

In a city where the locals have seen it all, it takes a lot to surprise Londoners. But that all changes when a herd of elephants comes to town.

If there is one thing London does well it’s open spaces. One of the greenest cities in the world, there are more than 1,500 parks to choose from. From the Royal Parks to open heaths, landscaped gardens and fairytale woodlands, it’s never hard find some green open space in the capital. Here’s a look at the best parks and gardens in London.

Fans of blockbuster movie Atonement and the BBC’s Victorian Farm TV drama can join a behind-the-scenes tour of the real life locations Stokesay Court and Acton Scott Farm.

Antique auctions are something of an institution in London. But when it’s a photograph taken by London’s most famous literary icon going under the hammer, the city is in for an exciting bid. While most auctions attract only professional dealers, collectors, and those with a penchant for Russian art, occasionally there comes an auction that everyone wants to see. Last year, possessions of the East End’s notorious Kray twins were auctioned for more than £100,000 and next month it’s the turn of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes detective series. Doyle not only documented life in 19th century London through his fictional characters, but he was also a paranormal photographer.

While London boasts some of the finest and most opulent restaurants in the world, there are times when only the most exclusive or discreet of dining experiences will do. For times like this, you need a private dining room. From custom-made menus, to your own personal chef, to a switch that changes the interiors to fit your mood, and your own secret entrance: having a secret dining space is only the beginning.