Another Saturday on the South Bank

On a sunny Bank Holiday weekend, there's little better to do than take a stroll down the South Bank. It's something I do relatively frequently, it seems (one, two and three), and whilst I lament the sheer number of people that seem to spill out from every conceivable corner and make walking at any speed faster than a snail's pace impossible, it's one of the places that makes me fall back in love with London all over again.

After a busy week at work, a Friday night in with wine and beautiful skies, I grabbed Sophie and we headed down to London Bridge. Sidestepping the heaving Borough Market (always go as early as you can, otherwise it can be hellish at the weekend), we meandered along the riverside soaking up what felt like the first of the summer sun.

We were heading for the Campo Viejo Streets of Spain that I'd spied over on Rachel's blog but before we got there, we found ourselves in the midst of Malaysia Kitchen, a food festival that aimed to educate as well as feed. There was a giant queue at Roti King's stall (hugely popular in all the street food fests it rocks up at) and the satay chicken guys were doing a roaring trade. We went for something in the middle from a place called Azi's. With the menu chalked up in Malaysian, it was a case of 'point and eat' so we opted for the flat noodles with prawns and chicken that had a perfect little kick and was made fresh in front of us. Served in a little wooden dish, we took our late lunch and devoured it overlooking the river.

Promising to return for the satay, we wandered further along into the throes of the Campo Viejo festival. Spanning a huge length of the South Bank, it was absolutely heaving with people. The trademark yellow and red awnings across the stalls fluttered in the breeze and people came happily away clutching churros, skewers of meat, sweets, pizzas, tapas and everything you can think of. We missed out on the Colour Lab experiment but did manage to snap up some incredible Campo Viejo berry sorbet from Sorbitum. Think you knew sorbet, think again.

Desperate to escape some of the crowds, we made it up to the roof of the National Theatre and sunbathed for a bit before deciding to hit up One New Change in St Paul's. With every intention to hit up Madison on the roof for a cocktail, we were distracted and then exhausted by the shops underneath. All good intentions must come to end and with dinner plans afoot, we wearily headed home, sated once again by the South Bank.