Camden Beach at the Roundhouse
The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road London NW1 8EH
What's got 150 tonnes of sand, an authentic tiki hut & grill, ping pong tables, a freakishly addictive margarita shack and lives in north London? Camden beach... at the Roundhouse. Now, let's not beat around the strategically placed palm trees, it ain't no Whitesands. But it is on a rooftop, and on a summery day, with your toes buried in the sand and the views of Camden well beneath you, you'll quickly forget about the lack of sea. Like most beaches, larking about is encouraged; and there are boules, ping pong tables and bucket and spades that encourage you to do so. Yet, if all you want is to kick back with a good drink then this is definitely the place to do it. It's even family-friendly, although it's probably best not to order the (delicious) Ginger Gay Boy cocktail in front of the kids. If you want to make a day of it, then you should certainly grab a bite from their Tiki grill: the grub is delicious and surprisingly well-priced, with mouth-watering burgers, halloumi kebabs and brie and red grape salads all on offer. There's even a decent kids' menu, with chicken nuggets and fish fingers. But hurry if you want to visit – it's only open till the end of August.
