“As freezing temperatures take hold despite diaries suggesting it's Spring, we take a moment to remind ourselves of the best of British.”

It is not just on the lips of those living north of the Watford Gap on a daily basis; the word 'Dinner' has now entered the lexicon of London's most discerning diners as everybody's talking about the extraordinary feat that is Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (that's feat, not feet, though with Heston at the helm, it is best to check). Praise is coming from all quarters meaning availability is hard to come by, so if you want to experience it for yourself, plan ahead (and I'm talking June) and book a table through LadyBlonde.com today.

Equally (and consistently) steeped in praise is St John, another exceptional British restaurant where you can expect the unexpected. Serving up a more traditional offering with steak taking centre stage, Maze and Hawksmoor continue to delight on every visit, as does Hix Soho where one can counter-dine and soak up the buzzy Soho atmosphere.

J Sheekey serves fabulous fish in chic and characterful surroundings, perfect for pre or post theatre dining, as does The Ivy, a restaurant renowned for offering a quintessentially British vibe and serving up a hit-the-spot menu.

Over in Chelsea, Tom Aiken keeps things real in Tom’s Kitchen serving British food to a well-to-do, local crowd seeking an informal but sophisticated place to eat, drink and catch up with friends. Also offering a rustic but refined spot for locals is Bumpkin in Notting Hill, and Harrison's in Balham where the vibe is kept vibrant with wonderful cocktails too.

And finally, Roast - British by name and nature - offers one of the best, as hearty as they come, good ol' quality, fry ups. So quite frankly, who needs sunshine?