Words: Sara d' Souza

Friday

As a freelance travel writer, my weeks often involve a lot of trips abroad, so a relaxed weekend in London is bliss. I usually spend Fridays working at Granger & Co, above,  in King's Cross (7 Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG; 0203 058 2567), it's Bill Granger's latest opening in London and has a chilled out Aussie vibe, speedy WiFi, lovely staff and the best burrata on sourdough. Deadlines done, I like to unwind with a 5pm classic class of hot yoga at Fierce Grace, below, in Kentish Town (173 - 175 Queens Crescent, London NW5 4DS; 0207 336 6330).

From there it's a short hop back to Soho to meet friends for dinner at the cosy Blanchette on D'Arblay Street (the smoked haddock croquettes and the frites and béarnaise are delicious) 9 D'Arblay St, London W1F 8DR; 020 7439 8100).

Sometimes, I'll head for a post-dinner French 75 at my favourite cocktail bar in town, the quirky, cosy, Zetter Townhouse, above (49-50 St John's Square, London EC1V 4JJ; 020 7324 4550). It's tucked away on St. John's Square and is the perfect place for date night.

Saturday

I often start my Saturdays with a morning run from my flat in Highgate through Waterlow Park and up to Hampstead Heath, above,  for my favourite views of the city.

Brunch is the best meal of the day, and the Greenberry Café , below, in Primrose Hill serves a great eggs benedict or fluffy pancakes (101 Regent's Park Rd, London NW1 8UR; 020 7483 3765).

It's a short stroll across Primrose Hill through Regent's Park to the British Museum, Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG, 020 7323 8299), stopping in for a cortado at my old local Store Street Espresso (40 Store St, London WC1E 7DB; 020 7636 3011) on the way.

I always save time for some inspiration at the Contemporary Ceramics Centre (63 Great Russell St, London WC1B 3BF; 020 7242 9644), opposite.

Candles going, music on and glass of wine in hand, my cosy flat in Highgate is my sanctuary and I usually spend Saturday nights in cooking three-course dinners for friends, buying all the produce from Highgate village's local shops. I love being able to serve everything in my homemade pots and dishes, above.

Sunday

Sundays are all about painting, pottering or potting. If I'm in, I paint watercolours (I am currently working on a children's book), or making pots at home (below) to fire  in the kiln. If I'm pottering, I never come away empty-handed from the Battersea Car Boot Sale (Harris Academy, Battersea Park Rd, London SW11 5AP; 07941 383588 ).

One of my favourite lunch spots is José , above, (104 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3UB; 020 7403 4902) on Bermondsey Street for the best chorizo Ibérico and Spanish wines.

Or I'll hop across the road to The Garrison (99-101Bermondsey Street; London; SE1 3XB) pub to meet friends. For me London is all about discovering something unusual to do and stargazing at the Hampstead Observatory (Hampstead Grove, London; NW3 1DU) fits the bill nicely, it's free and open from mid-October to mid-April.

Before, I'll go for a Sunday roast at the nearby Holly Bush, above (The Holly Mount, Hampstead, London, NW3 6SG; 0207 435 2892) and sit by the roaring open fire for a game of scrabble or backgammon.

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Sara D'Souza is a freelance travel writer by day and a part-time potter by night.

Having travelled the world with work, she has been inspired by pots and plates from New Zealand to Zambia. She also had a stint living in Copenhagen, which gave her more inspiration for her deisgns. She started potting two years ago and launched her own ceramics business Part-Time Potter. Mostly hand built, her pots have a distinct style and shape and with a gentle colour scheme of translucent sea greens, cobalt blues and talc whites.

She is currently taking commissions and has exhibited her work in the UK,  and has an upcoming exhibition in Copenhagen.