Test out your vocal skills at Japanese-inspired Karaoke club, Lucky Voice. There's no need to be shy - the private sound-proof booths mean you can sing at the top of your voice and no-one outside your party will hear!

Where: 52 Poland Street, London W1F 7NH (Tube: Tottenham Court Road or Oxford Circus), +44 (0) 20 7439 3660

Lucky Voice website

OK, the rooms are small. But you do get linen sheets and flat-screen TVs, free WiFi, cheap phone calls, free Pret A Manger breakfasts, chilled-out bar-restaurant and a hip East-End haunt.

Where: The Hoxton Hotel, 81 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3HU (Tube: Old Street), +44 (0) 20 7550 1000

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Eat to your heart's content and still feel virtuous at Leon, brainchild of chef extraordinaire, Allegra McEvedy. Healthy, tasty meals are served up in colourful surroundings – and vegetarians will be pleased by the choice on offer. If Central London is too hectic for you, try any of the other branches dotted around the capital.

Where: 35 Great Marlborough Street, London W1F 7JE (Tube: Oxford Circus), +44 (0) 20 7437 5280

Leon website

Open: Mon-Fri 8am-10pm; Sat 9.30am-10pm; Sun 10am-6pm

Cost: Meals and snacks from £3.30

Come face to face with 20th- and 21st-century design classics on the South Bank. Temporary exhibits range from cutting-edge fashion and innovative household objects to maverick car design and creative technology.

Where: Design Museum, Shad Thames, London SE1 2YD (Tube: Tower Hill or London Bridge), +44 (0) 20 7403 6933

Design Museum website

Open: Daily 10am-5.45pm

Cost: £8.50; concessions £6.50; students £5; under 12s free

Get glammed up in boho chic outfits at Portobello Market. Fashionistas browse the shops selling second-hand bargains and the antique stores are perfect gift territory. Choose from antique jewellery, weird and wonderful bric-a-brac, and stylish vintage dresses.

Where: Portobello Road, London W11 (Tube: Notting Hill or Ladbroke Grove), +44 (0) 20 7229 8354 (enquiries about antiques only)

Portobello Road Market website

Open: Fri & Sat

We found the tube a bit busy at certain times of the day so we decided to walk around. We were amazed to find that many of the more central tube stops are just a short stroll away from each other. Get hold of a good map and go on foot - you'll see so much more and it's cleaner and greener! Ian Williams, Nottingham

You can save a lot of money when you're using public transport if you get yourself an Oyster Card. Load them up with enough money to last your stay - it's about a third cheaper than paying with cash. We jumped on and off the tubes and buses all day without having to go to ticket machines all the time and it was great. Nick Breckenfield, Carlisle

We got a bit confused by the different 'cheap' theatre ticket kiosks in Leicester Square. Lots of them have the word 'official' in their name but the genuine one is called TKTS and is in the clock tower building on the south side of the gardens in the middle of the square. You have to go and queue up on the day from 10am for half price West End theatre tickets – well worth it. Mark Crabbie, Edinburgh

All the big museums and galleries in London are free to get in so you can spend all day wandering around and soaking up the art in places like the National Gallery, British Museum and Tate Modern. Poppy Da Costa, Norwich