Above the Gherkin

Just across Bishopsgate from Liverpool Street train station is the Heron Tower, one of London's newer skyscrapers. It's a spectacular ascent to the top, in a glass-sided lift that takes 34 seconds to reach the 40th floor. That is where the bizarrely named Duck and Waffle restaurant is located, so called after the chef's signature dish.

I was there for an annual event enjoyed by the Guild of Motoring Writers' past chairmen and industry Friends, which this year was hosted by Skoda. We had a tasting menu lunch, which included seemingly endless dishes such as shredded pigs' ears and crispy duck drizzled with maple sauce and served on waffles.

What a view! We were looking down on the Gherkin, with the Tower of London and the river beyond it, way below. So good was the food - peanut ice cream, who knew how yum that is? - that I thought I needed some exercise and would walk back down the 40 floors via the staircase. Alas, it is only used as a fire escape, so it was a brisk half minute back down in the lift. It will have to be an extra long walk for the dog tonight!