Ever explored Egyptian north London?

Walk like an Egyptian in Little Cairo
The most authentic Arabic eateries in north London lie, unsurprisingly, between Regent’s and Hyde park. Aside from low-key looking Ali Baba near Baker Street, Meya Meya (13 Bell Street) is a rare self-proclaimed Egyptian restaurant, tucked away on a quiet backwater off Edgware Road. Literally meaning ‘one hundred, one hundred’ it actually translates as ‘excellent, excellent’ – and in the basement you’ll find a mix of nationalities being transported to Cairo for under a fiver with classic dishes like Ful medammis, a spicier take on refried beans and molokhia, a hearty soup. Egyptian music videos play in the background for added authenticity.

Bond with Egyptian street food
While Egyptian cuisine may not have permeated western culture you can make it a household name round at your place this weekend by cooking up some easy, dirt-cheap signature dishes. Koshary (pronounced cooshary) is a classic carb-laden Egyptian comfort food made with pasta and rice, along with lentils and chickpeas, ingredients that can easily be sourced in any Kentish Town corner shop – but if you really want to be authentic, cook using ghee instead of oil.

Some free options – well, it’s only pharaoh
The British Museum allows an insight into Egypt’s mummified ancient history; worth a try too is the lesser-known Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology (Malet Place WC1), as well as the atmospheric Sir John Soane’s (13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields WC2), your best chance this side of the Suez Canal to see a sarcophagus by candlelight (first Tuesday of each month, 6 to 9pm).

Elsewhere the British Library holds two well-preserved Egyptian Qu’urans from the 14th Century amongst its treasures; or you can answer the call to prayer at Regent’s Park Mosque – and, providing you are respectful, you don’t have to prove any faith to sneak a peak inside. And we can’t fail to mention Cleopatra’s Needle, the 180-ton monument that thrills the Embankment with its two replica sphinxes and some Egyptian-themed benches.

Finally, don’t be shai
Consider taking a belly dancing class. The movements, costumes and music transport you to the orient and get you one step closer to killer abs – not bad for an hour’s work. And even better, Kentish Town studio Expressions has belly dancing classes (next one Feb 9) with a teacher specialising in the Egyptian style.

Or failing that, there’s always the shisha…