Gaucho, Toca Social and 5SOS at the O2 Arena review

I recently had the pleasure of spending a day at this iconic London venue, and it left me with a lasting impression I’ll remember forever.

My best friend and I headed to the O2 for around 3pm and kicked off our experience with some retail therapy at the O2's fantastic designer outlet.

From high-end shops like Kurt Geiger and Guess to sporting favourites like Nike and New Balance, there's something for everyone.

Shopping at the O2 (Image: Poppy H)I found myself perusing through a variety of stores, picking up some make-up brushes in the Beauty Outlet store, some yoga pants from Nike which I have been desperately searching for, and some stylish Adidas trainers.

The O2's shopping options cater to all tastes and budgets, making it a great place to indulge in some retail therapy before watching your favourite acts perform.

After a satisfying shopping spree, we made our way to Toca Social, a gaming haven tucked away within the O2 Arena.

My friend and I indulged in some delicious cocktails here whilst we competed in a virtual soccer tournament, which – safe to say - we were equally as bad at.

Cocktails at Toca (Image: Poppy H)Toca Social is the ideal place to go with a big group, as it offers a vibrant atmosphere and plenty of space for fun.Toca Social entrance (Image: Poppy H)

As the evening approached, it was time to savor a delightful meal at Gaucho's, the upscale Argentine steakhouse located near the main entrance.

The restaurant's chic ambiance and attentive staff set the stage for a memorable dining experience.

The menu featured a delectable selection of Argentine steaks, perfectly grilled to my preference.

We both chose the 225g fillet steak, along with some delectable sides to share – sauteed broccoli, chips, and my personal favourite, humita – which is essentially whipped cheese and chilli oil.

Guacho starter (Image: Poppy H)The quality of the meat and the depth of the flavours in each dish were outstanding - it truly was one of the best steaks I have ever eaten.

Mains at Gaucho (Image: POPPY H)Coupled with a fine wine selection and impeccable service by our waiter Marcos, Gaucho's provided the ideal prelude to the main event of the evening.

The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the 5 Seconds of Summer concert at the O2 Arena.

5 Seconds of Summer are a band made up of four aussie lads who quite literally stole my heart when I was around 14 years old.

I first saw them when I attended a One Direction concert many moons ago at – take a guess – the O2 Arena, and I have remained a fan ever since.

We took to our seats at just after 8pm and were welcomed in to a jam-packed arena, with many excited and somewhat scary fans – it reminded me of an energetic, slightly insane, secret society.

The band is made up of lead vocalist Luke Hemmings, guitarist Michael Clifford, drummer Ashton Irwin, and my personal favourite, bass guitarist Calum Hood – my inner 14-year-old self was (quite literally) screaming when he came out on stage.

Now, their music takes you on a rollercoaster full of emotions.

One minute, they're making you want to dance like no one's watching, and the next, they've got you contemplating the meaning of life.

It's like emotional whiplash set to a killer guitar riff.

They started their set with the song Bad Omens from their fifth album, and then played into 2011, Caramel and Blender and later played their iconic, nostalgic hits such as Don’t Stop, English Love Affair and She Looks So Perfect.

Everyone seemed to know all the lyrics to all the songs, and it felt like we were all in this together, like some sort of rock 'n' roll High School Musical.

The band finished their set to Young Blood and received a standing ovation from every fan in the room, as expected.

Before I knew it, our visit to the O2 came to an end, and I was left with a satisfied stomach, new trainers and a voice box that felt like sand paper.

And would I do it all over again? Absolutely.