It’s London what’s not to love? Very few things when you’re a city loving tourist, but admittedly a few annoyances as a resident. However in the case of my favourite city, whether I live there or not, the good will always outweigh the bad.
Even though I always stay in South West London I will make a quick trip over to East London to peruse Shoreditch and stop in at Old Spitalfields Market for vintage, antiques and new wares. I like to start here as I have had pretty good success with vintage finds over the years. Grab a pub lunch at the English Restaurant before heading down Brick Lane in the direction of Dark Sugars chocolate shop, which is not to be missed for those with a sweet tooth.
Despite the fact that I’ve been visiting the most famous London sites my whole life it still never gets old.
The streets of Notting Hill aren’t the only place for candy coloured houses. The Royal borough of Chelsea has it’s share of brightly painted homes which transforms even the most grey London day.
Besides the pretty streets go to Chelsea for the King’s road where you can shop and eat in a much less crowded atmosphere than the usual tourists destinations. I always make sure to pick up hand cream and other luxe skincare and fragrance at Italian brand Ortigia in Duke of York Square. Next I’ll head to the Joseph outlet shop it’s definitely worth a rummage for the potential of finding a good deal. Further down and on the opposite side of the street is Spanish brand Bimba Y Lola. They have fab cuts and prints and for now they’re not in North America. So the chances of me wearing the same dress as someone else at home are slim!
London has a plethora of galleries and museums but my top three are Tate Modern, the Victoria & Albert and the National Portrait Gallery. All three establishments have extensive permanent collections that you can view free of charge or by donation. Over the years I’ve seen some of the most outstanding temporary exhibits from Vogue 100 years A Century of Style at the Portrait Gallery, to a retrospective of Balenciaga at the V&A. Also not to be missed are the outdoor spaces at both the V&A and Tate Modern. The tranquil courtyard on a sunny day is the perfect resting spot after roaming the V&A. Head up to the viewing terrace at the Tate, to take in the 360 degree view of London from above.
Perhaps one of the most important aspects of any trip for me is where to eat! When in London I do explore new spots each time I’m in town, but I always make time for my old faithful haunts. The Ivy Chelsea Garden is such a pretty restaurant. Famous for its insta worthy installations that often dramatically decorate the entrance, and the lovely garden terrace in the back. The garden is where I’ve sat on numerous occasions even on winter days as long as the suns out. The patio is heated so it makes for a gorgeous setting to enjoy brunch and partake in the delicious cocktails.
The Thomas Cubitt was our Friday night go to when we lived in London. Set on Elizabeth street this casual gastropub does an excellent fish and chips and I will never forget the fabulous pear sage martini that is sadly no longer on the menu. The cocktails are very well done here and the menu changes seasonly.
On my last trip we had a late night escapade to the ever so cool Isabel in Mayfair. Restaurant, bar, and club its stays open until 230am. This is the type of place where as soon as I walked in I knew I would love it. The very chic Art Deco bar, velvet banquettes, and polished brass light fixtures gave off a dark moody vibe. Even the bathrooms are beautiful! The walls are covered in hand painted wallpaper. Fortunately I was just as impressed with the menu, it’s not inexpensive but everything I tried was really tasty including the beverages.
