A view of the city’s skyline and the London Eye
London, in a word, is vibrant. The thing I love most about my home is the little streets and byways and all the interesting architecture. I think of London as a series of villages, each with their own fully grown character—I could walk through the city for hours. Recent years have seen so much regeneration in the Soho, Bloomsbury, and Haymarket areas that they now link up in a more interesting and open way, connecting the past, present, and future. From the parks that are woven together like a necklace—Kensington Gardens, St James’s Park, and Green Park—for me, London is all about the outdoors. Below is my guide to London, from shopping to eating and everything in between.
For architecture
The Natural History Museum in South Kensington is opposite our design studio. The Alfred Waterhouse’s Grade 1-listed terracotta-clad masterpiece was built in 1881 and is renowned for inspiring architecture that celebrates the natural world. Creatures carved into the walls seem both mythical and real. My children used to play in the gardens when at school in Queensgate. They accepted it as part of their childhood, and I hope they will be influenced by it always.
Hintze Hall in the Natural History Museum
For tea
One of my favorite things is going to the Serpentine Bar & Restaurant in Hyde Park for breakfast and watching the early morning swimmers. I also love seeing the pavilions being built outside the gallery every year by a different architect. They are erected in the spring, and there is always excitement when it is about to open. Everyone has an opinion and wildly differing styles are created.
For culture
The Victoria & Albert Museum always has exhibitions by an artist-in-residence, and you can discover architecture or educational lectures while you’re there. It also has the lovely John Madejski Garden at the heart of the museum where you can sit in the breeze and take a cup of tea. Of course, the neoclassical Somerset House is a must-visit destination as well, much of it due to the scale of the building and the exhibitions that take place there.
Renaissance City at the V&A Museum
The V&A Museum, where a dramatic staircase connects a series of recently renovated spaces by London firm AL_A
For inspiration
I frequent the Contemporary Applied Arts (CAA) gallery on Southwark Street for a mix of different objects for the home. You can commission artwork there just for yourself. You will find lovely pieces of British craftsmanship and individual design you won’t find anywhere else. I always try to go to the Royal Academy Schools summer show and meet the students. You can’t get more cutting-edge than meeting the artists of the future.
An eclectic nook at the Contemporary Applied Arts gallery shows off some of its wares by British artists
For dining out
I love the River Café—a unique Italian restaurant set on the Thames river that grows fresh ingredients on the terrace. It’s magical in both summer and winter. My favorite dishes are the wild mushroom risotto, the Dover sole smoked in the restaurant’s wood stove, and the chocolate nemesis cake. Many of the world’s well-known and best chefs, including a young Jamie Oliver, have spent time in the kitchens here with owners Ruth Rogers and the late Rose Gray, so you always feel like you have discovered them first.
The River Café grows fresh ingredients on the terrace
For retail therapy
Soho has come alive with myriad restaurants, bars, and individual shops with beautifully made items. Beak Street and Brewer Street have some interesting fashion brands and there is, of course, Liberty at the top of Carnaby Street. One of my favorites is jeweler Anabela Chan in Ham Yard Village. I also go to the Cloth Shop on Portobello Road, and while there, I can buy a jug at the same time as some interesting pieces of boiled wool.
The exterior of the Cloth Shop on Portobello Road
For relaxing
Hire a bike and follow the towpath along the Thames or by the canals and locks from Maida Vale through to Little Venice. There are so many places to stop and discover on the way.
For the essentials
I love the abundance of flowers at Columbia Road Flower Market, and the buzz of the stallholders. I like popping into the art galleries, too. Also, Borough Market under the railway lines is filled with treasures, such as fresh oyster bars and naughty raclette. I love that they use fresh organic produce; you can travel the world and experience its cuisine without leaving London.
Borough Market can be found under the city’s rail lines
A view of Hyde Park in winter
