Notes from London

I feel lucky that I got to call London home for about 3 months – and I don’t think I appreciated it as much as I could have at the time. I was there from October to December, and although the sprinkle of holiday cheer all across the city was mesmerizing, the weather at that point in time gave me a bit of a gloomy outlook that someday I will most certainly rewrite the script on. Personally, I’m convinced you either love Paris or love London, and that no one can love both equally – and you know who has my loyalty. That aside, London is lovely, huge, and varied; there is not enough time in one trip to see it all. The commitment to retail quality is what keeps me wanting to come back, as well as the accessibility to so many historic homes in the countryside, a layer I have hardly touched. Until then, here are my favorite memories from a place that left a memorable impression.

Core memory:
Marylebone, specifically Chiltern Street

Chiltern Street is one of my favorite streets in the world. Intimate in scale and rich in texture, dotted with some of London’s most tasteful shops, this street is one I find myself returning to during each trip for a short stroll with a flat white in hand. The people watching is always exceptional – especially on this late summer day that I stopped by, when people were spilling out onto the sidewalk for a chat in the long, soft sunlight. I have yet to stop for a drink at Chiltern Firehouse, which is top priority for the next visit!

Favorite stops: The Monocle Cafe, Chiltern Firehouse, Perfumer H

Core memory:
More cute shops than I could count

One of the most exciting parts about being London to me is the number of exquisite, boutique retail shops. DC has enough I could count on one hand, London has more than I could visit in a month. They do retail exceptionally well, a truth that keeps me eyeing a return trip year after year.

Favorites shops: Mason & Painter, Straw London, Labour & Wait, WNU

Core memory:
Strolling the Columbia Road Flower Market

This market was recommend to me for my first full weekend in London, and I am so glad I stopped by – even on a dreary, rainy day, the street was packed to the brim with vendors shouting off the prices in thick accents, people strolling around with backpacks stuffed with bright blooms, and little pups keeping warm in their mini raincoats and boots. I loved every minute of it – and it is the perfect stop for a Sunday morning before heading into Shoreditch for some shopping.

Core memory:
Eating well in beautiful spaces

I hardly scratched the surface on London’s food scene, though my credit card statements would have said otherwise. From casual pubs with surprisingly thoughtful design details to noteworthy restaurants with bar seating that brings you right up to the action, there was never a moment when I was at a loss for where to eat during my time here. The perk of traveling alone is there is almost always a seat at the bar, so be sure to make the most of that opportunity and hit up some spots you might otherwise need a reservation for.

Favorites: Jolene, Caravan, Padella, The Surprise, Monocle Cafe

Core memory:
Calling Notting Hill home for a season

My initial housing plan for London did not include Notting Hill, but through a whirlwind of housing obstacles and last minute changes, I ended up with a sweet little spot to call home in this charming neighborhood for my London chapter. It was a lovely launchpad for exploring West London – the quiet evening nature is something I grew to prefer. I recall there being plenty of cute cafes and shops to pop into during the day, and a healthy smattering of evening restaurants if I wanted to go out for the evening. There are many pockets to Notting Hill, and it’s an easy place to comfortably wander within.

Core memory:
A cozy Saturday in Hampstead

I recall wandering this neighborhood just before Halloween, and I had always meant to go back – it was jolly, gracious, and welcoming. It wasn’t trying too hard to be prim and proper, nor gritty like some of the other London neighborhoods often recommended to me. The Holly Bush is an essential stop, as well as the park towards the end of the day.

Core memory:
Meeting Chelsea, my sister neighborhood

I mean, she gets it. Chelsea, my alter ego – and a neighborhood in London that carries our shared namesake well. Stylish, crisp, elegant yet approachable, this neighborhood really has a lot to take in, and in due time if you head East you will stumble into Belgravia, a glistening gem that gets more than her fair share of the spotlight.

Core memory:
Pimlico Road

In the interior design world, Pimlico Road is a world wonder – an essential stop for any design lover. Admittedly, I didn’t really know what I was doing when I first stopped by; many of the best shops are by appointment only, though a few you can wander in and out of at your own pace. It’s a teeny, tiny slice of the world, a strip of London no more than a few blocks long, but one I am quick to recommend. Jamb is a must if you want to earn street cred with your design friends!

Core memory:
Petersham Nursuries

A bit of a daytrip, but worth it – especially around the holidays – if you want to feel enveloped in magic. Petersham Nurseries goes all in, and their shop is a masterclass in merchandising. I don’t recall eating at the cafe because the weather wasn’t great, but on a milder day, I would incorporate that into your planning.