5 March 2008
London Calling
Pukka Living Guide to: LONDON
Springtime in London. The freshness of cool air hitting you as you walk past Liberty; super stylish girls with new hairdos; Banksy graffiti spotted on the Tube wall; men in stripy suits drinking beer at the local pub; house renovations up and down; the smell of tea-smoked wild salmon at Petersham’s Nurseries.
GET THERE
British Airways, Turkish Airlines, Easy Jet.
All run several direct flights a day. Book online at thy.com or call reservations on +90.212.444 08 49 (Istanbul). For BA, call +90.212.317 66 00, or click ba.com. Easy Jet offers 25% off on flights between 1 April-30 June.
SEE
Big Ben, Madame Tussauds, Buckingham Palace is all very well; now go for a secret London experience, and see The Gamble Room at V&AVictoria and Albert Museum (Cromwell Road, SW7, 020 7942 2000), or the incredibly original Soane’s House (Sir John Soane’s Museum, 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A 3BP, 020 7405 2107). At night, try an alternative to the Westend musical and head to The Gate (87 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3JZ, 020 7727 4043), or The Electric 191 Portobello Road, W11 2ED, 020 7908 9696) for a slick movie and people spotting.
EAT
So many; where to begin? Patisserie Valerie (27 Kensington Church Street, W8 4LL, 020 7937 9574) for scrumptious breakfasts, cakes and the world’s finest coffee to take away; or Ottolenghi (63 Ledbury Road, W11 2AD, 020 7727 1121) for the tastiest food and pastries saluting London’s cultural richness.
Head to the famous The River Cafe (Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, W6 9HA, 020 7386 4200), most favourite of Paul Smith, for truly home-made Italian food. If you’re around Oxford Circus looking for a quick&healthy lunch, look no further than Leon at Carnaby Street (35 Great Marlborough Str. W1F 7JE), a firm favourite with the crowds. Try Automat (33 Dover Street, Mayfair London W1S 4NF, 020 7499 3033) for an edgy experience with an American twist in the hippest Dover Street district.
But our favourite must be Petersham Nurseries (off Petersham Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 7AG, 020 8605 3627); by far the most original cafe we’ve seen, set in a delightful nursery by the Thames surrounded by greenery and antiques, and a perfect choice for a Sunday brunch.
Finally, finish it off with a visit to melt…(59 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, London W11 2AA, 020 7727 5030), the coolest chocolate shop in the world, for develish truffles and failsafe gifts of chocolate.
DRINK
Tea, of course (what else?). Tea Palace in the heart of Notting Hill (175 Westbourne Grove, W11 2SB, 020 7727 2600) is more Vogue than ye olde tea room, has minimalist interior and a huge tea selection from White to Sultan.
Fancy a bit of quirky British charm? Prêt-à-Portea at The Berkeley (Caramel Room, Wilton Place, Belgravia, SW1X 7RL, 0207 201 1619) in Knightsbridge is the ultimate place to take your Afternoon Tea. (Their fashion-inspired cakes and biscuits are to die for!).
SHOP
Let’s begin with the newest and hottest: Few And Far by Priscilla Carluccio (242 Brompton Road, SW3 2BB, 0202 7225 7070); wife to Antonio of Carluccio’s fame and sister to Terence of The Conran Shop sells beautiful (old and new) clothes, bowls, chairs, mirrors, etc. carefully chosen by Priscilla from artisans around the world.
Move on to One of A Kind (253 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, 020 7792 5284), a second-hand clothes shop and a hunting ground for the likes of Naomi and Kate.
The Cross (141 Portland Road, Holland Park, W11 4LR, 020 7727 6760) is equally tasteful with carefully edited tops and skirts. For a traditional British look for boys and men, go to Bamford&Sons (31 Sloane Square, The Old Bank, SW1W 8AQ, 020 7881 8010).
For functional Shaker-style homeware, nothing beats Labour and Wait (18 Cheshire Street, E2 6EH, 020 7729 6253), but for something more of a pandora’s box of raw design talent and art, visit Beyond the Valley (2 Newburgh Street W1F 7RD, 020 7437 7338).
Finally, don’t forget to pop in Brora (81 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QJ, 020 7224 5040) to savour their finest Scottish cashmere cardigans and sweaters sale.
CLUB
Only one place: Almada (17 Berkeley Street, W1J 8EA, 0207 499 3033), and, yes they’re part of Automat mentioned before.
SLEEP
MyHotel Bloomsbury (11-13 Bayley Street, Bedford Square, WC1B 3HD, 020 7667 6000). Relax at their Jinja and ask for Chika, the spa manager.
READ
White Teeth by Zadie Smith
Brick Lane by Monica Ali
The Lambs of London by Peter Ackroyd
GET THERE
British Airways, Turkish Airlines, Easy Jet.
All run several direct flights a day. Book online at thy.com or call reservations on +90.212.444 08 49 (Istanbul). For BA, call +90.212.317 66 00, or click ba.com. Easy Jet offers 25% off on flights between 1 April-30 June.
SEE
Big Ben, Madame Tussauds, Buckingham Palace is all very well; now go for a secret London experience, and see The Gamble Room at V&AVictoria and Albert Museum (Cromwell Road, SW7, 020 7942 2000), or the incredibly original Soane’s House (Sir John Soane’s Museum, 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A 3BP, 020 7405 2107). At night, try an alternative to the Westend musical and head to The Gate (87 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3JZ, 020 7727 4043), or The Electric 191 Portobello Road, W11 2ED, 020 7908 9696) for a slick movie and people spotting.
EAT
So many; where to begin? Patisserie Valerie (27 Kensington Church Street, W8 4LL, 020 7937 9574) for scrumptious breakfasts, cakes and the world’s finest coffee to take away; or Ottolenghi (63 Ledbury Road, W11 2AD, 020 7727 1121) for the tastiest food and pastries saluting London’s cultural richness.
Head to the famous The River Cafe (Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, W6 9HA, 020 7386 4200), most favourite of Paul Smith, for truly home-made Italian food. If you’re around Oxford Circus looking for a quick&healthy lunch, look no further than Leon at Carnaby Street (35 Great Marlborough Str. W1F 7JE), a firm favourite with the crowds. Try Automat (33 Dover Street, Mayfair London W1S 4NF, 020 7499 3033) for an edgy experience with an American twist in the hippest Dover Street district.
But our favourite must be Petersham Nurseries (off Petersham Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 7AG, 020 8605 3627); by far the most original cafe we’ve seen, set in a delightful nursery by the Thames surrounded by greenery and antiques, and a perfect choice for a Sunday brunch.
Finally, finish it off with a visit to melt…(59 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, London W11 2AA, 020 7727 5030), the coolest chocolate shop in the world, for develish truffles and failsafe gifts of chocolate.
DRINK
Tea, of course (what else?). Tea Palace in the heart of Notting Hill (175 Westbourne Grove, W11 2SB, 020 7727 2600) is more Vogue than ye olde tea room, has minimalist interior and a huge tea selection from White to Sultan.
Fancy a bit of quirky British charm? Prêt-à-Portea at The Berkeley (Caramel Room, Wilton Place, Belgravia, SW1X 7RL, 0207 201 1619) in Knightsbridge is the ultimate place to take your Afternoon Tea. (Their fashion-inspired cakes and biscuits are to die for!).
SHOP
Let’s begin with the newest and hottest: Few And Far by Priscilla Carluccio (242 Brompton Road, SW3 2BB, 0202 7225 7070); wife to Antonio of Carluccio’s fame and sister to Terence of The Conran Shop sells beautiful (old and new) clothes, bowls, chairs, mirrors, etc. carefully chosen by Priscilla from artisans around the world.
Move on to One of A Kind (253 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, 020 7792 5284), a second-hand clothes shop and a hunting ground for the likes of Naomi and Kate.
The Cross (141 Portland Road, Holland Park, W11 4LR, 020 7727 6760) is equally tasteful with carefully edited tops and skirts. For a traditional British look for boys and men, go to Bamford&Sons (31 Sloane Square, The Old Bank, SW1W 8AQ, 020 7881 8010).
For functional Shaker-style homeware, nothing beats Labour and Wait (18 Cheshire Street, E2 6EH, 020 7729 6253), but for something more of a pandora’s box of raw design talent and art, visit Beyond the Valley (2 Newburgh Street W1F 7RD, 020 7437 7338).
Finally, don’t forget to pop in Brora (81 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QJ, 020 7224 5040) to savour their finest Scottish cashmere cardigans and sweaters sale.
CLUB
Only one place: Almada (17 Berkeley Street, W1J 8EA, 0207 499 3033), and, yes they’re part of Automat mentioned before.
SLEEP
MyHotel Bloomsbury (11-13 Bayley Street, Bedford Square, WC1B 3HD, 020 7667 6000). Relax at their Jinja and ask for Chika, the spa manager.
READ
White Teeth by Zadie Smith
Brick Lane by Monica Ali
The Lambs of London by Peter Ackroyd
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