OCCUPATION: Fashion stylist and personal shopper
MY STYLE: Classic with a girly edge. I am rarely in jeans, instead opting for a full circle or dress with boots. I am very influenced by the 50s and 60s.
I LOVE LONDON BECAUSE: London is made up of a series of villages—each one is very different, with lots to offer.
Melrose and Morgan
This gourmet grocery shop and kitchen specializes in hand-prepared foods made from premium ingredients. The constantly revolving array of dishes is perfect for meals on the go—or for nights when cooking isn’t in the cards. Prepared foods are presented on the central table, which is reset three times a day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There’s also an extensive selection of pastries baked in-house, including tarts, cakes, bisquits, and bars, along with oils and canned jams, chutney, and pickles.
Judith Michael & Daughter
Antique photo frames, candlesticks, jewelry, and perfume bottles are among the gems waiting to be unearthed at this retro treasure trove in Primrose Hill. Curated for a style-savvy clientele, it’s a one-stop for special, singular gifts. The shop carries the occasional pedigreed fashion piece, such as a pair of black-and-gold brocade Christian Dior flats, formerly the property of Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor, and originally sold at auction at Sotheby’s.
La Fromagerie
La Fromagerie is one of England’s most beloved cheese shops, specializing in regional farmhouse cheeses—from soft to blue varieties. Its able staff can be trusted to dole out smart wine pairings. Plus, the Marylebone shop boasts a large communal table, a bar, and a smattering of smaller tables at its tasting café.
Primrose Bakery
This divine cupcake bakery prizes simple, old-fashioned cooking paired with a healthy sense of humor. Find classic cupcakes, including vanilla, chocolate, and lemon, along with more unusual flavors, such as rose and ginger—all topped with silky-smooth buttercream frosting in pale pastel hues. Cupcakes come in two sizes: regular and mini. The bakery also makes a giant cupcake that serves roughly ten.
Scott’s
Oysters, fish, and crustaceans caught from sustainable sources are the stars of this Mayfair seafood restaurant. Paired with seasonal vegetables (think cobnuts and crab apples in the autumn), dishes look as infinitely edible as they taste. Try the seafood platter, mixed oysters with wild boar sausages, or the fillet of turbot. The elegant oyster and champagne bar offers a full à la carte menu, served throughout the day fromnoon on.
Riding House Café
This modern brasserie, which is open all day, specializes in succulent small plates and perfectly cooked steaks—utilizing locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. We love the smoked salmon with scrambled eggs, boiled eggs with soldiers, and freshly made smoothies in pint-sized milk bottles. The restaurant’s décor is as quirky as its menu, featuring a huge shared table with fold-up wooden cinema chairs bolted to the floor, old-timey light fixtures, and big, retro banquettes.
Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia Road transforms into a foliage-filled wonderland every Sunday, as independent florists and plant vendors team up with local boutiques and restaurants to create a festive outdoor shopping experience where you can nab a few cupcakes and a 10-foot banana tree. The street features around 60 establishments on its own, including cake shops, vintage clothing stores, English and Italian delis, garden and antique shops, and great pubs, cafés, and restaurants.
Vintage Heaven
This large Shoreditch vintage shop lives up to its name with a bevy of well-curated and fantastically stylish secondhand clothing and housewares. We love to give the cheery 70s cookware as unique housewarming gifts. The small Cakehole Café at Vintage Heaven is a welcome break from combing the racks.
Everyman Cinema
Nibble on a gourmet cupcake while sipping high-end red wine at this unique cinema, which offers a side of real food and drinks—and a stylish, lounge-like atmosphere—with its lineup of mainstream, art house, and classic films. Book the three-seater sofa for the best seat in the house!
Kenwood House
This elegant villa, remodeled by Robert Adam in the 18th century, is known for its impressive collection of paintings from Rembrandt, Vermeer, Turner, and Gainsborough. The property’s Adam Library also boasts beautiful friezes and grand colonnades that are not to be missed. After seeing the art, stop in for tea and cakes at the villa’s café, the Brew House, before taking a walk across the fabled hills of Hampstead Heath.