A City Guide Through Lomo Eyes

The sort of thing I wish I had when I moved to London in 2004.

* Lo-Fi London in Google Maps
** Thank you, Deborah, for the comment who prompted this project.
*** This guide is a constant work-in-progress.

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Central London and West End

BLOOMSBURY AND FITZROVIA
Nearest Tubes: Euston, King’s Cross St. Pancras, Russell Square, Goodge Street, Warren Street, Euston Square

British Museum
Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3DG
020 7323 8000

Since I discovered that Room 95 has opened in the museum housing Sir David Percival’s collection of Chinese ceramics, I’ve quadrupled my yearly visits. The rest of the museum is great, of course, but I’m just so in love with this extremely refined collection of ceramics from dynastic China. Perhaps, one day, the “made in China” label would become synonymous with beauty and quality again.

James Smith & Sons
Hazelwood House
53 New Oxford Street
London WC1A 1BL
0)20 7836 4731

Everytime I pass this historic shop, I worry a little. I hope it will still be around when I next come by. An umbrella is your best friend in London and James Smith & Sons is where you can find that extra special one.

Lewis Leathers
3 – 5 Whitfield Street
London W1T 2SA
020 7636 4314

The name for motorcycle jackets and boots.

Persephone Books
59 Lamb’s Conduit Street
London WC1N 3NB
020 7242 9292

A magical bookshop on a magical street. Persephone is an independent publisher who makes books with a distinctive design: uniform dove-grey jacket and a unique fabric print endpaper for each title. I like “Good Things in England” by Florence White and “Round about a Pound a Week” by Maud Pember Reeves.

Planet Organic
22 Torrington Place
London WC1 7JE
020 7436 1929

An organic and natural foods supermarket with multiple branches. This location is especially convenient for me when I walk home from town as I don’t know where else I can go to get groceries in the area.

Wellcome Collection
183 Euston Road
London NW1 2BE
020 7611 2222

I’m not a morbid type of person but I really enjoyed the Wellcome Collection. Spent a Thursday evening in early 2008 looking at a man’s collection of artefacts related to medicine and health: things like vintage prosthetic limbs, pieces of tattooed skin and a curtain made out of teeth to advertise a Chinese dentist’s services. I’ve been back quite a few times since.

MARYLEBONE AND OXFORD CIRCUS
Nearest Tubes: Oxford Circus, Bond Street, Marylebone, Baker Street, Great Portland Street, Regent’s Park

De Gustibus
53 Blandford Street
London W1H 3AF
020 7486 6608

Living in London has spoiled me utterly when it comes to bread. De Gustibus makes some of my favourite loaves – blackforest rye, sourdough or the classic British split tin.

Divertimenti
33-34 Marylebone High Street
London W1H 1AD
020 7935 0689

A tools and supplies shop for the interested cook. I find the South Kensington branch slightly more well-stocked in terms of baking supplies though.

The Ginger Pig
8-10 Moxon Street
London W1U 4EW
020 7935 7788

Friendly service and quality products are the reasons why I come back to this butcher time and time again.

La Fromagerie
2-4 Moxon Street
London W1U 4EW
020 7935 0341

Not just a cheese shop, La Fromagerie has many well-sourced selections from Europe for your grocery cupboard and fridge. One of the bright sparks of Marylebone “village”.

Margaret Howell
34 Wigmore Street
London W1U 2RS
020 7009 9006

An airy, bright store that perfectly complements Margaret Howell’s design aesthetic. I could live here I think.

Marimekko
16 – 17 St. Christopher’s Place
London W1U 1NZ
020 7486 6454

This Finnish brand makes stripe t-shirts I really like.

Marylebone Farmers’ Market
Cramer Street Car Park
Off Marylebone High Street

Raw milk, organic salad leaves and loads of berries and cherries when summer-time comes. Trading on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Natural Kitchen
77/78 Marylebone High Street
London W1U 5JX
020 7486 8065

I come here mainly for one reason – River Cottage’s creamy Guernsey yoghurt.

Postcard Teas
9 Dering Street
London W1S 1AG
020 7629 3654

The place to go when longing for Pu’er, Longjing, Soba-cha or other Chinese and Japanese tea.

Scandinavian Kitchen
61 Great Titchfield Street
London W1W 7PP
020 7580 7161

Scandinavia is a region I’ve always wanted to visit but for now, I’ll be contented with eating the open sandwiches here and picking up something from the grocery section to take home.

Skandium
86 Marylebone High Street
London W1U 4QS
020 7935 2077

Design classics with a pared-down aesthetic. Names like Knoll, iittala, Vitra, Rosendahl, Stelton and Design House Stockholm…

Villandry
170 Great Portland Street
London W1W 5QB
020 7631 3131

I wished I had the chance to know Villandry when Rose Carrarini of Rose Bakery was running it. Anyway they still make very nice croissants.

MAYFAIR, PICCADILLY AND ST. JAMES’S
Nearest Tubes: Piccadilly Circus, Green Park, St. James’s Park, Oxford Circus, Bond Street

Allen & Co
117 Mount Street
London W1K 3LA

A butcher in Mayfair. I always gape at the window when I walk by, great visual merchandising!

Bates Hats
21a Jermyn Street
London SW1Y 6HP
020 7734 2722

Come see Binks, the immortalised shop cat, and buy a hat.

Berk
46 Burlington Arcade
London W1V 9AE
020 7493 0028

Classic styles from John Smedley, Ballantyne and other knitwear brands. Extremely well-stocked shop, I almost always find what I want when I visit.

Church’s
133 New Bond Street
London W1S 2TE
020 7493 1474

Now owned by Prada so no lack of stores in London but this one gets my vote for consistently knowledgeable and competent service. Can’t say the same for some of the other stores…

Dover Street Market
17-18 Dover Street
London W1S 4LT
020 7518 0680

Comme des Garcons, Junya Watanabe and others from the CDG family, Undercover, Arts and Science, Alber Elbaz for Lanvin, Azzedine Alaïa, Givency, Universal Utility, Daniela Gregis…just some of the things you can find in this five storey emporium. Not market in the traditional sense of the word.

Fortnum and Mason
181 Piccadilly
London W1A 1ER
020 7734 8040

Someone once chastised me for shopping at Fortnum & Mason. “A tourist trap,” he said. “Miserable git,” I thought.

Halcyon Gallery
24 Bruton Street
London W1J 6QQ
020 7659 7640

I fell in love with the building especially the staircase leading to the basement.

John Smedley
24 Brook Street
London W1K 5DG
020 7495 2222

The London flagship of this English knitwear company. Still made in England.

Ladurée
71-72 Burlington Arcade
London W1J 0QX
020 7491 9155

One of my favourite Parisian imports – pretty macarons in pretty boxes.

Moschino
28-29 Conduit Street
London W1S 2XZ
020 7318 0555

Moschino windows make me smile.

Paul Smith
9 Albemarle Street
London W1S 4HH
020 7495 4708

Not your usual Paul Smith boutique but a curiosity shop selling art, furniture and antiques. Fun.

Rose Bakery at Dover Street Market
17-18 Dover Street
4th Floor
London W1S 4LT
020 7518 0680

I love Rose Bakery so much it warrants a separate entry to the building it sits in. A compact version of the Paris original but all the favourites are here. If you see the carrot cake or scone, you must try it.

St. James’s Park
The St. James’s Park Office
The Storeyard
Horse Guards Road
London SW1A 2BJ
020 7930 1793

It is not the biggest, the most exotic and certainly not the most impressive of the royal parks but there is something about St. James’s that keeps it close to my heart. I think it might be this horrible thing called nostalgia since it’s the first park I visited in London.

CHINATOWN, COVENT GARDEN AND SOHO
Nearest Tubes: Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Covent Garden, Leicester Square

Albam
23 Beak Street
London W1F 9RS
020 3157 7000

Earnest clothing made for people who care.

Any Amount of Books
56 Charing Cross Road
London WC2H 0QA
020 7836 3697

My favourite out of the second-hand bookshop row on Charing Cross Road.

Churchyard in St. Paul’s, The Actor’s Church
Bedford Street
London WC2E 9ED
020 7836 5221

For a few weeks or so in the Spring, this churchyard transforms into one of the prettiest places in London. From the time the cherry blossoms start to bloom to when they fall and create a pink blanket on the grass…

Cecil Court
London WC2N

A very well-preserved historic street of booksellers and galleries.

Cha Cha Moon
15 – 21 Ganton Street
London W1F 9BN

Most of my friends are detractors but I come here very occasionally for the steamed taro cake when there isn’t a queue.

Cloth House
47 Berwick Street
London W1F 8SJ
020 7437 5155

Whenever I visit Cloth House, I wish I had more time to sew.

Fernandez & Wells – Food & Wine Bar
43 Lexington Street
London W1F 9AL
020 7734 1546

Everyone I know, except one AB, loves Fernandez & Wells. Obviously we’re all right and he’s wrong. Come here to lunch or dine on cheese and cured meats, salads and light meals.

Fernandez & Wells – Coffee Bar
73 Beak Street
London W1F 9RS
020 7287 8124

I no longer go there for cakes since their supplier changed and my favourites (benedict bar!) are no longer available. Still good for grabbing a sandwich.

Fernandez & Wells – Coffee Bar
16a St Anne’s Court
London W1F 0BJ

I’m quite amazed with what F&W has done with the space Footpatrol used to occupy. Footpatrol was obviously going for a different look but I never thought that this narrow space could be so light and airy. Definitely a respite down what we call “the piss alley”.

Food For Thought
31 Neal St
London WC2H 9PR
020 7836 9072

It wouldn’t be far-fetched to call this place a stalwart of the vegetarian movement in London as it has been around since 1977. Honest and unpretentious home cooking – no wonder the queues are snaking everyday during lunch-time.

Haozhan
8 Gerrard Street
London W1D 5PJ
020 74343838

I’m not the biggest fan of Haozhan’s interior decoration but I come here whenever I miss the tastes of home. Note that dishes like cheese lobster, marmite prawns and coffee ribs might sound like modern fusion cooking, but they are actually rather common dishes back in Southeast Asia. My staple is the aubergine claypot.

Hope and Greenwood
1 Russell Street
London WC2B 5JD
020 7240 3314

British sweets were a part of my childhood through storybooks and at Hope and Greenwood I can find all the fudge, toffee, sherbet, gum and jelly I’ve always read about.

Konditor & Cook
99 Shaftesbury Avenue
London W1D 5DY
020 7292 1684

A compact café located in the Curzon Soho cinema. Coffee, cakes and such.

Kastner & Ovens
52 Floral Street
London WC2E 9DA
020 7836 2700

Lunchtime hero for those working in Covent Garden.

Liberty
Great Marlborough Street
London W1B 5AH
020 7734 1234

Liberty is the “right” department store to like in London, right?

Lina Stores
18 Brewer Street
London W1F 0SH
020 7437 6482

A Soho icon. I love the green façade of this Italian delicatessen.

Malletti
26 Noel Street
London W1F 8GY
020 7439 4096

Definitely join the queue. Pizzas, pastas and whatever else is available are always fresh and delicious. Business is so good, they don’t open on weekends!

Monmouth Coffee Company
27 Monmouth Street
London WC2H 9EU
020 7379 3516

I don’t even like coffee but once in a while I get a craving and only Monmouth will do. I have it on good account that staff are extremely well looked after. This is the sort of business that is worth supporting.

Mrs Marengo’s
53 Lexington Street
London W1F 9AS
020 7287 2544

A take-away shop (with a few seat-in stools) from the people behind Mildreds Vegetarian Restaurant. I especially like the natural-looking cupcakes here.

Neal’s Yard Dairy
17 Shorts Gardens
London WC2H 9UP
020 7240 5700

Neal’s Yard Dairy opened here in 1979 and although they now have a much more spacious store in Borough Market, I visit this convenient location more often.

Nordic Bakery
14 Golden Square
London W1F 9JF
020 3230 1077

Three words: warm cinnamon buns. I had doughnuts here once but never saw them again, ever. Why???

The Organic Pharmacy
36 Neal Street
London WC2H 9PS
020 7836 3923

Their carrot butter cleanser and blemish oil are my picks.

Orla Kiely
31 Monmouth Street
London WC2H 9DD
020 7240 4022

I never did pay much attention to Orla Kiely until I visited this store. Never found anything to buy though but somehow wanted to recommend it.

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City and East London

BANKSIDE AND SOUTH BANK
Nearest Tubes: Charing Cross, Embankment, Westminster, London Bridge, Borough, Waterloo

Borough Market
8 Southwark Street
London SE1 1TL
020 7407 1002

Open to public on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and almost always mobbed. Not quite a farmers’ market but a place to sample produce from UK and all over the world. My favourites are the stalls selling chorizo sandwiches, Comte, Parmigiano Reggiano and Stichelton cheeses, de Gustibus bread and French yogurt and butter.

De Gustibus
4 Southwark Street
London SE1 1TQ
020 7407 3625

One of the best bakers in London and come Borough market open days, there will be a great variety of breads piled up high. A recent experience was marred by a staff telling a customer that Irish soda bread contained yeast. It haunted me for the whole day.

Konditor & Cook
10 Stoney Street
London SE1 8TW
020 7261 0456

If you couldn’t find anything sweet to satisfy you in Borough Market, then you might at this bakery.

Neal’s Yard Dairy
6 Park Street
London SE1 9AB
020 7645 3554

A bigger version of the one in town.

CITY, CLERKENWELL AND HOLBORN
Nearest Tubes: Holborn, Chancery Lane, St. Paul’s, Moorgate, Barbican, Farringdon, Old Street

Konditor & Cook
46 Grays Inn Road
London WC1X 8LR
020 7404 6300

This chain of bakery is one of the earliest places I got acquainted with after moving to London. I used to stop here for a breakfast muffin when I worked in the area (very briefly).

Life
2-4 Old Street
London EC1V 9AA
020 7250 3737

I’m obsessed with the wood flooring in this restaurant. One of my favourite places in London for Japanese food, the miso mackerel is my usual lunch option. The basement houses a select goods shop with toys, books, jewellery, clothing and other odds and sorts from Japan. I think it turns into a club on some nights too.

Malletti Pizza Bar
174 – 176 Clerkenwell Road
London EC1R 5DD
020 7713 8665

My favourite pizza in London finally has a long overdue second branch. Too bad I’m not working in this area anymore.

Moro
34 – 36 Exmouth Market
London EC1R 4QE
020 7833 8336

Beautiful, hearty food.

The Quality Chop House
92-94 Farringdon Road
London EC1R 3EA
020 7837 5093

A rare survivor of late 19th century working-class chop houses cleaned up and airbrushed, this is one for the atmosphere. Dine on salmon fishcakes, pie and mash, and other no-nonsense British delights while sitting in booths with the narrowest benches.

Sedap
102 Old Street
London EC1V 9AY
020 74900 200

I’m rather devastated that a Malaysian/Singaporean restaurant popped up right opposite the office after I stopped working there. The couple behind Sedap used to helm the kitchen at Nyonya in Notting Hill, a place I didn’t try because service was so incompetent I had to walk out. Sedap is a different animal altogether with a homely atmosphere. Chicken rice was competent and definitely one of the best renditions I had in London.

HOXTON AND SHOREDITCH
Nearest Tubes: Old Street

Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia Road
London E2 7RG

For flowers and food. Many homeware shops line the street – some are true junkshops with dream finds for interior stylists, while others sell modern and reproduction goods. When you get to the end of Columbia Road, turn left onto Ezra Street for more food and shops. Only on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Jones Dairy
23 Ezra Street
London E2 7RH
020 7739 5372

Hard to believe that this was once home to a working dairy but it is now a grocery shop with an attached café. A good variety of cheeses, bread and whole food ingredients in the shop, while bagels and British cakes are the attractions in the café.

Lee’s Seafood
Columbia Road
London E2 7RG

Only a window overlooking the busy Columbia Road Flower Market it borders, this joint with the most basic of set-up has some of the best deep-fried calamari I have ever had in London. £2.50 gets you a small styrofoam tub filled with crispy-batter-encased-soft-chewy-squid-rings, nothing like those bland rubber bands you get in restaurants sometimes.

SCP
135-139 Curtain Road
London EC2A 3BX
020 7739 1869

Manufacturer and retailer of British names in contemporary furniture design such as Matthew Hilton, Jasper Morrison and Terence Woodgate. The store also has a selection of lighting, kitchenware, textiles and gifts.

Start (Women’s & Accessories)
42-44 Rivington Street
London EC2A 3BN
020 7729 3334

Start (Men’s)
59 Rivington Street
London EC2A 3QQ
020 7739 3636

The stores look much better than their website.

Treacle
110 – 112 Columbia Road
E2 7RG
020 7729 5657

Although I went to Columbia Road in search of Treacle’s cupcakes, I didn’t realise I have stepped into the place as a large part of the shop is filled with kitchen and tableware. But I quickly got my head around it when I saw the vintage wooden cabinet filled with cupcakes. Lovers of sweet things, pastels, sprinkles and flowers will, well, love it. Only on Sundays.

Two Columbia Road
2 Columbia Road
London E2 7NN
020 7729 9933

A good way from the madness of Columbia Road Market, this gallery has a well-edited selection of new and old furniture, books and artworks.

Vintage Heaven
82 Columbia Road
London E2 7QB
01277 215 968

One of the best places to look for charming vintage pieces for the home and garden – a stylist’s heaven. There is a tea-room, Cake Hole, tucked away at the back of the shop.

BETHNAL GREEN, SPITALFIELDS AND WHITECHAPEL
Nearest Tubes: Liverpool Street, Whitechapel, Bethnal Green

A. Gold
42 Brushfield Street
London E1 6AG
020 7247 2487

“French Miliner” on the old shop sign might be misleading but look at the window and there will be no doubt. A very welcoming delicatessen dedicated to British traditional and quality produce, Cornish Blue style biscuit tins, Uncle Joe’s mint balls and assorted fudge and candy.

Beedell Coram
86 Commercial Street
London E1 6LY
079 8155 9601

I’m sure there are other gems to be found, but the last time I was here, my attention was drawn to the old postcards sitting in a tin and a box outside this vintage junk shop.

Brick Lane Beigel Bake
159 Brick Lane
London E1 6SB
020 7729 0616

Going to Brick Lane = Eating bagels. Judging by the queue at this shop on the weekends, I guess many people make the same associations. An icon, this Jewish bakery is. My favourites are cream cheese and salt beef (eaten separately).

Labour and Wait
18 Cheshire Street
London E2 6EH
020 7729 6253

Linen, enamel and other functional, beautiful products for your home and garden.

Mar Mar Co.
16 Cheshire Street
London E2 6EH
020 7729 1494

Cute goods that you may not need but will definitely want for the house.

Shelf
40 Cheshire Street
London E2 6EH

More cute things that you may not need but will make your life better.

Story Deli
3 Dray Walk
The Old Truman Brewery
91 Brick Lane
London E1 6QL
020 7247 3137

This organic café and pizzeria looks put-together in a shabby chic sort of way but still manages to be unpretentious. I think it’s because you can feel the care put into the place by the owner-chef (I saw him taking a break from pizza-making to put up Christmas decorations once) and the food is always good.

V&A Museum of Childhood
Cambridge Heath Road
London E2 9PA
020 8983 5200

Collections of toys and childhood memories through the ages.

Verde & Company
40 Brushfield Street
London E1 6AG
020 7247 1924

A delicatessen and mini café focusing on Pierre Marcolini chocolate. It’s not large but it has a lovely atmosphere.

GREENWICH
Nearest Tubes: Cutty Sark, Greenwich

Greenwich Rabbit Rescue

If you are looking for a pet rabbit or a model rabbit…

Halcyon Books
1 Greenwich South Street
London SE10 8NW

Secondhand and rare books.

National Maritime Museum
Park Row
Greenwich
London SE10 9NF
020 8858 4422

I found the display of navy uniforms through history very interesting.

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West London

BELGRAVIA AND PIMLICO
Nearest Tubes: Sloane Square, Victoria, Pimlico

Daylesford Organic
44B Pimlico Road
London SW1W 8LP
020 7881 8060

Lively atmosphere especially on Saturday market days. This branch of Daylesford has a more glamourous shop-fit than some fashion stores in London. Stocks own label organic produce, books and kitchenware too.

Daylesford Organic The Garden
30 Pimlico Road
London SW1W 8LJ
020 7730 2943

Like anything else Daylesford Organic does, this florist and garden shop is put together very nicely.

Pimlico Road Farmers’ Market
Orange Square
Corner of Pimlico Road and Ebury Street

One of the prettiest farmers’ markets that I’ve been to by virtue of its location. Trading on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

CHELSEA, KNIGHTSBRIDGE AND SOUTH KENSINGTON
Nearest Tubes: South Kensington, Knightsbridge, Sloane Square

Bamford & Sons
The Old Bank
31 Sloane Square
London SW1W 8AQ
020 7881 8010

Bamford clothing and lifestyle goods.

Chelsea Physic Garden
66 Royal Hospital Rd
London SW3 4HS
020 7352 5646

For the English garden experience. Go on an empty stomach because the cooking at Tangerine Dream inside the Garden is wonderful.

Divertimenti
227-229 Brompton Road
London SW3 2EP
020 7581 8065

A practical cookshop with many good names for the interested cook. Also in Marylebone.

egg
36 Kinnerton Street
London SW1X 8ES
020 7235 9315

I thought this was the most beautiful shop I had ever visited in London but it could be the cherry blossom petals blown into the store that afternoon skewing my judgment. The clothes and accessories here have a handcrafted and highly personal touch.

Few and Far
242 Brompton Road
London SW3 2BB
020 7225 7070

Daniella Gregis clothing, Grottaglie Puglia ceramics and other well-edited products for personal or home use.

Hummingbird Bakery
47 Old Brompton Road
London SW7 3JP
020 7584 0055

A slightly bigger version of the original Hummingbird in Notting Hill but queues are just as long for the cupcakes.

Ladurée
Harrods
87/135 Brompton Road
London SW1X 7XL
020 7155 0111

It can get hectic here, not unlike the Champs Elysées store, but I always find the colours of this Parisian tea room comforting.

Partridges Market
Duke of York Square
London SW1X 9AT

Rainforest Cuisine is the clear winner in terms of popularity at this market and quite rightly so. If you’re looking for something sweet, Nick makes some of the best cakes you can get from a market stall in London. On Saturdays from 10am till 4pm.

The Organic Pharmacy
396 Kings Road
London SW10 0LN
020 7351 2232

The flagship store of the brand where you can also have treatments and consultations in addition to picking up organic cosmetics and food supplements.

Patara
9 Beauchamp Place
London SW3 1NQ
020 75818820

A reliable international chain of Thai restaurants. There are a couple of branches around W1 but I like this one near South Kensington best.

Quarter Grocer
3 Egerton Terrace
London SW3 2BX
020 7096 3452

A small but pretty grocer with reputable and reliable brands but would you expect anything less from this address?

Santa Maria Novella
117 Walton Street
London SW3 2HP
020 7460 6600

Historical pharmacy from Florence.

The Shop at Bluebird
350 King’s Road
London SW3 5UU
020 7351 3873

A well-edited selection of men’s wear, women’s wear, furniture and books in a pretty, large space.

World’s End
430 King’s Road
London SW10 0LR
020 7352 6551

The historic location of Let It Rock/Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die/Sex/Seditionaries and now, World’s End.

NOTTING HILL AND WESTBOURNE GROVE
Nearest Tubes: Notting Hill Gate, Ladbroke Grove, Westbourne Park, Royal Oak

Aimé
32 Ledbury Road
London W11 2AB
020 7221 7070

The Parisian in you will appreciate this French clothing, accessories and homeware store stocking A.P.C., Isabel Marant, Les Prairies de Paris and Repetto.

Arancina
19 Pembridge Road
London W11 3HG
020 7221 7776

It is hard not to stop in front of this Sicilian snack shop and gawk at the bright orange car in its window. Other than the namesake, one can also find pizzas and cannoli (freshly made, otherwise they’re not really worth eating!).

Bamford & Sons
The Old Workshop
79-81 Ledbury Road
London W11 2AG
020 7792 9350

Simple and subtle clothing for men and boys, for city or country.

Books for Cooks
4 Blenheim Crescent
London W11 1NN
020 7221 1992

The name says it all. Rows and rows of cookbooks, this place is a dream.

Couverture
188 Kensington Park Road
London W11 2ES
020 7229 2178

Not a chocolatier but there are many nice things from homeware selections to clothing for women and children. Great shop for picking up gifts.

Daylesford Organic
208-212 Westbourne Grove
London W11 2RH
020 7313 8050

Yes, another Daylesford Organic… This is one of the newest branches.

Electric Brasserie
191 Portobello Road
London W11 2ED
020 7908 9696

A Notting Hill classic and the outdoor seats are great for watching the activities on Portobello Road. The crispy duck salad is a perfect balance of piety and pleasure.

Gail’s Bread
138 Portobello Road
London W11 2DZ
020 7460 0766

Bigger than their store in North London, you can sit in comfortably and have a cup of tea with your desired baked good, sweet or savoury.

Honeyjam
267 Portobello Road
London W11 1LR
020 7243 0449

A children’s wonderland with many traditional toys and games. I never grew out of Sylvanian Families, dolls or playing cards so this place is perfect for me.

Hummingbird Bakery
133 Portobello Road
London W11 2DY
020 7229 6446

If you get cupcake craving in London, this is the place to get it satisfied.

Kasbah
93 Portobello Road
London W11 2QB
020 7243 2583

The place to go for woven baskets with leather trims, Moroccan tea glasses and embellished slippers with upturned toes.

The Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising
2 Colville Mews
Lonsdale Road
London W11 2AR
020 7908 0880

Robert Opie’s amazing collection of everyday products through the years.

Portobello Road Antiques Market

Portobello Road Antique Dealers Association
223a Portobello Road
London W11 1LU
020 7229 8354

Saturday is the best day to visit Portobello Road for the antiques market – filled with shops, arcades and stalls lining both sides of the road selling anything from the collectable to the discarded. Eve, located inside Admiral Vernon Arcade, has a selection of vintage French textiles and trimmings. I found some HT monogram tape to personalise my belongings, you might be lucky with your initials too. Katharine Pole next door has antique textiles for the home, with a utilitarian slant.

Ottolenghi
63 Ledbury Road
London W11 2AD
020 7727 1121

My favourite cakes in London. This is the location where it all began.

SCP
87 – 93 Westbourne Grove
London W2 4UL
020 7229 3612

Bigger than their store in Shoreditch.

The Spice Shop
1 Blenheim Crescent
London W11 2EE
020 7221 4448

Herbs and spices from around the world.

Tom’s Deli
226 Westbourne Grove
London W11 2RH
020 7221 8818

The nostalgic imagery evokes familiar feelings of childhood and comfort, and there is always a selection of delicious things to bring home.

KENSINGTON AND HOLLAND PARK
Nearest Tubes: Holland Park, Shepherd’s Bush, High Street Kensington

BAYSWATER AND PADDINGTON
Nearest Tubes: Paddington, Bayswater, Queensway, Lancaster Gate

Four Seasons
84 Queensway
London W2 3RL
020 7229 4320

I took four years before I made it to this famed Chinese roast duck restaurant. It’s good if you’re not queasy about grease but service is basically non-existent as with most Chinese restaurants of this ilk. Not that anyone minds, the place is always busy! Might have to wait even with reservations.

FULHAM AND WEST BROMPTON
Nearest Tubes: Fulham Broadway, Parsons Green

MAIDA VALE AND KILBURN
Nearest Tubes: Maida Vale, Warwick Avenue, Queen’s Park

Clifton Nurseries
5A Clifton Villas
London W9 2PH
020 7289 6851

London’s oldest garden centre has a huge selection of plants, including indoor ones such as palms and orchids.

KEW AND RICHMOND
Nearest Tubes: Kew Gardens, Richmond

Petersham Nurseries
Off Petersham Road
Surrey TW10 7AG
020 8940 5230

Pretty garden shop but the highlight for me is the café headed by Skye Gyngell. I’ve only ever had tea and cakes here but I look forward for coming back for a meal.

Richmond Park
Richmond Park Office
Holly Lodge
Richmond Park
Surrey TW10 5HS
020 8948 3209

If you come at the right time, you can see red deer and fallow deer roaming free. I didn’t see any when I visited but several friends report deer action. If you’re unlucky with the deer, you can still enjoy the giant ancient trees or try spotting a rabbit or two (I did!).

Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew
Richmond
Surrey TW9 3AB
020 8332 5655

This is further out in the West but worth a visit if you like greenery. Elements from different continents in one place.

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North London

ANGEL AND ISLINGTON
Nearest Tubes: Angel

The Elk in the Woods
39 Camden Passage
London N1 8EA
020 7226 3535

Hearty food, cute interior in a restaurant-pub hybrid.

Islington Farmers’ Market
William Tyndale School
Behind the Town Hall
Upper Street

Raw milk suppliers, rare vegetables, organic meat and freshly baked goods. Trading on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Ottolenghi
287 Upper Street
London N1 2TZ
020 7288 1454

My idea of a perfect weekend would start with a meal here.

Toast
133 Upper Street
London N1 1QP
020 7704 8243

Toast’s catalogues are always full of aspiring pictures but since running away to the country is not quite an option, one can pick up some relaxed basics here.

CAMDEN AND KENTISH TOWN
Nearest Tubes: Camden Town, Kentish Town

A & K Warehouse
152 Camden High Street
London NW1 0NE

The only resemblance this place bears to a warehouse is the bare-basics interior stacked up high with goods. Not a pretty place to linger, but good for stocking up your home and kitchen with enamelware and Indian stainless steel pots.

Earth Natural Foods
200 Kentish Town Road
London NW5 2AE
020 7482 2211

One of the reasons why I have chosen to stay on in this area… If there’s something you can’t find in the shop, you could try contacting Earth for a special order. They’ve been very obliging so far with mine.

TUFNELL PARK AND HIGHGATE
Nearest Tubes: Kentish Town, Tufnell Park, Archway, Highgate

The Bull and Last
168 Highgate Road
London NW5 1QS
020 7267 3641

I’ve been lamenting about the lack of good fish and chips until I tried the one here. Very crispy batter and triple fried chips!

Hampstead Heath
Superintendent’s Office
Superintendent of Hampstead Heath
Heathfield House
432 Archway Road
London N6 4JH
020 8348 9908/0024

I like taking walks on the Heath as there are many dogs to look at. Apparently there are 25 ponds on the Heath, but I only know of four. I’ve yet to explore the whole area anyway. One of the few places I know of for outdoor swimming though I can’t imagine using it for that purpose. It must be freezing!

Harrington & Squires
The Corridor
136a Fortess Road
London NW5 2HP
020 7267 1500

A letterpress shop – can’t think of a better use for a corridor.

Paul’s Emporium
386 York Way
London N7 9LW
020 7607 3000

Antiques and curiosities.

Spaghetti House
169 Fortess Road
London NW5 2HR
020 7485 7984

Cosy Italian food perfect for evenings after work when I really don’t want to cook. It can get extremely busy in the evenings as this place is a bit of a local institution. The owner must be an extremely kind person as local elderly under social care are given free food.

Yildiz Bakery
45 Junction Road
London N19 5QU
020 7561 9271

The freshly-made gözleme, a flat bread filled with spinach, feta or lamb, at this Turkish burkery is a motivation for me to walk home from Archway in the winter.

CHALK FARM, PRIMROSE HILL AND HAMPSTEAD
Nearest Tubes: Chalk Farm, Belsize Park, Hampstead

Gail’s Bread
64 Hampstead High Street
London NW3 1QH
020 7794 5700

Tiger bread and proper muffins, English and American.

Ginger & White
4a – 5a Perrin’s Court
London NW3 1QS
020 7431 9098

I like Ginger & White immediately when our order was brought to the table. Falcon enamelware, Poole two-tone pottery, Spanish earthenware… these were the same tableware that I use at home. The sense of familiarity translates to the food as well. A selection of sandwiches, salads and cakes, well-made but not overly fussy, are things that you can imagine making for yourself at home. I wouldn’t bother though if I had such a tasteful coffee shop in my neighborhood.

Ian Mankin
109 Regent’s Park Road
London NW1 8UR
020 7722 0997

Natural fabrics for upholstery and other sewing needs. The place to go for classic ticking stripes, floral jacquards, plaids and checks.

manna restaurant
4 Erskine Road
London NW3 3AJ
020 7722 8028

Green food doesn’t always have to be brown. This vegetarian restaurant is where I like to go for after-yoga dinners sometimes.

Melrose & Morgan
42 Gloucester Avenue
London NW1 8JD
020 7722 0011

One of London’s best delicatessens.

The Rosslyn Delicatessen
56 Rosslyn Hill
London NW3 1ND
020 7794 9210

Stocks American groceries and junk food you can’t do without.

Sesame Wholefoods
128 Regent’s Park Road
London NW1 8XL
020 7586 3779

Small but perfectly-formed grocery store.

triyoga
6 Erskine Road
London NW3 3AJ

Airy studios make practising yoga very enjoyable and I especially like classes led by Nadia Narain.

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South London

BRIXTON AND CLAPHAM
Nearest Tubes: Brixton, Clapham North, Clapham Common

Breads Etcetera
127 Clapham High Street
London SW4 7SS
020 7720 3601

Organic bread and Dualit for DIY toast sounds like a winning combination to me.

M. Moen & Sons
24 The Pavement
London SW4 0JA
020 7622 1624

A butcher and more.

Macaron
22 The Pavement
London SW4 0HY
020 7498 2636

I would be happy to plant myself on the bench at the communal table in this French patisserie-boulangerie for hours. Plus point: the uniforms.

Placesandspaces
30 Old Town
London SW4 0LB
020 7498 0998

All the right names at this interior store specialising in mid-century and modern design. I spotted a giant teacup and saucer flowerpot that I would have loved to take home.

BATTERSEA AND WANDSWORTH
Nearest Tubes: None

CAMBERWELL AND DULWICH
Nearest Tubes: None

Horniman Museum
100 London Rd
Forest Hill
Lewisham SE23 3PQ
020 8699 1872

Eccentric collection of cultural artefects and natural history specimens. Only in England!

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And here, we mourn those that have gone…

A. Maitland & Co on Piccadilly

A traditional chemist and pharmacist. They had amazing huge perfume bottles.

Lewis Leathers Showroom on Chilworth Street

Nothing to mourn about this one because the showroom has now officially opened as a shop in Central London. Great news actually.

Maison Martin Margiela on Bruton Place

Because this was prettier than the store they have now.

New Piccadilly on Denman Street

Shop at Maison Bertaux on Greek Street

I followed them from Brewer Street (for Silas) to Greek Street (for A.P.C.) but the owners have since moved on to other ventures.

Shipp’s Tearoom on Park St

Tea room to china shop to gone.

Yauatcha on Berwick St

Cakes in the counter have now been replaced by ceramics. As much as I love teapots and teacups, Yauatcha without its patisserie section just isn’t Yauatcha though the only cake I’ll truly miss is the Shanghai Lily. Their menu overhaul has also seen the black sesame dumplings being dropped.

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