Travelogue

London, England

Shopping, my picks | Sustenance | Where to sleep

“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life,” goes the famous quote by one of the British capitol’s most famous historical residents, Samuel Johnson. Less well known are his next words:

For there is in London all that life can afford.

Indeed. If there is an experience or object that money can buy, more than likely it can be found in London – one of the world’s oldest and most vibrant centres of culture and commerce. Whether it’s a pet parrot from Harrods or a pair of 80s hipster shades from a vintage shop in Brick Lane, you will find it in London, a city as vast and sprawling as it is populous (over 7.5 million at last count).

There are wonderful finds from Peckham to Picadilly, but London’s true consumer mecca is, of course, the vibrant and ever-crowded Oxford Street, where serious bargain-and-luxury hunters the world over come every year to be jostled by the crowds and captivated by the dazzling multi-story window displays.

Shopping, my picks:

Black Riedel Amadeo decanter price: £375 Take the stuffy out of being an oenophile with this clean, sensual decanter from the Wonder Room at Selfridges. www.selfridges.com
Frerk Muller tea towels price: £19.50 for two No anglophile’s kitchen is complete without a set of these whimsical tea towels from Shelf on Cheshire St. www.helpyourshelf.co.uk/ 41-frerk-tea-towels.html
Large Nancy bag by Smythson price: £995 Samantha Cameron, wife of Prime Minister David Cameron, named this bag after her oldest daughter shortly after becoming Creative Director of the venerable London label. www.smythson.com

Sustenace

Yauatcha is a sleek modern tea house located on a cobbled lane in Soho. Their splashy cocktails and contemporary take on the classic Dim Sum experience have fashionable Londoners lining up for hours. They also make traditional French macaroons in a rainbow of non-traditional colours and flavours.

Where to sleep

Dean Street Townhouse
Recently completed after years of renovation, this four story Georgian townhouse located in the fillet of Soho is the latest addition to the exclusive Soho House group. The clubby vintage design gives the place a homey guest house feel and the prices aren’t bad for London either. Rooms from £95

Dean Street Townhouse London
69 - 71 Dean Street
London W1D 3SE United Kingdom
+44 207 434 1775