Deeply seasonal in her approach, Ruth Rogers – the owner of this Thames-side Italian – prioritises ingredients above all else. Annual olive oil tastings in Tuscany come under chefs’ perks, and while the bill may pack a punch, it’s a credit to this ethos that a visit is always worth it. Go big on the antipasti, followed by primi pasta (tagliarini with white pork ragù, perhaps), and you could skip a secondi altogether. No booking? Try The River Café Café next door, which holds space for walk-ins.

When the news dropped that our favourite Italian spot in London was opening it's little The River Café Café, well we could hardly contain our excitement. Walk-in, drop by and fill your plates and bellies with some fresh rotolo or slow-roasted violetta aubergines.

The boutique store – a much smaller, more curated version of Harrods down the road – has always been known for its exceptional stylists. The beauty department on the ground floor is a world of its own, with a stellar cast of visiting practitioners. But the appointment of Kate Phelan (formerly of Vogue) as creative director sees Harvey Nichols enter a new era; one where the beauty and fashion align more clearly and the fifth-floor restaurant hosts cool restaurant pop-ups including Trullo and Homeslice.

Spread across the grounds of a large Jacobean mansion hidden in the woods, Holland Park is among the most surprising and curious green spaces in London. It has one of the best playgrounds in the city, a Japanese-style Kyoto garden that’s home to enormous koi carp and peacocks that squawk around the grounds. Those without a ticket to the summer opera festival should take a bottle of wine and sit outside as the sun goes down. Those visiting in the daytime should pair with a trip to the Design Museum.