London
in England

Spread across four floors in the centre of London town is the Alfies Antique Market. It is all too easy to whittle away the hours browsing the antique jewellery, furniture, fine art, art-deco collectables, furniture, ceramics, glass and so much more. Let the treasure hunt commence!

If you're looking for some alterations and adjustments to be made on what could be that perfect item of clothing, head to Artesian Tailoring where Abdul and his team work their magic. 

Blue Mountain School is very much an interdisciplinary space. Perhaps at first glance almost impossible to narrow down what exactly this six floor, vast silver block designed by architects Christie Fels and James Brown is. Truth is, it's a little bit of everything. Find great exhibitions, fashion and design stores, and plenty of spots for a delicious lunch or dinner. 

Anyone who loves to cook will fall head over heels for this wonderful kitchen shop. They've got just about everything you could need or want when it comes to the stove, oven, pantry or fridge. Check out their Islington shop or head to the shop and cooking school at their Hampstead location. 

Founded in 1850 by Charles Lidgate, it's safe to say this butcher shop is as steeped in history as it gets. Committed to providing only the finest, ethically-sourced, wholly organic meats, expect only the best at this iconic spot. One tip: try a pie.

This simple restaurant is one of the most wonderful places in town for crispy roast duck and authentic dim sum. It doesn’t take bookings, so it’s best to arrive before the queue forms – an hour’s wait isn’t unusual at 1pm – for the handmade soup dumplings and prawn-filled tofu-skin rolls. 

Don't Tell Dad is a neighbourhood haunt that seems to have perfected the art of pretty much everything. Bakery by day, open kitchen and bar by night, this sibling-led venture is a top-notch spot. The artichoke, sage and lancashire pain suisse rivals the buttery, crispy croissants found only in France, though it's the dinner menu that has us tantalised. 

Rei Kawakubo, the Japanese designer behind Comme des Garçons, is responsible for this genre-defining concept store. Now in a Haymarket spot three times the size of the Dover Street original, it’s a jaw-dropping playground for style lovers, with eccentric spaces dreamt up by the mix of designers displaying here – from Simone Rocha to Salomon. The Rose Bakery, tucked away on the top floor, is an in-the-know spot for a piece of cake inside this chaotic, communal home of free-range fashion.

Friends Angelina Volk and Leopold Thun launched this gallery a week after they handed in their university dissertations in 2016. Its opening show was a functioning sauna by Lithuanian artist Augustus Serapinas – who went on to become the youngest ever exhibitor at the Venice Biennale. Emalin now has two Shoreditch outposts (inside a former locksmith shop near Bethnal Green and, since 2024, in the 18th-century Clerk’s House); both are a must-visit on an east London art trail.

A shape-shifting fantasy of a gallery that has become a pioneering catapult for early-career artists. Housed in a former sandwich shop, the all- white space helps bring a young, unconventional and diverse creative scene to the public. For those even vaguely interested in art, Ginny on Frederick is worth a look. And admission to the gallery is free.

Since 1983 Hafez has been doling out delicious dishes to the neighbourhood of Notting Hill. Cosy, casual, and ever-so welcoming, this is a great spot for a low-key dinner. 

Find them in Athens, and Londoners rejoice as Hot Wheels has made it to the artistic centre of London! Within one of Bloomsbury's old town houses find exceptional curations of contemporary works from a gallery that is paving the way. 

Run, don't walk to Layla Bakery. From their seasonal specials - including a blood orange pistachio danish, or an earl grey meyer lemon - to the classics, Layla Bakery is the neighborhood spot of Ladbroke Grove. Sit on the patio on a sunny day and watch the people go by. 

Fabrics, haberdashery, trimmings, and wool: if there's only one spot to go it has to be MacCulloch & Wallis. Sourcing fabrics since 1902 you're guaranteed to find all the yarn and tools you could ever possibly need. 

Med Salleh London has built up its reputation on its signature 'Rare Beef Pho'. Left to simmer for over 18 hours, the beef bone marrow broth is as delicious as comfort food gets. Veggies don't fret; there's also a tofu, vegetable filled, and mushroom infused Pho for you! With some street grilled plates on the side; it's a recipe for the perfect evening. 

Stuart Shave's iconic gallery, Modern Art, is split across three locations, two of which are in London, the other in Paris. Exhibiting a wide range of artists and practices, we are always intrigued in what the next exhibition will be. 

If you want the vision of Hugh Grant strolling through the market stalls, greeting all of the locals, picking up his mid-morning caffeine fix to become a reality, head to Notting Hill Farmers' Market. Find everything from wild mushrooms, fresh pastas, chutneys, cheeses, local honey, bouquets to fresh fruit and veg.

Though you're never too far away from the seaside, a dinner at Orasay makes it feel a whole lot closer than usual in the bustling streets of Notting Hill. Offering the likes of wood-grilled skate, a fried cod bun, baked rice with red mullet and cockles, the food is a delicious ode to the Scottish island it's named after. 

Perilla's interiors have us hooked, but it's not until we have the first mouthful of the panisse with roast garlic yogurt and salsa verde that we truly understand why this spot in Newington Green has become the neighbourhood buzz. Expect a warm welcome, a fabulously cool vibe, great food and some stellar wines.

Phillida Reid exhibits interdisciplinary works (from canvas, photography, to video) which represent 13 international artists. If you're looking for a creative space which is continually testing and experimenting with boundaries, then this is the spot for you. 

After Christie’s and Sotheby’s, Phillips is the London auction house to know – and the only one with an exclusive focus on the contemporary field. The soaring space on Berkeley Square is fantastic, and leading the charge in the photography lots are Diane Arbus’s Identical Twins and Andreas Gursky’s eerie landscapes.

Sitting pretty in the middle of Hyde Park, the Serpentine is an absolute must for contemporary art lovers no matter what’s on the agenda at the moment. Check out the yearly Pavilion designed by the most famous architects in the world. If you can’t swing a ticket to their wild & wonderful Summer Party, the free gallery entrance ticket is sure to soothe the pain. 

Walk by for a spontaneous lunch, or head for a weekend rendezvous with friends and family; Sông Quê Café always has a buzz. Offering some of the finest vietnamese cuisine one can find in the streets of Shoreditch, this place has us hooked.