London
in England

Find this taverna-style restaurant on a residential road east of Rye Lane. Albanian owner John Gionleka cooks padrón peppers, harissa chicken thighs and pork skewers on the charcoal grill. And while the service can be hit and miss, the flavours are worth it. The place is particularly lovely on a balmy evening if you can nab a table on the deck outside. There’s a reason the feta-stuffed courgette fritters don’t leave the menu: order a portion each.

A combination of the creativity of interior designer Ben Pentreath and decorative artist Bridie Hall makes for one of the loveliest shops in London. Everything from Hall’s alphabet pen pots to the waste-paper bins are exquisite – designed to smarten up any living space. It’s genuinely difficult to leave without a gift for yourself, or someone else.

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.

Every south London local will have a soft spot for this yellow-fronted Persian deli selling trays of baklava and sour fruit pastes. Owner Sally Butcher discovered a love of Iranian food from her husband Jamshid Gollshan Ebrahimi, and her recipe books line the shelves. There’s also a little vegetarian café (which Sally claims happened by accident) dishing up date-scrambled eggs and Middle Eastern khoresht stews. A hard-working community-minded delight.

Petersham Nurseries Cafe is an idyllic spot tucked within the main restaurant at the Nurseries. After brunch, go for a stroll in nearby Richmond Park. Ah, England!

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.

Husband-and-wife design duo Russell Pinch and Oona Bannon used their home as a studio, until one morning they were woken by a Norwegian couple who had travelled straight from the airport wanting to buy practically everything in the house. These days they have a showroom on Ebury Street, and there’s a simple elegance to everything in it thanks to the couple’s fierce dedication to craft and refinement. The quiet luxury of the furniture world.

Soho knows no bounds when it comes to exhibition spaces. Pipeline is no exception. It's innovative, it's broadening the landscape of art and on top of that, it's exhibiting some jolly good curations. 

Wild name. Wildy delicious options. Scoop up British artisan cheese, pickles & chutneys and breads & biscuits.

Set discreetly under two railway arches is this boldly designed wine clubhouse. Diners gather around one long table facing the kitchen to watch Seb Myers, formerly of Clapton wine bar P. Franco, plating his French-flavoured dishes. There’s a glass of wine suggested for every course and it’s a great spot to discover low-intervention bottles.

Pockets is a petite place with a magnetic force. Many locals and food enthusiasts agree that Pockets has London’s best falafel pita, which we encourage you to try! This plant-based gem offers unparalleled street food and a queue that is definitely worth the wait. It is a quick and easy yet exceptional lunch option if you find yourself in Hackney. 

Pophams was the first of its kind when it opened its original outpost in Islington in 2017. It pushes the boundaries of pastry – the Marmite swirl (with Schlossberger cheese, spring onion and sesame seeds) is a revelation. And in the evening its warehouse-style London Fields restaurant is full of diners sharing plates of rich pumpkin cappelletti and ox-cheek cannelloni. The range of homewares is also charming.

Pophams Home blends craft, quality, and a love for British design in its curated collection of homewares. Each piece – whether it’s a hand-carved butter dish, a beeswax bread bag, or a walnut-handled kitchen knife – is a celebration of independent makers. Beyond stylish kitchen essentials, you’ll find Cornish-made pasta, artisanal hot sauces, and locally sourced honeys for the pantry. A spotlight on craftsmanship, it also offers a modern twist on timeless design for those who appreciate the beauty of well-made things.

By now we all know and love the Portobello Road Market. It's countless appearances in movies (Hello Notting Hill!) has led it to be one of the most popular vintage and antique markets in London. Stroll on down and shop away. 

This is the original London restaurant from Jeremie Cometto-Lingenheim and David Gingell (also behind Jolene and Westerns Laundry). The converted car garage is a Canonbury institution, but the success of the group’s most recent openings has only made it even more of a destination. A dreamy local celebration of British ingredients with a Michelin Bib Gourmand.

Although it’s largely a flat city, London does have a handful of vantage points with sweeping views: Frank’s famous car park café in Peckham looking north to the City, and from Alexandra Palace looking south. But the slope of Primrose Hill acts as a natural amphitheatre with views across Westminster towards the river. On a summer evening there are few nicer places to head with a picnic blanket and a bottle of wine. 

Hidden behind the lively weekday market stalls on Leather Lane, Prufrock is a destination for Londoners who take their coffee seriously. Those in the know duck behind bubbling cauldrons of curry, swerving nervous men browsing diamonds in the windows of Hatton Garden’s jewellers, to grab a flat white en route to work. There’s also space to settle in with a laptop and an excellent almond croissant. A genuinely insider London coffee spot.

It may be low impact but this rhythm-based cycling workout is totally high intensity. We love the buzzing energy and fun vibes as much as the sleek interiors. It's pay-as-you-go, so it's perfect for drop-ins.

Get ready to get psyched and London’s very best spinning studio. With locations all around London – we’re partial to Shoreditch or Oxford Street – the team at Psycle gets your heart rate up no matter where you are. Interested in chilling out as well as getting amped up? They also have yoga and barre. 

Pyra is the latest addition to the charming Lonsdale Road near Queen’s Park. This Greek and Spanish fusion restaurant brings together the best of both worlds (chorizo with tzatziki—hello!) with incredible fish, meat and vegetarian dishes. It truly feels like a love letter to the Mediterranean. Small, intimate, and serving excellent food, it’s the perfect spot for a great evening. Plus, it also offers a private hire event space—perfect for your next birthday bash!

For something a little more insider than gloobles favourite Quality Chop House, head a few doors down to its sibling bottle shop for steak tartare topped with shoestring fries and plates of handmade cavatelli with Ventricina sausage. The set lunch menu is a steal so book ahead for a midday table.

Extroverted chef patron Jeremy Lee’s menu of oysters with shallot vinegar and suet-crust pies served with mash is very British. His (fairly mini) signature smoked eel and horseradish sandwich is a must-order at lunchtime when light streams through the Art Deco stained-glass windows. But a table in the members’ club dining room upstairs is the ultimate invite, and where guests will find Jeremy doing the rounds.

Another one to add to the list of Soho House's incredibly cosy stays. Redchurch Townhouse is not only in a prime location, that's before even mentioning Cecconi's just downstairs, but it also oozes with comfort and luxury.