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As a vegetarian it might seem quite ironic that this morning I went down to Smithfield Meat Market to see the legendary Christmas Eve Auction. However as a City of London Tour Guide I had heard about the amazing atmosphere and I was curious to check this out for myself.
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In my endeavours to enjoy some of the best scones in London, this week I was delighted to visit Cakehole Cafe, the vintage style tearoom, on Columbia Road. The only dilema was deciding what to eat!
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Beyond Fabrics
One of the most charming things to do in London on a Sunday morning is to visit Columbia Road Flower Market, selling all things horticultural from cut flowers, bedding plants to garden accessories. This very popular market is open from 8am to about 3pm and attracts both locals and those in the know who desend on it and its adjacent quirky shops. However I’d recommend visiting on a Saturday, when the crowds can be avoided while many of the delightful shops and cafes are still open.
Beyond Fabrics are just one of the delightful shops, stocking vintage inspired fabrics and offering craft workshops and courses.
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Destination Christmas is announced from above the main entrance by the Queen of Time
When Harry Gordon Selfridge opened his store on Oxford Street in 1909 his innovative marketing strategies created the ultimate shopping experience combining glamour, education, fun and entertainment. Fast forwarding over one hundred years and Selfridges Christmas window displays are still charming its customers.
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Burlington Arcade from the Burlington Gardens entrance - Note on the right hand side the Beadle wearing a top hat
One of the pleasures of visiting London is constantly discovering new unexpected things. This week Julie Chandler and I met up to visit the Richard Rogers Inside Out exhibition at the Royal Academy. We were directed at the ticket desk to walk through Burlington Arcade to get to the exhibition hall. As we're both Westminster Guides we're very familar with the Arcade but we were delighted to discover that a new carpet been fitted with a rather unique and interesting design.
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The charming entrance
Twinings tea shop is tucked away on the Strand directly opposite the imposing Royal Courts of Justice. The shop frontage is only as wide as its doorway and reputedly the smallest shop front in London. Above the door are statues of a golden lion and two Chinamen, a reminder of the origins of tea.