Hi I’m Amy from Simple Style Notebook. I’m so happy to be guest posting on Armoire, Pegs and Casserole from my home in Sheffield, UK. I live in a leafy suburb on the edge of an old industrial city in the North of England surrounded by rolling hills and picturesque farmland, but I used to live a very different life.
For 10 years I lived in London working as a fashion editor for women’s magazines. Days were spent compiling and art directing fashion and shopping pages full of the latest designs and accessories, it was non-stop, but my favourite time was the weekends when my now-husband and I would go out exploring the city streets. Neither of us were born in London, so the novelty of the quirky, characterful back streets never tired.
Here are just a few of my favourite hidden gems that I discovered over the years if you’re planning a visit.
Kensal Rise
Way off the usual tourist trail is my favourite florists in London. Scarlet and Violet is tucked away in Kensal Rise on Chamberlayne Road but if you love flowers it is worth the tube ride out of town. Vic Brotherson’s shop is overflowing with the heady scent of roses, hydrangeas, my favourite ranunculi and any number of seasonal flowers you can think of arranged in vintage vases, enamel jugs and pretty glass jars. If you can’t make it all the way to London her beautiful book is worth a read, Vintage Flowers Published by Kyle Cathie Ltd.
Clarendon Cross
A 20 minute walk from Notting Hill is the pretty corner of Clarendon Cross. It feels like you’ve stepped into a village a million miles from the bustle of London, here are 2 of my favourites little shops to discover, Summerill and Bishop and The Cross.
Summerill is layed out as if for an interiors magazine shoot with the most beautiful selection of French rustic kitchen accessories and utensils including table linens, glass jars and pretty kitchen ephemera you never knew you needed in your home! The prices are quite steep [especially like Mel if you’re used to sourcing your rustic french kitchenalia in an authentic rustic french market!], but the edit is impeccable.
The Cross is a tiny boutique full of character, colour and fun. Children’s toys and gifts jostle for space with gorgeous fashionable clothes and accessories. In my head, if I had a shop, this is how it would look!
Westbourne Grove and Ladbroke Grove
Not far from the bustling streets of Portobello Market and Notting Hill is the much quieter Westbourne Grove, here you’ll find plenty of stylish boutiques. It’s also a great place to sit for a coffee and people watch from one of the cool cafés and restaurants like 202, Nicole Fahri’s café, Bill Granger’s new restaurant Granger and Co., or Daylesford Organic Farmshop and Café.
Be sure to explore the side streets as there are some brilliant boutiques along Chepstow Crescent and Ledbury Road including Matches for exclusive designer fashion and children’s shops like Caramel Baby and Child and I Love Gorgeous.
Of course if your budget won’t stretch to designer fashion, don’t despair, one of the best kept secrets is the charity and second hand shops to be found in the most fashionable areas of London – imagine the booty that is discarded by this stylish crowd! Oxfam can be found on Westbourne Grove and round the corner on Chepstow Crescent is the Farah children’s charity shop. Other great areas for charity or second hand shopping are Marylebone High Street and Cheval Place in Knightsbridge.
Not far from Westbourne Grove and Notting Hill is Ladbroke Road where you can find the beautiful antique and salvage shop Jensen and Ballantine, this has an inspiring selection of architectural salvage and pretty vintage finds from all over Europe, some of my favourite pieces are the french shop windows with delicate lettering.
My other favourite places to explore in London are Borough Market by London Bridge Station, for the best selection of fresh food and coffee shops in London, and Columbia Road flower market at the weekends. The vibrant market is a fun Sunday morning haunt if you don’t mind crowds, but equally worth the visit are the bijou artists shops along the road [check for opening times – usually just weekends], among my favourite are Rob Ryan’s shop and Sharon Elphick.
London is the perfect place to get lost exploring the back streets a stone’s throw away from the usual tourist hang-outs. Some of my favourite memories are discovering an old pub off the trail and sitting for a couple of hours.
Where will you discover on your visit?
For more inspiring ideas of where to visit in London visit: http://www.hipshops.com/london
Mel’s note: You can follow Amy at her two gorgeous blogs: Simple Style Notebook and Karma and Cupcakes.
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I love the photos you post on your blog and also the design of your blog! It’s very cool and industrial. I am very glad to have found you through BYW Bootcamp!!
Hi Kaho. Thanks so much for the lovely feedback. These lovely photos were taken by Amy who guest posted, you should go check her out:) Mel
oh this makes me miss London so much!!! its been a while – I need to get back for a long visit.
Gorgeous visual tour…thanks for sharing some lovely retail spaces and London streets…
Thanks Anastasia! I’m the same, it’s been so long since I’ve been there… Mel x
Some of my favourite shops – I love Caramel and baby’s clothes for my kids – classic with a contemporary twist and so comfortable. As for I love gorgeous – they have such stunning dresses. Thanks for reminding me, got to visit :) Lovely photos.
Hi Anna, Catherine & Geraldine, thanks for your visit and comments and a huge thank you to Amy for doing such a wonderful guest post, I can’t wait to visit London and discover these shops, I wish I knew you when I was living in London Amy! Mel x
Anna and Catherine – thanks for the lovely messages! I miss London but fortunate for me it’s just a train-ride away x And thanks Mel for letting me have a little bit of space on your beautiful blog – much appreciated x
Hi Amy, Thank you for this tour of your London must visits, every store looks beautiful. It made me yearn to jump on a plane to London from Australia. I’ll be bookmarking this post for when I visit London next!
What a truly wonderful post both of you. Is this is going to be a regular column? It could be :-) I want to go and explore all these little places Amy, thank you for bringing them to my attention. I really need to get out and discover more of what is on my doorstep! Very enjoyable read. Thank you xx