Mad About The City

THE FASHION WONDERLAND

Naturally, I could fill a whole address book with favourite fashion-shopping destinations, but I’ve settled on Mouki Mou in Chiltern Street as my style nirvana. It’s owned and curated by Maria Lemos (who named the store after her daughter), and filled with clothing, accessories and lifestyle buys that are all effortlessly chic without being showy-offy. Maria has the best and most understated taste; everything I’ve bought from Mouki Mou has lasted forever (both physically and stylistically). Put simply, this is a jewel-box of a shop.

THE GO-TO GALLERY

Tobias Vernon’s galleries will always hold a special place in my heart. We launched Collagerie’s online Art Shop at his boutique show space in Holland park, and now Vernon has opened a big-sister gallery to the intimate original. Set within a huge townhouse in the heart of Westminster, the new flagship 8 Holland Street is simply magnificent – a gallery and design studio offering unparalled creative inspiration. I adore Tobias’s eye for mixing mid-century modern works with contemporary pieces, while his use of colour and the artistic combinations he curates give me endless ideas, encouraging me to look at life through a different lens.

THE PICTURE PALACE

What could be more indulgent than sneaking off on a soggy afternoon to lose yourself in movieland? TV has come on in leaps and bounds, but it can’t compete with the big screen – be it a mighty IMAX cinema or a luxe little picture house – and although I’m spoilt for choice locally, I always return to The Gate Picturehouse in Notting Hill. It may look a little weary on the outside, but inside it boasts comfy chairs, a proper old-school velvet curtain and wonderful “wedding-cake” plaster ceilings – all that and fabulous film choices, too. This cinema has fed my imagination for as long as I can remember, and I’ll be catching up with Ms Jones there very soon.

THE MAGICAL MARKETPLACE

Portobello Market on Friday mornings is my happy place: the mix of vintage clothes and bric-a-brac never fails to get my heart racing. There is always treasure to be found amongst that tat, especially towards the Golborne Road end of the market, and I never come away empty handed. There is one stall in particular where I have unearthed most of my favourite ceramics over the years, while Caroline’s pre-loved clothing stall is always beautifully put together and brimming with vintage gems.

THE REVERED RESTAURANT

It’s just over 40 years since Jeremy King opened the iconic eatery, Le Caprice on Mayfair’s Arlington Street – the venue that made his name. Now he’s returned his roots, opening Arlington on the original Caprice site, and with the original maitre ’d Jesus Adorno back in situ. Like Adorno, I’d follow Jeremy anywhere. Many of my most treasured memories have been made in his restaurants – from taking my mother to Le Caprice as I climbed the career ladder at Vogue, to treating myself to a plate of pure pleasure at Arlington today. The staff always make you feel like the most special guest, the vibe is second to none… and I haven’t even started on the food (modern European classics, served from brunch to dinnertime). Suffice to say, like everything Jeremy does, it’s the best.
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THE CHIC CHAUFFEURS

While I love to meander through our capital city on foot, there are times when I need to hit the road – be it to catch a flight, whizz from meeting to meeting or arrive in style at a smart evening event. On those occasions, I rely on the incredibly chic service offered by Blacklane. Utterly reliable, irresistibly smart and always an absolute treat, travelling in a Blacklane car makes me feel thoroughly glamorous – which is why I use their brilliant chauffeur service during London Fashion Week. Making it across town during this twice-yearly magical mystery tour is no mean feat. But Blacklane delivers me to even the most obscure show venues on time, ensuring no one nabs my seat!

THE MUSICAL MUST-VISIT

Nothing has the happy-making potential of great music, so I couldn’t share my secret London without including Bush Hall. This brilliant live-music venue sits in the heart of West London, making it a local haunt for me and the venue for many a memorable night – I celebrated my 50th birthday party there and we partied to the sound of the Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain playing their hearts out. Unique and just the right size for an intimate gig, this is such a cool and quirky place – the icing-cake plasterwork and sparkling chandeliers sitting in lavish contrast wild live music. My must-hear? Folk and bluegrass band Police Dog Hogan always get me up on my feet.

THE READER’S RETREAT

I am an avid bibliophile and I love to discover new authors, so you’ll often find me whiling away the hours in Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street (there are other outlets scattered across the capital, but this one is my go-to). The interior is wonderfully elegant, with the air of an old-school library, and the variety of books on offer is unsurpassed. Daunts is the best place to browse – no one hurries you along (bliss! And such a rarity these days) so I take my time and always ask the knowledgeable staff for their recommendations.

THE COCKTAIL CLASSIC

For sheer style and old-school chic The Fumoir at Claridges is unsurpassed. Discreetly tucked away within the landmark London hotel, it’s been the go-to for those in the know since 1929, and today its art deco interior and charming, black-tie-clad mixologists will still whisk you into a wonderland of silver-screen glamour and timeless luxury.

THE SPOT FOR A STROLL

Holland Park has always held a special place in my heart, and its Kyoto Garden offers the perfect inner-city sanctuary. I visited often as a child; later on I took my sons there, and now I enjoy a gentle stroll at the weekends. The Japanese garden was a gift to London from the city of Kyoto, and if you go in May when all the blossom is out, it’s so beautiful, you could almost be in Japan itself. Enchanting, spiritual and utterly spirit-lifting.

THE SWEET STOP-OFF

Chef Yotam Ottolenghi is something of a guru in foodie circles and he co-owns seven restaurants in London, but the little neighbourhood deli and cake shop in Westbourne Grove is the original and will always be my favourite. It’s full to the brim with technicolour salads and mouthwatering grilled mediterranean dishes… and then there are the cakes! I have a very sweet tooth so I can quite happily work my way through the entire pastry and baked selection, but if I really had to choose, then the elderflower and gooseberry drizzle cake is sensational!

THE SELF-CARE SPACE

If ever I’m feeling run-down, weary and need of a touch of a little TLC, I head to Skin Matters in Notting Hill. Behind the doors of its understated, unflashy exterior lies a wellbeing oasis. Founded by facialist Joanne Evans – a woman with truly magic fingers – I emerge feeling revived and replenished. This is more than a flashy beauty spot; it’s a holistic haven where you’ll be nurtured inside and out. True balm to the soul.