November 10, 2011
Wee Birdy’s London favourites
I did this magazine interview a while ago and it never eventuated, so I thought it shouldn’t go to waste. Enjoy reading about some of my all-time London favourites!
What are your favourite local stores, boutiques or markets for great fashion finds and bargains?
I adore Liberty. It’s quintessentially London and the most stunning shopping experience. I’ve been known to while away entire afternoons on just one floor, and it has the best Christmas shop in town. It’s the first place I drag visitors from overseas, and the buying team have done a damn fine job with the most incredible mix of fashion accessories, stationery, cosmetics, homewares, and crafty things. It’s my one-stop London present-buying shop.
If you’re after cutting-edge, avant-garde designers, head straight to Dover Street Market in Mayfair (which is more department store than market). You can also lose yourself in there for many an hour (and don’t forget to revive yourself at the Rose Bakery on the top floor).
You really can’t go past Britain’s high street fashion chains, and COS, the older, more sophisticated sister of H&M, is my absolute favourite. Think Marni-style cuts and gorgeous fabrics at moderate high-street prices. They do men’s clothes too, as well as a small children’s collection. (Forget about Zara, I want a COS shop in Sydney!)
If you’re up for a day trip outside of London, you’ll be rewarded with serious designer bargains at Bicester Village, which includes outlets by the likes of Alexander McQueen, Burberry and Marni.
Liberty Great Marlborough Street, W1B 5AH. Tel. 7734 1234.
Dover Street Market 17-18 Dover Street, W1S 4LT. Tel. 7518 0680.
COS 222 Regent Street, W1B 5BD. Tel. 7478 0400 (go to the website for all locations).
Bicester Village 50 Pingle Drive, Bicester, Oxfordshire. OX26 6WD. Tel.1869 323 200.
Best local hairdresser for a Saturday night blow-dry or a colour touch-up?
If I’m just after a blow-dry, I go to Headmasters in Mayfair. It’s centrally located and offers a seasonal ‘menu’ of on-trend blow-dries and pretty going-out ‘dos at very reasonable prices (from £24). They’ve never put a hair out of place.
But I also have to mention my London hairdresser, John Vial at Realhair in Chelsea, who does an amazing job with my pretty ordinary long-bob. The man is a cutting genius! Of course, I’m not the first to think this, as he also looks after many a Conde Nast editor, as well as the likes of Gwyneth, Elle and Vidal Sassoon’s wife’s hair (he worked alongside Vidal for years). He comes at a price (£200) but he’s worth every penny.
Headmasters Mayfair 11-12 Hanover Street, W1S 1YQ. Tel. 7408 1000 (go to the website for all locations).
Realhair 6-8 Cale Street, SW3 3QU. Tel. 7589 0877.
Local salon you’d suggest for waxing?
Otylia Roberts Beauty Centre 23 George Street, London, W1U 3QA. Tel. 7486 5537.
The best place to get a facial?
Vaishaly Patel at the Vaishaly Clinic is considered the best facialist in London.
Vaishaly Clinic 51 Paddington Street, London W1U 4HR. Tel. 7224 6088.
Where to go for the best spray tan?
I never do spray tans! But I AM a threading convert (I know it’s got nothing to do with tans, but it’s my must-have beauty-maintenance procedure.) I’d never had it done before I moved to London, and now I get my brows threaded and tinted every six weeks. I like Malika salons (great prices, too), but whatever you do, don’t let them put you in the chair next to the window at the Westfield Shepherd’s Bush salon. I once sat there and attracted a small audience, including a little boy who was mesmerised by my grimacing performance while I was getting my upper lip done. His eyes just about popped out of his wee head.
Malika at Trevor Sorbie, 27 Floral Street, WC2E 9D9. Tel. 0844 445 6901 (go to the website for all locations).
Best affordable mani/pedi?
I love Cowshed near Carnaby Street for immaculate manis and pedis (a mini shape and polish is £17). But a little secret find is the salon at the London College of Beauty Therapy, just down the road from Liberty. Students do all the treatments but they’re supervised by experienced staff. You can get a mani for £10 (unheard of in central London!), as well as a host of other beauty treatments. Inside the actual treatment area, it looks just like any other beauty salon. And they do a really great job. Just leave a bit of time because while the students are super-careful, they can sometimes be a teensy bit slow, and they have to get their supervisors to sign off on each job.
Cowshed 31 Fouberts Place, W1F 7QG. Tel. 7534 0870.
London College of Beauty Salon 47 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7JP. Tel. 7208 1302.
Day spa or massage parlour you’d suggest for relaxing body therapy?
The Agua bathhouse spa at The Sanderson is incredible, but the Elemis flagship Day Spa is an all-time London favourite.
Elemis Day Spa 2-3 Lancashire Court, W1S 1EX. Tel. 0870 410 4210
Agua Spa at The Sanderson 50 Berners Street, W1T 3NG. Tel. 7300 1414.
Your favourite café for a weekend brekkie/brunch?
I love a traditional full English breakfast at Tom’s Deli in Notting Hill. Especially when it’s snowing outside.
Tom’s Deli 226 Westbourne Grove, W11 2CH. Tel. 7221 8818.
Your favourite restaurant?
Andrew Edmunds in Soho is perfect for a romantic dinner – expect flowers on the tables, candles and a modern European menu. It’s by no means the best restaurant in London, but I love its cosy atmosphere. And Lexington Street just might be one of my favourite little streets in London. I love Bocca di Lupo for dinner with friends, where you can share delicious tapas-style Italian dishes. Oh god, the scallops there are melt-in-the-mouth.
Bocca di Lupo 12 Archer Street, W1D 7BB. Tel. 7734 2223.
Andrew Edmunds, 46 Lexington Street, W1F 0LW. Tel. 7437 5708.
Your favourite pub?
I’ve had some rather tasty Sunday roasts at Charles Lamb in Islington, which is a small and cosy pub in Islington. It’s a tad off the beaten track but it’s popular with the locals, which is always a good sign.
Charles Lamb 16 Elia Street, N1 8DE. Tel. 7837 5040.
Where to go for a scenic run/walk?
I love the walk along the canal tow path from Little Venice to Regent’s Park. The colours in autumn and the blossoms in spring are incredible. And it’s fun looking at all the narrowboats moored at the side of the canal, with their own carefully-tended mini gardens.
Otherwise, head to Hampstead Heath’s Parliament Hill or Greenwich for superb London views.
Is there a great yoga or Pilates class to check out?
I’ve been to Triyoga in Primrose Hill a few times. It has a beautiful spacious studio, as well as its own (healthy) café and some of the best yoga teachers in London.
Triyoga 6 Erskine Road, NW3 3AJ. Tel. 7483 3344.
Where to go for alterations/dry cleaning
Designer Alterations is in South London, but they can do fittings at your hotel, work or home. Head to Celebrity Cleaners in Soho for pristine dry cleaning.
Designer Alterations 220A Queenstown Road, SW8 4LP. Tel. 7498 4360.
Celebrity Cleaners 30 Brewer Street, W1F 0SS. Tel. 7437 5324.
What’s the best hotel in terms of location (close to bars, restaurants), great facilities, good rates etc
The Hoxton in London’s East End is brilliantly located near all the best shops, markets, bars, pubs and restaurants in Shoreditch, as well as Old Street tube. Sign up to their newsletter and keep an eye out for their crazy (but rare) £1 room specials.
Alternatively, if you’re staying in London for an extended period, consider renting an apartment. Ivy Lettings has an excellent reputation with really lovely options in fantastic locations.
The Hoxton Hotel 81 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HU. Tel. 020 7550 1000.
Best time to visit London?
I love the UK in early April, when all the blossoms are out, the new spring/summer collections are in store, and Londoners are cheery after the long cold winter. And the field of wild buttercups in Greenwich is pretty special, too.
All photography by Wee Birdy, except photos by Headmasters.
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