London, or Londinium as I prefer to call it, is many things, and lots of them are well-advertised in the many guides available but perhaps you are looking for a slightly lesser known side of London, where intimacy takes center stage. Throw in a couple of must-visits and you will perhaps find the perfect balance on your next trip.

Dalla

Scrumptious Italian home cooking by Mitchell Damota and Gianmarco & Gennaro Leone. I thoroughly recommend the pumpkin caramelle for Autumn followed by the panna cotta with balsamic glaze. Heaven!

Sir John Soane Museum

This is the extraordinary house and museum of the British architect Sir John Soane (1753-1837). The Museum has been kept as it was at the time of his death in 1837. It displays his collection of antiquities, furniture, sculptures, architectural models, paintings – including work by Hogarth, Turner and Canaletto – and over 30,000 architectural drawings.

I think it’s best not to say more about this place: immerse yourself in it as there are surprises on every corner. Don’t skip the kitchen! 

Leila’s Cafe and Shop

An icon of a place that brings together community with a menu that changes daily and the best home-cooked meals of entirely organic produce. Come early, or sit outside and enjoy the leafy trees on Boundary Estate and the community coming in Leila’s shop.

St John’s

All of the locations tickle my fancy, but especially Bread and Wine in which you can, not surprisingly, buy great quality wine and your bread for lunch. I love the twice baked chocolate cake and I never compromise madeleines by the dozen to take away. Lovely considered service too.

Dover Street Market

Find Luncheon magazine, Griegst and Simone Rocha in this amazing 4 floor building with art installations as well as the formidable Rose Bakery where the cake glazing is pink to match their sublime cookbook which prompts Nils, my son, to get his apron on every Sunday. 

Liberty of London

The Mothership in impressive Tudor Revival style, holds all the Tana Lawn you need for making your house a home. Also showcases a great Astier de Villatte and John Derian collection as well as exquisite bodywash and deodorant by To My Ships, inspired by Homer’s Iliad.

Cafe Cecilia

Created by talented chef Max Rocha, brother of Simone, this pearl shines brightly on the Hackney Riviera celebrating a feel-good kitchen where the fun begins at Irish Guinness bread.

The Yellow Bittern

Owners Oisin Davies, Lady Frances Armstrong-Jones and Hugh Corcoran serve up home cooked triumphs, sell used books in the basement and keep your wine topped up for the afternoon. Reserve by phone or postcard, bring cash.

Victoria and Albert

Architecturally admirable, the V & A hosts a stunning and vast collection of art and design objects. The Green Room and the courtyard at the South Kensington location bring out a serenity in me which is hard to explain in words. The newly opened David Bowie Centre in East now serves as a permanent home for his work and life and I cannot wait to see it.

Thank you for reading, have fun in London!