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The perfect weekend in London with Faithfull Girl Lucy Williams
For a fancy lunch or a celebratory dinner, I love Mount Street Restaurant in the heart of Mayfair. The food is as good as the beautiful marble terrazzo floor (order the lobster pie and thank me later) and it's discreet enough to be solely for chic Londoner's in the know and excellent people watching for the rest of us. Make an afternoon of it and pop by Mount Street Printers for beautiful stationery, Matches on Carlos Place for some retail therapy and finish by strolling down Bruton street in the direction of The Royal Academy for an exhibition.
Another favourite restaurant is The River Cafe - especially lovely if you can nab a table outside on a warm summer's evening (yes we do have those in London!). This place has become a bit of an institution in London and deservedly-so. The Italian-inspired food and perfect service never fails to impress.
I can't walk past a Daunt Books without going in. My favourite book shop in London (the best one is on Marylebone High Street) never fails to draw me in for a browse. It's not only piles of beststellers either; upstairs there are rare editions, coffee table books to keep forever and everyone who works there knows their stuff in terms of books too. Elsewhere in London, I love John D Sandoe in Chelsea and Lutyen and Rubenstein in Notting Hill for more independent book browsing.
My love for Greece goes as far as food back home too. Zephyr in Notting Hill is one of my favourite spots for modern Greek food plus it's fun and vibey with cool interiors and excellent glassware. There's also a cocktail bar downstairs to carry on the night if you've paid the bill but can't quite drag yourself home. I also love Gold just over the road for small plates and cocktails. There's so many great restaurants in Notting Hill now, you could easily spend a week just eating here and not get bored. Orasay, Strakers and Dorian are all favourite spots for a Saturday night dinner with friends and Tonkotsu ramen is mine and my husband's ultimate comfort food on a cold and rainy Sunday.
Paris gets all the credit for great pastries but I like to think we have a few great spots that could really rival them. Will I ever be allowed into Paris again after this statement? Possibly not but I'm willing to risk it. If I'm in East London, I make a beeline for Jolene and Pophams, both of which do great food and natural wine if you're after more than just a croissant. In West London, it's Layla or Kuro eatery that I make a beeline for. Both of which do great coffee too.
One of the things I love the most about living in London is the huge green spaces we have amidst the hustle and bustle. I'm biased but my favourite places to get my fill of nature and fresh air are in West London. I'd recommend walking from Hammersmith bridge to the 18th century Chsiwick House. You'll feel like you're in a Jane Austen novel once you get there and get to ogle some amazing houses on Chiswick Mall on your way. Stop by my favourite cafe and regular haunt The Elderpress for a coffee or breakfast on your way. Their 'morning buns' would definitely be part of my final ever meal menu. If we want to escape even further, we head to Richmond Park for lunch at Petersham Nurseries and a long walk looking out for the resident deer in the woods.
If I'm in need of some TLC, my favourite facial treatment is a buccal massage at Taryn Warren. If you hold any tension in your jaw or just want a really sculpting facial, this is the absolute best. I also love Bamford treatments and products and they have an outpost in London at The Berkeley hotel. We spent our wedding night here and had the most incredible massage the following morning that I still dream about! If I wanted to treat myself or someone else, this would be my go-to.
You can't come to London and not go to a great pub. You can't go wrong with The Cow or The Cock and Bottle not far from the Portobello Road for a cosy pint but The Draper's Arms in Islington, The Marksman in Hackney and The Grazing Goat in Marylebone win when it comes to the ultimate pub roast.