My London: Five Places Special To Me

London isn’t just a great city to live in. It’s a great city. Full stop. I always swell with pride when people from all over the world tell me it is one of their favourite cities. I know it isn’t for all but I think it has something for almost everyone.

I moved to the capital almost eleven years ago but sometime feel like I’ve barely scratched its surface. There are always new bar and restaurants to discover, neighbourhoods to explore and a rich history to learn. London can be busy, noisy and not always easy to traverse with a buggy but it’s my city and I love it. Here are some of the places in the city that hold a special significance to me. This is by no means an exhaustive list but some of my top picks and why they are important to me.

Westminster

It is hard not to love this part of London: so many iconic buildings in the space of a few square metres. I often work from our Westminster office and relish being in the area when I do. My walk from the station would take me across Westminster bridge where I would gaze at the London Eye standing on the banks of the Thames.

Then looking up, I can view the iconic London symbol, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. A short walk and you pass Westminster Abbey, the scene of so many Royal occasions. It isn’t a bad route to work, is it? Walking past the political centre of England certainly makes me feel alive and a part of the city buzz. Parliament Square usually has some interesting protests going on too.

Clapham

After university, the lure of London and its abundance of jobs and opportunities meant many of my friends congregated in London, or more specifically, Clapham. The suburb in south-west London was popular with graduates at the time (it probably still is). Although I lived in neighbouring Putney, I spent a lot of time with friends in Clapham and my now-husband. He shared a house with mutual friends and they threw the most epic house parties. We were all in our mid-20s, young, no kids and enjoying life. It was a great time.

There are several parts to Clapham: the old town, south Clapham and Clapham Common which stretches across the borough with its 220 acres of land. In the summer, music festivals like South West Four are held there. Clapham is a bustling area with plenty of restaurants and bars as well as the cheesy club Infernos which I somehow managed to avoid. I remember going to Clapham Picturehouse and being amazed you could enjoy a bottle wine while you watched a film. I saw the first Sex in the City film there.

Islington

My husband and I lived in Islington in north London for three years, our first house together. Slap bang on the main drag of Upper Street, the flat was tiny and noisy but the location so vibrant. Restaurants, bars, gastropubs and boutique shops were on our doorstep while we were just a few tube stops away from central London.

At the weekend, we’d sometimes see football fans head to Arsenal’s Emirates stadium while Highbury Park was the nearby green space to get some quiet. A walk or jog along Regents Canal was a welcome sight away from the busy street above. For shopping Camden Passage is packed with antiques and vintage goods.

Islington has a lot of good, affordable restaurants too. We went out, a lot. For Turkish we’d go to Gallipoli, for French, Le Mercury and Ottolenghi’s deli was always a treat. Fredericks is also one of my top restaurants if you are looking for something high end. For culture there was the Almeida theatre, Union Chapel for music as well as a few pub theatres and comedy nights. There was always something going on.

When staying in we’d head to our local independent wine shop, The Sampler, where you can try the wine before you buy. An impressive selection of wines and welcoming, knowledgable staff, you could spend a long time in there…and we often did!

Trafalgar Square 

For many Trafalgar Square is the home of Nelson’s Column, the fourth plinth and the National Gallery. For us it is where we got married! We exchanged vows at St Martin in the Fields, the church on the edge of the famous square. 

The church was designed by the famous architect James Gibbs in the 18th century who drew inspiration from Sir Christopher Wren’s works. It is a warm and welcoming church which does a lot of work for the homeless.

After we were married, we walked through Trafalgar Square, mingling with the tourists and getting our pictures taken by Nelson’s column.

We then did an impromptu dance before heading to our reception at the Institute of Directors on Pall Mall. What a special day! I thought I would include our short video montage of the day too.

Richmond

We live very close to this London suburb in west London. It is the place we started another phase of our life which soon gave us our two daughters. Compared to Islington, Richmond feels like the countryside with the beautiful River Thames weaving through it and historic houses such as Ham House and Marble Hill House standing majestically with Hampton Court a short drive away.

A wander up Richmond Hill gives views across the river towards Twickenham stadium while venture along to Richmond Park and you can see across London. The Royal Park is one of my favourites where deer roam free, cyclists cruise and joggers breathe in the fresh air. There’s much to explore. I love the Isabella Plantation and the east side is great for biking with kids.

The town centre has good shopping while a walk over Richmond Bridge, the oldest surviving Thames bridge in London is a must. If you fancy a splurge, The Petersham hotel has excellent views over the river while the food at The Bingham is hard to beat. You can hire a rowing boat if you dare or get a ferry up the river into central London. I love running or walking along the tow path, a place to catch your thoughts, get inspired and snap some photos!

*Wedding photographs courtesy of AE Wedding Photography (who were amazing!)

Is there a neighbourhood or place in London special to you or in any other city? Would be interested to hear your tales. Just comment below.