Travel to LONDON: a designer’s explore guide – stay, art, savour, and explore

Lyn Cowie
Aug 9
3 min read

Updated: Sep 3

London is celebrating its 750th birthday this year! So, needless to say, its old, gorgeous architecture and deep history still stand strong. No surprise there. But what truly enchanted me? The city’s vibrant energy, its friendly people, and—if I’m being completely honest—the hotel interiors.

Sketch of Kit Kemp's London hotels interiors — A guest postcard illustrated by SJ Axelby for Kit Kemp

Stay: where design makes you linger

We stayed at Haymarket Hotel and Knightsbridge Hotel, where design isn’t just an afterthought—it’s the main event. I have to admit, I’ve developed a bit of a design crush on Kit Kemp’s choices.

Now, you might be asking, “Who on earth is Kit Kemp?” Well, she’s the designer and owner of several hotels under the Firmdale Hotels brand, and she has this uncanny ability to inject joy into every inch of her spaces. If her goal is to evoke optimism, delight, and liveliness, she’s nailed it—right on the beefeater’s head.

Art: a cultural feast without the price tag

When it comes to inspiration, The National Gallery is a stone’s throw from Haymarket Hotel. It’s free to enter, which makes it even more appealing, but let’s be real—I’d have happily paid for the experience. I have a tendency to get lost in a single painting for ages, so I found this gallery just the right size. I still have so many first-time-seen works imprinted on my memory.

Visit The National Gallery in London — The National Gallery

And, as corny as it may be, I had to visit Notting Hill. Who doesn’t love “I’m also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her”? While I was there, I wandered through Portobello Road Market, where I found a Thierry Poncelet King Charles Spaniel woven tapestry cushion cover. A small piece of Notting Hill memories to take home. While there, do stop in for lunch at Farm Girl. They have some lovely vegan options.

Savour: coffee, indulgence, and a little refinement

Chelsea might just be my favourite area to wander, possibly because my day there started with a sublime coffee at The Roasting Party. Come to think of it, the coffee at Noxy Brothers in Burlington Arcade was equally supreme—no surprise, given their tagline: “Hold me tightly, sip me slowly.”

For a truly decadent treat—one that might sting the wallet but sweeten the palate—high tea at Langham’s Palm Court is worth one lifetime visit. Picture this: a pianist softly playing in the background as an elegant procession of delicacies arrives. Begin with an extraordinary cup of tea (or coffee, if that’s your persuasion), followed by the quintessential cucumber sandwich, feather-light pastries, impossibly rich chocolates, and, of course, the all-important English scone with jam and clotted cream (vegan and gluten free available). All of it, artfully arranged on a three-tier silver tray. It’s pure indulgence.

Vintage: treasure hunting with a designer’s eye

I’m not too proud to admit that London’s high-end antique stores are a little intimidating. With centuries of history behind them, it’s hardly surprising. But there’s always more to learn, and a visit down Lots Road and Pimlico Road are on every designer’s hit list. I didn’t make it to Lillie Road this time, but it’s firmly on my next trip list.

In the fashion world, I stumbled upon a hidden gem: Dorota Bojanowska’s pop-up shop in Soho. Her slow design philosophy was irresistible. Each piece in her collection is made from up-cycled vintage clothing, individually screen-printed on reclaimed fabrics. Enthusiastically, I bought two pieces.

A finale of renewal

I’ll wrap up with this last experience, because it left me with a sense of renewal and optimism for the future: The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Located in Richmond, it houses the world’s largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections. The simple fact that plants and fungi are vital to our future—food, clean air, medicine—makes places like Kew a hopeful investment in the health of our planet. And, in these times, a little hope goes a long way.