prettycitylondon: Discovering London’s Beautiful Places (The Pretty Cities, 1)

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Whatever style the house has gone for, walking around these beautiful houses will give you a taste for a traditional British vibe, and is guaranteed to leave you speechless. The pretty pastel coloured houses of Westbourne Grove The Victorian houses of South Kensington Look, the programme was filled with all kinds of controversial points of view. We can accept their chat about the plague not necessarily being that bad for everyone because Samuel Pepys had a bit of a blast as the city’s poor died in their droves…. Hartland Road is located in Camden Town, or Camden, a district made famous for its markets and fashion scene. What that description doesn’t tell you is that it’s drop dead gorgeous: a light-filled homage to elegance, taste and the finer things in life, complete with carved archways and a refined monochromatic decor. Somerset House The Old Royal Naval College is the main architectural centrepiece of Greenwich. Inside you will find the famous Painted Hall, a Baroque masterpiece known as Britain’s “Sistine Chapel”.

Greenery is great for the ‘gram! Bathurst Mews is more about petunias than paint, and has also hosted a working stables since 1835 – so if you’re looking for a canter around nearby Hyde Park, this is your spot. Take some time to explore its beautiful grounds or admire its impressive architecture from afar. Another draw here is the beautifully painted halls of the Naval College. There are also plenty of things to do in Greenwich after exploring the college. Need more of an excuse to go? The interior is just as crazy and they serve brilliant Thai food. GuildhallAnother of our prettiest restaurants that goes heavy on the plant life, Brother Marcus have just recently opened a branch in Spitalfields. It’s all very a e s t h e t i c, but perhaps even prettier is The Step Sister, a tower of sweet potato, courgette and feta fritters, avocado and kale, turmeric yoghurt and a poached egg which had our Georgie swooning. Read her review here. (Brother Marcus also now counts locations in Angel and Borough under their belt.) Another delightful mews street in London, Conduit Mews is an endearing spot in the suburb of Tyburnia. You’ll be happy to know that there are some brightly coloured houses on this street, too. 21. Bywater Street It’s not often that you can say that a place is truly hidden, but only a select few are in the know about Streatham’s Rookery. Atop the rather unremarkable South London park Streatham Common, The Rookery is a flower-lover’s delight. There, you’ll find all manner of sporting equipment, old cameras, and vintage clothing for sale, among other treasures you won’t find in any high street chain store! The market is also home to some great food stalls (look out for the French sweets stand!) Elwin Street is also walking distance from the Columbia Road Flower Market, so this is a great place to start your Sunday if you’re looking around Bethnal Green for things to one afternoon. 34. Kelly Street

They keep it the way it would have been hundreds of years ago and manicure the gardens to a tee. Highlight of the whole space? The orchard. It contains 32 varieties of pear and apple tree, but most of all it’s just stunning – especially in low, evening light. Sessions Arts Club The entire Petersham Empire is extremely aesthetic, from their charming Richmond garden centre and tea room, to the homeware shop in the heart of Covent Garden. That extends to neighbouring restaurant The Petersham, which goes all in on the plants and chandeliers, without skimping on the flavour. Sunny days are best spent in the whitewashed courtyard, a world away from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden. Read all about it here. Carnaby Street is iconic in London and is known for being the birthplace of the Swinging ‘60s in England. Even today, the street style on Carnaby is indicative of its roots as a fashion and cultural hub. It’s also known for its fab lighting displays through the year. 4. Wardour Street Part of the beauty of this place, though, comes from its history. That history being that Gordon Square Gardens was once the hangout of many notable London writers, including a young Virginia Woolf who lived in one of the adjacent buildings who was often encouraged to take her books out into this very park and read.

Just know that it’s grand and you can play the fun game of which weird central London contemporary monstrosity is that (joking… kind of). Sky Garden Is there anywhere else in London you think should be on this guide? Let me know in the comments below! If there are other places in London that you think are simply stunning let me know, I’d love to include them in this article. For a romantic view of London, take a walk across the River Thames from London Bridge to Tower Bridge. Notting Hill isn’t the only place where you can find gorgeous Victorian houses, and Portobello isn’t the only place with lovely pastel coloured houses. I used to work just around the corner from Hay’s Galleria, and I loved walking past it every day. It’s one of those beautiful places in London that not many people know about. The beautiful Hay’s Galleria in London – photo by Teresa, author of Brogan Abroad Final thoughts on the most beautiful places in London

Personally I love the contrast between the green trees of the park and the London skyline emerging above it. You can see everything, from the London Eye and the Shard, all the way to Canary Wharf. Nearest station is Tottenham Court Road. 18. The Petersham, Covent Garden and Richmond Photo: Petersham Nurseries Covent Garden is one of the most popular places in London that most people will visit regardless, but for this guide I want to focus on the Apple Market. This is the big central market in the centre of Covent Garden.Located a few streets over from the world-renowned Portobello Road market, Biscuiteers is a go-to destination for all sweet tooths. As its name suggests, the café and cookery school is dedicated to all things biscuit related and is a must visit on any coffee shop tour of London. Nearby, Farmgirl Café serves the prettiest speciality hot beverages in the capital and is also worthy of a visit. This is another one of those secret spots that it took even me, as a Londoner, years to finally visit. I kept seeing photo of it online, but I had no idea where it was. Imagine my surprise when I found out it’s so central! The architectural beauty of the museum is really one of a kind. Both the outside and the interior of the museum are simply stunning. If you’re visiting London at Christmas time it gets even better, with loads of little Christmas trees taking the place of the normally potted plants and flowers. It becomes one of the must-see sights on any London Christmas lights tour. Along Bywater Street, there are also plenty of bakeries and cafes on this road, where you can indulge in some delicious pastries and a cup of tea like any Londoner would. 22. Chalcot Crescent