From floral cafes to side streets, and galleries galore - I show you my favourite hot spots in the city to help create that perfect snap #DoItForTheGram
This will most likely be the first of many posts on great gram spots in the city, as we had such a fun time exploring new trails and discovering new sites. So get Google Maps at the ready and charge your classiest camera, as you'll be dying to visit these cute hideaways...
So just before writing this, I was making the most of my relaxing (no plans) Sunday, by having the bubbliest of baths and noshing onto my last remaining macaroons from Peggy Porschen Cakes (one of the most delightful landmarks on this list). Last week, I encouraged one of my friends to get out there with me and explore the city to find some unique photo opportunity locations. Having trolled my favourite new app for inspiration: Grabbd - I already had a list filled with over 30 locations to hunt down and pose in front of (hence why this post will be the first of many...) - We decided to visit 8 locations, making a full day of it. With our alarms set super early, our travel cards at the ready and a backpack loaded full of cameras, film gear and tripods; we set out to the big smoke and below is what we found:
Feya Cafe - (Closet Tube Station: Bond Street)
Our first stop on the agenda was breakfast at the beautiful Feya Cafe - opened in May, it's renowned for being one of the most instagrammable cafes in London. And you can totally understand why! From the moment you walk in, you are blinded by 100s of pastel-rainbow coloured cakes at the counter (hand crafted by mermaids and unicorns...). A cherry blossom tree is grown and woven into the ceiling with gold, metallic butterflies fluttery away amongst the petals. The tables are covered in marble and the seating is a comfortable, yet beautiful dusty pink. The venue is so fresh and pretty, but it's the food what really makes it, with bloggers and influencers swarming to get endless shots of the menu on offer. If you aren't a professional blogger, it can feel a little daunting being surrounded by expensive cameras and stunning girls having a photo shoot with their rainbow porridge bowls - but trust me, the food looks and tastes so fresh and delicious and is totally worth it! The staff are so friendly and can't do enough for you, despite being asked 1000x a day by diners: "What's the most picture perfect dish on the menu?"...
I would love to take a trip back to this beautiful little cafe, as the menu is so extensive and it's truly just such a lovely place.
Sanderson London - (Closet Tube Station: Oxford Circus)
Next on our list, was to head to the divine and quirky Sanderson Hotel's Terrace for a mid-morning beverage (I am a firm believer in the saying: "It's 12 o'clock somewhere...") Having been fortunate enough to spend one of my birthdays at Sanderson, I already knew it was a stunning place. The service, interior and furniture is so friendly, welcoming and chic. And they really take the time to mix things up seasonally with their venue design. The last time I went, was for their delicious 'Mad Hatter's Tipsy Afternoon Tea' (which I will rave about in my upcoming afternoon tea blog) - This time however, they teamed up with Laurent Perrier Champagne to deliver a beautiful rose and flamingo summer terrace with the famous 'chair swing' - who'd have thought a piece of floral furniture could send the snap-happy social site so crazy? Well now, I am that crazy person, as it was actually a lot of fun...
The Sanderson is perfect for a date, dinner with friends, afternoon tea, a night cap or even a Friday night sophisticated 'club night'...
Liberty London - (Closet Tube Station: Oxford Circus)
The most beautiful looking department store in the city, with it's wooden beams, sturdy walls and overpriced silk scarves - Liberty London is a photographer's heaven (and you may even find a bargain or too). From the shop facade, the flower stand or the sweeping staircases and grand ceilings; there really are many stunning backdrops for a perfect snap. We didn't spend too long here however, as it was very busy with tourists and hard-core shoppers wanting to swipe some fabrics, so we stayed outside and let out our inner Eliza Doolittle, by posing with the fresh florals...
The roses come with petals bigger than your head, but do come with a hefty price tag.
Neal's Yard - (Closet Tube Station: Covent Garden)
When you walk down this bright, vibrant, and charismatic alley; you feel as though you have just stepped into a local farmer's market on vacation. The colours and scenes are spectacular and the vibe is buzzing! Vegans, tourists and health goddesses seem to flock from all over to soak up this bustling street. Located just off Covent Garden, this hub has a life of it's own with vintage health cafes, organic bath remedies and trinket shops. It can get extremely busy, so I recommend arriving early in the day if you are after that empty street shot. People all seem to be after the same thing and same photo, so are quite generous and wait for you to pose for your shot, rather than walking around aimlessly and blocking your lens. As it was busy, we didn't have time to ponder around and peruse the shops, but I would definitely recommend it if you can - especially to sniff their famous lavender bottles, drink a super health food cocktail and pamper yourself with a free arm massage...
If you are after a barnet fix-up, then right at the bottom of this street is 'Hair by Fairy' - a magical mermaid salon with reasonably priced beauty treatments (given the view)...
Churchill Arms - (Closet Tube Station: Notting Hill)
After taking a break from posing, we had a wander around Covent Garden Market and the Ivy Market Grill, before jumping on the tube and heading to the most floral pub in Kensington. (The Ivy Market Grill wasn't on the list, but like all Ivy's, I would always recommend for a drink or snack.) Churchill Arms in the summer can be spotted from a mile away, with the full blooms bursting out of the tavern's facade. The Fuller's Brewery is beautiful inside and out, being a local pub-drinker's dream. It's pet friendly and you can be guaranteed to get some awesome shots from every angle of the venue.
If you can tempt the landlord's pooch to come outside, you can most certainly get the perfect #Petstagram pic here too!
Elan Cafe - (Closet Tube Station: South Kensington)
If the museums are more your scene, then stopping at this boutique cafe in the neighbourhood is a MUST! I have never seen such beautiful food and restaurant scenery in my life! The venue is smothered in endless flower walls, bright pink roses and quirky coffee quotes, embossed in gold lettering all over the floor. Again, this joint is filled with bloggers getting snap happy over the unique liquid nitrogen iced lattes (I had one and it was so bitter, considering I call myself a confident coffee connoisseur). With the venue being so pink and so pretty, there are thousands of things you could take pictures of. One of their biggest features is the floor to ceiling 8m wide flower wall - it comes with a romantic table for 2 just in front, but as this is the table ALL influencers and classy folk want; it can come with a 3 month waiting list! You can still enjoy your cakes (and eat 'em too) by sitting in the main room under a luscious floral chandelier.
This place is so pink and perfect for those #OnWednesdaysWeWearPink shots...
Saatchi Gallery - (Closet Tube Station: Sloane Square)
As well nabbing a free ponder around the contemporary galleries; the columns on the entrance into Saatchi are perfect for any type of pose. It's easy to get to and simple if you want something grand and classic for a new post and profile picture...
When in Rome...or in this case a Roman gallery...
Bywater Street - (Closet Tube Station: Sloane Square)
This rainbow, residential road just off King's Road in Chelsea is my dream street and I'd love to just spontaneously buy all the houses like a rampage scene out of Monopoly - but with each home costing well over £1m; I doubt that dream will surface anytime soon. The neighbours rarely curtain-twitch as many keen posers stand in the middle of the road, surrounded by flash cars for that perfect panoramic shot. It really is pretty - to stand, to pose and to ponder.
The street is rarely busy, and you can coincidentally match your outfits to the exterior...
Peggy Porschen - (Closet Tube Station: Sloane Square)
The final stop of the day was the delicious and delightful Peggy Porschen's Cake Shop. This entire place is just utterly fabulous, with the vintage basket bikes, hanging hydrangeas and pink wrought iron furniture. I went an hour before closing time and there were hundreds of 'grammers' queuing for that all-important doorstep shot. There was a 20 minute queue to get in, as everyone wants to snap the famous cakes - however despite the lengthy wait, the design of the venue inside is quite plain and also extremely small and tight. Serving high tea, mermaid cupcakes and the melt-in-your-mouth macaroons; this place is heavenly for any sweet-tooth fan. As it was the last stop of the day and 28k steps later; it was only right to reward one's self with a glass of Moet and their delicious strawberry and champagne layered cake. Although a slice of cake is massive, £10 for a cake is pretty hefty in my opinion. It's a great place and I would love to go back, but now I too have the doorstep shot; I won't be coming back in a hurry to sample another £10 cake...unless it's for a made to order magical, unicorn birthday cake (which of course they do!)
So there we are, a small insight into just some of the spots I was lucky enough to visit. I had so much fun (though I love a good pose, given the opportunity) and would definitely do this again soon, as there are so many places left to see on my list, along with undiscovered ones. I'm hoping to do these trips once a month and super excited to release a Christmas edition, where London turns into a marshmallow world in the winter and sparkly wonderland! If you have visited any of the above places, let me know in the comments below or throw some new ideas/venues may way to seek out next...
That's it for now. Thanks for reading and keep on discovering,
Danie xxx
コメント