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London Worth Your Time: Places I Actually Recommend
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items The London places I genuinely go back to, from beauty appointments and little local finds to places worth making a detour for. No huge “best of London” list, just places I would actually send a friend.
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Beauty appointments I actually book
North London places worth the detour
North London for a wander
Places to work from
Beauty appointments I actually book
The places I keep going back to because they make things easy. Affordable, consistent, reliable and no unnecessary faff. I know what I am getting every time, which is exactly what I want from a beauty appointment.
Athena Salon is one of those places I keep going back to because they just get it right. It is run by two lovely twin sisters who are warm, friendly and actually listen to what you want. I have been going for years for a weekly blowout, and somehow i...
Athena Salons Hair & Nails - 125 Essex Road - London
Brows are one of those things I am very particular about, so when I find somewhere I trust I tend to stick with it. This is one of mine. I go here when I want them cleaned up and shaped without coming out looking completely different.
Alternatives Beauty Clinic | Beauty Salon in Highbury, London
My kind of nail place. I want them neat, well done and to last, without turning a simple appointment into an event. This is one I actually return to for my mani/pedi, which is probably the best recommendation I can give it.
Enhance Angel | Beauty Salon in Angel, London
North London places worth the detour
The North London places I think are actually worth making time for. A little culture, somewhere unexpected, or just a place that leaves you feeling better than when you arrived.
Small enough that it never feels like a whole-day commitment, but interesting enough to be worth going out of your way for. I love places like this that you can wander through properly without museum fatigue. A very easy North London culture fix.
Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art
I went in for the vibe as much as the vinyl. Cool without trying too hard, the kind of place you want to browse slowly and inevitably find something you were not looking for. Worth popping into if you are nearby. The cocktails are delicious and they ...
One Eighty One
I come here for the guided sauna and cold sessions rather than just sitting in a hot room on my own and not pushing myself into the cold plunge. I always leave feeling properly reset, calmer and like I have actually done something good for myself. On...
Reset Sauna
North London for a wander
The streets, little pockets and places I go when I want to get out of the house without needing a big plan. Good for a wander, browsing and finding something interesting along the way.
One of my favourite little North London walks. Beautiful houses, quiet streets and the kind of area that makes you slow down and actually look around. Perfect when you want to get out without needing a proper plan.
Canonbury Square garden
One of those places I can wander around without getting bored. Independent shops, antiques, cafés and always something slightly unexpected to look at. Good for a slow afternoon when you want to browse rather than rush somewhere.
Camden Passage, Islington
Simple, local and one of those places I keep coming back to. Good for a walk, sitting with a coffee or just getting outside for a bit. Nothing complicated, which is exactly why I like it.
Highbury Fields
One of those places you could easily miss if nobody told you about it. The top floor is beautiful, quiet and perfect for sitting down to work for a while. It feels completely different from what you expect when you first walk in, which is part of the...
Islington Central Library
Places to work from
Working from home is useful until I need a change of scene. These are five places around London that I keep coming back to when I want to take my laptop somewhere else.
One of my favourite places in London when I need a proper focused workday. The Aga Khan Library is quiet and serene, with lots of natural light, excellent Wi-Fi and beautifully designed spaces. The Aga Khan Centre itself has gardens, terraces and cou...
Aga Khan Library
One of my favourite options when I want to work somewhere that does not feel like an office. I like bringing my laptop to the V&A, getting some work done and then taking a break to wander through the museum or courtyard. The surroundings make it ...
V&A South Kensington
One of those places you could easily miss if nobody told you about it. The Reference Library on the second floor is quiet and has dedicated study space, and there is free Wi-Fi throughout the library - but it isn't necessarily the most reliable. I li...
Islington Central Library
A neighbourhood coffee shop I genuinely like working from when I want somewhere relaxed but still productive. The Essex Road location has good coffee, homemade food and enough of a neighbourhood feel that I am happy settling in with my laptop for a f...
The Mokapot House
One of my favourite London finds for working when I need somewhere that stays open much later than a normal coffee shop. The Counter at Club Quarters on Gracechurch Street has coffee and pastries during the day, then drinks and snacks later, so I can...
The Counter