Although I’m from London, I’ve been living in Paris for more than 20 years, which means that sometimes I feel like a tourist in the city where I was born. But seeing London from an outsider’s perspective has taught me two things: it’s the perfect weekend destination, and “the best places never go out of style.”
The most creative museum or gallery
An obvious choice, but for me, it has to be The Tate Modern (Bankside). The setting in an old power station remains dramatic, and I get a jolt almost every time I enter the central Turbine Hall. Over the years, I’ve been fascinated by Louise Bourgeois’ enormous spider, bathed in the spectacular floating sun by Olafur Eliasson, and stood over the earthquake-like crack in the floor created by Doris Salcedo – an installation named Shibboleth. And that’s just the entrance to this vast, comprehensive, and brilliantly curated collection of modern art.
A café where you go to read, write, or get inspired
London is really a city of pubs, and cafés always feel somewhat continental and decadent. That’s why I love them. Of course. A timeless address is Bar Italia – a small, steam-filled Italian café – in Soho (22 Frith Street), where I drank cappuccino every morning in the 1990s before heading to my nearby PR agency job. The café has been owned by the same family since 1949, and I can’t imagine it changing much. Just lean back on the chair by the counter and watch the guests, preferably while pretending to read Italian newspapers.
A restaurant with a difference
Restaurants in London come and go so quickly that it’s probably best to just pick the one that looks the most fun this week and enjoy it. However, as a nostalgic, I’ve always had a soft spot for Skylon, located at the top of the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank (Belvedere Road). It’s named after the (now non-existent) tower structure that dominated the 1951 Festival of Britain. Its style is described as “modern European with a touch of 1950s design,” which is my ideal atmosphere. The views of the river are stunning, and it’s always quite a classy experience.
The most creative neighborhood
Well, Soho was my old stomping ground, and it remains my focal point whenever I’m in the city, partly thanks to a great pub called The French House. The area still has many production companies – plus the legendary advertising agency BBH – but the hyper-creative scene is happening further east, in Shoreditch, Dalston, and Hackney, and south in Brixton and Peckham. Vibrant and multicultural, Brixton has lost some of its former edge to remain a bohemian part of the city.
A store you can’t walk by without going in
Without a doubt, Daunt Books (84 Marylebone High Street). I have trouble passing by any bookstore at the best of times, but this Edwardian marvel, with its skylights and gallery corridors, is a must. Plus, it’s a bookstore for travelers, so most of the titles are organized by destination, not by author. You can buy a book about the place you dream of or the place that will be your next destination. When I walk in, I stay for hours.
