Siobhan Ferguson
Author of Pretty City London
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Instagram: @siobhaise @prettycitylondon @theprettycities
London By Season
1. Notting Hill is incredibly beautiful all year round but definitely pops in spring.
2. Hampstead and Richmond are stunning in autumn.
3. Mayfair is particularly lovely in winter around Christmas.
Cafe Culture
1. Visit Peggy Porschen in Belgravia for exquisite cupcakes and treats in fairytale surroundings.
2. Angie’s Little Food Shop in Chiswick serves all delicious food and her selection of salads and cooked dishes is incredible.
3. Try the Tin Shed in Notting Hill for its bagels.
Travel Tips
Avoid busy times of the year. Summer is beautiful in London, but surprisingly its weather isn’t always the best. I would suggest waiting until September when it’s quieter and even more beautiful. The landscape changes from green to gold and the soft autumn light becomes a photographer’s dream.
Stay/Eat/Shop
Stay
The Artist Residence in Pimlico would be my very favorite place to stay (a stay in the Grand Suite would be the icing on the cake).
Eat
My favorite restaurant in London at the moment is definitely Thomas’s Café in Burberry on Regents Street. It ticks all the boxes, and despite its position in one of the world’s most luxurious stores, it is still quite reasonably priced. Its floralinspired menu during the Chelsea Flower Show was simply divine. Also, the Somerset House in the heart of the capital is one of London’s bestkept secrets. Its highly recommended restaurants include Spring, Pennethorne’s and Fernandez & Wells.
Shop
Petersham Nurseries and newly opened The Shop at Bluebird in Covent Garden and, of course, Liberty off Regents Street are my favs.
Cutting Out The Chaos
The art of slowing down, being mindful, cutting out the chaos, relaxing and cutting out unnecessary stress is the epitome of slow living.
Books I Love
1. Paris in Bloom by Georgianna Lane
2. Selection of the Most Beautiful Flowers by Pierre-Joseph Redouté
3. Garden Style by Selina Lake 4. Flowers Every Day by Florence Kennedy
Flower Lovers ’ Paradise: London Florists
I live in London, where beautiful florists are literally around every corner, spilling out onto our London streets and making the city a beautiful place to live. So I love including shots of florists in my Instagram feed. Some of my favorite London florists include Wild Things Flowers in Mayfair, Zita Elze Flowers in Kew, the Blue Lavender in Barnes, Nikki Tibbles Wild at Heart and the florist in Petersham Nurseries in Covent Garden. I have been lucky enough to visit RHS Chelsea Flower Show on press day for the last couple of years.
My Fav Flowers
Peonies and antique hydrangeas photograph so beautifully and improve with age.
Photo Advice
Deep red, bright yellow and orange flowers absorb all the light and can be difficult to photograph. On the other hand, pale pinks and purples are the easiest. Of course, seek natural light, avoiding harsh light. Keep your camera still and compose your shot. Use Adobe Lightroom for post edits to tweak structure, color balance and exposure, and then a slight application of VSCO Cam to soften tones.