The genius of Maggie’s Centres are that they offer support to anyone affected by cancer – whether you’re the one suffering or not – perhaps you’re supporting a loved one or friend. The 21 Centres across the UK welcome visitors in specially designed premises in hospital grounds staffed by Cancer Support Specialists, Benefits Advisors, Nutritionists, therapists and Psychologists. The spaces themselves are lovely – for example the Maggie’s Centre in the shadow of the monstrous Charing Cross (left) is a light and welcoming safe haven. Best of all the support is completely free.
Maggie’s Culture Crawl is a night time fundraising walk to raise money for Maggie’s Centres across the UK. There are currently 3 Maggie’s Centres in London; West London, Barts and Royal Free with Royal Marsden currently in the planning stages. The Culture Crawl is a 10 mile night time walk through London starting at 6:30pm at The Design Museum. Along the route walkers will have exclusive access to cultural venues including the Tate Britain and Tate Modern and finishing at Maggie’s Barts. Walkers will be able to experience a year’s worth of culture in one night, with exclusive access after-hours access to the museums exhibitions, and entertainment and food along the route.
Tickets to join the event cost £40. Get an exclusive discount using code: Littlebird5
Generations of admirers have enjoyed the delicate charm of Cicely Mary Barker’s Flower Fairies. Throughout her childhood she excelled at painting and drawing using children from her sister’s nursery as models for her enchanting fairies. The illustrations she created combine a delicate charm with meticulous botanical accuracy.
Credit: Graham Lacdao
See them at this new exhibition at the Garden Museum which celebrates the centenary of the earliest publication of the first Flower Fairy illustrations. Over 40 original Flower Fairies paintings are on display, alongside previously unseen sketchbooks, drawings and research materials.
Credit: Graham Lacdao
All exhibitions at The Garden Museum tend to be on the small side – and this is no exception with just one room of pictures on display. But little ones will enjoy dressing up in the fairy costumes and there’s a great program of events running alongside the exhibition – our advice is to visit when there’s something on to get the most from an outing. Here’s what’s on:
Steeped in history with grand Regency squares, excellent shopping and a steady stream of restaurants, Marylebone never goes out of fashion. Stretching from Selfridges all the way up to Regents Park and across to Harley Street, the warren of streets within boast a charming village-like atmosphere. One of the loveliest places to spend a day in London, the only trouble is knowing where to start:
Italian restaurant, La Cucina Caldesi has been around for donkey’s years but even better than the restaurant is their cookery school that runs courses for adults like fresh pasta and pizza making, and brilliant half-day sessions for children in the workshop next-door.
Shopping
Big names like Matches, Conran and Margaret Howell provide luxury draw, but it’s the volume of specialist independent stores which gives Marylebone its unique character, from John Bell and Croyden, contenders for most beautiful pharmacy in London, through VV Rouleaux, the celebrated haberdashers, to Steinway Hall, the piano salesroom which also hosts concerts.
Caramel
Caramel on Marylebone Lane stocks a good womenswear line as well as the beautiful children’s clothes. Next door KJ’s Laundry is a perfectly curated boutique that’s a good one-stop shop before a holiday. Visit Mouki Mou on Chiltern Street for presents – there’s always something unusual and interesting.
Restaurants and Bars
Brunch at the Tapa Room
Start your day with breakfast at The Providores and Tapa Room – the fusion breakfast and brunch menu at the downstairs Tapa room is one of the most innovative and delicious in London. Arrive early to ensure you bag a spot in the coveted window seat, and watch the well-heeled local residents trip by.
Stop for a quick lunch of Korean street food at On the Bab, their Yangyum chicken with Sweet Spicy sauce is dangerously addictive – ask for extra shredded salad which comes with the most divine dressing.
For something more substantial try Jikoni, where Indian-inspired menu is matched with a warm and friendly welcome. This summer they are running a Community Lunch Menu – a brilliant scheme that offers daily-changing platters of 3 -4 lovely things for £12 with £1 from every dish donated to Marylebone Food Cycle and The Felix Project supporting the local community in the Lisson Green Estate. Available Tuesday – Friday 12-3pm.
Fischer’s Viennese café is the place for tea, indulge in one of their classic European cakes, their Sachertorte is glorious if you are struggling to choose.
Bar Termini Centrale is the sister restaurant to Soho hot spot Bar Termini. A little slice of Italy in London, it’s the perfect spot for a cocktail (try the rhubarb infused Spritz Termini) and bar snacks, or something more substantial from Fat Tony’s (the pasta specialists who started as a pop up here but have stayed on due to popular request).
In the evening, Chiltern Firehouse continues to pull a cool crowd, or for something more low-key, Zoilo serves Argentinian small-plates with a buzzy atmosphere.
Swanky gyms are popping up everywhere, but which really give you the best work out? As someone who’s tried and tested hundreds of classes, we asked personal trainer, Lottie Derry-Evans to share her expert guide to London’s top workouts:
1. Best for Body Specific Workouts – Barry’s Bootcamp
Where: Victoria, Queensway, Euston, Shoreditch
Dubbed ‘the best workout in the world’ Barry’s has become an iconic gym class for the fittest and healthiest people. A celeb favourite – fans include Harry Styles and the Beckhams – the classes are a little intimidating at first. But it’s so worth it, you’ll be pushed beyond your limits and there’s something addictive about the energy boost the classes give you. Every day of the week focuses on a different body part – you spend half the class sprinting on the treadmill, and the other lifting weights on the floor. Prepare to work up a serious sweat. The new Victoria studio at Eccleston Yards (above) is very cool. barrysbootcamp.com
2. Best for hot yoga – HOTPOD
Photographer Credit : Ed Reeve
Where: Nottinghill, Brixton, Hackney, Wimbledon, across the UK.
Hotpods are popping up all over the country with four in London. Their latest Wimbledon Studio opened earlier this week. Each inflatable pod is heated to a snug 37 degrees, a comfortable environment for you participate in a dynamic flow of postures that warms the muscles, enhances flexibility and relaxes the mind all to a playlist of uplifting beats. The head massage during Savasana at the end makes all the sweating worthwhile. hotpodyoga.com
3. Best for Pilates – Heartcore
Where: Chelsea, Notting Hill, Fulham, Hamstead, Kensington, City, St Johns Wood
An amazing workout which focusses on core strength and toning the body. Expect to shake as you work muscles you didn’t even know you had. Each session is 55 minutes and caters to all levels – it’s really not an intimidating experience at all so if you’ve ever considered trying barre, kettle bells and TRX this is the place to do it. The light and airy studios whisk you to the beach in Tulum which is excellent motivation. heartcore.co.uk
4. Best for TRX – Core Collective
Where: Kensington
Set in this sleek, Kensington studio Core Collective’s TRX class, otherwise known as Resistance, is a 45-minute full body workout where each instructor brings their own personal flair to the session. Be prepared to be well and truly put through your paces but guaranteed you will build both your strength and stamina. core-collective.co.uk
5. Best for boxing – KOBOX
Where: Chelsea and Liverpool Street
Part-bag work, part strength training it’s the best boxing class for Londoners who want to strip fat and get strong. The loud music and neon lights will mean you quickly feel like your part of Fight Club and be sweating (and swearing) like a professional! koboxlondon.com
6. Best for Spin – Psycle
Where: Shoreditch, Mortimer Street, Canary Wharf
Psycle’s three studios focus on not just giving the body a challenging and refreshing workout but also the mind like its name suggests. The 45-minute classes are high intensity and low-impact, carefully choreographed to amazing music to leave you feeling high on life and coming back for more. No wonder it’s said to be addictive. Pyscle also offer stength, barre and yoga in their Shoreditch studio. psyclelondon.com
Written for A Little Bird by Lottie Derry-Evans, personal trainer and founder of Lottie’s Fitness based in Victoria, London. Book a personal training session or free consultation: lottiesfitness.com
Whirl back to the 80’s, to the heyday of the Sloane Ranger and the time that Dafydd Jones termed, ‘the last hurrah of the upper classes.’ Working for Tina Brown at Tatler, the photographer captured a moment in time with candid snaps of Hunt Balls, society weddings and debutante dances. Get a glimpse behind-the-scenes during those Tatler years at this small exhibition at The Photographers’ Gallery.
There’s a series of Teenage Parties that includes banks of teens snogging at The Feathers, there’s girls sleeping in the quad after an Oxford Summer Ball. This image above captures the explosive energy of the times; ‘Each year the college that rowed head of the river during Eights week set fire to an old boat after a celebration dinner. Oriel were usually the triumphant college so must have been running low on boats. I photographed this first in 1981 and then went back again in 1984. This picture was the definitive one. Each time I would have to smuggle myself into the college before the porter would lock the doors to outsiders. I’d make myself inconspicous until I’d hear shouting and cheering coming from the dinner and then the rowers would come out and the boat would be set fire to. Everyone took their turn to jump or trample over the fire with much cheering. Whilst this was going on there was a chant of ’No Women’ echoing around the quad as the college had just voted to allow women students. For no logical reason for me it symbolises the eighties, the big bang and time of Thatcher.’
Dafydd Jones: The Last Hurrah is on display and available for acquisition at The Photographers’ Gallery, London from 3 August. The book by same name will be published by STANLEY/BARKER on 2 August 2018.
The Geffrye Museum is closed for a refurb until the spring of 2020, but in the meantime there’s a program of pop up events happening in their Victorian gardens. This summer the team behind the Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings are giving Londoners a taste of the good life with their Beautiful Allotment.
Drop in and find a deckchair, or book ahead – depending on the size of your group choose from a day bed for up to 6 people, potting shed or tree house for up to 10 people, the long flower table for up to 30 and the polytunnel for up to 100. Cocktails are made from ingredients grown on the grounds, and there are also BBQ’s every evening and from noon on the weekends. The perfect escape for anyone trapped in the city this August.
At this time of year the linen shirt is a wardrobe staple. But why is it limited to the summer months? Challenging the perception that the fabric is just a fair-weather friend, Flax London decided to play with the weights and weaves to create a shirt that can be worn year round. After launching in January 2018 and with 2 sell-out collections under their belts, founders Callum McCall and George Rutherford-Jones now face the good problem of keeping up with demand. Here we speak to Callum about launching a brand, where to find the best men’s shopping in London and his favourite local haunts:
Where’s home?
I live in Camberwell and I love it. If you’re in the area, grab coffee at Daily Goods, the best pizza in London at Theo’s, a craft beer at The Stormbird, Turkish grill at FM Mangal, or a 10/10 rotisserie chicken and chips at The Camberwell Arms. You won’t be disappointed. There are some amazing streets and parks off the main drag too.
George, my Flax London co-founder, lives just down the road in Queen’s Road Peckham. Another area that seems to have a great new restaurant or café opening every week. I often find myself diverting via Bellenden Road on my way down to his place. Try Artusi for great Mediterranean food and Ganapati for delicious South Indian curry.
What led you to found Flax London?
George and I have always shared a love for quality, artisanal men’s clothing. Every summer, a few linen staples would reappear in both our wardrobes, looking better and better each time. It was with a slight sadness that we put them away to hibernate each year. One day, discussing linen’s short season, we had an idea. Could we do more with it? Flax London was born on the premise that the creative use of different weights, weaves, and colours could bring out so much more from linen.
But isn’t linen a little chilly in winter?
Most people know that linen is more breathable than cotton, but few realise it’s also more insulating. We chose the heavier, more opaque 238gsm linen for our signature shirts (typical linen shirts are around 170gsm). The reception has been amazing. Most people say they’ve never felt a linen like it, and there’s been enough repeat business to assure us the idea is catching on!
You source your linen from Baird McNutt in Northern Ireland. Why there?
Northern Ireland has a long history of making top quality linens. We have built a great relationship with Baird McNutt who have a factory near Belfast. We’re keen to keep our production chain short because it gives us more control and tends to be better for the environment.
Throughout history who’s worn the classic linen shirt the best?
This shot of Steve McQueen from the Thomas Crown Affair was one of the first things on the Flax London inspiration board. It’s a fierce look in that orange and the texture in his shirt is what it’s all about:
What’s the best street in London for men’s clothes shopping?
Lamb’s Conduit Street, Bloomsbury– it’s a tiny stretch of road with a few of my favourite brands. It’s unassuming, but it’s a real focal point for understated men’s style. There’s also a great wine bar called Noble Rot. Berwick Street, Soho is another must-visit for men’s style.
What’s in the pipeline for Flax?
We’re really excited about how much potential there is with linen. We’ve only scratched the surface so we’ll be testing lots of things in the next six months – we’re working on producing a chore jacket, and we’ve had a lot of requests for more structured linen trousers and shorts, both of which we think we can do really well. We’re moving slowly to make sure we get everything bang on.
And finally, where are you going on holiday this summer? Which 3 items will you be packing in your suitcase?
Portugal, Amsterdam, and Puglia are all on the menu for me this summer. The three items I’ll be taking to all three places: the Flax London short-sleeved Linen Smock (above), my new Cubitts sunglasses and a bag of Monmouth coffee.
The vogue for vegan continues with the new V For festival that launches this August at The Old Truman Brewery. The celebration of conscious living will kick off with a Vegan Nights night market, with plant-based street food and a line up of DJ’s.
Throughout the month there will be various events and pop up’s, with many restaurants launching vegan menus. Brick Lane Food Hall will be exclusively vegan and vegetarian from 4-5 August, and Juju’s and Ninety One have their V For menus on offer 11-12 August.
As well as food, the event will be a celebration of sustainability and wellness with nutrition and fitness workshops from adidas running all month, and Fat Buddha Yoga on the rooftop on the 7th and 14th August. Catch The Art of Living’s Happiness Workshops on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th August.
This summer, most days are gliding effortlessly from one sun-soaked day to the next. But if you’re stuck for ideas of things to do, why not try something out of the ordinary and perk up a day of the holidays? These are some of our favourite ideas:
Walk on Water
The hot weather is set to continue throughout August. Cool off at Hillingdon Outdoor Activities Centre, where kids can sail, windsurf, kayak and more. Individual or weeklong morning or afternoon sessions all summer. From £25. Hillingdon Outdoor Activities Centre
Popstar for the Day
Get together with a group of friends and hire a music recording studio. Studio Stars in Clapham has two-hour packages, where you can record three songs. Up to 10 kids £350. For 9–16-year-olds. studiostars.co.uk
Junior Keeper for a Day
Calling all budding 11–15-year-old zoo keepers. A look behind the scenes and close-up encounters with the animals such as monkeys, giraffes, llamas and tortoises. 3.5-hour experience with accompanying adult. £170. Availability throughout August. experienceenquiries@zsl.org
Make Believe
Immersive music concert, inspired by Disney Fantasia. We have heard mixed reviews about the music element of the latest experience to be hosted by the cool Waterloo Vaults but it promises to be an enthralling experience nonetheless. Get familiar with the soundtrack and film before you go. Sounds and Sorcery. From £30 Sounds & Sorcery
Run Away With the Circus
Ever dreamt of doing the trapeze? Have a go with Gorilla Circus who pop up during the summer months in Kensington Gardens and Regents Park. Suitable for ages 8+ practise a simple trick on the low bar before going for it on the Flying Trapeze. From £25gorillacircus.com
London’s still melting and everyone deserves a scoop of gelato. Here are the top places to get your ice cream fix this August:
Fendi’s Kiosk at Selfridges
FENDI’s Roman piazza pops up at Selfridges this August. Shop the Autumn/Winter collection, send a personalised FENDI postcard, take a photo in the retro photo booth and best of all, enjoy an ice cream on a stick from Italy’s own Steccolecco, available for the first time in London. Known for their all-natural ingredients, try flavours like Hazelnut, Mango and Passion or Granny’s Cream all on a Fendi stick. Every day until 3 September at Selfridges, W1A 1ABselfridges.com
Romeo & Giulietta Artisan Gelateria
Queues snake around the block for Stoke Newington’s top ice cream parlour, Romeo & Giulietta. Proper Italian gelato, find flavours like Zabaione ice cream, Tiramisu and Ricotta with Caramelised Figs. There are also sweet baby cones for little ones. 137 Albion Road, N16 9JUfacebook.com/gelateriarg/
Bombay Bustle’s Ice Cream Sundae Bar
Indian-inspired sundaes are on the menu just for the summer at Bombay Bustle. There’s the Royal Falooda Sundae topped with sweet Rabri icecream, a Chocolate Fudge Sundae layered with spiced coffee icecream, a Tutti Frutti Sundae piled high with thandai icecream rich with fragrant fennel seeds, rose petals and cardamom and the Banana Split Sundae stacked with sweet jaggery icecream. Yum! 29 Maddox St, W1S 2PAbombaybustle.com
La Grotta Ices
Credit: Grant Cornett
Kitty Travers makes the ultimate ice cream in seasonal flavours that vary week-to-week. This week’s speciality is the heavenly sounding Tulameen Raspberry and Fig Leaf Sorbet. Get it at Spa Terminus (5 Voyager Estate South, Spa Road, SE16 4RP) on Saturday 5th and 26th August, and 2nd and 9th September from 9am-2pm. Otherwise find it year at Leila’s Shop (15-17 Calvert Avenue, E2 7JP) and General Store (15-17 Calvert Avenue, E2 7JP) in 350ml tubs. Alternatively, be brave and make your own at home following Kitty’s recipes with the help of her cookbook that was published this June.
Yorica!
Gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free and 100% vegan – at Yorica the ice cream is made using rice milk or vegan frozen yoghurt so you can still get your frozen fix. 130 Wardour Street, W1F 8ZNwww.yorica.com
Grom
Grom tubs are so pretty they look more like the packaging for a luxurious face cream than for gelato. The world-famous Italian ice cream brand from Turin has just landed in London’s Piccadilly Circus. Either queue for a scoop from the slick circular bar or if you’re in a hurry grab one straight from the fridge and dash back to work. grom.it
Nonna’s
Just like Nonna made it – Italian gelato in award-winning flavours. Part of Kerb, you’ll find Nonna’s popping up at street food markets all over town, as well as at their regular spot at Hackney’s Broadway Market on Saturday’s and Church Street Market in Stoke Newington on Sunday’s. nonnasgelato.com
Ruby Violet
Artisan ice cream parlour Ruby Violet like to experiment. Blood Orange & Campari Sorbet, Pink Gooseberry Hazelnut Meringue or Violet & Honey ice cream anyone? There are classics too, like British Strawberry or Mint Choc Chip. As well as ice cream this is the place for frozen granita cocktails, ice lollies and ice cream sandwiches. Visit the original shop at 118 Fortess Road in Tufnell Park, or the more recent addition in the King’s Cross Canal Quarter, Midland Goods Shed. rubyviolet.co.uk
Gelupo
Last but not least, the Soho gem that is Gelupo. The menu changes daily but might include stone fruit sorbets like cherry, apricot and white peach, classic ice creams like honeycomb or peanut butter and adventurous Italian flavours like olive oil and rosemary or pine nut and fennel. A meal at Bocca di Lupo opposite followed by a scoop at Gelupo is summer holiday heaven. gelupo.com
Caught between the dregs of the sale and the new season collections, you might think it’s not a time for shopping. But these 3 events caught our eye – a fabulous sale at Pentreath & Hall, the last chance to catch the summer’s hottest pop-up and the perfect place to pick up a house gift if you’re going away this August:
Pentreath and Hall Sale
A visit to Bloomsbury’s Pentreath & Hall is always a treat. Alphabet paint pots, cushions, decoupage, printed wrapping paper, colourful candles – even reels of twine are made irresistible. Don’t miss the chance to snap up some bargains this week at their clearance sale of old stock and discontinued lines. The sale isn’t available online, so you’ll have to visit the shop itself. No great hardship!
Last Chance to Visit Koibird
Credit: CLAIRE BRAND
It’s been the holiday shop of the summer. Now it’s the final week to visit the Koibird pop up shop on Marylebone Lane. Accessories heaven, shop swimwear, bags, sunglasses and spectacular earrings. koibird.com
Badgers Velvet Summer Sale
Get 40% off beautiful homewares at Badgers Velvet like these wooden sentence spoons. The perfect place to find a present if you’re off to stay with someone this August, just use code Summer40 at the checkout. The sale also extends to jewellery – get 25% off with code Summer25. badgersvelvet.com
The heat goes on. Eat outdoors at these favourite London restaurants with gardens and terraces:
The River Cafe, Hammersmith
Now well into it’s 30th year, Ruth Rogers and the late Rose Gray’s iconic riverside restaurant remains a firm favourite. Make the most of the sunshine and visit when you can sit outdoors on the terrace and linger for a summer lunch. An expensive treat, the daily changing menu never disappoints. rivercafe.co.uk
Kudu, Peckham
Coveted outdoor tables can be booked ahead at Kudu, so you can guarantee your spot in the sun. Peckham’s hottest restaurant serves up lunch, brunch and dinner with a South African twist – make sure you order the legendary bread and butter. kudu-restaurant.com
Mazi, Notting Hill
Credit: Jade Nina Sarkhel
See Mamma Mia at the Gate and then dance round the corner to Hillgate Street’s classic Greek restaurant. Many people don’t know about their pretty sun trap of a garden at the back where you can dine on signature dishes like black truffle chicken and wild cod bourdeto outdoors, as you would in Greece. mazi.co.uk
Floral Court, Petersham Nurseries Covent Garden
The heart of Covent Garden’s Petersham Nurseries is Floral Court, the fragrant courtyard that connects its spaces. Both the more formal restaurant, the Petersham and the more relaxed, La Goccia spill out so that you can dine al fresco when the weather permits. petershamnurseries.com
The Ivy Chelsea Garden, Kings Road
A spacious chi-chi garden right on the Kings Road. Leafy trellises and tinkling fountains make this a very appealing summer spot. The à la carte menu is just as you’d expect from The Ivy; old classic’s like the Ivy shepherd’s pie sit alongside new friends like the Chelsea spritz cocktail. Book ahead theivychelseagarden.com
Bar Douro, London Bridge
Out of the cool of the railway arches and into the sunshine of Flat Iron Square spill the tables of this bustling, blue-tiled Portuguese. Inspired by two of this year’s most popular destinations, Lisbon and Porto, snack on small plates of Iberico ham and char-grilled sardines along with the drink of the summer, white port and tonic. bardouro.co.uk
Quince Tree Cafe, Maida Vale
London’s oldest garden centre is a hidden oasis of calm in Maida Vale. The food is typical cafe fare – think smashed avocado on toast – but the real lure is the chance to sit at tables surrounded by the nursery’s plants and flowers and feel a million miles from central London. Breakfast and lunch only. clifton.co.uk
Italo, Vauxhall
Just a few tables and chairs on the pavement outside a corner deli. It might not sound like much but this small Italian cafe is a local secret that overflows with charm. Casual and informal, come for proper coffee, delicious sandwiches and a very warm welcome. It’s opposite Bonnington Square – so you can sit in the Pleasure Gardens if the tables are full. tripadvisor.com
The Lacy Nook, Stoke Newington
Thank you to the reader wrote in to say that we simply must include this Stoke Newington local in our round-up. Run by an all-female team, the food plays on Balkan, Middle Eastern and Asian flavours – and with a large garden seating up to 40 people it comes highly recommended. thelacynook.com
If you have a great suggestion for us please email contact@a-littlebird.com or simply comment below!
It’s goodbye for now…
The team at A Little Bird are taking a break to recharge and make some exciting changes behind-the-scenes. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
