Most magical places in London? Feeling so depressed to be back. Help me find some joy and wonder!

[Bionacan]

All that in the title really…

Hampstead Ladies’ Pond is my most magical London space.

Please give me some others and stop me from feeling gutted to be back (was living abroad in my favourite country but had to return for family reasons).

Going back many years to my first job in Holborn, we used to go to the Silver Vaults around Chancery Lane, which were good for a wander.

Home - The London Silver Vaults (silvervaultslondon.com)

Speaking of G&G
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/apr/01/most-amusing-gilbert-and-george-welcome-public-to-their-own-gallery

Bow Lane at night with St Paul's in the background. I miss the city.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie thank you - a rabbit hole I've well and truly fallen down now!

All of these! London is the absolute best. 😍

The book market on the South Bank.

The crepe place in Hampstead.

A little pub in Ealing called The Wheatsheaf.

Liberty.

Harrods food hall.

Gordon's wine bar in Villiers St.

Santa Maria pizza place.

Cat lounge cafe in Marylebone.

Little Venice.

St Katharine's dock marina

Butlers wharf

Dirty old river, must you keep rolling
Flowing into the night?
People so busy, make me feel dizzy
Taxi light shines so bright
But I don't need no friends
As long as I gaze on
Waterloo sunset
I am in paradise

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads yes, they still do concerts at St John's Smith Square

For theatre lovers I’d also highly recommend checking out the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, which is the smaller companion-theatre to the Globe. It’s lit entirely by candle-light (they lower the huge candelabra at the interval to tend to the lights) and the auditorium is beautifully built in wood with a painted ceiling. It feels really intimate and they often have music too. We saw a production acted by a young cast and sat in a box stage-left….not expecting one of the cast to appear suddenly among us in her gorgeous costume like an avenging angel!

Also, for lovers of all things Arts and Crafts: this

What a great thread. I don't live in London, but I love to visit, and every time I try to stay in a different area so I can explore and find interesting things - and there are always interesting things!

I love Highgate and Brompton cemeteries
William Morris Museum in Walthamstow
Roman Wall at the Barbican Centre

Prospect of Whitby, evening meal looking over the Thames to Canary Wharf. Stunning :)

Oh this thread is fabulous! I’m reading them all and feeling inspired - keep them coming!

Already suggested, St Dunstans in the East. Choose a warm day, take a picnic and a book. Magical place.

A day in Brockwell Park. A swim in the Lido, walk through the park, sit in the lovely walled garden, wander round the ponds and lakes, coffee at the cafe at the top of the hill (great views over London) or the one looking out over the Lido. On the way back to the tube stop off in Brixton Village for food.

Another good day would be Battersea Park and walk through to the Power Station. The front of it in the river is fab, there is a pontoon where you can sit, the inside of the building impressive. Enjoy the building and preserved architecture, ignore the shopping centre if it’s not your thing.

And anyone who says London is crap -as many do on threads involving it- I tend to find it's people who just go mainly to the west end and judge London solely on it- it's a massive place with so much more to see and do than the west end. It is easy though I know to tire of it if you live there and are massively struggling or dont have friends or family - and get in a negative mindset about it

I love London so much! Posting solely so I can find this thread again and remind myself of all these lovely places.

Yes to Battersea Park and power station. The shopping is really boring in the station, but architecturally it's really interesting. Lunch in Roti King and a cocktail in the Control Panel.

We're you in Mexico OP?
Anyway, Ally Pally is lovely for a view over London. I also love Hampstead Heath for a walk, and the gorgeous streets around it.

An alternative to the Sky Garden is over the road at 120 Fenchurch St which is also free and, if not quite as high, also offers wonderful views of London.

Great thread. I had a lovely day in London today, doing a few things I’d been meaning to do for a while: Sir John Soanes museum, the Assyrian galleries at the British Museum, a lovely little community run garden off Shaftesbury Avenue called the Phoenix Garden. Then a matinee play in the afternoon.

Following

Go for a coffee / cocktail in selfridges

I also love China town and the amazing little bakeries