If you’re a design enthusiast, you’ll be familiar with the way a beautiful building or a dash around an antiques market can leave you feeling jubilant and energised. It’s instinctive for design-driven travellers to seek out the products, surroundings and architecture that will leave them buzzing with ideas and inspiration, and it’s hard to empathise unless you get it, but depending on their surroundings, an aesthete’s mood can be dialled up or down faster than hotel room air-con.
Visiting friends (and Instagram followers) often ask us where to shop for homeware when they only have a day or two to explore London. Unsurprisingly, they’re usually looking for interesting shops and pieces they won’t find on every other high street. Then, the next question is where to stay and where to eat.
With that in mind, we’ve created a design lovers’ guide to West London, organised by area and walkability. By basing yourself in one corner of the city, you’ll see as much as possible on foot, without a stressful schedule or wasted hours travelling from Hackney to Hammersmith to Hampstead. We’ve also asked a handful of West London locals to share their favourite spots with us.
Notting Hill and Golborne Road
Let’s imagine you’ve hopped off the tube at Notting Hill Gate (or perhaps you’ve walked from Kensington High Street). Start with a spot of vintage rug shopping at Manol Popham, followed by modern rug shopping at wonderful Vanderhurd. The latter is appointment-only and not open at weekends, but it’s a lovely building and definitely worth a visit if you’re looking for something special and very well made. If you’re at the top end of Portobello Road and feeling hungry, treat yourself to a delicious lunch at Gold, which is unassuming from the outside but a great spot for sunny outdoor dining in their plant-filled garden room.
The best day to visit Notting Hill is Friday, as that’s when the antiques market is held. Start at the top and work your way down the stalls, towards Ladbroke Grove (via the homeware upstairs in Couverture and The Garbstore, plus the beautiful Toast shop and fantastic old picture frames at Lacy Gallery – both on Westbourne Grove).
From the Westway bridge onwards, you can still find some real vintage bargains if you’re at the market bright and early on a Friday. Make sure to stop at The Cloth Shop along the way for inexpensive striped linens and interesting old textiles. The best part of the antiques market leads up to and continues along Golborne Road. While you’re there, grab a coffee from the Golborne Deli (a local institution) and then you’ll want to shop at 88 Antiques, Muirshin Durkin, Golborne 44, Erno Deco and Universal Providers – all of which sell vintage furniture and objects. Nushka and Trove are also essential shopping stops for beautiful pieces that you won’t find anywhere else.
When we asked for insider tips from West London locals, several of them were for restaurants around Notting Hill, so perhaps plan your homeware shopping around a breakfast or lunch stop?
Designer Matilda Goad says her favourite breakfast spot is The Tin Shed on All Saints Road as it’s so charming and has a secret little courtyard garden. Also on All Saints Road, Natalie Sytner, founder of Bettina Ceramica recommends The Pelican, which has recently reopened as a cosy neighbourhood gastro pub after a revamp in collaboration with Studio Squire. Interior designer Lonika Chande swears that the goat’s cheese and maple truffle twists at Layla Bakery are among the best things she’s ever eaten. Slightly further away towards Queen’s Park, Lonika also raves about Ida, which is an authentic and unfussy Italian trattoria that feels cosy in winter but is also great for summer pavement suppers. If you make it as far as Ida, it makes sense to combine it with a visit to see Retrouvius’s latest reclaimed stock in nearby Kensal Green.
South Kensington and Kensington High Street
A stone’s throw from the King’s Road, you’ll find the streets leading towards South Kensington, most of which are lined with vast, white-painted dream houses. Your shopping highlights here include The Conran Shop, which is a must-do in its own right, especially since the Grade II-listed Michelin House that it occupies is such a spectacular building. Just down the road from Conran are Jonathan Adler, Andrew Martin, OKA’s large flagship store and also de Gournay, for luxurious hand-painted wallpapers.
Around Kensington High Street, you’ll definitely want to make a beeline for 8 Holland Street, plus Japan House London. The excellent biannual Hand Sale is held near Kensington High Street (the next one is November) and it’s the ideal time to stock up on Kirsten Hecktermann’s hand-dyed velvet cushions. The Design Museum is handily located here too and it backs onto pretty Holland Park with its Japanese garden, so you can easily tick-off nature and culture while you’re in the area.
For lunch in a really charming setting, head to Maggie Jones’s, and for great coffee and pastries, try Hjem, a little Nordic bakery set amongst the neighbourhood’s impossibly attractive houses.
Pimlico Road and Belgravia
Even if you’ve never been before, you’re probably familiar with the Pimlico Road in Belgravia as it’s a one-stop-shop for lovers of exceptional design. Although not a street where you’ll snap up a bargain, don’t feel too intimidated just because the shop doors might be closed, or perhaps there are no other customers looking around. Pimlico Road isn’t trade-only – anyone can browse and you’ll find people are generally friendly and happy to help, so don’t psych yourself out of going inside the shops to take a look.
You could easily dedicate an entire afternoon to this small section of road and some of the must-do shops include; Robert Kime, Paolo Moschino, Carl Hansen, Pinch, Rose Uniacke, Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, Jamb, Soane Britain, Fermoie, Howe, Luke Irwin, Edward Bulmer and Sinclair Till. The brilliant mix of shops on Pimlico Road means you’ll find everything from antiques to contemporary furniture and fabrics to lighting.
If you’re in need of decent coffee before you leave the area, there’s a small branch of Hagen (a Scandinavian espresso bar) and they usually have a great filter coffee, if you’re into that kind of thing. There are large windows and a couple of seats out on the pavement – good for people-watching. If you need a snack or food to keep for later, try Daylesford Organic, which is halfway down the street and also sells lovely kitchenware. Not too far away (towards Victoria Station), Wild by Tart is a wonderful choice for lunch or dinner – it’s a chic and airy space, flooded with light, and the food is delicious. They too have a small but tasteful edit of kitchenware in their little shop at the front of the restaurant. Slightly further but still easily walkable, Anya Hindmarch has her pop-up shop and cafe in the ‘Anya Village’ on Pont Street, which also happens to sell the best value cheese toastie around, plus a playful afternoon tea if you’re tired of shopping. There’s also the ever-cool Café Kitsuné for coffee, cakes and Japanese-style sandos, plus their adjoining lifestyle shop in a striking high-ceilinged space.
Sloane Square and the King’s Road
Only five minutes from Pimlico Road, Sloane Square is a great place to stop for lunch before or after you tackle the King’s Road. Colbert is a classic if you love a characterful, buzzy bistro. The main restaurant is great but breakfast or lunch in the bar area is even better. Head to pedestrianised Pavilion Road for great interiors and Aussie dishes at Granger & Co. (their breakfast is legendary). For something sweet, there’s Ice Cream Union or Ottolenghi. This really is a treat of a street and always feels a bit like being on holiday when the streets are filled with al fresco diners. As you peruse the food, pop into Papersmiths to stock up on stylish stationery.
If you’re still peckish by the time you get to Duke of York Square, Vardo makes seriously delicious sharing plates in a contemporary rounded restaurant. From here, you could pop into the Saatchi Gallery next door to enjoy the modern art, or head to Soho Home to marvel at their impressive flagship space, which is another great spot to grab a coffee while you take five on their sofas.
The King’s Road is a long one, so wear flat shoes and jot down the following shops to stop off at along the way… Try Sigmar for a high-end selection of Mid-Century pieces and Designers Guild for fabrics and an interesting edit of home accessories in the basement. On Langton Street, Kelling Designs is worth a look for colourful lacquered lamps, plus a fabulous selection of textiles at both The Fabric Collective and Guy Goodfellow Collection a couple of doors down.
If you need wine (and truffle chips) along the way, The Surprise pub is a five-minute diversion off the King’s Road and it’s decked out with smart interiors by designer Isabella Worsley.
At the bottom end of The King’s Road, Go Modern offers contemporary furniture and just across the bridge in Battersea, Emily’s House has one of the best selections of vintage Moroccan rugs, plus brilliantly chunky braided jute styles. Design Centre at Chelsea Harbour (a mecca for interior designers) is also in this corner of Chelsea. Now, the Design Centre is more of a hotspot for trade visitors, but until 1 July, there’s a brilliant immersive exhibition called WOW!house, with rooms by designers including Rita Konig, Brandon Schubert and Joanna Plant.
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Fulham, Barnes and Chiswick
It might be a little out of the way to justify a pilgrimage on a short weekend trip, but the Lillie Road in Fulham is known for its upscale interiors and antiques shops, including the excellent Puckhaber. From there, the iconic River Cafe (one of the best restaurants in London) is loved by many Londoners for superb Italian cooking in a chic setting designed by legendary architect Richard Rogers.
Olivia Thorpe, the founder of luxury glassware brand Vanderohe Curio, says one of her favourite hidden gems in West London is Olympic Studios in Barnes, which is “a beautifully appointed Art Deco building of real cultural significance”. Now a cinema, restaurant and member’s club, at one time, Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones both recorded albums there, and Olivia adds that “the Olympic Cafe has the best veggie burger around”.
Just across the river in Chiswick, digital creator and brand consultant Lucy Williams recommends The Old Cinema on Chiswick High Road as it’s “a bit of a wonder emporium and one of the best places to source antiques and vintage from all eras”. Lucy also recommends The Carpenter’s Arms for dinner or drinks as it’s “the kind of neighbourhood pub we all want on our doorstep; with eclectic decor, mismatched crockery, amazing seasonal food and a cosy courtyard garden strung with fairy lights”.
Alice Wawrik, the founder of By Alice, also chose Chiswick as one of her favourite places off the main tourist trail. Alice used to work in events at Chiswick House and Garden, which is a neo-Palladian villa set in 65 acres of landscaped grounds and it happens to be directly opposite Alice’s other recommendation, which is the car boot sale at Chiswick School, which is held on the first Sunday of every month. It’s also worth noting that there’s a small antiques market on Chiswick High Road on the second Sunday of each month.
Charlie Porter, founder of Tat London, chose Emery Walker’s House, just off Chiswick Mall. The interiors of the Arts and Crafts home have been preserved to remain as they were in Emery’s lifetime, including wallpaper and prints by his close friend, William Morris. If you work up a thirst after your house tour, the lovely Elder Press Cafe is mere steps away and does a stellar breakfast, coffee and cake in a contemporary setting.
Where to stay
So, where to base yourself for the weekend? If you think you’ll spend most time around Chelsea and the Pimlico Road, go for Beaverbrook Townhouse, with characterful interiors designed by Nicola Harding. If you happen to be a Soho House member, White City House has cool, 1960s-influenced guest rooms in the old Television Centre building and you can (just about) walk to Holland Park and Notting Hill from there. The Laslett is a boutique hotel with a super location close to Notting Hill Gate and the Princess Royal is a relatively new pub relaunch, with stylish bedrooms upstairs and a setting conveniently close to Westbourne Grove’s best shops and brunch restaurants. If you’d rather stay in leafy Kensington, soak up Kit Kemp’s pattern-on-pattern with a small hotel stay from the plush Firmdale group, such as Number Sixteen, which is moments from The Conran Shop in South Kensington.
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