LONDON, BY PENHALIGON'S

Leafy | Scenic | Exclusive
Good for: Panoramic views, park strolls and people-watching

Primrose Hill is London with the volume turned down and the view turned up. It boasts a handsome hill and a handsome crowd, where poets, prams, and the quietly famous all take the air. Mornings smell of good coffee and better intentions; afternoons drift into rosé and gentle people watching. Villagey, yes, but with a quiet suspicion that everyone here knows exactly what they’re doing. Civilised, scenic and just smug enough to get away with it.

DON'T TELL DAD

At Don't Tell Dad, mischief is practically policy. One of London’s best-loved bakeries by day, and a rather accomplished bistro by night, it turns flour, wine, and neighbourhood chatter into a full-day affair. Go for the oxtail crumpet - sticky, rich, and faintly scandalous… then have it quietly again, preferably with something indulgent in the glass.

SAM'S CAFE

On a Primrose Hill corner, Sam’s Café plays the humble neighbourhood café very well – though it’s rather more cultured than it lets on. There’s an artist-in-residence programme, supper clubs, and the occasional literary gathering. Between exhibitions and espressos, the fishcakes with hollandaise is a good place to start.

ROUNDHOUSE

Step into the Roundhouse, where the architecture is Victorian but the spirit is now. The stage welcomes an eclectic parade this year: from the defining voice of legendary Gilberto Gil, the masked-country charm of Orville Peck, to the nostalgic return of Rilo Kiley, if you can fit it in your calendar. It’s an institution worthy of repeat visits. Do try to keep up; the stage waits for no one, and neither does the bar.​

SHAKESPEARE'S TREE

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Shakespeare’s Tree is less a botanical marvel and more a quietly loaded gesture, planted (and replanted) in honour of the Bard’s enduring pull. It stands in full leaf during the summer months, attracting the mildly curious and the theatrically inclined alike. A spot for reflection? Certainly. Maybe even a picnic. Though one suspects even Shakespeare might have preferred a nearby drink.

REGENT'S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE

Set among the trees, the stage here is refreshingly unbothered by walls or ceilings. Summer evenings arrive with birdsong, a little breeze, and the pleasant sense that theatre might be exactly where it ought to be: outdoors. If classic is your thing, you’ll adore this summer’s performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream – which feels rather fitting for a story involving magic, moonlight, and a touch of mischief.

THE WALLACE COLLECTION

London takes on a fetching glow at The Wallace Collection, where days unfold among gilded frames and quietly confident masterpieces. Summer offers a lineup of curator chats, late-night revelry, and the odd musical trill in the courtyard - it’s culture with a social streak. Time it with an exhibition, if you can. A leisurely drift from flirtatious Fragonards to rather serious weaponry leaves a curious sense of refinement.