The Londoness


Born in Paris.

Made in London.

Teller of London Tales.

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The London Blog

Follow me and my London Blog for a capital round-up of London's historical, quirky and unusual places. Visit some of city's best museums and galleries, get a supreme peek at Royal London, and grab a seat next to me as I eat my way around London's restaurants.

London Best Tour Guides

London’s Best Tour Guides

Last updated on September 25th, 2024Are you looking for the best tour guide in London? Hiring a private tour guide or joining a public tour in London can be one of the best ways to experience the capital as a tourist, or even as a Londoner. You might be looking for an accredited Blue Badge…

Rokeby Venus, Venus at her Mirror, National Gallery

In Conversation with Venus at the National Gallery

Last updated on September 21st, 2021I’m Venus at Her Mirror, but some people call me the Rokeby Venus or the Toilet of Venus. You can just call me Venus. The little fellow holding my mirror and helping me with my toilette  is my son, Cupid. Maestro Diego Velasquez’s bold brushstrokes poured life into this, my…

Best museum shops in London

The best museum shops in London

Last updated on March 12th, 2021How much fun is it to browse and buy in a museum shop? It’s my guilty pleasure, and I must admit, I could get lost for hours snooping around London’s fabulous museum and gallery gift shops. And with “are we aren’t we” lockdown and social distancing, the best way to…

London’s best independent bookshops, Bookshops of London

Bookshops of London

Last updated on February 27th, 2023London is arguably the greatest literary city in the world, and there is nothing better than losing yourself in the stacks and shelves of the capital’s bookshops. Sadly, lockdown and social distancing have thrown an economic spanner in the works for our capital’s booksellers. But fret not book lovers, here…

NW Live, Bloomsbury Festival 2020

NW Live at the Bloomsbury Festival 2020

Last updated on October 28th, 2020With further restrictions looming in the London air like a thick Dickensian fog, I spent last week dashing around town trying to tick as many cultural boxes as possible.  On Friday, I managed to catch up with some music – and not just any ordinary music. This was the Music…

Brilliant restaurant

Restaurant Review: Brilliant in Southall

Last updated on May 2nd, 2023What’s in a name? I’m in Southall to review Brilliant restaurant, and my greedy fingers are crossed that it’s as brilliant as it says it is. Apparently, it’s King Charles’s favourite Indian restaurant and it seems Boris is also a fan. And with “Curry Queen” Dipna Anand at the culinary…

Oxford Lieder 2020, review

Oxford Lieder 2020 Review: Song in the Age of Corona

Covid-19 and its pesky restrictions threw a spanner in the Oxford Lieder Festival 2020 works this year, but it didn’t dampen the spirits or the music. The UK’s biggest song festival went online instead, streaming over 40 magnificent recital concerts and events, most of them live and all set in historical surroundings across the city….

Watts Gallery, Village

Watts Gallery and Artists’ Village Highlights

Last updated on May 14th, 2024If ever there was an excuse to visit the village of Compton in Surrey, the Watts Gallery is it. Located near Guildford, the Watts Village is dedicated to the works of the Victorian painter and sculptor, George Frederic Watts, and it’s one of the few galleries in the UK devoted…

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