The Londoness


Born in Paris.

Made in London.

Teller of London Tales.

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17 quiet and scenic picnic spots in London

Last updated on March 12th, 2021Having trouble finding a quiet picnic spot in London, courtesy of lockdown and with restaurants off the menu? We all know the usual al fresco hangouts: Regent’s, Hyde Park, Richmond and St James’s Parks, as well as Hampstead Heath, Primrose Hill and Kew Gardens. But there are also plenty of…

The London Season

The London Season

Last updated on June 20th, 2022The Chelsea Flower Show may officially kick-start the London Season, but for me, it’s the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy that gets summer in London off to a rip-roaring start. The world’s largest open submission art exhibition signals a tee off for strawberries and cream, cucumber sandwiches, Pimms and…

Garsington Opera, Wormsley, Die Zauberflöte, Magic Flute, visit Garsington Opera

Le Nozze di Garsington Opera

Last updated on February 3rd, 2020The French for twilight is crépuscule,  a word which conjures up that gleaming, twinkling time of day which is neither light nor dark, when the Goddess Nyx starts her magic dance. And Garsington Opera puts on a witching hour like no other with the thrilling sound of music and song…

Victorian Tea V & A, V & A Tea review, Museum Tea London, prettiest tea rooms in London, William Morris London, historical tea London

Victorian Afternoon Tea at the V & A Museum

Last updated on June 1st, 2018The Victorian Afternoon Tea at the Victoria and Albert Museum had me at seed cake. These two words always bring my childhood back in a whoosh of nostalgia wrapped in a cocoon of Englishness. If seed cake was good enough for Bilbo Baggins and his Unexpected Party, then it’s good…

Andrew Parmley, Lord Mayor of London

So Long and Farewell Lord Mayor of London

Last updated on March 5th, 2021The Lord Mayor of London, Andrew Parmley, and I go back a long way. To 2003 precisely when he was known simply as Dr Parmley, or Dr P. I would be invited to his office on an all-too regular basis to discuss the very bad behaviour of my eldest, Clarissa….