By Andrea Klettner
Photography by Mark Bramley
When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.’ So said Samuel Johnson in 1777 and, over 200 years later, it couldn’t be more true. With its vibrant street markets selling everything from the latest fashions to the pinkest rhubarb, its dazzling architecture, burgeoning contemporary art scene, mouthwatering restaurants and tech entrepreneurs to rival any in Silicon Valley, London is the place to be.
East End revival
The city’s East End is now a far cry from the days of Jack the Ripper’s 19th-century slum. The area is a hive of activity. Centred on Brick Lane, at the edge of London’s financial district, it has become home to hipsters from around the world, offering the city’s most upbeat day and night life.
Boutiques selling vintage and contemporary fashion line the cobbled streets, coming alive on Sundays, when the UpMarket fills the vast halls of an old brewery. Locals know to arrive early to grab the best bargains from young designers before stopping off for a spot of lunch at one of the stalls selling food from around the world.
Around the corner from Brick Lane, London restaurant supremo Mark Hix has his restaurant Tramshed. Here, the finest chicken and steak are on offer, all in the shadow of Cock and Bull, an installation piece by internationally renowned artist Damien Hirst.
Silicon Roundabout
Eating beside a cow and cockerel preserved in formaldehyde is not for the faint-hearted, but you might be rewarded by sighting one of London’s techie millionaires – London’s answer to Silicon Valley, Old Street, is around the corner and home to the likes of Google and TweetDeck.
At nearby London Bridge, construction is finally complete on Europe’s tallest building, the 308-metre high Shard by Italian architect Renzo Piano. This jutting, controversial tower of glass stands in complete contrast to the neighbouring Borough Market – another food lovers’ paradise, located among a maze of cobbled lanes and traditional pubs.
Southbank
A quick stroll along the Thames lies Tate Modern, a power station turned contemporary art gallery that has proved to be the most visited gallery in Europe. It now boasts the world’s first venue dedicated solely to performance art: the Tate Tanks, which once held millions of litres of gas and remain raw, concrete-lined spaces where an industrial smell stills lingers in the air.
Shopstyle
And what would London be without a trip to the shops? On the West End’s main drag, Oxford Street, Topshop still reigns supreme. Come early to avoid the crowds, grab a designer rip-off, get your hair dip-dyed at Bleach and your nails painted in a leopard-print design at Wah before heading further west to the fashionistas’ paradise that is Dover Street Market.
This isn’t a market in the traditional sense – its name belies the luxury within, for it is home to designs by Comme des Garçons, Celine and Alexander McQueen. Even its windows are a sight to behold, featuring displays by top-name designers such as architect Zaha Hadid.
Cocktail hour
As every true Londoner knows, after a busy day the only thing left to do is drink cocktails at one of the city’s trendiest bars. Callooh Callay, in the East End, serves drinks based on chart-topping songs in surroundings fit for Alice in Wonderland.
Or, for something more chilled out, there are always London’s traditional pubs, where ales are the order of the day.
