Olde London: Places and Spaces We Love
A majestic pub with Tudor roots, a secret street for bibliophiles, a restaurant Miss Havisham would have adored, an Arts and Crafts house museum, a neo-Victorian afternoon tea
For anyone who feels depressed by the ubiquity of the modern cityscape, where so much these days seems to flatten into an overwhelming sameness, I've put together a deep dive into Olde London, that town of hidden marvels, full of medieval cobblestoned streets, cozy dark wood-lined restaurants, eccentric house museums, historic pubs, and endless tea shops. I have kept an ongoing tally, mostly garnered over the last ten years of very regular visits, including a few summers spent studying painting at the famous Slade School. Every hour spent traversing this city’s cultural landscape feeds my soul — there’s a life force bubbling beneath the ancient streets that breeds a reverence for history and imagination and makes it a delight for those of us who prefer the singular to the commonplace. Here, a few cherished turn-back-the-clock stops that should top the list of any respectable guide to Olde London's charms.