Marylebone

Marylebone is one of the few areas of London that approaches the density of European capitals like Paris, replete with Mansion Blocks .

Marylebone’s most famous road is of course Baker Street, fictional home of Sherlock Holmes. Inevitably he’s got a slightly dodgy sounding “museum”, memorably described on Reddit .

I know I usually like to tell you how to pronounce place names but Marylebone is such a linguistic disaster zone that you’re on your own. The name is derived from an ancient Parish church - St Mary’s - which was on the banks of the river Tyburn. A fashionably continental le was added to the name in the 1600s. The church still stands, now in a Georgian building.

You can see the earlier, medieval interior of the church in Hogarth’s The Rake’s Marriage which can be found in Sir John Soane’s Museum.

Wallace Collection

The Wallace Collection, open to the public since 1900, is definitely tied with Spencer House as one of the most opulent places I’ve visited so far. Even if you’re not interested in art history it is worth a visit to marvel at all the gold, chandeliers and even the colourful wallpaper - an odd thing to draw attention to, but it really is something.

The collection comprises a huge amount of 15th - 19th century art, furniture and armour arranged throughout the grand state rooms of Hertford House. A lot of it was purchased from Revolutionary France and it is easy to forget that you’re in grey old London as you see it all.

At the centre of the house is a pleasant glass covered courtyard where you’ll find a restaurant and adjacent cafe which serves afternoon tea.

WatchHouse

WatchHouse is a chain so I wasn’t super excited to visit but I was actually very impressed.

The flat white was very good and there’s a nice brunch menu. Being a stereotypical millenial I ordered the avocado toast and it was equally great. As a result WatchHouse has become a regular lunch time choice of mine!

They also clearly put more effort into their interiors than most coffee chains, expect trendy light woods with, in Marylebone at least, a huge bar at the centre displaying pastries.

Regent's Park

Regents Park is large and ornamental, with lots of carefully manicured gardens, you won’t find much wild woodland here.

There are extensive rose gardens to be seen during the Spring, they were just about clinging on to life when I was there in June.

The Park contains London Zoo, and is surrounded by magnificent Georgian terraces.