Top 10 Calm London Places to Visit After Lockdown

As we all hold our breath and keep everything crossed, it does seem that here in the UK at least, we are gradually moving slowly, but ever closer to a proper relaxing of the lockdown rules.  Dates announced during a PM’s briefing at what seems an absolute age ago now, remain lodged  in our brains as we begin to make tentative plans, and think about what might be if we are all really good for just a little bit longer.

After so long in various forms of lockdown and having so little opportunity to do much, apart from exercise and stay fairly local, re-emerging back into ‘society’ may feel daunting.  For those of us living in London or planning to visit this year, I suspect we may feel slightly anxious about diving straight back into crowded places.  As always, I shall be looking forward to re-discovering some of my favourite quieter London places, whilst finding some new ones too.

It wasn’t an easy task, but I’ve drawn together the 10 places I am especially looking forward to visiting as they gradually open up over the summer months

Chelsea Physic Garden

Visiting London’s parks and gardens are always a lovely way to find moments of calm.  As a safe green space, The Chelsea Physic Garden has actually remained open all through lockdown providing just that.  I haven’t been though, so I can’t wait to visit when it is slightly warmer and I can enjoy a cup of tea in the garden with out shivering!

Daunt Books Marylebone

I have been literally counting the days until bookshops open (3 days to go as I write this!).  I long to go to any book shop, but a wander around Daunt books in Marylebone is probably top of my list.  This bookshop is very special indeed, and I can’t wait to see what books are lining their carefully curated tables and shelves.

The Sea The Sea for delicious seafood

The Sea The Sea is a fabulous fishmonger by day, and sea food bar by day and night.  It is situated on Pavilion Road in Chelsea, one of London’s prettiest independent shopping streets and a perfect place to linger and watch the world go by.  Despite this being in central London and not by the sea, I think I have had some of my favourite ever fish dishes here.

Dulwich Picture Gallery

Dulwich Picture Gallery is a lovely gallery, and I am very much looking forward to making the trip south of the river to visit.  It has an incredible permanent collection of over 600 masterpieces from the  likes of Canaletto and Rembrandt,  which are worth the trip alone.  However, I am eagerly anticipating the gallery’s first ever photography exhibition.  ‘Unearthed’ is the story of photography from the 1840’s until today, told through still life’s of plants and botany.

The Wolseley for Breakfast

The Wolseley is I believe, the most elegant place in London in which to have breakfast.  It was the first place we went when restaurants opened up back in the summer of 2020 (remember those days), and it is high on the list for this summer.  My husband always goes for the full English, but one of their yogurt and fruit pots or granola followed by banana bread and vanilla butter is my Wolseley breakfast of choice.

Fenton House Hampstead

Fenton House is my favourite National Trust Place to visit in London.  The gardens are all beautiful, and as you would imagine very well cared for.  The Walled Garden is a particular favourite with its borders packed with colourful flowers, but I also love the orchard and the rose garden.  Sitting under the shade of an apple tree during the summer months is one of the things I am expecting to do.

Choosing Keeping Stationery Shop

Choosing Keeping is a completely charming stationery shop close to both Covent Garden and Leicester Square, although with its calm interior, it feels a world away.  It sells the most seductive selection of notebooks, pens, wrapping paper, and art equipment.  Everything in this elegant store is beautiful and very covetous. If you love stationery even a little bit, you will love Choosing Keeping.

Bageriet For Coffee and Cinnamon Buns

Bageriet is a tiny Swedish cafe tucked away in a small street a few minutes from Covent Garden.  It’s my go to place for coffee and a cinnamon bun when I am in the area.  All of its products are baked on site and always look delicious.  Because it’s so tiny, bagging a table isn’t always easy but go alone and at the right time and you will have a delicious Scandinavian experience in the heart of London. Their speciality strawberry cake in midsummer is something I would be very happy to try when they properly reopen

The Garden Museum

I always consider The Garden Museum one of London’s hidden gems.  Having spent so much more time in my own garden in the last year, I find myself increasingly interested in all things ‘gardening’.  This is a perfect museum for easing yourself back into London’s culture without the crowds. It is a large galleried building full of light and ample space for visitors to wander amongst the displays and exhibits unhindered. There is a calmness to this museum which mirrors the calm experienced when spending time in an actual garden.

Annie’s for Lunch

Annie’s is one of my absolute favourite local restaurants.  Very close to the river in Chiswick, this is a restaurant I have been going to forever. The decor is pretty, vintage and slightly quirky, and the food is always plentiful and delicious. We have had many birthday and celebratory meals here. I love everything about it and can’t wait to get back…. in fact I’m already booked in!

Just compiling this list has had me fizzing with excitement at the prospect of visiting all these lovely places.  My full list is of course much longer and growing all the time as emails pop into my inbox with news of other exciting places and events being scheduled to re-open.

I would love to know what you are looking forward to visiting in London or else where in the coming months.  I’m always looking for recommendations of places to visit and add to my ‘calm and quiet’ list.