November is one of the best months to be in London. Think Sunday roasts and pints in the pub, golden leaves covering the paths of every park, and the first hints of Christmas jazzing up the shop windows (Fortnum & Mason’s is the best and you can’t convince me otherwise). It’s also prime time for getting cosy in the city’s best new dining spots. High on my list this month is Impala. I’ve heard so many good things about this North-African-meets-Mediterranean dining concept from chef Meedu Saad (previously Kiln) on Soho’s Dean Street, so I can’t wait to check it out. Then there’s Café 22, a beautiful new French restaurant tucked inside Mayfair’s The Twenty Two. I was sold the moment I read the words ‘roaming martini trolley’…
November is also the perfect time to tap into London’s cultural scene. Tate Britain’s Vanessa Bell & Duncan Grant exhibition, celebrating two of the Bloomsbury Group’s most influential figures, is high on the agenda. Then there’s MUBI’s first film festival at Hackney Picturehouse, which promises to be well worth grabbing tickets for. I love jazz, so a visit to the brand new Blue Note London is also on the cards. There are too many great shows to choose from, but legendary British saxophonist Courtney Pine on 30 November and 1 December is my top pick!
I’m starting my winter escapes on a high, with a weekend at Eleven Deplar Farm. This Icelandic retreat has been on my bucket list for some time, and while I’m looking forward to seeing that otherworldly landscape (and, fingers crossed, some Northern Lights), it’s the wildlife encounters I’m most excited about – from whale watching to horseback riding. Next, I’ll be hopping over to the Emerald Isle for a stay at Ballyfin, one of Ireland’s most impressive country-house hotels, before a Twixmas road trip to Scotland for stays at WildLand’s Lundies House and Ferryman’s Cottage. Catch me by a roaring fire, cocktail in hand, when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve.
To see me through the colder months, there are a few wardrobe and home pieces I have my eye on. DeMellier’s Stockholm bag has been on my wishlist for a while, and I love this chic chocolate version with Romee Strijd. I might have to treat myself to a trip to their shiny new flagship in Sloane Square to see it in person! With Nothing Underneath nail knitwear, and this toasty wool jumper will be perfect for all my winter travel plans. I’m eyeing Alohas’ black leather Gabe loafers, too: comfortable enough for a day on my feet yet smart enough for dinner. Finally, Rise & Fall’s linen duvet set and chenille bedspread are just the cosy bedroom refresh I’m after, while Ruggable’s new collection with Jonathan Adler might be the excuse I didn’t know I needed to jazz up our living room ahead of the festive season.