London is Pink– and that's just how we like it! Guest post by Julie of London is Pink

When you think of London, Big Ben and the Queen probably pop into your mind, but have you heard of the Brits love affair with the color pink? Leave it to London to be well ahead of the millennial pink trend! Hi, I’m Julie of London is Pink and I’m thrilled to be sharing some of my favorite places around London with you! I moved to London from Washington, D.C. 4 years ago with my family and after too many grey British days, I started taking photos of pink houses to cheer me up. My hunt for pink put me in the most beautiful neighborhoods with gorgeous gardens, cafes, shops, and lovely people! I owe a lot to the color pink for opening my eyes to the beauty and vibrancy of this city. I hope you’ll get the chance to visit soon and experience it for yourself!

1. Maybe this is too obvious, but my favorite city is London! Whenever I come back to London after I’ve been traveling, I reconnect with the energy of this amazing city, the beautiful parks and neighborhoods, and the food. They say if you’re tired of London, you’re tired of life, and I think that’s true! Endless places to explore – like the adorable mews houses where I find so many pink gems – and with my two young children in tow, we love to explore the many beautiful parks around the city.


2. Part of the reason I like walking so much in this city is out of necessity to fit into my jeans! If I’m not eating, I’m thinking about my next meal. For breakfast, I love Eggbreak for their naughty pancakes with maple caramel sauce and eggs benny. Brunch/lunch can’t miss the Australian café Granger & Co. For dinner, head to Le Relais de Venise in Marylebone for Steak Frites with a green peppercorn sauce that is completely addictive and endless frites! The best fish and chips are in North London at Toffs, don’t try and convince me otherwise. It’s an experience! If you’re a bakery girl like me, you can’t miss the cakes at Peggy Porschen, the cardamom buns from Fabrique, the eclairs from Maitre Choux, and the doughnuts from Bread Ahead. Also, I couldn’t leave out afternoon tea: an institution in London! Head to sketch for mega on-trend pink interiors and a magical culinary experience to match. Book ahead though, as they do fill up.

3. On the rare occasion I get to go shopping, I head to my high street, which is filled with some of my favorites like Cos, Whistles, and Jigsaw. I love window shopping at the gorgeous Pretty Ballerinas for their ballet flats. For vintage and homeware, Pedlars in Notting Hill carries beautiful supplies that would pass the Wes Anderson test. My favorite kind of shopping is probably for children's clothes. I adore La Coqueta in Hampstead for darling vintage inspired Spanish clothing or Scandi Mini in Brook Green for fun, modern pieces.


4. It’s easy to feel like a local in London when you walk around Primrose Hill. This little village enclave just in North London has pastel homes lining the streets and small cafes for when you’re feeling peckish – I love popping into Melrose and Morgan to pick up some locally made goodies and head to the top of the park for stunning views of London.


5. We take all of our first time visitors to the big sites – Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London – but when they come again, we get to dig a little deeper and take them to our favorite places! One of these places is definitely Notting Hill. Portobello Road is packed with the prettiest houses, vintage shops, Instagrammable cafes, and row after row of tiny mews houses! One of my favorite mews is St. Lukes, with the prettiest pink house of Love Actually fame (Kiera Knightly’s character lived in this house!). I could spend all day stopping in the shops around Portobello Road and Westbourne Grove, and my visitors are always happy when we stop by Ottolenghi for treats after our walk!

Thanks for letting me share some of my favorite London spots! Be sure to look me up when you come visit!