If you’ve been lamenting the lack of decent shopping areas in central London lately, I’ve got welcome news. Whilst Oxford Street may be slowly dying at the hands of tacky trainer outlets and dodgy ‘American candy’ stores, and Bond Street has become just a bit, dare I say it, trashy, there is one neighbourhood that still reliably retains its class, dignity and style.
Marylebone Village, nestled between the greenery of Regent’s Park and the mega-wealth of Mayfair, affords ample opportunity for upmarket retail therapy. And, as well as a range of chic boutiques and upmarket ateliers, there’s a whole host of luxury hotels, first-rate restaurants plus some excellent cultural and entertainment venues. A smart, bustling community with an elegant and diverse High Street at its heart, Marylebone Village makes the ideal destination for a luxury London weekend.
Where to stay: The Marylebone Hotel
Despite its 250 rooms and ‘big hotel’ facilities – such as an on-site Third Space gym with pool and spa – The Marylebone Hotel feels more like a chic boutique establishment. Part of the upscale Doyle Collection, it hits the sweet spot between fashionable modernity and old-school splendour. The generously proportioned rooms are decorated in tastefully neutral tones with the odd striking design accent here and there to provide artistic relief, such as a pair of orange 70s style bucket chairs underneath the Georgian sash windows. Opulent bathrooms in Italian marble come equipped with toiletries from New York brand Malin+Goetz.
Downstairs, The Cocktail Bar and 108 Brasserie are destinations in their own right, the latter having an additional separate entrance accessed from the cobbled streets of uber-chic Marylebone Lane. Both attract a casually glamorous but unstuffy clientele. Dress up or dress down; just enjoy the buzzy ambience and blackened miso salmon. Then head back upstairs to stream movies from your phone onto the huge in-room TV (using the built-in Chromecast facility) whilst propped up in the ultrawide, ultralux bed.
The Marylebone Hotel, 47 Welbeck Street, London W1G 8DN.
Where to get that gorgeous summer dress: Wyse
Founder Marielle Wyse, who’s half English, half French, designs clothes for women with a sense of joie de vivre aged 18 to 80. She consults with customers over Instagram to create small batches of expertly cut, excellent quality clothing that make women feel confident. The Marylebone shop, her first in London, feels inviting and inclusive. On my visit, she was behind the counter offering advice to loyal customers and newcomers alike, helping them to choose the right outfit to suit their own personal style.
95 Marylebone High St, London W1U 4RJ
Where to get that special suit: Fursac
Fursac have been dressing gentlemen with unmistakably French flair since 1973. Originally from the town of Saint Etienne de Fursac in central France, this revered brand is now under the creative directorship of Gauthier Borsarello who is also the fashion editor of L’etiquette magazine. Offering everything from formal tailoring to urban causal wear, the clothes are classic with a contemporary twist, and flattering to men of nearly all shapes and ages (even mine!).
12 Marylebone High St, London W1U 4NR
Shop for a sweet tooth: Rococo Chocolates
British confectioners Rococo have been making chocolate for over 35 years. As well as the standard milk, dark and white varieties, they also create fabulous concoctions using blonde and ruby chocolate. They do a very fancy Marylebone Hamper to celebrate their home here just off the High Street. Or you can, as I did, grab a cup of deliciously rich hot chocolate to take out and enjoy whilst you peruse the sculptures in Paddington Street Gardens just up the road.
3 Moxon Street, London W1U 4EP
Shop for your home: David Mellor
David Mellor’s designs have been gracing the dinner tables of some of the finest houses in the land for generations. His cutlery and glassware have been used at various British embassies around the world and in many of this nation’s great institutions. One of Britain’s truly great design all-rounders, his iconic ‘Pride’ set will be 70 years old next year but still retains a timeless quality. His Marylebone store has everything for the home and carries housewares by other designers as well as by David himself.
14 New Cavendish St, London W1G 8UW
Stop for lunch: Blandford Comptoir
A Marylebone ‘must-do’, this Mediterranean restaurant specialises in Italian-influenced food and boasts a 300-strong wine with a focus on the Rhone Valley. Jay Rayner called it ‘cosmopolitan, suave, charming’. He wasn’t wrong. The relaxed and informal setting, with seats at the bar (or comptoir; French for counter), is popular with stylishly understated locals as well as in-the-know visitors. Choose small plates such as smoked ham hock and parsley croquettes with burgundy mustard or main courses like pea and shallot tortellini with pecorino, paired with a crisp cold Viognier from Chateau Pesquié.
1 Blandford St, London W1U 3DA
Shop for something sparkly: Kastur Jewels
Inspired by her Indian heritage and the country’s Mughal to Edwardian periods from the 16th to 19th centuries, Rajvi Vora’s jewellery designs are contemporary classics for the modern woman. Her earrings, necklets, rings and bracelets have been featured in newspapers and magazines such as Vogue, Elle and the Financial Times. Even London’s Victoria and Albert Museum described Kasturjewels as ‘beautiful, wearable and interesting’. Her charming boutique, just steps from chic Marylebone Lane, feels like stepping into a sparkly Aladdin’s cave of treasures.
14 Bulstrode Street, London W1U 2JG
Where to get some comic relief: The Cartoon Museum
Close to Oxford Street underground station, this collection of over 200 original cartoons, caricatures and comics traces the history of an art form which provides both entertainment and social commentary. From classic comics such as the Beano and 2000AD, through the ‘saucy’ postcards of Donald McGill, right up to political cartoonists such as Matt, Steve Bell and Gerald Scarfe. One of London’s lesser known but most fascinating museums.
63 Wells Street, London W1A 3AE
Something for the weekend: John Bell and Croyden
Normally, a chemist’s shop wouldn’t make it on to the pages of a luxury orientated publication like this. John Bell and Croyden is no ordinary apothecary however. With a history dating back to 1798, they stock a range of aristocratic British beauty, health and wellbeing brands and also hold a Royal Warrant as pharmacists to the Queen. Now we know where Her Majesty will be nipping out to for a packet of Alka Seltzer the morning after her big jubilee party this summer!
54 Wigmore Street, London
Where to round off all that shopping with a nice spot of tea: Mandeville Hotel
There’s nothing so quintessentially English as afternoon tea. The Reform Social and Grill at the quirkily elegant Mandeville Hotel offers a novel take on this British classic. In addition to a regular Afternoon Tea, they also serve a ‘Gentleman’s’ version which features mini Yorkshire Puddings potted with roast beef as well as diminutively sized salmon and cream cheese bagels. They’ve a mouth-watering range of different tea blends to choose from too.
Mandeville Place, London W1U 2BE
Where to take in a show: The Cockpit
Originally called the Gateforth Street Youth Arts Centre, this 50-year-old fringe theatre on the edge of Marylebone was renamed as a nod to the cockfighting rings that used to be a regular fixture in London right up until the late 1960s. Luckily, there’s no poultry-related punch-ups here; just a diverse range of innovative plays, shows, concerts and other live entertainment performed in-the-round.
Gateforth Street, London NW8 8EH
Where to end the night in style: 28°-50° By Night
Situated next to the original 28°-50° restaurant, its jazzy little brother delivers the same food, wine and excellent service but all accompanied by some delicious live jazz. Sets by regular and guest artists feature Dixieland, trad, blues, swing and stomp. The atmosphere is intimate and sophisticated with the crowd appreciative of some of the best known names on London’s jazz scene who often stop by to play.
76 Jason Ct, Wigmore St, London W1U 2SJ
What else is on
Marylebone Food Festival is a six-day event for foodies (and drinkies!) running from Tuesday 26th April to Sunday 1st May, in support of London charity The Food Chain.
Marylebone Summer Festival is the village’s annual summer event, returning this year on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th June. Events include an open-air cinema, dog show, alfresco bars, live music as well as a host of other family-friendly activities. Many of Marylebone’s shops, restaurants and bars will be offering a range of special activities, discounts and menus, as well as extended opening hours, across the weekend.
For more information visit marylebonevillage.com
