Ahh London – The centre of an Empire (somewhat smaller now…), the birthplace of Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (17 Bruton Street, Mayfair) and…erm…the home of the Spice Girls (well – some of them).
London is a city that offers year-round entertainment options for local and visitor alike. However, summer is when the city really comes alive with a tangible mood of excitement thanks to long languid daylight that lends itself to a chilled glass of wine over conversation with friends. The sense of bonhomie is only heigthened when the city plays host to the world’s finest tennis players at the ‘All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club’…Wimbledon.
The smell of freshly cut grass, the strawberrys and cream and the tennis whites all make for a spiffingly gay old time. Unfortunately, the two weeks that the Wimbledon Tournament is on has a nasty habit of reminding the world why London has a rather inconvenient reputation regarding poor weather (Newsflash – not this year!). Regardless of rain or shine the Mr Aristotle guide to the best things to do in London is here…
Scenic Mini Tour
In a hurry? Hate traffic? ‘Don’t do‘ buses? Never fear. What better way to get acquainted with the city than with a private tour in a 1960’s Mini Cooper? The perfect vehicle for nipping through the notorious gridlock. With the popularity of British bands and MOD fashion, London was the hip and happening place during its peak in the ‘swinging sixties’. One of the ultimate symbols during this time was BMC’s Mini Cooper. This private scenic tour will have you racing through the ancient Roman area to the Royal Palaces, the renowned West End to the Tower of London. With your own private driver, feel like the cast of ‘The Italian Job’ as you zip through the streets on one of the best tours in London. Don’t forget the flat cap.
Shop Up A Storm At Borough Market
What is a visit to London without tasting some of the Britain’s finest fresh produce? One of the city’s oldest and largest food markets, Borough Market has been the spot for lunch in London since 1017 (though some people say that it’s been around “probably a lot longer“) and has been fuelling Londoners for generations. Not only does it supply fresh food, but its quintessential ‘Britishness’ has lent itself to various films including Bridget Jones’s Diary, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels as well as Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Home to colourful characters, this centrally located market has been a magnet for celebrity chefs such as Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey.
A Walk Down Savile Row
There is naught much more British than a tailored three piece suit – and to get the best tailored suit one only has to take a leisurely stroll down Savile Row. Home to bespoke suit tailoring, some of the world’s finest tailors have set up shop in the ‘golden mile of tailoring’ including Gieves & Hawkes, Kilgour, Richard James and Huntsman. With such a star studded line up of tailors, comes star studded customers such as Lord Nelson, Napoleon, Winston Churchill, Prince Charles and just about any other President/Prince/Maharajah worth his salt. If you are seeking traditional elegance or a more contemporary cut and have a few thousand pounds in your well-lined pocket Savile Row will deliver…impeccably.
For those wanting a style reboot, but may not have the time for a bespoke tailored suit, our personal stylist is more than happy to take you through some of London’s other premier shopping districts.
Floris of London
If it is good enough for Ian Fleming and James Bond then it is good enough for us. Welcome to the second oldest perfumery in the world – Floris London. Home to some of the world’s finest fragances, Floris London has been family owned and operated since 1730. Located in Jermyn Street (select yourself a shirt whilst in the neighbourhood…) and awarded 17 Royal warrants including both Prince Charles and The Queen, this is the place to go for any self-respecting fragrance connoisseur. Treat your senses to an array of aromas, some of which were originally created in the late 1700’s as you soak up an interior that remains largely unchanged for generations. Timeless.
Wimbledon
Given it is summer and we are rather partial to a little sport here in MrA HQ we could not let this guide be published without a passing mention of arguably the most iconic tennis tournament in the world. Wimbledon. Also known as ‘The Championships’, Wimbledon has been the premier tennis tournament since 1877 and is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments of the year. What we particularly love about this event is that it is one of the few great sporting occasions where you can still obtain face-value tickets and ground passes on the day (last 4 days not included) in order to experience the quintessential English summer games. Sit back, pour some Pimms, indulge in a bowl of strawberries and cream and enjoy the show.
Ibnu Zein is Content Manager at MrAristotle.com and is convinced that his wildcard to play at Wimbledon is currently lost in the post.
