The Country Living Spring Fair

March 23, 2015


I've written about the Country Living Christmas Fair before here, but last week I visited the Spring Show for the first time and oh my gosh it was amazing. I wanted to buy everything but more importantly they had real life lambs there!! I held a two week old lamb and it was adorable. I'm definitely set me up for Spring now and all things pretty in the months ahead.


I'm a Country Living Magazine subscriber so bought my tickets through the magazine with a discount but you can still buy tickets without the magazine online for about £15. I took my two auntie's with me who both love things like this, my Mum was in Cornwall for the week but she'd have loved it too. We like to go on the first day the show opens as a lot of the items for sale are one-offs and do sell out fast so you get the best pick of the bunch. 


The London show is held at the Business Design Centre on Upper Street in Islington which is a bonus as we can drive there easily without worrying about congestion charging and park next door in the multi-story car park which works out cheaper for a group than getting the train. I love Islington too and there are so many great shops and restaurants on the high street. It's better to go out of the show for lunch as eating options are limited and pricey within the show. We went to Byron Burger across the road and then had a wander along the high street before coming back in the show, it can get quite stuffy and busy in there so it's nice to come out for a break.


This year there was a gorgeous spring garden and veg plot set up at the entrance. The alliums and tulips were beautiful. And a very cool VW retro camper van to look forward to summer adventures. 

 

There are three floors of stalls to look round selling all things Spring. There's stalls for home and interiors, the garden, crafting, baking, food and fashion. I could have bought so much if my house was bigger and if I wanted to spend a small fortune. From garden decorations to garden tools, Green and Black's chocolate {that gave out a lot of samples yum!} to Bonne Maman Cakes, Candles to Easter decorations, homemade art prints to scarves, children's toys, books, vintage china, ribbon and sail boats made from Driftwood and Liberty fabric for a sail. Bring lots of money as you'll want it all. I love the fact that there are so many unique finds there and things you wouldn't see on your typical high street or online browse. There are some really clever, creatives displaying their work. And most have special show prices which are reduced.





 


As if I didn't already have a spring in my step from the morning's shopping I walked past these adorable lambs and a lady asked if I wanted to hold one!! 



They were just two weeks old and had been orphaned so needed to be fed by hand. They were from a farm advertising cottages in Scotland. Too cute for words!


Somebody made me laugh on Instagram by saying that they found these shows to be full of old, posh women who leave their manners at home. It is true in a way, I didn't find it with this particular show but have done in the past that when the aisles are narrow and people crowd around the stalls you can get a bag in the face or pushed out the way. Also don't bring your husband unless he likes shopping, I saw probably two men there and hundreds of women. 


I bought some Easter decorations to hang from some twisted willow in my kitchen for an Easter display this year. I've thought about doing it in the past and couldn't decide whether to or not this year but after seeing the adorable little bunny and chick baubles I couldn't resist. Will post photos of them soon. And I also bought a glass jar to sit on my dining table full of muscari/grape hyacinths, some mercury tea light pumpkin bowls and holders {a girl can never have too many} and vintage seed packet cards that I might frame in the future. 


All in all, a really lovely day out. I preferred the Spring Show to the Christmas one I think. Sure we'll be going back next year.

More info and to buy tickets here.

R <3 xx

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