Roses and Rolltops : London

Spring // Photos from Notting Hill, London

Playing catch up with photos from the last few weeks. A sunny afternoon in London, combing work meetings with a walk across London and dinner date with Ben. It was the start of April and the first time it felt properly warm and sunny, with all the trees coming into leaf again and blossom out everywhere. The kind of day where you forget just how buzzy London can be when the sun shines. The kind of day that makes you think 'we made it through Winter'!

April 28, 2019
0 Comments

Travel // An Updated Local's Guide to London, England

London

I was thrilled when Ashley from one of my favourite blogs, Hither & Thither, asked me to contribute to her '5 things' series as an insider to London as it felt like such a honour to be published on her blog that I've enjoyed reading for the past few years. It was published a couple of weeks back and I thought I'd share it on here too in case you missed it. You can find the original article here. A huge thank you to Ashley, and Molly for putting this together.

5 Things: London, England

by Rebecca Sterling

My husband and I love to travel. We often pretend we’ll move to somewhere hot and sunny around the globe; but in reality, London will always be home for us. We both met and grew up in the same village, just outside London in Hertfordshire. We’ve since moved back there to be closer to our families and be able to have a house with a garden and to start a family of our own. Our first baby is due this summer! We have the best of both worlds with London only half an hour away and we travel to the city for both work and pleasure at least once a week.

March 25, 2019
0 Comments

Musings // An Autumn Weekend around London {Bushy Park & Shoreditch}

Autumn

You know when things get a little crazy, just life/work wise and just in general if you've had a bit of a blah time for various reasons? But then you have a weekend that can change everything?! Yep. That. Last weekend restored all. And so I wanted to share some photos of our sunny Saturday in Bushy Park, the first day that it felt properly cold, seeing the stags, having a lunch date in Five Guys and then an afternoon on the sofa finishing Informer {aka the best series we've watched in a long long time}. And then on Sunday, taking our parents up to Columbia Road Flower Market before a roast at Shoreditch House. Watching the sunset over the skyline of our favourite city in the world. London. And just feeling really, really happy. THAT. <3

November 02, 2018
0 Comments

An Autumn Walk Through London // Lifestyle Shoot with Claire Graham Photography

Autumn

Last week, Claire Graham {you might remember her coming to shoot our house this summer for her lifestyle blog Coco Lane? Which you can see here}, followed Ben & I around some of our favourite North London spots for a sunny morning, and snapped away. The idea was that she'd create a little lifestyle feature for Coco Lane and we'd have some photos of us doing what we do best, wandering around our favourite city in our favourite season. It was a really fun day with her and I'd love to share the photos below, if you'd like to see?

I adore Claire's photographic style, her eye for detail, her camera and editing work, her natural vibe that made us forget at times she had a camera. We joked that it felt like an engagement shoot all over again! We started at Panzer's deli, which makes us feel like we've gone to New York for a couple of hours and is full of pumpkins at this time of year then walked through St John's Wood across to Primrose Hill. This area of London will always feel special to us, as we spent a few years living in Maida Vale so these areas are our old haunts and somewhere we constantly return to throughout the seasons for a weekend wander. Like a selection of villages in the big city, with views out from Primrose Hill. I really love the way that she's captured us, we haven't had any photos together for ages, and the small things like our feet in the leaves, or me taking a photo for Instagram. I can't recommend Claire Graham more if you're looking for a photographer. <3

October 26, 2018
0 Comments

Flowers // A Flower Workshop with Philippa Craddock

day out

I'm sure you know by now just how crazy I am about flowers. I love growing them, buying them, and having them in my home. But what I was really lacking were the skills for arranging them or knowing the best vases to display them around the house or having the confidence to create my own arrangements. So imagine my delight when last week I got an email from Philippa Craddock {one of my favourite London florists and of course the florist for this year's wedding of the year, Harry & Meghan! Remember that arch?!} inviting me along to one of her flower workshops taking place this summer in London. I jumped at the chance, a real treat of a day to spend in Shoreditch learning all things flowers.

July 25, 2018
0 Comments

Summer // The Chelsea Flower Show 2018 {with Joules Clothing}

day out

I'm sure you know what a huge fan of Chelsea Flower Show I am after these past posts? Last week I was lucky enough to be invited with Joules for the day and I thought I'd share a few photos, and some of the gardens which inspired me this year.

June 01, 2018
1 Comments

London // My City Guide

Dayout

Oh, London. A city that has my heart. The capital where Ben & I bought our first flat together. The city where I studied Law and met some lifelong friends, had a first proper date day, chose my engagement ring and then had countless date nights, the hustle & bustle, the secret 'villages', the pretty pastel coloured houses, the architecture, the Thames, the world's best restaurants, the Christmas windows & decorations, the green leafy spaces, the memories over the years. I've been meaning to put together my version of a London city guide for a while. I literally LOVE helping readers who are coming for a visit plan their trip, especially if they're flying in from a far - recently I've had some lovely readers get in touch from Canada, America & Australia - and it's their first visit. I hope that people will love our capital and won't get rained on. Yet even if it is a grey day, I hope that they see the charm that this city has to offer and if they have time, go beyond the tourist hotspots and instead wander around some of my favourite places...

April 12, 2018
1 Comments

Birthday // Scenes from 2018 & the Easter Weekend {plus Afternoon Tea at Sketch}

Birthday

What a week! I go all out for Birthday's and this year combined it into the Easter long weekend too. It's been a flower, sugar, blossom, cake, bunting, chocolate egg, bunny filled week spent with my very favourite people, a mix of family & friends. Time spent at home and wandering around London. I've shared all of the photos below, for me to look back on, if you'd like to see.

April 01, 2018
0 Comments

London - The Chelsea Flower Show

Dayout

It never ceases to amaze me at the fun opportunities in the blogging world. I was very lucky to be invited to the Chelsea Flower Show last week {one of my favourite summer events, remember this?} with Balance Me Beauty. It was a small blogger's event, just myself and the lovely Chloe Loves To Shop along with Amelia and Clem from Balance Me. You all know how much I love flowers and our garden so I was excited to get some new inspiration, plus Chelsea just comes alive for the event with all the shops decorating for Chelsea in Bloom which is a flower festival in itself. Lots of photos below if you'd like to see;

May 30, 2017
13 Comments

Pretty City London, Spring in Richmond and Primrose Hill

Dayout

Springtime in London is one of my favourite times of the year. I'm obsessed with blossom, magnolia in particular. It feels like nature rewarding us for getting through a desolate winter. We've had a couple of beautiful days out in different parts of London over the past few weekends so I'd love to share some photos and a few of our favourite places below ~~{read - a lot of blossom photos}~~.

March 28, 2017
0 Comments

Hydrangeas at Columbia Road Flower Market, and the first visit to the Pumpkin Farm.

Dayout

Hello, Happy Friday! You made it through another week. Although I don't really like this countdown/wishing the week away to get to the weekend. As my Dad always told me, if you do that then you end up wishing about 4/7 of your life away. Which is quite sad when you think about it. So yes I'm always glad when Friday arrives as I love relaxed weekends with my husband and not having to rush around like I do Monday-Friday. But I love the weekdays too. Mostly. A little round up from this week/planning for the weekend/photos from last weekend below.{Writing this to take my mind off the fact I have glass stuck deep in my foot ahhhh}

October 07, 2016
3 Comments

Weekend Wandering - Petersham Nurseries and Richmond, London

Birthday

One of our favourite places to go for a weekend wander is Richmond. We whizz down the M25 on a Saturday or Sunday morning and head to Pembroke Lodge in Richmond Park where you can park for free. You get all the London benefits like good shopping, a lively town, burritos, sushi, a Wholefoods Store, even red buses! But without going into the actual city. It's a beautiful place with the Thames running through and an abundance of green space. Kew Gardens is just down the road {see this post from last Spring and an autumn visit here}. If we didn't have family and friends here in Hertfordshire we always say how lovely it would be to live down that way. Anyway, it's a beautiful place to visit and we can never resist stopping at Petersham Nurseries whilst we're down that way

March 01, 2016
1 Comments

Our Valentine's Day

Dayout

Do you celebrate Valentine's Day? I know some people think it's all a bit commercial but really what's not to love about being extra romantic, being showered in flowers and cooking a special dinner together? Yes you can do that year round but there is something extra special I love about Valentine's Day {probably my obsession with love hearts and a lot of pink?!}. Some photos from our Sunday if you'd like to see..

February 17, 2016
0 Comments

A Christmassy Day Out in London

Christmas

If you avoid the crowds, London really is magical at Christmas. I don't know where you're based but if you're used to usually rushing around London for work like me then when you take time to just stroll around with no agenda, it feels like a completely different city. Last Thursday Ben and I were up in town for a festive afternoon tea at The Shard for SYGM {post here}, afterwards we walked and walked across the city taking in all the lights, ice rinks and shop windows. When we couldn't walk anymore, we took a black cab {in full London style but for free, info at end of the post} and it felt like Christmas had truly begun.

December 09, 2015
0 Comments

Sunbury Antiques Market at Kempton Racecourse {a recent visit}

Dayout

Sunbury Antiques Market, at Kempton Park Racecourse, is one of my favourite places to shop for vintage treasure and new finds for our house and garden. I first posted about Kempton back in January {here} with my general tips and advice. But it's the one place that I still get asked about most on Instagram so I thought I'd share some more photos and info of a recent visit. Our house is pretty much full up with furniture now {and our garden with galvanised tubs!} so until we move home at some stage then we won't need any big items. But I can never resist a visit when I have a Tuesday morning free, and there will always room for a marmalade jar or two... If you want to go then read my original post first, and then this one for some more temptation!

September 29, 2015
4 Comments

Columbia Road Flower Market {a late summer update}

Dayout

I've written about Columbia Road Flower Market back here, in fact it was one of the first posts that I shared. I visit every couple of months, I'd go every Sunday if I could!! So thought it was about time to share some recent photos, these were taken last weekend. I went there for hydrangeas but spotted these coral charm peonies {I thought peony season had long ended!} so couldn't resist buying a few bunches. I took £20 and came home with 4 huge hydrangea heads, 3 pink and 1 blue for Ben's Birthday, a bunch of peonies, the prettiest ever, and a potted hydrangea for the garden {their plants are much cheaper than garden centres and I bought one last year that's grown really well}. Such incredible value, and a lovely Sunday morning out. Especially with all the doortrait heaven ;). These photos were all just snapped on my iPhone but I really should take my proper camera there sometime soon.

September 03, 2015
0 Comments

London - A Twinkly Evening at The Sky Garden

Dayout

The second part of our evening in London for Ben's Birthday. I had planned a little surprise for him by going up to the Sky Garden afterwards in the Walkie Talkie building, it only opened this year. Ticket wise, you can book tickets in advance {although they only release a certain number of days at a time so you need to keep checking}, all tickets are free. But if you don't have any luck in ordering tickets or want to go out of hours {ticketed hours are only until 5pm} then you need to either book a table in the Sky Pod Bar, or a table for one of the restaurants or just go for a walk-in like we did.

September 01, 2015
0 Comments

Ben's Birthday Part 1; cake, dinner at The Oxo Tower.

Baking

It was Ben's birthday last week and he always says that he doesn't want a fuss but I feel that you simply cannot have a Birthday without some kind of celebration {he said he wasn't even bothered by a cake!! But when people want to bring presents round you can't not offer them some cake}. So we kept it low key, I baked a cake and we had some family round on the Monday followed by an evening in London on his actual Birthday for just the two of us. I feel that the Sky Garden deserves a post of it's own accord so that will be to follow.

August 31, 2015
1 Comments

Notting Hill Wandering ♥ - coloured houses, lunch at Granger & Co, Westbourne Grove..

Dayout

A few weekends back, Ben and I drove to Maida Vale ogling the flat we used to live in {three years ago already} to try and see what the new owners have done differently. They still have the window boxes outside and we could see the big white wardrobe through the big arched sliding sash window. We had come for a walk to Notting Hill, one of our old favourites in London.

August 10, 2015
0 Comments

Dinner at Claridge's

FoodieFriday

I normally write this blog to recommend places that I've loved, so Claridge's is probably a slight exception to this rule. A few weeks ago, the night before we went to Croatia, Ben and I went to dinner at the famous old London hotel with his brother and his girlfriend to celebrate his Dad's 60th Birthday. The hotel itself is gorgeous, and I loved all the art-deco details and class of the establishment but for the food {and extortionate cost} you could definitely find somewhere better. But that's what these kinds of places are really don't you think? More style over substance perhaps? A must see, like Raffles in Singapore. It doesn't claim to be the best in London for food and certainly as a hotel it's second to none. Maybe afternoon tea would be better? Nonetheless it was a nice evening, just not worth the £££.

July 29, 2015
1 Comments

Older
Stories

Pages

Spring // Photos from Notting Hill, London

Travel // An Updated Local's Guide to London, England

Musings // An Autumn Weekend around London {Bushy Park & Shoreditch}

An Autumn Walk Through London // Lifestyle Shoot with Claire Graham Photography

Flowers // A Flower Workshop with Philippa Craddock

Summer // The Chelsea Flower Show 2018 {with Joules Clothing}

London // My City Guide

Birthday // Scenes from 2018 & the Easter Weekend {plus Afternoon Tea at Sketch}

London - The Chelsea Flower Show

Pretty City London, Spring in Richmond and Primrose Hill

Hydrangeas at Columbia Road Flower Market, and the first visit to the Pumpkin Farm.

Weekend Wandering - Petersham Nurseries and Richmond, London

Our Valentine's Day

A Christmassy Day Out in London

Sunbury Antiques Market at Kempton Racecourse {a recent visit}

Columbia Road Flower Market {a late summer update}

London - A Twinkly Evening at The Sky Garden

Ben's Birthday Part 1; cake, dinner at The Oxo Tower.

Notting Hill Wandering ♥ - coloured houses, lunch at Granger & Co, Westbourne Grove..

Dinner at Claridge's

About me

Follow Us

Press

Popular Posts

Blog Archive

recent posts

Labels

Popular Posts

@rvk_loves on Instagram