Poppy Loves - London Lifestyle Blog

29/04/2026

Lazing and living at Town Hall Hotel, Bethnal Green

The Town Hall Hotel originally opened in 1910 as the Bethnal Green Town Hall, before it had a generous dollop of fairy dust and was transformed into this stunning hotel it is today. It is a exceptional in its design and light and flow… but in addition to this, it is also completely different to […]

CONTINUE READING

Lazing and living at Town Hall Hotel, Bethnal Green

29/04/2026

The Town Hall Hotel originally opened in 1910 as the Bethnal Green Town Hall, before it had a generous dollop of fairy dust and was transformed into this stunning hotel it is today. It is a exceptional in its design and light and flow… but in addition to this, it is also completely different to […]

CONTINUE READING

LATEST BLOGS

HOME RENOVATION

HOTELS

AFTERNOON TEA

LONDON LIFESTYLE

SHOP

BROWSE MY SHOP

BUSINESS COACHING

INSTAGRAM JETPACK

INSTAGRAM BOOTCAMP

BREAKTHROUGH BOOTCAMP

INSTAGRAM

The chef behind Birmingham’s two Michelin-starre

The chef behind Birmingham’s two Michelin-starred Opheem - Aktar Islam - has landed in Borough with his marvellous @oudh1722.

The restaurant centres on Awadhi cuisine - a style shaped in the royal courts of Lucknow - and everything we ordered was phenomenal.

Highlights for us included the Gilawat kebab of minced lamb with aromatic spices, the Chaat, white peas, potato, tempered yoghurt and the Raan e dum pukht, smoked lamb shoulder - I suggest you order them ALL.

It’s a sensational restaurant, with a gorgeous lounge area and a beautiful bar in a gentle corner of Borough, and one to seek out at all costs ❤️

*invite

We often go to Cornwall in the May half term break

We often go to Cornwall in the May half term break and always have a wonderful time. This year was extra special as we discovered @budockveanhotel & Spa - a four-star country house hotel and self-catering cottages set in 65 acres of gardens on the Helford River, near Falmouth.  It felt like a true escape - delicious seasonal Cornish suppers, STUNNING gardens (well done to their head gardener, Phil!) and ancient woodland, that goes on and on… and on…

There’s a very gorgeous pool, sauna and hot tub, which we took full advantage of (the pool has family-friendly hours, so if you’re there without children, there is lots of time during the days when the pool itself is adults only) and plenty of places to lounge and relax.  I had a lovely GAIA massage in their natural health spa… (and fell asleep 🙈) and if you wanted to leap into an activity, there’s golf and tennis on site, with boat trips, paddle boarding and kayaking directly from the hotel jetty on the river.  We stayed in one of their family rooms (which was more like two bedrooms connected, which was perfect!) and were up early doors to make the most of all our swimming time!

Such a lovely hidden discovery for us all - we loved our little Cornish staycation by the river ❤️

*invite

Did you know this was here? I did not. I nearly di

Did you know this was here? I did not. I nearly didn’t tell you about it. But that would be poor show indeed, from someone who’s been sharing her London secrets with you for nearly 15 years ✨ (omgahh)

The Garden at @corinthialondon has reopened for the Summer, with a new menu that knocked my absent socks off. Absent, because it was blazingly warm when I visited. And knocked off, because, coo. Loch Duart gravalax, Lobster Brioche Roll and an Eton Mess to leave room for. (Always. Should be law). (The full menu is available on their website).

The Garden is set within the hotel’s floral courtyard and is rich with elegance and a relaxed kind of glamour. You’ll find Gusborne wines, Pimm’s Slushies and every Summer drink in between.

I felt like I was on set in High Society… it’s gorgeous.

Save this to your list of London’s best kept secrets. And take me with you 💕🥂

*invite

This might look like a traditional afternoon tea,

This might look like a traditional afternoon tea, but no! This is the Afternoon Cheese at Brasserie Max at the @coventgarden_hotel. All the cheese is from their friends and neighbours, @nealsyarddairy, who have curated a beautiful selection.

Have you ever had cheese ice cream? No, nor had I.

Clotted cream and jam were nowhere to be seen. Instead, we enjoyed Montgomery’s Cheddar scones with goat’s curd, caramelised onion jam and chive oil, Colston Bassett éclairs with pickled walnut and chives, and Ragstone and caramelised onion macarons. Not a finger sandwich in sight, we were instead treated to a Hafod Cheddar Welsh rarebit-stuffed doughnut, with Worcestershire sauce on the side. All accompanied by beautiful gusbourne_wine, who craft their exceptional vintage wines in Kent.

We ended with Westcombe Ricotta cheesecake with poached rhubarb and I rolled home.  This experience is a true celebration of English tradition and craft - I loved reading about who had made each cheese (I see you Becky & Patrick Holden in Ceredigion) and the English wines were were served, each had their own story to tell.

A true gem - we loved it.

*invite

p.s. My camera and memory card suffered some water damage shortly after this visit, so the pics are a mixture of mine and the hotel’s.

The most GLORIOUS botanical afternoon tea at @brow

The most GLORIOUS botanical afternoon tea at @browns_hotel, to celebrate Chelsea Flower Show next week. They’ve launched this tea with their neighbours, @boodles - just over the road from them, and it’s the perfect match.

Endless classic sandwiches, freshly baked scones and stunning cakes, featuring edible botanicals, exotic fruits & aromatic herbs. We loved the pistachio and rose tartlet and the strawberry choux with rare tea camomile.

So beautiful and so delicious.

Take a pal, take a partner or take take a sibling, like I did. (Swipe to the end for @shootmyhead2please enjoying the finer things in life 😘)

The Boodles Botanical Afternoon Tea is limited for 5 days from 19 to 23 May.

*invite

Tea for two at @thewolseley, with a glass of Pomme

Tea for two at @thewolseley, with a glass of Pommery Brut Royal NV, is a little bit magic ✨

The Wolseley sweeps you off your feet, transports you to another era, waits on you hand and foot and then sends you back out into the whirlwind of Piccadilly, full of delicious sandwiches and cakes… and a sense that maybe, just maybe, it’s going to be ok.

I always adore it here. White tablecloths and endless pots of tea for the win ✨❤️

Saturday brunch with a side of sunshine at @riding

Saturday brunch with a side of sunshine at @ridinghousecafes. Firstly - WOW. Secondly - WOW.

Set in The Brunswick Centre - such a gorgeous spot in Bloomsbury - their new brunch menu is *chef’s kiss*.

The sunshine poured in as we feasted on parmesan & chive scrambled eggs, cinnamon French toast (with torched peach, mascarpone, basil & peach maple) and their CBA sandwich - soft-shell crab tempura, smoked streaky Dingley Dell (cute) bacon, avocado, black garlic ponzu, aioli, brioche.

The cafe itself is beautifully designed, so airy, full of light and gorgeous touches… it feels like an occasion. Head here for a birthday, a celebration of any kind… or just because. It’s so lovely.

You’ll find other branches in Fitzrovia and Victoria and I challenge you to not order the French toast. It’s impossible. You have to.

YOU HAVE TO.

*invite

The @townhallhotel originally opened in 1910 as th

The @townhallhotel originally opened in 1910 as the Bethnal Green Town Hall, before it had a generous dollop of fairy dust and was transformed into the stunning hotel it is today ✨

It is a exceptional in its design and light and flow… but in addition to this, it is also completely different to any other London hotel I’ve stayed in, simply due to the sheer size and space each room provides.

The rooms are more like mini apartments, with most offering a huge living space and kitchenette.

You’re invited to ‘live’, rather than ‘stay’. And what says ‘come and bring your life to us’ more, than a washing machine, a gorgeous desk to work from, a massive TV and oodles of storage?

I went on my own but had I had Izzy with me, I can see that it would have been so easy to cook up some supper for her in the room and order room service for myself as a treat.

Because it was just me, I did a couple of client calls, went out for a light supper, came back to the room and heated up some rice pudding in my microwave, which I ate while watching re-runs of Frasier on my huge television.

Then to bed and a delicious Full English the next morning, before hopping back on the train to Walthamstow.

Heaven. Thank you for having me! ❤️

*pr invite

FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM

BLOG CATEGORIES

Whether I’m wrapping up in the cosiest knitwear, Summer dresses or my pyjamas, here are my latest style finds & ideas for you to discover…

I’ve travelled far & wide from Anguilla & Cuba to Seattle & Madrid… with staycations from Bristol to Edinburgh! Find my travel & hotel guides here.

Find all my Victorian home renovation projects, house restoration tips and gorgeous homeware items to lust after here…

My guide to the best cafes, restaurants, bars and haunts for Afternoon Tea. Also, find my recipes, favourite brunch spots and bakeries here.

SITEMAP PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright © 2022 Poppy Loves London.