Quintessential London

This season, we asked London Fashion Week designers to tell us the venue that captures the very essence of the capital for them. From cafes to takeaways, galleries to landmarks, these places are the spirit of fashionable London.

The Everyman Cinema in Hampstead for rainy afternoons; Primrose Bakery for the best chocolate cupcakes; Claire de Rouen books on Charing Cross Road for books on fashion and photography.”
Ashish

“Portobello Market on a Friday morning.”
Amanda Wakeley

“Leicester Square.”
Antoni & Alison

“My current favourite places in London are the Haywood Gallery on the Southbank and The Royal Oak on Columbia Road.”
Atalanta Weller

“The Wolseley.”
Basso & Brooke

“The Toy Museum, Whitechapel Gallery and the statues that stare at people day and night.”
Bora Aksu

“The Southbank Centre presents a brilliant cross-section of music, theatre and film in a fabulous setting.”
Caroline Charles

“Liberty, Hampstead Heath, Brick Lane Market and the Star Pub in Tuffnell Park.”
David David

“Central Saint Martins.”
Danielle Scutt

“D R Harris Pharmacy in St James’s.”
Duro Olowu

“The Plaster Hall at the V&A museum.”
Erdem

“Tottenham Court Road crossroads. It’s a real mish-mash and mixture of characters and scenarios, operating at high speed, day and night.”
Fred Butler

“The V&A museum. It is in an area I don’t often visit so I always feel like a tourist when I do!”
Henry Holland

“The London Dungeons and Alfie’s Antique Market.”
Jasmine di Milo

“Hyde Park.”
Josh Goot

“I love Beyond Retro in Spitalfields, and I absolutely love Liberty. But nothing reminds me of London as much as the tube!”
Karen Bonser, Unique

“Portobello Market. It represents the spirit of London - a mix of ancient history, tourists and youth culture.”
Kinder Aguggini

“Jeanette’s boutique on Club Row in the East End.”
Louise Gray

“Oxfam.”
Mark Fast

“Everywhere in London - each area, each venue - is unique. That sums up London for us. It’s in the air, in the contrasts; it’s so eclectic.”
Meadham Kirchhoff

“Ruby House Chinese takeaway on Bethnal Green Road. Best shredded chilli beef in town.”
Modernist

“The Tate Modern for its uniqueness and sense of adventure.”
Nicole Farhi

“Skylon at Royal Festival Hall.”
Orla Kiely