It had been quite a while since my last visit to London, and this trip was a very spontaneous one. After winning the Luxury Content Creator 2026 award, I decided to travel to London and receive it in person. I must admit that, besides the excitement of winning the award, I also felt a little nervous about returning to London.
I had really enjoyed this vibrant city during my previous visit; however, a lot has changed since then, and not always for the better. That said, London did not disappoint. Maybe it is because I mainly explored Knightsbridge, Mayfair and other luxurious surrounding neighbourhoods.
One thing is certain: London is a very, very big city. Not to mention incredibly hectic! So, what did I do during my three-day visit?
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London
Knightsbridge and beyond
I stayed at the beautiful Franklin Hotel in Knightsbridge, and as soon as I arrived, I knew I had chosen the right area. First of all, the hotel was located on a wonderfully quiet street in what was clearly a residential neighbourhood. I was surrounded by rows of beautiful red-brick houses, with their white-framed windows and grand entrances. It was very unique and I couldn’t stop taking photographs! I really enjoyed this part of London.
Only once during my stay did I venture far beyond Knightsbridge, as I really wanted to go to the theatre. The only performance that fitted my schedule was The Play That Goes Wrong at the Duchess Theatre, all the way on the other side of London. So I jumped into a taxi and headed across the city.
Sitting in my cab, I finally saw the much busier and more hectic, and, may I say, rather dirty, side of London. The contrast with the London centre and Knightsbridge was enormous. I was certainly glad to be sitting comfortably in a taxi rather than walking through the crowds. And the play was certainly great fun to watch!
What about the museums and touristy spots?
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The famous landmarks
Between exploring Knightsbridge, discovering luxurious Mayfair, and taking a day trip to collect my award, there was not actually much time left to visit London’s famous landmarks. Consequently, I did not make it to Big Ben, the London Eye or Westminster Abbey. Although, as you might remember, I absolutely loved Westminster Abbey during my previous trip to London.
Read: Exploring London’s museums and streets.
I did however enjoy a relaxing evening in the K Bar in The Kensington Hotel. Not to far away from Knightsbridge. Walking the streets of the more residential areas, was definitely more enjoyable for me. Keep that in mind for your next trip to London.
I also had a meeting and a private tour with the manager of The Peninsula London. A beautiful luxurious hotel in the middle of London. And from the hotel’s incredible rooftop bar, I was able to see many of London’s most famous sights from above. Big Ben, the London Eye and West Minster Abbey were at a distance, but nevertheless impressive.
The panoramic view across the city was spectacular and gave me the perfect opportunity to admire London without having to rush from one landmark to the next.
Would I return to London anytime soon? I am not so sure. It is a very hectic and busy city. That said, the shopping is amazing! Read more below…
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Luxury Shopping
The shopping in London is absolutely amazing! Harrods was incredibly crowded during my visit, so I did not stay for very long. Instead, I preferred exploring some of London’s impressive second-hand luxury shops, each seemingly stocked with more Hermès and Chanel bags than the last.
The boutiques in Mayfair, meanwhile, were much quieter and more enjoyable to explore. Of course, no luxury shopping trip to London would be complete without visiting Victoria Beckham’s beautiful store. It is a must visit for all. Her shop is incredible and one of a kind.
So, considering all the amazing shops I have visited recently in Paris, London, Zurich and several other cities, I am now thinking about writing a complete guide to luxury second-hand shopping. It could be my first blog post focused entirely on luxury shopping rather than luxury travel. Would you be interested?
Perhaps it is time to put all my favourite boutiques, designer discoveries and pre-loved luxury shopping experiences together in one place. Let’s see!
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