Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list
Set the right tone for cosy entertaining
Sarah Hadland on coping with nerves, fi nding focus and discovering the magic of Strictly Come Dancing
Located in this quiet cul de sac off the internationally renowned Winnington Road, this exceptional and interior designed property is set behind a deep driveway with ample off-street parking for many cars, and within close proximity of Kenwood and Hampstead Heath.
The property spans over 9,800 sq ft (911 sq m) arranged over four floors, including a lavish spa and swimming pool complex with state-of-the-art gym, plus a self-contained staff apartment and utility room.
The south facing garden to the rear offers excellent privacy with the large patio, a designated BBQ area, a manicured lawn, and a spacious double garage.
,,13 500 000
Don’t forget your four-legged friend –we’ve ideas aplenty in our gift guide
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Dexters dexters.co.uk
Druce druce.com
Glentree glentree.co.uk
Godfrey & Barr godfreyandbarr.com
Goldschmidt & Howland g-h.co.uk
Hamptons hamptons.co.uk
Heathgate heathgate.com
Jeremy James & Company jeremy-james.co.uk
Knight Frank knightfrank.co.uk
Savills savills.co.uk
TK International t-k.co.uk
Winkworth West End winkworth.co.uk
es, we’ve gone there… It might still be November, but our thoughts are turning to Christmas, and I honestly couldn’t be happier about that! There’s something magical about this time of year, and right now, I think we could all do with the distraction of a little festive fun. With that in mind, you’ll discover our annual gift extravaganza in this issue –an A-Z of perfect presents, we hope it inspires you when it comes to Christmas shopping. Elsewhere in the magazine, the interiors focus is on entertaining: comfort is key when it comes to making your guests feel totally at home, so check out our tips for cosying up your space. And if you love a traditional Christmas market, you might want to check out Budapest, where the holiday magic is turned up to the max; discover the best places to stay in our travel section. Finally, it just wouldn’t be Christmas without the sparkle of another series of Strictly Come Dancing. Contestant Sarah Hadland is our glamorous cover star this month; she describes the joy of taking to the dancefloor and reveals her hopes for staying in the competition. You might not be ready for the mince pies yet, but how can you resist all of that?
Liz Skone James liz@hattoncollective.com
wears: dress by Zeynep Kartal
Read our exclusive interview on page 38
Editorial Director Liz Skone James Creative Director Penny Clements Interiors Editor Ali Howard Schools Editor Claire Atherton Client Services Director Becky Pomfret Social Media Manager Alice Bradley Production Heidi Pomfret
Publisher Katie Hutley
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Glentree Estates Trevor Abrahmsohn Goldschmidt & Howland Philip Green Savills Jonathan Hewlett and Liza-Jane Kelly Aston Chase Mark Pollack
29 GIFT GUIDE
Perfect present ideas for everyone on your list –all guaranteed to please
36 CULTURE
Your guide to what to do in London this month
38 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: SARAH HADLAND
On learning the language of Latin and Ballroom and the sheer joy of appearing on Strictly Come Dancing
45 STYLE
New openings, new launches and a new chapter for a gorgeous London jewellery brand
48 FOOD & DRINK
All the latest foodie news, and our review of CORD, the fine dining restaurant from Le Cordon Bleu
51 SPOTLIGHT ON
It’s Christmas market time – fill your festive cup with a trip to Budapest
52 TRAVEL REVIEW
Offering an appealing mix of futuristic technology, ancient tradition and lush natural beauty, Japan promises the trip of a lifetime
57 INTERIORS NEWS
The latest launches and luxurious new lines
58 INTERIORS TRENDS
Make your guests feel right at home this Christmas with our expert tips
62 AT HOME WITH
This vibrant, colourful apartment proves that rental properties can still have personality in spades
64 DESIGNER PROFILE
Meet the founder of dynamic new bespoke flooring brand, Knot & Grain
70 A CAPITAL EDUCATION
Why more and more schools are going doolally for dogs, and an interview with Worth School head, Stuart McPherson
74 HOT PROPERTY
The best homes on the market this month
75 TALKING POINTS
How will the property market fare post-Budget? The experts weigh in
90 LAST WORD
Elias Raymond of Savills on the enduring appeal of Primrose Hill
david.brand@chestertons.co.uk
declan.selbo@knightfrank.com 020 3627 8698 knightfrank.co.uk
Bishops Avenue, London N2 Prime Sales
East Finchley Underground Station: 300 metres.
This wonderful apartment has over 6000ft of internal space and benefits from a vast terrace with panoramic views. Allingham Court is a secure portered modern development with fantastic amenities in the building. 4 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, landscaped gardens, secure, underground parking, 24-hour concierge service, and security.
Leasehold (Lease Expiry 3007) | Ground Rent: £0 per annum (Reviewed annually) | Service Charge: £130,000 per annum (Reviewed annually) | Council Tax Band = H | EPC Rating = C
Hampstead 07870 999 645 jdiaper@savills.com@savills.com James Diaper Harriet Davies
Regent's Park, NW1
Park Underground Station: 0.5 miles | Great Portland Street Underground Station: 0.4 miles A classical home with views over Regent's Park which has been beautifully restored to retain classical elements, with a modern twist. 2 reception rooms, modern kitchen, dining room, principal bedroom suite with dressing room, 4 further bedrooms, 4 further bathrooms, guest cloakroom, studio, utility room, elevator, and a roof terrace.
Leasehold (Lease Expiry 2146) | Ground rent £3,000 per annum (reviewed annually) | Service charge £8,596 per annum (reviewed annually) | Council Tax Band = H | EPC Rating = EPC Exempt 4,425 Sq Ft | Guide £12 million
ST JOHN’S WOOD LONDON NW8
A beautifully presented detached house providing 4,565 sq ft/424 sq m of accommodation, set behind a gated driveway.
The house features an exceptional interior having been comprehensively modernised and refurbished by the current owners who enlarged the house with the creation of a new lower floor.
An exceptional Victorian family house on Parkhill Road, Belsize Park, NW3, set behind a charming walled front garden with gated parking and a garage, offering a perfect blend of classic elegance and contemporary luxury. The expansive living areas feature impressive ceiling heights and are flooded with natural light, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Ornate period detailing throughout the property enhances its grandeur, while a beautifully landscaped 85 ft west-facing garden provides a serene outdoor retreat. Parkhill Road is a highly sought-after residential street, conveniently located with excellent access to transport links and a vibrant array of local amenities.
Energy Efficiency Rating - E49 ● Council Tax Band - H Hampstead Sales 020 7435 4404
Having undergone an impressive and extensive program of refurbishment a stunning family home on Christchurch Hill, Hampstead Village, NW3. This four bedroom house is fully equipped with state-of-the-art amenities, including a gourmet kitchen, luxurious bathrooms, smart home technology, underfloor heating, high ceilings, feature fireplace and fabulous wood flooring. The house benefits further from a wonderful patio, two tier lawned garden and is ideally located only moments from Hampstead Heath.
£2,395,000
A rare opportunity to purchase this mid-terraced Victorian family house, located in one of Hampstead’s most desirable streets in the heart of the Village. Available for the first time in over 50 years and in need of complete modernisation, this is a wonderful opportunity for someone to create and design their ideal home.
The current accommodation offers a 25' reception room and utility room on the garden level with the raised ground floor providing a large kitchen, dining room and shower room. The first floor enjoys the principal bedroom, family bathroom and a terrace and there are three further bedrooms on the second floor. The property boasts various original features, including high ceilings and is further enhanced by a 24' garden.
The wide choice of restaurants and cafés on Hampstead High Street as well as the Northern Line underground station are within a short walk as is Hampstead Heath.
Set back from the road behind a secure gated driveway for numerous cars is this beautifully re-modelled grand detached six-bedroom house of some 11,467 sq ft/1,053 sq m, with the accommodation arranged very laterally over four floors, all of which can be accessed via a passenger lift. The house offers an excellent balance of reception rooms and bedroom suites, with the garden level providing almost entirely leisure including an indoor swimming pool, changing facilities, gym, entertainment/games room, dedicated cinema, study and wine cellar.
The ground floor reception rooms are approached via a dramatic galleried reception hallway leading to a 20'6 study, 19' formal dining room, 33'7 x 16'6 drawing room with French doors out to a terrace and the 30'9 x 19'10 kitchen/breakfast room. In addition, there is a family room, utility room and a self-contained one-bedroom staff apartment.
To the rear is a beautiful 106' x 100' garden with lawned area, flower beds and mature trees and shrubs.
Offers in the r egion of £4, 2 50,000
Built in 1911 and on the market for the first time in 38 years, is this unique, Arts and Crafts detached family home, located directly opposite the rolling green acres of the Hampstead Heath Extension.
Spanning over 3,500 sq ft and arranged over 3 floors with offstreet parking for 2 cars, this exquisite property offers an array of original features including wood panelling, a beautiful fireplace and herringbone parquet wood flooring throughout the ground floor.
Currently offering a lounge, a drawing room, a dining room and a study. There is a kitchen diner, a separate utility room and a guest w.c. Two of the reception rooms and the kitchen have doors leading out onto a stunning south facing, mature rear garden.
The first floor has 4 double bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, 3 of which are ensuite and a separate family bathroom. The principal bedroom overlooks the front of the property with a stunning bay window offering views of the Heath Extension. The top floor consists of a large 5th bedroom/playroom/ studio, and a 6th bedroom currently used as a study.
GUIDE PRICE £8,950,000
In this gated road opposite the grounds of Kenwood House with an on-site security guard, a fine detached freehold residence of 6,900 sq ft with a beautiful landscaped level garden offering excellent privacy and incorporating a swimming pool. The house is arranged over 3 floors with elegant entertaining rooms and a large family room/conservatory flooding the rear of the house in natural light.The ground floor includes an elegant reception hallway, double volume drawing room, large dining room, family room, a fully equipped kitchen/breakfast room and a 25’ x 24’ conservatory leading onto the gardens.
On the upper floors there are 7 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms (5 en suite) including a large Master Suite and on the top floor there is a Study and a Gym and Sauna.
To the front a carriage driveway provides ample off street parking and leads to a large garage.
Dartmouth Park Road, NW5
£5,000,000
Situated within the coveted Dartmouth Park Conservation Area, a magnificent six bedroom home full of character. This semi-detached property has an impressive open plan reception room which leads out on to a charming garden, perfect for hosting family and friends. Flooded with natural light and on a sought after street with plenty of great amenities nearby, energy rating e.
Dexters Dartmouth Park & Tufnell Park. 64 Chetwynd Road, London, NW5 1DE T: 020 7284 0101 E: dartmouthparksales@dexters.co.uk
dexters.co.uk
Noel Road, N1
£3,950,000
Tucked away in north London, an extraordinary Georgian house with three bedrooms. Postioned on a popular road in Angel and interior designed by Nicky Haslam, the Grade II Listed property has been tastefully refurbished throughout. The principal bedroom spans the entire first floor and offers a unique terrace. Complete with a picturesque rear garden and views overlooking the canal, this home is a must see.
Dexters Islington. 76 Upper Street, London, N1 0NU
T: 020 7483 6373 E: islingtonsales@dexters.co.uk
LEASEHOLD 114 YEARS
JOINT SOLE SELLING AGENTS
ASKING PRICE: £3,850,000
Where Christmas shopping is concerned, the earlier you get going, the more time you’ll have to enjoy the festive fun! This year, we’re tackling our list alphabetically to ensure that every base is covered
A ACORN bird house – wren, £17.50 (aplaceforeverything.co.uk)
B Day BACKPACK in sage, £149.99 (uk.mous.co)
C Harris Tweed Sighthound COLLAR by Holly&Lil, £72 (charleychau.com)
D Folk DOME and ash base in black, green and yellow, £200 (lsa-international.co.uk)
E Major V EARPHONES in cream, £129.99 (marshallheadphones.com)
F Origin Outdoor Table FOOTBALL, £2,595 (uk.cornilleau.com)
G Seventy One GIN The Culture, The Craft & The Beauty gift set, £199 (seventyonegin.com)
H Oversized Hudson Tote HANDBAG in Racing Green Pebble, £595 (aspinaloflondon.com)
I Green lacquered ICE bucket, £320 (matildagoad.com)
J JEWELLERY box in limited edition sage green velvet and satin, £240 (otiumberg.com)
K Damascus Elite KNIFE set, 5 piece and walnut magnetic block, £549 (procook.co.uk)
Q Astrid checkpatchwork cotton QUILT, £325 (toa.st)
R 14ct recycled yellow gold essential gem stacking RING green moss agate, £400 (bypariah.com)
S KSC01 digital kitchen SCALE in emerald green, £129.95 (shop.smeguk.com)
T Feuerhand TAMBER table top grill in light green, £99.95 (berryuseful.co.uk)
U The London UMBRELLA in green, £255 (bucklesbury.com)
Education with Heart and Soul in Sussex’s glorious countryside
A Worth education is a journey in itself including first rate academic learning, the chance to befriend students from all over the world and a broad co-curricular programme.
What to see and do in the Capital this November
The London Underground gets a star turn this autumn with a new exhibition at The Map House in Knightsbridge. Celebrating 160 years of transport innovation, this showcase delves into the evolution of the iconic Tube map. The highlight? Rare manuscripts from Harry Beck, the designer behind the world-renowned 1933 map that transformed how people navigate cities. Featuring his original handdrawn drafts, including never-before-seen annotations, the exhibition gives an intimate look into the creative process of one of Britain’s most influential designers. Alongside Beck’s work, you’ll find early Underground maps and posters, illustrating the Tube’s transformation from a modest railway to a cultural symbol. Until 30 November, 54 Beauchamp Place, SW3 (020 7589 4325; themaphouse.com)
We’re in for an eclectic line-up of global talent this November. Highlights include Grammy-winning Meshell Ndegeocello, who will take to the stage at KOKO, presenting music from her latest album No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin Guitar legend Pat Metheny will perform at the Barbican, celebrating the release of MoonDial. Rising star Amy Gadiaga brings her unique blend of jazz and modern sounds to Ninety One Living Room, and Keyon Harrold, known for his jazz/hiphop fusion, returns to the Jazz Café, while Ganavya, who blends spiritual jazz with Indian classical music, performs at Union Chapel. With artists like Julian Lage and Nduduzo Makhathini also gracing the stage, this promises to be an extraordinary week of jazz performances. 15-24 November, see efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk for dates and times
This inspiring new musical arrives at Drury Lane for two exclusive performances this November. With a stellar cast featuring Gabrielle Brooks, Tyrone Huntley, and Anthony Rapp, the production reimagines the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart through the eyes of his sister, Nan. Known for her own musical genius, Nan’s story highlights the struggles of women in the 18th century as she fights for recognition in a male-dominated world. Blending rock and classical influences, this original work offers a fresh take on the Mozart legacy, brought to life by a super talented creative team.
16 & 17 November, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Catherine Street WC2B (020 3925 2998; lwtheatres.co.uk)
Marylebone Village is set to welcome the festive season in style with its annual Christmas lights switch-on. Visitors can enjoy an evening filled with seasonal activities, from live music and artisan market stalls to crafting workshops, and even a Ferris wheel. The highlight of course will be the dazzling lights illuminating the neighbourhood, with BBC Broadcaster Jo Good returning as host – expect a celebrity guest to push the button, too. With festive food, crafts, and late-night shopping, it’s the perfect opportunity to embrace the beginning of Christmas, mulled wine and mince pie in hand. 13 November, 3-8pm (marylebonevillage.com)
Step into a world of festive magic as the Capital’s favourite winter attraction returns. This year, the Magical Ice Kingdom takes visitors on an enchanting journey through Alice in Wonderland, with breathtaking ice sculptures of beloved characters. Skaters can take to the UK’s largest open-air ice rink, set beneath twinkling lights and accompanied by live music, while the Real Ice Slide promises a thrilling descent for adventure-seekers. But if you’re after a more relaxed vibe, Bar Ice offers cool cocktails in an alpineinspired setting, where even the glasses are made of ice. Dress up warm! 21 November-5 January (hydeparkwinterwonderland.com)
From the sickening effects of the waltz and managing nerves, to the joy of getting on the glitz and making personal connections, Strictly Come Dancing contestant Sarah Hadland reveals all
Words by Liz Skone James
With up to eight hours of Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals a day, it’s been hard finding a moment to chat to contestant Sarah Hadland – we finally manage to speak while she’s in the car to the studios on the Friday morning of week three.
“I’m looking forward to today,” she tells me, excitedly. “Honestly, what is still blowing my mind is that I’ll go into costume, and they will literally, and I’m not exaggerating, be holding up pieces of fabric against me. Or maybe a skirt that they’ve bought from somewhere that they’re going to change. And you kind of look at them, and you think, OK this is going to be live to millions of people tomorrow, and you’re holding up scraps of fabric. We rung them yesterday actually, to ask what kind of top I am having, and they said they didn’t know yet!”
Seeing how exquisite the costumes look week in, week out on the show, it is incredible to think that everything is so last minute. “I think that’s part of the magic of the show, because they are doing that for 30 people. Well, 28 now…” Sarah agrees. “I cried when I first tried on my launch dress… I turned around to the mirror, and I saw this costume and it had beads on beads on beads, and it was just so completely beautiful that I burst into tears. I’ve never worn anything so beautiful. And it’s the same with the make up and hair – I won’t know how that’s going to be until tomorrow. But they’re all incredible, they are kings and queens of their game; they can just do the most unbelievable things. And if you’re like, ‘I’m not sure I like that’, they will just change it immediately. But what I’m learning is… with all of them – Vicky Gill, who is head of costume, and Lisa Armstrong who is head of make up, and Lisa Davey who does hair – you should go with what they think, because they are top of their game, so you’d be a fool to not to be steered by them.”
If Sarah’s first few performances are anything to go by, there’s no doubt that she has talent when it comes to dancing –does that come from her background in musical theatre, I ask. “At college you do a bit of jazz, bit of ballet, bit of tap, bit of contemporary, but I’d never done any ballroom. I’ve never done any Latin,” she explains. “It’s like saying you can speak French, and then somebody saying, ‘Oh well you’ll be able to speak Indian then?’. You know, it’s a completely different language, which I don’t think I had really appreciated when I had watched it before.”
Indeed, she thinks her previous professional experience might be more of a hindrance than a help when it comes to this type of dancing. “What happens is that you defer to what you know, and in musical theatre, everything is very big, and in your face, and if you’re lacking in technique you make up for it in energy and performance,” she explains. “When I did Cats and Grease in the West End 30, 35 years ago, I remember that I didn’t have as much technique as other people, who were just pure dancers, and because I was more of a musical theatre all-rounder I would make up for it by being extra big. In my first lesson with Vito, I realised that it was not going to work for this. I would throw myself into something and think, well the feet were a bit wrong, but it doesn’t matter, look, I’m doing a really big smile! And I could see he was horrified – like: ‘No, no no! Ballroom and Latin is all about detail and technique; your feet have to be exactly like this, your fingers…’ And I was like, ‘Really? Surely if I’m just doing a jolly pose, it won’t really matter?’.” If the dances we’ve seen so far are anything to go by, Vito is getting his message across successfully, and the pair are having a lot of fun in the process. Indeed, they are such a natural looking partnership that I’m surprised to discover that he is not, in fact, the professional dancer she imagined herself with when she accepted the part on the show. “What happens is that you go to kind of like a chemistry day,” she explains. “So, the females – females, that sounds like you’re in a laboratory – the women stand in a circle around the outside, and you’re taught a very basic Salsa. Like a forward and step, and back and step, and hop and step (can you tell I am not a professional dancer?) and it’s like speed dating, you do it with one pro dancer and then they move on. And the funny thing was, I really thought I wanted to be partnered with a certain person, and I went there, and the minute I met Vito – we are both very, very high energy people,
we are both like excitable puppies – instantly I was like, oh, this is the right person for me! I just thought, if I’m going to be in a room with someone eight hours a day, this is the person for me, I need to be with this person, which I really wasn’t expecting.”
After that, it was a case of crossing fingers and hoping that the production team came to the same conclusion. “You can say you have a preference, but it doesn’t necessarily happen, which I was really aware of,” Sarah tells me. “I think it’s on a combination of things, I think height is a big thing, because I couldn’t be paired with someone like JoJo, who is really tall. And then obviously they are watching the… I’m loathed to use the word celebrity, but I don’t know what other word to use. Whatever we are, we have to get taught by the pros, so I think they’re watching to see how you pick it up from different dancers. So, I think they are looking at all those elements, and I am obviously really grateful, because, like I say, you can’t demand who you want, so I was so thrilled when it was him.”
How is Sarah coping with the hours and hours of rehearsals every week? “I am quite a high energy person. And I am always quite active,” she says. “And as an actor, if you are filming, you might get picked up at 5am in the morning, you might be filming until late, you might be doing night shoots. So, I am quite used to managing energy levels, but I suppose the difference with this is, like I say, and I can’t emphasise this enough, the intricacy, the detail is unbelievable. What Vito
“They’re all INCREDIBLE , they are kings and queens of their GAME ; they can just do the most UNBELIEVABLE things. And if you’re like, ‘I’m not sure I like that’, they will just CHANGE it immediately”
likes to do on a Thursday is run through it ten times, backto-back. And the detail is so important! For a second you stop concentrating, you forget a finger or something, and apparently Shirley is looking for that finger! I have never been so conscious of my fingers in my life!” Sarah laughs.
This week in particular has been even more challenging. “We are doing the Viennese Waltz, and that has been very problematic, because it makes me feel sick, because of all the spinning. We’ve worked out that I do 40 spins. And so, I’ve been taking travel sickness pills! The woman in the shop was like, ‘What is it for?’. And I was like, ‘Well it’s for spinning’. And she went, ‘Right, where are you spinning?’. And I was like, ‘Around the room’. And she was like, ‘Well is there a need to do that?’. And I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m doing a dance’. And she was like, ‘Well, just don’t do the dance’. And I was like, ‘Well, I kind of have to’. And then she looked at me and it twigged, and she was like ‘Ohhhhh…’! And it actually works. It really does. I genuinely panicked when I could not find my packet this morning.”
This added worry certainly can’t help the nerves. On which note, I’m surprised to find that it is not the millions and millions of people watching at home, but rather the studio audience that makes Sarah more nervous. “I have done a lot of studio sitcoms.
I’ve done a lot of sketch shows where you have an audience. I was in Mitchell and Webb for years, where you have a studio audience, and obviously Miranda had a studio audience, so I’m used to that,” she tells me. “But when you are a performer, the minute you see people, you instantly kick into performance mode. And that’s what Vito has had to help me manage, because
when I’m performing in front of a live audience, I have to ramp it up a gear! Also, I am very easily distracted, so I’ll be walking to the dancefloor going, ‘Oh hi, thank you, I know, I love these shoes’, and Vito will be like, ‘You must focus!’. That is our word: focus. And he helps me to get into a space where I’m very calm and very concentrated and very focused. He calls me Trilly, which is the Italian for Tinkerbell. He’s like, ‘You are here, there, everywhere, you are never where you need to be, so I call you Trilly. So, we are Trilly and Vito, and we just concentrate!’.”
And holding that focus can be especially tough when there is a long wait to get out on the floor. “You’ve really got to hold your nerve; last week I was last. I was like, this is long!” Sarah admits. “I kept thinking I needed the toilet. And because I had been stitched into my costume, people had to cut me out, and I had a wee and then they had to sew me back in. And then ten minutes later, I was like, ‘I’m so sorry, I definitely need another wee’. And they were like, ‘OK’, and they cut me out again! And I went and had a wee and they sewed me back in, and they were like, ‘OK, no more!’. And then Vito was amazing, he told me to be calm, breathe, just concentrate. He said, ‘You have to just be in this space and get into your character’. That’s something that I think really helps, because when you are thinking about being in character, you are that person, you’re in a different place, you’re not yourself, and that’s really, really helpful.”
What about the judges – do the high scores she achieved in the first couple of weeks make it easier facing them, or more difficult? “I had braced myself for criticism, so I was not prepared for the lovely comments. Or the scores,” she admits.
“I’d NEVER done any BALLROOM . I’ve never done any LATIN… You know, it’s a completely DIFFERENT language, which I don’t think I had really APPRECIATED when I had watched it before”
“Vito had said, ‘This is a competition, and they might say some not very nice things, and we have to be ready for that’. And then… it’s classic, isn’t it? I was like, well what’s going to happen next week now? So that did add to the pressure. Vito says the only people we are competing against is ourselves. It means that you can watch all the other dancers and enjoy it. So last Saturday, I just watched everyone else, I really enjoyed it, and then I was like, OK, now we are just going to go and do our best. And that’s all we can do. I mean, it is pretty terrifying. But it is (I hate to use the J word!) a journey, and there are going to be dances that aren’t going to get a high score, and aren’t going to get good comments, and you just have to go, well, that’s OK. I mean, that’s what you teach kids, isn’t it? That it’s OK not doing great, as long as you tried your best, that’s the most important thing. But yeah, I mean, eeeee, I was so grateful when we got four eights the first week!”
As a self-confessed super fan, are there any dances Sarah is particularly looking forward to? “I’m really looking forward to the Charleston, and I am really looking forward to the Jive,” she exclaims, clearly having already given the question some thought. “I like quick things. I like fast things, I think they will suit my personality, and they will allow me to be quite big and quite high energy. I am really, really not looking forward to the Samba and the Rumba. Those weird waltz things in the Samba, what’s going on there? Going forward and then back, I mean, no, I’m worried about that! And also, the Rumba, with the funny little feet, and the fiddle-de-fiddle-des terrify me. But equally, I am desperately hoping that I am still in to do them, because, I mean, I want to try them.”
And there’s the rub, with Strictly, nothing is guaranteed, and how long Sarah stays in the competition remains to be seen. “It is quite a weird thing – you can say, I am really looking forward to doing it, but you might not get to do it!” she agrees. “That is the thing that has always surprised me, there are people who leave the show, and you are absolutely gobsmacked, and there are people who stay and you are equally gobsmacked! And it’s an incredible show because of that. I love the balance of the judges’ vote and the audience vote – it makes it so thrilling, because you never know what is going to happen.”
Will she carry on dancing after the show? “The Viennese Waltz, I don’t think I could afford the amount of Kwells I would need to buy. I know other travel sickness pills are available… ” she laughs. “So, maybe not the spinny one. But I tell you what I did enjoy, which I didn’t think I would, is that within the Viennese Waltz is a thing called a fleckle, and for some reason
that doesn’t make me dizzy, and I really enjoy that. And I am never going to stop doing the fleckle, I am going to break that out at every disco I ever go to! And there is just something really special about being so connected to somebody else while you are dancing together. I want to say that it is a holistic experience, it’s a whole experience, which again I was quite surprised by. What an amazing feeling that is, that you’re completely in tune and you’re really focusing on somebody else, at the same time as all the details, it’s quite an amazing sensation, and I love that.”
Fleckling at all those Christmas parties aside, what do the coming months hold for Sarah, once the Strictly ride is over?
“We have the second series of Daddy Issues, which I am super excited about,” she reveals. “I’m hoping that Rita, well, I’ve been told that Rita is going to have some nice storylines involving David Morrissey’s character Malcolm. And I am super excited about working with Aimee Lou Wood again. And also, I have a writing project on the go with Paul Coleman, who wrote Car Share. We have a project in with Tiger Aspect, with the BBC, so we are hoping that there might be some news on that. So, I’m very excited for next year.” There is, undoubtedly, lots to be excited about.
Tune in to Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday and Sunday evenings on BBC One
Discover an exclusive new rental community in an unbeatable location where the City meets the creative east
Enviably located in Aldgate, Zone One, Alma, a stunning rental development, has just opened. Offering an unrivalled, resident-centred living experience in the heart of the City, complete with a bespoke concierge service and exceptional amenities, the homes here are available to move into now.
Accommodation ranges from studios to one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, and with king-sized beds and en suite bathrooms as standard, the latter are perfect for groups, providing more than enough room for both singles and couples looking to share. Much more than just a home, the development presents a complete lifestyle offering. There is a strong feeling of community here; residents benefit from an on-site boutique fitness studio offering group classes with top instructors; a private dining space and movie screening room for those who love to host; sociable communal lounges, and an extraordinary rooftop terrace offering jaw-dropping London views. A regular programme of activities is planned for the Alma community, including wellness workshops, art experiences, networking events, and more.
Recognising the continuing trend for hybrid working, Alma also offers its residents purpose-built co-working spaces, and ultrafast broadband across the building comes as standard. Indeed, every conceivable need is catered to, from secure cycle storage to a parcel room, and there is even a late-night taxi meet-and-greet service, so residents can be escorted from the car to their front door. Additional services including housekeeping, pet care, at-home beauty treatments, car bookings, and fresh flower deliveries are also available on request – residents need only contact the dedicated concierge team, who are available around the clock, or log on to the Alma app, where events and services can be booked on-screen. Here, you’ll also find a series of on-demand wellbeing classes, fitness sessions, mindfulness and nutrition guides – all part of the integrated Alma Wellness programme.
The high spec homes have been designed with a chic, pared-back aesthetic, featuring spacious, open plan layouts. Each light-filled home features floor-to-ceiling windows, and all boast outside space in the form of a winter garden or balcony. Every detail inside has been carefully curated, from clever storage to subtle lighting. Sustainability was key to the design process; the team worked closely with The Furniture Practice to ensure responsible sourcing and a long product lifespan for furnishings, without compromising on style. A strict ‘close-tohome’ supply chain policy means that all of the furniture chosen has been ethically produced in the UK and EU, reducing the carbon footprint. And, in celebration of the immediate neighbourhood within which Alma sits, seven specially commissioned art pieces from local craftspeople have been installed in communal spaces.
On the subject of the local area, the development is located in the vibrant, up-andcoming neighbourhood of Aldgate, moments from the heart of the City, making it perfect for professionals seeking a home just a short walk from the office. And with Aldgate East station on the doorstep, fast connections across the Capital and beyond are possible. The world is your oyster.
From £2,950 per month. For more information or to book a viewing, see alma-aldgate.co.uk
Why wait for January to implement your healthy intentions? JAB Boxing have just opened the doors to a brand new club that is bigger and better than ever before. Founder George Veness is an ex-multi-time boxing champion who has focused his career around making high performance training accessible. And his client list includes the likes of Lily Allen, Jamie Rednapp, Justin Theroux, Emilia Clarke, and Sam Rockwell. Building on the success of his original club in Mayfair, the new club comprises a 6,500 sq ft state-of-the-art boxing studio, a training studio for strength and conditioning, and a dedicated recovery suite complete with an ice bath, sauna, and a selection of the latest cuttingedge recovery technology. With sessions catering to all skill levels, from beginners to advanced athletes, there really is something for everyone here, and community is at the heart of the philosophy. Indeed, a fully equipped health bar in the club’s welcoming foyer has been designed not just to fuel post-training recovery, but to bring people together. George tells us: “Myself and the JAB team are incredibly excited to start delivering this new, elevated concept to our members, many of whom have followed us from our Mayfair Club. My goal was to evolve the boutique fitness industry and bring a training philosophy to the market that gets people performing at their highest level. I want our community to experience a lifestyle and a space that only elite athletes or the one per cent have access to.” Time to start fighting the inevitable festive flab pre-emptively.
Unlimited Standard Memberships start from £250 monthly. To find out more, or to apply, see jab-box.com
On the hunt for a unique gift? Look no further than Fabric favourite, jewellery brand, Annabel B. British jeweller Annabel Bartfeld is passionate about creating ‘wearable art’, and her handmade pieces are often intended to be worn in nontraditional places; from sterling silver bangles that sit above the elbow, to rings that rest on the upper finger, and chains that snake horizontally across the chest. Each sublime piece is handmade in Annabel’s workshop on South Molton Street, crafted from sterling silver, gold vermeil or rose gold vermeil, and incorporating unusual gemstones such as black zebra agate, white zebra agate, blue agate, purple agate and onyx. We love the unconventional FixedOn collection that features chains that can be attached permanently, locking two ends of a capsule together so that they cannot be removed or pulled apart. A longstanding ambassador, fundraiser and volunteer on the wards of Great Ormond Street Hospital, Annabel has designed a number of limitededition pieces to support causes close to her heart. One hundred per cent of the proceeds from these special pieces are donated to chosen charities, including Spread a Smile, a charity committed to bringing positivity to children in hospital, and Lymphoma Action, an organisation that provides vital information and support to those living with this type of blood cancer. annabel-b.com
The ultimate gift for lovers of high fashion and great design, The Book celebrates the richness of human creativity and the beauty of diverse perspectives. So much more than simply a coffee table
book, this gorgeous new tome – created in partnership with the likes of Dior, Amalie Gassmann, Patrick Mcdowell and Jameela Jamil –explores how fashion, culture, design, travel and lifestyle reflect
contemporary human culture. Showcasing the best in fashion, where style is not dictated but inspired, The Book celebrates craftsmanship and invites readers to immerse themselves in a world that is
not shackled in judgement: diversity is celebrated, and no idea is overlooked. Expect insightful features and engaging narratives with stunning visuals. Priced at £150, The Book is available to buy from bymatthew.com
Tell us a little about your background and how Otiumberg came to be
Christie: Otiumberg began as a personal project between us whilst living together in London, working full-time jobs in the creative industries. We had no grand plan – we were just two sisters sitting in our kitchen after our day jobs and dreaming up our ideal jewellery collection. We envisioned the pieces we’d want to wear daily, and the ones we’d gift to our closest friends that could symbolise our dearest bonds and meaningful memories.
Rosanna: Our first pieces were inspired by some diamond huggies and name necklaces that Christie had made whilst working in luxury fashion in the Middle East and gifted to us on her return. They were so beautiful and precious that our friends began to ask about them and the collection grew from there. That original signature name collection remains one of our most loved collections today.
What’s your brand philosophy?
C: Our philosophy has always been simple: jewellery as connection. We believe in jewellery that links us to the bonds that matter – daily energetic connections with others and with ourselves. As a sister-led brand, these unspoken bonds and authentic connections have always been a very natural guiding spirit and instinctual philosophy. We try to always thread this philosophy through everything we do, from the way we craft our jewellery, to the designs themselves and the way we operate as a business and as a team.
Seeing women out and about in London wearing our jewellery brings us the most joy
of mood boarding with my team. I try to get out of the office when I can to get inspired and give my thoughts some space to play with ideas. It’s really joyful when an idea starts to really form and come together with sketching. Although nothing beats the arrival of a perfect sample from our workshop – that’s incredibly exciting and rewarding.
Do you have a most treasured item in your personal jewellery collection?
Where does your inspiration come from?
R: We are always inspired by the world around us – the style of our friends and the interesting people we see out and about in London, and the art, culture, and incredible architecture we are so lucky to have here on our doorstep. We also spend time searching through archival and antique references.
Tell us a little about your creative process from concept to realisation – what do you enjoy most?
C: I have a very active mind so I’m constantly thinking about design, it’s a never-ending process! Sometimes an idea might start as a rough sketch from a morning thought or come through a process
R: We both still wear our Knocker Ring everyday, which is particularly sentimental as it was one of the very first designs that we launched on Otiumberg. The design remains a bestseller and reminds us of our shared vision for timeless and tactile pieces that stand the test of time.
Tell us about your new store
C: We were beyond excited to open our flagship store in Holland Park this October in a very warm, flower-lined street that instantly felt like home to us. As an independent brand, it has been quite the journey of eight years to get to this point and we’re feeling very proud and grateful.
More than just a place to shop, the boutique is an intimate and peaceful place where our customers can take their time, have a cup of coffee or glass of Champagne and enjoy themselves –such a rarity these days with the pace of life we all lead. Not many people know that the Latin word Otium (the inspiration for our name) stands for a sense of leisure that involves taking time out to do something that is artistically valuable or enlightening, and the store is an extension of this thought. We see the boutique as an open door to our community – a place for special events, intimate gatherings, and opportunities to come together in person. We are excited to welcome customers there!
What do you think will be your big sellers this Christmas?
R: The Roscida Heart Earrings have sold out with every restock, with a waitlist that continues to grow. Their sculptural heart form perfectly suits gifting with love.
We also recently launched a new Sage Green version of our velvet jewellery box which is such a great gift for someone with a significant jewellery collection. It’s such a romantic and practical design that it will be a gift to be cherished for years.
Other than that, our Wave Collection – as seen on Jourdan Dunn and Lucy Boynton – has received a lot of attention and offers a full look for the receiver, with the earrings and matching cuff.
How do you want people wearing your pieces to feel?
C: We hope our pieces add tactile and beautiful moments to the everyday and that they make our customers feel good and connected to themselves, whether that’s through a memory of a relationship, moment, or simply a reminder of what they care about most.
Is there anyone you’d really love to see wearing one of your designs?
R: Recently it’s been exciting to see women we hugely admire such as Olivia Colman, Rebecca Ferguson, and Anne Hathaway in our jewellery, however, more than anything, seeing women out and about in London wearing our jewellery brings us the most joy. Just the other day, walking in west London, we saw a woman in her sixties wearing our cuffs and she looked amazing. For us, that’s the biggest thrill.
Can you tell us about the role of sustainability in your business?
C: As a sister-led, B-corp certified business, we want to stand proud about what we do and with that desire comes an integral sense of responsibility. The term sustainability is somewhat at odds with our industry – an industry that thrives off newness and utilises natural resources. There is no denying that. That’s why we don’t shy away from our impact and instead work to be the most responsible brand we can be. Our focus has always been on growing slowly and consciously, as we learn from the mistakes we’ve made along the way and strive to do better year after year. We’re constantly evaluating our impact, the materials we use and the innovations in the industry that become available to us. Recent introductions we are proud of include our repair and restore service, use of Single Mine Origin Gold and our charity partnership with The Girls’ Network that supports girls from underprivileged backgrounds through professional mentorship programmes. It’s a constant conversation that lies at the heart of what we do.
What’s next for Otiumberg?
R: For the near future, we’re very focused on the boutique and look forward to welcoming our clients there – whether that’s for a trunk show with their friends or a personalised styling appointment. It takes a lot to make a store a success and as an independent brand we need to put all we have into the space to make it the success we hope (and know!) it can be.
2 Portland Road, W11 (07761 918159; otiumberg.com)
Tuck into the latest foodie news from across the Capital
The leaves are thick on the ground, the woollen knits are out of storage, and the team at Dovetale, the Mayfair restaurant from two Michelin-starred chef Tom Sellers are celebrating the changing seasons with the return of their famous Sunday roast – happy days. Promising tradition with a Mayfair twist, the menu, which was designed by Tom along with executive head chef Tom Anglesea begins with Carlingford oysters served with Tabasco, lemon and Sarawak pepper mignonette, washed down with an obligatory Bloody Mary. For the main event, diners can choose from roast Black Angus beef and horseradish cream; roast Somerset chicken with bread sauce and sausage stuffing; or stuffed Portobello mushroom with Savoy cabbage and wild mushroom and veggie gravy – all served with gloriously puffy Yorkshire puddings, swede mash, steamed greens and gravy. A choice of nostalgic desserts includes sticky toffee pudding and jam roly poly, just like mum used to make. Add to that a tasty bottle, carefully selected by wine director Tara Ozols from the restaurant’s extensive cellar, and a soundtrack of live jazz, and you have yourself the perfect, indulgent Sunday. The Sunday menu is available from 12pm - 8pm with live jazz music from 12.30pm - 4pm. 1 Hotel Mayfair, 3 Berkeley Street, W1J (020 3137 4983; 1hotels.com/mayfair/taste/dovetale)
Have you spotted the new red and white awning in the heart of the village? Number two Highgate High Street is now home to an exciting new foodie destination. It is the sixth opening for Lussmanns, but the first in London since the company relocated from Kensington to Hertfordshire twenty years ago. Inside, you’ll find a casual café space, perfect for
enjoying a coffee; an elegant bar serving a mindfully curated list of sustainable wines and hand-crafted gin – made with herbs grown in two of the group’s Hertfordshire restaurants’ gardens; and a light-filled dining area for sophisticated yet relaxed all-day dining. Champions of sustainable dining, the kitchen team here use only organic, high-welfare meat, sustainable seafood and almost exclusively British ingredients –
and the menu changes eight times a year to showcase those ingredients at their peak. Founder Andrei Lussmann tells us:
“We’ve been blown away by the welcome we’ve had… I think discerning diners crave somewhere to eat out that really means what it says when it talks about sustainable dining.” We couldn’t agree more – welcome to the neighbourhood. 2 Highgate High Street, N6 (020 4603 4888; lussmanns.com/ restaurants/highgate)
From craft gins to cheese, and British beers to biscuits, we’re increasingly spoilt for choice when it comes to advent calendars, but we’re particularly taken with Maison Ladurée’s latest mouthwatering offering. A grown-up gourmet delight, the calendar offers a host of delicious treats with which to count down the days to Christmas. From the famous Eugénie, chocolate pearls, and caramel-coated fruits to indulgent jams, honey, and chocolate-coated marrons glacés, each of the 24 doors conceals a different, irresistible delicacy. And the calendar itself is a work of art in Christmassy gold and blue. Behind the last window, a beautiful ornament awaits, ready to adorn the tree. Festive and fabulous. £95.00, available now in Ladurée boutiques and from laduree.co.uk
Offering fine dining on Fleet Street, the flagship restaurant from the famous French cookery school serves excellent food with flourish
Words by Liz Skone-James
Being more familiar with the West End, I’m a bit stuck when a friend suggests meeting for a weekday lunch in the City – where to go? A colleague recommends CORD by Le Cordon Blue, where there is a choice of both café and restaurant. Such foodie pedigree is irresistible, and we need little persuasion to upgrade our casual lunch plans and book a table in the restaurant.
The setting is a Grade II listed building originally designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens for the Press Association, and the restaurant itself is bright and stylishly decorated in a serene palette. Tables are covered in crisp white cloths, while comfortable blue velvet seating invites long, leisurely lunches. From our table, we have a front row seat from which to gawp at the industrious comings and goings in the glass-fronted kitchen, and it makes for fascinating viewing.
Executive chef Karl O’Dell joined the team a year ago, bringing with him skills honed during his time at the likes of Michelin-starred Texture and Pétrus, and most recently The Monarch Theatre, Park Row. Along with his talented team – many of them Cordon Bleu graduates – here, his focus in on producing modern French cuisine with an emphasis on combining the freshest ingredients with innovative techniques to create dishes that reflect the essence of the season. There is a four-course tasting menu available at lunchtime, nine courses in the evening, but our appetite has been piqued by the à la carte menu, which includes some irresistible-sounding options. While we make our choices we nibble on the most
exquisite mini brioche rolls – crispy and laminated on the outside, warm and flaky inside, they are like nothing we have ever tasted before. When the basket comes around again it takes all our willpower to decline seconds – we are determined to leave room for three courses.
I choose lobster and sea urchin raviolo to start, while my companion opts for the Isle of Wight tomatoes with burrata, which comes with a tiny shot glass of green gazpacho and a scoop of mustard ice cream on the side. It is evident that the presentation here is as much of an art form as the cooking: gorgeously plump, my raviolo is made from striking black pasta dough and embellished
with tiny edible flowers. A spiced shellfish broth is poured over it with a flourish at the table. Indeed, there is a theatrical element to every dish that is presented to us, making the meal a real visual treat. The food might look too good to eat, but rest assured, it tastes even better than it looks.
Expectations high, we move on to the mains, sea bass for me, lamb cutlet with walnut crust for my friend. Both are excellent, mine served with a dashi broth that gives the tender, delicate fish an appealing umami bite. We share a side of crispy potato pave with black truffle and Comté which will take some beating.
We’ve been told that the hazelnut soufflé is not to be missed, but we’re both intrigued by the Saint-Marcellin cheese, and decide to share both. It is an excellent decision, the former is well worth the 15-minute wait – it comes fluffy and perfectly risen, served with a quenelle of cinnamon ice cream. After presenting it, the waiter cuts into the soufflé and fills it with warm caramel sauce. The latter, meanwhile, is unlike any cheese dish we have seen – presented like a dessert it is a delicate millefeuille dripping with melted cheese and truffle honey and topped with delicate slivers of Granny Smith apple and celery. We round the meal off with coffee and peppermint tea, served with beautiful handmade chocolates, and leave feeling pleasantly replete. With menus changing seasonally, we know that we’ll be back soon, and I urge you to go, too. 85 Fleet Street, EC4Y (020 3143 6365; cordrestaurant.co.uk)
The celebrations start here in midNovember, with illuminations, an ice rink that circles around a vast tree, and not one, but two Christmas markets – the perfect spot to fill your festive cup
This boutique retreat in the heart of the city was welcomed as part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Vignette Collection this summer. In line with its mission statement – to provide a space for guests to “bond, breathe and bloom” – the hotel’s design embraces natural light and verdant greenery. The aesthetic is warm and welcoming, with a palette of warm hues and neutral shades, accented with abstract furniture and sculptural lighting installations –and everywhere is infused with the hotel’s gorgeous signature cedarwood scent. There are 48 stylish guest rooms, all boasting either city or park views. We particularly love the corner suites, where the floor-to-ceiling windows offer spectacular views of Budapest’s characteristic Art Nouveau architecture. And the guest facilities are just as good: the Michelin Guide-recommended Flava Kitchen & More serves a menu of inventive North African, Latin American, and Middle Easterninspired delicacies, alongside beloved local dishes including beef cheek stew with spätzle, and goulash. Meanwhile, the spa offers a tranquil retreat with Turkish steam bath, Finnish sauna, whirlpool bath, and fitness centre. And a full menu of indulgent massage and facial treatments, featuring allnatural products and ingredients by local brand Botaniq, is available. Simply heavenly. vernohouse.com
Architectural aficionados prepare to be wowed at this five-star hotel. Once the headquarters of the New York Insurance Company, the lavish building was designed by Alajos Hauszmann, Flóris Korb, and Kálmán Giergl, and inspired by the Italian Renaissance. A marble façade is adorned with ornate carvings and a clock tower, while inside, impressive columns, chandeliers, and Belle Epoque frescoes transport you to another era. Now part of the highly regarded Anantara group, and a member of Leading Hotels of the World, it offers 185 richly decorated guest rooms featuring Murano glass chandeliers and marble clad bathrooms. The exquisite New York Café, set within the hotel, has been described as the world’s most beautiful coffee house, and it is easy to see why. A meeting place for the best literary and artistic minds when it opened in the early 20th century, it now draws crowds keen to take in the gilded surroundings and sample the famous 24-carat-gold cappuccino. Guests can also choose to dine in White Salon, the hotel’s brasserie, or the glamorous lobby restaurant, Atrium. The exclusive spa, designed to feel like a network of cocoon-like caves, features wet facilities, including sauna, steam and experience showers, and a softly lit, heated relaxation pool. All this, and a location in the heart of the action on Great Boulevard. anantara.com/en/new-york-palace-budapest
This gorgeous 127-room boutique hotel has an enviable riverside location on the leafy Buda banks of the Danube, just a stone’s throw from famous Castle District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Having opened just this summer, it is the new kid on the block when it comes to Budapest’s luxury hotel scene; internationally acclaimed Marcel Wanders has overseen a striking and sophisticated makeover of a listed 19th-century mansion. His bold design references mythology – a golden stag stands in the centre of the grand lobby, and the reception desks are adorned with bold purple and green floral motifs that draw from Hungarian folklore. Meanwhile, in garden themed guest rooms, murals of native local flora adorn the walls, and sea themed rooms feature octopus-adorned headboards and wave motifs on carpets and walls. With options for all different occasions and appetites, guests are promised an epicurean experience as exciting as the design – choose from the all-day lobby-level bar and restaurant, the signature Mediterranean restaurant, and an exclusive, ‘secret’ oasis featuring a rooftop garden serving bespoke cocktails and bites, with a side of spectacular views. And don’t miss the wellness area, complete with a 24/7 fitness centre, hot tub and steam room, the perfect spot to unwind after a day of sightseeing. kimptonbembudapest.com
Words by Becky Pomfret
From centuries old traditions to futuristic modern technology and lush natural beauty, Japan is a beguiling holiday destination that is like no other
When I tell friends I am visiting Japan the response is a mix of awe and envy. Offering a unique and fascinating blend of ancient traditions and cutting-edge modernity, the country has been on my holiday bucket list for some time. And having read much about the diverse cultural heritage, from ancient temples and shrines to the traditional arts such as tea ceremonies and calligraphy, it’s difficult to pin down what I’m looking forward to the most when I finally get around to planning my own trip.
much of the city on our short drive to the Nagoya Prince Hotel Sky Tower; we are excited to get to bed and to start exploring the following day. Thanks to our comfortable sleep on the plane, jet lag isn’t too much of a problem, and a good night’s sleep followed by a hearty breakfast sets us up for the day. We’ve heard that Japan can feel bewildering to first time visitors, so have enlisted the services of Kinga Ciupak, a guide from tour company InsideJapan. Train travel here, especially from Meitetsu Nagoya station, which is literally next door to the hotel, is fast, clean and very efficient. And Kinga makes life very easy, providing us with a pre-loaded IC Transport Card (like London’s Oyster card). We head out to Inuyama Castle, one of Japan’s oldest surviving castles and a striking example of traditional Japanese architecture. Located in Inuyama, a small city in the Aichi prefecture, just north of Nagoya, the 17th century castle is a popular destination for those wanting to discover more about Japan’s feudal past. When it was built in the late 1580s there were 3,000 castles in Japan, but feudal and world wars destroyed all but 12, and this is the oldest of those that are left. We also stop off at the Jo-an Tea Ceremony House, built in 1618 and now designated a National Treasure. Here, we drink matcha tea in a replica house in the grounds, learning about the fascinating culture of tea drinking. We’re told that warriors would leave their samurai swords outside before drinking tea together.
I’m booked to fly from London Heathrow to Nagoya, via Helsinki, with Finnair; it is the only airline to connect Europe to the Japanese city, operating flights twice a week. Feeling celebratory, I start the trip with a glass of chilled Champagne in the Cathay Pacific Lounge in Terminal 3, toasting my good fortune. The hop over to Helsinki takes less than three hours and the views of beautiful fjords and forests on the final approach are spectacular. On arrival, we head straight to the Finnair Lounge, which is fittingly decorated in muted forest greens. Excitingly, we’re booked to fly Business Class for the next leg. Finnair have just introduced an innovative seat design offering a spacious, lay-flat bed experience with a contoured shell design that enhances privacy and comfort. It feels like the height of luxury, and the personal TV screen is the biggest I’ve ever seen on a plane, offering an excellent selection of entertainment options. The overnight flight is almost 13 hours long and miraculously I manage to get some shut-eye, which speaks volumes as I’m usually a terrible planesleeper. The service is friendly and warm, and the menus are varied (in fact, if you pre-order there are plentiful options for all dietary requirements).
With Marimekko-designed textiles (and a lovely kit bag) for a Nordic-inspired luxury feel, I don’t really want the flight to end!
Japan’s fourth largest city, Nagoya is wellconnected and a little quieter than Tokyo, so it’s a brilliant way to experience the country for the first time. Arriving in the evening, we don’t actually see
Afterwards, we walk up to the Sanko Inari Shrine, a small but charming structure, dedicated to Inari, the Shinto deity of fertility, rice, agriculture, and foxes. Inari shrines are common throughout Japan, and Sanko Inari is one of the many dedicated to this important deity, revered for bringing prosperity and protection. One of the most striking features is its series of bright red torii gates, which visitors pass through as they approach. These gates are symbolic of the transition from the mundane to the sacred. Visitors often come to pray for good fortune: we purchase ‘money’ that we are then able to ‘wash’ in a bamboo bowl for good luck, and then write messages on charms which we leave behind. Next up, it’s Osu Kannon, a vibrant and eclectic area in Nagoya, centred around the historic Osu Kannon Temple. It is also home to a very cool shopping district, full of vintage shops – oh for a bigger case to bring back a kimono or two!
The next day we pack our cases and take a train to Hida-Furukawa. The views on the way are incredible, with vistas of lush forests, pine trees, bamboo plants, mountains and the fast-flowing Kiso River. And we are thrilled to discover that you can swivel the train seats to better appreciate the views (or possibly to ensure that passengers can always face the direction of travel, but I prefer my explanation!).
Set in the mountains of the northern Gifu prefecture, Hida-Furukawa’s historic, canal-lined streets, temples and museums bring a lovely sense of peace. We are delighted by the small canals full of Koi carp that flow through the streets. There are over 1,000 Koi here, and every year they are taken out of the canal by hand and delivered safely to a nearby pond to hibernate over winter. The small
town feels like a film set; the buildings designed in a samurai house style. Keen to learn more about the town, we pay a visit to the Hida-Furukawa Matsuri Kaikan museum, which gives us a fascinating insight into the famous festival that takes place in the town every April. There are stunning displays of the beautifully elaborate floats used in the event. It feels like a real privilege to have a peek into such a unique local custom, and as it’s off the standard tourist route, it feels even more special.
Our next stop is the neighbouring, larger town of Hida-Takayama, where we are staying in the Tokyu Stay Hotel. We are excited to try out the hotel’s onsen baths, having seen a preview on the recent series of BBC One’s Race Across the World We’re asked to strip off entirely, and then sit on a tiny plastic stool to wash thoroughly before stepping into the hot bath, which takes more than a little courage in front of strangers, but it does feel like a big tick off the experiences list. And dinner that evening, at a restaurant called Karakuri, proves another such experience. Removing our shoes and sitting on the floor on Tatami mats, we cook slices of tender Hida beef on our own little griddle pans. Rising early the next morning, we head to the Miyagawa Morning Market, where locals come to meet friends and buy local produce. Stalls are set up alongside the river, and we buy local honey and people-watch before heading back to collect our cases and continue our adventures. Excitement levels are high – we are travelling back to Nagoya where we will transfer onto the Shinkansen, aka the Bullet Train, to Kyoto. Taking just 34 minutes, the journey is fast and fun, and we tuck into pretty bento boxes while we watch the rice fields speed by.
Now seen as the cultural capital of Japan, Kyoto was the country’s imperial capital for over 1,000 years. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, it is approximately 320 square miles in size, and home to around 1.45 million residents (plus plenty of visitors). And with an incredible 1,600 temples, it packs a lot in. The great thing about having a guide is that, armed with all the insider information on the best times to visit the more popular sites, she ensures we avoid the crowds. Before we hit our first temple, we check into The Thousand Kyoto, an incredibly glamorous member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, situated right next to the station. It is so cool, in fact, that we struggle to find the entrance, believing we have wrongly wandered into an art gallery.
Flooded with natural light and adorned with abundant greenery, minimalist comfort is the concept here. The rooms are beautiful and the bed so comfortable that we manage to sleep through a minor earthquake – albeit a common event that doesn’t trouble the locals.
We are here for the temples, and we are spoilt for choice. Ninth century Eikando Temple is filled with various works of art, the most notable of which is a statue of the Amida Buddha with his head turned to one side rather than facing forward as he is usually portrayed. Legend has it that a head monk was performing a ritual for the statue when it turned to face him and spoke to him. Indeed, every temple we visit has a wonderful story or legend attached, which makes Japan even more fascinating. The gardens here are lush and serene, and as the rain starts to fall, it only adds to the Zenlike atmosphere.
Tenryu-ji Temple, in Kyoto’s Arashiyama district, is one of the major Zen Buddhist temples. Founded in 1339 it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the busiest area we visit, but it’s easy to see why as it is so beautiful. A short walk from Tenryuji, is Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, an iconic bamboo forest famous for its peaceful ambience and scenic paths. The surrounding streets are lined with traditional tea houses, restaurants, and shops. One of my favourite moments is talking to an elderly gentleman selling pretty postcards on a path near the temple. He excitedly asks us where we are from, pulling out a well-thumbed atlas and a pen and then circling London. He’s got circles all over the map and his simple joy in marking the homes of the people he meets every day is a reminder to appreciate the small things in life.
Historic Gion, Kyoto’s geisha (geiko) district, is a picturesque area famous for its traditional wooden machiya houses, tea houses, and narrow streets. Here, InsideJapan have arranged for us to meet an apprentice geiko (known by the title of maiko). This offers a wonderful insight into an ancient and often misunderstood culture. Just 18 years old and dressed in an elegant kimono, Katsuide is gentle and smiles shyly as she tells us about the five years of training she in undergoing. One detail that stays in my mind is that she is required to sleep using a wooden block as a pillow to keep her hair in place! As a qualified geiko she’ll be allowed to wear a wig.
We couldn’t leave Japan without a meal involving a conveyor belt, so we pop into Musashi Sushi and watch as the plates stack up. Incredible cuts of tuna and salmon roll by… and later, we roll out, happily stuffed.
Sadly, the time comes to check out of the wonderful One Thousand Kyoto. We have time to spare at Nagoya Station – as luck would have it, it’s home to a huge shopping mall, and we are keen to spend our last Yen. Left to our own devices as Kinga kindly looks after our cases, we tackle eating out and shopping alone for the first time in Japan. Illustrating just how invaluable Kinga has been, some members of the group find themselves thoroughly lost. Note to self, always stick with the guide!
Japan has exceeded all our expectations. It offers a fascinating blend of modern and traditional, and the people are not only friendly and welcoming, but bring a playful spirit to everyday interactions. Indeed, the only thing stopping us from being too sad about leaving is the fact that we have the luxury of a return journey in Business Class with Finnair to look forward to. Champagne and a good night’s sleep await.
DETAILS:
Return fares flying from London with Finnair start at £813 in Economy, £1,562 in Premium Economy, and £2,828 in Business Class, including taxes and charges (finnair.com)
Part of the Inside Travel Group, InsideJapan Tours is a B-corp certified, leading independent specialist in travel to Japan. Established in 2000 it has become the biggest independent Japan travel specialist offering ‘Insider’ led escorted small group tours (4-14 people) and fully tailored self-guided cultural adventures that promise to ‘get beneath the surface’ of this incredible country and its culture (insidetravelgroup.com)
Rates at The Thousand Kyoto, a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ Lifestyle Collection, start from 47,000 Yen (approximately £235) per double room. (preferredhotels.com/ hotels/japan/thousandkyoto)
Emphasis is placed on achieving personal excellence in all areas
subjects beyond the set curricula. I have taken the opportunity to become involved in various opportunities, including holding the positions of Chair of the Economics debating society, Economics and STEM Ambassador and Financial Times Ambassador; entering maths challenges and essay competitions; representing the school in chemistry competitions; and presenting a paper at the school symposium.
How did you personally feel supported in the UCAS process?
Roedean is lucky to have the services of a UCAS expert (Mr Homer), who provides individual guidance to all applicants. At the beginning of Year 12 the process was clearly outlined, and important deadlines were highlighted. The difference between extra-curricular and super-curricular requirements was explained, with suggestions made as to how best to engage in both areas to help strengthen my application.
We chat to one of Rodean’s 2024 leavers, Amelia, about the ways the school nurtured, supported and advised her on the journey towards university
How did Roedean balance academic studies and extracurricular activities to prepare you for your journey to university?
Extracurricular activities were included as part of the weekly timetable and I was encouraged to develop as an individual in a safe, supportive and inclusive environment. Emphasis is placed on achieving personal excellence, but this is not solely measured by academic success. Scholarships are also awarded to recognise sporting, musical, art and drama ability. Participation in a wide variety of sports is actively encouraged at all levels, both inside and outside of school. This enabled me to play at above county level in both hockey and netball. The support provided was exceptional; I had a personal sports mentor, and received one-on-one training, which saw me put forward for U16 England hockey trials. And the excellent facilities on site made sport more convenient to incorporate into my timetable.
There were also opportunities to engage in extracurricular activities during my time at Rodean, including visiting our sister school in South Africa; teaching underprivileged pupils from a local school; taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme; completing a Sports Leader level 3 qualification; and teaching English to Ukrainian refugees in Moldova. From the beginning of my time at the school, I also held many positions of responsibility, including form representative, Captain of my sports team, House Captain and Head of School. This enabled me to develop my leadership and presentation skills from an early stage.
How did the school help you discover your academic interests and career goals?
I have always been encouraged to explore my own areas of interest without any preconceived notions or prejudices. Studying a wide range of subjects at GCSE helped me discover those that I found most rewarding.
Prior to selecting my A level choices, I had the opportunity to discuss my aspirations with an expert career’s advisor, who offered invaluable guidance. The chance to initially study an ‘extra A level’ in the first term of Year 12 allowed for a more informed final choice.
I was also able to sit in, and experience A level classes and discuss the courses with the relevant teachers before having to confirm my choices. This is just one example of the engagement I have had with teachers outside of scheduled lessons, which has been a standout feature of my time at Roedean. They have been hugely influential in both my academic, and personal development. Expert guest speakers regularly come in to provide insight into a wide range of careers. On top of this, the school provides information about various work experience opportunities, allowing students to gain an even more informed decision. Finally, my teachers have always encouraged me to explore my A level
Having decided that I wanted to study Economics, I received continuous encouragement, advice and support from the department. I have always aspired to study at Cambridge and I am extremely grateful for the Top University programme that Roedean provided. I received personal advice on how to complete a strong application, along with tailored entry exam preparation and individual interview coaching. Practice interviews were provided, not only with teachers, but also with external subject experts. There is no denying that the Oxbridge application process is demanding, however, the chance to share the experience with other students in the programme was hugely beneficial and the overall experience was greatly rewarding. The support provided by Roedean was outstanding, and I am delighted that as a result I am now studying Land Economy at Newnham College.
How do you think the school adjusts to ensure you are well-prepared for the challenges of university? Preparation starts early on, with students encouraged to take responsibility for their own academic development, for example, undertaking academic mentoring projects. Individual, critical thinking is fostered, and lively debate frequently occurs in a supportive and non-critical environment. This continues into the higher years, with increasing emphasis on selfmotivated learning and developing a passion for a subject area.
Additionally, my EPQ allowed me to consolidate my research, analysis and report writing skills.
Alongside academic preparation, Roedean provides an ideal environment for girls to follow their own path and become confident, well-rounded individuals prepared for the challenges of university life. To find out more about the school, see roedean.co.uk
KORU SCULPTURAL LIGHT
Cameron Design House’s new chunky chain light Koru, unveiled at last month’s Decorex, is crafted from alabaster, with each illuminated link highlighting the stone’s natural beauty. This contemporary, sculptural masterwork of a chandelier seamlessly blends innovation and craftsmanship, making it one extraordinary centrepiece. £POA (camerondesignhouse.com)
British bedmakers Naturalmat introduces Halstock, an inviting retro-inspired bed frame echoing 1970s design. With exaggerated curves, an oversized upholstered headboard, and an FSC-certified oak plinth base, this eco-friendly bed highlights the brand’s dedication to sustainability. Handcrafted in Devon using natural materials, including organic wool, it is the height of style and comfort, and it boasts bespoke upholstery options, too. From £2,520 (naturalmat.co.uk)
Tekla’s new lambswool blanket collection introduces four nature-inspired colourways: Oak, Snow, Magpie Stripes, and Starling Stripes. Made with responsibly sourced fibres, the blankets feature a tighter weave for enhanced softness and durability. Finished with a cotton whipstitched edge, these versatile designs offer elevated everyday comfort and come packaged in an organic cotton dust bag. Snuggle up! £275 (teklafabrics.com)
Otto Tiles & Design presents Luna, a bold new tile that breathes new life into an ancient craft. Undeniably the standout from the brand’s Mediterranean collection, Luna’s black and white geometric motif takes inspiration from the crescent moon and its innate connection to nature. Crafted from fine Italian marble, the hand-cut design brings daring contrast and modern, artistic flair. £650 per sq m (ottotiles.com)
1 Chalk side table, £159 (wheresaintsgo. co.uk) 2 Rondo marble side table, £249 (atkinandthyme.co.uk) 3 Eichholtz Gubbio side table, £1,170 (sweetpeaandwillow.com) 4 Beja side table, £175 (coxandcox.co.uk) 5 Bellwood side table, aged walnut, £170 (uk.umbra.com)
Words by Ali Howard
When hosting friends and family, it’s all about making them feel comfortable, relaxed, and welcome. A cosy space that feels warm and inviting can really set the tone for any gathering, whether it’s an intimate dinner or a more casual get-together in the living room. If you’re looking to create a space where guests can chat, unwind, and enjoy themselves, here are a few interior design tricks that will make your house party one to remember – for all the right reasons.
When it comes to entertaining, the way you arrange your seating is everything. It’s not just about having enough chairs for everyone, but how you place them. The goal is to make sure guests can sit and talk without feeling too far apart or awkwardly positioned. A circular or semi-circular seating arrangement helps create a natural flow of conversation, while a sprawling corner sofa invites both conversation and relaxation.
You don’t need to stick to just one type of seating, either. Mix it up with a combination of comfy sofas, statement armchairs, and even floor cushions if you want a more laid-back vibe. A stylish ottoman or pouffe can double as extra seating when needed.
The dining area is often the focal point of the party, so making it feel welcoming and intimate
is key. A round or oval table naturally encourages conversation as there’s no sharp divide between guests. But if you’re working with a rectangular table, keep the seating close together to avoid awkward gaps that can kill a good conversation.
Dining chairs don’t have to match and mixing them up can add charm and character to your space. Consider pairing wooden chairs with softer, upholstered pieces to keep things comfy and visually interesting. Adding a bench to one side of the table creates a communal feel and works well for more casual dinners.
As for table settings, keep things simple but thoughtful. A few low candles or a small floral arrangement can make the space feel special. You want guests to feel they’re there to enjoy themselves, and not worry about knocking over a grand centrepiece.
Lighting can make or break the atmosphere in your home. Bright, overhead lights might be great for everyday tasks, but they’re too harsh for entertaining. Layering different types of lighting is the best way to create a warm, cosy vibe. Start with your overhead lights, but make sure they’re on dimmers so you can adjust the brightness as the evening progresses.
Add in table lamps, floor lamps, or even wall lights to create softer pools of light around the
room. This not only adds warmth but also helps to zone the space and make it feel more intimate. Candles are another easy way to introduce a warm, inviting glow, whether dotted around the living room or arranged along the dining table. For the best results, aim for a mix of lighting at different heights. It creates depth in the room, making it feel more layered and comfortable, rather than flat and overly lit.
Creating a cosy space is all about how your home feels, and a big part of that comes down to texture. Adding layers with rugs, throws, and cushions can make a space feel instantly warmer and more inviting. Even if you have an open-plan room, using a large rug under your seating area can
Below: Granite + Smoke double sided cashmere blanket, £590 (theroost.com)
help to define the space and will make it feel more intimate.
Stick to natural materials like wool, linen, and cotton for a tactile, comfortable feel. In the colder months, go for heavier textures like chunky knits or woollen throws, while in the warmer months, lighter fabrics like cotton and linen still provide cosy comfort without feeling too heavy.
Ultimately, what makes a home feel cosy and sociable is personality. Your space should feel livedin and unique to you. Whether it’s a gallery wall of your favourite prints, an eclectic bookshelf, or a collection of ceramics that you’ve picked up over the years, these little personal touches make the space uniquely yours and help guests feel more at home.
A vintage drinks trolley or a well-curated coffee table can also offer a bit of glamour and interest, while encouraging guests to help themselves and settle in. The key is to create a space that feels authentic, relaxed, and welcoming.
Left: marble and brass urn table lamp, £1,355 (besselink.com
Right: Clementine drinks trolley in orange silver leaf, £1,200 (webbandgray. com)
They say that to judge the quality of a school, you need only look at its alumni, and it couldn’t be truer of Hurtwood House
Perhaps the best way to choose a school is to look at who it produces. Do the alumni of Hurtwood House, an independent, co-educational boarding school and sixth form for pupils aged 15–19 in Surrey reflect the idea that the school is ‘wonderfully creative and reassuringly academic’?
A glance at Hurtwood’s ‘Hall of Fame’ certainly seems to reflect the idea of a creative utopia, with many Hollywood A Listers (Hans Zimmer, Emily Blunt, Nikki Amuka-Bird and Jack Huston) on the list. However, on closer inspection, it boasts a depth of talent which is truly extraordinary. Look no further than Harry Lawtey (Industry, Joker: Folie à Deux), Tom Mison (Sleepy Hollow), Maxim Baldry (Lord of The Rings), Joshua Sasse (Galavant, Monarch), and Viveik Kalra (Blinded by the Light, Lift) to see Hurtwood’s alumni making their mark. It’s not just the boys though and looking at the careers of Emily Beecham (Cruella, 1899), Eline Powell (Siren), Olivia Morris (RRR, Hotel Portofino), Jess Madsen (Bridgerton), Daisy Jelley (How to Date Billy Walsh, Geek Girl), and Amelia Curtis (Eastenders, Emmerdale), it seems likely that the ‘wonderfully creative’ banner is more than justified. Add to the list Lizzie Davidson who this year was part of a BAFTA winning team for her role in the BBC comic hit, Such Brave Girls, and you really do begin to get the picture. As if that
wasn’t enough, the West End’s top productions from Grease and Les Misérables to Book of Mormon, Hairspray and Mamma Mia have been littered with Hurtwood alumni. In addition, Hurtwood’s awardwinning film directors Rose Glass and Finn Bruce are taking the film world by storm behind the cameras. On the music front if you check out Towa Bird, Ward Thomas, composer Alex Baranowski or DJs Eli and Fur, the picture becomes complete.
So, with the creative box ticked, can Hurtwood justify its ‘reassuringly academic’ badge. In short, yes, as Hurtwood regularly produces barristers, financiers, doctors and even Pulitzer Prize-winning authors (Hisham Matar). Indeed, although a third of students will embark on creative courses at places such as Central Saint Martins, Guildhall, RADA or London College of Fashion, a larger cohort go on to rigorous academic courses at universities including Durham, Imperial College and Exeter, studying everything from Natural Sciences to Economics. What’s more Hurtwood’s ability to nurture entrepreneurial spirit can be seen in Ella Woodward, the founder of Deliciously Ella, Amelia Hitchcock-Merritt founder of Bijoux De Mimi, Fabien Riggall, the mastermind behind Secret Cinema and Abbas Dayekh the founder of the extraordinary OyaNow in Nigeria. Deciding to educate your child at Hurtwood House really does promise to be the beginning of something good. To find out more, see hurtwoodhouse.com
home with
This cultural inclusion consultant and all-round creative shows us around her vibrant apartment – a lesson in dopamine dressing
Words by Ali Howard Photography by Sophia Tsiros
Positioned within the buzzing urban sprawl of Stratford, Coppermaker Square is fast becoming one of east London’s most coveted rental communities, and it’s not hard to see why. The sleek, modern apartments with their floor-to-ceiling glazing offer an abundance of natural light, while the thoughtfully designed communal spaces bring residents together, creating a sense of belonging that is, let’s face it, sometimes missing in the heart of a city. For Arooj, this is a place where she feels grounded and connected, not only to her community but ultimately, to herself.
I ask what ‘home’ means to her. “It’s feeling safe, a sanctuary, a place of comfort and a hideaway from the world outside,” she says. Arooj is a force to be reckoned with in her professional life – not least for making waves in the fashion industry as a voice for inclusivity – but at home, she is all about peace and tranquillity. “East London is such a vibrant place to live, there’s always plenty going on and something to attend! But coming home is my retreat,” she admits.
Arooj’s journey to Coppermaker Square started with a simple desire: “I was looking for an inclusive rental community,” she explains. “There’s a monthly programme of resident gatherings and events in the communal space, and it’s very easy to make new friends. The amenities are also a huge bonus; I have everything I need on my doorstep. I can go and work in the co-working space, give myself a spa day, go for a swim, relax in the sauna and hot tub and keep on top of my physical health with the gym,” she enthuses.
To bring her dream apartment to life, Arooj enlisted the help of Elle Parmer Jenkins, an interior designer with an eye for bold yet sophisticated design. “I met Elle through mutuals after she
was recommended to me. She understood my vision for my apartment from our first chat. She sent a mood board and nailed it straight away!” Arooj’s brief? Something with “a pop of colour but not too overbearing,” a balance that reflected her personality but maintained a certain level of sophistication. “It was so fun working with her and so easy,” she says, “nothing felt intense or stressful, which can often be the case when you’re moving homes and trying to settle in.”
The result is a space that feels like an extension of Arooj’s personal style. Her love for colour is evident, and it plays a key role in her day-to-day living here. “I like my style; I like to add some colourful tones to things,” she says. “The apartment reflects my fashion sense, and my style is definitely reflected in the space. It brings a sense of calm and warmth and feels like home, rather than a transient rental space. It’s a pop of dopamine dressing with Zen vibes!”
The apartment is full of personal touches, from Arooj’s coffee table tomes to her eye-popping art wall, but there are a few standout pieces that she loves most. “My favourite artwork on the wall is the Urdu print with the orange, which reads ‘kinnu’, meaning
orange). The colours are so bold, and it gives an old-school poster vibe, which I adore!” It’s these details that make the space truly her own and serve as a reminder of both her heritage and her playful taste. Other treasures include her pink Mustard Made cabinets and a custom-made cushion from Colours of Arley, a brand she holds dear. “Louisa, the founder, was so great to chat to when getting my cushion made. Blue and green signify NF awareness, which is a condition I live with, so this just really adds that sentimental touch – without being in your face.”
I wonder where Arooj likes to shop art and homeware for the flat. “Westfield is a two-minute walk from me, so I’m spoilt for choice,” she says. “But I also love supporting independent and local as much as possible and have discovered some amazing east London-based stores and artists I love. A favourite of mine is East End Prints in Brick Lane, which does incredible artwork to enhance your living space and add personality. Most of the prints on my art wall have been sourced from there.”
Living in such a well-designed, community-focused space, she has plenty of advice for fellow renters looking to make a mark on their own homes. “I’d say do you and don’t overthink it; add your personality and be as expressive as you like.” Her approach is simple but effective: “Make a mood board and collect as much inspiration as possible, then section that into different areas of your apartment and create your vision with love!” It’s a philosophy that clearly works for Arooj, and nowhere is this more evident than in her favourite spot, the living room. “If I’m not watching the sunrise, I’m watching the sunset. When I unwind in the evenings, relaxing and just having the lamps on gives such a Zen vibe,” she says. The room’s open-concept layout also makes it perfect for hosting friends, which Arooj loves to do.
“The open-plan kitchen, living room, and dining room make everything feel much more together and wholesome.”
Whether she’s talking paint choices, or professional endeavours, Arooj’s passion and enthusiasm are infectious. “I have some really exciting things coming up, new things happening for my ‘Done With Diversity’ and my ‘What’s the Solution?’ series,” she tells me. She’s also just embarked on a new chapter as an industry educator at the University of East London, teaching fashion marketing and communications. “The university is on the doorstep of Coppermaker Square and that just highlights the thriving cultural and creative hub that is east London,” she says, enthusiastically. “There’s such power in education and making the future of our industry inclusive to all, I’m very excited for this chapter!” arooj-aftab.com
Knot & Grain is a dynamic new flooring brand with a difference. Co-founder Natalie talks handcrafted design, bespoke customisation and prioritising sustainability
Words by Ali Howard
Tell us about the brand and how it came about Knot & Grain is set to disrupt the industry by redefining how we shop for our floors. We’re unlike anything else on the market right now – our mission is to empower our customers with the freedom to design a bespoke wood floor that’s uniquely theirs. We’re all about customisation made simple.
The seed for Knot & Grain germinated from a desire for us to get away from the traditional model of shopping for a floor –through our experience in our showrooms and selling branded floors online, we learnt that offering thousands of massproduced, imported floors only leads to inflated pricing and an over-complicated buying experience.
We started to develop the idea of offering something completely different. With a passion for woodwork and timeless interiors, we fell in love with the concept and together (with co-founders Dave and Sam) we developed and formed Knot & Grain.
How did you get into flooring?
Flooring’s been a part of my, and my husband Dave’s (co-founder), journey for over 20 years. In this time, we’ve both become quite the connoisseurs. In my previous career, I worked with creative agencies, building brands. I have a natural entrepreneurial spirit and a love for interior design, so this, alongside my previous experience, has proved invaluable with the creation of Knot & Grain.
What would you say is your USP?
Knot & Grain simplifies the complexity of choices that shoppers face when choosing their wood flooring. We empower our customers with the freedom to design bespoke wood flooring that is unique and affordable, without compromising on quality, from plank style to the surface texture, we keep things simple with our step-by-step process. And we deliver quality bespoke flooring directly to the customer (without the middleman.). We don’t mass produce, each floor is made to order, reducing wastage and our environmental impact, whilst providing customers with floors that meet their exact requirements.
How do you marry state-of-the-art tech with artisanal craftsmanship?
We champion the use of both modern technology and traditional techniques, and the combination creates beautiful, authentic, quality flooring, which is hard to beat. Our Heritage plank surface, for example, is scraped by hand with traditional craftsmanship techniques for an uneven, textured and aged appearance.
Tell us about the role of sustainability
We don’t mass produce. Each floor is made to order, reducing wastage and our environmental impact whilst providing customers with floors that meet their exact requirements. We take great pride in the materials we use, sourcing sustainable premium oak from France and handcrafting it here in the UK.
Each floor is as unique as its customer, and we believe that bespoke flooring is a considered purchase designed to last, be enjoyed and used for years to come. knotandgrain.com
How Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate (QE) supports aspiring medics, vets and dentists
QE’s ‘medics provision’ starts in Year 10, and there are plenty of STEM awards, science responsibilities and competitions offered to the school’s younger students. Every year, QE sees a cohort of successful students head off onto exciting medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses, with six September starters this year.
Georgia M, who is going to study Medicine at the University of Oxford after receiving A*A*AA in her A Levels, said that: “I received offers from Cardiff, Leicester and Oxford for Medicine and Manchester for Neuroscience with Spanish. One of the main ways that school helped me was with the mock interviews. We had MMI interviews with teachers and this really prepared me and made me feel more comfortable in my real interviews.”
Science and Medics Programme Teacher, Dr Mia Robinson says: “We tailor our support to individual needs to ensure every student has the best application possible. A large focus of our work with the medics is to understand the careers and the working environment in the NHS, since qualification in the UK comes with an expectation that the individual will work in the NHS for a given time. For dentists and vets, we explore their pathways too. All these courses are extremely oversubscribed, and competition is fierce, so it is important that we work with each student to build the necessary skill set and academic success required for their university place.”
As part of the curriculum, students can choose to study both GCSEs and A Levels in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Psychology. In addition, QE offer an optional ‘super-curricular’ Medicine and Veterinary lesson which is timetabled into the week for Sixth Form students and is run by the science department. These sessions include guest speakers from medical, veterinary and dental careers and provide an invaluable opportunity to learn about university applications, university study, and careers from those that have gone through the process and are currently working in these fields. Guest speakers in 2023-24 included a current GP, a Consultant, a Medicine Lecturer, a Cancer Researcher, a Sports Medicine Business Owner, and a current alumni studying medicine at Newcastle University.
Outside of normal lessons, QE offers a selection of nationally recognised and relevant courses onsite including Level 2 Award in Basic Life Support and Anaphylaxis, Level 2 Paediatric First Aid, Level 2 Citizen Aid, Youth Mental Health Aware, National Pool Lifeguard Qualification and the ILM Level 2 Award in Leadership and Management. In addition, there is a weekly Psychology Club where students learn, debate and share ideas.
Every year, QE hosts a Suturing Workshop led by a GP for aspiring medics. The school also hosts their own Medical Conference where students can research and present their ideas to a panel of experts, with prizes for first, second and third place. In addition, students can become Science
One of the main ways the school helped me was with mock interviews
Georgia M, 2024 leaver
We tailor our support to individual needs to ensure the best application possible
Dr Mia Robinson, Programme Teacher
Ambassadors to both input on science activities and offer support to other students.
As part of the careers programme, students go on educational visits, university tours, and new for 2024-25, will be visiting the cancer research facility of alumni, Dr Ethan Perkins, who will also be hosting a work experience programme. Students can also partake in other work experience such as getting hands-on experience with dementia patients at Heath Lodge Community Haven and volunteering at a second care home which is partnered with the school. The QE careers team is also linked to Harrogate Hospital’s 60-hour work experience scheme and are also available to assist and supply information on hospital placements at York and Leeds General Infirmary, with many students completing multiple placements. Boarders wishing to undertake placements are supported with transportation to and from each venue.
To help set themselves apart in a crowded field of applicants, pupils can compete in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, British Physics Olympiad Challenge, British Biology Olympiad Challenge, UK Biology Intermediate Challenge, University of Warwick National Scientific Challenge, and the Royal Society of Chemistry Olympiad. QE students perform brilliantly in national competitions, and in 2023-24, achieved 1 Roentgenium, 54 Gold, 92 Silver, 9 Copper, 104 Bronze and 10 Commendation awards in these competitions.
All pupils applying to medicine, veterinary or dentistry courses are automatically enrolled onto QE’s Early Applicant Programme, which offers four application support workshops hosted by a current doctor and 1-2 meetings per week with a personal UCAS tutor, who is always from a science background. QE’s careers team provide in-depth information on the UCAT and BMAT exams required for medicine, where to find practise papers, how to use AI in exam preparation, and how to strategically apply to universities based on each candidate’s UCAT score. They host an MMI interview day, which contains seven mini-interviews on the various topics required by universities and fully mimics a typical university interview for these fields. They are also on-hand to carry out further mock interviews on request.
As part of QE’s senior school provision, all students can access the QE careers team for support on university choices, extra-curriculars, and the application process. They can also participate in Q&A seminars with visiting professionals and alumni and attend academic clinics and ‘power hour’ sessions which are timetabled to ensure students obtain their required grades.
QE College currently ranks second nationally for A Level results according to the Sunday Times Parent Power 2024. Entrance into QE College requires Level 7s in the subjects the student wishes to undertake.
QE offers a small number of academic scholarships and means-tested bursaries to Year 12 starters. UK applicants are required to tour the campus, have an interview, present on a topic, undertake a CAT4 ability test, share recent school reports, and submit proof of predicted GCSE or equivalent grades. Academic scholars are usually required to be predicted Levels 8s and 9s at GCSE. To learn more about QE’s ambitious ‘medics programme’, visit qe.org, email admissions@qe.org or attend the upcoming Open Morning on 16 November
How long have you been head?
I’ve been head at Worth School since 2015, having previously taught at Sydney Grammar School from 1990-2000 and then at Eton College for 15 years.
What attracted you to the school?
It’s a Catholic school in a beautiful part of Sussex with something really special to offer those who learn and work here. My wife and I were already familiar with the site through our children’s involvement in summer youth retreats at Worth Abbey, which is in the centre of our school campus.
The school is younger than many of the country’s other independent schools, having occupied the current site since the 1930s. Nonetheless it has its own well-defined history and origins in a Benedictine community founded in 1606. The campus is set in 500 acres of stunning countryside. That means day students and boarders alike can come together to enjoy the surroundings, whether it’s for crosscountry competitions, rugby matches or walks at break time.
How would you sum it up?
Worth is an academically ambitious school with excellent examination results and pastoral care. It also boasts wonderful facilities and a huge and diverse range of co-curricular activities, from golf, horse-riding and kayaking to photography and debating. But we don’t just provide an outstanding education. We offer education with heart and soul, preparing pupils to become well-rounded individuals who are kind, purposedriven and community-minded.
What makes it different?
Our school values help our pupils to develop a good and positive way of thinking of themselves and relating to others at and beyond school. Our understanding of community, as something people build together and continue to work towards, gives Worth something quite unique.
How would you describe the atmosphere? We’re forward thinking, dynamic and curious,
ON The Hall School
Pupils: around 470 boys aged 4 to 13
Founded: in 1889 by the Reverend Francis Wrottesley, mainly to educate his own sons
Entrance requirements: (4+) parents are advised to register their child as soon as possible and by his second birthday. This
and there’s a hunger to learn. Our small class sizes allow teachers to know each child, to recognise their talents and push them to fulfil their potential. Yet there’s still a calmness to campus life. The atmosphere is influenced by the peace and tranquillity of the surroundings, which makes for a largely stress-free, conducive environment for the pupils and staff. Every September, we aim for a fulfilling, creative and healthily strenuous year for both mind and spirit.
Describe your personal educational ethos
Every pupil has talent. It’s up to us to help them to discover and develop it.
How do you balance your extra-curricular activities with the academic side?
Co-curricular activities and academia are closely
involves registration and application forms, school visits and playdates; (11+) parents should complete a form and CV for their son to join the Occasional Places Register. The school will invite a small number – usually candidates with a conditional place at a London senior school
for Year 9 – to complete an 11+ assessment Destination schools: St Paul’s School, Westminster School, the City of London School, Merchant Taylors’ School, Haberdashers’ Boys’ School, Eton College, Winchester College, Harrow School, Tonbridge School,
aligned at Worth, and we make time within the timetable for the co-curriculum so that pupils have a good sense of balance between the two. It’s wonderful to be so close to both London and Brighton which provide easily accessible additional opportunities in the way of student trips and activities.
How do you look after the wellbeing of your pupils?
Every pupil is a loved child of God, so we have a profound duty to know and to look after them and to bring out the best in them. The way our students interact and look after one another across the year groups is exceptional, and our pastoral care is second to none.
Paddockhurst Road, West Sussex, RH10 (01342 710200; worthschool.org.uk)
Radley College Known for: exceptional teaching and academic results, with an emphasis on collaboration and discovery; a strong focus on extracurricular activities and wellbeing; cultivating respect and tolerance for other viewpoints and beliefs; strong links
with the community Famous alumni: poet Al Alvarez, writer Giles Coren, broadcaster Ben Fogle, drummer and founding member of Pink Floyd, Nick Mason, neurologist and writer Oliver Sacks Fees: from £8,388 per term hallschool.co.uk
Growing numbers of schools have decided to introduce a furry friend. We look at what all the fuss is about
Words by Claire Atherton
We’re known for going giddy over dogs in the UK, but some might say the pandemic sent us barking mad. A quarter of British homes now have a dog, and the trend has spilled over into schools: according to Teacher Tapp, 15 per cent of UK schools have a four-legged friend, up from 7 per cent in 2018.
These canine classmates aren’t only adding a touch of furry charm to the school day. Research suggest that dogs can lower stress and anxiety among children, as well as help them develop empathy and social skills – even build reading confidence. Here, two schools tell us how their dogs have changed school life for the better.
MARIANNE CHAPMAN
Headteacher at West London Free School Primary and Earl’s Court Free School Primary
Why did you decide to get a school dog?
I’m a trained SENDCo and I was acutely aware of the benefits of having a school dog. There was lots of research around and we felt that it was another good way to make our school unique.
Eight questions to ask if your child’s school is considering or has a dog
1. What breed is the dog and how did you choose it?
2. What training has the dog undergone?
3. Did you carry out a full risk assessment before introducing it to the school?
4. How do you manage the dog’s interaction with children, including making sure it’s never alone with them?
5. What protocols or policies are in place around hygiene, safety and so on?
6. How do you handle allergies or fear of dogs?
7. What is the dog’s typical day like, and how do you look after its welfare?
8. Is it possible to meet the dog in person?
What can you tell us about your dog?
Our original school dog was Dipsy, who was a Border Collie mix. She was nine years old when she became a school dog in April 2019. Sadly, Dipsy passed away when she was 12, which was very upsetting for the school community. She was followed by another Border Collie mix, Cassie. She was a few months old when she became the school puppy and she’s still the school dog now, aged five.
What benefits does she bring?
Cassie brings fun and relief to children and staff. Many children just give her a stroke as they walk past her in the corridor. Some vulnerable children enjoy spending more time with her, either by taking her for a walk, showing her their work or playing games with her. She even has her own stickers she gives children to reward their work! And several children (and staff) who were afraid of dogs, now aren’t. wlfs-primary.org; wlfs-earlscourt.org
Dogs help to reduce anxiety and stress and to calm anyone who may be feeling overwhelmed
James Wilton, Deputy head at Repton
JAMES WILTON Deputy head at Repton
Why did you decide to get a school dog?
Dogs have always been intrinsically part of life at Repton as pets to our live-in housemasters/ mistresses and subsequently the boys and girls in their care. They’re often seen supporting at the sidelines at House events, basking in the sun by our cricket pitches or making cameo appearances in our House photos.
What can you tell us about your dogs?
We have many, but our most recent addition is Pippa, a seven-year-old who belongs to a member of our nursing team. Pippa became a qualified therapy dog at just 12 months old after an assessment by PAT (Pets as Therapy). She can often be found with pupils by her side, whether that’s in the wellbeing room in the Health Centre or at one of our many pop-up wellbeing cafés. She also offers her services as a distraction before exams.
What benefits do they bring?
Our dogs bring many benefits to both pupils and staff. They help to reduce anxiety and stress and to calm anyone who may be feeling overwhelmed. Dogs also encourage a sense of responsibility and empathy, which is key to personal development at boarding school. Having them around adds to the supportive, family-like atmosphere we cultivate at Repton. repton.org.uk
Many families will be familiar with independent education, while others may be considering it for the first time. So, what is it really like?
For many new and returning pupils at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, the fade of the library’s Virgina Creeper from green into brilliant red is an iconic and welcoming start to the Autumn Term. So as the new year begins, we find out what each term has to offer…
Autumn
Along with a new timetable, Autumn Term brings some big events to welcome students back and help new pupils feel part of the school’s global community. These include whole-school events like the House Music competition and the International Society’s annual celebration, filled with food, performances, and culture from around the world. There are also smaller activities to help students settle in, from House outings and adventure days to the Year 7 ‘Big Sleepover’, complete with a campus takeover and murder mystery game.
A festive end of term includes traditions such as the Christmas concert, carol service, and a whole-school Christmas cake decorating competition, with entries donated to a local charity.
Spring
The second term brings more diverse activities into the spotlight, including Library Music Nights for singers, musicians, and songwriters, Forum42 talks where scholars host guest speakers to inspire younger pupils, and networking events by the Professional Guidance Centre.
Larger drama productions feature too, as well as an international mufti day and an Upcycled Fashion show, where pupils create runway outfits from recycled items. The term also brings opportunities for individual pupils to shine, with dance exams, regional sports matches, debating competitions, and music prizes in the calendar.
The Summer Term brings academic exams for many students, but there is still a wide co-curricular offering including activities such as a graffiti, printmaking and mixed-media workshops, and sporting competitions.
Concerts, drama performances and even school camps continue, and as well as initiatives such as Sustainability Week, a whole school Wellbeing Party, and performances at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival. The year closes with celebrations for the graduating class, including a welcome event to introduce leavers to Guild (CLC alumnae association), Speech Day and the Leavers’ Ball. To find out more about what the school offers, see cheltladiescollege.org
We take a peek inside some of the finest properties on the market in Prime London this month
Bavaria Road, N19
This stunning two-bed flat, in a converted 19th-century church, mixes historic charm with modern design. With 6m high ceilings, arched sash windows, and exposed brickwork, the space has a bright and airy loft-like vibe. The award-winning mezzanine, bespoke kitchen, and unique touches like resin floors and underfloor heating make it both stylish and practical. Located between Archway, Upper Holloway, and Finsbury Park, this apartment is ideal for creatives looking for a distinctive space in a lively, wellconnected part of north London. Chain-free and ready to inspire, it’s a rare find. £1 million, Hamptons (020 3918 1969; hamptons.co.uk)
This ambassadorial detached residence offers a rare opportunity for those with grand designs. Spanning over 8,500 sq ft, including a pool house, the property boasts generous accommodation, with eight bedrooms, expansive reception spaces, and even a basement nightclub. Though in need of modernisation, the home offers immense potential, with scope for further extension (subject to planning consent). Set behind a gated carriage drive, it boasts ample parking and a substantial garden. Just moments from Hampstead Heath and the charming Village, this is a chance to create a truly exceptional north London home. £10.5 million, Aston Chase (020 7724 4724; astonchase.com)
Cromwell Avenue, N6
This impressive seven-bed house in Highgate offers over 9,000 sq ft of luxurious living space across four floors. Featuring grand reception rooms, a bespoke kitchen, and a principal suite with walk-in wardrobes and a stylish bathroom, the home is perfect for both family living and entertaining. Additional highlights include a cinema, gym, and indoor swimming pool, along with beautifully landscaped gardens. With views over Hampstead Heath and a prime location near Highgate Village, it combines elegance, space, and convenience in one of London’s most desirable neighbourhoods. Guide price £3.65 million, Benham & Reeves (020 8341 2335; benhams.com)
As we head into the festive season, traditionally a quieter time for property, there’s curiosity about how things will play out this year, particularly within prime London. With the Autumn Budget just behind us and a host of global events still influencing buyer confidence, the upcoming weeks could see a unique balance of hesitation and opportunity.
“Traditionally, the festive season is slightly quieter in terms of buyer activity,” says Matt Thompson, head of sales at Chestertons. The colder months combined with holiday distractions generally see fewer house hunters actively scouring the market. However, it seems that the narrative might be shifting in 2024.
According to Matt, some savvy house hunters in prime London could be taking advantage of this seasonal quiet to get ahead of the competition. While some may choose to pause their search and re-enter the market in early 2025, others see the period as an opportunity. With fewer competing buyers, those still engaged in the market might be in a stronger position to negotiate.
“Following the Autumn Budget, some buyers may feel more confident about making major financial decisions,” says Matt. Indeed, clarity provided by the government’s financial direction post-Budget has, for some, reduced the
uncertainty that may have stalled purchasing decisions earlier in the year.
In Prime central London, the mood is similar, though the high-end nature of this particular market adds an additional layer of unpredictability. “Making predictions about the property market these days is anything but straightforward,” says Mark Pollack, co-founder of Aston Chase. “A sense of volatility is prevalent across the world stage, and the Prime central London scene, operating at the very top end of the globe’s real estate market, is naturally skittish. With Keir Starmer warning of a ‘painful’ Autumn Budget, the threat of an escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, no sign of an end to the war in Ukraine, and with interest rates having so far only fallen by 0.25 per cent, sentiment is understandably not great.”
Consequently, Aston Chase are expecting the market to remain highly price sensitive.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. “We expect to see pent-up demand arising from people who’ve been holding back ahead of the Autumn Budget, hoping for a further reduction in interest rates, but who decide they just want to get on with their lives,” says Mark. “It seems likely that with the exception of properties that tick every possible box in super-desirable locations, it will otherwise be a quiet end to the year. This means it is very much a buyers’ market, so good news for those
people in a position to transact. My advice to vendors is to ‘price to sell’, as this is definitely not the right time to flirt with selling if you are hoping to achieve the maximum price possible for your property.” So, while vendors need to be realistic about their pricing strategies, for those who do choose to act, now could be a golden opportunity before the market revs up again in the new year. Look lively! chestertons.co.uk; astonchase.com
A 5-bedroom, semi-detached house arranged over 3 floors and boasting 1,996 sq ft (185.4 sq m) of accommodation with a bright and spacious interior. Situated in a popular road within a quiet and scenic position and the Brookland School catchment area, this property also offers convenient access to East Finchley High Road and Underground Station within approximately 0.5 mile. Although requiring some updating there is ample to potential to create a stylish family home. Other benefits include off-street parking and a south facing garden.
Located in W2 - with close proximity to Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. A gorgeous share of freehold, west facing, well-proportioned and stylish one bedroom apartment, situated on the fourth floor (with lift), of a stunning Grade II period building. This beautiful apartment has an abundance of natural light, bespoke storage, marble fireplace surround and been thoughtfully modernised to an exacting standard.
The green open spaces of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are just a short stroll away. To the West, you have the popular, fashionable, and multi-cultural Notting Hill.
Lease Plus Share Of Freehold: About 978 Years Remaining | Service Charge: About £4,100 P.A. Ground Rent: About Peppercorn | Council Tax: Band F | EPC: Exempt
PADDINGTON & BAYSWATER | 020 7467 5770
Email: crosling@winkworth.co.uk, paddington@winkworth.co.uk winkworth.co.uk on the go...
INVERNESS TERRACE, BAYSWATER, W2, GUIDE PRICE £1,050,000 OFFICES IN LONDON, THE COUNTRY AND OVERSEAS. SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY
winkworth.co.uk/marylebone
A unique long leasehold building for sale sold with vacant possession.
The building is arranged over lower ground, ground and four upper floors. The medical accommodation is located on the lower ground, ground and first floors with a residential apartment on the second, third and fourth floor. The building benefits from a passenger lift serving ground floor to lower ground floor only.
Situated in the heart of Marylebone Village, Harley Street is conveniently located moments from Marylebone High Street together with the open spaces of Regent’s Park.
The building is located on the west side of Harley Street close to the junction with Queen Anne Street.
LEASEHOLD
£6,000,000
A delightful two-bedroom apartment in the heart of the Marylebone Village.
This recently refurbished fifth-floor apartment features two double bedrooms, including a master bedroom with an en-suite shower, a family bathroom, a separate guest cloakroom, reception room and separate kitchen.
The building is centrally located north of Harley Street, with Regent’s Park close by and easy access to major transport links, as well as the shopping and amenities of Marylebone High Street and Great Portland Street.
£950 PER WEEK UNFURNISHED
Gainsborough Gardens
Hampstead NW3
Unfurnished
£6,500 per week
Sole Agent
A rare opportunity to rent this stunning quintessentially Hampstead period house set over four floors (521.4 sq m/5,613 sq ft) in a quiet location with its own large private garden. The property is discretely located in a residential enclave with direct access to the beautiful green spaces of Hampstead Heath and a short stroll to the amenities of Hampstead High Street and Hampstead Underground Station (Northern Line).
Accommodation and Amenities
2 Reception Rooms, Dining Room, Kitchen, 6 Bedrooms, 2 En-Suite Bathrooms, 2 Additional Bathrooms, 2 Studies, 3 Guest Cloakrooms, Terrace, Garden, Large Communal Gardens, Parking for 2-3 Cars, Private Road. Council Tax: Band H. EPC: D.
Elias Raymond, head of sales at Savills’ Primrose Hill office, explains why this coveted area continues to captivate buyers
Savills’ Primrose Hill office, which first opened its doors eight years ago, has been a trusted advisor in the area for over three decades.
Having lived in north west London since my childhood, this part of the Capital has always felt like home. With its village-like charm and tight-knit community, this exclusive enclave has long been a sought-after location for individuals, couples, and families. Many residents choose to stay in the area long-term, seamlessly upsizing or downsizing in line with their property needs. While ever popular among family buyers, times are changing and it feels as though we’re now seeing the next Primrose Hill generation moving into the neighbourhood.
Having led the sales team for the past six years, I’ve seen how the demographic of buyers and sellers has shifted during this period. Historically, around 50 per cent of our clients sought spacious family homes, such as the iconic pastel-coloured Georgian houses on Chalcot Square. But this part of the market has been far more rarefied recently, with prime properties in sought after addresses coming to market less frequently. This is largely due to families holding onto their homes longer, having made
strategic, future-proofing moves that will see children through their education and beyond.
What’s been clear this year is how Primrose Hill is attracting a younger pool of buyers, particularly individuals and couples in their twenties and thirties, drawn to the area’s charm. The neighbourhood boasts an abundance of green space – one of the key criteria for this new wave of buyers – but crucially, with excellent connectivity via four nearby stations, it also offers buyers that sweet spot between lifestyle and convenience.
The area’s vibrant community atmosphere, characterised by its bustling high street, appeals to these next-generation purchasers. In fact, around 70 per cent of our recent sales have been to younger individuals and couples who are forward planning, seeking flats and larger apartments with two or three bedrooms to accommodate any potential family needs in the future.
Primrose Hill’s enduring appeal ensures that demand remains strong and property prices resilient. I may be biased, but I truly feel that Primrose Hill has it all, and will continue to attract generations of buyers for years to come. savills.co.uk
