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London food walk: South Kensington (SW7)
Words and photography by Fiona Symington.
JUNE 2013
JUNE 2013
Welcome to Museum Central. Come rain, shine or hail, South Kensington is always busy, no more so than on a Saturday morning when Londoners and out-of-towners line Brompton Road eager to see the latest Victoria and Albert Museum exhibit.
However, there is more to this small corner of London than meets the eye. Home to the Brompton Design Centre, SW7 is a popular stamping ground for architects, interior designers and design students. To the south of the station is the original Conran store at Michelin House, still strong after 40 years. In the opposite direction along Brompton Road is Skandium (no. 245-49) - the store responsible for the city's ongoing love affair with all things Scandinavian. While there, experience Coco Maya (no. 235) - a patisserie/ chocolatier as imagined by two fashion creatives, as well as the ever popular, Divertimenti (no. 227-229). Be on the look-out as you wander around and check the Brompton Design Centre website beforehand, as any time throughout the year, you could discover a pop-up by Royal College of Art students or a showcase of young designers during London Design week.
As a sign of the times, Exhibition Road has experienced a recent design-lift. Newcomers Comptoir Libanais (no. 1-5) and Fernandez & Wells (no. 8) are bringing a new colour and flavour. The only sad note to this gentrification is the number of landmarks that have been lost, most notably, The General Trading Company and Cafe Daquise. Despite a recent change in hands, Daquise had remained relatively unchanged since opening in 1947 and was a quiet reminder of a post-war London.
And finally, there is the V&A itself - extraordinarily curated with a focus on both historical and contemporary design, what is on offer is inexhaustible. Visit the ever popular gift store but head directly to the back to see the displayed work of both established and young ceramicists. With its evolving calendar of exhibitions, events, talks and festivals and late Friday nights , V&A continues to define design in this global city.
EAT
Comptoir Libanais, 1-5 Exhibition Rd SW7 2HE Tel 020 7761 6420
Fernandez & Wells, 8 Exhibition Rd SW7 2HF
LARDER
Coco Maya, 235 Brompton Rd SW3 2EP Tel 020 3056 7558
WARE
Divertimenti, 227-229 Brompton Rd SW3 2EP Tel 020 7581 6505
Skandium, 245-249 Brompton Rd, SW3 2EP Tel 020 7584 2066
Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Rd, SW7 2RL Tel 020 7942 2000
Brompton Design Centre, bromptondesigndistrict.com Tel 020 7225 5006
Conrad Store, Michelin House, 81 Fulham Rd, SW3 6RD Tel. 020 7589 7401
However, there is more to this small corner of London than meets the eye. Home to the Brompton Design Centre, SW7 is a popular stamping ground for architects, interior designers and design students. To the south of the station is the original Conran store at Michelin House, still strong after 40 years. In the opposite direction along Brompton Road is Skandium (no. 245-49) - the store responsible for the city's ongoing love affair with all things Scandinavian. While there, experience Coco Maya (no. 235) - a patisserie/ chocolatier as imagined by two fashion creatives, as well as the ever popular, Divertimenti (no. 227-229). Be on the look-out as you wander around and check the Brompton Design Centre website beforehand, as any time throughout the year, you could discover a pop-up by Royal College of Art students or a showcase of young designers during London Design week.
As a sign of the times, Exhibition Road has experienced a recent design-lift. Newcomers Comptoir Libanais (no. 1-5) and Fernandez & Wells (no. 8) are bringing a new colour and flavour. The only sad note to this gentrification is the number of landmarks that have been lost, most notably, The General Trading Company and Cafe Daquise. Despite a recent change in hands, Daquise had remained relatively unchanged since opening in 1947 and was a quiet reminder of a post-war London.
And finally, there is the V&A itself - extraordinarily curated with a focus on both historical and contemporary design, what is on offer is inexhaustible. Visit the ever popular gift store but head directly to the back to see the displayed work of both established and young ceramicists. With its evolving calendar of exhibitions, events, talks and festivals and late Friday nights , V&A continues to define design in this global city.
EAT
Comptoir Libanais, 1-5 Exhibition Rd SW7 2HE Tel 020 7761 6420
Fernandez & Wells, 8 Exhibition Rd SW7 2HF
LARDER
Coco Maya, 235 Brompton Rd SW3 2EP Tel 020 3056 7558
WARE
Divertimenti, 227-229 Brompton Rd SW3 2EP Tel 020 7581 6505
Skandium, 245-249 Brompton Rd, SW3 2EP Tel 020 7584 2066
Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Rd, SW7 2RL Tel 020 7942 2000
Brompton Design Centre, bromptondesigndistrict.com Tel 020 7225 5006
Conrad Store, Michelin House, 81 Fulham Rd, SW3 6RD Tel. 020 7589 7401
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