TRAVEL GUIDE | CABANA TRAVEL | WORLD OF CABANA
London-based artist Pip Carter, daughter-in-law of publishing legend Graydon Carter, shares her favorite spots across the British capital. From playing vinyl records and eating unrivalled roast chicken in Soho, to deer spotting and shopping in Richmond, Pip's highlights reveal a city that’s both serene and in perpetual motion.
BY PIP CARTER & BELLE WHITE | CABANA TRAVEL | 17 JULY 2025
My Favorite Shops
Choosing Keeping: Tucked away near Covent Garden, Choosing Keeping is the place to stock up on beautiful stationery and vintage cards. We always pop in before Christmas to pick a few hand blown decorations and old fashioned garlands.
Ffern: Their Beak Street store, Soho, is breathtaking. Ffern's organic perfumes are made in Somerset and they release seasonal fragrances four times a year.
TOAST: Their location on Redchurch Street offers the most amazing free mending service for damaged garments. The visible repairs the specialists do are so beautiful, you’ll almost be excited to have a hole form in your jumper.
L. Cornelissen & Son: Whether you are an artist or not, it’s impossible not to feel a sense of wonder when stepping into L. Cornelissen & Son. It dates back to the late 1800s and a rainbow of powdered pigments line the wall. It’s a veritable treasure chest for anyone with creative curiosity.
My Favorite Restaurants
Noble Rot, Soho: The best roast chicken you could ever imagine, cooked with morels and vin jaune. The space is softly lit and has that old-school charm with cut-glass decanters lining the walls. Plus, you can leaf through one of their Noble Rot magazines for a dose of food and wine culture.
The River Cafe: Once in a blue moon, when there’s a celebratory occasion we’ve been lucky enough to find ourselves at The River Cafe. On a wintery night we like to sit near the fuchsia pink wood oven, and on a summer evening outside with the river in view. The owner Ruthie Rogers is one of the loveliest people in the city.
(If you happen to be mistakenly dropped off at River Cafe by Putney Bridge, you’re in for quite a different menu. But don’t despair - the English fry up and fresh orange juice are delicious, cheap and cheerful. Afterwards you can wander nearby to Hurlingham Books and rummage through a remarkable selection of dusty secondhand paperbacks.)
40 Maltby Street: Located on one end of Maltby Street Market under the railway arches in Bermondsey. The restaurant doubles as the warehouse of Gergovie Wines, and the selection of natural wines they import is phenomenal. The menu varies every day, depending on what’s in season. The atmosphere is super relaxed - we’ve sometimes strolled in late afternoon and not left until closing time.
Ducksoup, Soho: The perfect midday refuge when in central London. Vinyl plays softly from a turntable, the food is simple and soulful, and a cardamom coffee offers just the right level of lift. Little Duck, their Dalston outpost, is where seasonal ferments are made in-house. My husband, Spike, and I love to sit at the wide kitchen counter, order a few things to nibble on, and enjoy front-row views of recipes in the making.
My Favorite Parks and Gardens
Richmond Park: I’ve been going to Richmond Park since I was a little girl, so I sometimes forget how remarkable it is that hundreds of deer are lazing on these grasslands amongst the passers by. It brings such a feeling of peacefulness and a wonderful antidote to city life. In spring, I always make sure to visit the Isabella Plantation within the park. Ruby red and candy-floss pink azaleas grow 20 feet tall. It’s spectacular.
Just by Richmond Park, you'll find Petersham Nurseries, which houses the most beautiful selection of homewares and antiques. It’s hard not to fall in love with everything in sight. A pot of tea and slice of cake in the teahouse is a lovely Sunday ritual.
Hampstead Heath: Surely one of London’s greatest places for escapism. Swimming in the bathing ponds and reading under a tree near Kenwood House is so restorative.
My Favorite Museum or Gallery
Serpentine Gallery: Strolling through Kensington Gardens to the Serpentine is always worthwhile. It was here that I first discovered the Swiss artist and healer Emma Kunz, whose exquisite geometric drawings have remained an inspiration to me ever since.
My Favorite Things to Do in London
Cinemas: Spike, my husband, is a full-on cinephile, which has rubbed off on me a bit. Evenings spent at The Prince Charles Cinema or the BFI watching 35mm prints of old movies is one of our favorite things to do.
City walks: Planning a long citywalk with great stop-offs is, to me, the perfect way to spend a day out of the studio. I love getting the train to Waterloo and walking along the river to Tate Modern. After some time soaking in the artworks on display I continue onwards by foot to Borough Market. There are so many great food stalls and produce there, but I’ll always save room for an early dinner at Elliot’s. The bavette steak with peppercorn sauce is astounding and their cheesecake is the best I’ve ever had.
My Favorite ‘Hidden Treasure’
Shreeji Newsagent: At the end of Chiltern Street is this impeccable newsagent that also holds events. I just had my first solo art exhibition there in collaboration with AirMail and Freddie’s Flowers. At the front is a coffee bar with a selection of the very best magazines: Cabana (of course!) Luncheon, Mirage and A Rabbit’s Foot.
My Favorite Places to Stay
Covent Garden Hotel: As a Londoner myself, there isn’t usually a reason to stay in a hotel in the city. That said, my friend Sophie Garland, an interior designer, recommended the Covent Garden Hotel around Christmas time and it really felt like a treat. The space is so warm and welcoming - all the rooms are unique and designed by Kit Kemp.
Redchurch Townhouse: I love finding somewhere to stay that is positioned in a buzzy part of the city but still manages to feel calm and cosy when inside. That’s definitely what Redchurch Townhouse achieves. It’s located in Shoreditch, East London, and is nestled right beside one of the best pastry places in town, Jolene.
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