Excerpts from the book

Babylon Roof Gardens (formerly Kensington Roof Gardens): “For many decades, this was the largest roof garden in Europe, and it still rates as one of the most spectacular. There are several parts to the garden: a Spanish garden, set out in a Moorish style based upon the Alhambra in Spain, with fountains, vine-covered walkways and Chusan palms; a Tudor-style garden, characterized by its archways, secret corners, hanging wisteria, roses, lilies and lavender; and an English woodland garden, with more than 100 species of trees, a stream, and a garden pond that is the home to pintail ducks and four flamingos called Bill, Ben, Splosh and Pecks.” Daunt Books: “Daunt is a very handsome bookstore, as famous for its Edwardian architecture and its British-racing-green branding as it is for its enormous glass ceiling and its extensive collection of travel titles. For years, this was where people came to buy guides on far-flung destinations, perhaps Mauritius, or Papua New Guinea, or Angkor Wat . ... All of these tempting travel books sit at the back of the store, under an astonishingly beautiful glass roof and surrounded by a carved timber mezzanine. The rest of the store is for other genres, from fashion to design to philosophy. A great place to browse, even if you’re not going anywhere.” Dean Street Townhouse: “And then, of course, there are the places where the atmosphere almost overshadows the food, such as the Dean Street Townhouse . ... The restaurant, decorated in hues of petrol blue, olive green and Bloody Mary red, is certainly an escape from the inner-city cacophony and it certainly entices you to order something elegant and strong and converse (or try to) in a witty or scintillating way. Not surprisingly, it’s a firm favourite with the fashion, design, TV and media set.” Artesian bar: “Designed to be a Victorian cabinet of curiosities, it mixes aesthetic styles with fabulous panache. There’s a pagoda bar (the shape of which is echoed in the chandeliers), bespoke lacquers that reference la chasse aux papillons, silver-leaf boiseries, clamshell-shaped tub chairs upholstered in pale pink and lavender leather (crocodile print no less, although it’s leaver made to look like croc, not the real stuff!) and jeweled mirror paneling. Drop in mid-afternoon for a little aperitif — the cocktails are just as exotic as the décor.” Purdey Gun & Rifle Makers: “Purdey’s showroom is worthwhile to visit, if only because of its famous Long Room, where great shots from the past two centuries have been fitted for their guns. The firm has enjoyed royal patronage since 1838, when Queen Victoria placed her first order, for a pair of pistols . ... A little secret: some of the D-Day Invasion was planned here, when Eisenhower’s Deputy Chief of Staff, General Bedell-Smith, used the Long Room for battle planning in 1942.”