Iona, a wanderer

Though we might be on a cliff edge that might collapse if we move, yet through any eventually may collapse regardless of our movement…

…all you can do is watch the view of the waves breaking rhythmically and reliably below, bound by timeless law…

…stand under the clouds as they pass…

…waiting for the first bright notes of sunshine to come out and warm your face…

…as the Earth moves…

Human life is noise. 

Cars and buses rumble down streets, sirens blare day and night, machines bleep and whir whilst the sky is filled with metallic birds, and even in the most remote places, someone will probably be blasting music out of a speaker. We may be aware that silence is golden, but rarely do we consider the effect our noise has on other species, particularly those deep beneath the…

In April, I become obsessed with hunting wisteria in every part of London, and I’m not alone. There are hundreds of well-known houses that eager-eyed photographers flock to every year; often, you’ll find yourself queuing to take a photo without someone posing in it. These houses sure are fabulous, and I would definitely recommend seeking them out, but there are so many more secret spots you can locate in hidden backstreets and down narrow alleys that’ll give you a unique view of London’s wisteria majesty. 

I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 spots, along with some clues that’ll help you find them. Some are more well known spots, whilst some will take you away from the bustle of London’s busier areas. Because, hey, it’s way more fun to hunt for treasure than it just be handed to you, right?

1. Camden Town & Canal

Camden Town

Camden Town

Camden Town

Tube stop: Camden Town

Cafe tip: Camden Coffee House

Camden is one of the most varied places in London, but also the one that offers some of the best wisteria spots. Once you’re past the punky bars and hectic markets, take a turn down Regent’s canal, before you reach Camden Road Station. It’s hidden on a tiny path, but it takes my breath away- I walk past it nearly every day when the wisteria is in town! The house’s purple door makes for the most aesthetically pleasing snaps you’ll find. You won’t be able to get a good shot of the whole house as the path is so narrow, so go for some pretty close-ups.

2. Kentish Town

Kentish Town

Kentish Town

Kentish Town

Tube stop: Kentish Town

Cafe Tip: Saint Espresso

Hop off the tube at Kentish Town, walk past Natasha’s Flower Stall and take a right turn. You’ll soon spot the pastel houses that are a joy at any time of the year, and are festooned with floral delights throughout the Spring. The houses come in shades of Neapolitan ice cream: don’t forget to stand back to capture the whole view!

3. Kensington & Notting Hill

Frank Bridge House

Frank Bridge House

Kensington

Tube stop: Notting Hill Gate

Cafe tip: The Churchill Arms

This is probably the most popular wisteria spot in London: the Frank Bridge House. Its a magical dream of pink and purple, with a beautiful wisteria arch above the front gate that frames the door perfectly. It’s the first house on the street, but don’t forget to walk down the entire length of the road, as there are plenty more wisteria-covered houses to capture, as well as some classic cars.

4. Primrose Hill

Primrose Hill

Camden Market

Primrose Hill

Tube stop: Chalk Farm

Cafe tip: Greenberry Cafe

Take a stroll around Primrose Hill and you’ll find rows of local, independent shops, cafes and restaurants with such a variety of colours and styles it’ll make your head spin! Weave your way through the houses and you’ll soon stumble upon a multitude of pastel and wisteria goodness. make sure to stop for a light lunch or coffee on Regent’s Park Road, or a cheeky G&T at the Queen’s pub on the corner (you can’t miss the striking blue door). At the far end of the road, past the hill itself, you’ll find Chalk Farm which boasts some great vintage shops and an ice cream parlour almost hidden in wisteria!

5. Portobello Road

Portobello Road

Portobello Road

Portobello Road

Tube stop: Ladbroke Grove

Cafe tip: Farm Girl Notting Hill

Portobello road is a London classic. Packed with antiques, British memorabilia and clothes, and the odd rock-n-roll poster shop, it’s more then just a photo stop. I recommend starting at Ladbroke Grove and winding your way down towards Notting Hill Gate, not forgetting to explore the side streets along the way. This stunning house will be a welcome treat when you reach the end, as will the quirky pub opposite: The Sun in Splendour.

6. Royal Chelsea

Chelsea

Bram Stoker House

Chelsea

Tube stop: Sloane Square

Cafe tip: Gallery Mess at the Saatchi Gallery

This is the spot for this with a penchant for classic horror. Ironically, its a very innocent and bright little house, just near to the Royal Chelsea Hospital. It’s on my bucket list to visit every blue plaque in London, but I seem to just keep coming back to this one! Unfortunately, there may be quite a few cars blocking the view, but there’s a handy little wall that you can hop onto when no-one is looking. Watch out for wisteria-covered vampires!

7.  Sloane Square

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Tube stop: Sloane Square

Cafe tip: The Ivy Chelsea Garden

Sloane Square is a must if you want to see pretty and imaginative decor all year around. The facades on the streets that scatter out in every direction from Sloane Square become brightly coloured floral feasts; around Christmas, Valentine’s Day, during Chelsea in Bloom and sporadically through spring and autumn, you’ll find an array of designs that will make you catch your breath! Make sure you pop down some of the residential streets, too- you’ll find this gem of a house just off Radnor Walk. Don’t forget to stop for a lilac martini at the Ivy Chelsea Garden while you’re there.

8. Earl’s Court & Chelsea

Chelsea

Chelsea

Chelsea

Tube stop: Earl’s Court/South Kensington

Cafe tip: Over Under Earl’s Court

I found so many of my dream houses when wandering around here, and I definitely set my heart on those that were showered in wisteria blooms! Try and go up and down as many roads as you can, but make sure you head for the Boltons, an oval shaped pair of streets set around a lovely little church and private gardens. Don’t get too jealous! 

9. Gloucester Road

Chelsea

Chelsea

Chelsea

Tube stop: Gloucester Road/Kensington

Cafe tip: Coco Momo Kensington

Between Gloucester Road and the Royal Albert Hall lies a beautiful little Mews that’ll greet you with red ivy-covered arches in Autumn, and wonderful wisteria in the Spring. Mews cottages are not your usual London terrace style: they are each exquisitely unique. They’re also normally dripping with flowers. Try finding this one- you won’t miss it easily! 

10. Islington Angel

White and purple wisteria!

Beautiful pink and white wisteria

Window to wisteria

Tube stop: Angel

Cafe tip: The Blue Legume

Islington is definitely one of the lesser known parts of London when it comes to hunting floral foam. It’s mostly residential areas with a few parks, high streets and a stadium, but if you head towards the Angel and walk north-west from there, you’ll find myriad spots to satiate your appetite for wisteria. The facades are also draped with ivy, and rose bushes spring up in most gardens. It’s also exceedingly quiet: you won’t have to compete for your snaps here!

Happy hunting!

White Sails and Hot Brown Honey

Diary extract, 17th June, Sydney

After another extraordinarily indulgent breakfast, I set off on a tour around the Opera House with a lovely man who explained the interesting architecture and the trials and tribulations of Jørn Utzon, the Danish architect. It feels like a completely different building inside: the white sails provide a much more awe-inspiring view.

After a defending an ‘opera…

It’s that time of year again- the time when anyone with a penchant for purple and an eye for floral splendour takes to the streets of London in search of wisteria.

The lilac blossoms are swinging from hedgerows and bluebells have pushed their way up through the tough spring soil, but it’s the wisteria adorning the pastel houses that is the focus of London’s bloggers and photographers.

It only…

I made friends with some of the children who were very curious to see me wandering around. They were all very keen to have their photos taken, posing with icepops and giving me hugs afterwards! Some boys decided to show off and demonstrate their athleticism on the football pitch.

I was stuck not only by the bright colours that caught my eyes at every turn, but by the friendliness and helpfulness of the people- they really seemed happy to have me there- and I was fascinated to learn about coconut farming and how to make enormous fishing nets.

The highlight was a sunrise hot-air balloon trip over the Valley of the Kings- oh, and of course going inside the Great Pyramid of Cheops at Giza.

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Giza

Abu Simbel

Giza

Luxor

Giza

Giza

Giza

Aswan

Valley of the Kings

Luxor

River Nile

Luxor

River Nile

Valley of the Kings

River Nile

Abu Simbel

Giza

Valley of the Kings

Temple of Horus

Temple of Horus

Luxor

Luxor

Giza

Temple of Horus

Valley of the Kings

Valley of the Kings

Temple of Nefertari

Temple of Hatshepsut

Russia-Egypt monument

Aswan

Valley of the Kings

Luxor

Abu Simbel

Luxor

Valley of the Kings

Valley of the Kings

Valley of the Kings

Temple of Horus

Unfinished Obelisk

Valley of the Workers

Abu Simbel

Sphinx at Giza

Giza

Giza

Aswan

Luxor

River Nile

Egypt

Highgate cemetery is a perfect place for thinking. On a bright day, the sunlight beams through the canopy of seemingly ancient trees that tower above the gravestones and memorials scattered on the ground. The effect is wonderfully ethereal. The gloom of death is transformed into a place of memories and peace that transcends the city around.

Highgate is known as the resting place of poets,…

Wandering around Stonetown, the biggest port on Zanzibar, I came across some beautiful historic doors; I found doors that dated back through the centuries of the island, representing cultural and colonial changes to the island. Everywhere was full of colour and life – here are the prettiest and most exquisite specimens.

As I wandered down an ancient street 1000 miles from home, three men cavorted on the cobbles and attempted a piggyback, tumbling precariously close to a marina edge. On being saved at the last moment by the hands of a passerby, the players clapped each other on their soaked backs, cheered and began a wild jig. 

In Hvar, one of the countless blissful seaside havens dotted along the Dalmatian…

Lautrec

Lautrec

Lautrec

Albi

Salies

Lautrec

Albi

Lautrec

Lautrec

Albi

Toulouse

Toulouse

Lautrec

Albi

Lautrec

Lautrec

Lautrec

Lautrec

Lautrec

Albi

Toulouse

Lautrec

Lautrec

Albi

Albi

Albi

Albi

Piccadilly

Victoria

Dominique’s Bakery

Victoria

Sloane Street

Belgravia

South Kensington

Belgravia

Belgravia

Belgravia

Belgravia

South Kensington

Sloane Square

South Kensington

Kingly Court

South Kensington

Sloane Street

King’s Road, Chelsea

Sloane Street

South Kensington