London may be busy and commercial, but it’s increasingly an interesting destination for conscious travellers because of the growth of sustainable shopping and food.
It was my first time back since leaving the city a year ago, and I was in town to launch a book I’m a co-author of but more about that some other time. I obviously had a million things I wanted to do but also had to be realistic with what I would have time for. In the end, I ended up with a good mix from a conscious travel perspective: sustainable fashion; urban walks; local markets; vegetarian food; and culture.
East London brunches
I kicked off the visit with a Saturday brunch at Pavillion by the lake in Victoria Park. The menu is mainly vegetarian, with a Sri Lankan touch, and we had the avocado and egg on sourdough and the Sri Lankan veggie brunch. The Sunday brunch was had at the small and cosy Mae + Harvey on Roman Road where I enjoyed waffles with halloumi and beans.
Broadway Market / London Fields
One of my favourite London walks is the one along Regent’s Canal. Our walk at the East End of it took us to Broadway Market, which on Saturdays is filled with stalls of great food, vintage clothing and crafts. The pubs are excellent and for some greenery and shade there is also London Fields where you can have a picnic in the grass with all the good you’ve bought at the market.
On Broadway Market you’ll also find the sustainable fashion shop 69b with a brilliant selection of conscious brands. And on your way to London Fields station there are some great cafés in the arches like Finch and E5 Bakehouse, and an excellent vintage shop at The Arch with (mainly) mid-century furniture and fine vintage clothing by Somewhere in Hackney.
Columbia Road Flower Market
If you’re in London on a Sunday morning then head to Columbia Road to enjoy an abundance of flower stalls, lovely independent boutiques, second hand traders, and nice cafés. I also always enjoy the art on sale at Nelly Duff. Around the corner on Hackney Road is also the lovely little slow fashion shop Henri that sells gorgeous linen clothing and stylish accessories.
Brixton Village
Brixton Village Market is one of London’s most diverse spots with foods from all corners of the world. In the middle of it all is also sustainable fashion shop The Keep with a great selection for the conscious consumer. Down the road, in Herne Hill, is another one called I Love Lowie.
Clean beauty
For green and clean beauty my go-to place is Content Beauty & Wellbeing in Marylebone, where you can also have treatments. Other eco-friendly shops like Whole Foods in Piccadilly and As Nature Intended in Shoreditch also has a decent selection of natural and organic beauty products.
Victoria & Albert Museum – Fashioned from Nature
Until January 2019, you have the opportunity to go visit the V&A exhibition Fashioned from Nature, about the materials and fabrics we’ve been using over time to create fashion. I really enjoyed the exhibition and will do a separate post on it, but to sum up – it’s both a great history lesson as well as an insight into the innovations of the future and I would definitely recommend going.
On the list for next time
I didn’t have time to visit the zero waste restaurant Cub Lyan so that’ll be on my list for my next visit.
Also, I just missed the opening of The Acey’s physical shop on Calvert Avenue with conscious clothing and interior so that is also going to have to be for another time.
If you have any other not-to-miss spots for my next trip then do let me know!