Lucia Viglietti - What I love about London

While we're in the same place for the next few months we've invited guests to contribute to There & Here by telling us what they love about their favourite place in the world. Our guest this week is Lucia from Cape Town, South Africa.

What I love about London is it's a global village.

As a South African-Italian girl I’ve always had a heart divided quite strongly and loyally in two. South Africa is home and Italy is my favourite place to go on holiday. But the city that has my heart right now is London. Why? It’s the perfect balance of creative, quirky and worldly. It’s history and charm holds its own mixed in with the multicultural energy of the city. The first time I visited London I was 16. It was my first overseas and my first European experience, and I fell in love with the bustle, the red busses, the sights and (of course) the shopping! Having returned after more than a decade, it is like meeting up with an old friend; something special. And after living in a small town in Italy for a while its big enough for me to ‘get lost’ in, all the while knowing you’re never really lost in London. I get my fix of markets and exhibitions, designer cupcakes and charity shop gems. Whether a Friday pub night with the family or a day of museums and markets with lovely friends there is never a shortage of fun to be had in London town.


Photo captions (clockwise from left): 1. Borough Market in South East London: one of my favourite food markets in the city with delicious everything! 2.Three Bobbies in front of Big Ben (couldn’t resist the alliteration there, sorry). 3.The Book Club in the creative Leonard Street – from ping pong to a cup of tasty coffee with a friend. This is the place. 4. A rhino for sale at the Sunbury Antiques Market (every collector’s dream – there is SO much choice!) held at Kempton Park Race Course twice a month. Bring a car to carry away all the great stuff you’ll be tempted to buy! 5. City of London sign near Tower Bridge 6.The view from the Tate Modern across the Millennium Bridge to St Paul’s Cathedral: one of my favourite views of the city. 

Lucia Viglietti is a designer who has worked in publishing in Cape Town, first at Real Simple South Africa and then at Marie Claire South Africa. Last year she moved to Italy for five wonderful months and has since spent time in London, New York and The Hague. She has plans to travel some more before calling London home. For freelance design work or just to get in touch you can email her on lucia.ottavia@gmail.com or find her on Facebook or Pinterest.