London Journals

Micro-London: Primrose Hill

A December 2006 trip to London by cheryl morris

Quote: Primrose Hill: London's Wisteria Lane

Regent's Park and Primrose Hill

Attraction | "Primrose Hill Park"

Quote:

This is a gorgeous, vast green hill with a lovely park for children and London's best view of the city's most important landmarks. Great for walking, hiking, or taking the dog out, but a bit steep for jogging. To get there, take the tube to Chalk Farm. When you get out, cross the road and go up the colourfully painted bridge. You'll be in the village at this point. Walk past the quaint flower shops, cafes, bookshops and expensive clothing boutiques until you see the green of the park at the end of Regent Park's Road.

The Hill is famous for fireworks on Guy Fawke's Day (November 6) and champagne picnics during the summer.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on January 20, 2006

Regent's Park and Primrose Hill
Park Road
London, England
+44 (20) 7486-7905

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Primrose Hill: London's Wisteria Lane

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Quote:

Primrose Hill is a bit like Desperate Housewives' Wisteria Lane: it’s full of slim, pretty ladies in casually expensive clothes who live in incredibly expensive houses and yet never really seem to work. There is also a famous suicide (Sylvia Plath’s: she killed herself in her house at Chalcot Square) and a surprising amount of tawdry sexual intrigue for such a "respectable" area: this is where Jude and Sadie broke up, but not before allegations of his cheating with other men and her participation in threesomes with actress/model friends. This is also where Kate Moss kept lovers, apparently of both genders, entertained.If in London, then Primrose Hill is a pretty interesting place ...Read More

Primrose Hill is a bit like Desperate Housewives' Wisteria Lane: it’s full of slim, pretty ladies in casually expensive clothes who live in incredibly expensive houses and yet never really seem to work. There is also a famous suicide (Sylvia Plath’s: she killed herself in her house at Chalcot Square) and a surprising amount of tawdry sexual intrigue for such a "respectable" area: this is where Jude and Sadie broke up, but not before allegations of his cheating with other men and her participation in threesomes with actress/model friends. This is also where Kate Moss kept lovers, apparently of both genders, entertained.

If in London, then Primrose Hill is a pretty interesting place to visit, whether to snoop on who is with whom doing what, shopping in one of the exclusively trendy shops, getting fit in London’s most fashionable yoga studio, enjoying the incredible view from the top of the Hill, or dining in some of the best restaurants in the city.

If you were to spend a day in my neighbourhood, I’d suggest the following itinerary:
First, yoga at Triyoga, on Erskine Road, then either a raw-food shake there in the charming Little Earth Café (inside the Triyoga foyer) or breakfast at Café 79 (79 Regent’s Park Road), where you can start off healthy with a soya cappuccino and organic toast. Once energised, shopping is a must, especially at Anna, which specialises in the latest in Jeans (Seven for all Mankind or Bide and Sass) or Spice shoes, also on Regent’s Park Road. Press, which is said to be one of La Moss’s favourites, is on Erskine Road and contains some of the most divine rags in London, especially with their collection of Issa wraparound dresses.

For lunch, you could try Manna, London’s first and maybe best vegetarian restaurant, on Erskine Road, or you could pick up some deli delights at the Primrose Hill Patisserie on Regent’s Park Road and take it to the park.

Planning for the evening, pick yourself up something soft and sexy from Miss Lola’s Boudoir on Gloucester Avenue, or Keturah Brown’s. For dinner, there are two fabulous Italians that never fail to please: Sardo Canale beside Camden Lock, or La Superba, on Princess Road. If you still have some energy (and money!) left, why not spend it all on booze at the Engineer pub—participate in England’s favourite pastime and perhaps do something mad to add a bit of gossip to London’s own Wisteria Lane. Read Less