Most Instagrammable places in London that we bet you didn't know

Columbia Road Flower Market

Every Sunday this quiet road in Bethnal Green, lined with Victorian houses and quaint shop fronts, transforms into a magical world of rainbow coloured petals and exotic foliage. Stripy stall tops create shade on bunches of pastel tulips, blossoming peonies and divine-smelling herbs. A stroll down this oasis of natural beauty will result in more than a few photo opportunities, and temptation to turn your house into a mini garden centre will be hard to resist. With many flower sellers growing their own plants or importing them from locations around the world, you’ll be met with backdrops of new and unique flora, inviting themselves onto your social media feed. We recommend you arrive when the market opens to beat the tourist rush, and don’t be afraid to barter for a bargain - it’s still a market, after all. Once you’ve indulged in an impromptu photoshoot or found a new-love for blooms, head behind the stalls to find the prettiest cafes, delis and shops, to quench your thirst after a few hours flower-chasing.

Budding influencers get your prettiest outfit on because Peggy Porschen Cakes is a cluster of baby pink walls with lilac flowers climbing up either side of the pastel entrance. Located in Belgravia, it fits into the surrounding neighbourhood of cute coffee shops like a leather glove. This is the kind of place where old-fashioned bikes have baskets attached to the front, spilling over with beautiful bunches of tulips, and parked up while their owner devours a cupcake adorned with summer fruits and pink icing. The décor is inspired by Peggy’s lifelong love of romance and beauty, and each detail is designed with a magical world of fairy tales in mind. You couldn’t possibly come and not try one of the sweet bakes though, and with a collection of delicate cakes, luscious cookies and bright confectionary on offer, we hope your sweet tooth is ready to be spoilt.

Peggy Porschen Cakes

Budding influencers get your prettiest outfit on because Peggy Porschen Cakes is a cluster of baby pink walls with lilac flowers climbing up either side of the pastel entrance. Located in Belgravia, it fits into the surrounding neighbourhood of cute coffee shops like a leather glove. This is the kind of place where old-fashioned bikes have baskets attached to the front, spilling over with beautiful bunches of tulips, and parked up while their owner devours a cupcake adorned with summer fruits and pink icing. The décor is inspired by Peggy’s lifelong love of romance and beauty, and each detail is designed with a magical world of fairy tales in mind. You couldn’t possibly come and not try one of the sweet bakes though, and with a collection of delicate cakes, luscious cookies and bright confectionary on offer, we hope your sweet tooth is ready to be spoilt.

Neal’s Yard

Tucked away behind the bustling streets of Covent Garden, you’ll find Neal’s Yard, a multi-colour cluster of tiny shops surrounding an intimate courtyard. After you softly tread down the narrow alley off of Seven Dials, the bright palette is a welcome burst of excitement, as you’re greeted with plant bins painted in primary colours circled by turquoise benches designed for relaxing in the midday sun. For the full blow Instagram portrait, grab one of those famous doughnuts from St John Bakery – we’re talking oozes of chocolate enclosed in a sugary doughy delight – and a steaming cup of joe from Jacob the Angel. You may be double parked with culinary desires, but a shot in the middle of the yard as the sun shines down on your purchases will rack up the likes. And if it’s shopping you can’t get enough of, Neal’s Yard Remedies couldn’t not have a shop here, right? Wander inside for the finest in luxury skincare and aromatherapy, combined.

If you thought you’d experienced good looking pubs before, you haven’t seen The Churchill Arms. Covered from head to toe with an abundance of flora, leaving just the odd space to breathe on the walls, this pub has been a hit on Instagram for those in the know, particularly Londoners themselves. Spending a massive £25,000 on its displays every year, the 100 pots of flowers, 48 window boxes and 42 hanging baskets will forever be a signature of this pub and, indeed, London itself. The spring and summer burst of sweet smells and sights doesn’t stop when winter rolls around. The Churchill Arms swaps rainbow blankets of petals with fairy light wrapped Christmas trees and trades the scent of fresh pollen with the sharp fragrance of pine. You’ll never forget that London is open with the array of flags sprinkled across the Kensington pub waving in the wind, from Britain and America to Brazil and Ireland.

The Churchill Arms

If you thought you’d experienced good looking pubs before, you haven’t seen The Churchill Arms. Covered from head to toe with an abundance of flora, leaving just the odd space to breathe on the walls, this pub has been a hit on Instagram for those in the know, particularly Londoners themselves. Spending a massive £25,000 on its displays every year, the 100 pots of flowers, 48 window boxes and 42 hanging baskets will forever be a signature of this pub and, indeed, London itself. The spring and summer burst of sweet smells and sights doesn’t stop when winter rolls around. The Churchill Arms swaps rainbow blankets of petals with fairy light wrapped Christmas trees and trades the scent of fresh pollen with the sharp fragrance of pine. You’ll never forget that London is open with the array of flags sprinkled across the Kensington pub waving in the wind, from Britain and America to Brazil and Ireland.

Natural History Museum

Step into the historic architecture of the Natural History Museum and you may just feel you’ve travelled to a real-life Hogwarts. A spot that many may not think of, the grand staircases and huge hanging sculptures make it a haven for photo enthusiasts. The skeleton of the blue whale suspended from the ceiling of Hintze Hall is a sight to behold and creates a dynamic scene for different events. A silent disco takes place throughout the year under the skeleton, where vibrant green, purple and red lights illuminate the stone arches below. You can even do yoga in its shadow on special days early before the museum opens! The Dinosaurs gallery will stun any new visitors with its giant exhibits and reconstructed skeletons, all using genuine fossils found by historians. The carefully placed spotlights highlight the huge features, truly taking you back to prehistoric times. Oh, and did we mention how the exterior of the Victorian building makes a fab backdrop to a selfie, with its brocade finishes and all together grandeur?

Located on a branch off of Carnaby Street, this could possibly be the most exclusive barbershop in ‘the big smoke.’ Emulating old-school masculinity, this part speakeasy, part gentleman’s club boasts a charcoal black shop front, sharp tiled countertops and black and white sketches hanging off the wall. The main attraction is the bespoke leather barbers’ chairs, hand upholstered by the craftsmen at Bentley, designed to provide you with an experience as stylish as the look you leave with after a grooming session. Sit back in your bespoke chair and relax with a Johnnie Walker whisky from the basement bar, created by the drinks brand themselves. When you’re finished snapping away, close your eyes and drift away to a world of soothing facial and scalp massages, all on the menu here.

Pankhurst London

Located on a branch off of Carnaby Street, this could possibly be the most exclusive barbershop in ‘the big smoke.’ Emulating old-school masculinity, this part speakeasy, part gentleman’s club boasts a charcoal black shop front, sharp tiled countertops and black and white sketches hanging off the wall. The main attraction is the bespoke leather barbers’ chairs, hand upholstered by the craftsmen at Bentley, designed to provide you with an experience as stylish as the look you leave with after a grooming session. Sit back in your bespoke chair and relax with a Johnnie Walker whisky from the basement bar, created by the drinks brand themselves. When you’re finished snapping away, close your eyes and drift away to a world of soothing facial and scalp massages, all on the menu here.

Tonight Josephine

Image credit Tonight Josephine

With such a variety of instagrammable restaurants and bars across the capital, it was hard to pick one to make the list. But Tonight Josephine has flashed onto the scene in bold and sparkling fashion. The explosion of extravagance is now at two locations, Waterloo and Shoreditch, ensuring you can’t escape the power of the pink. One for the ladies, expect to come across flashing neon signs reading “well behaved women don’t make history” and mugshots of Lindsay Lohan and Justin Bieber stuck on the bathroom doors. If there’s anything this bar is, it’s playful. Opportunities to upgrade your ‘gram are everywhere in sight, from the slogan signs to the stripy floor. You can’t forget the menu of cocktails including one topped with a macaron, in honour of Joséphine de Beauharnais herself (the inspiration behind the bar). Encouraging all guests to ‘do you,’ having a mini photoshoot in every corner of the room from every angle possible won’t be frowned upon here.

With our list of hidden gems in the capital, we know you’ll be spending your weekend break in the best way possible. Now, onto the most important part: where to stay. We’ve got an array of luxury properties with all the styling your Instagram could ever want, from minimal to royal, sleek to stupendous. Just give one of our personal travel managers a call on 0203 816 0985 or enquire here and start planning your London getaway.

Image credit Tonight Josephine

With such a variety of instagrammable restaurants and bars across the capital, it was hard to pick one to make the list. But Tonight Josephine has flashed onto the scene in bold and sparkling fashion. The explosion of extravagance is now at two locations, Waterloo and Shoreditch, ensuring you can’t escape the power of the pink. One for the ladies, expect to come across flashing neon signs reading “well behaved women don’t make history” and mugshots of Lindsay Lohan and Justin Bieber stuck on the bathroom doors. If there’s anything this bar is, it’s playful. Opportunities to upgrade your ‘gram are everywhere in sight, from the slogan signs to the stripy floor. You can’t forget the menu of cocktails including one topped with a macaron, in honour of Joséphine de Beauharnais herself (the inspiration behind the bar). Encouraging all guests to ‘do you,’ having a mini photoshoot in every corner of the room from every angle possible won’t be frowned upon here.

With our list of hidden gems in the capital, we know you’ll be spending your weekend break in the best way possible. Now, onto the most important part: where to stay. We’ve got an array of luxury properties with all the styling your Instagram could ever want, from minimal to royal, sleek to stupendous. Just give one of our personal travel managers a call on 0203 816 0985 or enquire here and start planning your London getaway.