SUMMER IN THE CITY
EMBRACE THE BEST OF ALFRESCO LONDON WITH OUR ULTIMATE GUIDE OF WHAT TO DO, SEE AND EAT IN THE CAPITAL THIS SUMMER. BY AMY WAKEHAM
There’s nothing quite like summer in London. As soon as the sun comes out and the trees burst into leaf, it’s a di erent city. From a quick game of padel with friends to discovering the city’s public art and taking in the best of British theatre in Regent’s Park, here’s how to make the most of the sunny months in the capital, with advice from those in the know.
ON THE STREETS
Art entrepreneur and author Marine Tanguy on London’s best public art installations
Colour Transfer (2012), Liz West, Paddington Basin
This really shows the importance of colours, joy and creative expression, especially when surrounded by cement and bricks. liz-west.com
Croydon Colonnade (2023), Adam Nathaniel Furman, Croydon
We often think of public art as situated within touristic or privileged areas. This installation shows that a visual spectacle can also be found in less privileged areas. It was described by the artist as a “porcelain palace for the people.” adamnathanielfurman.com
Postpartum (2025), Rayvenn Shaleigha D’Clark, The Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington
The UK’s first statue celebrating the postpartum body and honouring the journey of recovery following childbirth, both physically and mentally. rayvenn-dclark.com
The Women of World War II (2005), John W Mills, Whitehall
One of the world’s first monuments dedicated to women and their role within wars. It shows the uniforms and roles women had donned, but were forced to hang up when the men returned.
The Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square
I love that people can vote for a public art project and have a say in what they get to see daily as they walk around the city. It’s a brilliant example of democratic participation in the arts. london.gov.uk
Marine Tanguy is the founder of MTart Agency, and the author of The Visual Detox: How to Consume Media Without Letting it Consume You. mtart.agency
CRITICAL EYE AUTHOR AND FOUNDER OF MTART MARINE TANGUY
Lightbulbmoment
GREAT LIGHTING IS ‘LIKE A GOOD FILM SCORE’, WITH THE POWER TO TRANSFORM THE MOOD OF ANY SPACE. AND YET IT’S OFTEN OVERLOOKED AND UNDERVALUED – TOO COLD, TOO DIM OR TOO BRIGHT. WITH ADVICE FROM LEADING DESIGNERS, TALLULAH RUSHAYA FINDS ILLUMINATION
GLOW WITH THE FLOW Clockwise from opposite: Cox London’s Floral May pendant chandelier, with its metalwork leaves, buds and flowers is discreetly lit from within to create an atmospheric light; renowned interior designer Kelly Hoppen created the Visual Comfort & Co. Living Room for WOW!house, in which lighting highlights texture and shapes the mood of the space; the staircase in this Grade II-listed Chiswick warehouse restoration by ADAM Architecture has been fitted with subtle treadlights; Alex Dauley used dimming lights to create an immersive feel in the Nucleus Media Room
Opening on 3 June, the stars of the design world come together for WOW!house, a celebration of creativity without bounds. Held in the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour (dcch.co.uk), the critically acclaimed showcase enters its fourth year of pushing design boundaries and inspiring visitors. This year lighting takes centre stage, with masterclasses from the likes of Kelly Hoppen on the dos and don’ts, room by room, and how to bring “wow factor” in the home.
LIGHTING MISCONCEPTIONS
While some cast lighting as an afterthought, interior designer Kelly Hoppen CBE (kellyhoppeninteriors.com) emphatically calls it “part of the foundation”. In creating Visual Comfort & Co. Living Room for WOW!house (visualcomfort. com), Hoppen believes the space warmly embraces “asymmetric design infused with history”. This ‘history’ is seen with a client’s art, artefacts and record collection. “A common mistake is relying solely on overhead lights, which can flatten a room and strip away depth.” The key to achieving good lighting? Layering. She says there’s no need to overcomplicate it. “A few well-placed sculptural pieces and directional lights can completely transform the space.” Another advocate of the power of layering
is Durgesh Sinh, founder of Nucleus AV (nucleusav.com), who adds that mood and control are important factors. “One of the biggest misconceptions is that lighting is simply about brightness,” says Sin h, who points out lighting design is a deeply technical discipline. To move beyond functionality for the Nucleus Media Room, made with interior designer Alex Dauley (alexdauley.com), creating an immersive experience was crucial. Dispelling the myth that dimming ceiling lights are sufficient for a snug room, light takes centre stage, interacting with the space’s rich textures and finishes. “Great lighting is like a good film score,” adds Sin h. Both tools are essential in illustrating how a space can evoke feeling, delving deeper than mere aesthetics, a sentiment shared by lighting designer Lee Broom (leebroom.com).
ENTRANCE
London homes present lighting challenges with tight layouts and low ceilings, notes Hoppen, who thinks of the hall as a mood-setter. “Use wall lights or recessed spots to capture textures,” she expands. “Add a console lamp or two for warmth.” Additionally, a statement pendant can elevate the space, while mirrors “amplify and reflect light” in narrower hallways.
Victoria Davar, founder of Maison Artefact (maisonartefact.com), collaborated with Cox London, creators of unique fixtures, for the Entrance Hall WOW!house project. The starting point
GOOD MANORS
Left to right: On the market through Knight Frank for £15m, this seven-bedroom family home in Parkside, Wimbledon boasts an outdoor swimming pool, cinema room, gym and sauna; set on one of Putney’s most sought-after streets, this elegant sevenbedroom period home, which is available for just under £4m through Dexters, comes with excellent commuter links and planning permission to extend and modernise
Super prime SOUTH-WEST
THE COMBINATION OF GREEN SPACE, WORLD-CLASS SCHOOLING AND SUPERIOR TRANSPORT LINKS ARE DRAWING WEALTHY BUYERS TO THIS CORNER OF THE CAPITAL, WRITES CHARLOTTE DUCK
South-west London has long been popular with those wanting to escape the frenetic lifestyle of the city, while continuing to have access to it. But the pandemic’s ‘race for space’ changed all that, supercharging this part of the capital and giving the likes of Chiswick, Barnes, Wimbledon, Putney and Richmond super prime status with price tags to match. According to Hamptons Research, since 2008, house prices have increased by 72 per cent in Wimbledon, 69 per cent in Barnes and 61 per cent in Chiswick, and properties selling
for more than £1m have skyrocketed. In Barnes only 25 per cent were priced above this in 2008; by 2024, this had risen to 54 per cent and it’s a similar story in Chiswick, Putney, Wimbledon and Richmond.
“South-west London, with its collection of ‘villages’ and access to the outdoors, became a magnet for affluent buyers looking to upgrade their lifestyles but not lose the convenience of being in London by moving out to the country,” says Georgie Bolton of buying agents Property Vision. “The momentum that began in
