My Perfect Day

Everybody has their ideal, perfect day. What you would choose to do when you find yourself with a free day: no commitments or nagging responsibilities. I came upon mine early on in our move to London when I had to attend prenatal appointments at our hospital in Chelsea. Sadly, I don’t go to Chelsea as much as I used to, but I will take any chance I get to visit with friends or family, or just go for a wonderful afternoon with William in tow.

My day starts with a pleasant early morning stroll through the West Brompton Cemetery. At first I was a little put off that the shortcut to the hospital took me through a cemetery, but after walking through it, I realized it is one of the most beautiful cemeteries I have ever seen.

I really came to enjoy the peaceful surroundings and tranquil atmosphere. It is an ideal combination of historic monuments and untapped nature. The grounds are very picturesque no matter the season.

Others in the neighborhood also share my appreciation as I often pass people walking their dogs or riding their bikes along the well kept pathways. The Victorian grandeur of the cemetery has not gone unnoticed by filmmakers either. Once I was re-routed from my usual path by movie crew that were filming scenes for a movie. The cemetery has beautiful gothic gravestones dating back to the 1800’s and it is interesting to ponder what is engraved on the stones.

I make my way to King’s Road, which is the main road in the heart of Chelsea. It is a fashion lovers dream with a wide range of high street and designer shops. It also has home décor and antique shops as well as a number of trendy places to eat. It is a great place to shop and avoid the loud, busy crowds of Oxford Street.

I window shop and browse some of my favorite stores, then make my way towards Duke of York Square. This lively pedestrian square has some great restaurants with outdoor seating and is home to the Saatchi Gallery.

On Saturdays, there is a cute outdoor farmer’s market that many locals frequent. Sometimes I visit the gallery if there is something on the catches my interest, or I just sit and people watch for a bit.

Just off of Duke of York Square is Sloane Square, the main hub of King’s Road.

Here, you can visit the huge John Lewis flagship department store, or high-end designer shops on the neighboring streets.

I usually make my way into the charming neighborhood of Pimlico, admiring all the pristine terraced homes as I pass by.

This area has a very quaint, village-like feel to it with a main square surrounded by some great restaurants and a flower shop that always has beautiful displays.

The main road has a lot of art and interior design galleries. On my last visit, we tried a new restaurant for brunch and were impressed. No. 11 Pimlico Road is a bright and spacious neighborhood spot that serves very tasty and well presented food.

From Pimlico, you are well positioned to continue wandering through beautiful neighborhoods such as Belgravia, or walk towards the water and enjoy some scenic views of the Thames. It’s always a treat when Mike gets off work early and can join William and I for an early dinner before we make our way home. In a city as vibrant as London, there are always new things to see or do, but I never tire of spending a day wandering through Chelsea.

What’s your favourite way to spend a day off?