All things to all people is usually seen as a negative thing, but what other street can count such a motley crew including Boris Johnson, former Time Out Editor Gordon Thomson and Monocle magazine as ardent fans?
Lamb’s Conduit Street in London is a harmonious mix of unpretentious cockney quaintness and inalienable cool. Nestled between Holborn and Russell Square tube stations, it’s home to plenty of places to eat, drink, shop and be cultured.
With the exception of a rogue Starbucks (Boo! Hiss! Try The Espresso Room or plethora of other coffee joints instead), the street is an independent lover’s dream.
Bespoke suit makers nestle with the best of British independent shops like Folk, who produce laid-back, yet well-cut designs sourced from the best in the business. “We make alpaca knits in Peru, shirts in Portugal, accessories in England… wherever we have to go to find the best people that are experts in what they do and understand our vision,” says a blurb on their website.
Little known designers are the preserve of French’s Dairy, which sells jewelry, accessories and womenswear starting from just £20, while nearby Something stocks gorgeous vegan leather bags from Mat and Nat along with quirky gifts and vintage-inspired finds.
Food lovers will equally be smitten. Local deli and grocery Kennards sells everything from sustainably sourced fish direct from Billingsgate to peanut butter so local that it comes from just around the corner. There’s also the homely cafes Goodfellas and Tuttis, while Ciao Bella is worth going to for the old school waiters as much as the spaghetti al cartoccio.
Finally, don’t miss going for a cheeky pint of real ale at old Victorian boozer, The Lamb. You might even run into Boris…
