Live like a local in London

Sarah here, with some non-touristy recommendations after living 12 years in the UK [View in browser]( [Bloomberg]( Hello, it’s [Sarah Rappaport](, your luxury reporter in London—and new subject of the crown. After 12 years in the UK, I have just became a British citizen. A new Brit! Source: Sarah Rappaport//Bloomberg I made it official by attending a ceremony at my local town hall, where I pledged loyalty to King Charles III and his heirs—a change from my childhood in Chicago, where I pledged allegiance to the US flag every schoolday. It took much time and effort to get here, including having to pass the [Life in the UK test](, which quizzed me on such things as past monarchs and national landmarks. I wouldn’t have spent thousands of pounds on immigration expenses if I didn’t love London and the life I’ve made here with my British partner, Dan. Funnily enough, my first voting in the UK will come in the [election to be held on July 4th](. Afterward, a celebratory drink. Click through for where to find the six best dirty martinis in London. Source: Three Sheets Bar I’m under no illusion that London is a perfect place. The rents are too high. It’s not a 24-hour city; it sleeps, unlike New York. And the weather can be depressing. Luckily, there are [plenty of affordable weekend getaways]( from the city, and taking the Eurostar or flying to the continent for a quick escape is exceedingly easy. I’ll be [in Mallorca]( at the end of the month for much-needed sunshine and sea. Son Bunyola is one of Mallorca’s most chic new hotels. Source: Virgin Limited In honor of my sparkling new British citizenship, here’s a guide to living like a local in London this summer—at least in my London. During my decade-plus in the capital, I’ve lived in the very residential North London neighborhoods of Belsize Park, Highgate and Muswell Hill. There aren’t many great hotels nearby, but staying at a place like [the Standard in Kings Cross]( makes everything easily accessible by public transit. Speaking of which... Download Citymapper If you’re planning on taking the Tube, train or bus, [Citymapper]( beats Google Maps. It incorporates real-time status updates on public transit, gives step-by-step directions and you lets you set alerts for changing stops. Best of all, the app recommends the exits you should take at Tube stations, which will save you a lot of time. Picnic at Hampstead Heath Something that delighted me when I moved here is just how green London is; more than 40% is covered by parks. My favorite for picnicking is [Hampstead Heath](—“the Heath,” as locals call it. Pop by Marks & Spencers near the overground station for snacks and drinks beforehand. If you’d like to end your day at a nearby pub, I like visiting [the StagÂ](for a glass of Pimms in the expansive beer garden’s little wooden cabanas. The pergola at Hampstead Heath is a great spot for photographs. Source: Sarah Rappaport/Bloomberg Skip Borough Market for Maltby Street Borough Market and its [chocolate strawberries]( are now world-famous, thanks to TikTok, so the crowds are intense, especially on weekends. [Maltby Street Market]( in Bermondsey is just a 15-minute walk from there, with excellent options for foodies. I like the cozy wine bar [40 Maltby Street]( that’s under the railway arches; it has an expansive wine list and fantastic small plates to share. Or try [Bon Vino Maltby,]( known for Neapolitan-style pizzas. My fave: the Diavola with [spicy nduja](. Visit Charity Shops in Chelsea I may be a luxury correspondent, but the designer pieces I own are secondhand, mostly found in thrift shops throughout London. Chelsea, one of London’s prettiest, most expensive neighborhoods, is a great place for this kind of shopping. My personal favorites are the [British Red Cross Shop](on Old Church Street and the [Royal Trinity Hospice]( on the Kings Road. Later, head to the charming, pedestrianized [Pavilion Road]( for a sweet treat at [Bread Ahead Bakery](.  If you’re reading this from the US, Goodwill Industries International is taking on RealReal and Poshmark with its own luxury resale site. Source: GoodwillFinds Enjoy a Sunday Roast A British tradition I’ve wholeheartedly embraced is the big Sunday lunch, which usually consists of some form of [roast meat](, roasted potatoes, a selection of veggies such as carrots or parsnips, and a Yorkshire pudding. It’s like having Thanksgiving dinner every weekend. I’ve tried making my own feast, much to the delight of my Welsh boyfriend. It’s labor intensive, though, so we tend to head to the pub instead. [The Red Lion & Sun]( in Highgate does a fantastic roast, as do the branches of steakhouse [Hawskmoor](. If a sandwich is more your speed, the egg and chili cheese focaccia from Dusty Knuckle is worth the trip to Dalston. Photographer: Emli Bendixen for Bloomberg Pursuits Skip Oxford Street for Marylebone [Oxford Street]( is too busy, especially during peak summer season and before Christmas. And truly, it’s nothing special. Apart from the big department store [Selfridges]( (which hilariously, has [added couples therapy](to its offerings), most of the shops can be found at any suburban mall. Anytime I end up on Oxford Street, I immediately regret all of my life choices. If you want to do some shopping, [Marylebone]( is just 10 minutes northwest. It’s much less crowded and has a more eclectic mix of spots to browse. I like the multilevel temple to reading that is [Daunt Books,]( found in a light-filled Edwardian building on the village High Street, and [La Fromagerie](, a very cute cheese shop on Moxon Street. The Oxford I actually enjoy—the British city—has this jaw-dropping, 500-year-old abbey for sale at £15 million ($19.1 million). Source: Savills Hit Up a Music Festival London’s delightful green spaces turn into concert venues in summertime and are some of the best places to hang with locals. The royal [Hyde Park]( hosts the [BST Festival,]( where SZA, Stevie Nicks and Kyle Minogue will perform this year. [Alexandra Palace]( (aka Ally Pally, a delightful nickname) is high up in North London and has some of the best views over the city for photos. It’s also hosting shows from Tom Odell and Bombay Bicycle Club. I’ll be heading to [All Points East](, which runs throughout the summer in [Victoria (or “Vicky”) Park](, to see Death Cab for Cutie and relive my sad girl millennial nostalgia. Connect with Sarah on [Instagram](. London has a fried chicken habit that now includes Champagne. Cheers! Photographer: Paul Winch-Furness What to see on the West End As a big theater buff, I find that one of my favorite assignments for Pursuits is rounding up the [best shows to see here in London](. The hottest ticket in town right now is Romeo & Juliet, starring Tom Holland. The director is theater superstar Jamie Lloyd, fresh off his Olivier Award-winning run of Sunset Boulevard, which I adored. Holland as a tortured Romeo. Photograph: Marc Brenner I did not adore Lloyd’s Romeo & Juliet. The minimalist, stripped-back staging voided the play of its magic. Lines are delivered to the audience instead of to the characters, and the overuse of live camera work makes the show favor style over substance. Holland’s Romeo is lovestruck and tortured—extreme close-ups show him shedding tears repeatedly throughout the brisk two-hour run time—but he’s not convincing in the role. Save your money—seats are presently available for £295 ($375)—and see these shows instead: [A View From the Bridge]( Dominic West, most recently seen on TV playing a too-handsome King Charles on The Crown, is phenomenal as Eddie Carbone in Arthur Miller’s tragic drama about masculinity and immigration. [Passing Strange]( The Tony Award-winning rock musical has transferred to London for the first time, now starring the wildly talented Giles Terera (Aaron Burr in the first London cast of Hamilton). The pop-rock music in this coming-of-age story is very catchy, and this is a delightful night out at the Young Vic, one of my favorite theaters in London. [Stranger Things: The First Shadow]( Netflix Inc.’s first stage show—a prequel to the TV series—is a smash hit. Audiences, drawn by the creepy mysteries they know from the show, inevitably cheer when the theme song’s familiar synthesizer notes begin to play. Still, there’s real heart behind all the visual wizardry, guts and gore. The acting is world-class, especially from newcomer Louis McCartney, who plays a younger version of villain Vecna. In December, I sat down with the writer and co-director to discuss tie-ins to Season 5 and go behind the scenes on the stage magic. Photographer: Manuel Harlan Elsewhere on my British beat [Hotels Aim to Cash in on Taylor Swift Phenomenon With ‘Gig-Tripping’ Perks]( [Europe’s Travel Hotspots Are Changing This Summer]( [Netflix Swaps Hollywood for Hampstead with 'Buying London' Series]( [Ex-Soho House Executive Lists London Home for £5.25 Million]( [Cate Blanchett’s Newest Role Is Evangelist for Sake]( [Savile Row Rebel Richard James Opens New London Flagship Store]( You had questions … We call for queries weekly on [our Instagram account]( and [via e-mail](mailto:askpursuits@bloomberg.net?subject=I%20have%20a%20question). Here’s what you were dying to know about this time around. Where’s the best place to stay in London? What’s your budget, @christiancitychick? If money is no object, I recommend a room at the new [Peninsula Hotel in Belgravia](. Rooms come with high-tech touches such as “spa mode” in the marble bathrooms, which dims the lights and plays calming music; every detail has been considered down to wireless phone chargers and nail dryers. Rooms start above £1,000 a night. [( The rooms at the Peninsula are among the largest in London. Photographer: Will Pryce But spending four-figure sums is hardly a requirement for a stylish stay in London. Take the new Chelsea Townhouse, one of [London’s best hotels for under $500 a night](. This new red-brick, residential-style property in leafy West London lets guests feel like Chelsea locals; some suites even offer private access onto Cadogan Garden. Bonus: It’s a great base to do some shopping from. Is it difficult leaving Wembley Stadium and getting home after a show? Taylor Swift performing in Sydney on Feb. 23. Photographer: DAVID GRAY/AFP Are you going to the Eras Tour, @Vivian.Hon? Me too! As are many, many other people. So many that luxury hotels in London are coming up with [new amenities to attract guests over the tour](, such as a “gig-tripping” package with karaoke machines and glittery cocktails. Wembley will be extremely crowded. Don’t bother with a car or try to get an Uber at the stadium: Traffic will be awful. Instead, just take the Tube back to your hotel. (And see my first tip above.) The ride will be annoying and overcrowded—you’ll probably have to wait around 30 minutes to get onto a train because of the massive rush into the station—but it’s the fastest way to get home or to your hotel in London. So it’s not that difficult, but there’s no quicker way to escape Wembley. Oh, and don’t bother buying a Travelcard. If you have a contactless credit card or Apple Pay, use it instead. It’ll save you time and money. What’s the best spa in London? The best spa in London is [the just-opened Surrenne](, a 21,500-square-foot wellness space below the Emory hotel in Knightsbridge. It has a pool with calming music piped underwater, a snow shower for cold exposure, the only Tracy Anderson workout studio in London and high-tech facials using radio frequency machines. I toured Surenne before it opened. Here’s more of the inside scoop. Source: Surrenne It’s also among the most exclusive. You can book a treatment only if you’re a guest at the Emory or the Berkeley—or pay £10,000 a year on top of a £5,000 joining fee to become a member. If you don’t fall into that category, the Guerlain spa at the [new Raffles London at the OWO]( is also incredible—and you don’t have to be a guest to book a treatment. Other newsletters you might enjoy - [Watch Club]( for exclusive horology news, access to launch parties, collector meet-ups and brand showcases - [Top Shelf Society]( is a weekly missive on wine, beer, spirits and cocktail culture plus special member-only offers and events New for subscribers: Free article gifting. 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