Michael Brady

London is one of my absolute favourite cities and sprinkled throughout are some exceptionally interesting places and historical nuggets. For a nerd like me it’s a kind of paradise 🤓 No trip to London could be complete without a stop at HMS Belfast, the legendary light cruiser which exists in such a state of preservation that it seems the crew are simply away on shore leave for a while and you’ve snuck in illegally! At the dockside is the Horniman at Hay’s, a pub positioned right at the water’s edge and so conveniently that it was one of the first to employ cold storage landing goods directly from ships as they came in. The décor is pure Victorian splendour - and the pies are superb. Then, the Ritz. It almost doesn’t need an introduction - but stopping by for a drink and soaking up the atmosphere is a must. This is the exact interior that served as inspiration for many great ocean liners, especially the German Imperator and her sister ships which directly emulated the tea room at the entrance with its raised platform. Then around the corner on Savile Row you’ll find Gieves & Hawkes. Established in the 1770s this menswear icon has made uniforms for Britain’s armed forces and kitted out generals, admirals and RAF fighter pilots alike. In the middle of the shop today is a Spitfire, a photographic reconnaissance Spit shot down and now under reconstruction. Quite the conversation piece for a shop!