After a dash through Berlin a few weeks back (see previous post here), I jumped on another plane and flew to London to drop into London Design Festival for the first time. It was great. You gotta go. London is a beautiful, bustling place with a vibrant and very different design tradition than the US. I scoured Design Junction and Tent London, skipped 100% Design (didn't get a good review) and, in between, walked the streets. Here's an overview.
London! The airport is beautiful, new and clean
>> London Design Festival is a week long celebration of design, within which the following shows are for furnishings and home:
>> 100% Design
>> Design Junction
• Highlights from our own Claire Bock
My posts:
• Agape Design
• Pinch Design & Eoq Design
• Anglepoise and Jake Dyson
• Conran & IO Kids Design
• Demelza Hill & Ercol
• Another Country and Toyko Bike
• Authentics & Native Union
>> Tent London & Super Brands
My posts
• ERCOL, Codolagni Design Studio, FreshWest, Blue Marmalade, Oree Design, AOI.Cycle.
Why aren't all cabs like London cabs??? The design seems far superior to me. They're more spacious, easier to get in and out of and it's much easier to load luggage in and out as well.
LIGHT English breakfast in Kensington. It's so nice not to worry about only being able to speak English.
The Pelham Hotel
Pelham Hotel, red flowers and doubledecker bus.
Drowsing on the Tube.
Great clothing store I'd never heard of! YMC - You Must Create
Design Junction's main lobby... This year DJ was the best show I saw (and other's concurrred) as it was a mashup of a few shows, including last year's Tramshed.
Very tall London style outside of Design Junction
Favorite new home store in London - Ben Pentreath
Just another design head at Design Junction London
Pure English styling here at the Pelham Hotel in South Ken
Pure London Tube
Pure inside of London Tube
Girl on the Tube, London
In work mode at Design Junction, London - Sept. 21
One more from Design Junction London
8 Secret Spots to Hide Valuables at Home
The Live/Work Studio of Robert Siegel Handmade Ceramics
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Howard Butcher Bloc...
10 Easy Vacation Meals to Feed a Crowd
Recipe: Chopped Brown Rice Salad with Grapes and Pecans
Glad you liked our city. Stay longer next time, there's lots to discover :)
Great tour of London- well done Sir! Now I am inspired to buy another plane ticket across the pond. And I happen to LOVE your instagram pics- you are an excellent photographer! Was the airport in the pic Gatwick or Heathrow or another?
That's a lot of plugs for the Pelham Hotel.
Very glad that you loved my hometown! Hope your trip inspires more British content on AT ;)
I think this is Heatrow Terminal 5, which is the only recent terminal in London.
I've stayed at The Pelham!!! Nice....
Loved this! I go to London as many summers as I can for research. I also love that you totally broke the rules to snap an illegal photo on the tube (cameras are strictly prohibited!).
I was in London 3 years ago and it was my all time favorite vacation. I would love to visit again!
Taking photos on the tube isn't 'strictly prohibited'! Everyone does it all the time. If you're a professional film crew then you need to get a permit, but for still cameras shoot away!
It's nice to see my city from a different perspective.