christmas, all wrapped up.

do you remember, way back in the summer, when i posted about st martin's courtyard? for those of you in need of a quick refresher, it's a totally sublime pocket of london nestled behind the high street in covent garden, almost wholly obscured from street view and almost completely tourist-free. in london, that's bliss! in fact, part of me is always loathe to write about it, for fear it will be "discovered", and lose its tranquil appeal, but some things are too good to keep to yourself. i think what i love - other than the calm - is the mix of shops. there's no real high street heavy hitters - it's more smaller, cult brands. think twenty8twelve, jack wills, fashionista fave COS and pretty ballerinas. there's a lovely selection of lifestyle boutiques too, and a pop-up space that rotates art exhibitions and flash sales. but, not gonna lie, my favourite thing about this place might just be the food. first and foremost, bill's - home of seasonal, honest and delicious food, everything on the menu is worth writing home about. sure, it's ALWAYS busy, and you can be elbow-to-elbow with the table next to you, but that's kinda part of the charm. there's a jamie's italian too, for the moneybags among you, and suda, which is a cool little rice bar. myself, lucy, kristabel and jaime went for a festive wander around the shops last week, when we were invited down. check out a few snaps of my favourite bits and pieces!

a chai mojito at dishoom (restaurant below!)

snaps from the st martin's courtyard magazine

please don't ask me what any of this food at dishoom was as i have no idea - there's some puffed rice and pomegrante thing, other than that, clueless...it was all delicious though

the relax spa, above, and covent garden academy of flowers below

french beauty store melvita, suda rice bar, jack wills and pretty ballerinas.