A Day in Kew: The Original Maids of Honour & The Gardens

Shirt - Novem & Knight (Indie) / Jeans - M&S Outlet / Trainers - Adidas Superstars / Hat - Urban Outfitters / Sunglasses - Rayban

As a child, my Mum regularly took me and my brother to Kew Gardens. It's so beautiful and peaceful, but after years of being dragged there against my will, I lost interest. Since turning 18, the interest has returned. I think it might be something to do with the fact that I'm a working adult and have already began planning my pension (don't ask...) and I still live with my Mum, so there's really no escaping the Gardens.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is one of the most internationally acclaimed botanical research centres, and one of the largest gardens of it's kind. There are many seasonal treasures to discover, including the Kew the Music festival in the Summer, and the Christmas Light Walk. This time around, I visited the Gardens for the latest, and possibly most architectually fascinating, exhibit - The Hive. (as you can tell from above, the gardens are also a great location for shooting your outfit photo's!)

The Hive was an incredible experience. A huge, metal sculpture containing hundreds of LED lights that light up when the bees in the Kew Gardens bee centre communicate. You also have a chance to listen to the way bees communicate underneath the sculpture. It's overall a beautiful experience and a great way to learn more about our buzzing friends, the bees. Kew is renound for hosting many great, educational events throughout the year, so be sure to check out their website to learn more about what's happening.

 http://www.kew.org/

The Original Maids of Honour:

The chicken pie

Now onto another Kew delight - the Original Maids of Honour. This beautiful, old-fashioned tea house has been serving up their traditional bakes (even favoured by Henry VIII) for over 200 years - and I honestly highly recommend an afternoon spent here. With a wonderful array of cakes to choose from (their carrot cake and swiss roll is to die for), the Maids of Honour also serve up a brilliant lunch. Their pies are wonderfully nostalgic, and my favourite, the chicken pie, is probably the best traditional pie I've ever tried. I also recommend coming here for a classically British roast lunch - and if you want all the roast trimmings, but don't want to miss out on a hearty slice of pie, you can combine the two. The Original Maids of Honour is a wonderful traditional tearoom to visit, especially if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Central London.

If you're bored of the bright lights and noisy streets of Central London, then give Kew a try. It's one of the most beautiful parts of Greater London, and I adore coming here to escape the stresses of the City. 

Nearest transport links:
Kew Gardens Underground & Overground station (District & Overground lines)
Bus Services: 391 & 65 are the nearest links.

Maids of Honour address: 288 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3DU

Stars and Stripes

Vest Top - Stradivarius (Similar Here) / Trousers - Borrowed / Leather Jacket - All Saints (Wyatt) / Trainers - Adidas Superstars (I bought these in the junior section in store for £49.99) / Sunglasses - Rayban / Bag - Furla / Lipstick - ByTerry (Rouge Terrybly in Bare Instinct)

La Petite Bretagne Creperie, Hammersmith

Okay, I did it. I caved. I went back in time, and became fifteen again. After months of deliberation, I decided to purchase a pair of Adidas Superstars. I needed a pair of trainers (as I currently only own gym ones) to wear to work, and I felt these bridged the gap perfectly between comfortable and stylish. I went for the 'royal blue' stripe as I felt the colour would match better with existing pieces in my wardrobe. In conclusion, they are not only super comfortable and practical, but I think they look brilliant with almost anything - they give a sports-luxe vibe to any outfit, in particular creating a cool contrast when paired with a grungy leather jacket.

On this particularly cloudy day in London, I headed over to my favourite crepe spot - La Petite Bretagne in Hammersmith. They do the best pick-me-up sweet crepes (seriously, there's something seriously soothing and addictive in their crepe batter...) and brilliant buckwheat savoury lunch crepes. On this occasion, I went for an old classic: nutella, and my friend Sophie (check her out here) went for a nutella and banana combination. Very reasonably priced joint, and who can resist the beautiful, classically french decor? I know I can't. 

Nearest tube stations:
Hammersmith (Hammersmith&City/Circle lines, District and Piccadilly lines)

Nearest Bus Routes:
27, 391, 190, H91, 267, plus all other routes that stop inside Hammersmith Broadway (e.g. 9, 10, 266)