There are two areas I love to stroll around in London, one is Holland Park, I am always happy to see the wrought iron Victorian ballastrades around the grand entrances to the 19th century mansions with grand iron porches and railings and for window shopping no where captures my imagination of a day gone by than St James, the area in London where the brands you’ve never heard of, have been there for centuries and probably will endure for a few more hundred years to come.

One such spectacle is the Piccadilly Arcade, less well known than it’s sister, the Burlington Arcade that connects the posh shopping enclave of Bond St to the bustle of Piccadilly, Fortnum and Mason and the world famous Ritz hotel.

In the Piccadilly arcade you’ll find family businesses from another time, jewellers and watchmakers, shirt makers and perfumers, many call this area of St James the Kings village because it includes some of the most established London merchants dating back to the 18th century.

If you are brave enough to step over the threshold of any one of the shops which includes the like of Faberge and Deakin and Francis.

For the discerning coffee drinker or the nosey people watcher (I am the latter) pull up a pew in Cut Coffee and watch the beautiful people walk by.

It’s one of the best places in London, quiet, intimate where no one will bother you, to pretend to poke your nose in a book but really watch the world go by.