Marylebone is home to a host of boutiques, independent shops and an array of cafes and restaurants, catering to all tastes and budgets. The area also boasts beautiful landmark buildings, such as The Wallace Collection and the very glamorous Chiltern Firehouse, highly recommended if you want to extend your trip beyond a day out and splash out on a boutique hotel experience.

Where to shop

There is a never-ending supply of elegant and quirky boutiques showcasing everything from rare whiskies to handmade artisan chocolates, fashion and homeware, as well as old-fashioned pharmacies and apothecaries, a must for lovers of lotions and potions.

Anatome

Step up your self-care routine with sleep must-haves, with relaxing prescription oils and soothing teas at Anatome. This hidden gem of an apothecary is the perfect place to source skincare and botanical potions to uplift and warm your spirit in winter.

Their signature potion Sleep Botanicals combines essential oils such as lavender, frankincense and sage, which invite you to drift off and relax into a dreamy sleep, wearing one of their silky black-out eye masks. To accompany their oil blends Anatome has a range of teas that have been expertly blended by a Scottish tea maker. These tea blends reflect the harmonious essential oils used in their skincare and relaxation formulations.

Sunspel

Sunspel is a British luxury brand, selling timeless everyday classics for men and women, crafted from the finest fabrics, with a contemporary edge to their designs. Sunspel has a rotating selection of exciting collaborations and carefully curated guest brands.

Prism

Looking for a brand that sells beachwear all year round? We all know how frustrating it can be when you want to escape the British Winter, but it isn’t the right season to find swimwear in shops… At Prism you can luxury swimwear, eyewear and resortwear, which are both functional and fashionable.

What to eat

Around Marylebone, you will find cosy upscale traditional pubs as well as vegan and organic cafes, serving, brunch, lunch and that pick-me-up post-shopping coffee and cake, with plenty of intriguing offers for the refined sugar-conscious. The area has a calendar of special events and celebrations, which keeps the area buzzing with locals and visitors alike.

Souli

Coffee fans flock to Souli for their Italian imported coffee, where they can expect a smooth and velvety finish. It’s a great place to pick up sweet treats, a light bite or healthy comfort food for lunch. Choose a warm day during spring or summer and enjoy dining alfresco with loved ones.

The Grazing Goat

The Grazing Goat boasts stylish and comfortable rooms with an upmarket and chic pub. Situated on New Quebec Street, it is nicely tucked away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Marble Arch. British produce is at the heart of the menu, open for breakfast through to dinner, it’s also a great place to have after-work drinks. The staff are welcoming and friendly, it’s definitely a hidden gem in Central London.

Chiltern Firehouse restaurant

Chiltern Firehouse restaurant is situated in Marylebone’s grade II listed Victorian fire station and is part of the Chiltern Firehouse hotel. This gorgeous restaurant is stylish, chic and very upmarket, it’s the type of place you would go to, to celeb watch! Head Chef Luke Hunns has created a fresh menu of reimagined classics and bold new flavours, dishes include Steak Tartare, Seared Halibut, Lobster Linguine and much more!

A.O.K Kitchen

Explore A.O.K Kitchen, a place where you can find a menu free from refined sugar, with lots of meat-free, dairy-free and gluten-free options. Dishes are presented beautifully and the staff ensure you are well taken care of. Dishes include Salads, Shakshuka, Wild Seabass, Grilled Baby Chicken and Honey Roasted Salmon.

Where to get your culture fix

Frameless

Looking for a new way to view art, Frameless gives visitors the chance to become part of the art world in a fully immersive experience. Art comes to life as a dramatic sensory experience, taking you through rooms of revolving and evolving art as it springs to life around you, displaying the work of world-renowned artists including Monet, Dali and Klimt, accompanied by sound and light. Visitors can wander through at their own pace, with strategic seating provided to allow the viewer time to completely immerse themselves in the painting as it emerges.

Sherlock Holmes Museum

Sherlock fans step back in time and enter a world of Victorian curiosities, and many of the objects, letters and characters from Sherlock Holmes’ most famous cases. The museum’s interior has been designed to look exactly how it was described in Doyle’s stories and It’s been said 221B Baker Street is the “world’s most famous address”. Get there early, queues can get be extremely long, especially in the summer.

For more information visit www.makeitmarylebone.co.uk | @MakeItMarylebone

Photography by Nyla Sammons