This time next week, I’ll be in foggy London town. Yes that’s right, I’ll be walking in Oxford street, probably needing an umbrella and drinking copious amounts of tea. Well, more than I do now anyway. In many ways London feels like a second home to me. My boyfriend is there, which is the primary reason for my impromptu visit, and I have a great affinity for British culture too. This time around, it’s a bit more exciting as two of my friends from school are also there.

On my last trip to London, I had an amazing time – the city feels light years ahead of the U.S., even ahead of Los Angeles and New York, especially where fashion is concerned. I felt so under dressed. In London, most of the women look hip and happening. They wear high riding boots, with beautiful crafted jeans, velvet plum blazers and fashion forward accessories. With tousled hair tied loosely back, a cup of tea or coffee in their hands and their ridiculously expensive bags that I covet, they look fabulous.

The men aren’t far behind where fashion is concerned, but the most amazing thing that I found endearing about the people of London is the fact that they all carry newspapers. It was like a journalist’s dream come true, at least in 2005 any way. Londoners valued their print back then and I’m hoping that fact stays more or less true this time around.

Perhaps the most amazing part of my trip was Portobello Market, an outdoor swap meet with treasures you wouldn’t find anywhere in the U.S. That’s not to say that we don’t have great swap meets too, in fact some of the best are located right here in L.A., but the atmosphere of Portobello is something else!

Places to go:

• A Clockwork Orange screening – British Film Institute
• Darwin Big Idea Big Exhibition – Natural History Museum
• St. Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade – Trafalgar Square
• Shah Abbas, The Remaking of Iran – British Museum
• Sing-a-Long-a Sound of Music – Prince Charles Cinema
• The Art of the Poster – London Transport Museum
• London Word Festival – Stock Newington International Airport

Places to eat:

• Hakkasan – Soho
• Wolseley – Piccadilly
• Sagar – Tottenham Court Road
• Food for Thought
• Saf Restaurant & Bar
• Lola Rojo - Fulham

Places to shop:

• Fortnum and Mason
• Beyond Retro
• Muswell Hill Bookshop
• Lollipop
• Primark

Since London is such a hop, skip and a jump away from France, I hope we find time to spend a day in Paris. If that happens, rest assured I will be going to the Cafe de Deux Moulins from my favorite film of all time, Amelie. Vive le France!