Behind The Counter- May

Welcome to Behind the Counter. Take a glimpse behind the scenes at Thistle & Bess to connect with people who inspire, hear the thoughtful stories behind the goods that I love and find out what is currently sparking joy in my life. I recently got back from a quick trip to London, which is one of my favorite cities. Pre-pandemic I would visit at least once a year to go on buying trips, but this was my first trip back in quite some time. Read more about my visit and learn about some of my favorite places in London below! 

My latest trip to London was planned around a specific event- The RHS Chelsea Flower Show. This event features innovative garden designs and stunning floral displays. If you have ever watched Monty Don's Gardener's World (an absolute favorite of mine), you know that this is the biggest gardening event of the year. My expectations were high and the show did not disappoint. We saw so many inspirational gardens, including Monty Don's own dog friendly garden. We even saw Monty himself! 

There is also an indoor pavilion that showcases endless varieties of flowers. Love roses? There are tons of displays highlighting different kinds of them, among so many other different kinds of flowers. This area of the show was so, so inspiring. I seriously don't think that I have ever taken so many photos at one time. If you are a gardener or a flower lover I HIGHLY recommend putting the Chelsea Flower Show on your list! Want to see the highlights of the show for yourself? Find Gardner's World on Amazon Prime to watch this year's highlights. I am even more excited to get my hands dirty and tend to my garden this year.

I couldn't visit London and NOT bring any antique jewelry back with me for the shop. I particularly love Georgian and Victorian Era jewelry and the selection of pieces available in the UK is simply incredible. Over the years I have built relationships with many antique jewelry dealers, so I love to visit them and then hopefully meet some new dealers to continue working with in the future. 

On this quick trip I didn't have a ton of time for antique shows, but I visited a couple tried and true places. 

-Grays Antiques in Mayfair is so much fun to visit. You won't find the best deals here, but there are some truly impressive pieces. It took everything in me to not buy a pair of mosaic flower bouquet earrings and an Elizabethan enamel swan signet ring for myself ($$$)! There are a few vendors here with decent prices though, and I found a lot of great lockets to bring back to the shop. 

-Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill is the best place to buy antiques in London and most of my favorite jewelry dealers set up here on Saturdays. The indoor galleries are where all of the good things are, so you can usually skip most of the outdoor stalls. Most vendors don't take credit cards, so bring cash. Go early (most galleries open at 6am) for the best stuff. I can't wait for you to see what I brought back to T&B! 

I am by no means an expert on London, but here are some of my favorite places to visit when I am there: 

-You must have a proper afternoon tea. I love the quirky galleries and delectable treats at Sketch. Looking for something a little more old-school? You can't beat tea at The Ritz. 

-Liberty London is a magical department store with so many inspiring indie brands. I find that I always learn about a cool new designer when I visit. I love perusing their jewelry and home goods departments. I actually first discovered shop favorite, Alex Monroe, at Liberty. Stop by one of Alex's shops while in London too! His boutiques are just as charming as his jewels. 

-Westminster Abbey is on most lists of tourists visiting London, but there is a hidden museum inside the Abbey that is one of my absolute favorite places to visit in London. Add the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries to your admission to visit this incredible space. It is housed up high in the triforium of the Abbey which was built in 1250. There are incredible views of both the inside and outside of the Abbey while up above. There are so many incredible artifacts housed in this museum, including the funeral effigies of monarchs. These wood, plaster and wax models based on the likeness of the monarchs were used in their actual funerals (so creepy and cool). There is also a ring that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth I, known as The Essex Ring, on display, along with other mind boggling artifacts. 
 

-For a traditional London experience, stop by Fortnum & Mason to pick up some treats to bring home to loved ones. I also love having dinner at the restaurant on the lower level, 45 Jermyn St. 

-I visited the Garden Museum on this last visit and it was really interesting. The museum explores the art, history and design of British gardens. While the museum itself is quite small, they had two really cool exhibits on at the moment- Cecil Beaton's Garden Party, designed by Luke Edward Hall, and an exhibit by our shop favorite Alex Monroe, titled "Into The Wild." It is worth seeing what is on display while you are visiting. 

-Visit Dishoom for delicious Indian food in a gorgeous setting. Expect for a wait at any of the locations. Each café has a different theme rooted in the history of Bombay, from a jazz club to a railway station. It almost feels like stepping on a movie set. 

-Visit your local neighborhood pub! While there is no shortage of fine dining in London, nothing compares to a night at your local pub. The crowd and culture of a pub is so charming. It appeals to all groups of people- young people, families and older folks alike. There is literally nothing quite like it in the states. My cousin lives in the charming Highgate Village neighborhood in North London and we spent a couple of cozy nights at her local pubs. The Red Lion & Sun was a fave.