citylikeyou — Chelsea Physic Garden — London by Louisa Bailey

London / Museum

A walled secret garden, the Physic Garden is like a time capsule, founded in 1673 to allow apprentices of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London to study the healing properties of plants, it is now a living museum. Tours are offered by volunteers with immense knowledge of botany and the cultural history of the garden or visitors can wander the grounds alone and spot odd and fascinating plants such as the mystical Mandrake.

Website
chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk

Address
Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, London, United Kingdom

Creative Director

Current city: London

luminousbooks.co.uk

Louisa is the founder of Luminous Books in East London, an artist curated bookshop specializing in second hand fiction, philosophy, art and curiosities. Luminous also stocks a range of artists’ books, limited run zines and hosts regular literary events, combining music, films and readings alongside pop up projects throughout the city and two Luminous collections at the ICA Bookshop SW1 and Andor Bureau E8. Louisa studied Fine Art Sculpture at Brighton University before moving to London working in both new and antiquarian bookshops including Foyles and as Book Buyer for the ICA Bookshop. Luminous is a specialized bookshop full of personal preoccupations, a love of the object of the book, printed matter and of visual thinking.

More Places in London 471

London / Pub

It's really close to my house and one of my favourite pubs in London! (I even went before it was close to where I lived!) It is London's first cooperatively owned pubs and has lovely events and workshops, exercise classes and great parties, and good beer! It's lovely in the beer garden in the hot summer and equally great in the winter, next to a real fire.

London / River

The Thames is not traditionally the prettiest river but it has its moments. Here it is turning pink in a sunset this summer. Its the reason the city is here and I like how in moments of real importance it rises to the occasion. For the golden Jubilee the queen floated down it with hundreds of boats, it was an amazing sight, like vikings setting out for battle. Good river spots - North Bank Savoy Gardens, Royal Festival Hall.

London / Shop

Home to all the toys you'd probably forgotten about.

London / Gallery

Although off the beaten track from the large national galleries, 198 is no less an important part of London’s artistic heritage. Developed during the social unrest in the Brixton area in the 1980s, 198 has grown from a community arts space into an exciting contemporary visual arts body that is often the first place to see the next rising star of the London art scene.

London / Museum

A wonderful collection of printed material organised chronologically throughout the space. Examples of old newspapers and other printed material give context and meaning for the visual styles.