London Summer Season officially begins in May, with the Chelsea Flower Show, the world’s most famous and prestigious annual horticultural event, held by the Royal Horticultural Society at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London. The five-day spring event features avant-garde show gardens, the Great Floral Pavilion, and innovative floral designs. Many passionate gardeners include a week of garden visits: Sissinghurst Castle Garden & Lullingstone Castle; tours offer a wealth of inspirational ideas on design, innovation, and cultivation techniques. I spent a few days touring gardens in the Cotswold’s, including King Charles III’s most famous personal garden at Highgrove House. The Highgrove gardens are open to the public for guided tours, events, and workshops between April and October.

We have quite a few summer and fall travelers popping across the pond. I recently visited and am returning for a Black-Tie Wedding for one of my dearest VIP clients – can’t wait!

The London Social Season originated in the 17th and 18th centuries as a way for the British aristocracy to gather in the capital during Parliament sessions. Evolving into a highly organized “marriage market” and political hub, the tradition featured lavish balls and royal presentations.

The Royal Timetable: The Season’s schedule was dictated by the Royal Court’s residence in London and the sitting of Parliament. The Exodus: Aristocratic families, who spent most of the year at their rural country estates, migrated to their London townhouses for a whirlwind of political and social activity.

Queen Charlotte’s Ball: Initiated in 1780 by King George III in honor of his wife, Queen Charlotte’s Birthday Ball became the unofficial anchor of the Season.

Current summer events include Royal Ascot Race, the Royal Trooping of the Color, Wimbledon, the Henley Regatta and the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the premier large-scale automotive event outside London, held annually in late June or early July at the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex.

We, of course, can offer exclusive museum visits. Private and exclusive visits provide a unique opportunity to delve into the heart of London’s cultural treasures, away from the bustling crowds. These special access cultural experiences in London redefine the traditional tourist experience, providing a rare and memorable insight into the city’s rich tapestry of art, history, and architecture.

A few exclusives: Out of Hours Museum & Gallery Tours. Early morning private tour of the British Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, Tate Modern experience. After-hours private tour of the Queens Gallery. Early morning private tour of the Household Cavalry Museum, private Frameless Immersive Art Experience. After-hours private tour of Leighton House Museum. Out-of-hours private tour of Sir John Soane Museum. Early morning private tour of the Wallace Collection.. Private Tour of Windsor Castle Royal Library. Windsor Great Park Carriage Ride. Out-of-hours private tour of the Tower of London. Out-of-hours tour of the Churchill War Rooms. Exclusive private visit to Syon Park stately home. Private Stay at Holkham Hall. Ring me for full private collection!

I recently enjoyed a London theatrical event starring Ralph Fiennes, swoon! He could paint a wall, and I would be happy to pay to watch his artistic flourishes! Grace Pervades with Ralph and Miranda Raison Theatre Royale until July 11.

Best seats are the Stalls, purchase tickets directly from the theatre. Many theatres offer a food and drink menu, with snacks and sweets including Champers delivered to your seat to be enjoyed pre-theatre. Guide to summer Theatre. September 21 open date: Billy Crudup and Gillian Anderson in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf? Edward Albee’s intense and powerful! play with mega stars! The Lives of Others with Kiera Knightly, opens in October.

Museums – new exhibitions in art, architecture and design. Our advice – pre-purchase timed entrance to the exhibit or join as a member. Friends in London have mentioned school kids, rain and lines of tourists – it’s summer in London, pre-purchase tickets on line, very easy!

One of my favorite museums, the V&A presents: Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art “For me, dress designing is not a profession but an art.” – Elsa Schiaparelli
The UK’s first exhibition on Elsa Schiaparelli spans the 1920s to today, celebrating the innovative designer’s influence. It traces the fashion house’s groundbreaking origins and its evolution under current creative director Daniel Roseberry. I have timed tickets, the best way to visit in summer! Closes 8 November 2026.

James McNeil Whitsler – If you’re in London before 27 September 2026, be sure to stop by the Tate  to “experience the captivating world of rule-breaking American artist James McNeill Whistler”. This retrospective – the first major European exhibition of Whistler’s work in 30 years – brings together the artist’s world-famous paintings alongside rarely, or never seen, works. It includes exquisite portraits, drawings, prints, and designs, from as early as his teens in St. Petersburg to the enigmatic late self-portraits.

Also in London is the new exhibition, Winston Churchill: The Painter, at The Wallace Collection through 29 November 2026. Sir Winston Churchill was one of the great statesmen of the twentieth century. He was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War, and a Member of Parliament for 62 years. He was also a passionate and prolific painter. In painting, he found respite from public pressures, and a lifelong source of joy. The first major retrospective of Sir Winston Churchill’s paintings since his death, this exhibition brings together more than 50 of his works. More than half are from private collections, rarely accessible to the public.

Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style” at Buckingham Palace. With more than 300 garments and accessories on display in the Kings Gallery the show is the largest exhibition of the late Queen’s belongings ever held, and a celebration of her elegance, as well as a trip through decades of British history. Closes April 18, 2027.

The extraordinary story of how Frida Kahlo became one of the most influential artists of all time, a cultural phenomenon, and an internationally recognized commercial icon. Tate Modern: The Making of an Icon . The exhibit will showcase over 30 of Kahlo’s most iconic works that introduce her ‘many selves’ – the dedicated wife, the intellectual, the modern artist, and the political activist. Alongside treasured garments, jewelry, photographs and memorabilia, there are over 200 works by her contemporaries and the artists she inspired from later generations, celebrating her lasting impact on those who continue to reimagine and reclaim her remarkable story. The show culminates by exploring ‘Fridamania’. Kahlo’s transformation into a global brand will feature more than 200 commercial objects that encompass her art, image, style and persona. Added bonus a Tasting Lunch or dinner can be reserved as well! June 25 to January 3, 2027.

Shop: Egg The clothes made by egg are simple, playful and beautiful. In two collections a year, it is a process of research and design. Inspiration may come from a photograph, a book, or workwear, such as the white uniform of a Rajasthani milkman or a French gardener’s jacket. The collections evolve through the seasons. In winter, the cloth is thicker and warmth is added with layers and silks and cashmere. In spring and summer, cotton, linen and fine silks arrive.  London Store 36 Kinnerton Street, London, SW1X 8ES, UK

Alex Eagle Studio – fashion brand, partners with one of the pair behind Eagle + Hodges, the interior designers of the new St. Clement Hotel. Site inspection scheduled! High-end lifestyle store offering contemporary fashion, skincare treatments, art & home decor. 6-10 Lexington St, London

Liberty London- Tudor-revival building filled with high-end fashion and luxury homeware, with its own fabric line. Regent St., Carnaby. Pop Up Marrakech Edit fourth floor of Moroccan design. Artisanal Ceramics: A selection of hand-painted, contemporary pottery and glassware, including the exclusive LRNCE ceramics collection Handcrafted Cement Tiles: Authentic, patterned floor and wall tiles handmade in Fez, preserving traditional Moroccan craftsmanship Textiles & Rugs: Woven cushions, Berber Hanbal blankets, and fabrics inspired by Morocco’s rich architectural and woven design heritage

Lock & Co. on James Street. London’s oldest hat shop, I always pop in for a visit! Men’s and Ladies millinery… they ship those huge hat boxes! A long list of distinguished patrons: Oscar Wilde, Churchill and current royals. It’s a treasure chest.

Métier 59 S Audley St, London Travel Inspired Luxury leather goods for men & women.  handmade leather bags and accessories, handcrafted in Italy and designed for travel. Located in the heart of Mayfair, the London flagship offers a special setting in which to explore our collections. The interior is inspired by the virtues of nautical design, particularly the streamlined elegance of vintage Riva boats. Making thoughtful use of the jewel box-like space, display compartments are fashioned in teak against walnut walls and accents of deep cherry-red buffalo leather express the Métier aesthetic. In the back, with the ambience of an old-world salon, is a green-marble bar where guests are invited to join us for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.”

Hard to find eyeglasses and sunglasses: Jacques Marie Mage 20 Chiltern St, London W1U 7QD, United Kingdom. Chiltern-London Gallery Jacques Marie Mage (JMM) proudly announces the opening of its first JMM Gallery in England, located on the historic Chiltern Street in the Marylebone neighborhood of London. 

Dining: If you haven’t read Jeremy King’s memoir, Without Reservation: Lessons From a Life in Restaurants, pack it for your flight and make a reservation at his reopening of Simpsons in the Strand, on the ground floor of The Savoy Hotel, a five-star luxury property on the River Thames- I will be staying at the Savoy in a few weeks! The Savoy opened in 1889, it is an iconic Art Deco destination celebrated for its impeccable butler service, legendary afternoon tea, and historic ties to prominent figures like Winston Churchill, Claude Monet, and Marilyn Monroe.

Jeremy King is genius behind The Ivy, The Wolsey – iconic London restaurants- I’ll never forget the delicious Gulls Eggs with celery salt, mustard and mayonnaise at Le Caprice. Try their delicious recipe!

Site inspection at the soft opening of the new St. Clement Hotel and its’ Café Clement which will offer a brasserie menu. Indoor and outdoor seating, Chef Danny Bohan, former chef of The River Café.

Golden Hour sunset sanctuary with hand crafted cocktails! Sabine London St. Paul’s is perched atop the Leonardo Royal Hotel London St Paul’s, rooftop dining with a historic view: I would have never sought out an al fresco restaurant in London, let alone a rooftop, with an iconic view of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Sabine on Godliman Street is accessible from ground level via elevator and features a great view of St Paul’s Cathedral. So obscure, my Black Cab driver waited until I gave him the thumbs up sign, we were in the right place! Enjoy expertly crafted cocktails, yummy sharable dining, lively music and stunning city views in the heart of London.

If you aren’t using our VIP expert and fun private drivers in London, only the best..try the Black Cab app Jump – which was terrific for instant Black Cab’s in minutes! Did you know the drivers must pass a notoriously difficult ‘The Knowledge of London’ exam? Memorizing over 25,000 streets and 20,000 landmarks within a six-mile radius of Charring Cross.

London – a cast of characters and so many stories, still to be told!

Highly Recommend!