If a tree falls in the woods, does it make a sound? If I drink a red velvet latte and don’t Instagram it, was there any point? In an aesthetically obsessed age, it’s practically a cardinal sin not to capture that perfectly sculpted latte art in that trendy backstreet coffee house. London’s coffee scene is evolving rapidly so we’ve compiled a list of the insta-perfect filter coffee houses to embellish your newsfeed.

Corals, £

Instagram and neighborhood favourite, Lerryn’s, recently underwent a makeover. But fear not, owner Lerryn has opened a new cafe, and it’s just as delightful. Corals lives up to its name; the  shop front is painted just the right shade of peach and is paired with a minimalist concrete interior that keeps it from becoming a Pepto Bismal headache. Lerryn’s objective was to create a welcoming atmosphere in a stylish space; Corals has got this spot on and achieved that rare balance of ‘edginess’ in a friendly and welcoming environment.

Lerryn has partnered with Sean, the eponymous mixologist of Sean’s Bar, so the cocktails are as photogenic as the interiors. Our top tip? Coordinate your drink with the bar and choose the signature pink gin cocktail.

Corals, 200 Rye Lane, Peckham, London SE15

@coralslondon

www.coralslondon.com

B&H Buildings, £££

Brunching at The Bourne and Hollingsworth Building Restaurant (B&H for those in a rush) is like eating your eggs benedict in Anna Wintour’s greenhouse. The white wash walls and tables are the perfect backdrop for the palm print chairs and leafy potted plants that fill the space.

The interior has a hint of English Heritage, but with tongue-in-cheek titled events including ‘The Chap Olympiad’ and ‘The Tweed Run’ it is the opposite of stuffy. If you need any more persuading, we’ve heard Instagram queens Alexa Chung and Pandora Sykes are fans.

The Bourne and Hollingsworth Building Restaurant, 42 Northampton Rd, London EC1R 0HU

@bourneandhollingsworth

www.bandhbuildings.com

Brockwell Lido Cafe, ££

Most of London’s Lidos have wonderful cafes. But for me, Brockwell’s The Lido café wins hands down. It’s tasteful yet playful interiors, terrace that overlooks the Olympic sized pool and Art Deco Grade II listed building make it a cute and quirky spot for a Sunday morning coffee.

The food on offer is a far cry from the chip cones of my swimming pool youth. The salads are a riot of colour that will cheer up any social media feed, but for me it’s the seafood and fish dishes (appropriately) that I really want to dive into (excuse the pun).

The Lido Cafe, Dulwich Rd, London SE24 0PA

@thelidocafe

www.thelidocafe.co.uk

The Attendant, £

It’s never good to take oneself too seriously. The Attendant offers the perfect antidote to this, with dining spaces nestled between urinals in this former Victorian public bathroom. Before you run for the scrubbing brush and marigolds, the entire place has been jet washed and is totally hygienic.

Coffee is from The Canavan Roastery, and the menu offers exotic twists on classic brunch dishes. It’s the little details, like edible pansies thrown over passion fruit French toast, that have us

feeling flushed.

The Attendant, 27a Foley Street, London W1W 6DY

@attendant_uk

www.the-attendant.com

sketch, ££££

sketch is the most Instagrammed location in London, and it’s not hard to see why. Pierre Gagnaire’s venue is intriguing and beautiful, with a healthy dash of humour. It’s this comedy, brought to the fore after a redesign from Turner Prize winner Martin Creed, that sets sketch apart.

Each room has been designed by a different person. India Mahdavi’s Wes Anderson style classic pink Gallery plays host to David Shrigley’s cheeky illustrations. The Lecture Room, designed by Gahban O’Keeffe, is a Missoni-style seventies dream. The red and black Parlour has the air of an after hours Soho drinking den. Eating in The Glade is like having a meal in a fairy tale forest. Don’t even get me started on the egg shaped toilet pods.

sketch, 9 Conduit St, London W1S 2XG

@sketchlondon

www.sketch.london

Palm Vaults, £

Walking into Palm Vaults is a little like walking into an Instagram virtual reality. Green leaves and baby pink flowers bedeck the walls, transporting you from Hackney on a rainy day to a dreamy LA sunrise. Even better, there’s a mini shop selling homeware, plants, prints and clothes, so you can take a piece of the prettiness home.

But it’s not just the cute decor at Palm Vaults that we love – the food and drink are also a delight. Delectable cakes on vintage crockery, flower strewn breakfast bowls, and their famous pink and green red velvet and matcha lattes will guarantee you some insta likes.

Palm Vaults, 411 Mare St, London E8 1HY

@palmvaults

www.palmvaults.com

Kape Barako, £

Kape Barako opened earlier this year, and is one of the most ‘London-y’ examples on our list. Married owners Umar Khalid and Alona Guerra have revived a London icon by opening a teeny tiny in a red telephone box. This TARDIS like stall sells pastries as well as coffee and is eminently photographable.

Kape Barako, 25 Hampstead High Street, NW3 1QJ

@KapeBarako2016

Did we miss your favourite? Let us know in the comments. And keep your eyes peeled for the New York partner piece!

Edited by Florence Walsh

The post Insta-Perfect Filter Coffee Houses in London appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.

Dulwich’s affiliation with street art began in 2012 when artist Stik collaborated with Ingrid Beazley of the Dulwich Picture Gallery to make modern reinterpretations of old artworks. Other artists joined to create the Street Art, Fine Art: Dulwich Outdoor Gallery. You can follow the trail of over 30 outdoor works, from 21 international artists. In 2013 an entire vacant house was taken over by street artists to create an urban wonderland of surprise and discovery.

This summer, the Dulwich Outdoor Gallery Indoors launched. Just a single room, it can really be considered as the gift shop for the Outdoor Gallery trail. But what a gift shop! Kristjana S Williams’ fine illustrations of animals layered over London maps sit alongside Ben Wilson’s chewing gum on brick pieces. Joyce Treasure’s thought provoking afrocentric works on cultural identity are opposite Thierry Noir’s iconic bright heads.

The gallery is a celebration of this often maligned art form. It is well worth following the outdoor trail and visiting the indoor gallery to see just how far street art has progressed in the public’s mind. Dulwich has become an area that not only permits street art, it positively glows with it.

You can find it here: 84 Dulwich Village, SE21 7AJ

Contact them: iab@streetartdulwich.org.uk / 020 8693 6520

Like them on Social Media: www.facebook.com/DulwichOutdoorGallery

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Highgate Cemetery

The most famous of the seven, Highgate Cemetery is a labyrinth of crumbling beauty. From imposing mausoleums to dishevelled, ivy-clad angel statues, it has the air of a hidden fantasy world. Be sure to visit the famous residents (many with fittingly outlandish headstones) including Karl Marx, George Eliot, Patrick Caulfield, Malcolm McClaren and Douglas Adams.

Events: On the 1st of November they open late for a beautiful candle lighting cemetery in honour of All Saints Day.

Opening Times: Mon-Fri: 10am-5pm, Weekends: 11am-5pm

Entrance Fee: £12 for East and West Cemetery Tour, £4 for East Cemetery

Closest Station: Archway

www.highgatecemetery.org

Abney Park Cemetery

An overgrown jumble of gravestones, nature and modern fencing, Abney Park is just the right side of decaying beauty. This Hackney cemetery became the resting place for many of London’s religious nonconformists, and has at its heart Europe’s oldest non-denominational chapel. With a surprise around every corner, Abney Park is perfect for explorers.

Events: Fear In The Dark, a Hallowe’en anthology show adapted from stories by Edgar Allan Poe, HP Lovecraft, Sheridan Le Fanu and MR James. 20-23 and 26-31 Oct, 7pm & 8.30pm.

Opening Times: 8am-7pm

Entrance Fee: Free

Closest Station: Stoke Newington

www.abneypark.org

Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park

More nature reserve than cemetery, Tower Hamlets is a colourful addition to the seven. To add extra magic, download one of these specially written audio walks: www.abneyrambles.com.

Opening Times: Dawn-dusk

Entrance Fee: Free

Closest Station: Mile End/Bow Road

www.fothcp.org

Kensal Green Cemetery

A more formal, manicured cemetery, inspired by Paris’ famous Père Lachaise. Kensal Green’s gothic atmosphere has provided the backdrop for a number of horror films, and also makes it the perfect Hallowe’en trip.

Opening Times: Mon-Sat: 9am-5pm, Sun: 10am-5pm

Entrance Fee: Free

Closest Station: Kensal Green/Ladbroke Grove

www.kensalgreencemetery.com

Brompton Cemetery

Owned by the Crown, this regal cemetery has stunning architecture at its heart. Famous residents include Emmeline Pankhurst, John Jackson and Blanche Roosevelt Macchetta. To add some fun to your visit, play a game of Beatrix potter bingo – many of her character names can be found on the tombstones, including Peter Rabbett, Mr Nutkins and Mr McGregor.

Events: To check the website for latest, click here or follow the link: www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/brompton-cemetery

Opening Times: Dawn – dusk

Entrance Fee: Free

Closest Station: West Brompton

Nunhead Cemetery

One of the lesser known of the seven, Nunhead is well worth a visit for winding romantic lanes and a beautiful view over London. Over 1,000 angels are hiding amongst the foliage.

Opening Times: Dawn – dusk

Entrance Fee: Free

Closest Station: Nunhead

www.fonc.org.uk

West Norwood Cemetery

West Norwood suffered heavily from bombing during World War II and when Lambeth Council (illegally) cleared many of the old monuments for new ones. A little more like a modern lawn cemetery than the other six, it is still a delightful place to visit. The fairly ordered gardens give way to hints of wilderness here and there, with flowers adding spots of colour to the green.

Opening Times: Dawn – dusk

Entrance Fee: Free

Closest Station: West Norwood

www.fownc.org

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