Cottagecore In London: How To Have The Perfect Day Out
Cottagecore is an aesthetic that revolves around the countryside, slow living and quaint antiquity. So, what place can it possibly have in modern-day, bustling, metropolitan London? Well, I’m here to tell you, it is totally possible to have a cottagecore in London day out, even if you don’t live in a charming English cottage or cottagecore house interior!
Unbeknownst to many, there are lots of places tucked away in the UK capital that perfectly suit the cottagecore aesthetic. From enchanted forest gardens to whimsical tearooms to antique stores full of vintage posters and rustic homeware, there is plenty to get up to that suits this nature-inspired aesthetic.
Here are the top things to do to explore cottagecore in London, whether you’re looking for a cottagecore home, cottagecore cottage, or just a taste of the cottagecore restaurant and coffee shop aesthetic.
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Visit A City Farm
Did you know that you don’t have to head out into the woodland countryside to visit a farmhouse? It comes as a surprise to many, but there are actually a number of city farms in London that you can visit. They make sure to give visitors a space to come into contact with and learn about animals, their welfare and green spaces in general, in a sustainable way.
Here are the top city farms in London that you can visit:
Spitalfields City Farm
Located in Tower Hamlets, Spitalfields is one of the most popular city farms in London. They take care of a variety of farm animals, including sheep, goats, chickens, pigs and donkeys. They also offer a lot of educational activities for visitors to get involved with, making it a great homey and rustic experience.
Stepney City Farm
Also located in Tower Hamlets, this farm takes care of a number of farm animals that you can interact with. Not only that, but this city farm holds educational facilities to learn how to grow your own food, as well as opportunities to try out various handcrafted arts and crafts facilities.
Vauxhall City Farm
Vauxhall City Farm in Lambeth aims to make animal education accessible to all, meaning that entry is by donation. Here they have sheep, goats and chickens alongside more unusual animals such as turkeys and alpacas. They also have a number of small animals, such as rabbits and guinea pigs, that you are able to get up close and personal with, making it a cozy experience.
Hackney City Farm
Hackney City Farm is also home to a number of farm animals you can visit. Here, they also offer workshops for learning about animal care, as well as opportunities to explore handmade activities such as pottery and woodworking on the farm.
Surrey Docks Farm
Surrey Docks farm is free for visitors and has a very wide selection of animals, including sheep, cows, pigs, donkeys, ponies, bees and a number of small animals. You are able to get close and personal with goats, ponies and ferrets. There are also opportunities to volunteer as a bottle feeder for newborn lambs, making it a very rustic experience.
Visit Some Gorgeous Cottagecore Gardens
London is also home to some gorgeous cottagecore style gardens. The best time to visit these for the best experience is in the springtime, when all the floral blooms are out, and you can wander around in the warmth of the springtime sun. However, autumn is also a lovely time to visit, when the leaves turn golden, and you can spot toadstools and other mushroom decor amongst the fallen leaves.
Here are some of the top gardens you can visit in London:
Kew Gardens
One of the most famous gardens in the world is Kew Gardens, and for good reason. These impressive botanical gardens are enormous, sprawling and impressive. With a wide range of outside gardens and inside greenhouses, these gardens offer the chance to walk amongst plantlife from all over the world, making it feel like an enchanted forest. If you’re heading to one garden in London, it must be this one.
Kensington Palace Gardens
Not only do you get to enjoy the impressive royal interiors when you book a trip to Kensington Palace, but they are also known for their beautiful manicured gardens. With legitimately royal standards, these beautiful classic gardens are sure to make you feel like a cottagecore princess as you wander among the floral displays and spot toadstools in the grass.
RHS Garden Wisley
If you’re willing to take a small step outside London to Surry, you will be able to explore the stunning RHS Garden Wisley. These gardens are full of beautiful flowers such as wisteria, roses and sunflowers. There also lots of beautiful lakes for you to wander around, as well as a stunning greenhouse to explore, making it feel like a fairy tale setting.
Head To A Cute Cafe For Afternoon Tea
There are absolutely tons of amazing places to head for afternoon tea in London, which perfectly capture the cottagecore restaurant and coffee shop aesthetic. This is one of the most cottagecore activities you can think of enjoying, and in London, you’re spoiled by choice. With tons of options around Soho, Covent Garden, and Chelsea, here are a couple of the best options you can book straight away.
Brigit’s Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
Want to combine afternoon tea and sightseeing? Take a London sightseeing tour on a classic red double-decker bus, and enjoy an adorable afternoon tea as you go. Complete with English tea and finger food such as fairy tale cakes and finger sandwiches, this is an adorable way to enjoy your afternoon tea.
Milestone Hotel Afternoon Tea
Do you want to go for a classic, sophisticated afternoon tea? At the Milestone Hotel, you can sit amongst the cosy old-timey decor to enjoy an adorable afternoon tea. With tea, scones, cakes and pastries, this is a sweet and traditional afternoon tea in a classic London 5-star hotel.
National Gallery Afternoon Tea
If you’re an art lover, this is the perfect afternoon tea experience for you. Arrive at the National Gallery – one of the top galleries in the UK. Enjoy a highlights tour and then enjoy a delicious afternoon tea. This experience allows you to immerse yourself in some of the most beautiful paintings ever created alongside a traditional afternoon tea experience.
Afternoon Tea At The Rubens At The Palace
Fancy adding a bit of extra class to your afternoon tea experience? Head to the gorgeously decorated Rubens At The Palace. This 5-star classic style hotel will provide a top-notch classic afternoon tea in some of the most beautiful settings in all of London.
Go Vintage or Antique Shopping
London is one of the best places to go for vintage and antique shopping. Antiques and vintage clothing are also synonymous with cottagecore. So, if you’re looking to experience cottagecore in London, then vintage and antique shopping is one of the top activities to do.
While there are wonderful vintage and secondhand shops throughout Kensington, Soho, and Camden, there are also some fantastic markets and streets you can head to for vintage shopping. Here are some of the best ones.
Portobello Vintage Market
Portobello Market is well known as one of the top spots for vintage and antique purchases. It can get very busy, but the unique and top-notch items on sale on the market day make it all worthwhile. Even if you head to this area at another time of year, there are tons of fantastic vintage clothing shops and charity shops for you to explore for fantastic secondhand finds.
Brick Lane Vintage Market
Brick Lane is known as one of the trendiest and most artsy areas of London. The vintage market is one of the top spots to find vintage clothing, and it has excelled in this area since the 1920s. It is also a great place to find vintage vinyl records. There are tons of quirky artistic stores in the area too, as well as some great bookstores, making this a great place for cottagecore in London explores to spend some time in.
Camden MARKET
One of the most famous and iconic markets in the whole city, Camden is well known for it’s unique and quirky buys. It is also home to some fantastic vintage stores, with loads of unique items for you to explore. Make sure to have a wander around the area to look at the charity shops and secondhand stores too. They often hold unique, trendy items for a great price!
Alfies aNTIQUE mARKET
Alfies Antique Market is renowned for having one of the widest collections of antique sellers in the city. You can find an enormous range of antiques at this indoor market, including art, furniture, ceramics, and clothing. If you want to explore a massive range of old-timey items, then this is heaven for you.
Go For A Bike Ride Through The Park
Going for a bike ride through the park is one of the most cottagecore activities you can do, and that doesn’t change when you get into the city of London. The city is home to a ton of wonderful parks for you to cycle through.
So, why not hire some bikes and take a cycle along the paths in Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park or Battersea Park? All have wonderful views, a relaxing atmosphere and great spaces for you to cycle through.
Alternatively, why not book a London City Bike Tour? This will take you through some of London’s beautiful green spaces, as well as to some sightseeing spots, and to a London pub for a refreshing drink.
Take A Day Trip To The Cotswolds
If you’re based in London but you want to get out of town for a little bit to immerse yourself in the cottagecore experience, one of the best things you can do is take a day trip to the Cotswolds.
I’ve often said the Cotswolds are the most cottagecore places in the entire world. They are a collection of quaint, antiquated villages with beautiful views, wonderful walks, and sweet independent shops.
If you want to take a day trip to London, you can purchase a round trip that includes transport, guided tours, entrance to the Broadway Tower – one of the most iconic locations in the Cotswolds, and afternoon tea.
Check Out Matthew Madden’s Cottagecore Day Out
Matthew Madden has made a lovely video showing his Cottagecore day out in London, proving you don’t need to leave the city to enjoy this aesthetic.
Concluding Cottagecore In London
As you can see, there are plenty of ways you can enjoy cottagecore in London, and things you can do to immerse yourself in this aesthetic.
Thank you so much for reading and I hope to see you back here again soon.
Ta-ta for now! x
