Leave the manic of main London and instead spend your day meandering the hidden gem that is Connaught Village. We’ve got the scope on what to see, do and where to eat…
In the midst of this vast metropolis we call home is a village. Connaught Village to be precise. Whilst the recent boom of inner-city (self-titled) villages have come about as a result of gentrification Connaught Village has always existed on its own terms in many incarnations.
Tucked snugly between Marble Arch, Lancaster Gate and Paddington underground stations the Village has all the essentials which serve a small community. Connaught House School provides academic grounding for children of four to 11 years of age. Wallers Newsagents sells international news and even delivers to local homes. St. John’s Hyde Park, a Church of England parish, is the heart of the community. It is an inclusive family church.
I visited Connaught Village recently to experience its magic. My first stop was Bombay Palace Indian Restaurant; a long-standing pillar of the Village since the 1970s which overlooks a quiet Georgian street. Inside, the plush interior of velvety textures and amber hues offer a warm and relaxed ambience perfect for dining. The vegetarian starter plate of savoury dumplings and filled lentil shells served with mint and tamarind chutney was a delight. The alternative meat starter plate consisted of grilled lamb, chunks of juicy chicken and grilled prawn. All of it was utterly delicious.
The menu at Bombay Palace carried me on journey around India and I was more than happy to be drifted away. For a main dish I chose the Goan lamb curry with paratha. This combination was my absolute stand out of the meal. Flavours of tamarind, coconut and jaggery oozed from the dish and I can still taste it as I write this review. It has remained unforgettable.
I opted for the classic Indian sweet gulab jamun for dessert and congratulated myself on a good choice. The syrup was just the right amount of sweetness and melted on my tongue. Bombay Palace also has an extensive wine, cocktail and spirits menu which is perfect for sharing with friends.
The second stop on my visit was Fé Hair and Beauty just two minutes’ walk from the restaurant. This salon has made a conscious choice to move towards more sustainably sourced and manufactured products for all of its therapies and treatments.
A colour application with mini manicure was fabulous and a week later is still intact. You can also opt for their signature Japanese manicure and pedicure. The treatments use beeswax, ylang ylang, red tea and seaweed. The ingredients penetrate deep in to the nail bed promoting healthy nails. I have made a mental note to return for both.
Lucky me that I was also booked in for a wash and blow dry of my rather dull and lifeless hair which transformed in to a luscious, full-bodied mane in the hands of the stylist at Fé Hair and Beauty. All the products used had been sourced for their lower impact on the environment; a thing that is becoming increasingly important to me.
I was informed that the salon enjoys a loyal customer base who travel a long way to arrive at Connaught Village for their favourite hair and beauty regimen. I could see why. Samira and her team are friendly, warm and welcoming. After 17 years of being in the Village Fé Hair and Beauty have mastered the art of wellness and beauty.
Before heading back to the chaos and noise of Marble Arch I walked around Connaught Village to experience the composed cool feeling of it a little longer. Children played, passers-by nodded in greeting and it was as if time had stopped. Shop windows of luxury goods, artisan food, art galleries lent a chocolate box feeling to the air. The mix of pastel-coloured houses, Georgian and 60’s architecture made the neighbourhood an epitome of then and now. The true test of a beautiful place is if one would go back. Would I return to Connaught Village? In a heartbeat.
https://www.connaught-village.co.uk/
