{"id":29077,"date":"2021-07-09T11:46:51","date_gmt":"2021-07-09T01:46:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/?post_type=articles&p=196830"},"modified":"2025-10-14T15:07:37","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T15:07:37","slug":"at-home-city-guide-london-england","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/at-home-city-guide-london-england\/","title":{"rendered":"GRAZIA Travel Guide: London \u2014 GRAZIA’s At Home City Guide To London"},"content":{"rendered":"

The past year has seen many people across the world grapple with a very specific type of loss; the sadness of a trip not taken, and the yearning for experiences beyond the anomie of the supermarket. As that strong desire for, and impulse to, wander the world fell victim to the pandemic in a turbulent 2020, we seemed at one point to be surging toward an anticipatory dystopia. Who were we without travel? What do we have to look forward to when there is no international vacation booked for the summer?<\/em><\/p>\n

Over the course of the past 12 months, we\u2019ve been commissioning artists, painters and illustrators from different cities all over the world to paint a picture of what they see out their windows \u2013 either real or imaginary. Most artists have been confined to these cities during the global lockdowns, and all have a close connection to the place they have illustrated. <\/em><\/p>\n

Each artist has a \u201cGRAZIA At Home City Guide\u201d perched on their window sill, insider guides to the cities you need to visit when the world re-opens. Each artist recalls moments past in these nooks of the world; how they drank in the palaces, how they wandered through the parks, and how they ate and ate and ate. There\u2019s recommendations too \u2013 local dishes, phrases and lessons \u2013 so you can start imagining your own itinerary from the comfort of your own home. Today, we\u2019re headed to London in England.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cLondon is a vibrant, energetic city,\u201d says illustrator Allan Deas<\/a>. \u201cA city of contrasts, it is modern and yet is steeped in history. London is so much more than the picture-perfect palaces, union jacks, and red buses you see on postcards.\u201d<\/p>\n

Working in the design industry as an illustrator and designer for over two decades, Deas \u2013 a Scotsman who currently resides in Barcelona \u2013 called London home for more than 15 years. At the beginning of his career, Deas took a job in fashion and trend research in a well-known department store before spending several years working in the printing and graphics field for big brands. A short stint in Paris meant that when the illustrator returned to London, he saw the city with fresh eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cLondon has something for everyone; world class museums, restaurants, bars, nightlife, shopping, an abundance of parks \u2013 it\u2019s a melting pot of cultures and an inspiring and buzzy world capital,\u201d he says. \u201cIt really does hold a special place in my heart and is a city I want to return to, not just to see my friends but to be inspired again.\u201d<\/p>\n

That busyness is captured above in Deas\u2019 original window scene; a retro albeit contemporary take on the bold and charming characters and humor one might find on the city\u2019s streets. While music, art, old posters, vintage packaging and stamps can inspire and inform Deas\u2019 work, it\u2019s his use of bright colors which inject life into the sketches.<\/p>\n

\u201cColor sometimes comes midway and is almost always changed several times until I\u2019m 100% happy,\u201d says Deas. \u201cI wanted to capture the feel of a typical weekend walking around the streets & sights of London; the color and pattern of the market stalls with their vivid fruits & flowers, the quaint old English pubs and landmarks, and the river in the background.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce I create my elements separately \u2013 whether they be figures, buildings or animals \u2013 I collage them together digitally to enrich the composition,\u201d he continues. \u201cIt\u2019s a way I\u2019ve been working for many years and gives me much more freedom to move things about & make changes as required.\u201d<\/p>\n

For those making travel plans to London, Deas recommends beginning your morning with a walk around the trendy neighbourhood of Borough Market before working your way down Columbia Road to Shoreditch and Redchurch Street. \u201cStop off at the hipster shops and cafes \u2013 and if it\u2019s a Sunday, Colombia Road also has a fabulous flower Market,\u201d says Deas.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for a restaurant in Shoreditch for lunch, try Andina<\/a>, \u201ca Peruvian spot with great Pisco sours.\u201d \u201cDuring the afternoon, walk along the river from London Bridge towards the London Eye, stopping off to take in the sights of Shakespeare\u2019s Globe theatre and the Golden Hinde sailing ship,\u201d says Deas.<\/p>\n

Come nighttime, do drinks around Covent Garden or Soho \u2013 \u201cit\u2019s always buzzing with plenty options\u201d \u2013 before a late night drink at Ronnie Scott\u2019s Jazz club<\/a>. \u201cRonnie\u2019s is a relaxed, 50s speakeasy-style bar serving classic cocktails til the wee hours.\u201d (Editor\u2019s note: times are currently restricted due to COVID, and masks are mandatory.)<\/em><\/p>\n

Deas has been in lockdown in Barcelona and when he\u2019s not sketching on his iPad, he taps into London\u2019s culture through online screenings of theatre shows and gigs. He regularly calls his London-based friends via Zoom to stay in touch.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes I imagine I\u2019m working in the illustrations department on a film, and that helps with the narrative,\u201d says Deas. \u201cI suppose even though the majority of my work is static, it still has an animated quality. I\u2019d love to work with animators to bring it to life one day.\u201d<\/p>\n

“One day” is an overused term at the moment, isn’t it? One day this window will be reality again. In the interim, you can capture a piece of London by adding a few things to your living room. See Deas’ edit below.<\/p>\n

Follow Allan Deas @allandeas_illustration<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Capture The City\u2019s Scent<\/h5>\n

\u201cIf I had to bottle the city\u2019s scent, it would be a mix of old books, new books, leather and gin!\u201d says Deas. \u201cA bit of tobacco smoke and wood. This candle is spot on.\u201d This Earl of East candle markets itself as \u201ca luxurious blend of leather, tobacco leaf and amber [to] create a feeling of being in an opulent wood panelled room of a Victorian town house.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"London\"Earl Of East Soy Wax Candle, 170mL, \u00a320 SHOP NOW<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Buy A Fancy Teapot<\/h5>\n

\u201cI guess the teapot is an iconic London item, or a full matching tea set. I like this Tom Dixon one. It has an art deco vibe,\u201d says Deas.<\/p>\n

\"London\"Tom Dixon Form Teapot, \u00a3185, SHOP NOW<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Drink the cocktail<\/h5>\n

While you can\u2019t head to Nightjar in Old Street<\/a> (one of Deas\u2019 favorites), in his opinion gin is the quintessential drink of choice for Londoners. Try this recipe.<\/p>\n

\"London\"\u00a0<\/span><\/em>Cucumber Elderflower Gimlet, Cookie + Kate, SEE RECIPE<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Follow Allan Deas @allandeas_illustration<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29807,"featured_media":29078,"template":"","format":"standard","categories":[38,16],"yoast_head":"\nGRAZIA's At Home City Guide To London, England<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In a new series, GRAZIA commissions artists from all over the world to illustrate the cities they see outside their window \u2013 and reimagine them in their post-pandemic glory. 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