Whether you live and work in the capital city or are just visiting for the weekend, discover our sustainable guide to our hometown – London.
At Eco-Age HQ we’re always on the lookout for new, exciting and sustainable things to do – and there are plenty of options right on our doorstep here in London.
However, if you don’t know where to look it can be easy to miss some of the sustainable gems that we have in the city, which is why we’ve decided to share some of our favourite sustainable restaurants, natural beauty shops, ethically-minded events and wellness hotspots with you, as well as a few insider tips for travelling in London.
Eating and Drinking
Farmer’s Markets
If you live in London (or are renting an Airbnb) and want to get your food shopping done as sustainably as possible, consider heading to your local farmer’s market this weekend. It’s the best way to get organic, seasonal, local and plastic-free produce that will make every dish much richer. Find your local farmer’s market and go armed with canvas bags, produce bags and tupperware.
Restaurants
For seasonal plant-based food that is free from dairy, refined sugars, additives and chemicals – but definitely not free from goodness – head to Notting Hill hotspot Farmacy. Waste and plastic are also kept to an absolute minimum. We HIGHLY recommend the vegan truffle mac ‘n cheese.
For more dining inspiration, see our top 10 sustainable restaurants in London.
Cocktail Bars
Grab a drink at one of London’s innovative cocktail bars with a sustainable ethos. For inventive cocktails that celebrate Great British produce and focus on a conscious sustainable operation, visit Scout – waste truly is a dirty word at this hip Hackney spot. If you’re near London bridge, head to awesome neighbourhood bar Nine Lives for cocktails made of herbs grown in the bar’s garden and locally-sourced spirits. Any leftovers are neutralised and composted while practically everything in the bar – from the bamboo straws to the repurposed sound system – is reclaimed or reusable.
Shopping
Content Beauty
Founded by Imelda Burke, author of The Nature of Beauty – a bible on organic skincare and botanical beauty rituals – Content Beauty is an online shop and boutique organic skincare store, which stocks niche natural and organic skincare brands. Located in the heart of Marylebone, this is a mecca for all natural beauty enthusiasts.
14 Bulstrode Street
London W1U 2JG
Vintage store(s)/markets
If you’re on the lookout for some unique vintage finds, head to Brick Lane where the street is filled with second-hand stores. Our favourites are Beyond Retro, which scours fashion runways for trends before picking from yesterday’s closets, and Atika (formerly known as Blitz) which stocks curated vintage clothing – a vintage concept store of sorts. In west London head to Portobello Road Market on a Saturday morning, before the tourists flock in, and walk all the way to the Ladbroke Grove end to discover vintage stands that look and feel like a treasure box pulled out from your most stylish grandma’s closet.
The Maiyet Collective
If you’re lucky enough to be in London today, head to The Maiyet Collective’s concept store in the heart of Mayfair. The Maiyet Collective offers a curation of sustainable and ethical luxury brands including ready-to-wear, fine jewellery, beauty, home and lifestyle products. Each month its concept store pops up for 2 days at The Conduit, where visitors can browse and buy, before grabbing a drink at the champagne bar and a bit to eat from the cafe’s locally sourced lunch menu. The concept store also plays host to a programme of events including innovative workshops, founder talks, book signings, exhibitions and more.
40 Conduit Street
Check the The Maiyet Collective website for details of the next opening.
Exhibitions & Events
V&A Fashioned From Nature
If you’re in London before the 27th January, head to the iconic V&A museum in South Kensington to see‘Fashioned From Nature’. An exhibit that aims to show the relationship between fashion and nature through the ages, as well as showcasing incredible innovations that strive to make the industry more environmentally friendly. Don’t miss a chance to see incredible pieces and even a few #GreenCarpetChallenge looks, such as Emma Watson’s Met Gala dress by Calvin Klein made out of recycled plastic bottles.
Cromwell Rd, Knightsbridge
London SW7 2RL
Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, Natural History Museum
Once you’ve finished exploring the V&A, head over to the Natural History Museum and see the world through a new lens at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. Now in its 54th year, the exhibition showcases the world’s best nature photography and captures the extraordinary animal behaviour and breathtaking diversity of life on Earth.
(Nearest Tube – South Kensington)
The Design Musem – Beazley Design of The Year 2018
Every year design experts choose the most innovative designs from the past year, to be shown at At The Design Museum. This year’s ‘Beazley Design of the Year 2018‘ show hasa big focus on sustainable innovations across textile, packaging and furniture – we highly reccomend to anyone wanting to see the innovative design of a greener future.
224-238 Kensington High Street
London W8 6AG
See our top 10 sustainable restaurants in London.
Wellness
If you’re looking for holistic therapies and treatments, head to Neal’s Yard for an all-natural pamper, including ayurvedic massages and acupuncture. The beauty room is buried in a hidden corner of Covent Garden just opposite coffee shop and restaurant 26 grains.
This year the capital’s fitness industry is going green, so if you’re in need of a sweat head to eco-friendly and plastic-free gym Terra Hale or 1REBEL, where single use plastic-bottles are banned.
Insider Tips
Getting around the city using public transport is easy – simply use your contactless debit or credit card to travel on the London underground and buses. But for a more environmentally-friendly way to travel, consider renting two wheels from Transport for London’s official cycle hire scheme.
In central London it’s also easy to walk between many of the major attractions and that way you don’t miss out on anything that’s happening above ground. There are walking maps outside most tube stations or download an app on your phone like Google Maps or Citymapper for directions on the go.
A free tap water refill scheme was launched in London earlier this year – find water refill stations inside many cafes, shops and train stations including Liverpool Street station. Get the refill app to discover where to refill your reusable water bottle on the go.