Unexpected London

01/02/2022

Dear all, sorry we have been incredibly quiet for a long time, but lots of things have happened and we would like to let you know that Unexpected London has moved to ITALY! We will be embarking on a 2 year journey living in every Italian region to select the most unique and authentic local excellences.

If you love Italy, wine, food, arts, culture and would like to discover its most unexpected bits and excellences with us please follow us on Unexpected Italy or help us share with any lovers of Italy ❤

Thanks for all your support during our unforgettable London experiences and we hope to see you soon in Italy!

Elisabetta F. Whittaker Savio Los

01/02/2021

Did you know that some of the biggest brands in the world have started during a recession? Listen to Unexpected London's Director Elisabetta Faggiana, who is also the Chair of the Tourism and Hospitality at the Institute of Directors in this inspirational shoutout to learn more about how we should make best use of this precious free time at our disposal to reinvent ourselves, our businesses and our future. Acceptance, resilience, passion and purpose will be discussed at tomorrow's webinar on How to Reinvent and Rebuild your Travel Business. In the panel Sarah Wilson - ACE Travel Management, Debbie Flynn - Finn Partners, Carl Ellis - Broadplace and Craig Davidson - Flexi Reps

To join the webinar for free click here Join us for free and share your story with us! https://lnkd.in/eKTYYua

10/12/2020

A little corner in the heart of London filled with ethical and sustainable shops and restaurants. What has now become a very instagrammable shot (and you know that we usually avoid these) was once filled with rats as it was a waste area filled with bins. It is thanks to Nicholas Saunders that the place was turned to this pretty little spot after he opened his whole food store than then attracted the attention of other business owners.

09/12/2020

Yesterday we finally managed to see the stunning Painted Hall at the Royal Naval college in Greenwich. Known as ‘Britain’s Sistine Chapel’ and built by Christopher Wren it took Thornhill 19 years to paint. Originally intended as a grand dining room for the naval pensioners that used to live in this Royal Hospital, it soon became a ceremonial space open to visitors or special functions.

📷 by Savio Los

08/12/2020

Out of London’s floating restaurants this is definitely one of our favourite. A three-tiered floating pagoda in classic Chinese red, with lanterns swinging along each side and elaborately hand crafted with lovely Asian food. Since lockdown finished we have been very cautious and haven’t been out at a restaurant yet but we can’t wait to have a tasty Chinese meal, as it’s been too long!!

📸 by Savio Los

05/12/2020

Street art turns dirty walls into pieces of art. We love this mural in Notting Hill by The Krah - street artist! and Dr Zadok

📸 by Savio Los

04/12/2020

03/12/2020

♦️3 Unexpected anecdotes about the Burlington Arcade, one of London’s most exclusive arcades♦️

1. NO SINGINGING OR WHISTLING IN THE ARCADE. Why? In the early days many of the shopkeepers lived either above or below their shops and the upper level of the arcade had quite a reputation for prostitution. Pimps used to burst into song or whistle to warn prostitutes who were soliciting in the arcade that the Police or Beadles were about. The prostitutes working on the upper level would also whistle to the pickpockets below to warn them of approaching police.

2. It's a well known rumour that Sir Paul McCartney is the only person in the world exempt from the ban on whistling.

3. At the entrance of the Arcade you will always find a guard, they are the BEADLES, the oldest and smallest private police force in the world, in their uniform of Victorian frock coats, gold buttons and gold-braided top hats. They were initially employed by Lord Cavendish to protect his wife and friends from pickpockets. Armchairs were once positioned at either end of the arcade for the Beadles to have a rest in, but no longer.

📸 by Savio Los

02/12/2020

What we love about London is that it never stops surprising us. Just like when we first discovered this gorgeous little place in Shoreditch, where we usually go to check out the latest street art, and without realizing we found ourselves having some lovely home-made cakes and tea in this gorgeous Georgian kitchen. All of a sudden we felt transported to a different era.

📸 by Savio Los

01/12/2020

We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful neighborhood. Just got back from a lovely walk to Wimbledon Park. ❤️

01/12/2020

The oldest arcade in the world, the Royal Arcade, right in the heart of St James is a lovely arcade now devoted mainly to art opened in 1818 by John Nash. The arcade offered a new shopping experience, as the arcade featured for the first time numerous shops under one roof, providing a sheltered retail experience whatever the weather, ideal for the ladies and gentlemen of the capital who didn’t want their fine clothes ruined by mud while shopping.

📸 by Savio Los

27/11/2020

Never Thanksgiving has meant so much as this year so yesterday we stopped and thought about all the things we are grateful for this yeag. And although we are all going through one of the toughest years in recent history there are many things we need to be thankful for.

We'd like to share again our video and say thank you to this beautiful city for everything it has taught us, for the experiences it has made us live, for giving us the strength and the energy to set up our own business and for hopefully be the first step of a really exciting new journey for us. So THANK YOU London and thank you to all the people that have supported and helped us along the way. But what we need to be the most grateful for is to be here, together, healthy and strong.

Savio Los Elisabetta F. Whittaker Oliver Astrologo

26/11/2020

One of London’s most magical and unexpected public parks. A small one but a pretty unique one too, right in the heart of London, just 5 minutes walk from the Tower of London, where trees grows through the windows of the ruins the church of St Dunstan in the East, palm trees give an exotic flavour and beautiful flowers make it vibrant and colourful.

📸 by Savio Los

25/11/2020

-30 days to Christmas 🎄 London is fully lit up and we can’t wait for shops to reopen next week to support our local shops to do our Christmas shopping for this year. Have you done your Christmas shopping yet?

📸 by Savio Los