Take a Tour of London Through a Local’s Eyes (With a Quick Trip to Paris!)

The best way to tour a city? With a local, of course. And while Phoebe Lovatt—freelance writer and founder of The WW Club—moved stateside five years ago, she still travels home to London fairly often. This time, we asked to tag along.

Through a series of photos, Phoebe both dispelled myths about her hometown (no rain here! that food looks delicious!) and showed off her sharp-meets-standout style. “I like to pack smart pants to help me feel pulled together, even when I’m living out of a bag,” she told us, adding that she had meetings and an event to host. “I packed powder-blue straight-leg ones by Chloé and a classic cream pair from DKNY.”

Still, despite her busy schedule, there were plenty of opportunities for spectacular snaps—Phoebe captured landmarks, then hopped over to the countryside. She also found time for a trip to Paris to meet up with a friend. But if you only have a few short hours to spare in London?

“Have an English breakfast at Dean Street Townhouse and wander around Soho, with a little shopping stop at Liberty,” Phoebe suggests. “Maybe venture to The National Portrait Gallery or the Barbican for a quick art fix.”

Scroll through for a little bit of London—and Paris!—through the eyes of someone who knows it well.