Chiswick Shopping Guide with Natasha from Wear & Where.
I recently met up with Natasha Poliszczuk, one half of the fab duo who write Wear & Where to snoop around her local neighbourhood to create this Chiswick Shopping Guide. I hadn’t been back to Chiswick since my days of living in Putney with only 1 kid to speak of and a whole lot of life ahead of me, so it was wonderful to head back there and see how this cute neighbourhood has grown and developed into a glorious London ‘burb to live and shop in.
We met at 197 Chiswick Firestation which Natasha says is buzzy and busy in the evenings, but in the mornings, it’s quiet and much more relaxed. She loves to curl up on one of their (ever-so-Instagrammable) pink sofas and order coffee and banana bread.
From there we sauntered down the road to Foster Books, (183 Chiswick High Road), one of Natasha’s favourite bookshops and a higgledy-piggledy treasure trove of rare and second-hand books where you never know what you might find.
A few steps further down the high road and you hit Oddono’s (159 Chiswick High Road), a proper old fashioned Italian gelato. During the summer Natasha and her husband like to stop off here on the way back from date night and then stroll home with an ice cream.
Next up head to Iris Fashion, (129 Chiswick High Road), Natasha’s go-to boutique, which stocks all her favourite labels, plus extra tempting bits and pieces (like gorgeous clothes for little girls). Look out for their own label, By Iris.
A hop skip and a jump from here you can find Angie’s Little Food Shop, (114 Chiswick High Road), stocked with utterly delicious food and coffee (Natasha recommends the cake!)
From there cross the road to The Old Cinema, (160 Chiswick High Road), a vintage and retro treasure trove. It’s a fabulous source for home inspiration even if you abstain from purchasing.
Pretty much right next door you can find High Road House, (162-166 Chiswick High Road). The Chiswick outpost of the Soho House Empire is best characterised as ‘cosy glamour’ and the downstairs brasserie is open to non-members. Natasha highly recommends booking a corner table – or just perching at the bar with a Bellini. Or settle outside and watch the world go by – she spent a lot of time here on her maternity leave.
Next up, hang a right up towards Turnham Green Station to find Wheelers Garden Centre (Cato’s Yard, Turnham Green). Although there are two excellent flower stalls on Chiswick High Road, where Natasha frequents for her weekly blooms, if she needs something for her garden, she heads to this tiny, leafy oasis.
On the way back towards Chiswick High Road you can find Bayley & Sage, (33 Turnham Green Terrace). One of those places where the fruit and vegetables manage to look implausibly stylish – it’s like shopping in an L.A. deli (minus the weather). Then back on the High Road, don’t forget to pop into Borough Kitchen, (186 Chiswick High Road). This sleek cookshop has phenomenally well-informed staff and a cookery school attached. It turns buying cookware into an art form!
Although that’s about it for Chiswick High Road, if you have time there are a few other spots worth a visit in this charming neighbourhood. Head to the riverside fringes of Chiswick and you hit Strand on the Green. The City Barge is the perfect spot for lunch on a sunny day, or head to Annie’s, a local institution, where you dine amidst fairy lights. Then just a short stroll from Chiswick High Road check out Chiswick House, a little slice of costume drama. There’s a grand Palladian villa, classic landscaped gardens – and a rather good café. It’s a lovely breakfast spot on a sunny day.
Natasha wears H&M trousers, Zara coat, La Redoute jumper, Pannyy bag, Hush boots – similar here.
With huge thanks to Natasha for showing me around her neighbourhood. Check out her blog Wear and Where here,(which she writes with fellow journo Alex – who also did our Guildford Shopping Guide). Or stalk them on Insta @wearandwhere.
Another huge thanks to Cicely Creswell for her awesome illustration skills – find more of her artsy musings here.